Latest news with #M113
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Ghislaine Maxwell's Attorney Hopeful Trump 'Exercises' Pardon Power
Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney appeared hopeful that President Donald Trump could exercise his pardon power after the president noted he would be "allowed" to the associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein a pardon. Defense attorney David Markus expressed openness to receiving a pardon from Trump after officials from the Department of Justice questioned Maxwell about the Epstein case. "We haven't spoken to the president or anybody about a pardon just yet. The president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in a right and just way," Markus told reporters outside federal court in Tallahassee, Florida. Ukrainian service members ride atop of a tank outside of the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine March 4, 2023. Reuters Trump made waves online after the president acknowledged that he has the power to pardon Maxwell if he chooses before leaving for Scotland Friday morning. "It's something I haven't thought about. I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about," he told reporters. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking charges in 2021 after helping groom Epstein's victims. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison months later. She is currently trying to appeal her case. Ukrainian service members gesture as they ride atop of a M113 armoured personnel carrier outside of the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine March 4, 2023. Reuters The Epstein associate returned to the spotlight after continued pressure on the Trump administration to release the files amid backlash over a memo by the DOJ and FBI declaring that Epstein killed himself and had no client list. Friday was the second day U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke privately with Maxwell about her case and Epstein's case. Prior to the interview with Maxwell, Blanche released a statement saying that the DOJ was looking for "information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims." "He took a full day and asked a lot of questions, and Ms. Maxwell answered every single question," Markus told reporters Thursday, according to the Tallahassee Democrat . "She never stopped. She never invoked her privilege. She never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability." As Trump officials turn to Maxwell for potential new leads in the case, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer subpoenaed her on Wednesday for a deposition at a Florida prison. Meanwhile, Democrats have called for Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to testify before lawmakers, seeking more transparency with the memo's findings. Originally published on Latin Times
Saba Yemen
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Russian Defense Ministry Announces Strike on Ukrainian Command Center 'Luhansk'
Moscow – SABA: The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that a crew operating the Russian 'Iskander' missile system targeted and hit the command center of the Ukrainian operational-tactical group 'Luhansk' near the town of Druzhkivka in the Donetsk People's Republic. In a statement, the ministry said the Iskander missile system successfully struck the command center of the Ukrainian 'Luhansk' operational-tactical group located in the village area of Druzhkivka, Donetsk. The ministry also released footage showing the Iskander tactical missile system striking the Ukrainian Armed Forces' command post of the 'Luhansk' group in Druzhkivka. In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that units from its 'Center' group had liberated the town of Ulyanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic. According to the statement: 'As a result of persistent and decisive operations by units of the Center Forces Group, the town of Ulyanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic has been liberated.' The enemy reportedly suffered losses amounting to 495 troops, two U.S.-made M113 armored personnel carriers, one 'Kozak' armored vehicle, seven other vehicles, and two field artillery pieces. This includes a Polish-made 155mm Krab self-propelled howitzer. Additionally, an anti-battery electronic warfare station and an ammunition depot were destroyed. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Newsweek
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ukraine Destroys 13 Russian Tanks, 100 Armored Vehicles as Locomotive Hit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ukraine has struck a Russian train carrying military equipment, destroying 13 tanks and more than 100 armored vehicles The Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine posted about the Saturday attack, along with multiple others, on social media. Why It Matters Ukraine's attack marks a significant tactical gain as it continues to pressure Russian logistics and supply chains. The strike on a Russian freight train transporting military equipment—particularly locomotives hauling armored units—deals a substantial blow to Moscow's ability to reinforce its front-line positions quickly. An M113 armored vehicle camouflaged with anti-drone netting during a training exercise by the Ukrainian military at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on June 6, 2025. An M113 armored vehicle camouflaged with anti-drone netting during a training exercise by the Ukrainian military at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on June 6, 2025. FLORENT VERGNES/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Kyiv also had to "repel" multiple Russian assaults, the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine said, with five taking place near Malynivka and toward Poltavka. Two Russian attacks near Piatykhatky and toward Pavlivka "on the position of our defenders" were described as "useless." In the 24 hours leading up to Saturday, Ukraine recorded more than 800 Russian attacks using different types of kamikaze drones and had itself carried out more than 350 drone strikes, dropping around 450 munitions. In the southern region, Russian forces carried out 12 airstrikes in the past 24 hours with a total of 47 guided bombs hitting settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. Front-line towns and villages in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions were hit by artillery and drone attacks. In total, 41 attacks were recorded in 22 different places. In the Kherson region, two people were killed and 10 others were injured due to the shelling, according to Kyiv. In the past 24 hours Russian losses have included the following: 114 personnel One railway locomotive 23 tanks Seven artillery systems 103 units of automobile and armored equipment 10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used for reconnaissance or tactical support 10 motorcycles One radio-electronic warfare item Nine UAV-related antenna systems Five communications antenna Five generators Four ammunition storage spaces Kyiv has also released a map showing what it says are Russia's plans to seize half of Ukraine by the end of next year. The Ukrainian Presidential Office deputy head, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, made the claims, and they were followed by President Donald Trump warning that he would use further sanctions against Moscow if the war dragged on. What People Are Saying The Ukrainian Presidential Office deputy head, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, said Thursday: Russia's "plan for next year is to occupy the whole part of Ukraine which is situated on the left bank of the Dnieper River," and "occupy the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions to cut Ukraine's access to the Black Sea." President Donald Trump said about U.S. sanctions: "If I think Russia will not be making a deal or stopping the bloodshed…I'll use it if it's necessary." He added: "I'm OK with it. I haven't decided to use it." What Happens Next All eyes will likely be on what Trump does with regard to the U.S.' reaction to continued Russian attacks in Ukraine.
