Russia Ukraine Update Thread - part 2

Now even more are unhappy to Putin

Mundeps of 18 districts of Moscow and St. Petersburg demanded that Putin resign

a reply to: Kenzo

There is a report in the comments of English-speaking soldiers in Ukrainian uniforms. It is escalating, nice excuse for a reset though.

originally posted by: anonentity
a reply to: Kenzo

If you are in an engagement, it is all about energy. If the opponent has to mount the offensive it costs far more than the defending force.

Normally or in general I think that's true, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's true 100% of the time.

It's hard to tell exactly what is going on with rumors circulating that we don't know if they are true or not, but one of the rumors was that Ukraine was sending word to the Russians if they left all their gear and ran away, the Ukraine soldiers wouldn't kill them. We do see a lot of abandoned gear and it does appear the Russians were running away, so if they weren't putting up much of a fight, I'm not sure if the losses for Ukraine will be as heavy as if the Russians put up more of a fight, instead of running away from the fight. Hopefully we will learn more eventually about this amazing counter-offensive in Kharkiv, it's one for the history books for sure.

Exclusive: Russian soldiers 'literally running' for their lives as chain of command collapses

Panicked Russian soldiers are abandoning their tanks, weapons and even clothes as they "literally run from their positions" in the face of a shock Ukrainian offensive, soldiers have told The Telegraph.

If the enemy is running away, your offensive losses won't be as heavy as if they stayed and put up a fight, right?

It is in fact pay pay pay. who is paying for this?

Are you talking about money, or human lives, or what? What I see going to Ukraine from NATO is lots of resources, equipment and weapons, and also allowing Ukraine to delay loan payments without defaulting on loans, as a form of monetary support, on government based loans. Private lenders have not been as forgiving to Ukraine's loan defaults.

a reply to: anonentity

Who is going to exert the equal and opposite force? Russia needs to turn the tide in Ukraine first before they can even hope to start a world war.

Russian su-25 crashing just after takeoff. Quite a large explosion results.

mobile.twitter.com...

Ukranian soldiers clearing russian trenches.

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

Helmet camera footage of UA soldiers clearing a trench, very close quarters combat, RU soldiers shot down a scant few meters away.

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originally posted by: F2d5thCavv2
One wonders how much artillery the Russians lost when their troops routed.

One wonders how many experienced troops the Russians lost, or were captured. Russia may be able to replace lost kit, but getting hold of half-decent soldiers is a different matter.

Ukraine war: Russians 'outnumbered 8-1' in counter-attack www.bbc.co.uk...

"Ukrainian forces outnumbered Russians by eight to one in last week's counter-attack in the Kharkiv region, Russia's top occupation official there says.

Vitaly Ganchev told Russian TV that Ukraine's army had taken villages in the north and broken through to the Russian border.

Ukraine says it has regained control over 3,000 sq km (1,158 sq miles) of territory in a potential breakthrough in the six-month war.

The BBC cannot verify these figures.

The Ukrainian army says it took back 20 villages in the past 24 hours alone, in its continued counter-offensive in the north-east of the country.

It also said its forces have taken control of around 500 sq km in the southern Kherson region of the country.

UK defence officials say the Ukrainian army's successes will have "significant implications" for Russia's overall operational design.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was, however, undeterred, saying operations in Ukraine would continue "until all the tasks that were initially set" had been fulfilled."

a reply to: ufoorbhunter

The quoted odds are possible. Ukrainian army massed where it wanted to attack, and piled on.

Cheers

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

8 - 1 wowzers it no wonder the Russians legged it!

Just amazing too that the Russians were caught so off guard. From memory they have satellites up there, plus military drones. Do the Russians not use them? I mean there must have been visual evidence that Ukraine was massing forces in the Kharkov region. How the Russians missed noticing is so bizarre, something's not right here.

a reply to: ufoorbhunter

Recon hasn't been a strong point for them. Could be their intel sources have shrank since the war broke out. No idea on their satellite imaging capabilities. I would be surprised if they didn't have that.

Sometimes, too, the evidence is there, but people ignore it because of preconceived notions. Could be they were convinced the main thrust was to be against Kherson, and dismissed other indicators.

