Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Don’t expect peaches from an apple tree.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

When we show up, we win.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Democrats have delivered the Square Deal, the New Deal, the Fair Deal, and now… the Big Joe Biden Deal.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

We’re not going back!

It’s a doggy dog world.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

No one could have predicted…

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

I was promised a recession.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Be a traveling stable for those who can’t find room at the inn.

The revolution will be supervised.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 721: The Ukrainians Christen Another Russian Submarine

War for Ukraine Day 721: The Ukrainians Christen Another Russian Submarine

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A painting by NEIVANMADE entitled and captions "Kid Killers: Are Fish Food Now." That is painted in red in the upper right corner on a white background. Below it is blue water with a Russian navy ship or plane sinking below the waves. The wreckage has the "Z" symbol painted on it in red. Written below that in blue across the bottom white border is: "You below with your breath, and the sea covered them."

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

A quick housekeeping note: today was my long day, so this is going to be much, much briefer than last night’s post.

+1 russian ship was upgraded to a submarine.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the units of the @DI_Ukraine, destroyed the Caesar Kunikov large landing ship.
At the time of the attack, the ship was in the territorial waters of Ukraine, near Alupka.

Black Sea fish will definitely like Caesar salad.

 

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

Ramping up our production is meant to protect the lives of our warriors and expand our capabilities at the front – address by the President of Ukraine

14 February 2024 – 20:16

Dear Ukrainians!

A summary of this day.

First of all, I thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the warriors of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine – Group 13 of the 9th Department. Today we have increased security in the Black Sea and added motivation to our people. This is important. Step by step we will clear the Black Sea of Russian terrorist objects.

Second. Today, I held a special, lengthy meeting on one of the key issues of this war, namely, our Ukrainian capabilities to counter Russian drones. The meeting was attended by Syrskyi, Umerov, Sukharevskyi, Shmyhal, Kamyshin, Fedorov, Yermak, Korosteliov, representatives of manufacturers, and intelligence officials. I listened to the report on current developments. We are working on both electronic warfare systems and air defense systems. Already about half of the existing systems are Ukrainian-made, developed by our people. Of course, there are also joint projects with partners. And, in fact, there are quite a few productions launched and developments slated for production. The key thing now is to integrate all of them into the practice of applying at the front. Proper adjustment and reconfiguration based on real combat needs, proper deployment, proper and systemic integration into combat tactics. Proper interaction between the demands of the front and the capabilities of our industry. Maximizing our production capacity. Ultimately, this means protecting the lives of our warriors and expanding our operational capabilities at the front. From countering Russian “Orlan” drones to destroying Russian electronic warfare. This year must yield more results for Ukraine – exactly the ones that will restore security for Ukrainian operations. I am grateful to all our developers and manufacturers, to everyone who develops a modern technological component in the Defense Forces. The state will take all the financial, organizational and regulatory steps required. And we must realize that everything that our state and our people will now learn to produce for the sake of our Ukrainian goals in the war will definitely become part of Ukrainian exports after the war, after we achieve our goals. Absolutely fair ones. Ukraine’s global role is to be a security donor, a security exporter. Ukrainians know how to be strong and will always be strong and help others.

Third. Another expansion of our international coalitions, including the drone coalition. The Netherlands, Germany, and Estonia have joined the UK, Latvia, and Sweden. The foundation of the coalition is strong, and the coalition is already working. And today, by the way, is a new meeting of Ramstein. Increasing joint production and speeding up deliveries of drones and air defense are the top priorities of this Ramstein.

And one more thing.

Last night, Russian terrorists brutally shelled the city of Selydove in Donetsk region, hitting apartment buildings, ordinary civilian neighborhoods and a hospital. A targeted Russian strike on the city. At the time of this strike, there were almost 150 patients in the hospital, three people were killed – a mother with a little son and a woman who was preparing to become a mother. My condolences to the families and friends! The Russian state will definitely face retaliation for this strike.

We must win, we must fulfill our Ukrainian objectives. Security can only be gained through strength and by the strong.

