Ukraine 3

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

And Russians just put up with it. Throw their lives away for nothing.

I'd turn their tanks and guns around on their own generals and leaders. But that's just me.

[Hoodat]

More from the article on Russian command structure:

Failures of command result in a lot of wasted shells and rockets and all-too-frequent friendly-fire incidents. Even when artillery is hitting nothing or, worse, hitting allied positions, the gunners just keep blasting away.

There’s a “near-absence of reversionary courses of action” in the Russian fire-control system, analysts Mykhaylo Zabrodskyi, Jack Watling, Oleksandr Danylyuk and Nick Reynolds explained in a study for the Royal United Services Institute in London.

What that means is, in Russian doctrine, brigades, battalions and batteries tend to freeze up in the absence of detailed instructions from higher command. While awaiting fresh orders, lower units just keep doing what they already were doing. Even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when the current course of action is killing friendly troops.

“This approach has probably had the greatest impact in creating a gap between potential and actual capability as regards Russian fires,” Zabrodskyi, Watling, Danylyuk and Reynolds wrote.

Russian gunners simply don’t think for themselves. “All reported contacts are treated as true. All fire missions appear to be given equal priority and are prosecuted in the order in which they are received unless an order to prioritize a specific mission comes from higher authority.”

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Time for a Russian spring...

[Hoodat]

Ukraine’s Super-Upgraded M-55S Tanks Have Equipped A New Kind Of Brigade

David Axe  |  Dec 17, 2022  |  05:58pm EST

We finally know which Ukrainian army unit took ownership of those super-upgraded, but very old, M-55S tanks that Slovenia donated to Ukraine.

It’s the 47th Assault Brigade. A new kind of unit with a very special leader. A famous veteran and author named Valery Markus.

The M-55S is a deeply modernized Soviet T-55, a tank type that first entered service in the late 1950s. In the 1990s, the Slovenian army paid Israeli firm Elbit and STO RAVNE in Slovenia to modify 30 of its 36-ton T-55s.

Among other enhancements—including reactive armor, an uprated engine and a new fire-control system—the M-55S has a stabilized, British-made L7 105-millimeter main gun in place of the original Soviet 100-millimeter gun.  .  .

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/12/17/ukraines-super-upgraded-m-55s-tanks-have-equipped-a-new-kind-of-brigade/

[Smokin Joe]

Ukraine’s Super-Upgraded M-55S Tanks Have Equipped A New Kind Of Brigade

David Axe  |  Dec 17, 2022  |  05:58pm EST

We finally know which Ukrainian army unit took ownership of those super-upgraded, but very old, M-55S tanks that Slovenia donated to Ukraine.

It’s the 47th Assault Brigade. A new kind of unit with a very special leader. A famous veteran and author named Valery Markus.

The M-55S is a deeply modernized Soviet T-55, a tank type that first entered service in the late 1950s. In the 1990s, the Slovenian army paid Israeli firm Elbit and STO RAVNE in Slovenia to modify 30 of its 36-ton T-55s.

Among other enhancements—including reactive armor, an uprated engine and a new fire-control system—the M-55S has a stabilized, British-made L7 105-millimeter main gun in place of the original Soviet 100-millimeter gun.  .  .

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/12/17/ukraines-super-upgraded-m-55s-tanks-have-equipped-a-new-kind-of-brigade/

IOW, hot rod T-55s...

[Timber Rattler]

Zelensky visits Bakhmut troops venturing close to bloodiest fighting

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/20/zelensky-bakhmut-front-war-ukraine/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday made an unexpected visit to troops defending Bakhmut, currently the site of some of the bloodiest fighting in the war, as his forces try to hold off a desperate Russian assault on the city in the eastern Donetsk region.

Zelensky’s trip, which was confirmed by his office on his Facebook page, highlighted the carnage in Bakhmut, where Russian forces, including mercenaries, have been pushing for months to claim a battlefield victory after a string of defeats and retreats in the south and east of Ukraine.

It was not immediately clear where in Bakhmut the president had visited, or how close he had ventured to front line positions. Amid heavy fighting in recent days, some military analysts said that the Russians were making incremental advances, and had warned that Ukrainian troops were at risk of being encircled.

“The President visited the advanced positions of one of the mechanized brigades, the personnel of which is confronting the enemy on the approaches to the city,” Zelensky’s Facebook post said. “The head of state listened to the commander’s report on the operational situation, material and technical support and proposals for further actions. While in the area of hostilities, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Ukrainian soldiers for their courage, resilience and strength, which they demonstrate while repelling enemy attacks.”

