Haiduk

The history develops by spiral %) Avdiivka-Chasiv Yar is "Russian Somme" ?

This. +their PsyOps campaign targeting "illegitimacy" of Zelenskyi after 31st of May. GUR chief Budanov told today that "hard times await Ukraine in second half of May and June, but nothing apocaliptic will happen" - and he meant i.e. Russian attempt to rise "Maidan-3", especially if this is accompanied by front failures and further destruction of power generation. Russians wrote most of UKR tanks moved on rear lines further from Lancets. They episodically move to zero line - to support infantry if need and roll back. Though, you can see regularly UKR tank and light armor losses in Oryx team reports, so they still in use. Now is a time of infantry and drone war. Why too few videos of artillery usage? Lack of the shells. Serviceman of 43rd arty brigade (PzH2000 + Pions) wrote they have so few shells, that mostly maintain own vehicles, than fire. Also in conditions of shells lack almost all UKR artilelry battalions obtain FPV pilots speciality - this gives them opportunity to hit the enemy, though not on so big ranges, like with guns.

Nervous video how UKR Bradley disembarks infantry squad and takes back two soldiers hiding in crater - remains of other squad, which was pushed from tree-plant by Russians. Despite Russians already control this tree-plant, crew of Bradley has driven close, supressing Russians to take wounded soldier. Also you can see a body of probably UKR soldier, who was killed during retreat, alas there wasn't time and opportunity to take him aboard

Hard sitauation we have also in Krasnohorivka town north to occupied Maryinka. Several days ago Russians could break through of our rare artilery fire and drones and despite some losses in vehicles landed infantry in southern and south-eastern part of the town. Russians seized railway station area - this is area of dachas and private cottages, also Russian infantry was too few to continue advance. But we also had few infantry to clear this territory. Russians became to use their usual tactic of gradual forces accumulation in captured area for new further burst. Reportedly yesterday UKR troops again threw out Russians from SE part of Krasnohotivka and partially from southern part, recapturing railway stattion. But today Russians again slightly advanced in southern part of the town. BTW southern part is the contested area, because there too hard hold the ground for both sides. Main stronghold of UKR trrops (by Russian opinion) is a local fireproof structures plant, which Russian aviation "processes" with 500 kg and 1500 kg KABs.

Russian aviation hit Kharkiv TV-tower with Kh-59 missile

Exactly for securing the corridor in the area of responsibility of 30th motor-rifle brigade, Russians have thrown into the battle 35th and 74th brigades. We have severe lack of personnel and ammunition, so small-size tactical counter attacks are possible, but usually we havn't enough forces for large actions.

Russian Buk SAM was destroyed with HIMARS strike near Topoli village, Luhansk oblast (Kupiansk direction)

This is not offensive yet. Just a preparation phase to get more advantageous situation. According to opinion of Mashovets, Russian offensive developments on Slaviansk and Kramatorsk in terms and objectives will depend on results of current attempts of pre-offensive on Siversk, Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka and Vuhledar directions

Russian MoD rises money award for enlisting motivation to space levels. Soldier from Robotyne direction writes: We take a captive. He says they get 700 000 rubles of additional payment for first coming to assault. They usually don't come back from these assaults, but who thinks about this... So, any Russian, who enlists got a money for contract signing - from 650 000 to 1100000 depending of region (initially was 500 000 in all regions). This is 6900 - 17000 $. Than he gest monthly 250000 (initially was 200000) - 2600 $. And at last for first assault (I don't know how much shared this practice) he gets 700 000 - 7500 $ This is unprecedented money for most Russians, especally from outbacks.

Ukraine has ordered 10 000 Turkish Hatsan BTS-12 hunter semi-automatic rifles shooting with buckshot for anti-drone purpose. 4000 already deliverd to Ukriane. Reportedly rifle passed tests and was accepted.

Russian attacks activity on different directions for a week. Kupiansk after Free-Russia units remains calm (6 attacks). Lyman-Terny is activating again (64 attacks) Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Vuhledar directions consistently high activity

Bohdana, alas too far from Caesar level yet. So, now Bohdanas go to artillery units of mech.brigades, when Caesars, PzH2000, Archers - to artillery brigades.