Glory to all who fight for our country and people! Glory to all who work for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

For those of you wondering what is going on with the drone coalition:

Quote tweet:

Latvia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, and Sweden will help Ukraine by delivering drones, testing equipment, and training soldiers within the Drone coalition.
The coalition aims to provide one million drones for Ukraine.

Also, within the year, Latvia will invest at least 10 million euros in the development of the drone coalition.

We are grateful to our partners for strengthening our defense capabilities. Drones play a key role on the battlefield and bring Victory closer.

Quoted tweet:

Allied countries joined Latvian and Ukrainian drone coalition which aims to provide one million drones in support of Ukraine 🇺🇦.
With Danish, Dutch, Estonian, German, Lithuanian and Swedish Allies, we will help Ukraine by delivering drones, testing equipment, and training soldiers.
Together with @rustem_umerov we look forward to productive partnership and other countries joining our drone coalition.
Razom do peremogi!
#StandWithUkraine #StrongerTogether

Also, there is a new demining coalition:

Patron is going to have all sorts of new friends to lick!

And the air defense coalition:

France and Germany will co-lead the coalition in support of Ukraine’s air defense within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

Air defense is crucial to saving the lives of Ukrainian people.
We are grateful to our partners for their unwavering support. Together, we are stronger.
@Armees_Gouv

@BMVg_Bundeswehr

And not to be left out is the Air Force capability coalition:

🇨🇦🇺🇦 Canada will make a new contribution of $60 million to the Air Force Capability Coalition.
The funds will support the setup of a sustainable F-16 fighter aircraft capability and source vitally needed supplies such as spare parts, weapons stations, avionics, and ammunition.

We are grateful to our Canadian friends for their staunch support. Despite the significant distance between our countries, we are bonded by shared values and a love of freedom.

The cost:

Diana Wagner, a combat medic from Germany, is being farewelled in Kyiv

The reason:

NPR has the details on Valentine’s Day in Ukraine at war:

A week before Valentine’s Day, Inna Yermolovych and Yulya Dmytrieeva booked train tickets from Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, to the east, where they will meet their husbands — soldiers who serve in the same unit.

“On this day, we usually expect presents and flowers, cards and hearts,” says Inna, a 30-something import manager and hat-maker. “Not this year.”

She and her husband, Dima, are newlyweds. She hasn’t seen him for a month. Seeing him for even a couple of days, she says, “recharges me.”

“It’s amazing, these moments,” she says. “I enjoy even how he’s drinking tea or how he’s putting on his shoes or, like, how he’s moving, just to see he’s breathing.”

Yulya and her husband, Vadym, have been together for almost 14 years. “He’s incredible,” says Yulya, who’s 49, works in IT and has red-tinted dreadlocks. “He’s creative. And he makes people around him happy.”

The women board a train headed to the Donetsk region, where the war’s fiercest fighting is going on. It’s filled with the partners of soldiers fighting there. The route that starts in Kyiv and ends in the city of Kramatorsk is sometimes called the “train of love.”

Inna and Yulya are due to get off at the train’s second-to-last stop. Inna’s husband, Dima, arrives first.

“She’s the best thing in my life,” he says. “She’s what I’m fighting for and what I live for.”

Then Yulya’s husband, Vadym, arrives, running to the train of love to meet her. Like Yulya, he also has dreadlocks, but his are dyed blue and yellow — the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Vadym’s face lights up when he sees his wife. She jumps into his arms and they kiss. Inna and Dima hug each other tightly.

There are reunions all day at the Sloviansk station and at the train’s final stop, in Kramatorsk. Every day is Valentine’s Day here. Shops that sell flowers and chocolates are always busy, making as much money as they did before the war.

It’s snowing, so Dima and Vadym take their wives to a cafe to warm up. They try to see their wives as often as possible. They lament that wartime separation has ended too many marriages.

“Some wives go abroad and build new lives,” Dima says. “And sometimes, women who stay here cannot understand how their husbands change on the battlefield.”

Vadym brings up a soldier in their unit who divorced his wife.

