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
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
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Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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