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Ukraine – An Army Without Officers Has No Chance Of Winning
Most of the Western public does not know about military issues.
While people may identify someone who wears a uniform as a soldier they will have difficulties to understand the unit insignia, rank badges or tactical notations all regular soldiers are wearing. The lack of knowledge of military details makes it difficult to understand media reports of frontline issues.
An example for this can be seen in the basic disposition of a frontline battalion.
A battalion is a 400 to 1,000 men unit specialized around some vehicle or form of fighting.
Pure infantry battalions will walk and fight on foot or travel longer marches on trucks. Mechanized infantry has armored fighting vehicles that transport troops but also have some minor guns to cover the loading or unloading of their soldiers. Tank battalions have armored hulks with larger guns designed to punch through hardened enemy lines. Artillery battalions have large caliber howitzers or missiles to deliver fire from a distance.
A brigade, consisting of several battalions of different types, may mix those as appropriate for the current fight.
A battalion itself will consist of four to six companies. Each company will have three to four platoons.
Platoons, generally some 30 men strong, are led by Lieutenants. The company, consisting of several platoons is commanded by a Captain. The leader of the first platoon of a company is often a seasoned Lieutenant who is doubling as the deputy company commander.
The next higher organization, the battalion is led by a Lieutenant Colonel with the help of a battalion staff. That staff, split into four (or more) sections known as S1 to S4, is taking care of the battalions own personnel, the enemy situation, the rearward (reserve) battalion command post and the logistics.
These sections are led by a seasoned Lieutenant (S1), a Captain (S2), a Major (S3) who is also the deputy battalion commander, and another Captain (S4) for logistics. There may be additional officer positions like the battalion doctor, the technical officer, or a military intelligence section leader.
All together a battalion has some 12+ Lieutenants as platoon leaders, 4 Captains as company leaders, a battalion staff consisting of 1 or two additional seasoned Lieutenants, one or two additional Captains, one or two additional Majors and, at the top, a Lieutenant Colonel.
That's a total of about 10+ junior officers and some 10+ more seasoned or higher ranking officers.
Now lets look at a fleeting line in a recent New York Times report:
‘They Come in Waves’: Ukraine Goes on Defense Against a Relentless Foe (archived) – New York Times, Feb 4 2024
At the hot spots of the eastern front line, Ukrainian troops are outmanned, outgunned and digging in.
“They come in waves,” said Lt. Oleksandr Shyrshyn, 29, the deputy battalion commander in the 47th Mechanized Brigade. “And they do not stop.”
A normal reader, not well versed in military organization, will not stumble over that sentence as I did.
A Lieutenant at age 28 is likely a seasoned one. But in the role of a 'deputy battalion commander'?
What happened to the S3, the Major and nominal deputy battalion commander? What happened to the six Captains the battalion is supposed to have? All of them should be better trained and qualified to take on the role of a deputy battalion commander than a mere Lieutenant.
This small detail, a Lieutenant as deputy battalion commander, tells me more about the battalion's state that any flowery description of casualties.
Such a battalion is done with. Its officer corps is mostly dead or wounded. Its companies and platoons or likely to be run by mere sergeants. While such a unit may still hold onto some trenches it is certainly no longer able to fulfill any operational task. It will not be able to counterattack. It will not even be able to organize an orderly retreat.
The 47th Mechanized Brigade is currently fighting in the northern part of Avdeevka which the Russian forces are in the process of storming. During the last two weeks the Ukrainian losses of dead and severely wounded as counted in the Russian Defense Ministry Daily Reports have exceeded 800 per day. That is far higher than the 500 to 600 per day of previous months.
The state of Lt. Shyrshyn's battalion is consistent with that.
During my time as a soldier I have read quite a number of reports about small units who were dying in Stalingrad, Kursk or in some minor battle action somewhere else. Once their officer corps is done with the headless chickens that make up the majority of soldiers in such a battalion are likely to die soon thereafter.
The Ukrainian army is lacking soldiers and munitions. It is lacking the officers to train and lead them. The Ukrainian state does not have the money to conscript and equip more soldiers. It does not have the officer corp needed to train new soldiers. It does not have the factories needed to produce weapons and munitions.