“She made all of us these,” Vadym says, holding up his wrist to show a knitted friendship bracelet. “After we returned from a difficult combat mission, something snapped in him and he said he could no longer talk to her.”

Much more at the link, including pictures.

Lifting Ukraine has a deep dive on a Ukrainain female bodybuilder who is also rescuing stray animals in Ukraine.

In the southern Ukrainian city Mykolaiv, Anna Kurkurina has developed something of a reputation. It’s midweek, 10 a.m. at Grand, a powerlifting gym and fitness center. As she sets down an enormous barbell, the muscular 57-year-old lets out a quiet, satisfied laugh. She’s just curled 55 kilograms (121 pounds), the equivalent of two window air-conditioning units.

It’s a stunning weight that draws stares from some and admiring glances from those who know Kurkurina, a regular presence at the gym. Her trainer offers praise and a high five, but she shrugs it off. She is here to work.

Kurkurina’s phone rings, one of more than 150 times it will demand her attention that day. The caller, desperate, has found a badly injured dog and doesn’t know what to do. Could she help?

The call ends, and Kurkurina resumes her workout, a grueling routine of chest, back, and biceps exercises. In between reps she attends to the phone; its alerts haven’t stopped since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

An hour later, as Kurkurina exits the gym energized and focused for the day ahead, an elderly woman intercepts her. Distraught, the woman has more than 20 war-orphaned cats in her small apartment, but no money for food or litter. Could she help?

Later in the evening, as Kurkurina stacks large bags of dog food, a van stops in front of her home. The side door opens and a wheelchair-bound man dressed in a camouflage top rushes into a lengthy appeal. He’s taken in more than 10 dogs abandoned during Russia’s bombardment of Mykolaiv. His income isn’t enough to feed all the new mouths. Could she help?

Something of a celebrity sans vanity or a desire for fame, Kurkurina cuts a striking figure. A three-time powerlifting world champion, she is one of the strongest women in the world, a label that’s bolstered by at least 14 world records.

Following Russia’s invasion, Kurkurina dedicated herself to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming cats and dogs found roaming the region’s war-torn streets. Now she is known for more than just her physical strength. She’s known as someone who will never say no when called upon for help.

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was bound to upend life in Mykolaiv, a strategically important port city on the Black Sea. In order to project its power into Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Russia needs to control this body of water; the assault on Mykolaiv aimed to render the city uninhabitable. Airstrikes have leveled residential and government buildings, the city’s clean water infrastructure was destroyed, and electricity remains unstable.

After Russia’s 2014 invasion and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, a nationwide spirit of volunteerism emerged across Ukraine. This ethos evolved into a movement known loosely as the “volonteri,” an informal network of helpers that is a central force in Ukraine’s fight for freedom and identity.

Kurkurina is more than just a symbol of this social crusade. In a time of war, she’s one of many citizens who have built networks of mutual aid and horizontal cooperation that have proved more effective and reliable than Ukraine’s battle-worn government institutions.

“What can I tell you? People here, we cannot just sit and wait,” Kurkurina says. “We must make our own contribution to [the future of] our nation.”

Much much more, including pics and video, at the link!

Avdiivka:

 

A fresh update from @Deepstate_UA.

Russians have proceeded with their breakthrough between Avdiivka and the coal plant and are moving fast towards the alternative ground lines of communication to the west.

Critical, grueling shortage of munitions and many other key necessities continues taking their toll.

“As for why the ZSU is not withdrawing from Avidiivka: well, contacts deployed there say it’s better to continue fighting inside the town, where there is plentiful of cover, than to withdraw west of it – into the open, where there is no cover… even field fortifications there wouldn’t offer as good protection as the ruins of Avidiivka and the Coke Plant.”
https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/ukraine-war-14-february-2024-showdown?r=29p5bp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwAR2Nu9EyXZLivtwnR179Dky8NiegVysik50dzPlsO9oR6ZUr5W_GmbtPj9g

 

 

President Biden receives his highest level endorsement yet:

This is great news for either John McCain or DougJ.

