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Russia tells Turkey it has "nothing to do" with strike on Ukraine's Odesa port - Turkish minister
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's defence minister said on Saturday Russian officials had told Ankara that Moscow had "nothing to do" with strikes on Ukraine's Odesa port.
"In our contact with Russia, the Russians told us that they had absolutely nothing to do with this attack, and that they were examining the issue very closely and in detail," Defence Minister Hulusai Akar said in a statement.
"The fact that such an incident took place right after the agreement we made yesterday really worried us," he added.
www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/russia-denies-strike-on-u...
Russia denies strike on Ukraine's Odessa port soon after grain deal
by Associated Press
Turkey said it was "concerned" by attacks on the Ukrainian port of Odessa Saturday as Ukraine blamed Russia while Kremlin denied striking the port, all a day after Moscow and Kyiv penned a deal sponsored by Ankara and the United Nations to resume grain exports.
"The Russians told us that they had absolutely nothing to do with this attack and they were looking into the issue very closely," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said. "The fact that an incident like this happened after the agreement we made yesterday... really makes us concerned."
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned Saturday's onslaught.
Two Russian Kalibr cruise missiles hit the port's infrastructure and Ukrainian air defenses brought down two others, the Ukrainian military’s Southern Command said. It didn't specify the damage or say whether the strike caused casualties.
"It took less than 24 hours for Russia to launch a missile attack on Odessa’s port, breaking its promises and undermining its commitments before the U.N. and Turkey under the Istanbul agreement,” Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said. "In case of non-fulfillment, Russia will bear full responsibility for a global food crisis,” he added.
Guterres' office issued a statement saying the U.N. chief "unequivocally condemns” the strikes.
"Yesterday, all parties made clear commitments on the global stage to ensure the safe movement of Ukrainian grain and related products to global markets,” the statement said. "These products are desperately needed to address the global food crisis and ease the suffering of millions of people in need around the globe. Full implementation by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative,” it added.
During a Friday signing ceremony in Istanbul, Guterres hailed the deals to open Ukraine's ports in Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny to commercial food exports as "a beacon of hope, a beacon of possibility, a beacon of relief in a world that needs it more than ever.”
The agreements are intended to clear the way for the shipment of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain and some Russian exports of grain and fertilizer held up by the war. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but Russia’s invasion of the country and naval blockade of its ports halted shipments.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press (AP) showed the deals called for a U.N.-led joint coordination center in Istanbul where officials from Ukraine, Russia and Turkey would oversee the scheduling and searches of cargo ships.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that the agreements offered "a chance to prevent a global catastrophe – a famine that could lead to political chaos in many countries of the world, in particular in the countries that help us.”
The head of Zelenskyy's office, Andriy Yermak, said on Twitter that the Odessa strike coming so soon after the endorsement of the Black Sea ports deal illustrated "the Russian diplomatic dichotomy.”
Along with the strike on Odessa, Russia's military fired a barrage of missiles Saturday at an airfield and a railway facility in central Ukraine, killing at least three people, while Ukrainian forces launched rocket strikes on river crossings in a Russian-occupied southern region.
The attacks on key infrastructure marked new attempts by the warring parties to tip the scales of the grinding conflict in their favor.
In Ukraine's central Kirovohradska region, 13 Russian missiles struck an airfield and a railway facility. Governor Andriy Raikovych said that at least one serviceman and two guards were killed. The regional administration reported the strikes near the city of Kirovohrad, wounded another 13 people.
In the southern Kherson region, which Russian troops seized early in the invasion, Ukrainian forces preparing for a potential counteroffensive fired rockets at Dnieper River crossings to try to disrupt supplies to the Russians.
Despite the progress on that front, fighting raged unabated in eastern Ukraine's industrial heartland of the Donbass, where Russian forces tried to make new gains in the face of stiff Ukrainian resistance.
Russian troops also have faced Ukrainian counterattacks but largely held their ground in the Kherson region just north of the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Earlier this week, the Ukrainians bombarded the Antonivskyi Bridge across the Dnieper River using the U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russia-appointed regional administration in Kherson, said.
