Ukraine has reportedly developed a real-life ‘invisibility cloak’ that can hide soldiers from thermal cameras thanks to its unique properties that block heat signature radiation.
The images show two men standing next to each other, with a third, on the left, barely visible at all thanks to the new cloak.
The images were obtained from Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, on Wednesday, 4th October, along with a statement saying: “Have you ever read about invisibility cloaks in fairy tales? Well, Ukrainians made it.
“The cloak blocks heat radiation and makes defenders invisible to Russian thermal cameras. It will help our soldiers work effectively during the night.”
The images were also relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine along with a statement saying: “According to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukrainians have created an invisibility cloak that blocks heat radiation and makes soldiers invisible to thermal imaging cameras and drones with thermal imaging cameras.
“The development has been successfully tested in the field and can be effective in the work of snipers or CCO groups performing combat missions.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 588th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 4th October 2023, Russia had lost about 279,890 personnel, 4,745 tanks, 9,026 armoured combat vehicles, 6,612 artillery units, 802 multiple launch rocket systems, 540 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 316 helicopters, 5,121 drones, 1,530 cruise missiles, 20 warships, 1 submarine, 8,962 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 946 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country has been told that it is “absolutely possible” that talks about it joining the European Union could begin this year.
The announcement came after EU foreign ministers travelled to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for a surprise meeting on Monday to reassert the EU’s commitment to Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden has spoken with his country’s allies and partners about coordinating future support for Ukraine.
Andrzej Duda, the President of Poland, said that his American counterpart had made assurances that the United States would continue to support Ukraine.
The US Congress avoided a government shutdown late on Saturday but left future aid for Ukraine out of the bill, with the Pentagon now warning that funds are running low and that it had already had to slow down resupplying some troops.
A group of Republicans in the US House of Representatives ousted Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday in an unprecedented move that has left Congress in uncharted waters regarding future aid to Kyiv.
Ukrainian General Oleksander Tarnavskyi has said that his forces were advancing on the southern front. He said: “In the Tavria sector, there has been an advance by the defence forces.”
Moscow has claimed that Ukraine’s attempts to breach Russian defences on the eastern and southern frontlines have “failed”.
James Heappey, the UK Defence Minister, has said that Russia has suffered a “functional defeat” in the Black Sea over the last few weeks, adding that the Russian Navy “has been forced to disperse to ports from which it cannot have an effect on Ukraine.”
Ukraine said that its Air Force had destroyed 29 out of 31 drones and one cruise missile launched by Russia at the regions of Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk on Tuesday.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has been quoted by the Russian state news agency RIA as saying that his country’s military has “no plans” for an additional mobilisation.
Ihor Terekhov, the Mayor of Kharkiv, has said that his city plans to build Ukraine’s first fully functional underground school to shield pupils from Russian missile attacks.
He said: “Such a shelter will enable thousands of Kharkiv children to continue their safe face-to-face education even during missile threats.”
