Border skirmishes, drone strikes, and a plane crash: Violence in Russia ahead of election
Russia has been hit this week inside its own territory with several strikes carried out.
In the past three days, there have been skirmishes and incursions across its southern border, and drones have successfully targeted sites important to its economically crucial oil and gas sector.
On 15-17 March, Russian citizens are scheduled to vote in the country’s presidential election.
While there is little prospect for democratically-led change in the near-term, the lead-up to the election has not been smooth.
Attacks across Russia’s southern border
On 12 March, the Russian Volunteer Corps, Freedom of Russia Legion, and Siberian Battalion claimed to have attacked positions along Russia’s southern border.
While the accounts provided by these groups have not been verified, it’s clear that fighting occurred in at least three locations.
These groups, based in Ukrainian territory and comprising fighters opposed to Vladimir Putin’s government, engaged the Kremin’s forces in the country’s southern Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts, as the war was brought closer to home for Russians.
The skirmishes in southern Russia occurred in three areas along its border with Ukraine. The most prolonged fighting occurred around the town of Tetkino in Kursk Oblast, which anti-Putin forces claimed to have captured on 12 March.
Another attack appears to have occurred further south, near the town of Spodaryushino, in Belgorod Oblast. While it is unclear how prolonged this engagement was, footage posted on 12 March shows a group of Russian troops pulling back from the border.
Fighting also occurred around the border crossing near the Russian town of Nekhoteevka, also in Belgorod Oblast. Aerial footage shows a disabled tank that appears to have been abandoned by anti-Putin forces in this location.
While troops appear not to have advanced far into the Russian interior, clashes in the border regions were accompanied by drone strikes targeting sites in the city of Belgorod.
According to geolocated footage, the City Hall was damaged in these strikes.
Strikes on Russian oil facilities
Further into Russian territory, Ukrainian strikes against oil facilities appear to have been occurring with increasing frequency.
Image of oil refinery on fire in Kstovo circulating on social media
On 12 March, it was reported an oil storage facility in the Western city of Oryol was set alight by a strike.
And a Lukoil-owned complex situated over 500 miles from the Ukrainian border in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, was successfully targeted by drones on the same day.
These attacks were followed by a strike on an oil refinery in Ryazan Oblast on 13 March. According to Russian officials, this resulted in a fire and injuries to two people.
Reports of fires at all three of these sites have been confirmed by geolocated footage.
Military transport plane crashes after fire
On 12 March, footage emerged showing a Russian military transport plane crashing near the Russian city of Ivanovo.
Video from the area shows the Ilyushin Il-76 flying low with one of its engines on fire before crashing.
According to Russian officials, eight crew members and seven passengers were onboard at the time of the crash.
What this means for Russia
On the significance of the attacks along Russia’s southern border, Sky News security and defence analyst, Professor Michael Clarke, said that while they are minor on a grand scale, they demonstrate a lack of competence and preparedness on the part of local Russian forces.
On the wider implications of strikes within Russia, Prof Clarke pointed out the pre-election period was a “sensitive time” for the regime.
He added that the optics of drone attacks and the loss of a IL-76 were unlikely to help Russians feel better about their country’s security.
England have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Euros after knocking out Sweden.
The Lionesses won 3-2 on penalties at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, after clawing their way back to take the game into extra-time.
The defending champions had been 2-0 down at half-time after goals from Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius in the quarter-final clash.
England then levelled matters towards the end of normal time. Lucy Bronze delivered the first England goal on 79 minutes, assisted by substitute Chloe Kelly. Two minutes later, Michelle Agyemang followed suit, taking the score to 2-2.
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (R) celebrates with teammates after the side beat Sweden. Pic: AP
Bronze’s penalty kept England’s hopes alive. Pic: Reuters
After a goalless extra-time, it was time for penalties.
Alessia Russo kicked things off, finding the back of the net for England, before Lauren James, Alex Greenwood, Beth Mead and Grace Clinton had their attempts saved by Sweden’s Jennifer Falk.
The game was sent into sudden death after Falk went face-to-face with England’s Hannah Hampton but sent the ball flying over the crossbar.
Pic: Reuters
A devastated Sweden. Pic: Reuters
It all came down to Sweden’s seventh penalty after Bronze sensationally scored, with 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg missing the chance to send her team through.
England will next face Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva on Tuesday.
‘That was crazy’
England boss Sarina Wiegman described the action as “one of the hardest games I’ve ever watched”.
Sarina Wiegman after the match. Pic: Reuters
“We could have been out of the game three or four times, when you’re 2-0 at half-time it’s not good,” she said after the match.
“Although we started really bad, at the end it got better, but we didn’t create anything so we had to change shape, and we score two goals – that was crazy.
“We miss a lot [of penalties], and they miss even more. I need to decompress, I think.”
Hannah Hampton still delivered with one nostril down. Pic: Reuters
Goalkeeper Hampton added that it was “stressful watching” and “stressful playing”.