Gulf Insider
23-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Israel Deploying Unmanned Bulldozers In Gaza
The Israeli military has increasingly opted to deploy an unmanned version of Caterpillar's D9 bulldozers to a number of battlefields. The remotely operated systems allows the IDF to flatten areas without risking additional troops. According to The Times of Israel , Tel Aviv has deployed the unmanned D9 – or RobDozer – to Gaza and Lebanon since October 7, 2023, and Israeli officials say the IDF is ramping up its use of the system. One source told AFP Israel has used 'robotic tools for over a decade, but in very small numbers. Now it is being used in large-scale warfare.'The RobDozer was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which claims the platform is the 'ultimate combat bulldozer.' IAI's website explains that 'The RobDozer's integration into military engineering units significantly boosts their capability to rapidly alter landscapes to favor defensive or offensive operations.' While the RobDozer can be remotely controlled, IAI claims it can even operate autonomously. As the Jerusalem Post reported last month, IAI 'says it can operate on several levels of autonomous independence, 'allowing it to dig trenches in the field, clear a route in difficult or otherwise impassable areas, and move large or suspicious obstacles.'' While the company stresses that the platform ensures the safety of Israeli soldiers who no longer have to drive combat bulldozers in dangerous situations, it does not mention if the RobDozer can identify and avoid civilians during autonomous operation. The Israeli state arms maker is also in the process of developing an unmanned M113 armored personnel carrier. Israeli military D9 armored bulldozers are plowing through the Nur Shams Camp in the Northern West Bank. — 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) October 19, 2023 Combat bulldozers have played a major role in Israel's military operations in Gaza, where large swaths of territory have been flattened by Israeli bombs. As the rubble is littered with unexploded munitions and potential Hamas-planted explosives, the IDF has used a large number of D9s to clear regions that were once cities in Gaza. Click here to read more Also read: With Eye On Iran, US Sends More Bunker-Busting Bombs To Israel
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Extremely Rare Ukrainian Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle Appears On Battlefield
An example of the Ukrainian BMP-55 heavy infantry fighting vehicle, a radically reworked T-55 tank converted to transport soldiers across the battlefield, has appeared somewhere in Ukraine. While it's unclear when or where the imagery was taken, this seems to be the first time a BMP-55 has been sighted in an apparently operational context. With suggestions that only one example of these vehicles was ever completed, this makes its appearance all the more remarkable. The photos in question began to circulate on social media today and may have been first posted to Telegram by the Military Informant channel. The vehicle, partially covered in snow, looks to have been abandoned, although it shows no obvious signs of damage. It's unclear whether the vehicle is still in Ukrainian hands or if it was captured by Russian forces. Spray-painted onto the rear of the hull, in blue, is 'M113,' presumably a joke based on the U.S.-made armored personnel carrier, also in Ukrainian service, although a case of mistaken identity can't be ruled out. "M113" — T-90K (@T_90AK) April 22, 2025 Whatever the story behind the vehicle's current status, it's surprising to see it, bearing in mind that it never progressed beyond prototype tests, as far as we know. There remains a possibility, albeit remote, that Ukraine may have launched production of the BMP-55, perhaps using T-54/55 series tanks captured in the country from the opposing Russian forces. Reported footage of Russian T-54 tanks heading to Ukraine. — Clash Report (@clashreport) March 22, 2023 Originally, the BMP-55 was developed by the Kharkiv Armored Repair Plant, a major maintenance facility in the northeast Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Work on the project appears to have begun around 2000, with the aim of making use of surplus T-55 tanks, which were no longer considered viable for frontline service. The T-55's turret was removed, and a new armored troop-carrying hull was mounted on the tank chassis. Unlike in the T-55, the new vehicle had the engine and transmission at the front of the hull, provided as a single unit that could be rapidly replaced. Ukrainian BMP-55 (T-55 modified into an armored transport platform) byu/AdexGodhail inTankPorn A similar program was created to convert the T-64 main battle tank into a heavy infantry fighting vehicle, known as the BMP-64. There