Stremousov told Russian state news agency Tass that the only other crossing of the Dnieper, the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant, also came under attack from rockets launched with the weapons supplied by Washington but wasn't damaged.
HIMARS, which fires GPS-guided rockets at targets 80 kilometers (50 miles) away, a distance that puts it out of reach of most Russian artillery systems, has significantly bolstered the Ukrainian strike capability.
In addition, Ukrainian forces shelled an automobile bridge across the Inhulets River in the village of Darivka, Stremousov told Tass. He said the bridge just east of the regional capital of Kherson sustained seven hits but remained open to traffic.
Stremousov said that, unlike the Antonivskyi Bridge, the small bridge in Darivka has no strategic value.
Since April, the Kremlin has concentrated on capturing the Donbass, a mostly Russian-speaking region of eastern Ukraine where pro-Russia separatists have proclaimed independence.
However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized Wednesday that Moscow plans to retain control of the other areas its forces occupy during the war.
Israeli Soldiers from the Givati Brigade training
The Givati Brigade (Hebrew: חֲטִיבַת גִּבְעָתִי, literally "Hill Brigade" or "Highland Brigade" in English) is an infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces, and serves as its amphibious force. Givati soldiers are designated by purple berets. The Brigade's symbol is the fox, alluding to Shualei Shimshon (שועלי שמשון, lit. Samson's Foxes), a unit in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Israeli Soldiers from the Caracal battalion prior to the start of a field training exercise 15th December 2011
Photos: Israel Defence Force
An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a 155mm shells across the Israeli-Lebanese border 12 July 2006, into southern lebanon following the capture early today of two Israeli soldiers by the Lebanese-based Hezbollah. Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz confirmed today that two soldiers had been captured by the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militia and held Lebanon directly responsible for their fate. "Israel holds the Lebanese government fully responsible for this morning's attack along the northern border," Peretz said in a statement released by the defence ministry.
Brean Down Fort forms part of a line of defences, known as Palmerston Forts, built across the channel to protect the approaches to Bristol and Cardiff. It was fortified following a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to France, where they had been concerned at the strength of the French Navy. The Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, under direction of Lord Palmerston, recommended fortification of the coast. Brean Down Fort formed part of a strategic coastal defence system covering the channel between the mainland and the islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm.
Four acres of land at the end of Brean Down were requisitioned in 1862,[5] with construction beginning in 1864 and completed in 1871.
The fort was originally armed with seven 7-inch (18 cm) rifled muzzle-loading guns, which were among the last of this type to be made at the Woolwich Gun Foundry. These sited at three main gun positions, including W battery containing two guns on 'C' pivots (rotating around a reused Georgian cannon set upright in the ground). Each gun weighed 7 tons and had a 30-pound (14 kg) charge of gunpowder able to fire a 112-pound (51 kg) Palliser shot at 1,560 feet (475 m) per second. This could pierce 8 inches (20 cm) of armour at 1,000 yards (910 m).[6] It was proposed to replace the 7-inch (18 cm) guns with larger 9-inch (23 cm) versions in 1888 but this was never put into action. It had a large, underground, main gunpowder magazine, 15 feet (4.5 m) by 18 feet (5.5 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m) high. The fort was staffed by 50 officers and men of the Coast Brigade, Royal Artillery, but no shots were ever fired in action.
The end of the fort's active service came at 5 a.m. on 6 July 1900 when the No. 3 magazine which held 3 tons (3 tonnes) of gunpowder exploded.[7] An inquiry found that Gunner Haines had fired a ball cartridge down a ventilator shaft causing the explosion, after being put on a charge for returning late to barracks, however this explanation has been challenged.[8] The wall separating the fort from the moat on the south west corner was demolished and wreckage thrown up to 200 yards (183 m).[6] No one knew why the gunner had blown up the fort, but it has been speculated that it was an act of suicide.[5] The cannons were hauled away by traction engines.