It is high time for Ukraine to give up this unequal fight and to save the lives of those soldiers who are still living.
It is high time for Zelenski (and Zaluzny and others) to leave.
analysis about Odessa and that Putin has to take it over!
Why Odessa is crucial to Russia’s entire special operations
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Ukraine has again threatened to destroy the Crimean Bridge and explosives sent from Odessa intended for terrorist attacks in Russia have again been intercepted. This confirms the importance of this city not only in relation to the course of the war, but also for the fate of all of Eastern Europe.
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First of all, it is worth starting with the most important part of Odessa’s infrastructure – the commercial port. The port of Odessa remains operational, as do its associated smaller port facilities in satellite cities such as Chernomorsk. Since the times of the “grain deal”, the route of ships has shifted almost entirely to a route along the coast: dry cargo ships usually sail to the mouth of the Danube and then along the Romanian coast. Ukraine still has the ability to conduct maritime trade and the damage to the port was only isolated and quickly repaired.
For humanitarian reasons, the Russian armed forces did not attack the main port terminals, including the grain terminals, as they were supposed to deliver aid to those in need in Africa. The targets of the Russian air and naval forces were mainly the headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, airfields, fuel depots and several military training centers located in the dacha zone around the city in former pioneer camps. The city itself was not targeted; occasional hits were caused by the sloppy work of Ukrainian air defense.
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Additionally, Odessa is historically home to the headquarters of the Southern Command of the Ukrainian Army, which succeeded the headquarters of the Odessa Military District of the USSR Armed Forces in 1991. The Odessa Military District, in turn, was the rear support of the Central Group of Warsaw Pact Armed Forces with its headquarters in the suburbs of Budapest. During Soviet times, it was one of the most saturated districts with weapons, buildings, warehouses and other goods.
Odessa and its surroundings remain an attractive region for rear military services. The city with its infrastructure is the only one of this size in the region, which makes it possible to manage a large economic and geographical agglomeration on its basis. It is both a historically attractive administrative center and a successful development point.
The headquarters of the Ukrainian military has been moved several times within the city since 2022, including to civilian facilities (“Odessa” hotel). The Ukrainian Navy headquarters is in ruins, but Ukraine also no longer has a navy to command. The Marines have long since been absorbed into the shore command. The commander of the fleet, General Neischpapa, a tank driver by training, primarily fulfills propaganda functions. It wasn’t until February 5th that he promised again to destroy the Crimean Bridge this year. He simply reminded once again that Ukrainian unmanned sea boats are attacking the facilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet from Odessa.
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The city’s defenses are not staggered and preparations such as checkpoints with sandbags or anti-tank hedgehogs on the beaches initially seemed cartoonish. Odessa has long been a political testing ground where Mikhail Saakashvili and several other marginalized politicians recover from hardships.
Among other things, the city hosts strongholds of dubious political and ethnic diaspora, such as the Georgian and Chechen “legions”, which in itself creates instability in Ukraine’s relations with Georgia. Historically, this is explained by the fact that in Soviet times, the residents of Adjara – the port city of Batumi – who wanted to connect their fate with the sea, studied nautical navigation in Odessa and Nikolayev. Now the initiator of the transport of explosives through Georgia is also a native of Adjara who has spent his entire life in Odessa.
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IMPORTANT !!
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From a logistical perspective, since 2022, Odessa has become one of the main transit points for all Western aid supplies to Ukraine, including weapons. The Polish route via Volhynia to the Rzeszów military airfield is limited by the capacity of the railway and the only motorway. Transporting weapons across the Carpathians is cumbersome. Large “items” such as anti-aircraft systems must be dismantled in order to bring them to Kiev. In addition, all transport routes from Kiev via Zhitomir to the west are overloaded, while the route from Romania to Odessa has so far been relatively free.
But all of these are, by and large, peculiarities. Odessa itself is of crucial importance for the overall strategic course of the NWO and for the further peaceful shaping of the regional post-war order.
Let’s start again with the simplest thing – a port. A demilitarized Ukraine will not have access to the sea, it does not need it. Kiev maintains the appearance of a large country in the center of Europe as long as it owns Odessa.
