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How to Use the Tripcaster

┣ Complete Quests → Quest Walkthroughs ┣ Learn the Best Skills → Best Skills ┣ Collect Gear → List of Weapons / Outfits ┣ Collect All Legendaries → All Legendary Weapons / Outfits ┗ Take Down Machines → List of Enemy Machines ★The Ver. 1.08 Patch is now Available!

The Tripcaster is a weapon that places tripwires and deals either shock damage, burn damage, or blast damage when detonated.

List of Contents

Tripcaster Tips

What is a tripcaster, how to get the tripcaster, horizon forbidden west related guides, setting up tripwires.

Keep in mind that anchoring the tripwires too far away from Aloy snaps the tripwire line. A snapped tripwire line cannot be reused. Also make sure to keep your distance, as Aloy can be damaged by wires that are set.

Retrieve Tripwires to Save Resources

After setting up a tripwire, you have the option to detonate it or not. You can retrieve undetonated tripwires using the Disarm Traps Skill .

Set Tripwires on Enemy Paths

Putting traps in the path of enemies will cause them to naturally walk into them.

Finish the Story Quest To The Brink

During the Main Quest To the Brink, when you save the Oseram Trapper by defeating the machine, you received your first Tripcaster. Other tripcasters can be purchased from Merchants and Hunters.

To the Brink Walkthrough

A Stealth Weapon that Can Be Detonated

The Tripcaster is a weapon that places tripwires and deals either shock damage, burn damage, or blast damage when detonated. This weapon can aid you in preparing for ambushes and luring enemies.

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Tripcasters

The Tripcasters are, as the name implies, a series of weapons designed to trip your enemies. They fire a large wire that you must attach to two objects. When an enemy walks through the wire, they will be heavily damaged.

Like most weapons, the Tripcasters come in three types.

This is the Green version of the weapon. It can be bought from nearly any merchant for 90 Metal Shards. It has 1 mod slot and 30 handling.

It has 1 ammo type, allowing you to fire electrical trip wires.

Carja Tripcaster

This is the Blue version of the weapon. It can be bought from merchants after you reach the Mother's Crown area for 180 Metal Shards and 10 Chillwater. It has 2 mod slots and 30 handling.

This weapon has the same electrical trip wires as before, but also unlocks Explosive Wires, which deal high amounts of non-elemental damage.

Shadow Tripcaster

This is the Purple version of the weapon. It can be bought from merchants after you reach Daytower for 800 Metal Shards and 1 Scrapper Heart. It has 3 mod slots and has 30 handling.

This weapon has the same previous two ammo types, but also unlocks the Fire Wire, which deals a high amount of fire damage when tripped.

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Hand Held Trip Wire Illuminators

Laser Trip Wire Illuminators have been recently adopted by US Navy EOD and are now deployed in the operational forces. EOD techs use to illuminate and fluoresce trip and command wires. These lasers project either a brilliant Green or Infrared Laser Line. A 60 degree fan which projects a 15' line @ 15'. Easily scan doorways, halls or stair wells with one pass. These items are controlled by the U.S. government and authorized for export only to the country of ultimate destination for use by the ultimate consignee or end-user(s) herein identified. They may not be resold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of, to any other country or to any person other than the authorized ultimate consignee or end-user(s), either in their original form or after being incorporated into other items, without first obtaining approval from the U.S. government or as otherwise authorized by U.S. law and regulations. ” Ideal Supply Inc. will not engage in any transaction that requires the illegal export of any products and will not assist directly or indirectly with the illegal export or re-export of any products. An End User Certificate (PDF) may be required to complete the purchase of these items.

EOD & EOF Hybrid Laser Green Dot & Line Laser - Berry Compliant

EOD & EOF Hybrid Laser Infrared Dot & Line Laser - Berry Compliant --CLOSEOUT--

Hand Held Tripwire Illuminator Green 532nm - Berry Compliant

Hand Held tripwire Illuminator Infrared 830nm - Berry Compliant

Tactical Green Laser Pointer (Beam & Dot)

Trip Wire Detector with Visible Laser Identifier Kit

Z-Bolt EOD Kit with (1) Hand Held Tactical EOF Green Dot Laser, (1) Green & (1) Infrared Tripwire Laser Illuminator - Berry Compliant

5 Best Trip Wire Alarm Devices [2023 Guide]

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Securing your property or campsite shouldn’t have to be a bothersome task. With the right trip wire alarm device, you can effectively deter potential intruders and maintain peace of mind. To help you determine the right one for your needs, we’re sharing our picks for the best trip wire alarm devices currently available. Here’s a quick look at what to expect:

• The Trip Alarm Co 12 Gauge Trip Wire Alarm impresses with its 360-degree Quad design and multiple trip line options.
• The Trip Alarm Co .22 Ramset Micro Perimeter Trip Wire Alarm stands out with its ultra-portability and the use of easily accessible .22 Ramset blanks.
• The Fith Ops Camp Safe Full 209 Perimeter Trip Alarm Kit offers a comprehensive solution with its included 85-foot Dyneema trip line and loud 114 dB alarm sound.
• The Dahszhi Dual Laser Detector Alarm excels in minimizing false alarms with its twin infrared beam technology and fast response speed.
• The Lewis N. Clark Travel Door and Window Alarm is the go-to choice for travelers, featuring a built-in LED flashlight and suitability for both doors and windows.

Each of these alarms provides a unique set of features, ensuring there’s a solution for everyone, regardless of your specific needs. Let’s dive into the reviews to provide a deeper understanding of their features, pros, and cons. Although you could use a personal emergency alarm with some fishing line, these options are trip-wire specific.

Trip Alarm Co 12 Gauge Trip Wire Alarm

Key features:

• 360° Quad patent-pending design
• Rust-resistant stainless steel and aluminum build
• Multiple trip lines on a single device
• Versatile, reusable, and adaptable design

As an innovative solution to perimeter security, the 12 Gauge Trip Wire Alarm by Trip Alarm Co. offers unmatched detection ability, ensuring peace of mind. Housed in a compact 3 x 1 x 1-inch shell, this lightweight 5-ounce device is expertly crafted from rust-resistant stainless steel and 6061 aluminum. Sporting a 360-degree Quad patent-pending design, it provides comprehensive coverage, alerting users to any breach via a tripwire-initiated system. We like that it gives you the option to set up multiple trip lines on a single device.

