The strike air group carried out an attack on the territory of Ukraine from the north. According to the speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuri Ignat, the plans of the invaders fell through – aviation “ran into trouble.”

The plane crash in the Bryansk region on May 13 happened due to the successful work of the Russian air defense forces. Yuriy Ignat, speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this on the air of a single telethon on May 14.

“Helicopters were involved, an air strike group attacked Ukraine from the north of the Bryansk region. They do it every day. They carried out strikes with guided bombs. They ran into some kind of trouble. They wanted to bomb our peaceful people, peaceful regions,” Ignat explained.

Ignat speaks about the plane crash in the Bryansk region from the 5th minute

The speaker of the Air Force specified that in addition to the downed Su-34 and Su-35 combat aircraft, as well as two Mi-8 helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces, we can talk about the third lost helicopter.

“The black day of aviation – they admitted it. There is even an analysis – who is to blame and who they are going to fire for this, punish for this mess. It’s nice to read such news from the enemy,” Ignat added.

Recall that after the crash near the village of Klintsy, Bryansk region, none of the crew members survived. It is known about 9 dead soldiers, a local resident was fatally injured by falling debris.

Russian media wrote that fighters and helicopters shot down anti-aircraft missiles, possibly the Pantsir air defense system was working.

The Office of the President of Ukraine also commented on the plane crash in Klintsy. In Russia, according to the adviser to the head of the OP Mikhail Podolyak, a “counter-NVO” has begun, which will only grow.

On Saturday, May 13, an image appeared on social networks, which indicates that the Armed Forces of Ukraine received and are already using small airborne decoys ADM-160 made by the United States or MALD. The corresponding photo was published on Twitter, as well as a number of Russian Telegram channels.

The media note that the fragments of false missiles ADM-160 MALD were found in the city of Luhansk after a powerful shelling. The so-called representative office of the LPR in the JCCC also reported that, according to updated information, during the rocket attack on the city on May 12, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used two Storm Shadow cruise missiles and one ADM-160B MALD anti-aircraft missile.

What is ADM-160 MALD?

According to The Drive, all MALD modifications are small cruise missiles used to deceive enemy air defenses, and not for their kinetic attack.

Depending on the specific variant, these decoys are used to jam enemy radars or otherwise mislead their operators by “pretending” to be a conventional aircraft or a subsonic cruise missile.

Lures make them think that threats are coming from different directions, often diverting attention and resources from real threats.

Specifications ADM-160 MALD

hull length – 2.38 meters, wingspan – 0.65 meters, launch weight – 45 kg, flight range – from 460 km to 575 km, depending on modification.

The developers specifically created the ADM-160 in a small size so that even one aircraft is enough for a massive launch. According to American calculations, 4 such “false targets” can be hung on the F-16 – on the A-10 attack aircraft – 12 at once, on the B-52 – up to 16, writes Defense Express.

According to the publication, if Kyiv really received the ADM-160 MALD, then this is a kind of sensation. This would seem at least a logical step and a good addition to the Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied by the UK.

Representatives of the Pentagon declined to comment on the possible delivery of ADM-160B MALD to The Drive journalists, citing the fact that they “for reasons of operational security do not comment on the delivery of all items transferred to Ukraine.”

Recall, on May 13, the Russian media reported that an explosion occurred in the former Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the village of Yubileyny, Artemovsky district of Lugansk. Since 2015, the Russian military has been based in the building. Propagandists claim that Storm Shadow cruise missiles were used for the attack.

Also, Russian propagandists wrote that on the evening of May 12 in occupied Luhansk, a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Viktor Vodolatsky, was injured. In addition, it was reported that six children were allegedly injured on the same day.

According to journalists, the interception of one missile with the help of the David Sling missile defense system costs about a million dollars.

Israel used the David Sling missile defense system for the second time in recent days. The installation shot down a rocket that was flying in the direction of Jerusalem, Israel News reports.

It is noted that the Israeli army (IDF) for the second time during the operation “Shield and Arrow” used the missile defense system “David’s Sling”. An anti-aircraft missile system shot down a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip towards Jerusalem.

“The interception of one rocket with the help of the Sling of David costs about a million dollars. According to preliminary data, two rockets fell near Jerusalem, two more were intercepted, rocket fragments fell on a residential building in Beit Shemesh,” the report says.

The IDF received the Sling of David air defense system seven years ago. Until May 2023, it was used only once – to intercept a missile fired from Syria.

