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Electric vehicles (EVs) are all the rage these days. With their promise of lower emissions and smooth, quiet rides, it’s no wonder that the global demand for EVs has been soaring. However, if you live near the coast — or anywhere prone to flooding — there’s a less-talked-about risk that could make you rethink that shiny new electric car parked in your driveway: saltwater-induced fires from flooded EV batteries. <h2>Saltwater and EV batteries</h2>When it comes to EVs, the heart of the vehicle’s power lies in its battery, usually a lithium-ion (Li-ion) pack. These batteries are highly efficient, but they’re also sensitive to water, especially the salty kind. In September and October 2024, the Southeast U.S. was hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused catastrophic flooding. Thousands of homes were damaged, and in a particularly frightening twist, 11 electric cars and 48 lithium-ion batteries caught fire after being exposed to salty floodwaters. Saltwater is a conductor of electricity, which means it can get into the EV battery packs, triggering a dangerous reaction. When water seeps into the battery, it can cause a short-circuit between the battery's terminals, which may lead to overheating, violent fires, and even explosions. In many cases, the fire doesn’t start right away — it can take hours or even days after the exposure before a thermal runaway event occurs, causing a dangerous blaze. Once the fire starts, it’s nearly impossible to put out with regular fire-fighting methods. Firefighters often have no choice but to let the battery burn itself out. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113906136" title="Planning to purchase an EV? Here&amp;#39;s how to ensure it never catches on fire" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>In 2022, during Hurricane Ian in Florida, 36 EVs that had been flooded reportedly caught fire, even some that were being towed on flatbed trucks. The problem lies in how lithium-ion batteries react to saltwater. The metal terminals in these batteries, when exposed to salty water, can corrode and build short-circuiting paths that lead to fires days later. The fire hazard remains even in fully discharged batteries, meaning even seemingly "safe" vehicles after flooding could still pose a serious threat. <h2>The risk to coastal cities</h2>This issue is especially concerning for coastal cities where rising sea levels and hurricanes are becoming more frequent. According to a 2023 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), <keyword id="381751" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicle" source="Orion">electric vehicle</keyword> adoption is growing rapidly in many parts of the world, including India, where EV sales increased by around 50% in the first quarter of 2024 alone. Cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kochi are embracing EVs due to their environmental benefits and growing infrastructure support. However, these coastal cities are also at higher risk for flooding, making the combination of increased EV adoption and rising sea levels a perfect storm for potential disaster. In fact, areas prone to heavy rains and floods, like India’s coastal cities, are facing unique challenges. The combination of frequent monsoon floods and rising sea levels presents a scenario where more and more EVs could end up submerged in salty floodwaters, increasing the risk of battery fires in the region. <h2>What does this mean for you?</h2>While electric cars are generally safe under normal conditions, the growing risk of battery fires due to flooding is an important factor to consider if you live in flood-prone areas, especially near the sea. The key takeaway here is that EV owners should take extra precautions when natural disasters loom, particularly hurricanes and floods. Here's what you can do to protect your EV: <ul><li>Move your EV to higher ground: If you're in a flood zone, take your EV to higher ground or evacuate it if possible. This will help prevent it from being submerged in salty water.</li><li>Evacuate early: Be proactive and evacuate before the floodwaters hit. Don't wait for the last minute to move your vehicle to safety.</li><li>After the flood, treat submerged EVs with caution: If your EV has been submerged in water, especially saltwater, it’s essential to avoid using it, charging it, or even moving it until it’s been inspected by professionals. Contact the manufacturer for a thorough inspection of the battery.</li><li>Do not attempt DIY fixes: If your vehicle has been exposed to saltwater, do not try to start it, charge it, or fix the battery yourself. The risks of fire are too high, and professionals are trained to handle such situations safely.</li></ul>

Buying an EV may be a somewhat dangerous move if you live near the sea

If the indomitable <keyword id="22004142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ian-Smith" source="keywords">Ian Smith</keyword>'s electrified description in English commentary of <keyword id="19908088" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suryakumar-Yadav" source="keywords">Suryakumar Yadav</keyword>'s boundary line catch in the <keyword id="19921630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20-World-Cup" source="keywords">T20 World Cup</keyword> final or Jatin Sapru's passionate call for 'long-off, long-off...!' in Hindi delighted billions of Indians watching history being made on TV, there was also a new section of fans who lived the experience in a similar passion with sign language commentary. A recently-included aspect in TV broadcast, sign language commentary has added a much-needed flavour of watching a cricket match on TV for those who are deaf or are from the hard-of-hearing community. And it includes players and fans alike who would set themselves up in front of TVs to follow the Indian team but would not get to live the experience like a regular fan, who would go through the upheavals of the game and commentary while also being educated. In order to make this happen, official streaming partner Disney+ Hotstar and official broadcast partner Star Sports teamed up with <keyword id="21682027" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Signing-Hands" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="India Signing Hands" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="India Signing Hands">India Signing Hands</keyword> to provide ball-by-ball for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 updates through the presence of a translator on the live stream. The audio descriptive feed was complemented by voice-over technology for specific pages, which rendered text and images into a speech output, enabling visually impaired users to easily navigate. "Seeing Team India lift the trophy was an unforgettable moment, and the ISL feed made it even more special for us. We felt truly included in the celebration and enjoyed every match played by our team," said Needa Shaikh, the captain of <keyword id="22472720" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mumbais-deaf-cricket-team" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Mumbai's deaf cricket team" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Mumbai's deaf cricket team">Mumbai's deaf cricket team</keyword>. "This is the first time that we could enjoy the thrilling victory by being in sync with the tension during those last 3-4 overs. We kept up with the commentary and the atmosphere in the stadium and shed tears of joy when we won," she said, adding that the commentary made her feel 'included'. Another player, Nikhil Chanchlani says understanding technical details through commentary will help players like him to improve their game. "I have played in state level tournaments and deaf cricket championships, but our matches normally don't have any commentary as the crowd is also typically deaf," he said. "I feel like after knowing the technical details of international cricket, it has improved my understanding of professional cricket as a batsman," said the left-handed batter Chanchlani. Even if they lived the experience of watching India become T20 world champions for a second time through commentary, it still was something they had not felt before. "During the final, the famous catch from Surya Kumar Yadav, I could see the entire crowd making noise and the commentators' excitement only due to the interpretation and that doubled my excitement," said Yadnesh Maladkar, a fan. Among the interpreters is Mansi Shah, who said having a TV at home did not serve the purpose due to the lack of such interpretation. But for her father, Mahesh, who is also deaf yet a cricket fan, there is now a sense of belonging and equality. "It was liberating to watch independently, without relying on someone to explain the action. This step not only deepened my connection to the game but also gave me a sense of belonging and equality," he said.