It creates a wide-reaching early warning system that’s versatile enough for various settings – from campsites and farms to private properties. Another key highlight is the reusability factor. It can be deployed time and again across different paths and entry zones, secured easily to doors, trees, or gates via screw holes or zip tie notches. We found either to work well. This convenience is further enhanced by the alarm’s compatibility with 12-gauge blanks or optional pepper gas and flash-bang rounds, adding an additional layer of deterrence.

The American-made device’s sensitive trigger and diverse adaptability make it a reliable choice for property owners and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The use of rust-resistant stainless steel and aluminum grants it durability, potentially surpassing the other options in terms of lifespan. However, unlike the Fith Ops Camp Safe Full 209 Perimeter Trip Alarm Kit, it doesn’t come with a trip wire, and the reflective parts might require camouflage to blend into the environment.

What we liked:

• Lightweight and compact
• Highly sensitive trigger
• Durable and long-lasting
• Easy to set up and use

What we didn’t like:

• Tripwire not included
• Reflective parts may require camouflage

Trip Alarm Co .22 Ramset Micro Perimeter Trip Wire Alarm

• Ultra-portable design
• Rust-proof construction
• Uses .22 Ramset blanks
• Loud alarm activation

The .22 Ramset Micro Perimeter Trip Wire Alarm from Trip Alarm Co. delivers reliable and effective perimeter security in a portable, easy-to-carry package. This compact unit measures only 4.25 inches in length and 9/16 inches in circumference. Additionally, it’s exceptionally light at just 1.5 ounces. But despite the small size, it packs a formidable punch in terms of noise output when paired with .22 Ramset blanks, ideal for camping safety or securing private areas.

During our tests, it proved to be straightforward to set up, and it consistently gave a high-decibel alert upon activation. It’s also quite sturdy and durable, thanks to its high-quality, rust-proof aluminum materials. These are designed to resist wear across multiple uses, ensuring longevity and reliable performance. Speaking of which, it worked without issue when we tested it in various weather conditions. That said, users planning to place it outdoors for extended periods may want to consider weatherproofing the cap’s crimp for added reliability.

One of its defining features is its utilization of readily available .22 Ramset blanks. This avoids the need for potentially expensive and hard-to-find materials. It’s a practical approach that underscores Trip Alarm Co’s commitment to simplicity and convenience without compromising functionality. It should be noted, however, that these blanks aren’t included in the package and must be acquired separately. On the whole, the .22 Ramset Micro Perimeter Trip Wire Alarm offers a well-designed and effective solution for those seeking compact, loud, and durable early warning systems.

Compared to other alarms, its use of .22 Ramset blanks makes it slightly more straightforward in operation. Plus, it sports a significantly lighter weight than the Dahszhi Dual Laser Detector Alarm and a smaller circumference compared to other items on the list. If versatility is what you’re looking for, this one is sure to meet your needs.

• Easy to set up
• High-quality materials used
• Available .22 blank use
• Weather-resistant
• .22 blanks not included
• May need cap weatherproofing

Fith Ops Camp Safe Full 209 Perimeter Trip Alarm Kit

• Includes 85’ Dyneema trip line
• 114 dB alarm sound
• Made in USA

From Fith Ops comes the Camp Safe Full 209 Perimeter Trip Alarm Kit . This is a well-thought-out piece of equipment, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts. For starters, it boasts a compact and lightweight design, measuring 4 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches and weighing just 2.78 ounces. This makes it an ideal companion for backpacking or camping trips. Yet, despite its small stature, there’s a lot of bang for your buck packed into this alarm.

Crafted in the USA with machined aluminum and steel, it gives you the confidence of a sturdy and reliable solution. It shows meticulous consideration for the outdoors with the included 85-foot Dyneema trip line and silicone primer caddy, which can attach to the spool for convenient access. Testing it during a camping trip, we found setup to be straightforward and unproblematic. We secured the trip wire along the unobstructed perimeter of our campsite and mounted the alarm vertically to a tree.

When triggered, it emits a clear and loud 114 dB alarm, which is more than effective in deterring wildlife and trespassers. In an era where security is a must, the Camp Safe Full 209 Perimeter Trip Alarm Kit proves its worth immensely. But as with other similar systems, this kit does not include primers. Still, the fact that this unit is reusable and reloadable makes it a smart buy. Even better, the included 85-foot trip line sets it apart from the Trip Alarm Co. devices that require separate trip wire purchases.

• Sturdy and reliable
• Reusable and reloadable
• Excellent customer service
• Primers not included
• Slightly pricier than others

Dahszhi Dual Laser Detector Alarm

• Twin infrared beams for reliable detection
• Environmental adaptability increases durability
• Indoor 300m, Outdoor 60m detection range
• Fast response speed 50-700 milliseconds

The Dahszhi Dual Laser Detector Alarm is an exceptionally robust and precise security device. Weighing 835 grams and measuring 6.7 x 3.1, it exhibits a compact yet weighty feel, hinting at its solid construction. Its mounting type is a convenient wall mount, making installation straightforward. Using twin infrared beams, it provides reliable perimeter security. One aspect we appreciate is that it minimizes false alarms caused by falling leaves, birds, or even inclement weather conditions such as rain, snow, or mist.

The alarm also boasts an intelligent automatic adjustment design that adapts transmit power according to environmental conditions. This feature increases the lifespan of the launching tube and reduces power consumption, enhancing durability and energy efficiency. We put the alarm through its paces in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. Indoors, it easily covered a range of 300 meters, while outdoors, it performed well over 60 meters.

But what impressed us most was the speed response, which clocked in between 50 and 700 milliseconds. Combined with its holographic spot real-time report, all of these features contribute to rapid detection and alarm triggering. Despite some initial challenges with instructions that seemed a bit complex due to language translation issues, we successfully installed the alarm after careful review.

Plus, it comes with its own set of installation accessories, so the process wasn’t that big of an issue once the instructions were deciphered. It should be noted, though, that its weight and size are considerably larger than other options, potentially limiting its portability. But its ability to minimize false alarms gives it an edge over the other devices.

