Ukraine Open Thread 2023-137
Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict.
The current open thread for other issues is here.
Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.
Posted by b on June 8, 2023 at 13:07 UTC | Permalink
next page »Alleged footage of destroyed Leopards
https://lostarmour.info/media/articles/images/1686209266_blobid1686209262608.jpg (2 Leopards)
https://lostarmour.info/media/articles/images/1686209281_blobid1686209278783.jpg (1 Leopard, very blurred)
https://lostarmour.info/media/articles/images/1686209295_blobid1686209292632.jpg (1 Leopard)
https://lostarmour.info/media/articles/images/1686212152_blobid0.jpg (1 More Leopard)
Dozens of MRAPS, soviet tanks and other vehicles also destroyed and filmed, too much to post.
Posted by: A200 | Jun 8 2023 13:16 utc | 2
https://t.me/rybar/48045 (3 AMX10-RC destroyed)
https://t.me/voenacher/46205 (Addional photo of 2 destroyed AMX10-RC)
Posted by: A200 | Jun 8 2023 13:20 utc | 3
Footage of destruction of IRIS-T's antenna, drone also films the launcher itself. https://t.me/voenacher/46203
Posted by: A200 | Jun 8 2023 13:22 utc | 4
Two indications in the media this morning of the way that the cookie is crumbling in the USA.
(I quote from these stories in the knowlege that RT and Sputnik are inaccessible to many readers.)
1/ RFK Jr. Reveals Terrible Truth About Ukraine Pentagon 'Concealed From Americans'
""What we’re doing in Ukraine now is just a massive assault on Ukrainians. We have trapped Ukraine in a proxy war against [Russia] and they are being devoured by the geopolitical machinations of neocons in the White House who have this comic book depiction that a lot of Americans have swallowed about what is happening," RFK Jr. said, speaking to Canadian psychologist and media commentator Jordan Peterson.
"Explaining what separates his position on Ukraine from that of the incumbent, Joe Biden, RFK Jr. said that although he understood many ordinary Americans' support for Ukraine out of "compassion" and as a "humanitarian mission," in reality, "every step we have taken, every decision we have made appears to have been intended to prolong the war and to increase the bloodshed."
RFK Jr. recalled Joe Biden’s slip of the tongue that the US's real goal in Ukraine was to cause regime change in Moscow – an aspiration which he recalled neoconservative advisors in Washington have been pushing for "decades" now.
""Zbigniew Brzezinski…their doyen and philosopher said that US strategy should be to suck Russia into a series of wars in little countries where we can then exhaust them. Lloyd Austin, who is president Biden’s defense secretary, in April 2022 said our purpose in being in Ukraine is to degrade the Russian army, to exhaust it and degrade its capacity to fight anywhere in the world. Well that is the opposite of a humanitarian mission. That is a war of attrition, and that's what it's turned out to be. We have now turned Ukraine into an abattoir that has devoured 350,000 young Ukrainians..."
This is a Peace platform which has a very good chance of winning popular support. Its inmpact id doubled by re-iterating this old, but true, story.
2/Washington banned Kiev from signing truce with Moscow
"Nikolay Patrushev, one of Russia’s senior security officials, has accused the US and the UK of standing in the way of peace. Unlike the peoples of Russia and Ukraine, the two English-speaking countries are interested in prolonging the violence and do not care about human suffering, he alleged.
“I can identify the nations that are most interested [in continued hostilities] – they are the US and England,” he said on Thursday during a press conference in Belarus. “And one should clearly realize that they do not care about people dying, because it’s not their people, they are not waging the war on their own soil.”
I mentioned in a post last night that Tucker Carlson's political gyrations are indications of his sense of what comes next.
These stories confirm his judgement: what comes next is a popular movement demanding an end to this sadistic and useless conflict, the legacy of a Nazi strategy adopted by the US and relentlessly pursued for eighty years.
It is time Operation Barbarossa was put to an end.
Posted by: bevin | Jun 8 2023 13:23 utc | 5
Last one, a collection of images, allegedly 42 UA vehicles destroyed from last days. (It has a meme) https://t.me/voenacher/46136
Posted by: A200 | Jun 8 2023 13:25 utc | 6
American politicians work on commission. Former V.P. Pence is doing his best to make an F16 sale.
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Jun 8 2023 13:25 utc | 7
The fat lady hasn't started singing just yet, but you can hear her warming up....
I have to admit that I will experience great schadenfreude when all the brainwashed zombie sheep realize their entire reality has been nothing but a lie.
Soon NATO will be forced to either give up or escalate into direct military confrontation in Ukraine. Fish or cut bait NATO.
Posted by: JustAMaverick | Jun 8 2023 13:28 utc | 8
Recent 3 minute video of Russian trenches ==> How Russia Is Preparing for Ukraine’s Counteroffensive.
Anyone know what trenching machine is shown?
Posted by: too scents | Jun 8 2023 13:36 utc | 9
Posted by: b | Jun 8 2023 13:11 utc | 1
What is there to be surprised about? Anybody tracking the war could have told you this offensive was going to go badly, no matter who "wins".
He was "surprised" by both sides during the first month of the war but in a historical context the way both sides performed is not uncommon; the first phase of any war is when both sides are tripping over themselves and shaking off cobwebs as they discover what happens when theory turns into practice. The union was similarly beaten back by the confederates in the beginning and eventually reshaped itself to defeat them. Ukraine prepared for this war for 8 years, and russia, having nothing but small interventions in small countries to refer to for combat experience, had to catch up.
Posted by: Odo | Jun 8 2023 13:37 utc | 10
Waiting for Inkanazi1969 to come here and declare Ukranazistan is winning.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 13:39 utc | 11
Big Serge on the dam:
https://bigserge.substack.com/p/russo-ukrainian-war-dam
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 13:40 utc | 12
@ Odo, #10
Totally agree - it seems he has only been reading western versions of the story.
The huge challenge to Russia on day 1 was to get enough artillery in between Donbas and the deep dug in artillery of Ukraine which was waiting for the false flag signal to attack Donbas.
Clearly no one expected the Russian invasion - because there were no Ukrainian forces on north or South borders - the CIA had been forecasting the false flag.
So the "Great Distraction" on Hostomol airport and areas around Kiev with very limited forces may have been presented in the west as a failure, but in terms of getting enough artillery in place and defeat Ukraine's strongest forces it was an amazing success to be written up in military books for the next few hundred years.
Posted by: Michael Droy | Jun 8 2023 13:48 utc | 13
Indian hosts saying no to the cokehead Z crashing their G20 party seems like a big development. Looks like he may have finally hit his "sell-by" date.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 13:39 utc | 11
Inkanazi ... now there is tool worthy of RSH's idiot filter! Thanks for that.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jun 8 2023 13:50 utc | 14
As for this:
"... information war from Kiev and the west claiming that russians are worthless fighters."