Recall that during the massive shelling of Israel on May 10, the military successfully used the “David’s Sling” missile defense system for the first time. The journalists’ source said that Islamic Jihad terrorists launched 3 missiles in Tel Aviv. One of them was intercepted by a new missile defense system. The rest of the shells fell in the open area and at sea.

On May 11, the Israel Defense Forces announced the death of the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad missile program, Ali Ghali, as a result of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said that Ukrainian fighters have not surrendered a single position in Bakhmut over the past week and have successfully carried out an assault operation.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar confirmed the advancement of units of the Defense Forces in the Bakhmut direction. On May 12, in her Telegram, she reported that the Ukrainian defenders had not lost a single position in Bakhmut this week, but had advanced two kilometers in the same direction.

“The enemy failed to realize their plans; the enemy suffered heavy losses of manpower; our defenders advanced 2 km forward in the Bakhmut direction; we did not lose a single position in Bakhmut this week,” Malyar wrote.

The Deputy Minister also assessed the work of Russian Telegram channels that covered the situation in the Bakhmut direction and was skeptical about the information about the lack of weapons at the Wagner PMC, distributed by the curator of mercenaries Yevgeny Prigozhin. In her opinion, the enemy publicly talks about the lack of ammunition in order to “justify the real situation.”

On the other hand, information appears in the Russian media that under Bakhmut, allegedly, the RF Armed Forces have everything under control.

“Analysis of messages shows that this city is of paramount importance for the enemy. Almost sacred. How does the enemy cover information about the battles in Bakhmut? Praises himself, talks about alleged success and invents stories about our military command,” Malyar said.

Earlier, Focus analyzed data from the Deep State interactive map, which indicates the advancement of Ukrainian defenders in the Bakhmut direction. Judging by the information displayed, Ukrainian defenders have taken three positions of the Russian Armed Forces on the eastern front in the area of ​​​​Bakhmut and Soledar in the Donetsk region over the past week.

Former DPR militant commander Igor Strelkov (Girkin) on May 11 made a disappointing forecast for Russian troops in Ukraine. According to him, the Defense Forces can launch a diversionary strike on the “old border” in order to counterattack on the Zaporozhye front.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation abandoned the goal of encircling the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the battle-stricken Bakhmut, Donetsk region. Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) came to this conclusion in their report, published on May 11.

The deployment of low-quality Russian forces on the flanks around Bakhmut suggests that the Russian Defense Ministry has largely abandoned its goal of encircling a significant number of Ukrainian forces there.

Thus, analysts recalled that the Russian Ministry of Defense began a wider deprioritization of the Bakhmut efforts by January 2023, when recruitment efforts in PMC Wagner were interrupted, which likely prompted the owner of a private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to step up efforts in Soledar and Bakhmut in January and publicly complain about the lack of DoD support for his efforts since February 2023.

According to US analysts, in March and April, the Russian Defense Ministry briefly allocated more resources to the Bakhmut sector of the front, sending T-90 tanks and Russian airborne troops (VDV) to the Bakhmut area and transferring mobilized reservists to Wagner positions.

Prigozhin said on April 24 that the Russian Defense Ministry had deployed only irregular and degraded units to hold Bakhmut’s flanks. The failure of these units to accomplish even this limited task, analysts say, indicates that the Russian flanks at Bakhmut and other similar sectors of the front are likely vulnerable to Ukrainian counterattacks.

The MOD force distribution, coupled with changes in the geometry of the battlespace, also suggests that the danger of Russian encirclement of significant Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut may have passed.

Analysts believe that Wagner forces are likely to continue to conduct frontal attacks in Bakhmut, allowing Ukrainian forces to conduct an organized withdrawal from threatened areas in a smaller partial coverage, rather than face a large-scale encirclement.

The situation in the Bakhmut direction – a map of battles

The ISW believes that successful localized Ukrainian counterattacks appear to have limited Russian offensive efforts in Bakhmut as of May 11. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces carried out 15 ground attacks in Bakhmut and near the village of Stupochki (13km southwest of Bakhmut), which markedly reduced reports of Russian ground attacks in the Bakhmut area.

Photo: ISW

Russian military correspondents, according to analysts, criticized the Russian 4th and 374th motorized rifle brigades (2nd army corps) for leaving their positions northwest of Kleschievka during Ukrainian counterattacks and said that Wagner PMC forces occupied the former brigade positions to prevent deep penetration into Russian lines, likely robbing mercenary personnel who might otherwise be committed to offensive operations at Bakhmut.