• Minimizes false alarms effectively
• Efficient power consumption
• Solid build quality
• Excellent for a variety of premises
• Initial setup instructions unclear
• Reported quality control issues

Lewis N. Clark Travel Door and Window Alarm

• High-pitched 91 dB alarm
• Portable and lightweight design
• Built-in LED flashlight
• Suitable for doors and windows

Lewis N. Clark’s Travel Door and Window Alarm stands out as a compact, user-friendly device designed to enhance personal security wherever you go. Its simplistic design belies its effectiveness: when triggered, the unit emits a high-pitched 91 dB alarm, powerful enough to alert neighbors and deter potential intruders. It is tailored for ease of use, fitting seamlessly into the doorframe gap, with a cord looped around the door handle to ensure firm placement.

This feature also extends to windows, thereby amplifying its utility. Designed for portability, this petite and feather-light device – measuring only 7.05 x 3.19 x 1.14 inches and weighing a mere 3.2 ounces – makes it an essential companion for travelers. It can snugly fit into a suitcase, backpack, or even a handbag, making it readily accessible.

An additional built-in LED flashlight feature adds an extra layer of convenience, especially in unfamiliar or poorly lit environments. During testing, the setup process proved effortless, so it’s a breeze to use, even for novices. Its ear-piercing alarm promptly activated upon breach, demonstrating the alarm’s reliability. Moreover, the LED flashlight provided ample illumination in dark surroundings, further reinforcing its worth as a travel-friendly safety tool.

Comparatively, its suitability for doors and windows potentially offers more versatility than some other alarms. The built-in LED flashlight is also a unique feature not seen in the other solutions we reviewed. However, it falls short in terms of sound level compared to the Fith Ops alarm. But its simple setup procedure, like the .22 Ramset Micro Perimeter Trip Wire Alarm, can make it an easy choice for those looking for hassle-free operation.

• Loud, attention-grabbing alarm
• Simple setup procedure
• Compact for easy travel
• Multi-functional use
• Requires careful placement
• No adjustable sound levels

Trip Wire Alarm Device FAQs

What is a trip wire alarm device?

As its name implies, a trip wire alarm is a security system that uses a trip wire trigger mechanism to alert you when someone or something crosses a designated boundary or perimeter.

How does a trip wire alarm work?

When the wire is tripped, the alarm is triggered to create a loud sound, alerting you to potential threats. Some models use infrared beams to produce the same result.

Where can I use a trip wire alarm device?

Trip wire alarms are versatile and can be used in a variety of settings, including homes, farms, campsites, hotels, and private properties. They’re an excellent way to secure your perimeter and deter potential intruders.

Final Verdict

Securing your space for peace of mind is easier than you think, and our top picks are evidence of that. Trip Alarm Co’s 12 Gauge Trip Wire Alarm , for instance, boasts an innovative and adaptable design, offering a comprehensive perimeter security system ideal for various settings. Further solidifying its place in the trip wire alarm market, Trip Alarm Co earned another spot among our reviews with its .22 Ramset Micro Perimeter Trip Wire Alarm . This one is favored for its use of .22 Ramset blanks and a weather-resistant design that ensures ease of use and durability.

The Fith Ops Camp Safe Full 209 Perimeter Trip Alarm Kit is notable for delivering a comprehensive kit. It consists of a trip line, a loud alarm, and an easy setup process, making it an excellent choice for camping enthusiasts. Dahszhi’s Dual Laser Detector Alarm provides reliable detection with its twin infrared beams, fast response time, and the ability to minimize false alarms. And lastly, the Lewis N. Clark Travel Door and Window Alarm deserves its portability, simplicity, and multi-functionality. Each of our picks offers unique performance and benefits, ensuring that there’s an option for most needs.

Meet Derek, “TechGuru,” a 34-year-old technology enthusiast with a deep passion for tech innovations. With extensive experience, he specializes in gaming hardware and software, and has expertise in gadgets, custom PCs, and audio.

Besides writing about tech and reviewing new products, Derek enjoys traveling, hiking, and photography. Committed to keeping up with the latest industry trends, he aims to guide readers in making informed tech decisions.

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Master Tripwire Exploitation Kit

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• Specifications
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The Master Tripwire Exploitation Kit is everything you'll need to successfully prosecute tripwires from Low Tech to High Tech.  This kit was designed while meeting with military EOD and public safety Bomb Techs to give the operator the best chance at success.

Whether you're operating in daylight or on NVG's, you'll have the laser that meets your needs even if that means transitioning from day to night and dot to line and back again.

The Master Tripwire Exploitation Kit Includes:

• EOD Specific Rip Away Pouch in your choice of Berry Compliant colors: Black, Coyote, Ranger, Multicam
• Six Longitudinal cut forceps (See image) TAA Compliant
• Two Tripwire Marking Ribbon, Berry Orange or Yellow
• 3 Piece Set Positive Blocks
• One Butane Torch
• 2 Part 60 Second Epoxy
• Two  Green VisiPads
• Two Red VisiPads
• One Roll 1 Inch x 30 Yard Gorilla Tape
• Six Safety Pins
• Five Zip Ties

You'll notice the quality of this kit as soon as you begin to open the Berry Compliant EOD-Specific Rip Away Pouch and find the two Z-Bolt Green and IR combination Dot and Line lasers.  Proven in the field by Navy EOD Techs, you know you're getting the best gear available.

*CAREER-LONG GUARANTEE!

All EOD-Gear brand pouches, bags, packs and other sewn items are Guaranteed against any physical defect, rip, tear, broken zipper for the length of your career or 20 years whichever is longer!

Simply send us a picture of the damaged item and we will replace it no questions asked.

Next pull out the forceps and check out the longitudinal grips that run perpendicular to the trip wire.  Any thoughts of slipping are now going away.  You're getting 6 forceps based on current requirements from TBT and others. 

The remaining parts of the kit allow you to adjust from low tech to high tech and back again based on the scenario you find yourself working in.  

If this is the kit for you but you need to purchase it on a government contract, we are on  GSA as well as partnered with an ANC 8(A) as well as our favorite Prime Contracting Vendor, SupplyCore.  Let SupplyCore know you're looking for this and they'll take care of it from there.