It comes straight out of Hitler's propaganda shop- Gehlen must have translated it for his new masters. Or maybe Chrystia Freeland's grand dad did.
Posted by: bevin | Jun 8 2023 13:53 utc | 16
Mikael Valtersson propagates a lot of US/NATO talking points. Russia did not underperform in the beginning. They did however do some risky moves particularly as part of their pinning movement to put pressure on the city of Kiev. They went deep behind enemy lines.
At no point did Ukraine fight well as an army though individual soldiers showed courage.
I personally suspect the Russians intentionally did things to feed the NATO propaganda machine because although they escalated gently to allow a peaceful solution I’m sure they knew it was an exercise in futility and Russia’s intent was a prolonged conflict to degrade NATO industrial capacity and arms and EU economies
Posted by: Alaric | Jun 8 2023 13:55 utc | 17
Our source in the OP said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would be forced to abandon the assault on the Zaporizhzhya NPP after the situation with the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. MI6 prepared the operation based on surprise, using diving equipment and light boats to quietly transfer troops to the left bank of the Dnieper.The operation was prepared for 3 months, and now the situation is changing dramatically, the situation is complicated by the fact that the channel of the Dnieper passes through the middle of the Kakhovka reservoir, which means that the crossing of the military will be immediately detected by the enemy.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/18179
Posted by: Down South | Jun 8 2023 13:56 utc | 18
Our source in the OP said that the Office of the President was forced to classify all video materials of the visual control of the Kakhovskaya HPP, due to the requirements of Western intelligence.The situation with the destruction of the dam is ambiguous, negotiations are underway between the Biden Administration and the Kremlin.
In this track, the Russian side provided its proofs to the United States, which is why Ukraine did not receive unequivocal support from the West, as it was after the tragedy in Bucha.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/18182
Posted by: Down South | Jun 8 2023 13:59 utc | 19
Posted by: JustAMaverick | Jun 8 2023 13:28 utc | 8
I have to admit that I will experience great schadenfreude when all the brainwashed zombie sheep realize their entire reality has been nothing but a lie.
I will be raising a glass of fine whiskey on that day.
Just to temper the animal spirits a bit, I rather suspect that the day it becomes obvious that the zombie sheep were fleeced, there will be some sort of "turning the guns inward" from the likes of Stollenberg, Biden, and in particular the vicious Nazis like Nuland.
By turning the guns inward, I mean they will attack their own citizens. They'll look for a puppy to kick, and we don't know who the puppy will be. It might be bloggers, remember they have the FBI and DoJ completely compromised and can send anyone they feel responsible for their Ukrainian debacle to rot away like Assange.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jun 8 2023 14:00 utc | 20
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Enemy Advances on #Zaporozhye Front: Heavy Fighting at Positions of Heroic Company from 291st Regiment does not stop⚡️▪️ The armored fist of the AFU has been trying for 12 hours to break through the defenses of our troops near the town of #Orekhov in the area of #Rabotino - #Verbovoye.
▪️ The AFU armoured groups are attacking the junction between two company strongholds, having managed to take only one height 178.2 in half a day of fighting.
▪️ Our fighters of the heroic company of the 291st Regiment withdrew from the front line of trenches to reserve positions under heavy pressure, these trenches the enemy was continuously pounding for another 3 hours before the offensive with all kinds of weapons.
▪️ The soldiers of the company of the 291st Regiment, with the support of neighbors from the 70th Regiment, intelligence soldiers of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division and 22nd Special Forces Brigade, are holding the next support, this maneuver was planned in advance to deter just such a powerful offensive, the enemy broke off his teeth on the first support for many hours and now is breaking them on the second one.☠️ According to preliminary reports, the AFU has already lost up to 16 tanks and 15 other vehicles.
▪️ Support is breaking through to our guys from neighbouring areas.
▪️ The heavy fighting has not stopped for many hours, artillery from both sides is not silent.
📜 Boris Rozhin; 8 Jun 2023, 14:07
https://t.me/sitreports/9920
Posted by: Down South | Jun 8 2023 14:00 utc | 21
Bevin no. 5
Thanks for that, as one of the people living in an "undemocratic" region and not allowed RT/Sputnik.
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jun 8 2023 14:04 utc | 22
Just finished reading this:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/05/29/two-weeks-at-the-front-in-ukraine
Definitely changing narrative since March 2022, when talk was of Kyiv university students zipping off in their cars to blast a few Russian tanks with Javelins, then back to the city for celebrating over beer and pizza.
Story might also explain why Ukrainians don't frag their commanders. Imagine being exhausted yourself, surrounded by other soldiers equally exhausted, your commander suffering from recent battle wounds but keeps his chin up and fights on, everyone repeating rumors about Russians castrating POWs, Russians raping and suffocating babies in front of their mothers, etc, etc. If civilians in the USA are so easily bamboozled into foaming at the mouth Russo-phobia, despite easy access to alternative sources of information like this site, just imagine the mental state of soldiers in the trenches with limited internet access.
Remember also that all the poor Ukrainians with energy to think for themselves long ago left Ukraine. What's left are rich Ukrainians, who buy their way out of conscription, and poor Ukrainians who never had energy to think for themselves. Type of men who just let themselves be carried along by life's currents until they die. Good news is that such men are not capable of waging a guerrilla war. So Blissex's idea of 10-20 year insurgency won't materialize from these types of men.
Posted by: Revelo | Jun 8 2023 14:10 utc | 23
Gilbert Doctorow has a new piece on his website:
"Zelensky will be murdered by his military command"
"....the current rate of loss of men and materiel in the ongoing Ukrainian “counter-offensive” is unsustainable and is bleeding their armed forces white.
"Two days ago Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to the nation on the results of the first three days of that counter-offensive: 3,615 Ukrainian soldiers were dead and large quantities of tanks, including the newly arrived German Leopards, aircraft, helicopters, armored personnel carriers were destroyed. The Russians lost a total of 72 dead and 130 wounded. That juxtaposition of losses tells us that for the Russian side this was like shooting herrings in a barrel.
"Yesterday, Russian armed forces spokesman General Konashenkov announced that the results of the latest day of battle were another 750 dead Ukrainians.
"All of this brings us back to the Russian calculations at the very outset of the Special Military Operation that the Ukrainian military would respond by throwing off the yoke of the neo-Nazi controlled civilian government in order to save the nation.
"That initial assumption immediately proved to be false, as we know. To their pain, the Russians found that the radical nationalists had a chokehold on the military, which they had infiltrated when the Azov battalion and other radical paramilitaries were incorporated into the main army.
"However, many of these neo-Nazis and other radical nationalists died in the defense of Mariupol and in other lost causes over the past year. And now the senior professional military in Ukraine is faced with a threat not to the nation but to the continued existence of an army as it is being slaughtered in a hopeless “counter-offensive” thrust upon it by Zelensky and his Western backers to justify further funding and arms deliveries.
