Russia invades Ukraine {2022-02-24} (Part 2)

[DesertDog]

Man, it’s a far cry from Viet Nam. I remember a series of BDA photos on the Ho Chi Minh trail where a small bulldozer had been discovered abandoned, broken down or something.

The first one showed it barely visible on the trail, the second clearly visible with a few craters around it – the trees has been stripped of leaves by the bombs. Several more showed more and more craters around the bulldozer, and final no 'dozer, just cleat tracks leading out of the enlarged clearing.

[Northern_Piper]

There was also one sorta funny one in General Schwarzkopf’s briefing in the wind-down of Gulf I. He said something like, « And here’s footage of one of the luckiest men in Iraq ».

The video then showed a small truck being driven across a bridge. Just an ordinary day at work.

Then, just after the truck got to the other side and was off the bridge, BOOM! Major explosion and when the smoke cleared, the bridge was pretty much gone, and the truck was hightailing it away.

[silenus]

I remember that one. Very funny, in a terrifying way.

[Wincerind]

Didn’t he say something like “meanwhile, in his rearview mirror…” ?

[Johnny_L.A]

Inked in the Regional thread. But he said, ‘and now in his rearview mirror…’

[aceplace57]

Damn. Killing Ukrainians isn’t enough. Now add in a ecological disaster.

‘Everything is dead’: Ukraine rushes to stem ecocide after river poisoning

[aceplace57]

A significant loss for Ukraine. They’ve been defending that town since the war began. Made Russia pay a high price.

Controlling Donetsk oblast is a priority for Putin.

ISW analysis indicates Western Donetsk oblast is still relatively secure.

Link Ukraine says its forces have withdrawn from defensive bastion of Vuhledar | Ukraine | The Guardian

The fall of Vuhledar is a boost for the Kremlin and comes as Russian troops advance across the eastern Donetsk oblast. In February they captured the city of Avdiivka, outside the regional capital of Donetsk, occupied in 2014.

Since then the Russian advance has swallowed up towns and villages and come to within six miles of the city of Pokrovsk, a logistics hub 80km (50 miles) north of Vuhledar. Defence experts think Ukraine may next have to retreat from other under-pressure urban settlements, including Toretsk and Selydove.

Russian forces have recently made notable tactical gains but have not demonstrated a capacity to seize operationally significant objectives. ISW distinguishes between tactical gains, which are relevant at the tactical level of war in the near vicinity of the fighting, and operational gains, which are significant at the operational level of war and affect large sectors of the entire frontline. Russian forces seized Vuhledar in western Donetsk Oblast as of October 1, and the settlement will likely afford Russian forces an improved tactical position for pursuing their operational effort to advance towards the H-15 (Donetsk City–Zaporizhzhia City) highway and eliminate the wide Ukrainian salient in western Donetsk Oblast.[1] The Russian seizure of Vuhledar will not on its own radically change the operational situation in western Donetsk Oblast, however, and Russian forces will likely struggle to achieve their operational objectives in the area during the ongoing offensive operation in western Donetsk Oblast.[2] Russian offensive operations that are pursuing operationally significant objectives, like the Russian effort to seize Chasiv Yar or to push Ukrainian forces off the left (east) bank of the Oskil River, have either stalled or are resulting in particularly gradual gains over long stretches of time, respectively.[3] Russian forces continue to prioritize their offensive push towards Pokrovsk, and the operational significance of seizing the city will likely in part depend on the Russian military’s ability to leverage the city in wider operational maneuver in Donetsk Oblast.[4] Russian forces have tried and failed to conduct wide operational maneuver across several axes throughout Donetsk Oblast on several occasions during the full-scale invasion and are currently conducting intensified offensive operations in pursuit of more limited objectives on only two mutually supporting sectors of the frontline in Donetsk Oblast (western Donetsk Oblast and the Pokrovsk direction).

[Magiver]

@aceplace57

Damn. Killing Ukrainians isn’t enough. Now add in a ecological disaster.

that would seem counter productive if Putin is planning on conquering Ukraine.

[Askance]

If however, his goal is conquering the Ukrainians, that’s a different matter.

