“It’s a Russian KH 55 missile and dates back to the Soviet era,” says Hammelburg. According to Hammelburg, a cruise missile usually has some sort of GPS system that allows it to hit its target fairly accurately, but this is an older design, so it may not have worked properly or completely. According to Polish and American investigators, the missile was in any case launched from Belarus, or from a Russian bomber or fighter.
Hammelburg thinks it was a disaster but calls it an idiotic story. “If this thing had a charge, and it exploded, it would have been a Russian aircraft strike on NATO territory. It had become very complicated.’
Bachmoth
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces around Bachmut say they have made territorial gains over the Russians. Europe reporter Geert Jan Hahn puts the importance of this into perspective. The territorial gain was not made in Bachmut itself, but southwest of the city and is the result of miscommunication between Russian and Wagnerian units. It’s a small logistical boost for Ukraine, but the PR value is significantly higher, Hahn thinks.
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