The_MonkeyKing

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1696838128529502456.html
That was faster than expected 
 

Here is the most interesting map imo:

And threadreader: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1695879651158052910.html

Here is the most interesting map imo:

And threadreader: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1695879651158052910.html

The above is from the same WaPo article referenced above. The Ukrainians have been begging for these rockets for well over a year. It is my understanding the current U.S. plan for its stocks is to pay a bunch of money to destroy them. The fact that aren't already there by the trainload is a case study in how we could have done better.
The guy calling for more in person reconnaissance needs to be invited to walk across an overgrown wheat field in the dark that has been covered in  whatever the Pentagon uses to simulate those nasty little petal mines. After he sets fifteen or twenty of them off ask him for his revised opinion. If the Pentagon does not have a decent training simulator for them that is its own huge red flag, and might explain said idiotic opinion.
More generally the U.S. keeps asking Ukraine to fight like the U.S. Air Force is fully involved in this war. If Ukraine could drop 500 JDAMS a day, instead of ten, they would be using a lot less artillery.
 

Here is the most interesting map imo:

And threadreader: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1695879651158052910.html

Here interestingly US seems to have been thinking of reaching azov sea as a possibility.

Looking more and more like Tokmak is the overall operational objective for this years offensive.

Many thanks to you, @The_MonkeyKing and others here for providing reports on the on-the-ground military situation and tactical dynamics.
I don't do Xwitter ever since Musk made it nonnavigable for nonsubscribers, so threadreaders or copypastes of key points and graphics are greatly appreciated!

This thread is *really* good, many thanks. Design material here.

Some interesting behind the curtains stuff coming out

Good reading to refresh: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1655584386601951238.html

Ukraine is now reaching zone3
"Zone 4: Prepared main defensive line. Massive multilayered trench lines with anti-tank ditches and dragons’ teeth obstacles. Extensive minefields are likely. These fortifications form nearly uniformly continuous defensive belt across the front. Built 3-4km deep."

Good reading to refresh: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1655584386601951238.html

Ukraine is now reaching zone3
"Zone 4: Prepared main defensive line. Massive multilayered trench lines with anti-tank ditches and dragons’ teeth obstacles. Extensive minefields are likely. These fortifications form nearly uniformly continuous defensive belt across the front. Built 3-4km deep."

Some interesting behind the curtains stuff coming out

Some interesting behind the curtains stuff coming out

"IR Optics" does not necessarily mean that a vehicle has thermal imagers. IR Optics also refers to the IR Lamp and sight.
Edit: I'm really sorry, I didn't realise that this was from over a year ago.
@Chibot Mk IX The manual doesn't make any statement about the T-64BV (or the Bulat for that matter) having thermal imagers. It may be worth logging a helpdesk ticket, as these are reviewed by Battlefront staff and they can document it as a bug to be worked on.

When first modern western armor became to arrive in Ukraine, I've read some indignant posts of "veterane brigades" representatives, why Bradleys got 47th, which "sit on their asses on Belarusian border, when we barely hold the enemy on donated techniclas"
I wonder, who on Kofman's opinion had to hold frontline, when veteran brigades would be leave Ukraine for training on western vehicles? They gave opportunity to train several other brigades instead. Also what he meant under "veteran brigades"? The same 47th brigade has many brigade level commanders transferred from 93rd brigade. Also, there are problem with many veterans, especialy who fought long time in ATO - they have "old warrior" complex and they have a problems to learn new features. About this wrote Roman Donik, UKR volunteer, who established the center of intensive effective training for infantrimen and squad leaders. He told many of "olds" , arriving to the center believed initially their survival under fire and intuition experience is better than field manual tatic instructions. And not all of them could finish the course and some of them were dropped out. Also German instructors told sometime experienced UKR soldiers don't want to listen them and enter to the disputes (though, after "you should bypass minefield" I not wonder). So, in some aspect will be better to teach a soldier from "zero level civilian", then re-train "old" servicemen. 
 