Cheers

originally posted by: ufoorbhunter
Just amazing too that the Russians were caught so off guard. From memory they have satellites up there, plus military drones. Do the Russians not use them? I mean there must have been visual evidence that Ukraine was massing forces in the Kharkov region. How the Russians missed noticing is so bizarre, something's not right here.

Could be a whole host of reasons, all mixed together.

1. Russia are operating "dark" so have no clue as to what Ukraine are doing.
2. Ukraine know what Russia are doing because of "friendlies" in the occupied areas, plus US and UK intel.
3. Russia were outplayed by bluff.
4. Russian command of the battlefront is poor. Lack of leadership and poor planning.
5. Russian satellites and other things are just junk. They don't work!
6. Ukraine are learning from Nato friends that battles are won through preparation.

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

Yeah sure they could have been convinced the main thrust was the Kherson zone. It's just beyond belief that Russia let this happen. I've read for years about Russia having moles in the Ukrainian government and military. As a supposed regional superpower then I would guess Russia has the ability to read the man in the parks newspaper via satellite technology. Russia must have loads of locals in Karkhov who supply intelligence to them as it is a Russian partly at least area. Something really doesn't add up here. They look like they have the intelligence gathering capabilities of a WW1 military power, maybe less. Totally beyond words on how they messed up here. Doesn't make sense. I wouldn't be surprised if a deal hasn't been done behind closed doors to let Russia keep Donbas and Crimea plus a bit of Kherson as long as they give up on other areas. It's the only thing possible.

originally posted by: paraphi

Could be a whole host of reasons, all mixed together.

1. Russia are operating "dark" so have no clue as to what Ukraine are doing.
2. Ukraine know what Russia are doing because of "friendlies" in the occupied areas, plus US and UK intel.
3. Russia were outplayed by bluff.
4. Russian command of the battlefront is poor. Lack of leadership and poor planning.
5. Russian satellites and other things are just junk. They don't work!
6. Ukraine are learning from Nato friends that battles are won through preparation.

Nice list Paraphi and as you state probably a whole mix.

Number 5, "Russian satellites and other things are just junk. They don't work!" Yes exactly and how on Earth is this possible when Moscow has a modern space programme and sends up satellites all the time, or at least that's what they tell us. Do the Russian's have the satellites but the operators are just lazy. maybe they are in on it with the Ukrainians and want their own state to fail in its military operation.

It just doesn't make any sense that Russia couldn't see the Karkhov attack in the buildup stage. Unbelievable.

I've seen several unconfirmed reports over the past hour that approximately 20,000 russian troops in the Kherson region are actively negotiating a surrender and transfer of military equipment to Ukraine. Again, these reports are unconfirmed, but something worth keeping an eye on.

originally posted by: ufoorbhunter

Number 5, "Russian satellites and other things are just junk. They don't work!" Yes exactly and how on Earth is this possible when Moscow has a modern space programme and sends up satellites all the time, or at least that's what they tell us. Do the Russian's have the satellites but the operators are just lazy.

This article may prove enlightening. It's a few months old, but relevant still.

In Russia's War On Ukraine, Effective Satellites Are Few And Far Between

According to experts and open-source information compiled by RFE/RL, Russia has long been saddled with a small and inadequate fleet of communications and surveillance satellites that in many cases rely on either outdated technology or imported parts that are now harder to come by due to Western sanctions.

“In principle, Russia is already practically blind in orbit, " said Bart Hendrix, a Brussels-based analyst and expert on Soviet and Russian space programs.

More people starting to talk ?


More and more Russians are voicing what the civilized world knows for some time: "this war is the largest historical shame in the history of 🇷🇺".

a reply to: WeDemBoyz


Def Mon have something also about that


Def Mon twitter

a reply to: paraphi

Yep thanks for the article Paraphi and it makes sense for the outsourcing of components being sanctioned leading to Russia's blindness in orbit.

Can't get over how far Moscow has fallen behind in so many areas. When I was a youngster we were in awe of the Soviet Union and their immense war machine industrial complex which appeared super advanced and cutting edge. It really was cutting edge, fantastic planes, subs, space stations etc. Only thirty or forty years ago! Wowzers, how the world's changed in no time at all.

a reply to: ufoorbhunter


The U.S. surpassed russian military tech under Reagan in the 80s, which started becoming public in the 90s.

While russia still has a LOT of older weapons, they are hopelessly behind Western tech at this point.