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Recent combat vids from Ukraine


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Picked up the first on Live Leak, and was led to YT. Helmet cam video from Ukrainian side. No gore. These are apparently from Fall of 2016 if posting date is an indicator.

Ukrainian recon on patrol coming into contact and also fighting from a building. Great look at weapons, uniform and kit. Interesting "don't shoot me" measures, too.

Azov unit in action. Special AFV markings for modders!

And for the finale, some simply phenomenal combat exercise footage of the BTR-4E and BTR-3E1. Grade 1 eye candy.

Regards,

John Kettler

 

 

 

Edited by John Kettler
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On 08.01.2017 at 2:12 PM, John Kettler said:

Azov unit in action

Only first video of Azov (battle in Shyrokyne, summer 2015), rest - of VUC "Right Sector" (ZU-23 I can't say where it is and last looks like Butivka coal mine, but can be "Sky" spotting positiion on meteotower near Donetsk airport)

On 08.01.2017 at 2:12 PM, John Kettler said:

And for the finale, some simply phenomenal combat exercise footage of the BTR-4E and BTR-3E1.

Most of BTR-3E1 here are from Thailand royal armed forces.

7 hours ago, John Kettler said:

Have to say I like the rousing military music in the last one, whatever it's called. Believe the style is that of a march.

This is "Zaporiz'kyi march", created in 1969 by blind banduryst Yevhen Adamtsevych (bandura - traditional 15-64 strings misic instrument of Ukrainian wandering bards. Almost all of them were gathered on so called "Conference of bandurysts", arrested and executed in 1932). In this composition used a motive of very popular to this days Zaporozhian cossacks song about hetmans Sahaidachnyi and Doroshenko. In 1970 this march have received orchestra arrangement and with great success was playing even in Moscow. But communist censors have seen in this music "propaganda of Ukrainian nationalism" and have prohibited it up to 1984. After Independence proclamation in 1991 this march have became first military march of Ukrainian armed forces under name "Cossac's march".

7 hours ago, GAZ NZ said:

What were the scoped rifles they were using?

 What exactly rifle did you mean ? 

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GAZ NZ,

What kind of rifle? Not sure yet. Doesn't look to me like any of the Ukrainian sniper rifles in this program specifically on that topic. Doesn't look like a typical SVD or, for that matter, a Z-10, as seen in the show below. Some additional info on Ukrainian sniper rifles and plans to shift to exclusively Made in Ukraine weapons described here and here. Being able to see the weapon only from the receiver forward complicates identification. It can't be either a VPR 308/338, since it is bolt action and the weapon shown firing in the recon vid is semiautomatic. Best guess is an updated SVD, with polymer furniture instead of wood. Looks like this. Identification is based not just on general appearance, but distinctive AK receiver and the shrouded foresight found on a stock SVD.
 

Regards,

John Kettler

Edited by John Kettler
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@John Kettler "Grade 1 eye candy" indeed! But...watching those BTR-4Es during the exercise only strengthens my opinion of the UKR mech forces.

Either one of two things...

A. Their shiny new "latest technology" vehicles are still woefully behind in matching their expected foe(the Russians). Based on my experience in game play, both the Oplot and the BTR-4E are too slow in spotting(vs Red similar vehicles). Watch the video ~6:00 mark. Notice how long it takes the gunner(using some sort of video display) to get the gun on target? In combat seconds count! And this is under "practice conditions"!! I was never a Mech infantryman, but I did get to practice on the Bradley during OCS. I can say that even my inexperienced young self could get the Bradley 25mm on target easier than what that video showed! Yes...US tech tends to lead the world, I know...but...if the UKR is trying to be prepared for a war that is almost on them(using a limited budget)...they may not be getting their money's worth!

B. Or...Maybe the equipment is up to standard, but their troops aren't proficient enough to use them at peak effectiveness?  It could be that the level of training(and combat efficiency) needs MAJOR focus. All those "shiny new toys" will be wasted money if they don't spend just as much on training the crews.

All of this is IMHO. Simply based on playing as the UKR.  

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GAZ NZ,

Happy to help. Of course, now I have to track down the other videos in the series--starting with the one on tanks!

cbennett88,

Based on memory from something said by one of our Ukrainian colleagues, that is indeed some sort of electro-optical (but not thermal) FCS. Concur target acquisition looked slow to me, too. Seconds do indeed count. Don't know whether you saw my post or not, but in one of my early CMBS outings, I had a M1A2 SEP V3 (Veteran crew) with no LOS roll out of tree cover pretty much dead in front of two T-90S at 700 meters, also Veteran. The first Russian tank was spotted, engaged and destroyed in four (4) seconds, an event so astounding I raised the issue with our Abrams colleagues. They assured me this was eminently doable. The other one was dead seconds later, its demise postponed by the ERA saving it from the first shot to hit, only to die from the second. My recollection is neither got a shot off.

Regards,

John Kettler

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@John Kettler

Don't remember seeing that exact post but have no problem believing every bit of it.