"This is not tenable.
"Zelensky may have U.S. security guards around him, but nothing can hold back a palace coup."
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/
Posted by: bevin | Jun 8 2023 14:10 utc | 24
What's left are ...
Posted by: Revelo | Jun 8 2023 14:10 utc | 22
---
Please don't forget about the people with an attachment to the land. In the videos I have seen they are the ones waiting to be emancipated by the Russians.
Sadly, the younger ones also seem to be the conscripts.
Posted by: too scents | Jun 8 2023 14:15 utc | 25
@ ThusspakeZarathustra | Jun 8 2023 14:04 utc | 21
Try swentr.site
Posted by: natokraine | Jun 8 2023 14:19 utc | 26
@bevin 23
Who's going to conduct this palace coup? Zaluzhny was popular among the troops and probably had the spine to conduct one, but he's, shall we say, unavailable. So who's going to do it, Syrsky? I can tell you that's not going to happen.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 14:21 utc | 27
UKRAINE'S "GREAT" OFFENSIVE:
It appears that Ukraine's "great" offensive has been launched. Yet, Ukraine will never declare a launch date until they obtain some major breakthrough. So, the Ukrainian offensive may never be declared.
Yet, the Russian are taking out major numbers of troops and heavy equipment during the last couple of days. This is some indication that the Ukrainian offensive has begun.
If the Ukrainian offensive has been launched and if it goes no where day after day, the conclusion looks to be that this offensive will turn out to be a failure. But, since it was never announced, it will not officially be a failure. And certainly it will not be a failure in the Western media.
If the Ukrainian offensive fails (whether announced or not announced), the West will either have to escalate their conventional attacks upon Russian Forces. Or the West will have to launch against Russia to remove the hegemony threat that Russia presents to the USA.
If the USA choses the launch route, it may quickly and drastically reduce military support for Ukraine. This, in-turn could lead to a massive retreat of the AFU to the West banks of the Dnieper River.
Posted by: young | Jun 8 2023 14:22 utc | 28
Valtersson appears to be making an effort to be an honest broker, and there is something to one barfly's comment above to the effect that any army at the outset of action will be shaking out the cobwebs.
There is the related but broader point that each conflict is its own unique case--configured by starting conditions, histories, logistics, politics and technology. Drones, ISR and mines that can be forward disbursed by artillery fire are three in particular that force adjustments in doctrine.
That said, both doomer and Westards tend to proceed from the presumption that there is something fundamentally weak or wrong with respect to Russia's conduct of the conflict. Much of what is presumed to be weakness or incompetence indeed may derive from the incompetence of the analysis of political goals and strategic intent--'failed siege of Kiev', etc.
If we survive to the point where a fulsome assessment of Russia's conduct of the conflict can be made, I am currently inclined to think that Russia will have set new standards of military performance in a number of areas: urban & siege warfare; attritional warfare; minimization of civilian casualties; SEAD; air defense; EW; strategic air campaigning; battlefield technological innovation loops; effectiveness/reliability of field weapons; escalation management; war *as* politics by other means.
If we do not eventually get such a picture of Russia's performance it may well be because no one survives to compose it, or Russia's performance will be judged as that of the defeated party.
Posted by: Paul Damascene | Jun 8 2023 14:24 utc | 29
Looking at Telegram today it feels like this the really the first time we've seen the Russian Army doing what it's trained to do. Artillery, Electronic Warfare, Air Defence and Helicopters all working together in echeloned defence.
There has been so much bad commentary from people who have been declaring that one or the other army should be doing better when in reality there is no benchmark to compare this conflict to in history. There has never been a war with this level of technology on both sides and there is nothing comparable to Ukraine's proxy status with massive support from NATO.
We all know that NATO would never ask American or British forces to fight under the conditions which the Ukrainian offensive is being launched, they are being used as Guinea Pigs to check out a stupid theory that the Russian Army won't stand and fight.
Posted by: SB | Jun 8 2023 14:25 utc | 30
Who's going to conduct this palace coup?
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 14:21 utc | 26
---
I would not be surprised that Zelinsky is protected by an insane splinter faction of Mossad.
Posted by: too scents | Jun 8 2023 14:25 utc | 31
@ Posted by: bevin | Jun 8 2023 13:23 utc | 5
It simultaneously bothers me to think the “realists” within the Warshington murder junta might cynically promote a RJK campaign just enough to “force” an off-ramp “because the people have spoken, not because we’re weaker than we pretend” and yet gives me some hope that the bloodshed will end without further Natzo escalation.
I will hold my breath through the summer. As “too scents” predicted in his not-so-throw-away comment, what happens or doesn’t happen this summer is probably hugely important.
Posted by: Natokraine | Jun 8 2023 14:28 utc | 32
RE: US Chamber of Commerce/USAID
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3719515-creation-of-fullfledged-stock-market-discussed-at-government-meeting-shmyhal.html
This article reflects the US/UK/Ukr intent to fully implement a long term money laundering investor Ponzi scheme.
In short, it would appear, West looking to prolong SMO for years if possible. All of it of is of course that instead of a “shell corporations” it a “shell nation” and the EU/US will use this newly created stock market as grift processing entity for the rape coming up full steam on EU.
Perhaps that was always the plan.
Russia believes that there is a need to remove & replace the “Nazi” Zelensky governance. However, the “replacement” will be just as corrupt, unless Russia makes the decision to occupy & control ALL of Ukraine, the economic interest will supply & support funding for years, NATO or not, and it will drain Russian economy as they have displayed over & over with terrorist, ecoterrorism, & sanctions, the ability to make Russian “occupation” of the Novorrosyia region a VERY expensive proposition.
We will see by fall where Russia decision making bodies and direction end up, but this is telling of the US “business” community, and USAID is notoriously a CIA outfit, both ready to further imbed themselves with frankly billions, if not trillions of money laundering schemes coming up.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Jun 8 2023 14:30 utc | 33
Biswapriya Purkayast@26
I have no idea. I'm not even sure that Doctorow is right. It would be good to see the back of Zelensky but his saving grace is that I get the sense that he doesn't believe in any of the nonsense he spouts.
Posted by: bevin | Jun 8 2023 14:34 utc | 34
Posted by: too scents | Jun 8 2023 13:36 utc | 9
MDK-2M looks similar as well: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8sv-wRXVvV0
Posted by: anon2020 | Jun 8 2023 14:35 utc | 35
I thought the general concensus was that the offensive had to succeed in the first 24-48 hours because the artillery munitions stockpiled would only last that long. From all accounts ukraine has been blasting artillery shells almost non stop for that amount of time.
Posted by: Oh | Jun 8 2023 14:36 utc | 36
“What's left are rich Ukrainians, who buy their way out of conscription, and poor Ukrainians who never had energy to think for themselves.”
