📹Russia's cutting-edge tracked drone bolsters soldier safety on the battlefield

Rostec has unveiled the latest iteration of its tracked ground drone, Depesha, designed to deliver essential logistical and combat support in the field. This new model is equipped with a fiber-optic control system that renders it entirely resistant to electronic warfare countermeasures, making it immune to jamming and interference.

"The defense industry and armed forces of leading nations recognize the potential and benefits of utilizing drones, both aerial and ground-based. This progress is made possible by advancements in optics, radio electronics, and materials science," stated Oleg Yevtushenko, the executive director of Rostec, in an interview with Sputnik.

The Depesha drone can carry payloads of 100, 200, and 500 kilograms, with deployed models already demonstrating outstanding performance in real combat situations. Its versatility allows it to perform various tasks, including delivering ammunition, transporting supplies, conducting reconnaissance, and providing fire support.

As Yevtushenko emphasizes, the primary goal of these drones is to "save the lives of our soldiers." By undertaking high-risk tasks typically assigned to personnel, the Depesha drone significantly reduces casualties and enhances the overall safety of military operations.

With this latest modification, Rostec continues to advance military technology, ensuring that armed forces are equipped with the most sophisticated and reliable systems to address contemporary challenges.

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🪖As Russia unveils plans for new drone warfare unit, do other countries have dedicated UAV services?

A new unit of the Russian Armed Forces – the Unmanned Systems Troops – could be formed by the third quarter of 2025, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has announced.

Do other countries have dedicated drone units?

🔸 United States: Drone air groups are integrated into various services and agencies. Within the US Air Force, they are managed through units like the 432nd Wing, which operates the MQ-9 Reaper armed UAV. Drone systems operated by the US Navy and Marine Corps are integrated into their broader force structures

🔸 Ukraine: In June, Zelensky approved the creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, aimed at coordinating the deployment of uncrewed aerial vehicles and robotic systems across land, air and maritime domains

🔸 China: The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) managed drone operations via its Strategic Support Force, which was reorganized this year into three equal forces: the Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force and Information Support Force

🔸 India: The Indian Air Force, army and navy all make coordinated use of drones, but without a separate UAV branch

🔸 Israel: The Israeli Air Force (IAF) uses drones operated by specialized UAV squadrons

🔸 Iran: Drones are used extensively by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Army

🔸 Turkiye: Drones are primarily operated within the Turkish Armed Forces, Gendarmerie and the Turkish National Police

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📹Two Russian Air Force long-range Tu-22M3 bombers conducted a scheduled flight over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.

The flight lasted for more than five hours. Foreign fighter jets were scrambled to escort the flight at points along its route.

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💬 Devastated by war: Refuse, disease and despair grip Khan Yunis refugees

Garbage and sewage have become major issues for the residents of the Khan Yunis refugee camp. The sewage network was destroyed during Israeli Defense Forces military operations, and waste disposal has become a thing of the past. As a result, mountains of refuse now sit next to the tents, causing a rise in stomach and skin infections – particularly among children.

"There are mountains of trash next to us, which are harmful to our children and public health. Due to this garbage, rodents and insects have infested our tents," said Muhammad Madi, a displaced resident of the refugee camp. "It's a real health risk, and many children are sick. The smell is unbearable. The wind constantly carries it. These piles of trash have been here since we arrived."

Khan Yunis municipality spokesman Saeb Lakan added that all public services were completely destroyed by Israeli military operations in the area, causing the collapse of the entire housing and utilities system.

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❗️There is a high probability of a deal on the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages in the coming days - a source in Netanyahu's office told Sputnik.

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💬 Ex-Pentagon analyst: Murder of Russian General Kirillov in Moscow 'terrorism,' connected to US-Ukraine bio-research revelations

The assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's Troops of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense, is definitely an act of terror, Michael Maloof, a former senior security policy analyst in the Office of the US Secretary of Defense, told Sputnik.

“[The perpetrators] plant the bomb in a scooter, put it outside of his apartment and then detonated. That's terrorism,” he said.

The fact that the attack took place in Moscow and that the perpetrators knew where Kirillov lived, suggests significant planning and coordination, raising questions about the possible involvement of Ukrainian operatives or Russian individuals working on Ukraine's behalf.