Sign language cricket commentary helping deaf players and fans bridge the gap

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Cruise ships left the Port of Baltimore for the first time since March 26.</li><li>The port's terminal was blocked after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed and killed six workers.</li></ul>Two months after Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, cruise ships are now taking off from the Port of Baltimore.A Royal Caribbean ship called Vision of the Seas left from the port on Saturday for a trip to Bermuda. And a Carnival Cruise ship called Pride destined for Greenland and Canada left Baltimore on Sunday.The two trips are notable as the first cruise ships to leave Baltimore since the port was blocked by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/francis-scott-key-bridge-no-chance-against-large-impact-experts-2024-3">the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge</a> on March 26. The bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship, killing six workers. The Francis Scott Key Bridge services about 30,000 people a day."We've been working through this process for the past two months," Jonathan Daniels, the director for the Port of Baltimore said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/portofbalt/status/1794447551979995461">video posted to X</a> on May 25 by the port.One week ago, the port's terminal was the headquarters for the recovery operations for the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Daniels added. The terminal is also a massive area of tourism for Maryland, bringing in 440,000 cruise passengers a year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/05/25/first-cruise-ship-sets-sail-port-of-baltimore-key-bridge-collapse/">Daniels told the Baltimore Sun.</a>The project to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge will take four years and is estimated to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Transportation said in May 2023.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise ships leave from Baltimore for the first time since the collapse of the Key Bridge

<ul class="summary-list"><li>New satellite imagery shows how Russia has continued to add defenses to protect the Kerch Bridge.</li><li>Russia has placed additional barriers nearby to protect it from Ukraine's naval drones.</li></ul>New satellite imagery shows how Russia has stepped up its efforts to protect a key bridge from Ukrainian attacks, including its exploding naval drones.The images, captured last weekend by Maxar Technologies and obtained by Business Insider, reveal a growing build-up of defenses around the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia with the occupied Crimean peninsula.The 12-mile-long bridge was once an important supply route for the Russian military, but it is primarily a symbol of Russia's grip on Crimea. It has fallen victim to several <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-russia-fail-stop-ukrainian-drone-boat-hit-key-bridge-2023-8">high-profile Ukrainian attacks</a>, including a naval drone strike.Russia <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-protecting-crimean-bridge-with-barges-2024-6">started placing barges</a> on the southern side of the bridge in early May to defend the structure and the shipping channel from future Ukrainian naval drone attacks. Previously installed barriers had been damaged by storms, according to Western intelligence.By June, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-ships-not-enough-protect-kerch-bridge-ukraine-naval-drones-2024-6">the protective measures had increased</a> to include additional barges and floating boom defenses running parallel to the bridge. But the new images captured on Saturday reveal a significant increase in the number of barges protecting the bridge.<div type="image" title="Overview of barriers near the Kerch Bridge on September 28." height="5526" width="6500" msid="113859098" hostid="261" sizebytes="3782210"></div>Ukraine has used its fleet of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-made-naval-drones-deadlier-larger-warheads-general-says-2024-3">domestically produced naval drones</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-show-black-sea-fleet-running-away-crimea-ukraine-2024-6">wreak havoc on Russian warships</a> and other Black Sea Fleet assets. The threat has prompted Moscow to add defenses like the ones at the Kerch Bridge <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-show-russia-protect-black-sea-fleet-warships-ukraine-2024-4">to the key ports</a> of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk.Brady Africk, an open-source-intelligence analyst and associate at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, first pointed out the added barrier defenses in a Sunday <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/bradyafr/status/1840399885717078302">post on X</a> and noted the drastic change between early May and late September.The new barriers are not the only <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-smoke-screens-sunken-ships-defend-bridge-ukraine-drone-boats-2023-9">protective measures</a> Russia has taken to shield the bridge. Satellite images captured on Saturday show two Pantsir air-defense systems near the structure.Maxar said the towers for these systems were being built between August 18 and 23. Their construction suggests Russia is not just concerned about maritime threats to the bridge from below. It also wants to protect the structure from above.<div type="image" title="A Pantsir air-defense system on a tower near the Kerch Bridge on September 28." height="5475" width="7134" msid="113859100" hostid="261" sizebytes="812494"></div><div type="image" title="A second Pantsir air-defense system on a tower near the Kerch Bridge on September 28." height="1436" width="1840" msid="113859099" hostid="261" sizebytes="199756"></div>The bridge was previously hit by a truck bomb. Russia has claimed Ukraine <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-ukraine-used-atacms-to-attack-crimean-bridge/">targeted the bridge</a> with US-provided ballistic missiles but said the attack was unsuccessful. Kyiv has also armed its naval drones with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-drone-boats-heat-seeking-missiles-scare-russian-aircraft-commander-2024-6">missiles and rockets</a>, extending the threat beyond the water's surface, creating further challenges.Moscow began construction on the Kerch Bridge after it illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. The bridge is a prized accomplishment of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is a symbol of the Kremlin's desire to maintain its occupation of Crimea forever.Ukraine previously <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-commander-vows-destroy-key-russia-crimea-bridge-this-year-2024-2">vowed to destroy the bridge</a> because of its role as a key supply and logistics route to support Russian military activities in Crimea after the 2022 invasion, and Kyiv has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-zelenskyy-says-kerch-bridge-to-crimea-must-be-neutralized-2023-7">shown its desire</a> through its multiple attacks on the site.However, taking out the bridge now would be less militarily effective and more symbolic because Russia relies on it less frequently to support its troops in Crimea than it did earlier in the war.A Ukrainian Navy spokesperson said in June that most of the cargo is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://kyivindependent.com/destruction-of-kerch-bridge-wont-be-as-effective-anymore-military-says/">transported by ferry</a>. Kyiv has also targeted these operations.

