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Ukraine SitRep: Ukrainian Army Chief Reveals Lack of Strategy Behind Kursk Incursion
With the help of a CNN interview the Ukrainian Commander in Chief General Syrski is hoping to gain more support from western sources.
Exclusive: Ukraine army chief reveals the strategy behind Kursk incursion – CNN, Sept 5 2024
In his first television interview since becoming military chief in February, the general told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that he believed the Kursk operation had been a success.
“It reduced the threat of an enemy offensive. We prevented them from acting. We moved the fighting to the enemy’s territory so that [the enemy] could feel what we feel every day,” Syrskyi said, in a rare interview that offered a candid assessment of the war.
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Speaking to Amanpour at an undisclosed location near the frontline, the general, who took over as army chief in February, said Moscow moved tens of thousands of troops to Kursk, including some of its best airborne assault troops.
And while admitting that Ukraine was under immense pressure in the area around Pokrovsk, the strategic city that has for weeks been the epicenter of war in eastern Ukraine, Syrskyi said his troops have now managed to stall the Russian advances there.
“Over the last six days the enemy hasn’t advanced a single meter in the Pokrovsk direction. In other words, our strategy is working.” he said.
Maps as provided by the pro-Ukrainian LiveUAmap:
Pokrovsk region – Aug 30, 2024
biggerPokrovsk region – Sept 6, 2024
bigger
I can identify at least three areas where the maps show differences in favor of the Russian side. Top to bottom:
- North and north-west of Niu York:
Pivnichek east of Toretsk has changed hands. The Russia line has moved in several place there to envelope Toretsk city and, a bit further south, Nelipivka.
- North of Selydove:
Novohrodivka which is no longer partially but now completely in Russian hands.
- East of Ukrainski:
There is a new Russian protrusion developing southward. A zoomed-in view shows that the hamlet of Halytsynivka with the crossing of the COS112 and COS1139 roads has come under Russian control. This cuts a supply route for the Ukrainian troops south-east of the protrusion.
These three+ minor ones are small movements that cover only some the 100 square kilometers Russian forces took last week. The previous three weeks had seen bigger ones. But they demonstrate that the Russian's haven't stopped in Pokrovsk but have – for one reason or another – halted major movements.
The reports of the Russian Ministry of Defense still note severe Ukrainian losses in the Prokrovsk region. There are no reports of any Russian troop movement from the Prokrovsk direction towards Kursk. A rotation of frontline units and local reserve forces is the most likely explanation for the current relative quietness on the frontline.
The Kursk incursion was a costly attempt to gain leverage. It failed to reach its hoped for targets further north and to cause the diversion of Russian troops from other front lines.
Syrski of course has to keep up the morale of his troops. He also has to (re-)gain more support from Ukraine's 'partners'. That explains his otherwise funny talk like this:
“We cannot fight in the same way as they do, so we must use, first of all, the most effective approach, use our forces and means with maximum use of terrain features, engineering structures and also, to use technical superiority,” he said, highlighting Ukraine’s advanced drone program and other home-grown high-tech weaponry.
Can someone point me to one Ukrainian or 'western' equipment item which is technically superior to the Russian produced equivalent? I fail to find one.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 7 2024 18:27 utc | 426
Apologies, kind sir. By way of partial amends, have a Russian Defence Ministry update:
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (7 September 2024)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Bryansk, Liptsy and Volchansk directions, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 92nd Assault Brigade of the AFU, and 34th Marine Brigade near Glubokoye, Staritsa, and Volchansk (Kharkov region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 65 troops and two 122-mm D-30 howitzers.
The Zapad Group of Forces improved tactical situation, engaged manpower and military hardware of 14th, 23rd, 43rd, 44th, and 67th mechanised brigades, 143rd Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 110th and 117th territorial defence brigades, 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade near Kupyansk, Petropavlovka, Tabayevka, Kovsharovka, Lozovaya (Kharkov region), Makeyevka, Nevskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), Torskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Serebryansky Forestry.
Russian forces repelled eight counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the 115th and 116th mechanised brigades, 3rd Assault Brigade, 77th Aeromobile Brigade of the AFU, and 1st National Guard Brigade.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 450 troops, a tank, a Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, six pickups, a UK-made 155-mm Braveheart self-propelled system, U.S.-made 155-mm M198 and M777 howitzers, a UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, a 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, a 152-mm D-20 gun, a 122-mm D-30 howitzer, a UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, and a U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer.
Anklav and Kvertus electronic warfare stations and five field ammunition depots were destroyed.
The Yug Group of Forces continues to advance into the hostile defence, engaged formations of foreign legion 24th, 30th, 54th, 93rd mechanised brigades, 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 144th Infantry Brigade, 10th, 79th, 80th assault brigades, 46th, 81st airmobile bridges of the AFU, 114th and 119th territorial defence brigades near Seversk, Verkhnekamenskoye, Fyodorovka, Grigorovka, Stupochki, Predtechino, Krasnogorovka, Maksimilyanovka, and Katerinovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 810 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, a 203-mm Pion self-propelled gun, two U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzers, two 152-mm D-20 guns, four 122-mm D-30 howitzers, two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzers, and a field ammunition depot.
The Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Kalinovo of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The Russian units engaged 31st, 53rd, 63rd, 100th, 151st mechanised brigades, 142nd, 144th, 152nd infantry brigades, 95th Air Assault brigade, 109th Territorial Defence Brigade near Dzerzhinsk, Shcherbinovka, Nelepovka, Nikolayevka, Poltavka, Dimitrov, Grodovka, Selidovo, Memrik, and Galitsynovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The Russian Armed Forces repelled seven counter-attacks of the 32nd Mechanised Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade of the AFU, 2nd and 14th national guard brigades, and Lyut Assault Brigade of the Ukraine national police.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 470 troops, U.S.-made MaxxPro and Kozak armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, a Grad MLRS launcher, one French-made 155-mm CEASAR howitzer, two 152-mm Msta-B howitzers, a 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and six 122-mm D-30 howitzers.
The Vostok Group of Forces seized more favourable lines and positions, engaged 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 102nd and 105th territorial defence brigades near Vodyanoye, Prechistovka, Rovnopol (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Dorozhnyanka (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 110 troops, two motor vehicles, a U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, a Bukovel-AD EW station, and a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the AFU, 37th Marine Brigade, and 124th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novodanilovka, Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region), Tyaginka, and Sadovoye (Kherson region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 troops, seven motor vehicles, a 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, an Anklav electronic warfare station, and a field ammunition depot.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed workshops manufacturing Grom-2 missile components and Palyanitsa UAVs, depots of foreign missile and artillery ammunition, telecom satellite station of the AFU, and infrastructure of a military airbase. In addition, clusters of AFU manpower and hardware have been hit in 139 areas.
Air defence systems shot down three French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, four U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles, and 30 unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, 642 airplanes and 283 helicopters, 31,098 unmanned aerial vehicles, 578 air defence missile systems, 17,953 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,447 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 14,226 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 25,766 units of support motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.
https://eng.mil.ru/en/special_operation/news/more.htm?id=12528279@egNews
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 7 2024 18:36 utc | 426
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