A video released by a state-run media outlet showed Zelensky, wearing an army green winter jacket, standing by a table with 17 medals on display, then heartily shaking hands with shoulders as he handed out each award.

[Elderberry]

Ukraine wields US-supplied offensive arms against Russia – for the first time

https://www.debka.com/ukraine-wields-us-supplied-offensive-arms-against-russia-for-the-first-time/

Monday, Dec. 19 saw the first Ukrainian strikes inside Russia with advanced US missiles that President Joe Biden promised the Ukraine leader a week earlier. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the Ukrainians used their fresh supplies of AGM-88 Harm missiles to strike power and water supply plants in the Russian town of Belgorod in retaliation for Moscow’s unceasing Iranian-made drone assaults on its vital facilities including power – in a bid to freeze Ukraine into submission.

The American AGM-88 is a high-speed anti-radiation missile designed to disarm the radar systems of antiair weapons. Powered with solid fuel, it can reach a speed of Mach 2 without generating smoke, which makes it hard for the targeted victims to detect in time to ward off its strike.

Our sources note that this missile attack was timed for Monday to coincide with an important summit President Vladimir Putin held with his Belarus ally, , Alexander Lukashenko. The first use of an American offensive weapon on targets inside Russia is expected in military circles to raise the stakes of the Ukraine conflict.  Putin may decide to expand his campaign to crush Ukrainian resistance even to the point of taking his war across the border into its NATO neighbors, especially those keeping Kyev supplied with military equipment.

[Timber Rattler]

Debka is a bad, unreliable source.  And HARMs don't operate like that...they're anti-radiation missiles that take out enemy radar systems.

[Hoodat]

I can't imagine Biden giving AGM-88s to Ukraine.  Sure, he said he would.  But as we have learned over the past 290 days, there is a very wide divide between weapons Biden promises and weapons delivered.

Russia already accused Ukraine of using AGM-88s back in August.  I believe we should make this a self-fulfilling prophesy for the Russians, and help achieve air supremacy for Ukraine.

[Timber Rattler]

I can't imagine Biden giving AGM-88s to Ukraine.  Sure, he said he would.  But as we have learned over the past 290 days, there is a very wide divide between weapons Biden promises and weapons delivered.

Russia already accused Ukraine of using AGM-88s back in August.  I believe we should make this a self-fulfilling prophesy for the Russians, and help achieve air supremacy for Ukraine.

The U.S. actually has given the UAF HARMs, and they have been used to good effect, but not inside Russia.

https://eurasiantimes.com/double-harm-ukrainian-mig-29-fires-two-agm-88-anti-radiation/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5nWxN1ymW4

https://theaviationist.com/2022/09/09/ukrainian-su-27-agm-88-harm-missiles/

[bilo]

It was not immediately clear where in Bakhmut the president had visited, or how close he had ventured to front line positions. Amid heavy fighting in recent days, some military analysts said that the Russians were making incremental advances, and had warned that Ukrainian troops were at risk of being encircled.


@Timber Rattler

Pretty darn impressive, you could hear bombs exploding in the background.

[libertybele]

Unprovoked attack? This darn war has been ongoing for a decade. IT IS NOT OUR WAR!!!  How much more $$$ are we going to give Z and now patriot missiles??  How many will wind up in the wrong hands??  Just a matter of time before WWIII breaks out.

Biden to deliver Patriot missiles to Ukraine as Zelenskyy visits Washington

Biden will announce another $2 billion in military aid for Ukraine[/b]

President Biden's administration will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine for the first time on Wednesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Washington to address Congress.

The Patriot missiles, the country's most advanced air defense system, will come as part of a $2 billion security aid package for Ukraine that Biden is expected to announce Wednesday, according to Axios. Zelenskyy left Ukraine to visit Washington, D.C. for the first time since Russia's invasion of his country began in February.

Congress has already approved $65 billion in aid for Ukraine, but lawmakers are now debating an additional $45 billion.

The Ukrainian president is expected to praise lawmakers for their support as his nation fights off an unprovoked invasion by Russia. Zelenskyy is also expected to argue that the war is by no means won and that more help is needed...............

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-deliver-patriot-missiles-ukraine-zelenskyy-visits-washington

[Timber Rattler]

It actually is our war, and has been since February 24, 2022, with Putin's initial invasion.  His overriding goal is to reclaim all the former Soviet States and imperial Russian possessions (such as Finland, Sweden, and even Alaska), and forge them into a new Soviet Union, breaking up NATO and kneecapping the U.S. in the process.  It's far better to spend billions now and let the Ukrainians do the fighting instead of spending trillions latter and forcing our children to do it, in either Poland or Germany or Romania.  Short-sightedness is what brought about World War II, and it will most assuredly bring about World War III if we make those same mistakes again.

