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September 2023
Ukraine scored a strategic victory over
Russia in the Black Sea. It managed to lift
the Russian blockade and resume grain
exports independently. It continues to do so
today and in greater volume than before the
grain agreement allowed. On September 13th,
the Minsk landing ship and the Rostov-on-
Don submarine were destroyed by Storm
Shadow missiles in the dry dock at the port of
Sevastopol. Subsequently, on September 22nd,
the Sevastopol headquarters of the Black Sea
Fleet was also destroyed in the same way. It
preferred to move its ships further east.
Russia began using Lancet drones with
longer range, hitting several Ukrainian
aircraft at airports near the cities of Kryvyi
Rih and Mykolaiv. The results of the attacks
were monitored by Russian reconnaissance
drones. Their operations dozens of kilometers
behind the front line continue to cause
problems for Ukrainians to this day.
October 2023
The month began with another terrible
Russian war crime. During a mourning
gathering held at the funeral of a soldier in
the village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region,
an Iskander missile was launched. It killed
59 people - 36 women, 22 men, and one child.
A UN investigation confirmed that all victims
were civilians, and Russia bears responsibility
for their deaths.
Ukraine received ATACMS missiles with
a longer range, and on October 17th, they were
used against Russian helicopter airfields in
Berdiansk and Luhansk. Russian armed forces
lost 46 helicopters.
On the ground, a stalemate occurred.
The Ukrainian advance to the south halted
in the Robotyne and Verbove areas after
reaching the third - main Russian defense line.
Conversely, the Russians launched their own
massive attack on Avdiivka near Donetsk.
November 2023
In the port of Kerch on the occupied Crimea,
the Russian corvette Askold was destroyed
by Storm Shadow missiles on November 4th.
In November, Russians increased the intensity
of attacks with Iranian Shahed drones. They
helped them map Ukrainian air defense
positions. Allies were strengthening it before
winter. Germany supplied the IRIS
-
T system
and another Patriot, while Norway provided
additional NASAMS systems. Results from
the FrankenSAM program, which combines
elements of various systems - such as
American missiles with Soviet launchers or
Soviet radars with Western launchers, began
arriving from the USA
December 2023
The Patriot system delivered from Germany
became very active. On December 5th,
a Russian Su-24M was shot down near the
Snake Island while attempting to attack Odesa.
Both crew members died. The identity of one of
them was confirmed only now, he was Captain
Yevgeny Baterin. Subsequently, on December
17th, a Russian Su-25 was shot down, and on
December 22nd, three Su-34s were shot down
at once. On Christmas Eve, December 24th,
Ukrainians announced another Su-34 and one
Su-30 shot down.
The destruction of the Black Sea Fleet
Former Czech Kub system in Ukraine
Storm Shadow missile on the pylon of a Ukrainian
Su-24.
Mobile machine gun in action against drones.
Night time interception of the drones.
Shot down Iranian-made Shahed drone sporting black
paint for night missions.
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April 2024