Posted by: Revelo | Jun 8 2023 14:10 utc | 22
Let's suggest that the “rich Ukrainians” are rich Jews in Ukraine who are waiting to grab Ukraine for themselves, again, as it was under Kolomojsky (financier of Zelensky), Yatz ( Nuland-Kagan's selection of a president of Ukraine), et al. As for the “poor Ukrainians,” they are cannon fodder for a war waged by the Zionized Empire of Lies against the Russian Federation.
Here is a sample of “rich Ukrainians:”
“From the roof of the world’s largest Dnepropetrovsk synagogue, Jews are already openly singing that Ukraine is their land.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWUzPXMUAFg
It looks like the ongoing genocide of Ukrainians has several goals, including the depopulation of Ukraine to clear place for the usual suspects. It is astonishing how well American Zionists and Ukrainian Banderites have been collaborating since the 1990-s when the Kagans clan invited a prominent Banderite Dobriansky to be a signatory of the supremacist PNAC.
Zionists and Banderites (self-proclaimed Nazis) have been the bestest friends for many years. Recently, the Jewish Lobby has qualified Banderites as “freedom fighters.” https://electronicintifada.net/content/israel-lobby-group-adl-rehabilitates-hitlers-accomplices-ukraine/35021
This is how ziocons spit on the memory of victims of WWII.
Posted by: Cerena | Jun 8 2023 14:40 utc | 37
Jun 8 2023 14:36 utc | 35
consider the 'sunk cost fallacy' or 'good money after bad'. which is the rule for the us' military industry complex.
the ukies can shoot off all the rounds they have bc they won't ever admit the continuation of this debacle is 'good money after bad'
and their munitions bookkeepers will be shut up if they point out 'you fired all the rounds thru day 10 and it is only day 2'....
they won't need to capture roads to move stores on to melitopol!
Posted by: paddy | Jun 8 2023 14:49 utc | 38
Posted by: JustAMaverick | Jun 8 2023 13:28 utc | 8
Nato media can just say: "look there, UFO!" and no one in NATOstan will remember anything about Ukraine after a week. That seems to be the plan actually. It's like the memory eraser device in the first "Men In Black" movie.
Posted by: young | Jun 8 2023 14:22 utc | 27
The Russians have endless amount of targets to shoot from their helicopters fighters and bombers. Only the available amount of sorties is the limit. Which is still a relatively large number of sortie, even compared to US sorties in Vietnam. IIRC someone calculated Russians fly at least same amount of sorties as US in Vietnam.
Posted by: unimperator | Jun 8 2023 14:49 utc | 39
If the videos we are seeing are reality at all -- Ukraine is driving columns of armor down sunny open rural lanes completely in the open. With no cover and no air cover. In an environment they know is full of Ka-52, Su-24, Lancets, observation drones. Suicide and pure suicide.
No one would do anything like this unless there were orders coming from far away. Orders from very stupid people very far away.
Faintest note of anything positive are reports that some armor is being parked and abandonned. When the armor is basically a target in a shooting gallery anyone reasonable would move away from the bullseye painted on them.
Posted by: oldhippie | Jun 8 2023 14:50 utc | 40
As a humble ex-rifleman many moons ago (73-75) I haven’t kept up with weapons as I have no interest in them However, there is something I’d like explained to me, if possible.
One sometimes sees videos of Ka-52 helicopters firing their rockets. They appear to elevate the nose before firing and then turn away. The targets are apparently 5km away or more, I believe. You don’t get to see the targets. But there are videos, usually black and grainy, apparently from these helicopters and you see the rockets strike their targets. But the platform appears static or nearly static. My question is, how are the strikes filmed from a helicopter that has fired and turned away yet appear static?
Posted by: Vragtes | Jun 8 2023 14:51 utc | 41
Our source in the OP said that Zaluzhny is asking Zelensky to start transferring the Armed Forces unit and equipment from Kherson / Nikolaev to the Zaporozhye direction.The Commander-in-Chief believes that the landing operation is now meaningless, and it is pointless to keep a 50,000th group on the right bank of the Dnieper.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/18183
Posted by: Down South | Jun 8 2023 15:01 utc | 42
I think the US built up a military in Ukraine that they reckoned they’d not be able to defeat themselves short of using nukes. And they thought they themselves had a better army than the Russians. So that the Russians would lose. Hence Boris and all scuppering the peace talks and all the “as long as it takes” talk. But the truth may be dawning on them now?
Posted by: Guy L’Estrange | Jun 8 2023 15:01 utc | 43
Posted by: Cerena | Jun 8 2023 14:40 utc | 36
>Let's suggest that the “rich Ukrainians” are rich Jews in Ukraine who are waiting to grab Ukraine for themselves,
Survival of the fittest. As humans, our most valuable weapon is our mind. If poor gentile Ukrainians can't or won't use their minds to save themselves and their country, then they forfeit their rights to exist and to possess Ukraine. And if Jews are the only humans in that country able to resist madness, then let them inherit it. Better to have Ukraine full of intelligent and disciplined Jews than full of fools. (Disclaimer: I was raised Christian myself but don't practice/believe.)
Posted by: Revelo | Jun 8 2023 15:02 utc | 44
Guy L'estrange no. 42
Pride goes before a fall.
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jun 8 2023 15:06 utc | 45
Former Pentagon chief Mark Esper has said that without a successful counter-offensive, funding for Ukraine will end."I was in Europe a fortnight ago and the number one question there is: where is the US support? And everyone rightly thinks that if Ukraine does well, US support will continue. If not, it can wither".
https://t.me/sitreports/9927
Posted by: Down South | Jun 8 2023 15:06 utc | 46
Gehlen was not a Nazi propagandist. He was the head of intelligence for the OSH -- the German Army in the east. Gehlen ran signal and human intelligence and air reconnaissance operations and produced intelligence reports to Hitler and the rest of the German leadership. The Red Army grew to be adept at fooling him.
Posted by: William Verick | Jun 8 2023 15:08 utc | 47
After perusing the commentary on the ongoing offensive, I was wondering what happens to the dead bodies? Do hostilities cease to collect the wounded/dead or are they just left to rot in the fields?
Posted by: clueless | Jun 8 2023 15:10 utc | 48
Down South no. 45
"Former Pentagon chief Mark Esper has said that without a successful counter-offensive, funding for Ukraine will end."
And in not so blunt a way, Macron intimated the same thing a couple weeks ago. I posted what he said on here; unfortunately didn't keep the link.
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jun 8 2023 15:10 utc | 49
'If the videos we are seeing are reality at all -- Ukraine is driving columns of armor down sunny open rural lanes completely in the open. With no cover and no air cover. In an environment they know is full of Ka-52, Su-24, Lancets, observation drones. Suicide and pure suicide.'
It's horrible what Ukraine and NATO are asking these conscripts to do to manufacture the next part of their false narrative.