was another Ukrainian project, also based on the T-64, known as the Azovets, a specialized vehicle designed for infantry fire support in urban fighting. The prototype of this vehicle — or what was left of it — was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine last year, having been left buried for some time. Official data from the manufacturer gives a weight of approximately 28.5 tons for the BMP-55, without armament. Meanwhile, there are accounts of a weight of around 44-46 tons, although this may well relate to the larger BMP-64. The BMP-55 reportedly had the capacity to carry up to 10 troops, although a standard eight-man infantry squad is specified by the manufacturer. The troops disembarked via a new rear-mounted ramp, which also made it easier to load casualties. The vehicle was operated by a crew of three. The armored personnel carrier seen in the recent imagery appears to have a launcher for a pair of anti-tank guided missiles in a remote station fitted on top of its hull, on the left-hand side of the vehicle, although there is no sign of the missiles themselves being loaded. As originally completed, there was also a remote weapon station on the right-hand side, fitted with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, although this has since been removed from the vehicle. The BMP-55 hull's armored protection was apparently able to withstand 25-30mm autocannon fire from the frontal arc, while the rear armor was said to be able to defend against 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds. Meanwhile, armor applied on the underside of the vehicle was designed to protect against TM-57 anti-tank mine blasts and the effects of similar weapons. Further protection could be added in the form of explosive reactive armor (ERA) on the front and sides of the vehicle, as well as thermal cover on the top of the hull. The BMP-55 was apparently developed primarily for export, providing any of the many nations operating the T-55 with a low-cost means to field a 'modern' heavy infantry fighting vehicle fleet. The first prototype was reportedly completed by 2009. In any event, neither the BMP-55 nor the BMP-64 received any export orders. Nor were they adopted for service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. After all, during Ukraine's years of peace in the 2000s, there was little impetus to convert tanks to become infantry fighting vehicles, although these would be of considerable value now, provided they were available in useful quantities. It should be noted that the idea of converting surplus tanks into heavy infantry fighting vehicles has found traction elsewhere, notably in Israel. The Israel Defense Forces have a long history of using heavy infantry fighting vehicles based on tank chassis. The Achzarit was an Israeli heavy IFV that was also based on a T-55 chassis, and it was followed by the Nagmachon and the Namer, which is in use today. These Israeli vehicles are considered especially useful for fighting in urban, counterinsurgency scenarios. Other roles well suited to these kinds of vehicles include combat engineering and, with appropriate armament fitted, fire support for infantry operations. Broadly similar in terms of reusing tank chassis is the Russian BMPT, which takes a T-72 and reworks it for urban counterinsurgency warfare, inspired by lessons from Moscow's two Chechen campaigns in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The BMPT has been used in combat in Ukraine, although it appears to still be a very scarce vehicle in Russian service, with just one frontline unit so far having been equipped with them. Geolocated this train carrying BMPT Terminators to 52.597429, 38.439473 outside of Yelets, Russia (~300km from Ukraine). The train is heading west. BMPT Terminators were only introduced into service a few years ago and haven't been seen near Ukraine yet. — IntelWalrus (@IntelWalrus) February 20, 2022 Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian forces from the 140th Marine Reconnaissance Battalion destroy a Russian BMPT Terminator with drone spotted indirect fire. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 9, 2023 As for the BMP-55, this may well be the first and only time we get to see it on — or close to — the battlefield. As noted earlier, accounts suggest that only one prototype was produced, with no evidence of follow-on vehicle conversions, unless these have been taking place since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in which case, it has not been reported. It remains somewhat of a mystery what this example was doing, and to what degree it was exposed to combat. But, bearing in mind the rich tradition of armored vehicle development in Russia and Ukraine, it's unlikely to be the last unusual fighting vehicle to make an appearance in the war. Contact the author: thomas@
