How Hot is Ukraine Gonna Get?

[Vanir Ausf B]

Russians and Ukrainians are in violent agreement that a bad tank is better than no tank.

 

[Battlefront.com]

Since both sides seem to be using tanks more-or-less as WW2 style Assault Guns, the T-62 isn't necessarily a bad vehicle for that role.  Provided, of course, that it is mechanically sound and Ukraine can find the ammo for it.  That's where I have my doubts about its usefulness

Steve

[Battlefront.com]

Found this pretty good news source.  They are focused on capturing the most current news, most of which we've all gotten from many other sources.  However, the top story today is that it appears a new volunteer battalion is being formed of Russians from the Asiatic republics.  It is being formed with the help of a former GRU officer from Siberia who left Russian service after his experience in the 2nd Chechen War.

https://english.nv.ua/nation/gru-officer-defects-to-ukrainian-side-war-news-50316914.html

Scroll down and you'll see some other good ones, including the reporting of another 100 Ukrainian soldiers returning home in a POW exchange.  I saw this elsewhere and several others.  They seem to be happening fairly regularly now.  Maybe Haiduk can help give us a sense of how frequent these are.

There is also a video there (which seems to rotate to other videos) of Ukraine taking a couple of prisoners.  Maybe Bakhmut?  I bet they are glad that they won't be beheaded.

https://membrana-cdn.media/nvr/ukr_desktop/nv-own8-9971-20230407-desktop.mp4?r=69067

Steve

[Battlefront.com]

More on the infighting between Russian MoD and Wagner over ops in Bakhmut area (check out my bolded and italicized section):

Quote

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin acknowledged each other's roles in the Bakhmut effort on April 11. The Russian MoD and Prigozhin claimed that Wagner fighters comprise the main effort to take territory and push Ukrainian forces in central Bakhmut, whereas unspecified Russian Airborne (VDV) elements comprise the supporting effort on Wagner’s flanks north and south of Bakhmut, including near Zalizhnyanske, Sakko i Vantsetti, and Mykolaivka.[6] The Russian VDV forces on the flanks likely aim only to hold the flanks rather than make any significant advances. This array of forces suggests that the Russian MoD intends to use the Wagner Group to capture Bakhmut while minimizing casualties among conventional Russian forces—supporting ISW’s prior assessments that the MoD seeks to use Wagner forces to capture Bakhmut then supplant them and take credit for the victory.[7] Prigozhin reiterated that Wagner forces are making gains within Bakhmut, however, claiming that Russian forces control 80 percent of Bakhmut due to Wagner advances.[8] Russian forces occupy at least 30.68 square kilometers (about the size of the Chicago O’Hare airport) or 76.5 percent of Bakhmut based on ISW's control of terrain assessment.  However, this area increases to 34.5 square kilometers or 86.1 percent of Bakhmut when factoring in all Russian-claimed territory in Bakhmut, including contradictory claims.

Such great people to work with, both of them.  They deserve each other.

ISW and others have, for some time now, been predicting that the Russian MoD is purposefully letting Wagner waste away in fighting for Bakhmut.  Unfortunately for Prigozhin, he doesn't have much choice as he's basically bet his future on taking Bakhmut, so he seems to be screwed either way.  He probably thinks he has enough clout to rebut the MoD's false claims later on.  With the ultra nats, I am sure that is true as they already think the MoD is a bunch of incompetent anti-patriots.

Steve

[paxromana]

4 hours ago, quakerparrot67 said:

i believe the phrase is 'perfidious albion', but not completely sure where it comes from.

cheers,

rob

c

Goes back o=to the 14th century! But more commonly from the 17th. British Monarchs were reknowned for being out for number 1 even when treaties were involved (not that  am aware that any other Medieval or Early Modern monarchs were any better ...)

[Haiduk]

9 hours ago, Anon052 said:

Yeah I saw this too. Not only were  the heads cut of but hands were too. Comments were suggesting that they were international legion und they cut of hands and heads  to make identification impossible.

Russian on the video says "he was a mercenery", showing his body armor with scull patch, but that guy cried in Russian and was weared in common National Guard "summer olive" uniform. International Legion is under GUR

About cutted hands, first time this was in Kyiv oblast in first month of war, but that were dog's paws. Buriats or Tuvians eat the dogs like Koreans, and maybe it was their "hunting custom", which could become as a"fasion" in some Russian units. Also you can recall that slur name of Russians "katsaps" has turk-language origins and means "butchers, slashers". Though also a version exists that it has Ukrainian origin means "like a goats" (because Moscovites traditionally had beards, often similar to goat beards, when in Ukraine, like and in whole PLC beards were rare and mostly among aged nobles)

Edited April 12, 2023 by Haiduk

[The_MonkeyKing]

we had a guest here in Finland (podcast)

[Astrophel]

5 hours ago, paxromana said:

Goes back o=to the 14th century! 

