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Defense Express’ Weekly Review: russian Anti-Drone Screens, New Commander of Sunken Moskva Cruiser, Advantages of Ukraine's 2S22 Bohdana Howitzer and More

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2S22 Bohdana self-propelled artillery system of the Ukrainian Armed Forces / Photo credit: Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
2S22 Bohdana self-propelled artillery system of the Ukrainian Armed Forces / Photo credit: Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Digest of Defense Express on the main events of the week

The russians Started Covering Trenches With Anti-Drone Screens

Notably, the russians even use stolen solar panels as shields. These structures enclose trenches from above and the sides.

However, these countermeasures did not entirely prevent a Ukrainian drone operator from approaching the trench entrance and targeting the enemy. This can be seen in the video from the Ukrainian 501st Marine Infantry Battalion.

Read more: Ukrainian Fighters Will Get American Upgrade: Sorting Through the Options

russian Trawlers Sweep Seamines Deployed by Ukrainian Drones

russian minesweeping ships were clearing out the Black Sea waters near Sevastopol from the naval mines allegedly laid by Ukrainian naval drones.

Ivan Golubets naval trawler of the Black Sea Fleet of the russian Navy, Defense Express
Ivan Golubets naval trawler of the Black Sea Fleet of the russian Navy / Illustrative archive photo

In October 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully deployed a significant number of sea mines near Sevastopol by unknown means. Moreover, apparently, this episode was so sensitive that russians acknowledged the very fact of such an event only two months later.

Ukrainian Partisans Sсout Out Military Enlistment Offices in a Number of russian Cities

The Atesh partisan movement sends its agents into the russian army through military recruitment offices to gather information. A military enlistment office in russia’s capital, moscow, was not ignored by the partisans as well.

Standard military enlistment office in russia, Defense Express
Standard military enlistment office in russia / Open source illustrative photo

The Atesh calls on concerned russians to join the movement and fight putin's regime.

Ukraine's 2S22 Bohdana Howitzer: 30 Units in Service, None Destroyed, and the "Positive Problem" With the Chassis

The Ukrainian 155mm 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer, produced domestically, is manufactured at an impressive pace — six howitzers per month. It has already become a fleet of 30 systems. Moreover, none of them has been destroyed so far, despite active usage for artillery strikes on russian positions in occupied Ukraine.

2S22 Bohdana self-propelled artillery system of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Defense Express
2S22 Bohdana self-propelled artillery system of the Ukrainian Armed Forces / Photo credit: Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Ukrainian manufacturer revealed the cost of one Bohdana, which is one of its advantages, and the number of facilities involved in production of this artillery system.

How Could russia Appoint New Commander For the Sunken Moskva Cruiser Ship Six Month Past Its Destruction

Defense Intelligence of Ukraine has published an interesting documentof russian internal military communication, saying the Ministry of Defense of russia had appointed a new commander of the Moskva missile cruiser. The cruiser had been at the bottom of the Black Sea for six months at that time, having been hit by two Ukrainian Neptun anti-ship missiles.

The Moskva cruiser on fire after being hit with Uktainian anti-ship missiles, Defense Express
The Moskva cruiser on fire after being hit with Uktainian anti-ship missiles / Open source photo

The main paradox here is how one can appoint a new commander for a ship that had been destroyed 7 months ago. A possible explanation for that is purely bureaucratic.

In addition, the logic of promoting a military officer followed by his appointment on a sunken ship tells quite a lot about the military culture and the system of penalties and incentives adopted in the russian military tradition.

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