another one

I had two humane traps out last night. The camera was facing one. The other was behind the camera on a wood block. When I went to check on it, it had been knocked off the wood block. The mouse was still in. Again with the enormous and cute eyes. 

She was too scared to leave the trap when I first opened it so, like last time, I went for a walk. I saw a man with the longest photographic lens they make and asked what he'd seen:  a red sharp and two black and whites? No idea what that meant. He was followed by a woman with binoculars. Thirty seconds later there was someone carrying extremely heavy photographic equipment up the hill, bent over from it. 

Kate and I will not be traveling with gear like that.

After my walk she was gone. 

I'm confident the mouse was pregnant and I'm really glad I moved her to join her friend in the park. If it is true love I'm sure they'll find each other. 

The camera showed me another one tonight so two humane traps are back out. 

More information on VAMPIREs. The US gave Ukraine portable VAMPIRE rocket systems. They can be used on pickup trucks, making them very mobile weapons platforms. VAMPIRE includes a laser-guided weapons system that can be easily loaded into the cargo bed of a truck and set up by two people. The purpose - to shoot surveillance drones. 

The company that makes them expects to be able to deliver the systems .... within nine months. 

Russia's losses in Crimea are embarrassing and are making Russia's forces cautious. Russia has moved at least 24 jets and 14 helicopters back to Russia or to bases deeper inside Crimea to protect them. This will make it harder for them to support Russia's war effort. They've affected the morale and sense of security of Russians in Crimea with thousands of Russian civilians leaving. 

When Russia invaded we all thought Ukraine would lose in days. Military experts were worried that if we gave Ukraine really good weapons they would wind up in Russian hands. As Ukraine successfully fought back, allies increasingly gave Ukraine more advanced weapons and they focused on immediate needs. The latest tranche of weapons from the US includes air-defense systems, radars, and artillery systems that Ukraine had not been given before. Part of the reason for this is to demonstrate the US' long-term commitment. It is also a show of confidence in Ukraine and focuses not just on immediate needs but what Ukraine will need in months or maybe years. That doesn't mean they think the war will go on for years - it means that they want Putin to know we are committed to Ukraine long term. Putin thinks he can wait everyone out and Europe will waiver because of high energy prices. 

Russian soldiers got into a firefight with FSB officers in a bar in occupied Ukraine. There have been a number of alcohol-related incidents and issues, including Ukrainian spies finding drunken soldiers who'd sold supplies for alcohol. 

This week the Ukrainian navy destroyed nine tanks, 17 self-propelled guns, three multiple launch rocker systems, and seven ammunition depots.