I am experimenting with having my UKR/Russian tanks unbuttoned more often than not b/c I have read here that it MAY speed up acquisition. VERY FRUSTRATING as the Russian player to lose so many engagements b/c the US is just so much better at spotting. :angry:  

John...What do you think about this idea?

What if (IRL) the better equipped militaries of the world considered issuing each tank something like one of those small roto-copter drones that are all the rage with the public nowdays? They have them that can "follow" you automatically. They are very cheap...almost disposable even. To have the commander be able to see the  area surrounding his tank...to see what's on the other side of the hill...etc. 

0005677_walkera-scout-x4-gps-fpv-quadcop

Edited by cbennett88
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  • 1 month later...

This isn't a combat vid. Instead it's a most interesting training vid of Ukrainian SOF doing live fire drills with ARs and LMGs. these guys certainly seem competent. Deceptive keyframe.

This is supposed to be joint Ukrainian-US training, but I think the person who wrote the title saw CARC painted Hummers and assumed this meant US. Based on Spec Ops type laser fitted weapons, and markings on AFVs and trucks, I believe this is a VDV Spetsnaz unit in training. Note the botched grenade simulator throw into the window. Not good with a live grenade! Deceptive keyframe.
 

Not exciting visually and sadly lacking English subtitles. but it's apparently an official Ukrainian Army announcement that it has taken over the water filtration plant under discussion in the Separatist push/Ukraine pushback thread. A translation would be appreciated.

Regards,

John Kettler

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cbennett88,

A drone is supposed to be standard fit for the T-15 Armata HIFV (Heavy Infantry fighting Vehicle), per Uralvagonzavod in RIA Novosti. Sputnik News made it a then breaking banner headline story. What a beast that T-15 Armata HIFV is!

https://sputniknews.com/military/201604181038197778-armata-drone/

Regards,

John Kettler

Edited by John Kettler
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On 11/01/2017 at 4:42 PM, cbennett88 said:

What if (IRL) the better equipped militaries of the world considered issuing each tank something like one of those small roto-copter drones that are all the rage with the public nowdays? They have them that can "follow" you automatically. They are very cheap...almost disposable even. To have the commander be able to see the  area surrounding his tank...to see what's on the other side of the hill...etc. 

Maybe in a few years when battery tech improves i.e. 2170 battery cells etc.

The autonomous Lily drone is dead and buyers are being offered refunds

Europe's biggest Kickstarter has gone bust after raising $3.6 million

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12 hours ago, John Kettler said:

I believe this is a VDV Spetsnaz unit in training.

This is some SSO unit (Syly Spetsial'nykh Operatsiy - Forces of Special Operations). Not VDV. SSO has been established in 2016 (though process of forming and training started as far as in 2015). SSO has own Command like Ground forces, VDV, Air forces and Navy. SSO consists of 3rd and 8th special operations regiments, 140th special operations center, 73rd naval special operations center (transferred to SSO from Navy in 2016), 142nd special operations training center. Recently special operations regiments were subordineted to Defense Intelligence.   

Edited by Haiduk
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Haiduk,

Appreciate the information, not least since I never heard of the SSO. I think I had information bleed and carried over a memory (VDV markings on a truck) from a different video. 

(Goes back and looks at videos)

I made a mess of that posting. Not only do I have the same video twice, but nowhere do I have the one to which the title refers. In that one, CQB training is being done, there's a truck and a failed grenade simulator toss. Below is what should've been the second video. If you look at 0:15, you'll see why I remembered VDV.

Regards,

John Kettler

Edited by John Kettler
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7 hours ago, John Kettler said:

I made a mess of that posting. Not only do I have the same video twice, but nowhere do I have the one to which the title refers. In that one, CQB training is being done, there's a truck and a failed grenade simulator toss. Below is what should've been the second video. If you look at 0:15, you'll see why I remembered VDV.

....This is supposed to be joint Ukrainian-US training, but I think the person who wrote the title saw CARC painted Hummers and assumed this meant US. 

 

This is HMMWV of 1st battalion of 80th air-assault brgade (mixed M1114+BTR-80). One they alredy lost - blew up on AT-mine. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

While rooting around LiveLeak in one of my highly infrequent visits there, I can across this. Seems there's a covert effort to drastically upgrade NV/All WX capabilities for Azov type formation sniper rifles and other small arms. The effort didn't quite pan out, though.

https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4d7_1489075931

There was also this combat vid from early May last year in which things got exceedingly exciting for a Ukrainian Army recon patrol. Have used the direct YT link. Anyone with PTSD may wish to skip this. Intense and visceral!
 

This was posted March 16, 2017 and has some great stuff on some sort of Spec Ops unit equipped with goodies like a suppressed (note how little is heard) scoped and  ACOG equipped M4 carbine, a GL equipped AK-74 (?), and what I believe to be an original type Dragunov SVD sporting a very much not standard scope. There is also some great material on Ukrainian armor coming through the position. 