Poleyeva, Kursk Oblast, Russia:

I’m not seeing a downside here.

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new video from Patron’s official TikTok:

@patron__dsns

Наймиліший тренд у всьому тіктоці 🥹 #песпатрон

♬ оригінальний звук – Cozy farm

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

The cutest trend in the entire tiktok 🥹 #песпатрон

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

36Comments

  1. 1.

    Yutsano

    Patron as a puppy is teh cuteness overload we all need.

    It’s also nice of Ukrainian Special Forces to think of the poor starving fish in the Black Sea.

  2. 2.

    Alison Rose

    I am…unsure how to feel about putin’s remarks. I would prefer to pretend they didn’t happen.

    I can’t imagine not just being apart from your spouse for so long, but having to spend every moment worrying you might never see them again. The mental anguish of that is heartbreaking.

    Thank you as always, Adam.

  4. 4.

    Another Scott

    I think Tendar makes some good points in his latest:

    There is indication that Putin tried to freeze the conflict in Ukraine by bypassing the Ukrainian leadership and talk to the US, which understandably rejected the request. Ukraine is an independent nation and is the only one to be addressed, but that is not the real topic.

    The real topic is that this very move is very revealing. Just like the constant Russian yelling that Ukraine should “surrender already”, it tells us that Russia is not in that shape to have a long war. If they could win this war, they would have done it long ago. They already stopped claiming that they intend to take Ukraine as “careful” as possible, because it wasn’t possible to sell that garbage even to their brain washed audience. They simple cannot succeed.

    Aside from the military failure, the economy is a far greater concern for Moscow. The Russian economy is basically a war economy which produces zero permanent value. Every destroyed tank, every fired grenade, every sunk ship is equal to a GDP loss. The long-term prognostications for Russia’s economy and future altogether are absolutely grim. While all industries in the world invest in automation, IT, AI, new technologies in general, is Russia caught in retrofitting T-62 and T-55, which after costly deployment get burned the very next month. I doubt that I have to explain too much how much “value” this produces for humankind in the 21st Century. If the Russian economy wants to have even a theoretical chance of survival then it needs this war to be ended right now.

    […]

    Slava Ukraini!!

    Thanks, Adam and everyone.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  5. 5.

    japa21

    @Alison Rose: He’s hoping that anti-Putin folks will vote for Trump.  It’s so ludicrous it’s almost laughable, until you realize that people will buy it.  And of course, Trump will bring it up as well.

  7. 7.

    West of the Rockies

    At the risk of sounding ghoulish,  if 100+ Russian sailors perished in that sinking, bloody good riddance.

  9. 9.

    Carlo Graziani

    @japa21: More likely, in my view, is that he’s read the room correctly, and knows that any endorsement of Trump, or even explicit linkage of Russian interests to Trumpian policy, would likely be toxic to Trump’s chances.

    He’s probably also hedging, because he doesn’t think too much of Trump’s chances in the election. As far as he’s concerned, any great-power leader who cannot subvert legal processes to remain in power while in control of military, intelligence, security, and law-enforcement apparatuses—as Trump failed to do with his farcical 1/6 coup attempt—cannot be taken seriously. As a chaos agent, weakening the US from the inside, Trump is useful. As a potential partner, well, “go rub a lamp” is what Putin probably thinks at this point.

    He’s likely to be dealing with Biden again in 2025, and he may still be hoping to deal with Washington rather than with Kyiv to end this catastrophic war, which, let us not forget, has wrecked all his pre-2022 dreams of growing Russian power amid domestic civic “normalcy.” So being civil about Biden makes sense.

  11. 11.

    oldster

    That was not a small ship — over 300 feet long. And probably one of the five biggest ship remaining in the Black Sea Fleet — or now, not remaining.

    It’s a good victory.

    I wonder whether they have figured out a way to have those speedboat drones submerge themselves temporarily in order to lurk and loiter in low-profile mode. If they could reduce their freeboard to a matter of inches, then they would be much harder to spot. Then they could blow ballast and pop up for the run-in. The videos of the attack on the Kunikov seem to show no defensive fire, no attempt to shoot the drones out of the water. Improved stealth? Sleepy crew?

    Hard to know. But it’s a good victory.

  15. 15.

    Yutsano

    @oldster: ​This is more and more reminding me of the American Naval exercise where the team that was simulating Iran managed to sink the American fleet with mostly small boats. The commander of the American fleet called it cheating. The Ukrainians are proving it’s actually effective warfare on the seas. And the US Navy better be prepared for that.

  19. 19.

    YY_Sima Qian

    In other news, US intelligence believes the at Russia intends field space based nuclear weaponry, possibly for anti-satellite purposes. Space has been militarized since the early Cold War, but placing or detonating nuclear weapons in space will be highly damaging to all utilization if near earth space, high dangerous & highly escalatory. It would also put the nail in the coffin for the Outer Space Treaty.

    GOP warning of ‘national security threat’ is about Russia wanting nuclear weapon in space: Sources
    It would not be to drop a weapon on Earth but to possibly use on satellites.
    By John Parkinson, Luke Barr, Anne Flaherty, Luis Martinez, and Adam Carlson
    February 15, 2024, 6:27 AM

    …

    Russia’s Advances on Space-Based Nuclear Weapon Draw U.S. Concerns
    A congressman’s cryptic statement about new intelligence set Washington abuzz and infuriated White House officials.
    By Julian E. Barnes, Karoun Demirjian, Eric Schmitt and David E. Sanger

    Julian E. Barnes, Karoun Demirjian and Eric Schmitt reported from Washington, and David E. Sanger from Berlin.

    Feb. 14, 2024 Updated 7:32 p.m. ET

    David Burbach at the US Naval War College has a nice short Twitter thread summarizing the dynamic:

    Nuclear weapons detonated in space are actually quite effective against satellites — indiscriminately But, I have noted before Russia has much much less to lose in space these days than the US or China or other space powers, and could consider “wreck space for everyone” options

    By “less to lose”: 1. Russia has basically zero commercial space sector 2. Sanctions mean they’ve lost having a launch market 3. They’ve pretty much given up on space science and are pulling back from human space flight

    That’s very different than China, which does have big ambitions for commercial use of space and for demonstrating legitimacy / earning prestige through space exploration.

    China I think would also care more about the harm laying waste to space would do to its international relations and foreign commercial dealings than would Russia. Doesnt mean China would leave space alone, but more tradeoffs to spoiling than for Russia

    Burbach also notes in a reply lower on the thread that the radiation belt from a nuclear detonation in space would continue to persist & damage/destroy any satellites that pass through for days to weeks afterward.

    Using the EMP & residual radiation from nukes as an indiscriminate anti-satellite weapon is hardly a new concept, & tested since the 60s. However, there is no particularly reason to base such nukes in space, launching missile from the ground would suffice just as well. The only purpose I can think if is to disguise as innocent civilian spacecraft during peacetime, held for surprise attack. Any nuke positioned in space for anti-satellite purposes can just as easily be redirected toward the upper atmosphere to created an EMP pulse that destroys most of the ground based civilian communication & electronics, or conceivably toward ground targets, too, & w/ far less warning than an ICBM launch.

    No, Putin isn’t suicidally planning a nuclear 1st strike, but as Burbach suggests he is merely looking to spoil any semblance of international order, starting w/ heightening the sense of anxiety & insecurity around the world, so that Russia can benefit from the anarchy.

    PS: While the intel is highly alarming, it is not a clear & preset danger, either. I am not sure why Turner is behaving as if it is.

     

  20. 20.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @YY_Sima Qian: I guess some GOPer Rep. thought the natsec briefing on the Russian plans to place anti-satellite nukes in space was actually going to be about aliens?! I don;t know whether to laugh or cry.

    BNO News
    @BNONews

    U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) after national security threat briefing: “It’s definitely not about aliens” but “it confirms “there’s no intelligent life in Congress” – RC

  22. 22.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Again in other news, from +972Mag:

    Israel is surveilling U.S. data on settler attacks to thwart sanctions, sources reveal
    Intelligence sources say Israel seeks to counter information sent privately to the U.S. by the PA, fearing actions against violent West Bank settlers.
    By Yuval Abraham February 14, 2024

    …

    “We want to know what the Americans know,” one Israeli source told +972 and Local Call. “The goal is to know what is going to hit us when Fenzel comes and demands answers about these cases. It’s not for going after the settlers and arresting them — that’s why a lot of people here felt uncomfortable doing it.

    “The preoccupation with what the Americans know stems from [the understanding] that they intend to do something with this information,” the source continued. “Everyone here knows the name Fenzel. The Americans are demanding accountability from Israel, and the Israelis are finding themselves embarrassed. The fact that we are being asked to look for the materials indicates that Israel has no good answers.”

    …

  24. 24.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Manyakitty: I think in 2022 there was the PRC testing a Fractional Orbit Bombardment System (FOBS) that released a maneuberable hypersonic payload during its hypersonic glide reentry phase. The payload missed the target by a few dozen kilometers, but the overall test showed enough advancement to raise a lot of concerns among US natsec analysts.

    FOBS would allow the PRC’s nuclear strike against CONUS to evade the early warning radars & BMD intercepters in Alaska (not that BMD is at all reliable), but the concept also dates back to the height of the Cold War. What alarmed many US analysts was the the FOBS releasing a maneuverable hypersonic payload during its own hypersonic glide reentry, & the payload came close to hitting its target. DOD officials were claiming to the press that the US did not have this capability, & did not fully understand the physics of doing so in atmosphere.

    I have seen reporting that the PRC has since tested the same system at least once more since, possibly w/ greater success.

  25. 25.

    Urza

    Anyone else pretty sure that any man, country or military still naming things after Caesar just has small dick energy.  2000 years is long enough.  Name it after your own generals or musicians or politicians.

  26. 26.

    Carlo Graziani

    @Another Scott: At the University of Chicago, there’s a new physics building (the Michaelson building) that was built on the site of an older one (the Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research, LASR). Unusually, the old building was not demolished, but merely gutted, remodeled, and added to, at greater expense than would have otherwise been the case.

    The reason for this decision is that the older LASR had basement “radiation-quiet” labs built using construction materials whose manufacturing preceded the 1962 Starfish test. All later concrete, rebar, etc. contains long-lived radionuclides from that test, which deposited them the world over. Those elements provide an unacceptably high background for testing delicate instrumentation.

    Basically, the world’s background radiation levels spiked as a result of that small series of tests. Not to levels with serious epidemiological consequences, but enough to understand that such consequences are conceivable, and enough to bring about the space test ban treaty.

    If Russia is really deploying such weapons, the gloves need to come off. This would constitute a direct and unignorable threat to International security.

  27. 27.

    Manyakitty

    @YY_Sima Qian: okay, maybe that’s it. I’ve been reading about the garbage dump in orbit up there and possible solutions so it’s all been on my mind.

    Thank you!

  28. 28.

    Jinchi

    @Urza: Anyone else pretty sure that any man, country or military still naming things after Caesar just has small dick energy.

    I guess Little Caesar’s is the most self-aware pizza.

  30. 30.

    ColoradoGuy

    The Ukrainian sea drones are interesting. They are so close to wave height that they would be lost in radar clutter … waves look like flickering noise on a scope, and an object in the waves is hard to distinguish. And the curved surfaces of the drones further dissipate radar, bouncing it upwards instead towards the shipborne transmitter.

    The drones are apparently steered in realtime by remote operators, presumably through low-latency satellite links, which is an impressive achievement for a boat bobbing in the water … satellite signals are very weak and require precise aiming of the antenna. Maybe a phased array with electronic stabilization.

    Those sea drones look like harmless canoes, but there’s some serious tech there. I hope the US Navy is paying attention.

  31. 31.