The 24-year-old, who was left with a bloodied nose in extra-time, said: “Every time I saved one, I was just thinking ‘please put it in, so we have a bit of a cushion!’
“To be honest, I think I was better in the game when I had one nostril than when I was completely fine!”
She said it was the support of the England fans that helped the team push on. She said: “They were definitely behind me and I appreciate all the support.”
Michelle Agyemang reacts after levelling the game for the Lionesses. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Pressure was on the Lionesses after they won the tournament in 2022.
Their journey in the group stages started with a 2-1 defeat to France, but hopes were lifted after England sailed past the Netherlands and Wales to reach the knockout stages, finishing second in Group D.
Read more from Sky News:
Child dies after coach crashes in Somerset
Sixteen and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in next general election
Sweden on the other hand went into Thursday’s game unbeaten in the tournament so far, having already defeated Germany, Poland and Denmark in the group stages.
By the time Hannah Hampton appeared in the news conference, the England goalkeeper was relieved, ecstatic and wanting to share this night far and wide.
So when her phone started ringing with a FaceTime call, she broke off speaking to the media about reaching the Euros semi-finals to answer it.
And then share the call with the room in Zurich.
After such a nerve-shredding night, this was the moment to relax and just savour it all.
Savour how close they came to throwing it all away against Sweden before staging a stirring comeback inspired by Lucy Bronze.
The 33-year-old scored the goal that began the fightback with 11 minutes to go and converted England’s final penalty in the shootout.
Lucy Bronze converted England’s final penalty. Pic: Reuters
“Lucy Bronze is one of a kind,” England manager Sarina Wiegman said. “It’s that resilience, that fight. I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in a wheelchair.”
The Lionesses looked down and out, 2-0 down after 25 minutes.
Completely outplayed. A defence run ragged. Just too sloppy.
“We said at half-time we don’t want to go home,” Hampton said. “So it’s up to us to turn the game around.”
Things were not looking good for England by half-time. Pic: Reuters
But the team managed to turn things around. Pic: Reuters
That only came after Wiegman deployed the substitutes the manager calls “finishers”.
They fulfilled their mission.
“Sweden in that moment had to adapt to some different things in the game,” Wiegman said, “before they could, it was 2-2.”
Within seconds of coming on, match-winner Chloe Kelly showed the missing spirit. The spirit that saw her score the Euro 2022 winner.
Pic: Reuters
A creator of two goals in 103 seconds.
A cross headed in with 11 minutes to go by Bronze – the only player still playing from the Euro 2013 group-stage elimination.
It was a lifeline seized on so quickly.
Another cross from Kelly was this time brought down by Beth Mead before Michelle Agyemang.
The timeliest of goals from the teen – a first tournament goal on her third appearance as a sub.
Teenager Michelle Agyemang reacts after scoring England’s second goal in normal time. Pic: Reuters
But there would be the anxiousness of extra time to follow, unable to find a breakthrough.
So to the shootout that lasted 14 penalties between them.
Hampton said: “It was stressful watching and playing, I thought every single time when I saved one, ‘Please score and give us a cushion’. I feel so happy and relieved.”
Around Alessia Russo and Kelly scoring there were four England misses before Bronze converted England’s seventh and Sweden missed a fifth.
Read more:
How far has women’s football come since 1972?
Lioness star explains what ‘Proper England’ is
A frenzied 3-2 shootout win was complete.
“I can’t remember anything like this,” said Wiegman, who has only reached finals in her four tournaments with the Netherlands and England.
“I thought three times we were out,” she said.
But instead it’s off to Geneva for the European champions for a semi-final with Italy.
They’ll be hoping it’s less of a struggle, less dramatic – while just glad to have made it there.
Felix Baumgartner, the extreme athlete who once jumped from the edge of space, has died in a paragliding crash in Italy.
The 56-year-old Austrian lost control of his motorised paraglider while flying over Porto Sant’Elpidio in the central Marche region.
He then fell to the ground near the swimming pool of a hotel. The reasons for the accident were unclear.
According to reports, he fell ill and lost control.
Pic: AP
During the fall, he is thought to have hit a hotel employee, who was taken to hospital with neck injuries, according to Sky Sports Austria.
She was reportedly injured by a piece of debris that had been dislodged during the vehicle’s impact.
The mayor of Porto Sant’Elpidio, Massimiliano Ciarpella, offered the town’s condolences for the death of “a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flights”.
Mr Baumgartner is best known for smashing the world record for the highest skydive after leaping from the edge of space in October 2012.
He ascended to 128,097ft in a pressurised capsule suspended beneath a giant helium balloon.
He then jumped out, freefalling for four minutes and 19 seconds before opening his parachute.
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
He made the historic jump over Roswell, New Mexico, reaching a peak speed of over 833mph (1,343kph).
Mr Baumgartner’s altitude record stood until 2014 when American computer scientist Alan Eustace did a jump from a height of 135,890ft.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike