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I am Ukrainian. My country has been invaded by Russia. In this video I will tell you what happened on the six-hundred-fifty-ninth day of the war.
Day 659: Dec 14
Today, I will analyze the Russian strategic situation, while in a future video, I will focus on the Ukrainian one.
Since the third consecutive wave of the Russian offensive operation in Avdiivka brought little to no results, Russian forces started slowly deprioritizing this direction and shifting their focus to other regions, such as the Kupiansk, Lyman, and Bakhmut directions.
The US intelligence recently released an assessment of the Russian offensive operation in Avdiivka and concluded that the main objective was to weaken Western support for Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War also added that the attempt to take Avdiivka into a pocket was opportunistic in nature – the Russian Command was never confident about succeeding in this venture, which is why the Russian General Staff continuously called it active defense.
According to the US National Security Council, in this opportunistic attack, Russian forces have suffered more than 13 thousand casualties and lost 220 combat vehicles while failing to achieve any operationally significant battlefield gains. When it became clear that the third wave of the offensive would not result in operational success, Russians sharply increased the intensity of attacks in other regions, and Russian sources started claiming that the Avdiivka offensive was just a decoy.
Many Ukrainian and Western analysts concluded that the new pursuit of simultaneous 4 offensive operations is an attempt to regain the theater-level initiative. The analysts identified 2 main goals of this strategy.
First of all, according to the US National Security Council, by maintaining the initiative throughout the winter, Russians want to discourage the West from supporting Ukraine.
Secondly, seizing and retaining the initiative is important for political reasons. Last year, for example, after Ukrainians conducted 2 successful counteroffensives, Putin canceled his annual forum because he did not want to answer uncomfortable questions. This year, however, canceling it was not an option because of the Russian presidential elections in March 2024, so it was important to ensure that Russian forces are not passive, despite the fact that the current weather conditions are horrible for offense and lead to disproportionately high losses.
Russian sources claimed that constant heavy rains and snowfalls led to reduced shelling and that strong winds and rain interfered with Russian drone operations. Both Russian and Ukrainian analysts stated that rain and mud impede the speed of ground maneuver advances, that fog and rain complicate both Russian and Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance efforts and lead to reduced numbers of attacks, that the weather conditions limit the use of aviation even more, that mud makes many roads impassable, complicating logistics, and that the falling leaves complicate efforts to hide equipment and personnel. Under such conditions, minimizing losses is impossible, and as we saw in Avdiivka, most Russian assault units get decimated, barely reaching the contact line.
Such costly Russian operations recently prompted the Russian military command to rush newly created and understrength formations to Ukraine to maintain the offensive posture, especially along the eastern front. Ukrainian officials reported that the Russian force grouping along the eastern front has roughly not changed since summer, suggesting that the strength of that grouping is not increasing despite the massive commitment of new personnel to the area.
The Institute for the Study of War concluded that high Russian casualties would likely prevent Russian forces from fully replenishing and reconstituting existing units in Ukraine and forming new operational and strategic reserves. And the problem becomes even more acute when taking into account that the average quality of military personnel has decreased. According to the recently released US intelligence report, Russian forces have lost 315 thousand out of the 360 thousand personnel, which is 87 percent of the total number of their pre-war active-duty ground troops – and these were the best troops that Russians were training for 8 years prior to the invasion.
The Russian leadership has undertaken extensive force generation measures and has very likely offset the Russian losses reported by US intelligence, although new Russian personnel from the partial mobilization and aggressive mobilization of tens of thousands of prisoners likely have lower combat capabilities than those they replaced.
By: Reporting from Ukraine Title: 14 Dec: LEAKED. US Intelligence EXPOSES THE NEW RUSSIAN PLAN | War in Ukraine Explained Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkMJ5V_v0uY
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can drones take night photos?
Yes, that's the answer. But we've been doing it for years now. Since decades, we have been taking night shots.
There's one problem. Night photography requires specialized equipment. Any camera under $10k is not capable of night photography.
When light strikes an object, it bounces back in various wavelengths.
These wavelengths merge to form white light at long distances from source.
This is why you can still see colors in the distance even though the sun may be millions of kilometers away.
The opposite is true. When light strikes an object very close to its source it reflects in narrow wavelengths. These wavelengths bounce back directly to us without any overlap.
This means that objects are brighter if they are closer together. This is how objects glow when exposed to black light.
The amount of light reflected depends on how much energy the object absorbs. The object may reflect more red light than blue light when it is hit by light.
The human eye is more sensitive to blue light than objects, so objects appear bluer when they are viewed under blacklight.
This is what drones have to do. If you want to photograph something dark like a forest or cave, you will need a very bright source of light.
An ordinary lamp won't be powerful enough to illuminate the entire scene. It will only create a shadowed scene.
If you want a good picture, you'll need to use a strobe instead. Also, a small flashgun won't be as convenient for you.
These lights are called speedlights due to the fact that they produce flashes light so fast, they can create a stroboscopic effect.
The light pulses across the screen when "stroboscopic" is used. The faster the rate, the better quality of the picture.
We won't be discussing how to set up Speedlights here. But you can find many tutorials online.
We will tell that it is important to have a bright and even lighting source in order to capture clear images.
This is achieved by aiming the beam at 45 degrees. You can adjust intensity by moving the flashgun head.
Once you have set the setting that is right for you, hold the gun steady as the shutter release button is pressed.
Then, just before the light reaches the subject, press the shutter again. This will activate the flashgun and fire another burst.
While the first burst illuminates the subject, the second one will capture the moment after the first burst has passed.
This creates a continuous exposure in which both bursts or light are recorded.
Now that you are able to take photographs during the day, let us move on to night photography.
So far, I have told you everything you need to know about photographing things at night.
There's one more thing to be covered: the color balance.
Most people assume that nighttime images will not be dark enough.
And that's true - but it's also true for daytime pictures.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting at dawn or at dusk. The camera will always record a darker shot.
What are the drawbacks to drone photography?
Drone photography offers a unique way to capture photos and video. You should be aware of the potential downsides of flying a small aircraft.
The biggest disadvantage of flying drones are their cost. Depending on the type of drone you purchase, it could set you back hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
A drone pilot must be trained and certified. This means that you will need to invest your time and money in order to learn how to safely fly them.
Safety is another concern. Drones pose a danger because they are constantly in need of repair and maintenance. Drones can be dangerous because they require constant maintenance and repair.
You might find yourself spending more time controlling a drone that actually shooting photos or filming. Your drone might not have enough airspace to fly.
Some local governments limit where you can fly your unmanned aircraft vehicle. For example, you can not fly above 400ft or within five mile of any local airports, stadiums and hospitals.
Drones might not be right for everyone. Drones can make people nervous because they could crash or fall out from the air. Some people worry about accidentally hitting another person or object.
If you are not confident flying a drone, you can stick with traditional aerial photography methods and videography instead.
What is the best way to capture drone photography?
Drone photography is much more than just taking pictures with a drone. There are a lot of things you need to consider when planning and executing an effective drone shoot. You need to consider everything, from choosing the best location to how much insurance you will need to conduct a successful aerial shoot.
It is essential to make sure you have permission to fly drones within the area you are planning to shoot. It is important to find out if there any restrictions on the areas you can fly in and where your drone may be used. If there are, you might have to apply for a permit to fly them in the area.
It is important that you check your country's regulations. You may need a permit to fly drones in some countries. Others limit the number you can make in a given time period.
To fly drones safely and securely, you must have permission. Many local businesses offer landing pads to rent for a fee. You will also get storage space. Another option is to buy a dedicated landing platform.
Before you can even start shooting, you need to choose the drone that you want to use. There are many drones with different capabilities and features. Fixed-wing drones tend not to be as expensive and are easier to operate, while multirotor drones can be more stable and powerful.