For those looking for a stripped down version due to budget constraints, give us a call and we'll work to create a custom kit that meets your needs and your budget.

Sensitive Site Exploitation Kit

Disposable Tripwire Finder

Tripwire Feeler

Electric Match Kit

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This common resource is a primary crafting ingredient for for a wide variety of items.

• 1.1 Ammunition
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This resource is needed to craft the following items.

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6 DIY Trip Wire Alarms for Off-Grid Security

By Steve Nubie 2 Comments

Estimated reading time: 28 minutes

A lot of folks have never put together a trip wire alarm, and there’s a good reason. There are just not a lot of occasions where a trip wire is necessary. However, when those occasions do emerge, it’s at least worth understanding the concept of what works and what doesn’t.

What Exactly is a Trip Wire?

But who needs them now, do it yourself versus buy it yourself, trip wire 101, electrical wire, monofilament fishing line, bungee cord, lasers, infrared, and motion detectors, rocks in cans, firecracker poppers, .22-caliber blanks, air horns, sirens, and other noise makers, what about light, this is not about the use of lethal force, location, location, location, 1. bungee marbles, 2. monofilament on the rocks, 3. paracord pull-string fireworks, 4. thin wire .22-caliber blank, 5. winter white trip wire, 6. back gate avalanche, is this a good idea.

A trip wire is a long length of thin wire, monofilament fishing line, or any other type of cordage that is usually connected to something that makes noise. The idea is that when an intruder either human or animal steps into the wire, the alarm is sprung, alerting you to an intrusion.

The trip wire concept was developed in wartime as a way to alert troops of an enemy incursion. This was particularly needed at night and was often used in the dense island jungles during the war in the Pacific in World War II.

The usual configuration was a thin length of rope suspended low to the ground between trees with empty C-ration cans filled with stones to rattle the alarm whenever the wire was “tripped.” And while booby traps were sometimes used to maim or kill, there was always the concern that an innocent civilian or friendly soldier wandering off to go relieve himself would trip the wire.

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The usual reason someone considers a trip wire is when they are in an area with the potential for any number of unknown threats. The idea is usually to make noise to signal an intruder .

• The threat could be from wild animals like bears or wolves approaching a camp in a remote area.
• In countries ravaged by civil wars and civil unrest, no night is safe and trip wires are sometimes used to at least alert the local population if a covert threat is approaching.
• Following a disaster , many people find themselves isolated and alone with the potential for looters or worse. That’s when a trip wire may at least scare them off, if not serve as a warning of an unwelcome approach.
• In times requiring a bug-out to a distant but safer location, there are occasions where a night must be spent on the road in unknown territory where the threat is equally mysterious. Trip wires would serve as a perimeter defense to at least alert anyone spending an unplanned night on the road of any approach.
• And yes, they’re still used in war zones, although the technology of trip wires in those areas is usually defined by lasers, electronic signals, or infrared beams connected to electronic alerts through cameras or video or in extreme cases: explosives.
• In fact, the concept of contemporary home security systems connected to motion-detector technology to turn on lights; sound an alarm, record video, or alert the local police are the 21 st century versions of the trip wire concept.

It may seem unnecessary to build your own trip wires when so many options appear on the Internet , but if a situation makes the Internet undependable or unavailable, or deliveries or the purchase of many things is difficult or impossible, that might be a good time to know how to improvise a trip wire.

There’s also the fact that in some instances, the electricity is out or unavailable, and most modern security solutions require at least some level of power. In a worst case scenario with a total grid failure, technology will quickly diminish and old-school, analog solutions will offer the most dependable options. Those are the types of trip wire concepts we’ll cover.

We might as well start with the wire. There are a variety of options . Usually, the wire or cord is low-profile and hard to see. It also needs to be relatively strong. If someone or something walks through the wire or cord and it easily breaks, little is accomplished except alerting the intruder to the fact that you’ve setup some trip wires.

Here are options to consider:

Electrical wire comes in a variety of gauges, but the smallest (and most inexpensive) gauges are referred to as 14 and 16 gauge. They’re more than strong enough to serve as a trip wire.

They’re all coated with a flexible plastic coating that comes in a range of colors. White, black, red, and green are the most common, and those colors present camouflaged, stealth characteristics, depending on the time of year, time of day, and natural surroundings. Floral wire is another option and also comes in a variety of colors.

Fishing line is thin, strong, and also hard to see. Buy one of the heavier weight tests of at least 50 pounds or more. Avoid any of the brightly colored lines. Go with a neutral, plain monofilament.

Paracord is another surprisingly strong option, but you have to think about the color of the cord. During winter, a white Paracord might makes sense if the ground is snow covered. A green or camo cord could work well in a forest or field. Black is an obvious choice for night.

You don’t see bungee cord mentioned in a lot of the write-ups about trip wires, but it has a characteristic that could make sense if you think about it. If the idea of your trip wire is to rattle a bell, cans, or other noise maker, a bungee cord will certainly make that happen.

In fact, a bungee cord may cause more noise to occur than any of the other options we’ve mentioned due to its flexibility and springiness. A black bungee makes sense. Green if you’re in the woods.

If your trip wire is designed to trigger a mechanism, bungee is not the best choice, but if you’re rattling cans the old-fashioned way, it’s a good option.

You can buy these things and improvise a trip wire yourself, but make sure they’re battery or solar powered or have a way to recharge the batteries . These are complicated solutions, so we’ll mention them but we’re not going to spend a lot of time covering ways to make technology work in a primitive environment.

Some websites offer tips and solutions to improvising trip wires with technology, but it’s a lot of work and you have to consider how and when you’ll need any trip wire, and for how long.

The idea of most trip wires is to make a lot of noise when someone trips over the wire. Noise makers vary depending on what you have available or may have bought in advance. We’re going to assume your situation caught you a bit by surprise and that you have to improvise from available materials.

It’s believable that a lot of us would have wire, cords, and fishing line lying, around but things that make noise require a bit of creativity or at least some pre-planning , especially if you require a very loud alarm.