Satellite images capture Russia's scramble to shield a key bridge from Ukraine's exploding naval drones and other threats

India could see a shift in foreign direct investment (FDI) trends in the second term of Donald Trump (Trump 2.0) as President of the United States, says a research report by the State Bank of India. The report highlighted that under his first term, Trump 1.0, the Trump administration made sweeping regulatory changes aimed at attracting investments back to the U.S., which impacted FDI inflows globally, including India. It added that if similar policies are reintroduced in Trump 2.0 also, it could create challenges for emerging markets like India, which rely on FDI as a significant driver of economic growth. Notably, a recent Kotak report highlighted that a complete Republican control over all arms of the US government would mean increased US earnings via corporate tax cuts, higher tariffs on imports into the US and greater US fiscal deficits. The first two could spell doom for emerging markets like India and China, since foreign investors will make a beeline for investing more money in the US markets, which will come at the cost of intense selloff in emerging markets. However, higher fiscal deficits will eventually lead to the dollar weakening after the initial euphoria dies down. "India may see shifts in foreign direct investments (FDIs) during Trump 2.0. The Trump 1.0 administration saw significant regulatory changes aimed at attracting investments back to the US," the SBI report stated. However, given that India has been gradually diversifying its sources of FDI (foreign direct investments), this trend could serve as a buffer against any potential decline. Moreover, domestic institutional investors have been stepping up big time, maintaining some balance to the massive exodus of FIIs over the past month. So far in November 2024, FIIs have withdrawn Rs 19,849 crores from the cash segment in Indian markets, while DIIs have poured in Rs 14,014.18 crores as of November 10th, 2024. "India is no longer dependent on the traditional sources of FDI inflows... unlike the recent past, FDI is now coming in many new sectors," noted the SBI report. Unlike a decade ago, when most FDI inflows came from a limited number of traditional sectors, India is now attracting investment in a wide array of industries, including renewable energy, sea transport, medical devices, and surgical appliances. Data suggests over the last 24 years, i.e., between April 2000 and June 2024, FDIs have poured in $1,013.4 billion in the Indian economy. Out of this, 67%, i.e., $689.88 billion, has come in just the last 10 years. The report added there are up to 12 emerging sectors showing strong FDI interest, which could help offset any loss of inflows in conventional sectors if there is a shift in global investment patterns under another Trump administration. In the last financial year, the top 5 sectors that have received the highest quantum of FDI inflow include the services sector (finance, banking, insurance, and business) which makes up about 16% of the inflows. This is followed computer software &amp; hardware, which constitute around 15% of total FDI flows. Trading and telecommunications follows with a share of 6% each, and Automobile Industry comes next with a 5% share. In the short term, the potential for increased U.S. tariffs, more restrictive H-1B visa policies, and a stronger dollar could bring some volatility to India's trade and investment landscape. However, in the long term, these challenges might also encourage India to expand its manufacturing capabilities, diversify export markets, and focus on becoming economically more self-reliant. Notably, India has maintained a merchandise trade surplus with the U.S. despite tariffs imposed during Trump's first term. This indicates that Indian exports have remained resilient, and there is potential to strengthen this trade relationship further by capitalizing on emerging sectors and reducing dependency on traditional industries. Suman Chowdhury, Executive Director &amp; Chief Economist, Acuité Ratings &amp; Research Limited cautions that in the medium to long term, the trade relationship with the US may see a structural improvement. "Higher tariff and trade restrictions in the US with China should translate into better opportunities for exports of manufactured goods from India", he adds.

