Russia's War Against Ukraine

[al_infierno]

https://mobile.twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1506453063267241994

Fascinating claimed intercepted call from Russian officer near Mykolaiv to superiors in Russia. He says:

This is worse than Chechnya

50% of troops have frostbite

They can't evacuate the dead

Don't have enough tents

RU plane dropped a bomb on their own position

One column was hit with Grad rockets. Can't even figure out if it was friendly fire

Medics only have bandages. Can't help with frostbite

No hot stove

Digging trenched to sleep in

Commander of 49th CAA told troops on 4th day that war will be over in hours

Troops don't have body armor. When one complained to commander was told "son, be strong"

This special operation is a "madhouse"

Being told not to destroy buildings - it's insanity. Unless we destroy everything and turn into dirt along with the civilians, nothing can happen

TV says we are moving forward. But we just drive through without clearing up villages. And now we have to defend from all sides because they are attacking everywhere

They thought this would be like a parade ride

Our task was to get to Mykolaiv. And we are sitting here

[ArizonaTank]

Ex-American marine now fighting for Ukraine gives impressions of combat. Very intense. Russians are unimaginative and inflexible. Tanks are toast.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ukraine-s-three-to-one-advantage/ar-AAVs68c?ocid=msedgntp


Also, some interesting thoughts from Nicholas Moran from "Inside the Chieftain's Hatch" on what the videos coming out of Ukraine don't tell us. His first point is that in his opinion, the day of the tank is not over...granted the man is an ex-US Armor Company Commander...so he is biased.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9pVEP0AzZ4

[ArizonaTank]

Wow:

Russian warship destroyed in occupied port of Berdyansk, says Ukraine

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60859337

Interesting that none of the reports tell how it was hit; strike from Shangri-La I guess (points to anyone getting the obscure WWII reference).

Saw this note on the daily situation map:  "Burning Russian Landing Ship at Berdiansk visible in satellite imagery from earlier today. Also visible are the two other Ropucha class landing ships, one sailing in circles. Various tugs and smaller craft rushing around"

I would imagine they used either a rocket or drone strike.

They got a Russian corvette earlier in the war with unguided rockets and it wasn't in port.

Given the size of the explosion, and that it happened in port, I was thinking truck bomb....

IMHO, those are secondary explosions from the cargo/fuel the ship was carrying. Based on the smoke plume, the fire had been going on for awhile, so the explosions aren't the initial blast

Good point...I missed that...

[steve58]

Snake Island sailors freed in prisoner exchange.

[Con]

too good to pass up

[Gusington]

And only a 78% thumbs up rating.

'Needs more tractors.' 

[Con]

This is a 2019 article on Nato/Russian arty.

The key to todays conflict is that Ukraine is pushing the Russians back more than 40km from Kyiv.  If they achieve this that means the Russians in order to put their doctrine of shelling cities will need to use more missiles and aircraft launched bombs.  These are then countered by the air systems that NATO is supplying and the sanctions crippling the ability to replenish expensive missiles as their stocks are drawn down.

The logistics game of chess continues!

https://finabel.org/long-live-the-king-of-battle-the-return-to-centrality-of-artillery-in-warfare-and-its-consequences-on-the-military-balance-in-europe/

[GDS_Starfury]

from what Ive read the ships were hit with missiles.  the great news is that its not 1 but 2 ships sunk.  the 2nd left pierside on fire and seems to have sunk.   :bd:  rt was reporting missile strikes on the port a few days ago so the Ukrainians just kept at it until they hit something.  theres also russian drone footage a few days old showing the ship unloading BTRs and munitions.

[Jarhead0331]

from what Ive read the ships were hit with missiles.  the great news is that its not 1 but 2 ships sunk.  the 2nd left pierside on fire and seems to have sunk.   :bd:  rt was reporting missile strikes on the port a few days ago so the Ukrainians just kept at it until they hit something.  theres also russian drone footage a few days old showing the ship unloading BTRs and munitions.

I believe they used that footage to estimate the ships location.

[Con]

Still applies

[GDS_Starfury]

it also seems to be a main source of russian logistic support so just going for the docks regardless is a good idea.

[GDS_Starfury]

some UKAF backround.

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/ukraine-air-force-pilots-fight-russia/

[Con]

I saw this on a tweet - thought it was worth replicating.

POV - You are a Russian tanker.
Your T72 is out of fuel
The snow is picking up
Night time approaches
.........You hear tractors

[SirAndrewD]

Well, in silver linings for this, I may be getting my first ancillary DoD job out of this as a supplement to my main work.

Might not be able to post in this thread any longer. 

[al_infierno]

And just like that, the Grogheads get an inside man.   

(I kid, DoD background checkers, I kid...)