How loud your alarm needs to be depends on your distance from the trip wire and whether you are inside or outside. Someone camping in a tent will be more likely to hear a rattle of rocks in a can than someone sleeping in their home or cabin.

If you are at a distance from your trip wire or indoors, you may need to plan and buy ahead to acquire louder alarms like blank cartridge firing mechanisms, firecracker poppers, air horns, or anything else that will be heard under most circumstances.

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And if you can, paint your alarms to match the environment. If you don’t have paint, you can rub some mud or clay on the bell/can/noisemaker so it is somewhat camouflaged. Black is good at night, camo combos for any natural forest or field, and snow white for winter.

If you’re trying to keep animals at bay, the colors are less of an issue. Animals only see in black and white, but keep an eye on the contrast. They can still notice highly contrasting shades.

A lot of us have bells around for various reasons including cowbells, Christmas bells, antique bells, and collectible bells. And then some of us don’t. If you have any assortment of bells, you’re off to a good start with a trip wire.

Even if you’re not a bell collector, there’s a good chance you have access to tin cans and rocks. No rocks? Anything that makes noise in a can will do from bolts to nuts or better yet, marbles— although marbles may jostle around in your can in the wind, so maybe stick with the pebbles.

You only want a few in the can but enough to make noise when the can is jostled. Smooth, rounded stones and marbles are best. Look for rounded stones in river and creek beds.

Drop a few in and give the can a shake. Adjust until you think you have the most and best noise for a shake. And if you don’t think a rattling can is going to work, then you’ll need to think about stocking some very loud alarms like the next few items.

There’s a type of firework that has two stings emerging from either end of a firecracker. When you pull the stings, the firecracker pops. They’re loud, and you can tie them onto a number of trip wires around your area.

Some of them are made out of paper and will get wet due to rain, snow, or morning dew, so wrap them in plastic cut from a black or neutral garbage bag. They’ll most likely scare off a wild animal and might scare off an intruder. Either way you’ll certainly hear it.

This isn’t about setting up a full loaded .22 caliber round on a trip wire. That’s a really bad idea. Trip wires are indiscriminate and when tripped, the wire fires. Most .22-caliber blanks are used for nail hammers to drive nails and pins into concrete.

The firing mechanism for trip wires and .22 blanks can be bought online , although the blanks are available at most hardware stores next to the nail guns. There are also 12-gauge blank variations on this concept.

As a trip wire, they’re mostly designed to deter wild animals, but the people who sell them offer all sorts of reasons to use them . You’ll certainly hear it, and it will scare most anyone and anything away.

However, it may cause a response you don’t necessarily want. If someone is approaching and they are armed, they may perceive the detonation of a .22-caliber blank round as actual gunfire and return fire. Up to you.

If it makes noise, it’ll work on a trip wire. The only challenge is figuring out how to trigger the noise. Things like sirens need power, but if you’re handy with a little wiring, you can make a trip-switch to set off the siren.

There are also solar powered options available . There’s some advice out there about setting up a rock over an a ir horn that will fall on the air horn button when tripped. That requires some precise setup and once that rock is on the air horn, it’s going to make a lot of noise until you lift the rock.

You’ll also probably use up all the air in the horn by the time you get out of bed or your sleeping bag to lift the rock.

There are solar powered motion detectors that will illuminate an area. These are best hung high in a tree out of sight and out of reach. It’s a variation on the trip wire concept, and it’s usually used to dissuade animals. It could also deter an intruder, but if you’re using something to trip an alarm that will notify you of an intrusion, a light in the night will do little good if you don’t see it while you’re sleeping or otherwise occupied.

Most trip wire concepts are designed to make noise to let you know that someone or something is approaching, and improvising a light to a trip wire can get a little complicated unless you have some good skills with wiring and trip switches. We’re going to skip the lights and stick with noise.

Booby traps have often been used in times of war and they are designed to kill. That’s a really bad idea. The whole idea is to either scare something or someone away with sound or to at least be alerted to the presence of something approaching.

Even a blank .22-caliber cartridge should be pointed towards the ground. Otherwise, the blast could send shrapnel from a tree trunk or branch in someone’s direction, and you don’t want it to be one of your children or an innocent wanderer lost in the night. This is about making noise, not war.

Where you place any trip wire is as important as the design of the trip wire itself. You want it far enough away to give yourself some time to observe the direction of the alarm and see what’s coming plus prepare to respond. But you also want it close enough so you can hear it.

Another location factor is the height of the trip wire from the ground. If you’re concerned about human intruders or large animals like a bear , you’ll want your trip wire about a foot above the ground. 6-inches above the ground is about the minimum or someone or something could step on the wire without tripping it.

Also, if it’s any lower than 6 inches, every random squirrel, raccoon, possum or most any other rodent could trip your wire repeatedly. If that happens enough, you may take to ignoring the trip wire noise while assuming it’s just another passing rabbit when it’s the intruder you were so worried about in the first place.

Support for attaching a trip wire is something else to think about. A lot depends on what’s available at the location and what kind of trip wire you’re using. Two tree trunks could work, but they will create a very taut trip wire that may not ring any bells for long. They could also cause an intruder to literally trip which may be an effective deterrent–or not.

The branches of two trees or two saplings give some flexibility to any trip wire and could result in a sway in the wire, causing the noise to persist a little longer.

Two stakes in the ground are another solution, but if you’re trying to raise your trip wire to a foot of height, you’ll need long and large stakes deeply imbedded in the ground.

The number of trip wires you set up is another location consideration. Think in terms of avenues of approach. Around a home or dwelling, any open area like a gap in a fence, a gate, an open back or front yard, approaches to doors or windows, or approaches to outbuildings are worth thinking about.

A lot depends on what you’re worried about, the location, and the immediate threat level.

A remote survival camp or any campsite for that matter might require a number of trip wire setups, but even then –animals prefer open paths and clear terrain. A human intruder may do otherwise and stick to the cover of scrub, brush, and trees, so you just have to do your best to estimate what could be coming and from where.

Check your trip wires if you have them in place for any length of time. Improvising an alarm with some rocks in a can is a good idea, at least until it rains or freezes and the water or frozen rocks in the can fail to rattle.