FDIs may shift to US under Trump 2.0 but it is unlikely to severely impact FDIs inflow to India, says SBI Report

New Delhi, The country's vegetable oil imports declined by 28 per cent to 12 lakh tonnes in January from a year-ago period, industry body <keyword id="19986409" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sea" source="keywords">SEA</keyword> said on Monday. Vegetable oil imports stood at 16.61 lakh tonnes in January 2023. <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> is a leading vegetable oil buyer in the world. In the first quarter (November-January) of the current oil year, total imports dropped 23 per cent to 36.73 lakh tonnes as against 47.73 lakh tonnes in the same quarter of previous year. According to the <keyword id="20059424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="solvent-extractors-association-of-india" source="keywords">Solvent Extractors Association of India</keyword> (SEA), about 7,82,983 tonnes of palm oil and 4,08,938 tonnes of soft oil were imported in January this year out of total vegetables oils. As on February 1, total edible oils stock stood at 26.49 lakh tonnes, down 7.64 per cent from that of the year-ago period, it said in a statement. SEA said prices of edible oils, which are currently low, may go up this year on lower production, global economic issues and supply constraints. The availability of palm oil for edible oil requirements has come down as the two main producers, Malaysia and Indonesia, are diverting it for the production of bio-diesel. This could result in an increase in prices this year, it said. Global palm oil output was seasonally low in January-March 2024, leading to a reduction of stocks both in producing as well as importing countries, it added. India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean, from Argentina. Sunflower oil is imported from <keyword id="19895162" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ukraine" source="keywords">Ukraine</keyword> and <keyword id="19895159" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="russia" source="keywords">Russia</keyword>.