Without Odessa, Ukraine will become a state with little prospect, which, even if important historical Soviet industrial centers (Dniepropetrovsk, Krivoy Rog) are preserved, will seem like a remote province. And the proposals that emerged last week to move the capital of Ukraine to Lviv are no longer perceived as just an empty fantasy.
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This is just for the trolls who think Putin would agree to a freeze or a ceasefire.
It’s capitulation across the board, but then and only then do Poland, Hungary, Romania come into play…
Conclusion: The SMO ends through surrender or in any case only when Odessa has been taken!
Posted by: ossi | Feb 6 2024 18:36 utc | 60
Tucker Carlson’s exclusive interview with Vladimir Putin in Moscow – Full transcript :
TUCKER: What would you say to the people who run America?
PUTIN: Our message is that Russia is not your enemy. We don’t want a war. We are ready for peace. Your leaders are looking for conflict. That’s not what we want. Russia is defending its own people. We don’t want what doesn’t belong to us.
TUCKER: Would you like to visit Washington?
PUTIN: Yes, of course. I have already been to the United States. I like to visit and I have met all the presidents except Joe Biden. If I was invited, I would go. Yes.
TUCKER: What is your opinion on President Biden?
PUTIN: We are convinced that he is not leading the country. Let’s say that we have good sources that confirm this, but it is obvious that everyone can see for themselves. The United States has now entered a dark period. His leadership has no accountability.
TUCKER: Do you think Joe Biden won fairly?
PUTIN: I would prefer not to get into American domestic politics, but I will say that my embassy reported that your southern border was better managed than the 2020 elections. (laughs)
TUCKER: A poll conducted in the United States shows you to be more popular than Biden – any reaction?
PUTIN: (laughs) I don’t know if this should be taken seriously, but Russian ideals have support. We believe in traditional values; marriage is between a man and a woman: men are men and women are women.
TUCKER: Who would you like to see as the next President of the United States?
PUTIN: Again, it is not for us to say this or to get involved. Contrary to long-standing accusations, we do not meddle in your elections. We don’t need it, because it’s the same people who end up running things anyway.
TUCKER: Why did you invade Ukraine?
PUTIN: Have we invaded or have we been invaded? Look at the story. Look at the people who live there. Historically, we are the ones who have been invaded and are only fighting back now. The lands and the people are Russian and we will find what has always been ours.
TUCKER: How would you feel, mdr, if Trump won again?
PUTIN: We had good relations when Mr. Trump was president. There was no war. Our relations were at a climax. That said, nothing is predictable and the statistics are the same. We’ll have to see.
TUCKER: What do you think of Mr. Zelensky and what would be your message to him?
PUTIN: I remember laughing at his jokes when he was a comedian in Russia. Let’s get back to the laughs.
TUCKER: Why is that?
PUTIN: There are strong financial entities that have an interest in keeping us as adversaries. One of your presidents warned against this. We Russians don’t have this problem.
TUCKER: Do you consider the United States an enemy?
PUTIN: No. Categorically no. We were allies during the Second World War. The Russians helped to colonize Alaska, California, and we were also in Hawaii. Our people are not an enemy, but those in Washington are certainly not our friends.
TUCKER: Can you be more specific and name names?
PUTIN: It would be useless. It’s not up to us to solve your domestic problems. Besides, I’m sure you know the names better than we do.
TUCKER: So, are you saying that your opponent is not Joe Biden but the people behind him?
PUTIN: Exactly. Joe Biden may not even be aware of what’s going on. He may not understand the level of sanctions imposed on Russia. Who set up these sanctions? These are our opponents.
TUCKER: Is that why you defend the BRICS?
PUTIN: The BRICS would exist anyway. This is a natural reaction to the Western trading bloc. It’s a counterweight. When the dollar is used as a weapon against the states, there will be a natural alternative. That’s what we want.
TUCKER: Is that why you and Russia were targeted?
PUTIN: It’s more complicated than that, but I’m sure that explains a lot of this situation. Whenever the dollar is in danger, the United States takes extreme measures. She cannot afford to see the dollar fall.