Posted by: scepticalSOB | Jun 8 2023 15:16 utc | 50
Posted by: unimperator | Jun 8 2023 14:49 utc | 38
The Russians have endless amount of targets to shoot from their helicopters fighters and bombers. Only the available amount of sorties is the limit. Which is still a relatively large number of sortie, even compared to US sorties in Vietnam. IIRC someone calculated Russians fly at least same amount of sorties as US in Vietnam.
Yes but the Russians are loosing only a fraction of the aircraft that the US lost in Vietnam.
Big difference between then and now. In Vietnam the US faced modern effective Russian Anti Aircraft weapons which downed many thousands of aircraft.
In Ukraine Russia is facing Western designed junk. That shoot only propaganda missiles which miss their targets and leave a bad smell in the air.
Posted by: Golddigger | Jun 8 2023 15:19 utc | 51
The history of the US in recent decades has been one of over-estimating their own staying power/determination and capabilities, and under-estimating the opposition's determination and capabilities. We have seen this in Afghanistan, the long resistance of Iraqis to US occupation and attempts to impose a neoliberal constitution, the resistance of Syrians aided by Russia, and now Russia's refusal to be crushed by sanctions or overthrow Putin.
It is quite incredible that the US leadership does not understand that a great number of Russian citizens understand and remember what the US helped engineer in the 1990s, and that Putin was a core part of recovering some of what was lost. I cover the 1990s collapse and the role of the US in both facilitating the deep economic and social collapse and keeping Yeltsin and the oligarchs in power in my chapter Russia: Accelerating Collapse (1988 to 1998). It was the 1990s when the US and Western Europe exploited Russia's weakness to tear apart Yugoslavia, and dominated Eastern Europe though membership of the EU and NATO and the nefarious activities of the NGO-complex, plus the Western-located diasporas.
Its taken twenty years to get from Putin coming into power, to his understanding that the West will never treat Russia as an equal but only as an enemy of a vassal (or broken up into smaller vassals), to outright war. I cover this in
Russia: Recovery and Stagnation (1999 to 2022). The anti-Russia sanctions and hatred from the West have only aided the consolidation of power within Russia, with much of the liberal fifth column exiting of their own accord. Now Russia is internally overwhelmingly behind the Russian leadership, and the nation has the active or passive (no sanctions) support of 7/8ths of the global population.
A major part of the Russian economy that managed to survive the 1990s destruction, in a shrunken state, was the military industrial complex, which has been significantly rebuilt since 2000. The US and the Europeans are now seeing the strength of that sector, both in the military and the ability to ramp up the production of highly effective, and cost-effective, weaponry. An ability that the West has lost due to the capture of the state organs by the MIC and the near-total focus on extractive profits rather than combat effectiveness.
This is now being seen in the continued destruction of the wunderwaffe, with the Patriot being the latest to have its reputation shredded (and next the Leopard and Challenger tanks and perhaps after that the F-16s), and what I assume to be the destruction of much of the remaining Western trained and equipped parts of the Ukrainian army in this suicidal offensive. Then we will see if the US and West will escalate again, which I think they will as it has always taken the US a long time to accept an inevitable defeat. Once defeat is accepted the US and the Western elites can be expected to lash out, as they did in Afghanistan (stealing their foreign exchange reserves) and Syria (maintaining occupation forces that are stealing vital resource and incredibly punitive sanctions).
With Tucker Carlson's extremely sarcastic take down of US war propaganda getting 88 million views, and a possible further politically-driven indictment of Trump incoming, and RFK Jr. openly questioning US establishment policies (although not on Israel), the US domestic political scene will become increasingly less supportive of continued Ukrainian was involvement. It then may be up to "some NATO countries" to send their troops into a suicidal engagement with the Russian military (and the Russian military must crush them as any weakness at this stage will simply invite more Western aggression).
The balance of this year is going to be anything but boring. The latest war update from Weeb Union,
UKRAINES SUPERWEAPON FAILING, with evidence of Leopards in combat and military summary The Russians Repulsed All Attacks And Continue to Defend
There will be and doesn't need to be a coup against Zelensky, he's exactly what he was hired to be, a media created figurehead no more than that. If there needs to be a change he will be handed a new script, if the show has bombed so bad the star needs to be replaced he will bow out in some presentable "democratic" way, he'll lose in concoted elections most likely. At worst, for him at least, he'll be offed in a way that can be blamed on the Russians and go out a hero with a grand internationally attended funeral. Ukraine is a "model democracy" and any ugly mafia-like exigencies will have to fit to that - just like in the west itself. The ugliness will be behind the scenes.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 8 2023 15:21 utc | 53
Carryover from previous thread. Someone asked about Leopards.……
There might be Leopards in this thread. I have no clue about war toys.
I see the claims. The counter claims. Then the NAFO meme posts arrive in force and I stop scrolling ….
First Leopards!
https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1666710730379239425
My speculation:
“As far as I understood these were abandoned during the attack.
They had to go via the roads in columns, due to mines alongside the roads and fields.
And when the aviation bombing and shelling escalated they were abandoned”.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 8 2023 15:23 utc | 54
Re: Posted by: Cerena | Jun 8 2023 14:40 utc | 36
“This is how ziocons spit on the memory of victims of WWII.”
Agree entirely and very sad. The UK/Zios WW2 plot to destroy, split & take over Russia went haywire when Hitler went “off script” and did his own thing after all the UK/uS money weapons s dealers loaded him up.
As WW2 was an un-resolved, continuation of WW1, this is the continuation of WW2 global game.
It seems Russia, China, Mid-East and even used to be colonized India are set on ending it for good this time.
We will see.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Jun 8 2023 15:24 utc | 55
Watched full Tucker video and its pretty genius. He even took a dig at Blackrock linking it to criminal Zelensky.
Blackrock is the company that bought up Fox News and they ordered Tucker's firing.
Also looks like Fox News(most likely ordered by Blackrock) is taking legal action to shut Tucker's new Twitter show down.
All this reminds me of that old show Max Headroom. A journalist who wanted to speak truths about corporations crimes creates an online AI tv persona called Max Headroom. And it would have short shows like Tuckers recent one speaking truths in an "underground" channel.
Crazy stuff....
I will try to dig up actual Max Headroom quotes.....
Posted by: Comandante | Jun 8 2023 15:25 utc | 56
Russian artillery.
https://twitter.com/blackdiammon/status/1666564366479622146
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 8 2023 15:26 utc | 57
So all the major US media sites are now announcing the long-awaited, delayed
"Ye Olde Greateste Counteroffensive" has begun.
We all know here that this is another lie - it started last weekend.
NBC news, WSJ, usual suspects. Prepare for a lot of lies.
Posted by: ChrisFromGA | Jun 8 2023 15:27 utc | 58
More Mikael Valtersson on Twitter
NEWS UPDATE NOVA KAKHOVKA EVENING JUNE 7
I don't know who's responsible for destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, but if you do what you can to worsen the situation and destroy the remnants of the dam, you're the prime suspect, not the victim.