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1686076915952599044.html

UKR troops after conducting stabilizing actions on Borova direction could more push back Russians to the east. Villages Nadiya and Novoyehorivka came to grey zone (other info says UKR controlled these villages again). Indeed all three captured villages are very small per 50-100 inhabitants (pre-war info). Red dotted lines mark maximal Russian incursion on 24th of July (DeepState depeicted even worse situation, but it was recognized wrong and unconfirmed)
Here is a story from Russian side, from participant of 15th motor-rifle brigade, how developed their offensive from 20 to 24th of July, when Russians achieved most success on this direction.
In Russian news recent tactical success of Russian army is known as "Karmazinovka offensive", though main strike was conducted from Kovaliovka village, which almost merge with Karmazinovka, but situates some to north on the bank the same Zherebets river.  Units of 2nd CAA of Central military district since October 2022 settled defense positions along Zerebets river. The river itself lіes in lowland on 100 m above sea level. Estern bank, which we seized has heights 150-160 m above sea level, the western bank, where the enemy has 160-170 m. All terrain is represented with fields of winter crops and sunfloweres with rare tree-lines on our side and the same fields with small forests from the enemy side. Zherebets river is several meters in wide only and in many places you can ford it. But banks of the river are soft and muddy on dozen meters in both directions and impassable for vehicles without engineer preparations.
Defense line from Raihorodka to Karmazinovka seized 15th motor-riflre brigade of 2nd CAA, Central military district [this is so-called "peacemaking brigade", which in 2014-2015 fought on Donbas with blue UN colors. Brigade has BTR-82A, some BTR-80 and MTLB and unclear T-72 modification]. Our troops expecting enemy attack dug in up to eyes, except dragon teeth and usual mines, we deployed chech hedgegogs and radio-controlled IEDs. 
At the beginning of July the "Storm" unit of our brigade conducted reconnaissance in force with support of our recons. As a result of several days fighting we could capture small forest west from Karmazinovka, where except our "Srorm" operated "Storm" unit of 21st motor-rifle brigade [I supopse, author is wrong, because 21st brigade fought further to the south in Ploshchanka village area]. Losses of our stormers were serious, especially "Shtorm-Z" [convicts] company of "Storm" unit is suffered. This company was almost totaly wiped out with mortar fire. Most of victims were wounded, bud it had also many dead enough. After this the enemy tried to counter attack twice to recapture the lost ground, but they failed. Both times they attacked during the rain. 
At last on 20th of July general assault began by forces of motor-rifle battalions of our brigade. Artilley barrages began at 3:00 of night. Grads, barrels 152 mm, tanks with semi-direct fire, mortars, but most importanty - TOS-1! All artillery had been working up to mid of the day. On next day dawn assault groups of our infantry had beenn moving forward, they crossed the river with it swampy banks on foot, carring the weapon over the head. Assault was pure infantry, because all bridges were destroyed and all fords, suitable for vehicles were mined as far as in past autumn. 
For first day we have advanced on 2,5-3 km from our positions. Two enemy mortars, which stand in front of our way were supressed as far as at the morning. Resty of enemy artillery by unknown reason kept silence. Beacause of this we had small losses, mosly by booby-traps and machine-gun fire. In the places, where the enemy snapped, we were withdrawing and their position were shelling with tanks and mortars. The fire ajusted with quadcopters. This was continuing continuing endless. One enemy unit still resists fiercely despite our shellings, so we decided to bypass it, lefting this problem for later.
Enemy, of course, tried to pull reserves, but first group on pick-ups was disassembled by our tank. The second group we already expected - as their infantry dismounted from BMP, they got mortar fire and were eliminated, alas BMPs had time to flee.
Next day intanse shower began. This caused problems to our infantry, who was under open sky and for our drone teams, which can'r fly to adjust fire. First day brough us dozens of captured. Ememy also lost many killed. Several his grops were spotted fleeng to west. One time we spotted even whole platoon in 18 men, but couldn't reach them. 
Next day we continued our advance, though several men couldn't stand the stress and "enlisted to 500th" [unauthorized abandoning the unit] - they returned back to our start positions. One our wounded squd leader lost own radio, but this didn't have any consequences, because it has only one frequency of his company. We again, using the quadcopters cought enemy reserve and destroyed it with tank fire. To the mid of day we overcame 4 km. Company commanders reported about reached lines. 
The same enemy group, which turned out in our rear,  we offered to surrender, but they rejected, so we drop on them dozen 120 mm mortar shells, them came on their position and shot out remained wounded in order they not to suffer.
Bridgehead was seized. The work of moles [sappers] has started of mineclearing and setting the crosses through the river. To forward lined moved ammo and food, to the rear - POWs, tophies and wounded. In companies of our battalion were about dozed wounded in each. Killed either weren't at once, or just several men. Among trophies were pick-ups, several AGS, equipment, ammo, radios etc. Artillery of the enemy started to work only in the mid of the day. It worked mostly on roads and crossings. This was unpleasnantly, but didn't play any significant role. 
On next day throug the new crossings new fresg battalion of our brigade came - they already had armor, including tanks. Infantry of the second battalion came to reinforce the first battalions, which advance some stalled near Raihorodka. We continues to move forward, relying on tank and artilelry support under eyes of our quadcopters. 
On this moment we enetered to Novoyegorovka, strange village - it present on maps, but there no houses here. Interaction between two our batatlions allowed us to breach enemy strongpoint near Raihorodka and approach to Nadiya village. So in this time [24-25th of July] we control three villages - Nadiya, Novoyegorovka and Sergeevka in the middle. 
The cause of our success became surprise factor. The eneny knew about assault, but though only "Storm" units would be participate as usual. But we launched attack on wide front and they couldn't maintain support by reserves - it's turned out they just didn't have it. All other likely went to Bakhmut and to Zaporozhye. I told my opinion that "Shtorm" units are only for harassing actions and alignment of frontline, but when it will be need all infantry will go forward simultainously.  And yes, mobilized soldiers also went to the battle and fought not worse than contractors and voluntreers. 
Exellent showed themselves the chain quadcopters - mortars - tanks. Drone operators were experienced, crews of tanks and mortars too. Infantry got some experience as far as in autumn clashes. The radio communication, built on "Combats" and "Motorolas" didn't fail, as well as commanders and HQs. We did all as in field manual - came, kill them all and took bridgehead. Many soldiers didn't believe in such success, taking into account negative experience of past. 
Konstantin Mashovets, commenting developments of this axis told next things:
- significant enemy advantage in artillery and amount of ammunition, collected here for long time
- Russians have enough reserves here to reionforce own efforts
- Russians had better level of combat control over own units, than UKR side, represented mostly with units of 66th mech.brigade. According to words of our soldiers from there, our defense system was saved by the miracle and timely samrt decisions of battalion-company level commanders.
- very weak battlefield AD of brigade. Not only Russian fixed-wing drones, but usual copters felt free in the air and allowed the enemy to adjust fire without problems.
 
