Smoke drifts across the windswept hills of a military training site in the south-west of England as Ukrainian soldiers load shells into self-propelled guns under a grey sky.
The thud of artillery rips through the afternoon silence.
The troops are in their final hours of an intensive three-week course run by the British Army to improve their skills using the AS90.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in January that around 30 AS90s and 14 Challenger II battle tanks would be sent to Ukraine to help the country's fight against Russia.
The 155mm howitzers have been a much-welcomed boost for the Ukrainians and have played a key role in the army’s summer counter-offensive.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence has trained 120 Ukrainian personnel to use AS90s in recent months.
In June, the MoD trained 12 Ukrainian instructors so they could go on to train their own crews. In July, 60 troops were taken through the training by their Ukrainian superiors, monitored by British Army personnel.
The last cohort will now head back to their homeland to use their newly honed skills on the battlefield.
Ruslan, who did not wish to give his surname, was among the Ukrainian gun commanders teaching troops to use the AS90 last week.
“The higher number of guns we hold bring us closer to our victory,” he said. “Training and weapons are vital.”
In pre-invasion days, the 51-year-old was a construction engineer.
Within a week of Moscow invading Ukraine the father-of-two left his civilian life behind and took up arms to defend his homeland.
A year-and-a-half into the war, he now trains fellow soldiers on the AS90.
“The training has been really effective and you can see the results behind us,” Senior Sergeant Ruslan told The National.
Ruslan said he and his comrades remain “highly motivated and spirited” after more than 500 days of war and have complete trust in their superiors.
“We believe in the decisions they make and we believe the counter-offensive as a result will be very effective and take us closer to the day of victory,” he added.
Captain Ewan Philip was among members of the 14th Regiment of the Royal Artillery overseeing the Ukrainians' training.
He said while some troops had had a lot to learn, others had been engaged in combat training since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and only needed their skills refreshed.
The AS90 weighs 44.5 tonnes and has a maximum firing range of 24.7km. It is loaded with shells weighing about 44kg and is usually manned by between two and four soldiers.
“We’re teaching them [how to use] the gun in three weeks,” said Capt Philip. “Normally, for us to teach a British soldier it’s about five weeks to be a gun commander.
“But we’re not teaching them every single thing, bearing in mind that some of them have been in the war since Crimea so these guys are experienced gunners. We’re just teaching them how to operate and stay alive in an AS90.”
Staff Sergeant Perkins said the Ukrainian soldiers soaked up every ounce of advice and direction like “sponges”.
He told The National he was impressed by their determination and eagerness. “The Ukrainians are absolutely astonishing,” he said.
The Ukrainians had been using similar platforms prior to the UK’s donation of AS90s, so many of the troops adapted quickly to the new guns.
He said the self-propelled guns are crucial to helping the Ukrainian Army push back the Russians.
Any issues that arise with the gun can easily be fixed on the battlefield – which can mean the difference between life and death for crews.
“No matter what happens with the gun, they can still support the infantry on the frontline, which is what their main objective is,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: “The UK has provided 32 AS90 platforms to Ukraine.
“The AS90 have played a major role in supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s counteroffensive this summer. They have delivered artillery fire to support ground forces during assaults on Russian positions.”
Ukraine and Russia conflict – photos
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
Super Saturday race card
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
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Ramy%3A%20Season%203%2C%20Episode%201
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UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%20v%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DSaturday%2C%208.15pm%2C%20Al%20Ain%20Amblers%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-final%20results%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Exiles%2020-26%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Tigers%2032-43%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETable%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1%20Dubai%20Tigers%2C%2033%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E2%20Dubai%20Exiles%2C%2024%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E3%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%2C%2018%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E4%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%2C%2014%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E5%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%2C%2014%20points%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