Ukraine keeps the gates at Dnipro HDD open (video) and the water streams southward.
The already undermined remnants of the Novo Kakhovka dam risk to totally collapse from the water pressure and later on, the flooding of Kherson oblast are worsened.
That's an clear indication that Ukraine on purpose worsen the situation and are also a clear indication that Ukraine was the original culprit.
The fact that the Ukrainians also increased the level of water in the reservoir before the destruction of the dam are not an proof of their guilt.
They couldn't know that the Russians wouldn't open the gates of the Novo Kakhovka dam.
There could be some natural cause for opening the gates at Dnipro HDD before the destruction of the Novo Kakhovka dam, but afterwards nothing could be more important than to lessen the flooding in Kherson oblast.
https://twitter.com/MikaelValterss1/status/1666510530444402708
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 8 2023 15:33 utc | 59
So all the major US media sites are now announcing the long-awaited, delayed
"Ye Olde Greateste Counteroffensive" has begun.
Posted by: ChrisFromGA | Jun 8 2023 15:27 utc | 57
Same here in France. But they are also saying that the russians are stopping the attacks and that after "having mainly expected from Western support, Zelensky must now plead his cause to the Global South".
Which is a very polite way to say "now F*ck off, you cheap swindler".
Posted by: Pierrot | Jun 8 2023 15:36 utc | 60
Posted by: Vragtes | Jun 8 2023 14:51 utc | 40
Cameras, gimbals, gyroscopes and computers.
Posted by: GT Stroller | Jun 8 2023 15:37 utc | 61
In continuation of yesterday's topic about the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our preparation for this offensive.
Yes, they knew, yes, they were preparing, yes, they guessed again where they would go, and finally they waited for the Leopard!
The enemy launched an offensive in the Orekhovsky direction at 2 a.m. Moscow time in the defense zone of the 58th Army. A wide front, after the most powerful artillery preparation and EW attack, which put our antenna connection. The infantry wavered, but did not run, although one of the company supports was literally leveled to the ground.
The main striking force of the night assault was the columns of armored vehicles that came out of Malaya Tokmachka, including 40 tanks, some of which were the same "Leopards".
The success of the battle was predetermined by the professional work of the special forces of the 45th and 22nd brigades. Being in the gray zone, our "specialists" with a sufficient time reserve spotted vehicles moving without headlights, allowing two pairs of Ka-52s to get to the battlefield.
Approaching the minefields, the enemy launched mine-clearing "Snakes-Gorynychs", and tanks with trawls went forward, clearing the way for "Leopards" and armored vehicles with infantry. The brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, trained at the NATO training grounds, having passed the minefields, would surely have quickly turned into battle formation and moved to our support points…
But she was shot in a night battle that was mesmerizing in its drama. Armored vehicles standing on the minefields were hit from all sides by ATGMs, artillery, and, of course, helicopters.
As a result, by the morning, 20 damaged and damaged enemy tanks (including 4 Leopards) and 15 armored vehicles remained on the battlefield, which neither we nor the enemy have the opportunity to evacuate from the minefield.
In a word, all of our — from the commander of the 58th OA, Lieutenant General Ivan Popov, to the pturists, helicopter pilots, infantry, artillery and special forces - worked as a single, well-oiled mechanism.
The legendary commander of the 58th Vladimir Shamanov would have been satisfied with both his army and his 45th brigade. Well, he would also be very pleased with one of his good friends...
The daytime offensive in this sector became a pathetic parody of the night: covered by our artillery, the armored column of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not even reach our minefields.
To be continued…
@voenkorKotenok
Posted by: repost | Jun 8 2023 15:38 utc | 62
A new video has been released of a column some sort of combine harvester variants getting smoked... funnily enough they kind of look like Leopards though. Maybe they are developed from tractors, kind of like the Panzer III developed on the basis of Ferdinand Porsche tractors.
https://twitter.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1666828744021901316
Posted by: unimperator | Jun 8 2023 15:40 utc | 63
Posted by: repost | Jun 8 2023 15:38 utc | 61
Excellent news. Take those burnt-out Leopards, paint "Suck this Sheisse-head Sholz" on the side, and display them on the grounds of the Russian embassy in Berlin.
NATO cucks exposed as having short dicks again!
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jun 8 2023 15:42 utc | 64
Vid of smoking Leopards. NAFO are enjoying the “nah, farm equipment” meme.
But the kill count on leopards seems to be rising.:
>>>”The Russian army showed the defeat of the advancing Leopard column and other NATO equipment on the Zaporozhye front.
https://twitter.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1666828744021901316
http://t.me/RVvoenkor
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 8 2023 15:42 utc | 65
unimperator | Jun 8 2023 15:40 utc | 62
You have the 2sec advantage. My posts have to be converted from upside down!
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 8 2023 15:45 utc | 66
About the "farm tractor" thing:
In the Sri Lanka civil war the Tamil rebels extensively used farming vehicles, especially tractors, for cross country travel. There's no particular reason why the Ukranazis wouldn't also use vehicles meant for use in rough terrain, like tractors, to move troops, supplies, or equipment.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 15:46 utc | 67
@Vragtes 40
they dont turn away but have to stay (in last seconds) on target
Guidance system is called Laser beam riding
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9K121_Vikhr
Posted by: gpc | Jun 8 2023 15:50 utc | 68
Ukrainians already complaining that Leopard's are shit tanks, LMAO.
https://twitter.com/MapsUkraine/status/1666832014949974018
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 15:46 utc | 66
Last October there was a report of Polish mercs using a school bus to get around Donbass. It was tracked by a DRG patrol, they saw it driving along the road then turning on the edge of a forest. Sure didn't look like a school bus route. Then they hit it with a ATGM.
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦💥 Polish Mercs demilitarised behind the Frontline⚡️Once again our scouts work behind enemy lines. This time an ATGM hit a bus with personnel in which mercenaries were travelling.
According to the interception more than 20 representatives of Poland were killed.
I wonder if the Polish Foreign Ministry will announce this?
t.me/Slavyangrad /@RtrDonetsk/#VID
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/12452
Posted by: unimperator | Jun 8 2023 15:54 utc | 69
Comandante no. 55
"Max Headroom". Somehow reminds me of the "Crash Test Dummies".
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jun 8 2023 15:56 utc | 70
Natokraine no. 25
Thankyou for that. Will try it.
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jun 8 2023 15:59 utc | 72
Biswapriya Purkayast | Jun 8 2023 15:46 utc | 66
Of course the Russian chopper was correct in removing what could easily have been a decoy of some type.
Shit, unfortunately for the farmers, is very fucked in eastern Ukrainian / new Russia this week.