[Hoodat]

Unprovoked attack?

Yes, unprovoked attack.

[Hoodat]

It actually is our war, and has been since February 24, 2022, with Putin's initial invasion.  His overriding goal is to reclaim all the former Soviet States and imperial Russian possessions (such as Finland, Sweden, and even Alaska), and forge them into a new Soviet Union, breaking up NATO and kneecapping the U.S. in the process.  It's far better to spend billions now and let the Ukrainians do the fighting instead of spending trillions latter and forcing our children to do it, in either Poland or Germany or Romania.  Short-sightedness is what brought about World War II, and it will most assuredly bring about World War III if we make those same mistakes again.

The cost would be far cheaper if we concentrated on providing weapons to Ukraine instead of overfunding USAID, the State Dept, NATO, HHS, DoD, etc.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Volodymyr Zelensky: $45 Billion Support in Omnibus Bill Is Not Enough
Breitbart, Dec 21, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to speak to Congress and President Joe Biden on Wednesday and claim the $45 billion worth of aid designated for Ukraine in the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill is not enough support.

Congress is weighing whether to pass the massive $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that designates $45 billion in military and economic aid for Ukraine. The $45 billion is in addition to the $66 billion lawmakers have already approved of taxpayers’ money for Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Zelensky released a video revealing he will tell Biden and Congress $45 billion is still not enough support.

“We are not in an easy situation. The enemy is increasing its army. Our people are braver and need more powerful weapons,” he said about the Ukrainian war. “We will pass it on from the boys to the Congress, to the president of the United States. We are grateful for their support, but it is not enough. It is a hint — it is not enough.”

Critics of Ukrainian aid say much of the funds have ended up in the hands of American defense contractors. Others have demanded the previous sums of money approved by Congress should be audited before aid more is given. Still others are concerned the sheer amount of money spent defending Ukraine’s borders is too much.

American taxpayers have given more aid to Ukraine than is sent in 2020 to Afghanistan, Israel, and Egypt combined. In just a few short months since the Ukrainian war, the amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine also surpassed three of the largest recipients of U.S. military aid in history.

The New York Times reported Sunday the “[m]ilitary spending next year is on track to reach its highest level in inflation-adjusted terms since the peaks in the costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars between 2008 and 2011, and the second highest in inflation-adjusted terms since World War II — a level that is more than the budgets for the next 10 largest cabinet agencies combined.”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/12/21/volodymyr-zelensky-45-billion-support-omnibus-bill-is-not-enough/

[sneakypete]

It actually is our war, and has been since February 24, 2022, with Putin's initial invasion.  His overriding goal is to reclaim all the former Soviet States and imperial Russian possessions (such as Finland, Sweden, and even Alaska), and forge them into a new Soviet Union, breaking up NATO and kneecapping the U.S. in the process.  It's far better to spend billions now and let the Ukrainians do the fighting instead of spending trillions latter and forcing our children to do it, in either Poland or Germany or Romania.  Short-sightedness is what brought about World War II, and it will most assuredly bring about World War III if we make those same mistakes again.

@Timber Rattler

I am shocked on a daily basis to see there are STILL so many people who self-identify as "conservatives" and STILL can't see that basic truth.

I am perfectly happy seeing the US supply Ukraine anything and everything Ukraine needs that does NOT have the word "nuclear"attached to them in order to defeat the Neo-Soviets as long as "US Combat Troops" is not an item on that list.

Oh,I don't mind them sending NON-COMBAT ARMS specialists there along with some of the more sophisticated equipment in order to teach the Ukrainians there how to properly use and maintain those weapons. Yes,some of them WILL die while doing this,but that's the way the cookie crumbles. If you are not willing to take risks,you have no business wearing a military uniform.

PLUS,these people will do more than train Ukrainian troops.They will also learn Neo-Soviet doctrine and tactics that they can take back to America to better perpare the troops back home for a potential confict with the Russians themselves.

YOU might care if they get killed or injured by life if they go there,but rest assured that there are professional soldiers standing in line to take the place of anyone who refuses to go.

And I firmly believe with every fiber of my being that this could result in the collapse of the Neo-Soviet Union,and the end of Communist Rule everywhere in the world but China.

I see losing a few million dollars of surplus equipment as a bargain-basement price if it serves to eventually remove the hard-line neo-Soviets from power in Russia and prevents the possibility of yet another war in Europe.