TUCKER: But isn’t Russia weaker and more economically vulnerable than the United States?
PUTIN: If we consider the size of the economies, we are small. But few people take into account our vast natural resources. Russia has more than $80,000 billion underground. No country comes close to us.
TUCKER: What is your opinion on President Biden?
PUTIN: We are convinced that he is not leading the country. Let’s say that we have good sources that confirm this, but it is obvious that everyone can see for themselves. The United States has now entered a dark period. His leadership has no accountability.
TUKER: All right. That’s understood, but don’t you have the same problems in Russia?
PUTIN: Yes. To a degree. But in Russia, these interests more closely correspond to the thinking of the average Russian on the street. In the United States, this is not the case. The elites have abandoned you.
TUCKER: So, who do you think is running the United States?
PUTIN: The forces that have always led him. You can change the president, but you don’t change those who hold the real power. This is what we have to face. Joe Biden is just a facade for this power structure.
TUCKER: Let’s get to the politics. What is your opinion on President Biden?
PUTIN: We are convinced that he is not leading the country. Let’s say we have sources that confirm this, but it’s obvious to everyone. The United States has now entered a dark period. His leadership has no accountability.
TUCKER: So, who do you think is running the United States?
PUTIN: The same forces that have always led him. You can change the president, but you don’t change those who hold the real power. This is what we have to face. Joe Biden is just a facade for this power structure.
TUCKER: But there have been persistent reports that you have cancer?
PUTIN: I assure you that these rumors are false. if I had cancer and I beat it, I would share the good news and the cure with the world.
TUCKER: Thank you for sitting down with us. How is your health? There have been rumors
PUTIN: I am glad to speak with you and, through you, with the American people. It’s all right with me. I feel good. Considering my age, I’m healthier, but it’s father time.
TUCKER: When you say that some people fear him, do you mean that Musk has enemies?
PUTIN: It is clear that he has enemies in the United States – the way he was stripped of $50 billion in assets – we would call that special treatment. This is unfair on the face of it.
TUCKER: Weren’t you afraid of Musk when he started supplying Starlink equipment to Ukraine?
PUTIN: If someone seriously thinks that a few Internet antennas can defeat the power of Russia, well, what can I say? But no, we neither feared nor blamed Mr. Musk. The government did not leave him much choice.
TUCKER: A lot has changed in the world. What is your opinion on Elon Musk?
PUTIN: We consider Mr. Musk to be a businessman – very successful. He has built a great fortune and a huge following. He is a unique thinker with a strength of personality that cannot be bought. Some people fear it.
TUCKER: Do you have any advice for Elon?
PUTIN: I would say to continue. Don’t be intimidated. But if things ever get too difficult, there is Russia. We would be happy to open our doors to you. We have already welcomed American businessmen and would appreciate someone of Mr. Musk’s caliber.
TUCKER: Let’s turn to Trump. First tell me what you think about the current situation with the probability that he will be re-elected?
PUTIN: That would be a bit strange and out of place, but we are well prepared. He promised to end the fighting in Ukraine and we support this idea.
TUCKER: How could he end the war so quickly?
PUTIN: On the one hand, he never insulted us. He has great respect for Russia. We would start from a position of friendship and trust – then all problems can be solved. We could do it. Trust me.
TUCKER: Are you referring to Biden calling you a killer?
PUTIN: We have been the target of many insults and insults dating back several generations of politicians. Mr. Trump made for a refreshing break. It is very popular in Russia. Maybe it won’t do him any good.
TUCKER: Are you in communication with Trump?
PUTIN: No. Of course not. But if he won again, our lines of communication would open instantly, whereas at the moment we have no dialogue with President Biden.
TUCKER: It shocks me. Has no one from the White House been in contact with you?
PUTIN: That’s right. No one has called since we congratulated Mr. Biden on his election victory. We are surprised that communications are colder today than during the Cold War.
TUCKER: How do you think the 2024 elections will turn out?
PUTIN: We are just observing. It is our responsibility to be vigilant because it will have an impact on the world. We hope that the elections will be held in such a way that the results are credible. In Russia, we do not send ballots by mail.