The yanks certainly would have blasted it for absolutely no reason, because “yeehaah!, fuck you, that’s why”.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 8 2023 16:00 utc | 73
Vragtes @ 40
The helicopter pilot has better things to do than make videos. Camera footage will come from a spotting drone. If the Ka-52 does turn away after firing then the spotting drone is providing the laser guidance.
Posted by: oldhippie | Jun 8 2023 16:06 utc | 74
gpc | Jun 8 2023 15:50 utc | 67, oldhippie | Jun 8 2023 16:06 utc | 73
Thanks both of you. I’d assumed it was some sort of gunsight camera. Spotting drone males perfect sense. For an old hippie you know a lot. This old hippie learned to field strip a R1 blindolded but little else. :-)
Posted by: Vragtes | Jun 8 2023 16:13 utc | 75
Posted by: Cerena | Jun 8 2023 14:40 utc | 36
Weird, but they're singing in Russian, not Ukrainian Mova.
Posted by: Paco | Jun 8 2023 16:15 utc | 76
@commandante55
Funny you should mention this. I found it on YouTube and rewatched it for the first time in decades. Amazing how prescient it was.
The original “Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future” movie from 1985
Posted by: The Osprey | Jun 8 2023 16:18 utc | 77
Posted by: oldhippie | Jun 8 2023 16:06 utc | 73
Also, Simplicius calculated that the hit on the "combine harvester" with the missile took place from 10km or more. Considering that range you can't say it's "bad optics" of the helicopter, in fact pretty decent. Compared to Ah-64 who must use its cannon from less than 1km.
Posted by: unimperator | Jun 8 2023 16:19 utc | 78
Re: defensive fortifications
The few videos and other images I‘ve seen of the defensive positions created by the RF are honestly not much. They appear to be 3 razor thin lines spaced a mere 10km apart. This isn’t defense-in-depth, more like hasty thrown together trench lines.
I speculate that these trench ‚systems‘ we see are a distraction from the real defensive network which is hidden.
I‘m also going to guess that NATO is using the local conscripts as cannon fodder to probe.
Posted by: Exile | Jun 8 2023 16:21 utc | 79
"@commandante55
Funny you should mention this. I found it on YouTube and rewatched it for the first time in decades. Amazing how prescient it was.
The original “Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future” movie from 1985
Posted by: The Osprey | Jun 8 2023 16:18 utc | 77"
Edison Carter
Tucker Carlston
Even the names.....
Jesus
Posted by: Comandante | Jun 8 2023 16:22 utc | 80
@14 "now there is tool worthy of RSH's idiot filter!", LOL
A kind bar patron many years ago wrote a script for a browser that would let a person to "block" posts from people one didn't care to waste their time reading or scrolling past. What a delight this was, the threads were readable and informative.Unfortunately it quit working at some point a few years ago.
Could somebody with the applicable knowledge do this again? It would be greatly appreciated by many readers.
Posted by: David F | Jun 7 2023 21:17 utc | 206
That was me! (under a different pen name)
Comrade Zet wrote a Chrome Extension recently but it has the shortcoming of being "Chrome only"... my old tool is a userscript that runs inside the extension TamperMonkey that in turn runs in Firefox and Chromium browsers (all the rest). Better yet, it runs on Firefox mobile albeit being a bit clumsy to deal with.
This is the updated script: https://pastebin.com/raw/htQe7FHM
And this is the needed extension: https://www.tampermonkey.net/
1) Copy the script and ask the extension to create a new script.
2) Remove the default script, paste the new and save it.
3) Reload MoA website and there will be a small button icon at top right of the screen.
4) The button opens a popin window with all the commenteers in that particular thread page.
5) Select the offenders and close the window and offenders will be gone from all threads and pages.
Posted by: Madame Guillotine | Jun 8 2023 16:24 utc | 81
Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the night attempt of the AFU offensive:
At about 1.30 am in the Zaporozhye direction, the 47th mechanized Brigade attempted to break through the Russian defense;
About 1,500 militants and about 150 armored vehicles participated in the offensive;
A preemptive strike was carried out on the enemy by artillery, aviation and anti tank means;
During the battle, the losses of the AFU amounted to 350 militants, 30 tanks and 11 infantry fighting vehicles;
The losses of the AFU during the day amounted to 945 militants, 33 tanks, 28 infantry fighting vehicles, 38 armored fighting vehicles, 3 Krab self propelled guns.
Posted by: Summary | Jun 8 2023 16:25 utc | 82
Re: Russian Order of Battle
Anyone have a handle on the Russian units being mentioned in the dispatched ? Are these erstwhile DPR/LPR militia units ? Are these first line RF units ?
Posted by: Exile | Jun 8 2023 16:29 utc | 83
If Natzo propaganda about “we’re kicking ass over there” was “good” for anything, it probably helped their recruitment and budgeting situations. I can only imagine how many multiples more money their prospective mercs will demand before going anywhere near the theater, if they’re willing at any price.
Posted by: natokraine | Jun 8 2023 16:32 utc | 84
@Exile
I‘m also going to guess that NATO is using the local conscripts as cannon fodder to probe.
I think we're past that stage, 5-6 days in. Local conscripts don't operate expensive NATO gear, especially Leopard tanks. More likely sheep-dipped NATO mercs.
The local conscripts may have been used as human mine sweepers. Literally, meat bombs. Their guts and brains now fertilize Zaporozhye.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jun 8 2023 16:34 utc | 85
Ukrainian forces suffer ‘stiff resistance’ and losses in assault on Russian lines
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/08/politics/ukraine-forces-resistance/index.html
Posted by: Apollyon | Jun 8 2023 16:41 utc | 86
Yesterday I neglected to post any of Zakharova's Weekly Briefing items, which I'll now rectify. Just one paragraph from her very long update on Ukraine:
"In this context [irrefutable evidence UKies raised water levels via extra upstream dam emissions], the statements made by Ukrainian General Alexander Kovalchuk in an interview with The Washington Post on December 29, 2022, as Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has already mentioned, are indicative. So, A.T. Kovalchuk said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine even then launched "a test strike from the American HIMARS multiple launch rocket system on one of the locks of the Kakhovka dam in order to make a hole in it and see how much the water rises in the Dnieper." I have a question. John Kirby, Christopher Jean-Pierre and all the people in charge of communications in the White House and the State Department are directly concerned with you, and you must give an answer. Did you know about it? Did you know how American weapons are used? Did you know how weapons supplied to the territory of Ukraine with the money of American taxpayers are used? Did you know that American weapons are used to carry out mock "tests" to commit a terrorist attack on civilian infrastructure in third countries? It is impossible not to notice. This was published six months ago by an American newspaper. All the talk about the fact that there is not enough information in the White House raises questions about mental health. If American newspapers and journalists publish and print materials that are not read in the White House and cannot be compared with the facts, then, indeed, it is time to call the orderlies. These are the questions that we directly raise in the public space in front of the White House. You must answer them." [My Emphasis]
She'll be ignored as usual. But will her demand be echoed by Carlson or some other American?
