re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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The open letter from other scientists re the arrest and how it impacts their ability to work

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We, employees of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. S.A. Khristianovich of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ITAM SB RAS), we appeal to the authorities of the Russian Federation, collectives of scientific and industrial organizations, the professional scientific community, as well as to all caring citizens of our country with a request to protect Russian aerodynamic science, to save what has been created for decades selfless labor of Soviet and Russian scientists, engineers, workers, from the impending collapse!

Over the past year, three outstanding aerodynamic scientists of our institute - Anatoly Alexandrovich Maslov, Alexander Nikolaevich Shiplyuk and Valery Ivanovich Zvegintsev - were arrested on suspicion of committing a crime under the most severe article of the criminal code - "high treason" (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). All of them are known for their brilliant scientific results. Their competencies and professional reputation allowed them to find a highly paid and prestigious job abroad, but they did not leave their homeland, devoting their lives to serving Russian science. Our colleagues have always remained true to the interests of the country, they went through the hardest times of the nineties with our institute, they helped preserve science in Novosibirsk, conducting research at the highest world level and actively working with young people. Each of them brought up a large number of students, actually creating its own scientific school at ITAM SB RAS. We know each of them as a patriot and a decent person who is not capable of doing what the investigating authorities suspect them of.

The materials of all three criminal cases are closed from the public, but we know from open sources that the acts for which our colleagues can spend the rest of their lives behind bars are something that is considered mandatory all over the world, including in Russia. component of conscientious and high-quality scientific activity - presentations at international seminars and conferences, publication of articles in high-ranking journals, participation in international scientific projects. We are well aware of the results that our colleagues have been openly presenting in recent years, and we are one hundred percent sure that all this is related exclusively to fundamental science. The materials of our colleagues have been repeatedly checked by the expert commission of our organization for the presence of restricted information in them, and such information was not found in them. The presentation of such results not only cannot harm the security of our Motherland, but, on the contrary, increases the prestige of Russian science in the world.

This is our opinion, the opinion of people who are experts in various scientific and technical fields. This is confirmed both by our personal scientific results and by the achievements of our institute as a whole. Some of us also have extensive experience in matters related to the protection of state secrets and technology export controls. However, the investigating authorities rely on a different opinion as an expert one. Who are these experts? What is their professional level? Are they competent to make decisions that, on the one hand, require the highest qualifications, and, on the other hand, the most responsible approach, because the price of even the smallest mistake in this matter is the life, freedom and dignity of a particular person? We do not have answers to these key questions because the names of those people

In this situation, we are not only afraid for the fate of our colleagues. We just do not understand how to continue to do our job. On the one hand, the main indicator of the quality of our work within the framework of the state task and projects of Russian state funds and departments is the degree to which our results are presented to the scientific community, including scientific publications and presentations at conferences. On the other hand, we see that any article or report can lead to accusations of high treason. What we are rewarded for today and set as an example to others, tomorrow becomes the reason for criminal prosecution. In this situation, it is simply impossible for our institute, the only academic organization in the country with an extensive base for experimental and numerical aerodynamic research, to work.

The most terrible thing in this situation is the influence of the created atmosphere on the scientific youth. Even now, the best students refuse to work for us, and our best young employees are leaving science. A number of research areas that are critical to creating the fundamental groundwork needed to create the aerospace technology of the future are simply closed because employees are afraid to engage in such research. This affects not only aerodynamics. The whole society was shocked and outraged by the death of Dmitry Vladimirovich Kolker, an arrested specialist in quantum optics from Novosibirsk, in the summer of 2022. Young specialists understand that this can affect any scientific discipline, which makes working in science unattractive for them. Scientific schools cannot exist without a constant influx of young people. The drop in the level of research associated with the aging of scientists, the destruction of the continuity of generations of specialists, will not manifest itself immediately, but will gradually become irreversible and impetuous. In fact, there are now visible signs of a repeat of the situation of the 1990s. Domestic science may not endure the second such blow.

Dear colleagues and friends, citizens of Russia, we ask you for help! Please help us sort out the situation with our arrested colleagues. We are confident in their innocence. Scientific organizations and their employees need a clear understanding, based on the law, where the line lies between working for the good of the Motherland and high treason. The actions of our colleagues and other suspected scientists require scientific and technical expertise of the highest level, which could be carried out by the Russian Academy of Sciences, an organization that brings together not only world-class Russian scientists, but also leading developers of civil and military aerospace technology. These issues, in our opinion, require an urgent solution, otherwise it will be impossible to prevent the catastrophe hanging over domestic aerodynamics and prevent damage,

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Institue of Theorhetical and Applied Mechanics

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Is that the 8 wheeled Russian Grad rocket launcher burned out? Definitely not anything to do with a Patriot.

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Destroyed Russian anti-aircraft complex "Pantsir-S1". As stated at the beginning of May, 20km south of Donetsk, most likely destroyed by HIMARS.

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Special Kherson Cat.

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This may have been addressed earlier in the thread but did that poster that got out after the invasion ever get his wife and child out?

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Last I remember they were living with a sponsor in Switzerland, but the father-in-law stayed behind in Lysychansk. He posts pretty frequently in the Rant. Strange that he hasn't popped in here at all.

I saw that earlier and was about to post about it, but two of them were jailed last year for supposedly divulging state secrets, but they claim that it was cleared by the Kremlin. One was jailed Monday and then that letter was sent out Monday. Tuesday, Ukraine claims to have shot down all SIX Kinzhal missiles that were incoming.

I think it's fair to say that Putin, the MoD, and the Kremlin have been either embarrassed or caught off guard as to the true capabilities of the Kinzhal.

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Clowns from the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that "according to reliably confirmed data", 5 Patriot systems were "completely destroyed" by Kinzhal missiles during the strike on Kyiv on May 16.

Meanwhile, the AFP agency claims that only one "Patriot" was damaged, moreover, it is in working condition.

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Shocking considering they only 6 missiles
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Romanian lawmakers vote to approve $1.1 billion Abrams acquisition

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During the last 30 minutes or so, missile attacks have occurred on Odesa oblast. Russian strategic aviation is airborne and communicating on combat frequencies. Missile strike is probable later tonight.

Reports that Shahed drones are also airborne

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Posted 47 minutes ago
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Reuters reporter:

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The damage to the Patriot system was so limited that it has now been fixed, official says.

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I wonder if the spare tire is also about to go flat!