India's vegetable oil imports fall 28% in January says industry body SEA

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ukraine has pushed Russia's Black Sea Fleet out of Crimea after two years of strikes.</li><li>But retaking the peninsula will be extremely hard, military experts told BI.</li></ul>Ukraine has dealt a massive blow to Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.Russia has retained control of Crimea since invading and annexing the peninsula in 2014 and secured Sevastopol as the headquarters for its Black Sea Fleet.But following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has repeatedly struck back in the region, destroying or damaging around half of the Russian fleet's warships, including one submarine, according to <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warships-in-russia-black-sea-fleet-that-ukraine-wiped-out-2024-2">publicly available information</a>.It has used aerial drones, <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sea-drones-change-naval-warfare-give-smaller-navies-edge-expert-2024-7">sea drones</a>, and anti-ship missiles against the fleet and the <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-no-longer-using-kerch-crimea-bridge-military-supply-molfar-2024-5">Kerch Bridge,</a> to often devastating effect. Ukraine's campaign even pushed Russian warships to <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-show-black-sea-fleet-running-away-crimea-ukraine-2024-6">withdraw</a> from Crimea to bases in the port cities of Feodosia, on the far side of Crimea, and Novorossiysk, in Russia.It is degrading the peninsula as a key logistics route to its occupying forces across southern Ukraine and tainting its attractiveness to Russians as a summertime beach destination. But if Ukraine hopes to follow through on its pledges to retake Crimea, it will need a huge assault force steeled for what's likely to be the hardest fight of a bloody war."Retaking Crimea would be extremely difficult because Crimea is essentially an island," Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps colonel who's a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI."An amphibious assault is impossible because Ukraine lacks ships to carry large numbers of troops and their heavy equipment," he said, adding: "Further, Russia still has long-range aircraft and submarines, which are essentially invulnerable at sea."Russia has a vast military infrastructure across Crimea that will have to be severely damaged in order for Ukraine to have a chance to seize it back, according to Basil Germond, an expert in international security at Lancaster University in the UK.He said Ukraine "would first need to prepare the terrain by destroying or seriously degrading all of Russia's air, air defense, missile defense, communication, and electronic warfare equipment and capabilities in Crimea and perhaps the Kerch Bridge."<div type="image" title="The Crimea peninsula's geography poses unique risks for Ukraine to assault and challenges for Russian forces to try to hold." height="1500" width="2000" msid="112243721" hostid="261" sizebytes="269662"></div><h2 id="ec0fab4a-b338-4365-b533-ee4003786a22">A challenging location</h2>Reaching Crimea has proven challenging due to its location away from the front lines, Russia's heavily fortified defensive lines, and Ukraine's lack of manpower and airpower, military experts and analysts told BI."Crimea is deep inside Russian-occupied territory and far from the current front lines," Cancian said.And Russia has heavily <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-fortifies-600-mile-front-line-with-trenches-mines-reports-2023-5">fortified</a> its 600-mile front line with anti-tank ditches, mazes of trenches, 'dragon's teeth' barricades, and minefields, with much of its defenses in northern Crimea."The Russians are heavily fortified and well-defended in these areas, and it will take time for the Ukrainians to break these defenses," said Mark Temnycky, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, who added that troops are proceeding with "extreme caution."Without the options to ferry a large assault force by air or water, Ukraine will be forced to attack through Russian defensive lines to approach Crimea. Furthermore, were Russia to lose its hold on Kherson, it could mine and concentrate firepower on the few land approaches to Crimea, using similar tactics to those that stopped Ukraine's 2023 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-ukrainian-counteroffensive-ran-into-trouble-2023-11">counteroffensive</a>."Without an amphibious naval force to land in Crimea, how can Ukraine project enough troops onto the peninsula to claim its control?" said Germond of Lancaster University.Ukraine <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-missile-attack-naval-base-helps-make-crimea-untenable-russia-2023-9">has</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-may-have-struck-tsiklon-russia-last-missile-carrier-crimea-2024-5">resorted</a> to <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-prized-s400-launchers-blasted-crimea-strike-ukraine-says-2024-4">hitting</a> Russia's air defenses in Crimea with missiles and long-range weapons, including US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS.Last month, war analysts from The Institute for the Study of War <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-strikes-russia-crimea-air-defenses-end-military-role-experts-2024-6">said</a> Ukraine's sustained attacks against Russia's air defenses could render Crimea untenable as a military staging ground.But they also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-puts-military-near-civilians-crimea-deter-ukraine-strikes-isw-2024-6">noted</a> that Russia was likely placing military facilities near civilians to try to deter further Ukrainian strikes.Last month, Russian-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/razvozhaev/6925">claimed</a> that a Ukrainian strike killed four people and injured 151 people."Millions of citizens live on the peninsula, and the Ukrainians do not want to harm the civilian population," Temnycky said.Any Crimea assault comes down to numbers. Russia aims to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/24/i-know-we-will-win-and-how-ukraines-top-general-on-turning-the-tables-against-russia">commit</a> 690,000 troops to the war by year's end, a large build-up that could bolster the Russian troops and Ukrainian conscripts on Crimea, a force perhaps 60,000- to 80,000-strong. It's likely Russia could commit well over 100,000 were Crimea to be threatened.To have the best chance to push through their defenses, Ukraine is likely to need a well-supplied force three to five times the size of the defenders — a guideline that would balloon any operation to many times the size of the 2023 counteroffensive.Benjamin Friedman, policy director at the Defense Priorities think tank, said that Ukraine lacks the manpower and air cover required to go on the offensive in a "major way.""Even with F-16s, I don't think Ukraine has the ability to provide its ground forces effective close air support, given Russian air defense capability," he told BI.<div type="image" title="An explosion in a field." height="729" width="1024" msid="112243722" hostid="261" sizebytes="38248"></div><h2 id="d2bc26cb-7fab-4d99-815d-d74106b0c0a6">Retaking Crimea</h2>Despite the battleground challenges Ukraine faces, some experts believe it could retake Crimea with enough weapons, troops and time.This would involve crossing the Isthmus of Pereko, separating Crimea from mainland Ukraine, or crossing the marshes to the east, called Sivash, to reach Crimea."That's what happened during World War II, when the Germans captured Crimea in 1942, and the Soviets recaptured it in 1944," Cancian said.However, to do this, Ukraine first needs to break through Russia's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-front-line-forces-fighting-through-russia-surovikin-line-2023-9">Suvorikin Line</a>, a complex system of defensive fortifications and obstacles across Russian-occupied territory in southern and eastern Ukraine that Ukraine has never pierced through. A force that advances through this also faces a high risk of becoming bottlenecked on the few land approaches and destroyed by the short- and long-range firepower Russia would almost be certain to bear.According to Sergej Sumlenny, founder of the German think tank European Resilience Initiative Center, the question now is "when Ukraine will accumulate so much firepower, not just artillery, but also air force, so they manage to push through these defensive lines and then reach the operative space" of Crimea.If and when Ukrainian soldiers do reach Crimea, Sumlenny said, they will be able to destroy the Kerch Bridge and the last ferry road over the Sea of Azov, cutting off all of Russia's supply lines to the peninsula and isolating Russian forces. Using long-range missiles to cut-off supply lines was a crucial element of Ukraine's grinding and successful liberation of the city of Kherson in late 2022.Sumlenny added that Crimea has historically been vulnerable to offensives."There is no case in history when anyone could defend Crimea from an attack," he said.In 1921, the Soviet Union's Red Army <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/the-russian-civil-war/">crushed</a> the White Russians and took control of the peninsula, and in 1941, the Axis powers <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/operation-barbarossa-and-germanys-failure-in-the-soviet-union">invaded</a> the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa, with their land forces laying siege to Sevastopol.The Red Army launched a massive counter-attack in late 1943 with 2.6 million men that pushed the Germans back and weakened their hold on Crimea. After two and a half years of German occupation, a Soviet force of over 450,000 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Crimea/History">regained</a> control of Crimea in 1944.It was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/why-did-russia-give-away-crimea-sixty-years-ago">transferred</a> to Soviet Ukraine — one of the republics of the Soviet Union — in 1954, until the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Ukrainian independence in 1991.Finally, in 2014, Russian forces invaded and occupied the peninsula before annexing it."If you look at all the cases when armies were clearly ready to fight and defend their positions, we can say that Crimea is practically an undefendable fortress," Sumlenny said."So, from my perspective, the moment the Ukrainian army will appear on the land bridge — the Isthmus of Pereko — between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine, the Russians will face a very simple choice," he said, "either they retreat immediately from Crimea or get slaughtered or captured."Other experts, however, struck a more cautious tone.Temnycky said a full-scale invasion to try to retake Crimea is "very unlikely" due to the huge Ukrainian losses that would result.Friedman, meanwhile, said such an operation would require a "cataclysmic Russian collapse," which he said is "extremely unlikely though not impossible."Indeed, there have been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/former-general-warns-russia-nuclear-weapon-stalemate-ukraine-war-2023-1">fears</a> that Russia would consider nuclear force if its troops were on the brink of losing Crimea.Cancian said that "because of its difficulty, retaking Crimea would be the last event of the war, not an intermediate event."