It was then used as a café, owned by the Hillman family from at least 1907 until sold in 1936 to the 'bird sanctuary people'.
Israeli Soldiers from a number of Different Infantry Brigades training with the TOW Anti-Tank Missile System – 3rd October 2011
Eastern Prom.Sea defence work,sea wall built c1866,is being strengthen'd the length of the prom.with these large precast blocks(i wonder what it will look like)
Kilkenny Castle 'Caisleán Chill Chainnigh' is a castle in Kilkenny, Ireland built in 1195 to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways. It was a symbol of Norman occupation and in its original thirteenth-century condition it would have formed an important element of the defences of the town with four large circular corner towers and a massive ditch, part of which can still be seen today on the Parade.
The property was transferred to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 for £50 and the castle and grounds are now managed by the Office of Public Works.
Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, commonly known as Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century. The Anglo-Normans had established a castle in 1173, possibly on the site of an earlier residence of the Mac Giolla Phádraig kings of Osraighe. Kilkenny formed part of the lordship of Leinster, which was granted to Strongbow.
In 1192 Marshall appointed Geoffrey FitzRobert as seneschal of Leinster and so began a major phase of development in Kilkenny, including the development of Kilkenny Castle. The first stone castle on the site, was completed in 1260. This was a square-shaped castle with towers at each corner; three of these original four towers survive to this day.
Sir Gilbert De Bohun inherited the county of Kilkenny and castle from his mother in 1270, in 1300 he was outlawed by Edward I but was reinstated in 1303, he held the castle until his death in 1381. It was not granted to his heir Joan, but seized by the crown and sold to the Butler family in 1391.
The Castle then became the seat of the very powerful family, the Butlers of Ormonde. The family had become wealthy and James Butler bought Kilkenny Castle in 1391 and established himself as ruler of the area. The Butler dynasty then ruled the surrounding area for centuries. Many of the family are buried in St. Mary's Collegiate Church Gowran.
Among the many notable members of the Butler family was Lady Margaret Butler the Irish noblewoman, the daughter of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond. Lady Margaret Butler was born in Kilkenny Castle. She married Sir William Boleyn and was the paternal grandmother of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England.
In the 17th century, the castle came into the hands of Elizabeth Preston, wife of then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond. Butler, unlike most of his family, was a Protestant and throughout the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s was the representative of Charles I in Ireland. However, his castle became the capital of a Catholic rebel movement, Confederate Ireland, whose parliament or "Supreme Council" met in Kilkenny Castle from 1642-48. Ormonde himself was based in Dublin at this time. The east wall and the northeast tower of the Castle were damaged in 1650 during the siege of Kilkenny by Oliver Cromwell during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. They were later torn down. Then, in 1661, Butler remodelled the castle as a “modern” château after his return from exile.
By the 18th century, the castle had become run down, reflecting the failing fortunes of the Butler family. However, some restoration was carried out by Anne Wandesford of Castlecomer, who brought wealth back into the family upon marrying John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde. In the 19th century, the Butlers then attempted to restore it to its original medieval appearance, also rebuilding the north wing and extending the south curtain wall. More extensions were added in 1854.
As Lord Ormonde had only two daughters, it was agreed that, in order to reduce the double-taxation of the estate, his brother and heir, Arthur Butler, 4th Marquess of Ormonde would forgo his inheritance in favour of his son, George Butler, 5th Marquess of Ormonde who used the courtesy title 'Earl of Ossory'. Lord and Lady Ossory took up residence in the Castle in 1921, with their children Antony, Viscount Thurles and Lady Moyra Butler.
During the Irish Civil War in 1922, Republicans were besieged in the Castle by Irish Free State forces. The Ormondes, together with their pet Pekinese, chose to remain in situ in their bedroom over the great gate, which was the main focus of attack. There was a machine gun outside their door. Only one man was injured but a great deal of damage was inflicted on the castle, which took many years to repair.
