Ukrainian forces reportedly shelled targets in Valuyki, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, overnight on September 15-16. … A Russian source claimed that Ukrainian forces fired over 20 rounds at Valuyki from positions 20km southwest of the city, which is within Ukrainian tube artillery range…
Valuyki is situated on a critical Russian rail line to northern Luhansk Oblast. Ukrainian forces have cut Russian Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs) through Kharkiv Oblast, likely forcing Russian forces to redirect logistics from the large bases and concentration points around Belgorod City through the Valuyki rail line. Sustained damage to this rail line would severely complicate Russian logistics supporting the Russian defense of Luhansk Oblast and eastern Kharkiv Oblast. A Russian source stated that the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) 206th Regiment is defending in Russia itself near Valuyki, indicating Russia is deploying proxy forces to screen Russian logistics – and additionally indicating the increasing Russian reliance on proxy forces for tasks even in Russia
Put those same features to Russia’s systemic practice of lying to each other, and you get the evil clown show we’ve been seeing in Ukraine these past six months.
I assume you have no military experience. And I’ve met plenty of such people (especially American college students) who imagine that an army is some scary, and totally alien world, where anybody wearing a uniform is somehow totally different than a regular human being–some kind of robot who always follows orders and kills .
But an army is just a group of people who have a job to do.
To make it easier (and less scary)for you to understand, you can compare an army to something you know more about from your personal experience in the civilian world: a business, or a factory.
A factory is a thousand employees all working together to make a product. Somebody has to be the “general”–i.e the head manager. And lots of others are the “privates” --the workers on the factory assembly line. There are also a few “colonels” and “lieutenants” (engineers, salesmen) who keep the factory working and profitable. And then there are the “NCO’s”–who are vital!
The “general”–the big boss, thinks he knows everything about the company…but he only reads reports, he doesn’t have real experience.
The salesman “lieutenant” thinks he knows all about the product…but he knows nothing about how it is produced.
The engineer “colonel” knows how to give instructions about what to do.He’s got the facts and figures --but only on paper.
But it is the sergeants, the NCOs who actually make sure that the work gets done. These are the shift foremen and the supervisors on the factory floor. They know how to operate the machinery, and how to motivate their men to stay on time and on schedule.
So yes…it is absolutely true–the NCO’s in the army are the backbone of the organization.
Yep, total civilian, not even particularly into war movies or videogames, though not averse either. I find it telling that the image in my mind of the essence of the military is Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. How does the military even function without those guys?
Is it really true that having a robust NCO…system?..requires, or at least is greatly aided by, being a part of a free and democratic (and upwardly mobile) society? Seems like kind of a huge strategic advantage to get “for free” just from the way your society is structured.
Hmm, looks like Kherson is heating up. The Russians claim it was a ‘counter-terrorism’ incident. Given their track record with the facts, and reports of shooting in more than one district, I suspect that Ukraine is probing the edges of Kherson at the very least.
US government sources are starting to think Putin is done.
Relevant quote:
Now comes the hard part," the State Department official says, referring to what happens with Ukraine’s advances. "All eyes on Putin? Hell yes. Will he destroy Russia to stay in power? Or will Russia destroy him, finally holding him accountable for his Ukrainian blunder?
I doubt that many Russians are aware that Putin unleashed this humanitarian catastrophe based entirely on a self-serving pack of lies. It’s ironic that Putin’s decline is due entirely to his disastrous failures in Ukraine, which are impossible to hide. If he’d succeeded as he had hoped, I’m sure he’d be hailed as a hero. I’m also sure that his demise would be considerably hastened if more Russian people were aware of the true nature of this war’s origins.
Any commander would prepare a route out of a battle. I hope they use it very soon.
Sunken Railroad cars aren’t that strong? Troops could walk over them. Tanks and Trucks? Imho that’s not possible unless the sunken rail cars are filled with gravel or dirt. Something to keep the rail cars from crushing.
CNN live blog
Russian woman, proud of her Russian heritage, laid to rest draped in azure and or after a landmne ended her stout efforts to defend Ukraine from Russia.
Interesting.
Military engineers can do some amazing things fast. Often pre rehearsed and tested.
Maybe getting the rail cars side by side, then laying prefab sections on top of them would be very sturdy. How the hell they get it somewhat level and stable, I have no idea.
But it seems if they get the thing made well, it would then be valuable to the other side if you lose it after retreat. Should be well loaded up with demolitions for destruction after use.
Now I am wondering, how the hell do you float rail cars out there and sink them? Major damn operation. All the while maybe being shelled?
Don’t worry. I’m sure that " Russian fighters in Umm Qasr (I mean Izium of course) are giving the hordes of Ukraine mercenaries the taste of definite death. We have drawn them into a quagmire and they will never get out of it."
If that doesn’t work then probably “Steiner’s assault will bring it under control.”