Ukraine pushed Russia's Black Sea Fleet out of Crimea but retaking the peninsula will be incredibly hard

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A US military uncrewed underwater vehicle can be seen on Google Earth at a naval base in California.</li><li>The giant "Manta Ray" sea drone completed water testing in early 2024.</li></ul>The US military's giant <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-unmanned-manta-ray-submarine-passed-first-sea-test-2024-5">"Manta Ray" sea drone</a> has been spotted on Google Earth at a naval base in California.Satellite images show the drone at Naval Base Ventura County in Oxnard, close to Los Angeles.Footage of the drone taken during water testing earlier this year was also recently shared by manufacturer Northrop Grumman on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXkR0K9v5i8">YouTube</a>.The uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) completed the "full-scale" testing off the coast of southern California in February and March, the Defense Department's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2024-05-01">announced</a> in May.The new footage takes viewers on a "360-degree dive" with the vehicle, offering glimpses of its rounded shape and maneuverability.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6cDmXFkAdM">second video</a> posted by the company also shows the drone's propulsion system."By incorporating numerous buoyancy engines, all working together efficiently, Manta Ray can operate for extended periods at a time and travel long distances at a variety of depths," the company says in the second video."It can even anchor to the sea floor and hibernate until needed," it adds.While the Manta Ray's dimensions are not publicly available, Northrop Grumman classifies the drone as an "extra-large glider UUV."<div type="image" title="The Manta Ray being towed in preparation for testing." height="316" width="619" msid="111368325" hostid="261" sizebytes="21182"></div>The Manta Ray program, launched in 2020, aims to develop payload-capable, autonomous UUVs that can operate in "long-duration, long-range missions in ocean environments."The drone's unique shape helps it save power and energy and carry "critical payloads or sensors" on lengthy missions, according to its manufacturer."Our successful, full-scale Manta Ray testing validates the vehicle's readiness to advance toward real-world operations after being rapidly assembled in the field from modular subsections," Kyle Woerner, DARPA program manager for Manta Ray, said following testing."The combination of cross-country modular transportation, in-field assembly, and subsequent deployment demonstrates a first-of-kind capability for an extra-large UUV," he added.DARPA says it is now working on the next steps for testing the drone.<div type="image" title="The Manta Ray off the coast of California this year." height="316" width="619" msid="111368324" hostid="261" sizebytes="18110"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-sea-drones-with-jet-skis-sink-russia-ship-ivanovets-2024-2">Sea drones</a> have redefined traditional naval warfare in recent years. Their use in the Russia-Ukraine war has gained them widespread media attention.The relatively cheap technology has scored major hits for Ukraine on Russian battleships, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-says-it-destroyed-65m-warship-russia-planned-for-missile-system-2024-3">Sergei Kotov</a> patrol ship and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2024/may/what-sinking-russian-corvette-ivanovets-teaches">Ivanovets</a> corvette.Ukraine has also used sea drones to attack key infrastructure like the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-russia-fail-stop-ukrainian-drone-boat-hit-key-bridge-2023-8">Kerch Bridge</a>, Russian President Vladimir Putin's prized link between the Russian mainland and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.The threat to the Kerch Bridge appears to be significant enough for Russia to have started placing barges and other defenses in the area to reduce "the angles of approach for Ukrainian Unmanned Service Vehicles," the UK Ministry of Defence said.

Huge US military 'Manta Ray' sea drone spotted on Google Earth at California naval base

