As Ukrainian troops prepared for their upcoming summer counteroffensive against the advancing Russian Army, the Brits sent some of its bomb experts to teach Ukrainians to craft their own can-sized explosives capable of penetrating buildings.
In early May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country is gearing up to reclaim its Russian-held territories. Consequently, Mr. Zelensky requested more weapons from the West to support the campaign, which he said would be their biggest yet since World War II.
Secret Weapon
This specifically handmade bomb, dubbed “secret weapon,” is capable of taking down critical infrastructures illegally occupied by Russian forces in the hot zone region of Ukraine.
In an interview with CNN, a Ukrainian soldier said they would use the can-sized explosives on high-priority targets. With the guidance of British bomb experts, Ukrainian troops will be able to produce the devices by hand directly on the battlefield and can even equip them as munition for drones.
Moreover, British experts have reportedly supplied the relevant components to craft the device, including its switches, microchips, and 3D printers. CNN added that Ukrainian troops previously used similar handmade explosives to take down several buildings in Bakhmut where Russian forces were holding out.
In situations such as these, Ukraine often finds it faster to obtain crucial supplies by leveraging the expertise of professionals entering the country rather than relying solely on its NATO trading partners.
The news that experts from Western allies are actively involved in Ukraine does not come as a shock, as leaked top-secret files in April unveiled this, where the United Kingdom is leading at the forefront, operating its special forces in Ukraine. Following suit, Latvia, France, the United States, and the Netherlands have also contributed their expertise to amplify the combat and defense capabilities of battle-scarred Kyiv.
As Ukrainian troops prepared for their upcoming summer counteroffensive against the advancing Russian Army, the Brits sent some of its bomb experts to teach Ukrainians to craft their own can-sized explosives capable of penetrating buildings.
In early May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country is gearing up to reclaim its Russian-held territories. Consequently, Mr. Zelensky requested more weapons from the West to support the campaign, which he said would be their biggest yet since World War II.
Secret Weapon
This specifically handmade bomb, dubbed “secret weapon,” is capable of taking down critical infrastructures illegally occupied by Russian forces in the hot zone region of Ukraine.
In an interview with CNN, a Ukrainian soldier said they would use the can-sized explosives on high-priority targets. With the guidance of British bomb experts, Ukrainian troops will be able to produce the devices by hand directly on the battlefield and can even equip them as munition for drones.
Moreover, British experts have reportedly supplied the relevant components to craft the device, including its switches, microchips, and 3D printers. CNN added that Ukrainian troops previously used similar handmade explosives to take down several buildings in Bakhmut where Russian forces were holding out.
In situations such as these, Ukraine often finds it faster to obtain crucial supplies by leveraging the expertise of professionals entering the country rather than relying solely on its NATO trading partners.
The news that experts from Western allies are actively involved in Ukraine does not come as a shock, as leaked top-secret files in April unveiled this, where the United Kingdom is leading at the forefront, operating its special forces in Ukraine. Following suit, Latvia, France, the United States, and the Netherlands have also contributed their expertise to amplify the combat and defense capabilities of battle-scarred Kyiv.
Ongoing Aid
Since the launch of the Russian invasion, many Western countries have jumped aboard the military aid train to provide Ukraine with much-needed weapons and ammunition to defend its homeland. Washington has led this collective effort, sending worth over 37.6 billion in weapons and other equipment—including the recent $300 million assistance.
Furthermore, the UK previously announced its decision to supply Ukraine with the formidable long-range Storm Shadow cruise missile. This move marks Britain as the first Western ally to provide Kyiv with such a powerful weapon, in contrast to the US, which has consistently opposed the provision of arms with similar capabilities.
Washington has been adamant in providing long-range weapons with concerns that Kyiv might use them to attack deep into the heart of Russia, thus further escalating the 15-month-old war. During an unscheduled visit to meet his British counterpart, Zelensky, the Ukrainian president personally assured that his country would not use the cruise missiles to target Moscow.
Since its delivery in early May, the Storm Shadow cruise missile has been successfully employed by Ukrainian troops against Russian targets, reported by Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov earlier this week.
.@oleksiireznikov 🚀 Storm Shadow long-range missiles have hit 100% of the targets identified by the General Staff.
Using the same assurance, Germany has also relented and approved the transfer of its Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine.
Military aid is not only limited to transferring weaponry and ammunition but also includes training. Apart from the UK, the US military conducted necessary training to help Ukrainian soldiers repair their weapons via phone calls and video chats, which took place earlier this year, and the most recent and ongoing training to operate the M1 Abrams tanks.
Other Western allies who provided hardware support also lent a hand in training to ensure that Ukrainian troops can effectively use their new weapons.
Approaching its 16-month mark, Russia presses on raining down bomb after bomb, mainly in the eastern region of Ukraine. And the latter is gearing up to and will soon launch at any time its summer counteroffensive to take back Russian-held territories and push them off Ukrainian soil.
Ukraine had cranked up its strikes in recent weeks using the Western-lend arms, targeting not just holding outbuildings but also critical Russian infrastructures such as ammunition depots, logistical nodes, and rear-echelon installations.
Speaking at one of his regular nighttime addresses of the nation, Zelensky said earlier this week that the country already has timing in mind on when to kick off its summer campaign but did not provide further details. Among those preparations was the training with Brits bomb experts to sustain the building and other critical assaults.
—
Explore the vibrant history of warfare in Europe with the latest edition of “War in Europe History” by Michael Howard. Delve into the region’s captivating past, from ancient battles fought with bloody bows and arrows to contemporary events like the twenty-first-century invasion of Iraq and the War against Terror, with Afghanistan at its core. In this comprehensive book, Howard not only sheds light on pivotal conflicts but also uncovers the social and political agendas that shaped these tumultuous events.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.