Regards,

John Kettler

Edited by John Kettler
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What follows aren't combat videos, but rather, aftermath videos of what the Russian proxy fighters captured from the Ukrainians in 2014 and 2015: tanks, BMPs, APCs, ACs, trucks, radio electronic gear (SATCOM, possible ECM gear) from the US, SPH and towed artillery, MRLs, ATGMs, mortars, AA, small arms, etc. Some of the gear was imaged where found, while other materiel was shot in motor pools and repair facilities. Great opportunity to see camouflage, markings and various mods and field expedients. Saw a number of AFVs I'd not seen before, too. Also, there is some great imagery of the proxy fighters in various stes up to armed for war. Imagery is generally very good-great (but can be pretty bad with idiot running camera, especially while moving) , and there are English subtitles. There is a claim made the Ukrainians have the T-72B3, and a tank (type unknown to me, since I'm awful in this area)) is shown from the exterior only and not all angles. Noted some of the remarked AFVs are now prominently festooned with red stars! The proxy fighters in one video seize on presence of abandoned Polish rations as "proof" of the presence of "foreign mercenaries" in combat. Apropos of that, some of the proxy fighters uncover a corpse of a guy who was left behind and allegedly was speaking German before he died. they claim he was saying Hans, Hans." Since his entire face was blurred out, likely by Ukraine War Awareness, it's impossible, absent other info, the ascertain the credibility of the claim. Proxy fighters at the Donetsk Airport showed quite an array of captured small arms, making a big to do about German ones and NATO in particular, asserting "They're fighting us." 

 

Regards,

John Kettler

 

Edited by John Kettler
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17 hours ago, John Kettler said:

While rooting around LiveLeak in one of my highly infrequent visits there, I can across this. Seems there's a covert effort to drastically upgrade NV/All WX capabilities for Azov type formation sniper rifles and other small arms. The effort didn't quite pan out, though.

https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4d7_1489075931

There was also this combat vid from early May last year in which things got exceedingly exciting for a Ukrainian Army recon patrol. Have used the direct YT link. Anyone with PTSD may wish to skip this. Intense and visceral!
 

This was posted March 16, 2017 and has some great stuff on some sort of Spec Ops unit equipped with goodies like a suppressed (note how little is heard) scoped and  ACOG equipped M4 carbine, a GL equipped AK-74 (?), and what I believe to be an original type Dragunov SVD sporting a very much not standard scope. There is also some great material on Ukrainian armor coming through the position. 

Regards,

John Kettler

1. Why exactly Azov ? :) Sights of such level appointed for high-level professional work. This is level of special sniper units in SSO or SBU "Alfa" special force.

2. I don't recall now either it video really for May 2016 or for summer 2015, but never mind. This is northern outskirt of Shyrokyne, roadcross with cemetry nearby. At the beginning of video troopers probably firing in cementry direction. This is some patrol of marines. At the end one guy says "we have one injured".

3. This is 20th numbers of September 2014, Nikishyne village. First probe of enemy to advance in Debaltseve area. This is not special forces, but 11th territorial defense battalion "Kyivska Rus' " (second with such name) - now this is 11th motorized infantry battalion of 72nd mech.brigade. That rifle, which you have took over M4 indeed customized AK-74 with collimator and other features. 11th battalion had many experienced and motivated men, which really like weapon and were upgrading its with aid of civil vilunteers. Sight on SVD probably KonusPro - very popular model for this rifle, which also is going to army via civil volunteers. This optic extends zone of effective fire of SVD to 600-800 m against 400 m of standard PSO-1 (for regular level shooter).

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Haiduk,

1. Isn't Azov the premier Right Sector unit? The video specifically referred to Right Sector's objections to the arrest, so that's why I invoked Azov, thought not necessarily explicitly. "Azov type" vs "Azov," can mean a significant difference, and I chose my words carefully. Azov seems to be by far the best equipped Right Sector unit there is, so it would seem natural to me the gear being smuggled from the US would be destined for it.

2. Marine recon group in that intense video? Good to know.

3. Those sure look like fancy toys for anything but a Spec Ops unit, so now shall have to be careful when IDing a unit as Spetsnaz or SSO without further checking.  As ever, I much appreciate detailed weapon info. Am not used to seeing a suppressed weapon in the hands of any non Spec Ops unit. A unsuppressed Designated Marksman weapon with a standard scope? Sure, but not the array of non-standard kit I saw. But maybe what was on display is to some degree becoming, if not typical, at least not atypical of Ukraine's ground units. Simply don't know. Am off to review that shooting sequence with the suppressed weapon.

(Goes off and checks).

Did indeed flub ID of weapon, for which my apologies, but I noticed a couple of other things which I'm sure drove my initial impression. Not only does the weapon have a suppressor and multiple sighting systems, buy it also has a custom fore grip and the laser emitters seen on SOF modded US M4 carbines, HK416s, etc. US line doggies don't have those specialist visible beam and invisible beam (save to NVGs) lasers fitted, let alone run around with same on a suppressed AR, so I believe I drew a reasonable conclusion, however wrong!

Regards,

John Kettler

 

Edited by John Kettler
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