Once you have decided what type of drone you want, you will need the equipment. A drone camera usually consists of a gimbal, remote controller, batteries, and memory cards.
The camera is stabilized by the gimbal during flight. To keep the camera stable, the gimbal attaches directly on the drone's body.
Remote controllers make it possible to remotely pilot your drone. These devices have buttons and joysticks that allow you control your drone from afar.
Batteries power the drone's motors and cameras, and memory cards store photos taken by the drone. You will need to ensure enough battery life so that your drone can take clear photos.
Once you've decided on the equipment you will need, you can start to plan where to take your photos. Are you going to be shooting indoors or outside? Are you going to photograph architecture or landscapes instead? What are you planning to shoot? All of these factors affect how you'll need to prepare for your shoot.
Lighting is an essential part of indoor photography. Multiple lights will help lighten a room. One large light should be placed above the subject, one near the middle and another closer to the floor.
Outside, you need to be aware of wind conditions. Drone pilots can be blown off-course by windy days. Therefore, you should only take off when the weather is calm.
Think about whether extra equipment is needed when choosing your location. These items will ensure your drone stays level, so you don’t lose quality shots.
An outdoor shoot should be between 10 am to 4 pm. There won't be many people around during this time, but there will still enough light to make great photos.
A drone photographer is not just fun. They are also extremely useful for creating stunning aerial photos. Follow these simple steps to create stunning images right away!
How much money do drone photographers make?
A photographer makes more than $10k per gig depending on how long he/she flies for and where he/she shoots. If you shoot in remote areas such as national parks or forests, you could earn upwards of $20-30 an hour.
The average person can earn between $15-$25/hour working in retail. If you want to fly drones, you could earn $50-$75. There are many opportunities to make even more. Most drone pilots fly for companies that require them travel throughout the country, or internationally.
The cost of a flight can vary depending on how much time you spend flying and how far you travel. It can quickly add up, but if your passion is photography and flying, this may be worth it.
Statistics
Here's proof: according to an analysis of FAA drone registration numbers by drone market research and data group Drone Industry Insights, DJI had a 76.8% market share in the U.S. (thedronegirl.com)
Compared to the old days of the Phantom, this drone is super small, but it will likely require you to check a bag, the way a Mini 3 Pro could easily stow away in an oversized pocket. (thedronegirl.com)
Among the biggest improvements, the Skydio 2+ has over the standard 2 is a 20% longer battery life, longer range if you add the Beacon, and a neat AI video creation tool called Keyframe. (thedronegirl.com)
60 second video with branding, captions, contact information, and music Strip / Convenience / Neighborhood / Community Centers pricing per center (up to 400,000 sq ft) PLACE ORDER (dronebase.com)
Though the Mavic 3 is about 50% heavier than the Mavic Air 2, it's still conveniently sized. (nytimes.com)
A drone picture is a great way to capture an amazing image. If done correctly, the results can be even better than photos taken with a DSLR.
However, there are several ways to improve the quality and appeal of your images. One of them is making sure that you use the best settings for your particular model.
After taking photos, there are a few apps and tools that can help you edit them. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is one example. It allows you to import multiple files and then adjust each shot individually.
You can also crop your image and make it more interesting. This includes cropping out unwanted objects and changing lighting and contrast.
Snapseed offers another editing tool, with basic features like cropping, brightness adjustments and color correction.
Post-processing can be a time-consuming process. However, it is crucial that your final product looks professional.
This means you must know how to use your camera correctly, and how to position yourselves properly.
You must also ensure that your lens settings are correct. If you're photographing landscapes, for example, use a longer focal-length (e.g. 200mm), whereas if your goal is to take close-ups of objects, choose a shorter focal length (e.g. 50mm).
You can also learn to shoot in RAW format so you have more control over your final image.
Once you master these techniques, you will be able to create stunning drone photos that will impress everyone.