It’s also possible one of your trips has worked loose; been tripped without you knowing it, and loose on the ground, or something as simple as a knot that has worked loose. It’s actually somewhat of a “set it and forget it” approach, but it’s worth checking them from time to time if you need them for any duration.

Remove your trip wires when you don’t need them anymore or when you move on. They will cause you or anyone else to trip, including family members, as long as they’re in place. You also may need them again.

The DIY Trip wires

The advantage of a bungee cord as a trip wire is its springiness. Think of it as a rubber band on steroids. In fact, the interior of a bungee cord is just that. Long strands of rubber encased in a flexible fabric braid.

You can attach anything that makes noise to a bungee cord. The advantage is that a bungee will rattle and shake longer while making more noise.

• Bungee cord of sufficient length for your trip wire area. You can buy coiled bungee cord in various colors and cut them to length. If you only have packaged bungee cords of varying lengths with hooks, you can connect them together, although the hooks will be somewhat visible during the day.
• Various soup cans painted to match the terrain or time of day. They should also have holes punched towards the top of the can on either side.

• (You can substitute bells for the cans.)
• Choose a bungee cord color that you think will blend in the best with the surrounding areas.
• Wrap the one end of the bungee around a tree trunk, branch, sapling or stake. Tie it off with two half-hitches and pull tight.
• Thread your can or cans onto the bungee.
• Stretch it tight to another tree trunk, branch, sapling or stake and wrap and knot with two half hitches until tightened.

• Add marbles to the can and test it with a few pulls on the bungee. Add or remove marbles depending on the sound.
• Test your bungee trip wire again with someone in camp or in the house and ask them if they can hear the cans? If not, move the trip wire closer or add some more cans.

Monofilament is an excellent trip wire source. It’s hard to see during the day and totally invisible at night. The key is to have a strong enough weight test to activate the noise without breaking. It can be used in most any trip wire setup in any location.

• Monofilament fishing line.  50 pound test or higher is best, but any weight test will do if it’s all you have on hand. You could even double or triple up the monofilament if you’re worried it will break or snap.
• Empty tin cans. Soup cans are a good size. Peel off any colorful labels and either paint them or coat them in a thin film of mud so they are less reflective. Paint the cans black or do a camo pattern depending on the surrounding area.
• Smooth, round rocks, nuts, bolts, marbles —anything hard that can easily move around and rattle in the can.
• Cordage or wire to attach the cans to the monofilament.
• Wrap the one end of the monofilament around a tree trunk, branch, sapling or stake. Tie it off with an improved clinch knot (a fishing knot perfectly suited to monofilament) and pull tight.
• Punch 4 holes in each can.

The holes should be punched in pairs towards the top of the can about a ½ inch apart and opposite each other at the rim of the can. This is so the can is bound tight to the monofilament as it is threaded through the holes to ensure a good shake.

• Thread the monofilament through the holes.

• Add the can or cans along the monofilament, but try to place them in spots that are obscured by brush, tall grass, or other natural camouflage. It makes no difference at night, but take a look when it’s dark to be sure.
• Stretch it tight to another tree trunk, branch, sapling, or stake and wrap and knot with another improved clinch knot and pull light.
• Try to locate the cans in a location that is hard to see during the day.
• Drop a few rocks in the can and shake the fishing line wire to see if the cans rattle. Add more or less rocks until the cans make a racket. Continue to add cans where you can. Tighten the cans to the monofilament if you need to.
• Test your monofilament trip wire and have someone in camp listen and ask them if they can hear the cans. If not, move the trip wire closer or add more cans.
• Thin paracord . A type I or type II is thin enough to be obscure but strong enough to function as a trip wire. Choose the color that best matches the terrain and time of day.
• Pull-string fireworks. They’re legal to buy in most states and can also be purchased online. You’ll need to have them on hand because they’re very difficult to improvise.
• Choose a paracord color that will blend in with the surrounding area.
• Wrap the one end of the paracord around a tree trunk, branch, sapling, or stake.
• Find a location that is hard to see along the paracord and tie one end of the pull-string firecracker to the cord.
• Tie the other end of the paracord to another tree trunk, branch, sapling, or stake and wrap and knot with two half hitches until tightened.
• Carefully tie the paracord to the other end of the pull-string using a square knot or any knot you can improvise. You have to do this delicately. You want the paracord tight, but you don’t want to accidentally detonate the firecracker. If you want to get the best tight line, you could tie the final end of the paracord to the tree or stake with a trucker’s hitch . This will give you a little more control over the slack, but be gentle.
• You don’t want to test your popper trip wire or you’ll have to retie another one. If you want to test the distance and whether or not you’ll hear it, have someone in camp or in the house listen while you pull a spare popper. If they don’t hear it, move the trip wire closer. Don’t be tempted to add multiple poppers to the same trip wire. What will most likely happen is that one popper will trip, leaving any others unexploded.
• Unlike bells and tin cans, you have to rearm your firecracker trip wire whenever it goes off. That’s not a bad idea to at least see if there are any footprints or paw prints to tell you if your intruder was human or a stray dog.

• Floral wire . Black is the default color, but if you have a green or white color that can match the terrain or time of year (snow), that’s a good idea.
• A .22-gauge firing capsule. You can buy these online. They’re hard to find in stores.
• Blank .22-gauge loads. Buy these online where you bought your firing capsule or at a hardware store in the nail bun aisle.
• Wrap the one end of the wire around a tree trunk, branch, sapling or stake. Choose a color that matches best with the surroundings.
• Attach an unloaded .22-gauge capsule in an obscure spot.
• Attach the other end of the wire to the .22-gauge firing capsule.
• Stretch it to another tree trunk, branch, sapling or stake and pull until you have tension on the .22-gauge firing mechanism.
• Test the unloaded .22-gauge capsule by pushing on the trip wire to see if the pin fires. If not, adjust the tension. If the pin fires, rearm the firing mechanism and carefully add a blank .22-gauge cartridge.
• If appropriate to the situation, do a test. It will be loud and attract a lot of attention. If the firing pin is firing when unloaded, you should be good to go if a test causes local problems or concerns. Anything that sounds like a gun shot in the neighborhood may attract some unwanted attention.