    Bill Arnold

    It’s worth mentioning that the original Project Orion proposed whet were described as (essentially) shaped nuclear charges for the propulsion capsules, and that, allegedly, interest in these continued into the Reagan era Star Wars/SDI program, with a newer design called Casaba-Howitzer that directed the plasma into a much tighter bolt at the expense of some efficiency (that being the ratio of the part of the explosion going the intended direction over the total energy). Basically, a “eat hot nuclear plasma” weapon. Suitable for use versus small unwanted artificial moons (unpowered spacecraft). (Be they of human or alien origin. :-) IF one does not care about the consequences of the use of such devices in space. IMO, such proposals should be slapped down very hard.
    This is distinct from the bomb-pumped x-ray laser proposals (pushed by Teller among others).
    It is possible that bored Russian nuclear weapons designers are playing with exotic designs, and/or maybe propulsion systems. (And scroll down the first link for a hybrid thought-design that uses a directed nuclear explosion to accelerate a projectile.)

    [projectrho.com is basically a sourcebook for science fiction writers – might not want to take the diagrams seriously]
    “Front Towards Enemy”
    Nuclear Shaped Charges
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casaba-Howitzer

  32. 32.

    Redshift

    @Urza:

    Name it after your own generals or musicians or politicians.

    Not to spoil the joke, but it was named after Soviet Naval Infantry officer Tsezar Kunikov, apparently.

  34. 34.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @ColoradoGuy: The Ukrainian sea drones are using Starlink for real time data link, that has much higher bandwidth & download/upload speeds than traditional maritime communications satellites or even the dedicated military communications satellites deployed by NATO & the PRC.

  35. 35.

    YY_Sima Qian

    More reporting emerged that the new Russian system is nuclear powered rather than nuclear armed. James Acton of the Carnegie Endowment has some thoughts on what the might mean:

    @NewsHour
    reporting that the Russian mystery weapon may be a nuclear-POWERED (not a nuclear-armed) anti-satellite system. If so, it could be highly effective, though also grossly irresponsible. (1/n) https://pbs.org/newshour/show/national-security-warning-reportedly-involves-russian-space-weapon

    I assume the advantage of a nuclear reactor is that it could generate large amounts of energy that could be used for electromagnetic attacks across a large volume of space. (2/n)

    More speculatively, I wonder if this is a reaction to U.S. military interest in proliferated constellations, i.e. constellations comprising large number of small satellites that are resilient against kinetic attack. (3/n)

    It appears to be grossly irresponsible because what do you do with a nuclear reactor in orbit when the satellite has finished its useful life? You really, really don’t want it to burn up on re-entry which is the normal disposal “solution” for satellites in LEO…(4/n)

    Caveat: There’s a shitton we don’t know. Is it nuclear powered or nuclear-armed? What orbit? Has this thing been launched or is it at an earlier phase of development? (5/5)

    People replying to him have pointed out the the USSR had long used proper nuclear reactors in satellites, including for its RORSATs that were tasked w/ tracking the movement of USN CVBGs in the Atlantic, so that they can be attacked by the Soviet Navy’s submarines & Soviet Naval Aviation’s bombers. These satellites are placed in high orbits, & then parked in graveyard orbits at end of life.

    Since the NYT & the NewsHour reporting contradict each others, we will have to wait for the official word from the USG.

  36. 36.

    hotshoe

    @ColoradoGuy: ​
     
    Yes, I know that once you’ve enlisted into a navy, you can’t just refuse to board the ship whenever you’re worried about getting killed. But imagine how terrified the remaining ships’ crews must be when this news circulates. There isn’t anything they can do to fight back. It’s not like WWII movies where the ship might be able to drop charges on the attacking submarine — when a sub was making a lot of radar noise and could be detected. I hope it’s terrible for Russian morale. I hope it makes lowlife sailors so unhappy that they try to sabotage their own ships in hopes of having to stay in port for repairs (although, that’s not safe either, hahah).
    Now, after the success Ukraine is having with sinking Russian navy ships … if I were forced into serving on a Russian ship, I think I would rather go AWOL in Sevastopol, hike three hundred kilometers north, and look for the first Ukrainian unit I could surrender to … huge risk of getting killed either way. Which would you rather?

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