Meanwhile frontline situation still hard. On Vuhledar direction Russians seized western part of completely destroyed Novomykhailivka village On Avdiivka sector after UKR successfull conter-attack 2-3 days ago, allowed to recapture lost positions in eastern part ot the Ocheretyne town, yesterday unnamed UKR unit in front of the face of next Russian attack along railways just abandoned positions and Russians again seized part of Ocheretyne, but in this time in south-eastern part. UKR command was forced to throw in the battle elements of 47th mech.brigade, which was partially moved to second line for short rest. Russians have choosen Ocheretyne as priority objective now and use here the same tactic like in Chasiv Yar. Unlike Wagner during the battles for Soledar and Bakhmut with a tactic of multiple small group attacks, with continous changing of these attack directions, Russians now use strong flanks pressure - this doesn't lead to decisive results without concentration of forces on one direction, but in conditions of personnel and aartillery support lack of UKR forces, this method hampers our reserve manuevers. Russians after short rest have thrown in the battle units of 41st CAA on the section Novokalynove - Ocheretyne - Berdychi. This did for consolidation of battle orders and widening of offensive line in area where 30th motror-rifle brigade of 2nd CAA operates on Ocheretyne and create a narrow salient, which can be in theory attacked by UKR forces from north and south. To avoid this 35th motor-rifle brigade of 41st CAA now entered in offensive line of 2nd CAA from the north in Novokalynove area and 74th motor-rifle brigade in Berdychi area on the south Around Chasiv Yar Russians desperately try to breakthrough toward two sections of canal, where it flows under the ground, so there are two section about in 1 km wide each, where they can cross the canal and outflank the town from north and south. Soldiers report from there Russians gathered there many "meat", likely their command has an order to seize Chasiv Yar on 9th of May.

Yes, I posted here feedback of Ukr serviceman, who told bikers are enough hard target due to their speed and maneuver capabilities. Even FPV operator should have excellent skill to hit them. Luckily despite numerous episodes, this not mass phenomenon

Some time ago this was biosphere reservation "Sribnianskyi forest" (Kreminna area). Complete devastation. Filmed by "Azov" brigade on retaken positions. CM should have this type of trees after period of intensive shellings - just a standing or falling down barrels without branches and leaves.

How it looks "zakryep" - video from Russian side. Three Russian soldiers sit in the remains of position or in the pit covered by fallen tree barrels and branches. The tree-plant, where they sit had been moved down by artillery fire. The guy says they sits here in the dirty pit already the second day and can do nothing - UKR FPVs and DPCIM block any movement. They three times tried to reach positions of their company together with major (likely he is in te put too, because the guy says respectively "with comrade major"), but DPCIM forces them to retreat. He says during they advance to hold the ground, their BMP was hit - ammo, food, water, everything burnt. Bodies of their comrades littered the tree-plant. When situation allows, they leave their shelter and search deads for some food and water. No supply and weak support - just two mortar units rarely fire on Ukrainians.

Several days ago Russians in counter to new UKR landings in Krynky decided to land on the islands oppose to Kozachi Lahery village. Their operation failed, few nubmer of those who managed to reach the island were eliminated. This is not about any large landing. More likely 1-2 squad size operation maximum TG screen is a story of mother or wife of Russian soldier about this operation. She says many soldiers drowned, one boat could rushed in. Then one more rubber boat sailed to the island to take back survived soldiers, but it was damaged and after 1 km of way at last was bombed and had been sunken by "Baba Yaga" drone. Only one of her famiiliar soldiers survived from four - they jumpen on the bank, bur were killed

Soviet Union/Russia always had strong artilery school, so they hadn't enough problems with new young officers graduatins and new personnel trainig. Implementing of differnt UAVs and PDAs (though Russians to this time coldn't create something similar by functionality like UKR Kropyva or Delta info systems) in more wide scale than in 2022 allows Russian artillery in theory to increase own capabilities. In real Russians still to take by advantage of barrels. Russians complained on terrible quality of N.Korea ammunition for guns and mortars - their charges have weights, which may significantly differ each of other, so rang of fire can variate and you don't know where along the range this shell will impact. Russian gunners now forced manally unpack charges and equalize powder weight in delivered batch of shells. But even after this due to bad quality of producing these shells often hit out of estimated disperse ellips. The same issues, but in much less scale are about Russian-made ammunition. Iranian in somne cases even better that Russian. The range of Russian systems didn't change, though there were spotted some modern Chineese 122 mm shells with incresed on 2 km range. So, most of their counter battrey activity are Lancets, Tornado-S/Smerch or even Iskander-M in case of HIMARS/CAESAR/Archer.