TUCKER: Let’s turn to China. How is your relationship?
PUTIN: President Xi and I are particularly close. Russia and China now have good relations, which is an obvious asset for us since they are one of our largest energy partners. We will continue to be friends.
TUCKER: Some accuse China of helping you in the war in Ukraine. Is this true?
PUTIN: This is not something I can discuss. Let’s just say that Russia is not an isolated power. This strategy has failed. We now have more allies and business partners than before the war began.
TUCKER: Have you ever considered a situation in which Russia and China could join forces against the United States?
PUTIN: Do you mean economically or militarily? I would say that we don’t want either of them. It is not in our interests to come into conflict with the United States, because all sides would lose in such a conflict.
TUCKER: Speaking of conflicts, what is your point of view on the situation in Gaza?
PUTIN: It’s a real shame. The Palestinians are devastated. Israel acts without coercion. It shows the terrible double standards that exist in the world. Where are the sanctions against Israel?
TUCKER: Is Russia involved in any way, including through your alliance with Iran?
PUTIN: No. Of course not. We are not opposed to the existence of Israel, but at the same time we support the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. We want to be fair.
TUCKER: Are you following what’s going on at the southern border of the United States?
PUTIN: Actually, yes. This is part of my daily briefing. We Russians find it ironically amusing that your Congress spends billions protecting foreign borders while neglecting its own. It’s quite laughable but deadly.
TUCKER: Deadly? What do you mean by that?
PUTIN: Very serious, of course. People die every day crossing your border in an uncontrolled way. It’s a general melee. The world has not seen anything like this in the modern era – it is unwise for a country to open up like this.
TUCKER: Is Russia somehow taking advantage of the border situation?
PUTIN: No. Why should we do it. We don’t have to do anything. America is self-destructing. And as Napoleon said, do not prevent your enemy from destroying himself.
TUCKER: So you see America as an enemy?
PUTIN: It was just a saying, but the current administration is definitely not a friend.
TUCKER: Can that be changed?
PUTIN: That’s why there are elections.
TUCKER: Thank you again for continuing to engage with me on so many different topics. Can we become even more interesting so to speak?
PUTIN: Of course. I am open to most subjects.
TUCKER: Let’s talk about climate change. This idea continues to be encouraged in the United States and Europe. What is your position?
PUTIN: Humanity is not even a type 1 civilization on the scale of Kardashev. If we cannot exploit the energy potential of the planet, how can we control the climate?
TUCKER: Are you at least worried?
PUTIN: I am more concerned about the real problems. Climate change is not one of them. The Earth is quite successful in self-regulating. And if Siberia warms up a little, all the better. More agricultural land for Russia.
TUCKER: But what would you say to the true believers who are convinced that we are heading for disaster?
PUTIN: I would tell them that worrying about climate change is like complaining about the weather. If you don’t like the climate, move. If you are worried about the weather, get an umbrella.
TUCKER: In that sense, how do you see the transgender movement?
PUTIN: I find it interesting that everything that was once the target of blackmail is now a badge of honor. In Russia, there are no laws in all cases, but we certainly do not force our children to do this.
TUCKER: Russia has been criticized for its anti-gay laws and as being hostile to LGBTQ+.
PUTIN: We have laws that protect our children. And we don’t drape our embassies in rainbow flags. That’s correct. Otherwise, we do not intervene in the private lives of adult citizens.
TUCKER: Do you follow American sports? We are about to have the Super Bowl.
PUTIN: Actually, yes. Russia is a great sports nation. We have hosted the Winter Olympic Games and the World Cup quite recently. We all love sports.
TUCKER: What do you think about American football?
PUTIN: It’s an interesting sport. But why is it called football when the ball is almost always played with the hands? It also sometimes seems unnecessarily violent.
TUCKER: That’s right. Will you look?
PUTIN: The game will not be broadcast in Russia.
TUCKER: So you won’t get to see Taylor Swift either?
PUTIN: No. We got a reprieve.
TUCKER: Thank you President Putin for your time.
The exclusive transcript of the interview with Tucker Carlson Putin
Posted by: Naive | Feb 6 2024 20:33 utc | 82
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