This setup uses a white length of electrical wire attached with overlapping loops through two holes in the top of a can painted white. Obviously, it’s a winter trip wire and it uses marbles or pebbles to create the alarm. The overlap of the wires causes the can to shake and rattle more than a conventional wire or line passing through the holes.

• White electrical wire
• A can or cans painted white
• Marbles or pebbles

Directions:

• Attach one end of the wire to a tree branch.
• Run the wire through the can in a discreet location, but overlap the wires so the can shakes when the wire is tripped.

• Attach the other end of the wire to a branch and test.

If trouble is close to home and you need to come up with a trip wire fast, this is one option. This is a trip wire connected to a gate, causing an avalanche of large rocks to fall onto a large piece of sheet metal or even a metal garbage can. It makes a lot of noise and can also be staged so the rocks fall onto the metal when the gate is pushed rather than pulled open.

You can improvise this kind of setup anywhere someone may enter uninvited, from a barn door to a back door to a door on a wood shed. This is not a stealthy trip wire. It assumes that a gate or other barrier is obstructing any view of the setup.

• Bucket to hold the ro cks.
• About two dozen large rocks from 1 to 2-inches in diameter.
• A large metal surface or object that will make a lot of noise when rocks land on it. Sheet metal, metal garbage cans, metal ductwork, any type of metal that’s relatively thin and will create noise.
• A wood platform 12” square to support the bucket
• Three wooden dowels about 3 feet long. (You can use old broom handles or even 1×2’s can work).
• Cordage. Any type and any color. The trip wire will also be obscured by the gate or barrier.
• Fill your bucket with your rocks and dump them on your metal sheet, can or whatever else your using to assess the noise. Ask someone inside your home or camp to determine if they can hear it.
• If you’re satisfied with the noise level, fill the bucket with your rocks.
• Pound the 3 support sticks into the ground in a triangle that will support the 12” square platform.
• Set the 12” platform on top of the support sticks. You don’t want to drive the support sticks too deep into the ground. You want this to be a precarious balancing act.
• You have two options. If your gate pulls open towards you, attach your trip wire to the gate and to the front support stick or your three sticks setup far enough away to allow the rocks to fall on the metal. Place the metal in the best location for the rocks to fall. You might want to put some rocks under the metal to lift it off the ground to increase the noise and hold it in place to some degree. When the gate is opened, the trip wire will pull out the support and the bucket will fall forward onto the metal.
• If your gate opens away from you, set up the support sticks and the platform right next to the gate. When someone pushes the gate open, it will topple the bucket with the rocks onto your metal plate or can.
• Test either option to see where the rocks fall and place your metal sheet or container in that location.
• Test again and ask someone inside the house to assess the noise level.
• If satisfied, set the trip or add more rocks or adjust the metal location or type of metal. It’s an easy set up and will create enough noise to cause most intruders to jump out of their boots.

Are There Other Approaches?

No doubt . Trip wires have been around a long time, and what you choose to improvise is only limited by your imagination and materials on hand . What we tried to do here was explore the concept so anyone could take the basic idea and adapt it to their needs, available supplies, and their location. It’s all a question of finding stuff that will make a lot of noise when someone trips over your wire.

In an emergency, it’s good to know how to do this stuff. In an ideal scenario, you would have sophisticated electronic devices that are solar powered and connected to motion detectors and all manner of alerts and alarms. Complicating things further is that any device with any level of electronics will also need to be weatherproof.

But this isn’t about an ideal scenario with a house surrounded by lasers . It’s about a sudden and surprising time when things rapidly become dangerous or threatening. Anyone in that situation would have plenty to think about and the ability to quickly improvise something as basic as perimeter alarms with trip wires not only makes sense but simply seems like a good idea. Just don’t throw way any old bells.

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Russia-Ukraine war latest: Putin 'may launch all-out bid to seize second city' - as Western officials fear major Russian advance

Russia has launched fresh strikes on critical infrastructure - with Kyiv residents told to cut energy consumption every night for the rest of 2024. Meanwhile, Western officials reportedly fear a major Russian advance - amid concerns Vladimir Putin could launch an attempt to seize Kharkiv.

Saturday 13 April 2024 14:06, UK

• Ukrainian defences 'at risk of collapse' as officials fear major Russian advance - and all-out assault to seize second city
• Russia hits critical infrastructure in overnight missile strikes
• Putin mocks peace conference
• The big picture : Everything you need to know about the war this week
• Your questions answered: Is it too late to save Ukraine?

While we haven't been able to bring you live updates today, we have been keeping an eye on what's been happening in the Ukraine conflict. 

Here's a quick round-up of the key updates so far: 

At least 10 people, including children, have been killed by shelling in a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, a local Kremlin-installed official said.

A Ukrainian rocket also struck a machine-building plant in Russian-occupied Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, injuring three civilians, according to Moscow-based official Vladimir Rogov.

Meanwhile, Russia has claimed to have taken a village in Ukraine's Donetsk region. 

Russia's defence ministry said the capturing of Pervomaiske had improved its tactical position on the frontline. 

Ukraine's army chief has also warned the situation on the eastern front had deteriorated in recent days, with Moscow's forces intensifying its armoured assaults. 

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said battles were still raging for control of a village west of the devastated Bakhmut - an area that has seen some of the bloodiest fighting throughout the war.

We'll be back tomorrow morning with more updates on the war in Ukraine.

Two Biden administration officials have revealed the extent of China's involvement in Russia's war on Ukraine.

The officials spoke to Reuters news agency and said China has massively increased its sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology to Moscow.

These items are important because Russia is using them to make tanks, aircraft, missiles and other weapons for the war.

They also said:

• About 90% of Russia's microelectronics came from China
• Nearly 70% of Russia's approximately $900m in machine tool imports in the last quarter of last year came from China
• Chinese and Russian entities have been working together to make drones in Russia
• China is helping Russia improve its satellite and other space-based capabilities for use in the war. This could increase the threat Russia poses across Europe

US President Joe Biden has previously raised concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Beijing's indirect involvement in the war.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen returned this week from a visit to Beijing and said she had warned China that the Biden administration was prepared to sanction Chinese banks, companies and Beijing's leadership if they helped Russia's military in the war.