Wagner financier Yevgeny Prigozhin has stated that Wagner forces only need to advance 625 meters to reach the western entrance to Bakhmut, indicating that Prigozhin is unwilling to completely abandon his goal of completing the capture of Bakhmut in favor of defense from local Ukrainian counterattacks,” the ISW report says.

Notably, the Russian volunteer battalion “Alga” of the Republic of Tatarstan (part of the 72nd motorized rifle brigade of the 3rd Army Corps) reportedly lost contact with affiliated social media channels after retreating on 9 May. The Alga Battalion is one of two elements of the 72nd Brigade; At present, there is no information about whether the second element of the brigade, the Molot volunteer battalion, was defeated or retreated.

Recall, according to Deep State analysts, the Ukrainian Defense Forces managed to conduct successful offensive operations in the area of ​​​​Bakhmut and Soledar in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian defenders occupied three positions of the invaders.

Earlier, on May 10, it was reported that, according to the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky, in some sectors of the front in the Bakhmut direction, as a result of counterattacks by Ukrainian defenders, the enemy had to retreat up to two kilometers.

According to journalists, it is about striking weapons depots, command centers, armored and artillery systems in order to prepare the battlefield for the advancing forces.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces began to “shape” operations in anticipation of a counteroffensive. CNN writes about this, citing its own sources among US officials.

According to journalists, it is about striking weapons depots, command centers, armored and artillery systems in order to prepare the battlefield for the advancing forces. This is a standard procedure before such operations.

These preparatory operations could continue for many days before the main part of the planned Ukrainian offensive begins, according to a senior US military official.

It is reported that such “formation” operations can also be designed to confuse the enemy.

Recall that the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed the abandoned positions of the Russians near Bakhmut. According to People’s Deputy Yuri Mysyagin, the fighters of the 3rd separate assault brigade “Azov” received captured ammunition as a result of a successful assault on the enemy flanks.

In addition, as reported, Ukraine is forming a reserve of personnel for the de-occupied territories. Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk said that the government is looking for tens of thousands of patriotic specialists to work in the de-occupied regions, in particular, in Crimea. She said that a decision would be made in the near future.

The commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also told who was the first Russian to escape from the battlefield in Bakhmut. According to the Ukrainian defender, the Russian regular troops fought bravely in close combat. It took the Armed Forces more than two hours to encircle them and force them to surrender.

Russia wants to deplete Ukraine’s air defense resources to the point of gaining air superiority and not being afraid to use fighters and bombers more openly, journalists say.

Ukrainian air defense forces are forced to shoot down Russian missiles and kamikaze drones almost every night. However, when compared with the first days of a full-scale war, Ukraine’s air defense has become much stronger. This is written by the Associated Press.

With the help of Western weapons and growing experience, Ukrainian air defenses have made great strides over the past 14 months, saving infrastructure and human lives and preventing Russia from achieving air superiority, which is an important step as the Ukrainians prepare for a counteroffensive.

As the commander of the air defense brigade “Center” Colonel with the call sign “Granit” told reporters, in the first days of the war, the barracks of his people suffered heavy losses. Thus, the RF Armed Forces fired at the barracks and command posts with 20 rockets. Now the brigade has to operate with the help of mobile groups. They use shoot-and-run tactics.

According to “Granit”, now the Ukrainian air defense shoots down about 90% of the targets that are released towards Ukraine by the Russian invaders.

“Kyiv is protected,” he said.

The two key weapons used by Ukraine were reportedly the Soviet long-range S300 and medium-range Buk systems. However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are also armed with Western systems, such as IRIS-T and NASAMS. In addition, the Allies also delivered European-made SAMP/T and US-made HAWK missiles, and last month added two Patriot SAM batteries.

The publication writes that some analysts suggest that Russia wants to deplete Ukraine’s air defense resources to such an extent as to gain air superiority and not be afraid to use fighters and bombers more openly.

A soldier with the call sign “Zhuk” who shot down a Russian helicopter over Kiev on the first day of the war said the success gave him the confidence he still has.

“I realized that this is not the end, that we can fight,” he said.

According to him, the Russian troops are not as scary as he thought before.

Recall that the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told who was the first to flee the battlefield in Bakhmut. According to the Ukrainian defender, the Russian regular troops fought bravely in close combat. It took the Armed Forces more than two hours to encircle them and force them to surrender.