George Butler, Earl of Ossory and his family remained living in the castle until 1935, when they sold its contents for £6,000, moved to London, and abandoned it for thirty years. The impact of rising taxes, death duties, economic depression and living costs had taken their toll. While the Ormondes had received £22,000 in rental income in the 1880s, investment income in the 1930s was in the region of £9,000 and by 1950 these investments yielded only £850.
In 1938, Arthur, George and Antony Butler agreed to resettle the Trust in which the estates were held. Antony Butler, Viscount Thurles died unexpectedly in 1940, and therefore after the death of the 4th Marquess in 1943 and the 5th Marquess in 1949, the estate was inherited by Arthur Butler, 6th Marquess and 24th Earl of Ormonde.
In 1967, this Lord Ormonde sold the abandoned and deteriorating castle to the Castle Restoration Committee for a ceremonial £50, with the statement: "The people of Kilkenny, as well as myself and my family, feel a great pride in the Castle, and we have not liked to see this deterioration. We determined that it should not be allowed to fall into ruins. There are already too many ruins in Ireland." He also bought the land in front of the castle from the trustees "in order that it should never be built on and the castle would be seen in all its dignity and splendour". The handover ceremony also marked the foundation of The Butler Society, a still thriving organisation that connects, preserves and unites a family once dominant in the British Isles. Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull turned up at the castle hand over party, with Jagger telling the newspapers "We just came to loon about." It now belongs to the people of Kilkenny.
Tryouts For Nahal's Special Forces
Fresh into the army, IDF soldiers tryout to become an elite soldier in Nahal's special unit, the Gadsar. Soldiers are put through a couple days of intense mental and physical exercises all while having no sense of time and when the tryouts will end. Commanders leading the tryouts refer to each soldier as a number. At the end of the tryouts, the commanders gather and choose the best for the Gadsar. November 28, 2012
Photo by Zev Marmorstein, IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Assets from the JASDF (Japan Air Self Defence Force) arrived at RAF Coningsby in the past week. Two Kawasaki C-2 transports and two F-15J Eagles will be in-situ for a few days.
www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/japan-air-self-defense-force...
Warden Point Battery - Warden Point, Kent.
World War 2 sea defences at Warden Point on the Isle of Sheppey. The pillboxes have fallen in to the sea due to the eroding coastline on the island.
Amsterdam, 5 februari 2016 / Amsterdam 5th of Februari.
Minister van Defensie Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert en Frederica Mogherini tijdens de persconferentie in het Europagebouw.
Dutch minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Frederica Mogherini during the press conference in Amsterdam.
Israeli Paratrooper Brigade Conducts Exercise In Golan Heights
Israeli army paratroopers advance as their brigade completes a week-long live-fire training exercise December 10, 2009 on the Golan Heights. The Israeli Knesset approved yesterday the first readings of a bill that would require a referendum on any withdrawal from sovereign Israeli territory, such as the Golan Heights, which the Jewish State annexed after capturing the strategic plateau from the Syrians in the 1967 Six Day War.
Huge numbers of Garden Snails (Cornu aspersum) were huddled together under the River Thames flood defence walls along the Thames Estuary Path today!
Apparently the correct name for a group of snails is a "Rout" of snails!
Last week, UK defence personnel and UK companies attended the the Association of the US Army’s (AUSA) 2014 annual meeting and exposition in Washington DC. This year’s delegation was led by, the British Army’s Commander for Force Development and Capability. Led by Lieutenant General Mark Poffley, attendance included a significant portion of the British Army’s 100-strong presence in the US - also in town for their annual conference at the British Embassy (BASCON).
British industry was represented by over 30 UK companies and subsidiaries including Airbus, BAE Systems, Chemring, Cobham, D3O, JCB, MBDA Missile Systems, Thales UK, Ultra Electronics, QinetiQ and others.
On Tuesday, a reception at the British ambassador’s residence celebrated the unique relationship between both nation’s armies and the close co-operation between our defence industries.
Throughout the rest of the year, members of the British Army’s 100-strong presence in the US are located throughout the USA (in over 30 states) working alongside their US Army colleagues in exchange and liaison posts. Lieutenant General Mark Poffley, the British Army’s Commander for Force Development and Capability, was the senior UK attendee.
