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CAT | Army

Mar/14

4

Russian soldiers in the Crimea

Currently, there is certainly some tension in the Crimea, but in many ways it is not so critical as it looks from the outside. People in the Crimea are united by one idea – they don’t want war.

There are unidentified soldiers in the Crimea, though in recent days the number of them has become somewhat less. Their main activities take place near military units of the Ukrainian army. The situation with the soldiers remains unclear.

Russian troops, Crimea, Ukraine, photo 1

soldiers in the Crimea

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Seventy years ago, during the Second World War, the territory around Kyiv was the place of the “Battle for the Dnieper” – one of the largest battles in world history (750 km front, 4 million people).

As a result, the German troops were forced to retreat, and Kyiv was liberated on November 6, 1943. The State Museum-Reserve “The Battle for Kyiv in 1943” located in the village of Novi Petrivtsi near Kyiv is dedicated to these events. Location of the museum on Google Maps. Photos by Vyacheslav Peristyy

Museum-Reserve "The Battle for Kyiv", Ukraine photo 1

go on a tour of the museum

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May 12, 2013, the Black Sea Fleet of Russia celebrated its 230th birthday. The fleet was founded in 1783 after the annexation of Crimea to Russia. It was based in Akhtiar Bay, in the south-west coast of the Crimean peninsula. Later, the city of Sevastopol was founded there.

In Sevastopol, the main base of the Black Sea Fleets of Russia and Ukraine, a joint parade of warships was held. The celebration ended with fireworks. Here are some pictures of the parade taken by Petr Ushanov

The Black Sea Fleet parade, Sevastopol, Ukraine photo 1

More picturesque views of the warships

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In Korosten, small Ukrainian town located in Zhitomir region, there is a unique museum – a military bunker in the granite rock. It is called the “Museum “Object “The Rock”. This bunker was constructed on the basis of existing caves. The bunker has several floors, but only the second floor is open to the public.

The length of underground tunnels is more than 150 meters. The command center has its own water supply and ventilation systems. The complex was constructed in 1930ies. Photos by maxiwell83

Military bunker museum, Korosten, Ukraine photo 1

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Traveling from Dnepropetrovsk to Zaporozhye, it is hard not to pay attention to a complex of abandoned buildings and the old L-29 aircraft, placed at the control-point.

It is a flight training center named after Soviet pilot Alexander Pokryshkin. In Soviet times, it was a strong school, which trained combat pilots for three aviation regiments based in Zaporozhye. However, for more than ten years the place is deserted. Photos by sicheslavets

Abandoned flight training center near Zaporozhye, Ukraine photo 1

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Object 825 GTS (or K-825) is an underground submarine base in Balaklava (near Sevastopol, Crimea), a secret military installation built in 1953-1961 during the Cold War, located in Balaklava bay. Currently, the base is a museum.

The object is a construction that has anti-nuclear defense of the first category (protection against direct hit of 100 kt nuclear bomb), which includes combined underground water channel with a dry dock, repair shops, fuel storages, torpedo arsenal. The base is located in the mountain Tavros on both sides of which there are two exits. Photos by danlux

Underground submarine base in Balaklava, Crimea, Ukraine photo 1

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ISU-152 is Soviet heavy 152 millimeter self-propelled gun of the Second World War. The gun was developed in June – October 1943, mass production continued until 1946. The slang name of ISU-152 is “Zveroboi” (“Beastslayer”). In Wehrmacht it was called “Dosenöffner” (“the can opener”).

In the postwar period ISU-152 were modernized and being operated by the Soviet army until the mid-1970s.

ISU-152 - Soviet tank destroyer

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Navy Day is one of the most favorite holidays in Sevastopol. Thousands of people literally occupy every possible place to watch the water area of the bay, where the parade and show of naval forces take place.

This year’s celebration of Navy Day was held on July 29 and was joint. From 2011 the Ukrainian Navy Day is celebrated on the same date as the Russian Navy Day.

The parade on the day of the Navy in Sevastopol photo 1

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The following incident happened somewhere in Eupatoria during the loading of all-round surveillance radar 9S15 used with S-300 air defense system that provides defense against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft.

Target detection range of the radar is 250 km or 155 miles, simultaneously it can detect up to 200 targets. But with all these abilities it is a huge and hulking vehicle as you can see below.

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Jun/12

1

Kharkov Tank Repair Plant

Kharkov Tank Repair Plant specializes in the overhaul and modernization of T-64, T-72, and T-80 tanks and tank engines 5TDF, and GTD-1250. The plant also repairs tank sights, laser range finders, and a range of guided weapons.

By the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union the plant repaired about 60 tanks and 55 engines a month. Currently, the plant doesn’t have a lot of work and the area looks a bit abandoned. Photos by Pasha Itkin

Kharkov tank repair plant, Ukraine view 1

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