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Defense Express’ Weekly Review: russia Deploys the TDA-3 Smoke Generators and DP-62 Damba Air Defense Systems while Ukraine Gets PzH 2000 and M109 SPGs from Italy and Gepard SPAAGs from Jordan through the U.S.

The Afipsky oil refinery on fire / screenshot from video
The Afipsky oil refinery on fire / screenshot from video

Digest of Defense Express on the main events of the week

The UK Defense Intelligence Explained Smoke on Crimean Bridge on May 24

As Defense Express reported, the Ivan Khurs (Project 18280) reconnaissance ship was allegedly attacked by three unmanned maritime drones while passing through the Bosporus Strait on May 24. Later, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine posted a video from unmanned maritime drone hitting the Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship on May 24. Despite the fact that the russian Defense Ministry denies the damage of one of only two such ships in the entire fleet, Ukrainian Ministry claims that the reality is different.

Smoke sighted coming from the Crimea Bridge over the Kerch Strait Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: russia Deploys the TDA-3 Smoke Generators and DP-62 Damba Air Defense Systems while Ukraine Gets PzH 2000 and M109 SPGs from Italy and Gepard SPAAGs from Jordan through the U.S.
Smoke sighted coming from the Crimea Bridge over the Kerch Strait / screenshot from video

Moreover, on May 24, 2023, russia conducted a security exercise around the Crimean Bridge. This included the creation of a smoke screen, partially masking the bridge, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.

Read more: Chronicle of the russian federation Crimes in Ukraine (June 2023)

Unknown drones attacked russian oil refinery on May 31 (video)

The governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratiev, reported that as a result of the attack of one drone, the flames covered only 100 square meters, and “one heating oil distillation unit” was also damaged.

However, the actual situation presents a completely different picture, as evidenced by a video captured by a local resident. It is worth noting that previous videos shared on the internet were taken from a greater distance, failing to accurately depict the true scale of the events.

Italy sent to Ukraine not only the SAMP/T, but also PzH 2000 and M109 SPG for near dozen batteries

Analysts of the Oryx portal, based on open sources, decided to calculate the amount of military aid Italy has already managed to provide to Ukraine. And it turns out that the Italians helped to strengthen some important branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular artillery and air defense.

The PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer of the Italian Army during NATO training exercises in 2015 / open source Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: russia Deploys the TDA-3 Smoke Generators and DP-62 Damba Air Defense Systems while Ukraine Gets PzH 2000 and M109 SPGs from Italy and Gepard SPAAGs from Jordan through the U.S.
The PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer of the Italian Army during NATO training exercises in 2015 / open source

Ukraine’s Armed Forces to receive Gepard SPAAG from Jordan through the US: delivery deadlines and cost have been announced

The Armed Forces of Ukraine can count on reinforcements with Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) systems, which are already actively used and have proven their high effectiveness in the fight against russia’s drones and cruise missiles. While previously the source of these SPAAGs was Germany, the United States has now joined as well.

The Gepard SPAAG or the Cheetah anti-aircraft-gun tank of the Armed Forces of Jordan Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: russia Deploys the TDA-3 Smoke Generators and DP-62 Damba Air Defense Systems while Ukraine Gets PzH 2000 and M109 SPGs from Italy and Gepard SPAAGs from Jordan through the U.S.
The Gepard SPAAG or the Cheetah anti-aircraft-gun tank of the Armed Forces of Jordan / open source

Specifically, according to the Pentagon’s contracting report on May 31, an agreement was announced with the American company Global Military Products Inc. The contract entails the supply of an undisclosed quantity of Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) for a total value of $118.37 million. The contract is set to be completed by May 30, 2024.

The russians in Crimea are so afraid of Ukraine’s USVs that they deployed rare DP-62 Damba systems in Sevastopol

A photo appeared on the network showing a system, potentially identified as the DP-62 Damba, at the entrance to the harbor of the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. The DP-62 Damba is a system developed based on the BM-21 Grad MLRS. It is designed to counter landing operations, combat saboteurs and engage small naval targets.

The DP-62 Damba jet bombing system, temporarily occupied Sevastopol, May 2023 Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: russia Deploys the TDA-3 Smoke Generators and DP-62 Damba Air Defense Systems while Ukraine Gets PzH 2000 and M109 SPGs from Italy and Gepard SPAAGs from Jordan through the U.S.
The DP-62 Damba jet bombing system, temporarily occupied Sevastopol, May 2023 / open source
Read more: Chronicle of the russian federation Crimes in Ukraine (May 2023)