Their roles cover all aspects of the Army relationship from testing equipment at Aberdeen proving ground, helicopter pilot training, developing new concepts and doctrine at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), to key command positions in the 82nd Airborne Division and the US Army’s III Corps.
At BASCON, attendees heard from speakers that included General Daniel Allyn, the current Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army, and the British Ambassador to the US, Sir Peter Westmacott.
Dublin Civil Defence particpating in the Frontline Emergency and Security Services Éire Forum Parade along Victoria Quay,
Dublin 6/9/2014
Irish Military Static Line Parachute Course
Members of the Irish Defence Force during the Military Static Line Parachute Course at the Defence Forces Training Centre – 29th March 2012
Photos: Sgt Paul Brady
Amsterdam, 5 februari 2016 / Amsterdam 5th of Februari.
Minister van Defensie Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert en Frederica Mogherini tijdens de persconferentie in het Europagebouw.
Dutch minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Frederica Mogherini during the press conference in Amsterdam.
Online press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the second day of the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers
Nowadays though women are self-independent and mentally strong, they face many problems when traveling alone anywhere at the night. So, woman self-defense is very important to save herself in tough and difficult situations. Get the best Women self-defense techniques.
Israeli Soldiers from the Caracal battalion prior to the start of a field training exercise 15th December 2011
Photos: Israel Defence Force
The 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade during a drill held in the Golan Heights, northern Israel. The NAMER ("Tiger"), a new vehicle combining the artillery abilities of the Merkava tank and the APC's shielding capacities, was fully integrated in this drill for the first time, improving the battle tactics used by the IDF in the field.
Photo by Staff Sgt. (res.) Abir Sultan
Last week, UK defence personnel and UK companies attended the the Association of the US Army’s (AUSA) 2014 annual meeting and exposition in Washington DC. This year’s delegation was led by, the British Army’s Commander for Force Development and Capability. Led by Lieutenant General Mark Poffley, attendance included a significant portion of the British Army’s 100-strong presence in the US - also in town for their annual conference at the British Embassy (BASCON).
British industry was represented by over 30 UK companies and subsidiaries including Airbus, BAE Systems, Chemring, Cobham, D3O, JCB, MBDA Missile Systems, Thales UK, Ultra Electronics, QinetiQ and others.
On Tuesday, a reception at the British ambassador’s residence celebrated the unique relationship between both nation’s armies and the close co-operation between our defence industries.
Throughout the rest of the year, members of the British Army’s 100-strong presence in the US are located throughout the USA (in over 30 states) working alongside their US Army colleagues in exchange and liaison posts. Lieutenant General Mark Poffley, the British Army’s Commander for Force Development and Capability, was the senior UK attendee.
Their roles cover all aspects of the Army relationship from testing equipment at Aberdeen proving ground, helicopter pilot training, developing new concepts and doctrine at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), to key command positions in the 82nd Airborne Division and the US Army’s III Corps.
At BASCON, attendees heard from speakers that included General Daniel Allyn, the current Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army, and the British Ambassador to the US, Sir Peter Westmacott.
20.maijā vairāk nekā 600 aizsardzības nozares pārstāvji – karavīri, tai skaitā sabiedroto karavīri, jaunsargi un zemessargi, Aizsardzības ministrijas ierēdņi un darbinieki, kā arī padotības iestāžu darbinieki – skrēja vienotā komandā 28. “Lattelecom Rīgas maratonā”.
Kopumā aizsardzības nozares komandu pārstāvēja 192 sievietes un 436 vīrieši. 41 komandas pārstāvis skrēja maratona distanci, 231 – pusmaratonu, 183 - 10 kilometru distanci, savukārt 173 dalībnieki - 6 kilometru distanci.
Foto: Gatis Dieziņš (Aizsardzības ministrija)
More than 600 soldiers and civil servants from defence sector, including NATO eFP soldiers, run in joint team in “Lattelecom Riga Marathon” on May 20, 2018. There were 192 women and 436 men in the joint team.