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia is fortifying the Kerch Bridge with barges, says the UK's defense ministry.</li><li>The barges will help "to defend the bridge and shipping channel" from Ukrainian attacks, per the UK.</li></ul>Russia is shoring up the defenses for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-knows-putin-crimea-kerch-bridge-doomed-atacms-ukraine-official-2024-6">Kerch Bridge</a> with barges, the UK's defense ministry said on Saturday."Analysis of imagery has identified the installation of eight barges on the southern side of the Kerch Bridge," the UK's defense ministry wrote in its <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/1799347576157651027">intelligence dispatch</a>."These barges were placed by Russian forces in an attempt to defend the bridge and shipping channel, reducing the angles of approach for Ukrainian Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)," the ministry said.According to the ministry, the barges were installed between May 10 and May 22. This isn't the first time barges have been placed near the bridge, which connects Russia to occupied Crimea, per the UK's defense ministry."Previously installed barriers have been damaged by storms, reducing their effectiveness," the intelligence dispatch said.The Kerch Bridge has been a key military artery for the Russians, who rely on it to transport their military freight into occupied Crimea and southwestern Ukraine.But Ukrainians view the bridge, which was built in 2018 after the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-russia-took-crimea-2015-3">Russians had annexed Crimea</a> in 2014, as an <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191220104943/https://undocs.org/pdf?symbol=en%2FS%2F2018%2F474">illegal construction</a>. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the Ukrainians have managed to damage the bridge in two successful attacks.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-hints-sabotage-russia-crimea-kerch-bridge-putins-70th-birthday-2022-10">first attack</a> occurred in October 2022, when a fuel tank explosion saw the bridge's road section collapse. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/12-mile-bridge-crimea-lifeline-russia-constant-attacks-headache-2023-7">second attack</a> took place in July when it targeted the bridge's support struts with sea drones.The repeated attacks appear to have caused the Russians to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-no-longer-using-kerch-crimea-bridge-military-supply-molfar-2024-5"> stop using the bridge</a>. According to a <a target="_blank" href="https://molfar.com/en/blog/chomu-bilshe-nemae-potreby-atakuvaty-krymskyi-mist">report</a> from the open-source intelligence organization Molfar last month, Russian military freight trains weren't seen on the bridge between February and mid-April.Instead, the Russians seem to have placed their hopes on a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-knows-putin-crimea-kerch-bridge-doomed-atacms-ukraine-official-2024-6">new railway route</a> that runs along the Azov Sea. The route passes through Russian-occupied Mariupol and Berdiansk before ending in Crimea."The railway along the land corridor is recognition on the part of the Russian occupiers that the Crimean Bridge is doomed," Dmitry Pletenchuk, a spokesman for Ukraine's southern military command, told The Economist in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/06/02/in-crimea-ukraine-is-beating-russia">story</a> published on June 2."They are looking for a way to hedge their bets because they are aware that sooner or later, they will have a problem," he continued.Representatives for Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Russia is attempting to protect a vital bridge and supply line with a set of barges, UK intelligence says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian forces looking for military supplies raided a Ukraine-bound cargo ship in the Black Sea.</li><li>A video of the recent incident shows troops storm the vessel's bridge and engage with the crew.</li></ul>A video shared on Tuesday by Russia's defense ministry shows its forces storm the bridge of a cargo ship and interrogate the crew during a helicopter raid in the Black Sea. The incident underscores a new challenge to shipping in the region as Moscow turns up the pressure by targeting vessels bound for Ukraine. The bodycam footage, which was published on the defense ministry's Telegram channel, shows a Russian Ka-29 attack helicopter approach the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan before an inspection team boards the vessel and works its way up to the bridge. Moscow said that its troops searched the ship for "prohibited goods," but the vessel was ultimately allowed to keep sailing to the southern Ukrainian port city of Izmail. Last month, Russia killed the crucial Black Sea grain deal and then immediately moved to further <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-ukraine-black-sea-dangerous-no-mans-land-grain-deal-2023-7">militarize the region</a>, declaring that any vessels sailing to Ukrainian ports will be considered as potential carriers of military cargo. The raid, which took place early Sunday morning local time, appears to be the first time that Moscow has followed through on its threat. Russia said on Sunday that a patrol ship belonging to its Black Sea Fleet detected the Sukru Okan as it was traveling to Izmail and that the ship's captain did not respond to a request for it to stop for inspection. To persuade the ship to stop, Moscow's defense ministry said, its patrol vessel "opened warning fire from automatic small arms fire." The Ka-29 then took off from the Russian ship and deployed a boarding party on the Sukru Okan.The new footage of the raid opens by showing the Russian Ka-29 circling around the ship as several individuals kneel on an open platform with their hands behind their heads. The service member with the bodycam then jumps onto the vessel and follows other team members across the ship and onto the bridge."Stop machine, stop machine!" a Russian can be heard yelling to several crewmembers with their hands above their heads. "Sit down, please sit down," a Russian service member yells at the crew, which kneels on the ground and attempts to identify the ship's captain. "Speak English!" a Russian yells, to which one of the ship's crewmembers responds: "Yes, I am speaking English!"One of the Russians then identifies himself and says his actions are being recorded on video. He asks the crew not to record his team. A member of the Russian boarding party asks why the ship didn't stop moving when told. The ship's crew indicated they couldn't understand Russia's demands. The video shows a Russian inspecting blurred-out documents and ends with someone from the inspection team thanking the ship's crew. Russia's defense ministry wrote on Telegram that the inspection was "professional" and carried out in accordance with international requirements. A separate video of the incident has been circulated widely across social media. The footage shows Russian forces jumping onto the Ka-29 as the helicopter hovers just a few feet above the Sukru Okan. In the foreground, eight individuals — presumably members of the crew — can be seen sitting down. It's unclear who filmed the footage. Ukraine's Centre for Strategic Communication <a href="https://twitter.com/StratcomCentre/status/1691023672822116352">said</a> the incident "posed a physical danger" to the Sukru Okan's crew and that Russia's behavior toward civilian ships "can be regarded as piracy." It argued that the situation "requires a solution involving the fleet of the international coalition."In a <a href="https://mfa.gov.ua/en/news/zayava-mzs-ukrayini-shchodo-provokativnih-dij-rf-v-chornomu-mori">statement</a> on Monday, Ukraine's foreign ministry said it "strongly condemns" Russia's actions and blasted Moscow for its "deliberate policy of endangering the freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea." Kyiv added that Russia should not be allowed to block the Black Sea's international waters, including those that lead to Ukraine's embattled southern ports. Tensions in the Black Sea have been especially high since Russia spiked the grain deal, a decision that was met with harsh criticism from the West. Moscow has since relentlessly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-playing-risky-games-drone-strikes-ukrainian-ports-near-nato-2023-8">targeted</a> Ukraine's southern cities, ports, and grain storage facilities with missiles and drones, even striking just a few hundred feet from NATO territory in neighboring Romania.In the midst of these challenges, Ukraine has made increasing use of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-drones-hunt-down-weakest-links-russia-sea-supply-lanes-2023-8">sea drones</a> to attack important Russian targets operating in the Black Sea.The recent raid, however, is a notable move for Russia's Black Sea Fleet, one which raises the risk to commercial vessels transiting the region. "We're continuing to monitor this situation carefully," US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Monday, adding that "we of course are concerned that Russia's military may expand their targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea."