It was also reported that the Major of the Armed Forces of Ukraine assessed the actions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces near Bakhmut. The former commander of the AZOV regiment explained that the Russian troops had enough shells. According to him, dynamic events continue on the southern and northern flanks of Bakhmut.

In total, about 500 rockets were fired at Israeli territory, of which 60 were intercepted by the Iron Dome. In the direction of Tel Aviv launched 3 ammunition.

The David’s Sling medium-range anti-missile system intercepted an enemy missile for the first time when fired from the Gaza Strip. It is reported by the Times of Israel.

During the massive shelling of Israel on May 10, the military successfully used the “David’s Sling” missile defense system for the first time. The journalists’ source said that Islamic Jihad terrorists launched 3 missiles in Tel Aviv. One of them was intercepted by a new missile defense system. The rest of the shells fell in the open area and at sea.

In total, the Israel Defense Forces reported that at least 500 rockets were fired at the country, of which 60 were intercepted by the Iron Dome. Some of them fell on Israeli territory, while others fell right in the Gaza Strip.

Later, the military confirmed the successful use of the “David’s sling”. The publication also writes that missile defense should fill the gap between the Iron Dome, which has a short range, and Hetz, which is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.

The shelling of Israeli territory was the response of the militants to the elimination of targets by military aircraft in the Gaza Strip. The operation was carried out under the name “shield and arrow”.

“David’s Sling” is an Israeli-American medium-range development. It is capable of destroying targets within a radius of up to 300 km, including ballistic missiles.

Recall, on May 11, it became known that Israel eliminated the head of the Islamic Jihad missile program, Ali Gali.

The Israeli strikes were carried out on May 10 as part of Operation Shield and Arrow, which began on May 9 against the terrorist organization Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

First, Ukraine was promised air defense systems at the beginning of 2024, then at the end of 2023. In fact, thanks to the joint actions of Italy, Germany and Switzerland, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received the product ahead of schedule.

The Ukrainian army received the Skynex air defense system. It was produced in the strictest secrecy with the help of three countries. It is reported by La Repubblica.

The defense company Rheinmetall has manufactured the Skynex air defense system for Ukraine. The publication revealed the details of the production of the air defense system. The whole process was called secret because it was carried out in cooperation of three countries:

produced by enterprises in Italy; Germany paid for the product; technology was provided by Switzerland.

Journalists emphasize that the operation, which was allowed by the then government of Mario Draghi in Italy, is a real revolution. After all, for the first time it was not about selling something used or more or less modern, but about the latest high-tech weapons made specifically for the Ukrainian army.

The cost of the order amounted to 194 million euros – 182 for guns and radars, and 12 for the production of vehicles. Deliveries were supposed to begin in January 2024, but everything was done much earlier. Skynex is currently being used to counter Russian drones.

Recall that on April 26, Prime Minister Denys Shmihal said that Skynex is already guarded by the Ukrainian sky. Moreover, Kyiv and Rome are considering the possibility of joint production of components for installations.

On February 28, the media wrote that Germany should send Skynex air defense systems to Ukraine by the end of 2023.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reacted to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The department drew attention to 2 items “for official use”. This is stated on the account of the Ministry in Twitter.

“The decree of the Russian dictator on the urgent call for reservists for military training includes two hidden sections marked “confidential”. The Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian land are well aware of what such items usually mean for Russians,” the report said.

It should be noted that Putin’s decree on conscription of reservists, published on the website of the President of the Russian Federation, contains only 5 points, 2 and 3 of which are “for official use.”

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation

Photo: Screenshot

Pavel Kalymkov, an expert at the bureau of military-political analysis and a reserve colonel of the RF Armed Forces, told the Russian edition of NSN that information about the scale of military training is indicated in secret points. According to him, it may be that the Russians will be called to the training camp, and then they will be handed weapons and sent to fight in Ukraine.

“I can’t say, but I don’t rule out that citizens will be called to training camps, and then weapons will be handed out and sent to the front line, to the trenches,” he said.

Recall that in the Russian Federation, summons for military training to citizens will come in paper form. According to him, the usual “paper” agendas will be mainly used, however, in some regions, where technical capabilities allow, they will be duplicated in electronic format.

On Wednesday, May 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on calling up citizens who are now in reserve for military training. We are talking about men from 18 to 60 years old and women from 18 to 55 years old, who at one time served or received appropriate training.