I probably shouldn't write this because it just encourages the "surrender monkeys" here,but if we "lose" several million dollars of military equipment like field cannons and drones,that is a very cheap price compared to losing a few thousand US soldiers,never mind the multi-thousands of US soldiers that we would lose if Putin and the Neo-Soviets win and decide to expand Neo-Soviet power into western Europe.

Equipment is easily replaced. Not so young soldiers.

[Timber Rattler]

Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Catches Fire

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-kuznetsov-murkansk-fire-aircraft-carrier-1768956

A fire broke out on the flagship of the Russian Navy, according to local media reports.

The blaze started on the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier, while it was docked at the Zvyozdochka shipyard in the Barents Sea port city of Murmansk, located in the far north-west of Russia, news agency Tass said.

An emergency services source told the agency on Thursday morning that 20 people had been evacuated, the fire was extinguished and that "there were no casualties."

Alexei Rakhmanov, head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), which is overseeing renovation of the vessel, told RIA Novosti that the incident occurred during repair work.

Excerpt.

[sneakypete]

Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Catches Fire

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-kuznetsov-murkansk-fire-aircraft-carrier-1768956

A fire broke out on the flagship of the Russian Navy, according to local media reports.

The blaze started on the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier, while it was docked at the Zvyozdochka shipyard in the Barents Sea port city of Murmansk, located in the far north-west of Russia, news agency Tass said.

An emergency services source told the agency on Thursday morning that 20 people had been evacuated, the fire was extinguished and that "there were no casualties."

Alexei Rakhmanov, head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), which is overseeing renovation of the vessel, told RIA Novosti that the incident occurred during repair work.

Excerpt.

@Timber Rattler

Accident,or political sabotage as an act of protest?

I haven't seen or heard of any actual political protests inside Russia about the invasion of Ukraine,and all the money being wasted and lives being lost to feed Putin's ego and dream of a return to Stalinist Russia,but now that winter is here and hitting hard and keeping people indoors,you just KNOW they are talking with each other about this mess,and the anger is building.

ESPECIALLY amongst those who have lost a child in the fighting,or had one come home crippled and dependent for life.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Russians please, turn your guns around, kill your generals and officers! And please kill Putin.

[Ghost Bear]

@Timber Rattler

Accident,or political sabotage as an act of protest?

@sneakypete almost certainly an accident.  The reason it was in port is because they can't keep it running long enough without breaking down, to dare take it out of port.

[sneakypete]

@sneakypete almost certainly an accident.  The reason it was in port is because they can't keep it running long enough without breaking down, to dare take it out of port.

@Ghost Bear

IIRC,the Russians sold an aircraft carrier to China several years ago,and since it was basically complete,but unfinished ,they towed it there.

The last I remember hearing about it,the Chinese had still not been able to leave port with it. This was around 2 years ago.

[Hoodat]

Bakhmut Is ‘Soaked In Blood’ As Eight Of Ukraine’s Best Brigades Battle 40,000 Former Russian Prisoners

David Axe  |  22 Dec 2022

Russian mercenary firm The Wagner Group since this summer has been trying, and so far failing, to capture the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.

For Wagner, Bakhmut is a symbol. In seizing the ruins of the lifeless town, which lies 10 miles southwest of Russian-occupied Severodonetsk—one of Donbas’s bigger cities—Wagner apparently aims to establish itself as an alternative to the regular Russian army.

But at least eight of the Ukrainian army’s heaviest brigades keep interrupting Wagner’s plan—and making the battle for Bakhmut a statement about Wagner’s weakness rather than its strength.

“The Russian military and mercenaries have been attacking Bakhmut nonstop since May,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday. “They have been attacking it day and night, but Bakhmut stands.”

The Ukrainian brigades in and around Bakhmut—the 60th and 71st Infantry Brigades, the 24th, 57th and 58th Mechanized Brigades, the 4th Tank Brigade, the 46th Air Mobile Brigade, the 128th Mountain Brigade and others  .  .  .

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/12/22/bakhmut-is-soaked-in-blood-as-eight-of-ukraines-best-brigades-battle-40000-former-russian-prisoners/?sh=1e17366d6f23

https://twitter.com/Militarylandnet/status/1605986043227881473

[Hoodat]

[dfwgator]

And Russians just put up with it. Throw their lives away for nothing.

 

"Even Comrade Lenin underestimated both the anguish of that nine hundred mile-long front, and our cursed capacity for suffering." - Yevgraf Zhivago (Doctor Zhivago)