[thorny_locust]

@Magiver

that would seem counter productive if Putin is planning on conquering Ukraine

I think originally he may have meant to conquer Ukraine, taking it relatively intact and claiming all of its good things for Russia.

Shortly afterwards, when it became highly obvious that they weren’t going to just let him do that with only token opposition and on top of that were actually balking him, I think he shifted to just wanting to destroy the place.

[Dahu]

OT missile talk reply

I think the V1 was also an impact bomb

[PatrickLondon]

I think he’d settle for hanging on to Crimea and as much of Donetsk and Luhansk as he can - and a weakened, impoverished Ukraine needing as much help from the West with clearing up his mess as he can create a need for. That his propagandists could probably sell as a success in Russia. For a time.

[aceplace57]

BBC just posted an hour ago.
Another oil depot (sort of) bites the dust.

The fire looks anemic compared to the Muntions Depot strikes over a week ago.
Link Ukraine strikes oil depot in occupied Crimea

The plant employees are working under the direct control of the Russians. Apparently this guy was a little too eager to collaborate.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/employee-russia-controlled-nuclear-plant-killed-car-bomb-say-investigators-2024-10-04/

[aceplace57]

The Dutch have contributed a lot to Ukraine. Especially considering that most people don’t think of it as a major military power.

Link First Dutch F-16 fighters delivered to Ukraine

After 45 years of service, the Royal Netherlands Air Force officially retired its F-16 fighter jets on September 27, 2024.

Now they continue service in Ukraine’s Air Force.

The Dutch Air Force operated the F-16A/B Block 20 MLU (MidLife Update) variants, upgraded between 2003 and 2005, with modern combat enhancements. The MLU variant includes a Head-Up Display (HUD) for night operations, a GPS receiver, and a Westinghouse (now Northrop Grumman) AN/APG-66 fire control radar. It can deploy six AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles with a range of 150 kilometers (95 miles) and release precision-guided bombs like the GBU-24 Paveway III and JDAM. It also has the ability to carry Sniper and Litening targeting pods.

[aceplace57]

They need to reschedule after the US Election. Washington won’t take any action that could shift the voting.

Storm aid and diaster relief will be the focus in the US for awhile.

European summit to discuss Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan’ is postponed

[Pushkin]

@aceplace57

The Dutch have contributed a lot to Ukraine. Especially considering that most people don’t think of it as a major military power

Anything to do with the shooting down of flight MH17 by Russian separatists and the large number of Dutch passengers on board?

[FlikTheBlue]

North Korea appears to have sent troops to fight in Ukraine. Six NK officers were reportedly killed fighting in Donetsk. South Korea’s defense minister has stated he thinks it’s likely North Korea will send more troops to fight in Ukraine.

North Korea to deploy more soldiers to Ukraine after reported deaths: Seoul

[aceplace57]

The N Koreans haven’t fought a battle since the 1950’s.

It will be interesting to see how effective they are in Ukraine. Especially at the command and control level.

[Al128]

since when is “effectiveness” a KPI in the RU army?

a somewhat warm, still breathing body is all that is needed. … and if they come by the thousands - well, even better

[aceplace57]

It depends on what N Korea is sending. Would they sacrifice their own people as cannon fodder in a foreign war? N Korea’s xenophobia is well known.

I could see N Korea sending Special Forces for tactical missions. They wouldn’t be wasted in the trenches.

France is stepping up their support for Ukraine. They’re delivering the planes and trained Ukrainian pilots with ground crews.

Link Ukraine to Get Upgraded French Mirage Fighter Aircraft Next Year

Twitter details of plans to transfer surplus Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft to Ukraine in early 2025. The jets are currently being upgraded with new unspecified electronic warfare (EW) defense and air-to-ground attack equipment in Cazaux, in southwest France.

In parallel to upgrading the aircraft France has been carrying out what they describe as an “accelerated pilot and ground crew training program” for 26 Ukrainian flyers and maintainers which began in March this year. It was reported in June that the French course was the first step to prepare the pilots for further, advanced F-16 conversion. It now seems likely that it was designed (or adapted) for the Mirages.