   

To add to the funk:
 

Seems another serious attempt to get the ball rolling is underway
 
 

 

The Chieftain's comments and some slides from "the conference on armored vehicle design" he attended. Some big hitters presenting
surprisingly interesting and informative video. Also on Ukraine-related matters:
some top-pick screenshots (Especially Ukraine related):
Ukrainian colonel presentation (some comment picks):
- Ukraine replacing lots of donated equipment antennas with anti-jam variants
- Old tanks like T-55 ext. have their place and are effective at what they do
- Ukraine battle management system is a combination of "Delta" a browser-based battle management system similar to US systems in combination with Discord servers.


 

The Chieftain's comments and some slides from "the conference on armored vehicle design" he attended. Some big hitters presenting
surprisingly interesting and informative video. Also on Ukraine-related matters:
some top-pick screenshots (Especially Ukraine related):
Ukrainian colonel presentation (some comment picks):
- Ukraine replacing lots of donated equipment antennas with anti-jam variants
- Old tanks like T-55 ext. have their place and are effective at what they do
- Ukraine battle management system is a combination of "Delta" a browser-based battle management system similar to US systems in combination with Discord servers.


 

The Chieftain's comments and some slides from "the conference on armored vehicle design" he attended. Some big hitters presenting
surprisingly interesting and informative video. Also on Ukraine-related matters:
some top-pick screenshots (Especially Ukraine related):
Ukrainian colonel presentation (some comment picks):
- Ukraine replacing lots of donated equipment antennas with anti-jam variants
- Old tanks like T-55 ext. have their place and are effective at what they do
- Ukraine battle management system is a combination of "Delta" a browser-based battle management system similar to US systems in combination with Discord servers.