If it's pre-war it's just so much Russian Army Pines Envy. We know how they fight, not particularly well. All the best Andreas
The whole corner down there is pretty "wet" now anyway, it won't get any better with the targeted flooding. Bottom line: you're tied to paved roads. If I read the developments correctly, the UA is changing its focus - especially on high-end drones of all kinds plus long range artillery: There has been quite a lot of positive experience in recent weeks with the drone target reference point system for delivering highly accurate indirect fire barrages. In addition, there are the well-known shoot & scoot ambushes of the proven tank killer squads. This does not bode well for fixed columns. It remains to be seen how well the other side has adapted to neutralise this. IMHO, no sensations are to be expected: mass instead of class in WWII style against the 21st century Slavic equivalent of the Israeli army (for whom this "special military operation" is apparently turning from a desperate fighting for survival into a truly bloody vendetta for unfortunately all too well known reasons).
It puzzles me how close Russian vehicles travel in convoy. I'm used to reading BEF war diaries referring to 10 vehicles to the mile or similar. The Russian practice of tailgating with tanks and then parking up on cross roads would have horrified a Great war Mule driver....and mules don't burst into flames when hit by shellfire.
Russian material losses as of today 09/04/2022 compared with those of 3 days ago - 06/04/22 (according to Oryx - these are just verified losses, real numbers are probably higher): Total: 2616 Tanks 449 (+16) Armoured Fighting Vehicles 284 (+5) Infantry Fighting Vehicles 467 (+20) Armoured Personnel Carriers 91 (+4) Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles 21 (+2) Infantry Mobility Vehicles 83 (+4) Communications Stations 19 (+3) Engineering Vehicles 92 (+7) Heavy Mortars 11 Towed Artillery 52 (+2) Self-Propelled Artillery 85 (+5) Multiple Rocket Launchers 48 (+2) Anti-Aircraft Guns 4 (+1) Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns 13 (+2) Surface-To-Air Missile Systems 51 (+4) Radars 9 (+1) Jammers And Deception Systems 7 (+1) Aircraft 20 Helicopters 32 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 24 (+2) Naval Ships 3 Logistics Trains 2 Trucks, Vehicles and Jeeps 751 (+ 37) Unknown vehicles 36 (+1) NB. Oryx stopped the count of Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (76) and Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (24 ); they are no longer listed but the last registrated numbers still are included in the total score.
Convoy tactics are abysmal. The BTG is conceptually an abject failure when having to engage a near-peer adversary. They don't have the depth to sustain losses, they don't have the dismounts to protect the armour in assault, and they don't have a way to safeguard their logistics chain. I am guessing that's why they send single tanks and BTRs/BMPs with the convoys, but really what they would need is sufficient groundpounders to ensure that supply routes are at least cleared to NLAW engagement distance (1km each side of the road). That won't help with the Javelins, but it'll help a bit. The whole thing is a shambles. All the best Andreas
It looks as if Rog is going to be even more pissed-off now. ‘This is a crazy, unjust attack’: Pink Floyd re-form to support Ukraine
C4 has a 25 mins documentary by Johnny Mercer, MP, reporting from the Ukraine, which I am about to watch: Ukraine: On the Front Line with Johnny Mercer - All 4 IMHO it was interesting, more an advocacy item than looking deeply at the situation.
I've said many times I hate the 'word'... but... picturing Mr Waters... LOL. I feel dirty now. That's gonna raise squillions, isn't it. Which is sort of fascinating in its own right.
Crikey even the mods are chipping in EXCLUSIVE WHO says it advised Ukraine to destroy pathogens in health labs to prevent disease spread
I probably won't. Nick Mason seems a nice bloke, but they really have no edginess without Roger Waters.
Annoying, isn't it... You will, though. I mean... a prog mate paid a ridiculous amount to see the fading Phill Collins with that most irritating of former bands lately. You will.
The sad decline to Disco-Band after Gabriel and Hackett left. Dreadful. I'm actually fairly good at understanding that in terms of live performances, one cannot re-live the past. Self-parody comes all too quickly.
There are only local battles, but the Battle for Donbass is imminent ... or so it is told. Some cite May 9 as the day the Russians would like to win a victory. I wonder if and to what degree the UA could interfere with the new russian build up; interdicting supply lines, destroying depots and so on. This might even involve cross-border violence with attacks on russian territory ... no insurmountable problem, since the latter have already set a precedent. An Austrian Army assesment (English subtitled): ... ooooh, enough of this brainless russian stammering, ass- and fact twisting; cut the BS, let's get cracking, take out the russians and just win this war
Tanks from Czechia is good news we need to up the game with anti ship weapons the putin spokesman is again deluded and a liar
How propaganda and disinformation work in the media war: Today the railway station of Kramatorsk (UA) was hit by two Tochka-U missiles, causing numerous civilian casualties. (The graffiti on the piece of debris shown can hardly be surpassed in cynicism). Practically IMMEDIATELY afterwards, numerous comments arose according to which it must be a false-flag operation on the part of the Ukrainian side, since this type is ONLY used by the Ukrainian army. To quote Dave55: "100% Grade A BS". Russia supplied such systems to Syria as recently as 2017 and also deployed them in the Donbass. UAWire - Media: Russia delivered 50 Tochka-U missiles to Syria Russia moved Tochka-U tactical missiles division to Ukrainian border - InformNapalm.org (English) In light of what is happening in Ukraine, I can't help but think of a text from the 16th century: It is the time of swords and wraths here, and not of mercies ....Landsknechts, who in one hour clear us of our chests and bags, and will not stop as long as we keep one penny, and in return ravage our house and yard, ravish and kill our wives and children. sigh......
Even Russian Army is using Tochka systems https://twitter.com/Militarylandnet/status/1512375405503823873?cxt=HHwWgoC-wePahP0pAAAA They are even marked with "V" as confirmation that it is a recent video. Iskander reserves are probably now depleted so Russians pulled Tochka from their storage.