New video shows Russian forces raiding a cargo ship in the Black Sea, shouting 'stop machine' as they stormed the bridge

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Satellite images show Russia has stopped using the Kerch Bridge for military freight, analysts say.</li><li>The bridge has been a key military artery into occupied Crimea and southwest Ukraine.</li></ul>Russia has all but stopped transporting military equipment via a strategic Crimean bridge, Ukrainian analysts say, based on satellite imagery.In an examination of Maxar satellite images by open-source intelligence agency Molfar, analysts said that between February and mid-April, they saw no Russian freight trains carrying military equipment on the Kerch Bridge."This may indicate a reluctance on Russia's part to transport military cargo via the bridge after previous attacks and the use of alternative routes," Molfar <a target="_blank" href="https://molfar.com/en/blog/chomu-bilshe-nemae-potreby-atakuvaty-krymskyi-mist">said</a> in a report.It also said it saw no trains carrying military equipment on the bridge between May and September 2023.Business Insider was not able to independently verify the findings.But they appear to echo Ukraine's Security Service chief Vasyl Malyuk, who <a target="_blank" href="https://news.liga.net/ua/politics/news/krymskyi-mist-zaraz-ne-vykorystovuiut-dlia-postachannia-zbroi-mozhemo-povnistiu-ioho-znyshchyty-maliuk">said in March</a> that rail traffic had been reduced to a handful of passenger trains since Ukraine attacked the bridge.The Kerch Bridge connects Russia to occupied Crimea by road and rail, allowing a direct path into the strategically crucial peninsula, as well as an alternative route into occupied southwestern Ukraine.Built in 2018 following President Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea, the bridge is <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191220104943/https://undocs.org/pdf?symbol=en%2FS%2F2018%2F474">considered an illegal construction</a> by Ukraine.In the course of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has significantly damaged it twice. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-hints-sabotage-russia-crimea-kerch-bridge-putins-70th-birthday-2022-10">The first explosion</a>, in October 2022, saw the bridge's road section collapse, and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/12-mile-bridge-crimea-lifeline-russia-constant-attacks-headache-2023-7">subsequent attack</a> in July 2023 using sea drones appears to have targeted its support struts.Molfar's analysis suggests that the military usefulness of the bridge has been all but halted and that Russia is instead relying on land routes.A brand new 450-mile rail line linking Russia's Rostov-on-Don to occupied cities like Melitopol is almost complete and "could pose a serious problem," Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said last month, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/01/putin-railway-through-occupied-ukraine-almost-complete/">The Telegraph</a>.Molfar CEO Artem Starosiek suggested to BI that rail targets like this may now be more urgent to strike than the Kerch Bridge for Ukraine.<h2>A potent symbol</h2><div type="image" title="Explosion causes fire at the Kerch bridge in the Kerch Strait, Crimea on October 08, 2022. A fire broke out early Saturday morning on the Kerch Bridge -- preceded by an explosion -- causing suspension of traffic and bringing bus and train services to a halt." height="683" width="1024" msid="109932620" hostid="261" sizebytes="46194"></div>Despite this, Starosiek said that "if I had the possibility to push the button and hit the bridge, I will do it right now."That's because of the significance of the bridge, and not its current military usefulness to Russia, he said.The Kerch Bridge has considerable emotional value — both <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-attack-on-russia-crimea-bridge-is-blow-to-putin-2022-10">to Putin</a>, who sees it as one of his key achievements — and to Ukraine, which sees it as a hated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66221252">symbol of Russian occupation</a>.Ukrainian officials have long talked about destroying it entirely.In February, Ukrainian naval commander Oleksii Neizhpapa <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-commander-vows-destroy-key-russia-crimea-bridge-this-year-2024-2">said that the bridge's "days are over."</a>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/crimea-bridge-is-legitimate-military-target-zelenskiy-says-2023-07-21/">has previously</a> pointed to the bridge's military use as a basis for designating it a legitimate target.On Tuesday, in a <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/InnaSovsun/status/1787737727355556252">post on X</a>, Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun said that claims the bridge "wasn't being used for war &amp; therefore not a legitimate target" emanated from a "powerful" Russian disinformation campaign "to prevent the destruction of the Crimean bridge."It's unclear if Sovsun was reacting to Molfar's report. She did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment.Responding to Sovsun's post, Molfar CEO Artem told BI it is clear Molfar is "not on the Russian side" and highlighted the data behind the work."As a regular Ukrainian citizen, I really want to hit this bridge because it's in my heart," he said. "But I think sometimes it's better to do something with more influence right now, and we always have time to destroy the bridge."

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