As I could understand, long google-translated post reflects common trends in current artillery usage. That part, which was translated by me, reflects a situation in particular regiment. What I can add, Russians mostly still work with batteries in 4-6 pieces, but they now try to disperse guns by platoons or singke guns. Albeit, not always. Several days ago "Magyar" issued a video how UKR FPVs took out four 2A65 howitzers on one firing position

The video of TG "Divizion Tivaz" shows the strike on S-300/400 battery conrol element presumably with HIMARS or Vil'kha. Radar and two commad&control vehicles were at least damaged

Russians gradually have been learing of Ukrainian experience of artillery fire control. If in 2022 - mid 23 we have seen typical Soviet style of whole batteries and even battalions of side-by-side standing guns simultainous work, that now Russians are more and more shifting to dispersing of artillery and work by single guns of a battery with individaual targeting for each. Here is google-translated post about changes since 2022. "The work was carried out in areas with a low coeeficient of UAV use" - means "ineffective area fire with low UAV usage", though for summer 2022 it's not always could be true, or soldiers then reported about dozen Orlans and Zala, ajusting fire. Probably ajusting was inefefctive or come on too long command chain, which made it ineffective. And addition to this post by other Russian artillerist with my translation: I'l throw my 5 cents: Regimental artillery tied on artillery chief (of regiment). He, sitting on command post (let's call it in such way) together with chief of recon, watch streams from UAVs (and intercepted streams of the enemy). Spotting the target chief of artillery transmits it to battery commander or senior battery officer [he is commander of 1st artillery platoon also] and they transmit this data to the gun. 2-7 minutes for targeting of the gun, the bird [drone] in the sky. First shoot - the fire ajustment from artilelry chief directly to the gun. Or artillery chief opens the map, come into communication with gun commandr through the radio and gives the targeting (angle, azimuth, lines). The gun crew lives on position 2-5 days, further a rotation is coming. Nobody drink on position, it's taboo, else they go to "zakrep" [probably those who have to hold the ground after assault] - and this is more scary than to stormers. We don't work with mortars since new year. This is no longer relevant becaus of crews life preservation purposes. Drones already fly on 10 km in the rear, so they clicks them at once And here Russian feedback about CAESERs

Ukraine hit one of Sevastopol bays with "Neptun" missile. Local authorities claim "the missile was intercepted, but debrises caused small fire, which was quickly extinguished". Though after some of locals issued a video with a fire on the some ship, thre were information appeared Russian submarine salvage vessel "Komunna" was hit. "Komunna", belonging to 1st group of 145th resque vessels detachment is unique and oldest vessel in military service in the world. It was laid down as far as in 1912 (!!!) and was comissioned in 1915 as a vessel for submarines resque and sunken ships and other ojects lifting. As prototype was used German vessel "Vulcan". Initially it named "Volkhov" and served on Baltic, passing WWI, Winter War and WWII. In 1967 the vessel was moved to Black Sea. Since 2016 "Komunna" was equiped with more modern AS-28 deep-submergence resque vessel, having opportunity to reach 1000 m of depth. Though, in 1967 "Komunna" had more capable deep vessel AS-6, wich could reach 2000 m, but was decomissioned in the mid of 80th. Othe one interesting fact aboyt this vessel - it hull made of unique ductille mallable ship steel - the hull of the vessel even now, since 102 years in very good condition, but the technology of such steel producing was lost after Russian Civil War Here is "Komunna"

M903 Patriot launcher with minor damages delivered for repair works

Improvement in Russian recon&strike complexes, when information now likely come direcly from long-range recon UAVs to missile batatlions and batteries, avoiding long HQ chaing, alas, gets results as well as a lack of SHORAD systems and missiles for them to guard frontline and rear againsg numerous Orlan-10 and SuperCam-350, tracking the terrain. New yesterday Iskander-M strikes on Dnipro city airport and area near Novomykolaivka village in 41 km NW from Dinpro city, destroyed next MiG-29 and S-300 launcher. The third showed strike of Kh-35 missile on allegedle 79K6 "Pelikan" 3-coordinate radar near Novopokrovka (likely also in Dnipropetrovsk oblast) probably hit decoy of this radar

In Ukraine (and former USSR) by some unknown reason under "Congress" traditiaonally meaning House of Representatives )