I think we're past that stage, 5-6 days in. Local conscripts don't operate expensive NATO gear, especially Leopard tanks. More likely sheep-dipped NATO mercs.
The local conscripts may have been used as human mine sweepers. Literally, meat bombs. Their guts and brains now fertilize Zaporozhye.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jun 8 2023 16:34 utc | 86
Most likely true
Posted by: Exile | Jun 8 2023 16:46 utc | 88
Concerning Wunderwaffe weapons .
Russian army ToDo list :
Himars : done
Patriot : done
AMX : done
Iris : done
Leopard : done
Abrams, F16: Waiting for you. Gentlemen please, hurry up
What else ?
Not exhaustive list.
just kidding in this dramatic moment
Posted by: FromFrance | Jun 8 2023 16:47 utc | 89
The timing of the Great Offensive.
Many reports over the last 9 months that Russia (including Wagner and Chechens) have a large advantage in night vision equipment. Many of the gains made in Bahkmut were at night after daytime artillery strikes.
So, summer time, longer hours of daylight and fewer hours of darkness. Limit your disadvantages and maximize (potentially) your advantages.
The Great Offensive started during a full moon, also taking advantage of better visibility away from towns and cities. All of the attacks occurred in the country. The small towns nearby were probably under blackout, if they even have power.
The problem is the new moon is coming next weekend. It will be very dark, and some advantages swing back to the Russian side for 5 or 6 days. Look for Russian night time counter attacks then.
Posted by: BroncoBilly | Jun 8 2023 16:51 utc | 90
NATO cucks are going to need to wash down this bitter defeat with an extra-large cup of Copium-Cola.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jun 8 2023 16:52 utc | 91
FromFrance | Jun 8 2023 16:47 utc | 90
-------------
Abrams done too, if I am not mistaken... :)
Posted by: ostro | Jun 8 2023 16:52 utc | 92
@Melaleuca - re. Assange - wrong thread
One sometimes sees videos of Ka-52 helicopters firing their rockets. They appear to elevate the nose before firing and then turn away. The targets are apparently 5km away or more, I believe. You don’t get to see the targets. But there are videos, usually black and grainy, apparently from these helicopters and you see the rockets strike their targets. But the platform appears static or nearly static. My question is, how are the strikes filmed from a helicopter that has fired and turned away yet appear static?
Different weapons.
Nose up to fire a salvo (7-20) of unguided rockets (S-8, S-13) at area targets.
Sitting still to fire laser guided anti-tank missiles from a long (5-10km) distance.
It has become clear that US strategic leadership has been misled as to the quality of the weapons its military is using. Possible that decades of bombing insurgencies with no air defense and no effective way to strike back caused a little myopia to set in.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jun 8 2023 17:11 utc | 94
Another item from Zakharova's briefing was this Q&A about the ZNPP:
Question: IAEA Director General Robert Grossi has proposed "five conditions" for ensuring the safety of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. At the same time, he is not ready to admit that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are shelling the station. This "history of uncertainty" has been going on for many months. What solution can be found to protect the ZNPP from shelling?Answer: It's similar to I.Y. Nikolaev's song "Five Reasons": "the first reason is you, and the second is all your dreams"... IAEA Director General Rodrigo Grossi's speech at the UN Security Council and his five recommendations to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhia NPP were the result of the Kiev regime abandoning its initiative to create a protective zone at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. In fact, the recommendations of the IAEA Director General are based on the provisions of this initiative. In general, they are in line with our approaches, including how the safety of the plant should be guaranteed.
Russia has never deployed military contingents and military equipment intended for offensive operations on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and does not plan to do so. The station has only those forces that are necessary to protect it from attacks by the Kyiv regime, as well as to eliminate their possible consequences.
During the UN Security Council meeting, Grossi's recommendations were rejected by Ukraine, which tried to alter them and dictate its terms, which once again demonstrates Kiev's focus on continuing the provocation against the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In the light of the recommendations of the IAEA Director General, we intend to ensure the protection of the ZNPP in such a way as to prevent Kyiv and the "collective West" that supports it from violating them. Russia will respond extremely harshly to any Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, its critical infrastructure, including the power supply lines of the plant, as well as the city of Enerhodar, where employees of the nuclear power plant and their families live. [My Emphasis]
As I wrote yesterday, Russia awaits any attempt to cross the river and assault the ZNPP, and that is implied within Maria's answer. IMO, specific Russian counter-strike elements are at the ready to "respond extremely harshly" that Ukraine would like to lure away by putting pressure on the FEBA elsewhere. But as we've seen, those attempts haven't been anywhere nearly enough. Will the Ukies follow their Master's order to commit suicide by attacking the ZNPP? Time will tell.
The counter offensive that wasn't. Total embarrassment incoming. The big NATO exercise is all posture as well.
Russian will continue to eliminate Nazis and their amazing western weapons. NATO will do their little airshow without incident and the SMO will go on until all goals are achieved. Pretty simple. No need to try and complicate it as some around here have tried to.
Posted by: Watzov | Jun 8 2023 17:16 utc | 96
A tank is only as good as its crew, a crew is only as good at its training, their training is only as good as the instruction and the instruction is only as good as the instructors. Thus it was, is, and shall be ever thus. Hear endeth the lesson.
From the footage I think the Ukrainian crews are suffering from early Tiger tank syndrome, where the instructors stress on the tank’s thick armour meant the crews forgot tactical basics and suffered accordingly. Technological improvements often create the opposite of the desired effect, when fallible humans are introduced into the process.
Posted by: Milites | Jun 8 2023 17:21 utc | 97
Comandante@56
re Max Headroom, Matt Frewer's brother was a Press Officer for NATO in Germany- a nice guy too.
Posted by: bevin | Jun 8 2023 17:24 utc | 98
Posted by: Exile | Jun 8 2023 16:29 utc | 83
I saw a map with this kind of information at the beginning of the year, but I can't find it right now. Would indeed be nice to see the order of battle.
In the North, I think it's still the 10th Guards Tank Army, and in the South, the 58th Army (Maj.Gen. Ivan Popov).
Posted by: Verdant | Jun 8 2023 17:34 utc | 99
I think the US built up a military in Ukraine that they reckoned they’d not be able to defeat themselves short of using nukes. And they thought they themselves had a better army than the Russians. So that the Russians would lose.
Posted by: Guy L’Estrange | Jun 8 2023 15:01 utc | 42
Those who have a big ego and an emotional brain would think like that. Those who have a small ego and a functioning brain would rely on abstract logical thinking and would not.
Posted by: Drapetomaniac | Jun 8 2023 17:41 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
From Mikael Valtersson, a former officer Swedish Armed Forces/Air Defence, former defence politician and chief of staff Sweden Democrats. Current political and military analyst.
Posted by: b | Jun 8 2023 13:11 utc | 1