She has already been given the go-ahead from Mr Biden to sanction financial institutions that help Russia's military-industrial complex.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to travel to China for talks next month.

Russia, increasingly isolated economically and diplomatically, has become more reliant on China in recent months.

One official said Chinese materials are helping Moscow undertake its "most ambitious defence expansion since the Soviet era and on a faster timeline than we believed possible early on in this conflict".

"Our view is that one of the most game-changing moves available to us at this time to support Ukraine is to persuade the PRC (China) to stop helping Russia reconstitute its military industrial base. Russia would struggle to sustain its war effort without PRC input," the official said. 

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Reuters that Beijing has not provided weapons to any party and that it is "not a producer of or party involved in the Ukraine crisis".

"We urge the US side to refrain from disparaging and scapegoating the normal relationship between China and Russia."

If Russia defeats Ukraine it will be a "turning point in history", former UK prime minister Boris Johnson says.

Writing in the Daily Mail, he criticised Western countries for not providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defeat Russia.

"Every week in which we fail to do the obvious — and give the Ukrainians the weapons they need — is a week in which Putin gets closer to his disgusting ambition, to torture a European country to death.

"Every day the pressure on the Ukrainians is growing — and yet the solution is within our grasp."

Mr Johnson, who visited Ukraine a number of times during his premiership, said: "A defeat for Ukraine would usher in a new era of fear in the whole Euro-Atlantic area, as Putin continues his drive to rebuild the Soviet empire: from the Baltics to Georgia to Moldova to Central Asia to the Arctic.

"It will be a terrifying moment for the people of Taiwan and the clearest possible signal to China that the West has lost the willpower to protect democracy.

"It will be a turning point in history, the moment when the West finally loses its post-war hegemony, the moment when borders everywhere are suddenly up for grabs and aggression is seen to pay — and all because of a failure to stand up for Ukraine."

Mr Johnson warned the world is "on a knife-edge, with a real risk that Western democracies are about to be humiliated, and autocracies emboldened around the world — because of our lassitude, our pathetic refusal to do what is necessary".

He said Ukraine is so short of shells that its troops sometimes have to wait under Russian bombardment because they can't fire back.

The shortage of air defences means Kharkiv, the second-largest city, is "in danger of being turned into another Mariupol", he added.

Ukrainians were able to intercept 90% of incoming strikes, he said, but now "we are starving them, for reasons I do not understand, of the protective shields they need".

Mr Johnson called on the US Congress to approve a $60bn military aid package earmarked for Ukraine and on the Germans to supply Taurus missiles.

The West - including Britain - needs to "snap out of our sleep-walk", he said, adding: "The simplest and most cost-effective way to defend freedom is to invest now in the defence of Ukraine."

Rescue workers in Ukraine have saved five puppies from under the debris of a destroyed building.

The non-residential building was on fire in the north-eastern city of Sumy, close to the border with Russia.

A video from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine showed the firefighters cuddling the squealing puppies and rinsing them off with water.

In a post of the emergency service's Telegram channel, officials said the "little ones" were not injured.

"This rescue story reminds us of the importance of human compassion and the willingness to help everyone, regardless of the circumstances," they added.

Ex-armed forces minister James Heappey has told Sky's defence and security editor Deborah Haynes the UK should consider sending its forces to Ukraine to train troops.  

On the Sky News Daily, host Tom Cheshire talks to her and Sky's military analyst Professor Michael Clarke about the interview with Mr Heappey, who stepped down from his role last month.  

They assess the bleak situation in Ukraine and why the conflict is at a critical stage. They also discuss how prepared the UK would be if it faced a war in the near future.

A former Ukrainian secret service employee has been injured in Moscow after a device under his car exploded.

Vasily Prozorov suffered leg injuries that are not considered life threatening after the device detonated as he tried to start his car, Radio Free Europe cited Russian media as saying.

According to RFE, Mr Prozorov worked for Ukraine's SBU until 2018.

The following year, he told media in Moscow that he had collaborated with Russia "for ideological reasons" from April 2014 until he left the SBU.

These photos show the damage to a thermal power plant in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine.

A massive missile and drone attack destroyed and damaged a number of power plants across Ukraine overnight, part of a renewed Russian campaign targeting energy infrastructure.

The Trypilska plant, which was the biggest energy supplier for the Kyiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions, was struck numerous times, destroying the transformer, turbines and generators.

Vladimir Putin said the attacks were a response to Ukrainian strikes that targeted Russian oil refineries.

In Kharkiv, there were at least 10 other strikes on energy infrastructure, resulting in damage like that seen in these photos.

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said more than 200,000 people in the region were without power.

Herman Halushchenko, its energy minister, said it was a "large scale, enormous, missile attack that affected our energy sector very badly".

More details have emerged about American Russell Bentley, who is missing in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

Online news outlet Mash said he disappeared on 8 April after a district in the city of Donetsk was shelled by Ukrainian forces.

Mash cited his wife as saying he had gone to see if anyone needed help but had not returned.

Mr Bentley joined pro-Russian fighters in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

According to Russian news outlet RIA, he later swapped his gun for journalism and worked with state-run news outlet Sputnik.

In a 2022 Rolling Stone interview, he came across as a conspiracy theorist (he said the collapse of the World Trade Towers was a "pre-planned controlled demolition") and a fan of dictators (he described war crimes-accused former Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi as "one of the greatest").

He became a citizen of the Donetsk People's Republic in 2017 and a citizen of Russia in 2020, said the interview, which was headlined The Bizarre Story Of How A Hardcore Texas Leftist Became A Frontline Putin Propagandist.

In words similar to those of Russia's president Vladimir Putin, Mr Bentley described the Ukrainian military as "genuine mass-murdering Nazis", also claiming their ranks were swelled by "thousands of ISIS cannibals" - claims that have been widely dismissed by commentators.

The Netherlands will provide Ukraine with an additional €1bn (£850m) in military support this year, and has earmarked three-times that amount for next year.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte delivered the news in a social media post.

The extra support in 2024 takes the total sum for this year to €3bn (£2.56bn), along with €400m (£340m) to support Ukraine's economy, Mr Rutte said.

"Ukraine must win this battle - for their and our safety," he said.

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