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German arms maker wants to supply Ukraine with top-shelf Panther tanks; Zelenskyy warns Moldova [1]

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Date: 2023-02-09

A Leopard 2 main battle tank.

The Leopards are already starting to flow to Ukraine, but German arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall AG, is already talking about supplying Ukraine with its latest tank — the PantherKF51. There is a catch, however, and it isn’t a small one. The German government has to give its blessing.

If the Federal Government of Germany grants export permission, one of the largest German automotive and arms manufacturers in Europe, Rheinmetall AG, intends to provide Ukraine with its most advanced main battle tank Panther and other equipment, reports the German newspaper Handelsblatt. …. Last summer of 2022, Rheinmetall introduced the Panther at a trade show in Paris, promoting it as the world’s most powerful main battle tank. Potentially, Ukraine would be the vehicle’s first customer. The new Panther KF51 is currently only available as a prototype. Papperger maintains the possibility of the first vehicles’ delivery within 15 to 18 months. Tanks could be manufactured in either Germany or Hungary. The Europeans could not spare any more main battle tanks from their inventory “because we are broke,” argues (CEO Armin) Papperger.

The Panther was only unveiled publicly last summer. It weighs 59 tons, making it lighter than most tanks, and has a 130mm gun with an autoloading feature. The body is based on the Leopard 2.

Here’s a video of the tank:

x YouTube Video

Obviously, it’s not going to make an impact on the battlefield unless the war is still going on in the summer of 2024. But this is a logical step in plans to eventually arm Ukraine to NATO standards.

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In addition to making NATO stronger and more united, Putin can also take credit for protests in Japan that would have been unheard of a year ago.

x A rally is taking place in #Tokyo demanding that #Russia return the #Japanese islands off the coast of #Hokkaido.



For the first time, protesters use the phrase "illegally occupied islands," notes Kyodo News.



Today, #Japan celebrates Northern Territories Day. pic.twitter.com/dqyML9wryt — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 7, 2023

The islands in question are called the Kurils by Russia and Northern Territories by Japan. Russia seized them after WWII and has never returned them. These islands — the small group called Habomai Islands, Shikotan, Kunashiri (Kunashir) and Etorofu (Iturup) — are just north of Hokkaido.

About 16,000 people live on these islands. Iturup has about 7,500 of those residents. The native inhabitants are the Ainu. They called it Etuworop-sir.

Interestingly, the population of Iturup (that’s the name the Russians use) is 60% ethnically Ukrainians. The Japanese carrier fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 left from Iturup.

The legal issues in the dispute are fairly complicated and hinge on the language of the treaties that ended WWII. The U.S. recognizes Japanese sovereignty over the islands.

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Meanwhile, in Moldova:

x Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that his country has intercepted plans by Russian secret services to destroy Moldova, and Moldovan intelligence confirmed the claim. https://t.co/i5kLq1Fs26 — The Associated Press (@AP) February 9, 2023

A garrison of about 1,500 Russian troops have occupied a very narrow strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine called Transnistria for decades. Transnistria has declared independence but hardly anyone recognizes it. Transnistria has no airport so reinforcing the garrison would be other difficult.

What’s amazing is that no one has moved yet to expel that garrison. OTOH, Moldova doesn’t have much of a military and Ukraine, which could handle it, is occupied elsewhere. And the Russians there are pretty much lying low.

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There truly are no words for the utter disregard Russian troops have for each other. This armored vehicle just rolls right over the bodies of fallen soldiers.

x Russian army! I have no words🤦 pic.twitter.com/yXCndSX5in — NO WAR! (@Milan8662) February 9, 2023

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You’re on Candid Camera!

x Footage of Switchblade 300 targeting Russians. By 'Seneca' aerial reconnaissance unit of the Ukrainian 93rd Mechanized Brigade pic.twitter.com/vGrbX6UAnY — Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) February 9, 2023

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Good news and bad news. A navy that stays in port is pretty much useless. And that should be 2022, not 2020.

x ***UPDATE***



Selected #Russian Navy warships in Novorossiysk, Black Sea.



These have largely been kept in port since late 2020 through fear of Ukraine's 'maritime drones' (USVs).



But news limits on StarLink may have reduced the threat to them pic.twitter.com/lCpGGA1EgU — H I Sutton (@CovertShores) February 9, 2023

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Too bad. So sad.

x And Igor Mangushev is dead. https://t.co/RZSqWUxjnV — (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) February 8, 2023

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That’s some serious loft on that turret.

x A worthy Russian candidate for a prize in turret throwing competition.https://t.co/6gATCrlWJm pic.twitter.com/k5Qz4Bw28J — Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) February 8, 2023

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And the Darwin Award goes to ….

x Not the most intelligent serviceman in Russian army pokes a fallen Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drone with a stickhttps://t.co/pZQMi2Tmpz pic.twitter.com/r74RkOck4u — Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) February 7, 2023

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Awwwwww.

[END]
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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/9/2151816/-German-arms-maker-wants-to-supply-Ukraine-with-top-shelf-Panther-tanks-Zelenskyy-warns-Moldova

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