Maloof said Kirillov’s role in revealing Ukraine’s involvement in US-backed chemical and biological research made him a target.

"What he has been doing is revealing the extent to which Ukraine has been involved in illegal US chemical and biological research," Maloof explained, noting the sensitive nature of the revelations.

“And I know it was very sensitive because Victoria Nuland, in testimony before Congress last year, I believe it was, said that it would it would not be good if Russia was able to take over some of the sites because of what the sites contain,” he added.

“What is it that the United States is doing in those research labs that that when she was a member of the Biden administration, did not want revealed?” Maloof asked. “Kirillov was the one who exposed this that chemical, biological research was ongoing in those labs.”

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❗️The UN Secretary-General's Office, commenting on the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces, called on "all parties" to show restraint and refrain from escalation.

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🪖Ensuring peace: Russia marks Strategic Missile Forces Day

On December 17, the Russian Armed Forces celebrate the Day of the Strategic Missile Forces.

The dynamically evolving service arm is crucial to deterring large-scale aggression against Russia and its allies, according to Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Sergei Karakaev.

The creation and development of the force came in response to advancements in both domestic and foreign missile systems and nuclear arms complexes.

Key missile systems ensuring Russia's security:

▪️R-36M2/RS-20B Voevoda
The fourth-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, known as Voevoda, is ground-based and can carry up to 10 Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), each with a yield of 550-750 kilotons (kT).

▪️RS-18 Stilet
This ICBM can carry up to six MIRV warheads, each with a yield of up to 750 kT.

▪️RS-12M2 Topol-M / RS-12M Topol
A versatile ICBM system available in both road-mobile and silo-based variants, it carries a single nuclear warhead with an 800 kT explosive yield.

▪️RS-24 Yars
The Yars is a ICBM that can be deployed on both road-mobile and silo-based platforms, carrying a payload of three reentry vehicles (RVs) each with a nuclear yield of about 200 kT.

▪️RS-28 Sarmat
Entered into combat duty in September 2023, the Sarmat is designed to replace the Voevoda ICBM. It can carry up to 16 warheads, each with an explosive yield of up to 750 kT.

▪️Avangard
Launched by an ICBM and equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle (GV), the Avangard can reach speeds of Mach 27 and has an estimated nuclear yield between 800 kT and two megatons.

▪️9M730 Burevestnik
A nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed strategic cruise missile that successfully underwent state tests in October 2023. The stealthy Burevestnik is said to be unstoppable by existing and future air defenses.

▪️Oreshnik
A mobile ground-based intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) system that underwent combat tests in November 2024. It carries a non-nuclear MIRV-type payload and can achieve speeds of Mach 10, making it unstoppable by any air defenses.

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❗️The US State Department denies any involvement in the assassination of Russian chemical defense chief Igor Kirillov.

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🔸 Ex-Pentagon analyst: Murder of Russian General Kirillov in Moscow 'terrorism,' connected to US-Ukraine bio-research revelations

🔸 Find out the most damning revelations slain General Kirillov disclosed about the Pentagon’s biolabs scheme

🔸 Why is America beefing up its military grip on Guam & other unincorporated US territories?

🔸 Mass murder of civilians in Selidovo: Report exposes Ukrainian forces' atrocities

🔸 Do other countries have dedicated UAV services?

🔸 Russia's cutting-edge tracked drone bolsters soldier safety on the battlefield

🔸 Devastated by war: Refuse, disease and despair grip Khan Yunis refugees

🔸 Ensuring peace: Russia marks Strategic Missile Forces Day

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🛸Conspiracy theorists are in for a treat!

A radioactive shipment from the Naz Cancer Center in Newfield, New Jersey, has gone missing.

The cargo, which included medical equipment for scanning cancer tumors, arrived at its destination “damaged and empty.”

The mysterious disappearance of the radioactive material coincided with sightings of drone swarms in the night skies, sparking nationwide intrigue and fueling theories that the drones may be involved in searching for or monitoring the missing cargo.

“Sources classified as ‘Below Category 3 by the IAEA’ are those that are unlikely to cause irreversible damage to humans or contain very small amounts of radioactive material that will not result in irreversible harm,” the notice states.

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