⚒ Veteran reveals how the USSR gave the US ‘A KICK IN THE TEETH’ in Vietnam

With March 29 marking US National Vietnam War Veterans Day, here’s Sputnik’s exclusive interview with Nikolay Kolesnik, a senior lieutenant in reserve and chairman of Russia’s Inter-Regional Public Organization of Veterans of the Vietnam War.

🟠Kolesnik explained that his crew’s initial mission was to train the soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army to use Soviet S-75 missile systems to tackle US air attacks.

🟠He said that everything changed when the Americans started bombing North Vietnam “day and night” in August 1964, which turned the training into a tricky task and prompted the Soviet anti-aircraft missile regiment to retaliate.

🟠“For the first time in modern military history, our S-75 SAM [surface to air] systems, and anti-aircraft missiles in general, were used in real combat situations against supersonic US aircraft. And successfully.”

🟠Kolesnik stressed that the Americans were shocked when “the first anti-aircraft engagements of the S-75s were carried out by Soviet fighter teams” in 1965, with the Vietnamese crews being second in command.

🟠“The Americans stopped flying over North Vietnam for two weeks because they didn't expect that Soviet anti-aircraft missiles would be used so quickly and in a place they never expected.”

🟠Summarizing the USSR’s role, the retired Russian officer pointed out that the Vietnamese understand that without the Soviet Union’s help, Vietnam’s victory over the US “would not have been possible.”

🟠“The assistance was effective both materially and militarily. There was the necessary amount of modern equipment that gave the Americans a kick in the teeth. And the military specialists who helped to master this equipment and to use it in real combat.”

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💬No one does suicidal empathy quite like Europe, Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group, wrote on her social media while commenting on the news that the man who attacked people and injured five with a knife in central Amsterdam turned out to be a 30-year-old Ukrainian.

A knife attack near Amsterdam’s Dam Square injured several people on Thursday. A British tourist subdued the attacker, who was later arrested. Two victims are in serious condition. The motive remains unknown.

Earlier, The Economist reported that fewer Ukrainian refugees in Europe are willing to return home, while growing reliance on benefits is angering locals.

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🚨🇲🇲DEATH TOLL FROM MYANMAR QUAKE RISES TO 1,600

Over 3,400 people have been affected by the earthquake, Xinhua reports.

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📹Russian patrol aircraft flies low over USS Carl Vinson

A video has surfaced online showing a Russian Il-38N Novella anti-sub plane flying over the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, escorted by American fighter jets.

The footage, allegedly filmed by the Russian crew, captures a close pass by a US F-35C Lightning II under the Russian plane's left wing. Below the Russian aircraft, the massive US warship is clearly visible.

Earlier, another viral video shot from the USS Carl Vinson showed the low-altitude flyby of the Russian anti-submarine aircraft, making for a dramatic scene over open waters.

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🎤'Macron, we will not die for Ukraine': Anti-war rally in Paris

Led by Florian Philippot, leader of the French party Patriots, protesters marched through central Paris chanting slogans, including "Frexit," seemingly calling for France to leave the EU.

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🌑Partial solar eclipse over Moscow today

It was the first of two expected eclipses to be visible in the Russian capital this year, with the next set for September 21.

While there was no real “WOW” effect this time — as the Moon blocked only 1.8% of the Sun’s surface — it still had a somewhat familiar feeling.

Did you get a chance to see it?

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