The coining of the phrase "Perfide Albion" is normally attributed to French revolutionary poet, Augustin Louis de Ximénès in 1793.  In the beginning there was great sympathy for the revolutionary cause in England and elsewhere.  Much of this sympathy was lost by the barbarous tactics of the French revolutionaries, inventors of the guillotine, and the avid propaganda of the monarchists in England worried about their own necks.  The French felt betrayed

The barbarity of the russians has caused many who would otherwise have been indifferent to take the side of Ukraine.  So far Ukraine has behaved in a much more civilised manner.  No doubt Priggy is well aware of the psychology and would love to provoke Ukrainian soldiers into performing atrocities on captured russian soldiers saying, hey, we are just as bad as each other.  Ukrainians would quickly lose support in the West were they to behave badly.  Fortunately Ukrainian leaders seem to have learned from the French revolutionaries whether by accident or design.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Astrophel
add date

[The_MonkeyKing]

6 hours ago, Vanir Ausf B said:

Russians and Ukrainians are in violent agreement that a bad tank is better than no tank.

 

These territorial units seem to range in equipment all to way to ISIS levels... And I am sure it is the unit's choice to use that equipment. At least in this case, the choice was made to rather have a T-62 than "no tank". 

[kevinkin]

This seems to be a mega waste of time and resources:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11956187/Putins-45-mile-long-mega-trench-Russian-troops-dig-huge-defensive-fortification.html

About as elastic as old fashion window pane. 

 

[Haiduk]

Lucky marine from 35th brigade %)

 

[Haiduk]

UKR Buk M1 still in action

Before a war we had three AD regiments armed with Buk M1. Each regiment had three battalions. I don't know about current structure of battery, but according to Soviet shtat, each battalion had three batteries per two TELARs 9A310 and one TEL 9A39 launchers. So, full shtat for 9 battalions/27 batteries requires 81 launchers  

MilBalance reported about 72 Buk M1 on 2016 year, but unknown how much of them were in working conditions. 

According to Orix we lost 12 launchers (10 TELARs and 2 TELs)

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Haiduk

[Haiduk]

UKR SOF with Switchblade 300. Later shipments include upgraded version of this kamikadze drone. I don't know what exactly was fixed, but UKR operators compained on poor flight control, which led to misses, poor quality of camera and poor charge. 

[Harmon Rabb]

On a more humorous note. Looks like that AT4 was a little too much for the guy on the bottom to handle.

He comes to the conclusion that this happened because "NATO weapons are ****"...Obviously.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Harmon Rabb

[Lethaface]

12 hours ago, Vanir Ausf B said:

Russians and Ukrainians are in violent agreement that a bad tank is better than no tank.

 

Isn't that just TDF pressing into service whatever heavy weapon they capture? 

[cesmonkey]

For those in the UK and can watch this, how interesting is this hour-long video?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001kz0p/stacey-dooley-stacey-dooley-ready-for-war?fbclid=IwAR1ge1FfaUYrqlxZGZ8-kT8F99TlEulTpfLCUyx0RKupqdVbv6t2pdSqlak

Quote

Stacey Dooley follows a squad of Ukrainian civilians from the moment they land on British soil for five weeks of gruelling training, designed to give them the skills they will need to 'survive and to be lethal' in the war against Russia. 

 

[Haiduk]

10 minutes ago, Lethaface said:

Isn't that just TDF pressing into service whatever heavy weapon they capture? 

Not only TDF do the same )

[Lethaface]

2 minutes ago, Haiduk said:

Not only TDF do the same )

I would do it too if I could in CM

[Battlefront.com]

4 hours ago, Haiduk said:

Lucky marine from 35th brigade %)

 

Wow.  A reminder that in these many videos where we see soldiers shooting around corners, out windows, over trench tops, etc. they aren't always shooting to suppress.  Sometimes it seems that way because we do not see the return fire or have a drone flying overhead to give us context.  Clearly this marine had a specific target and a Russian also had a specific target.  I hope the Russian wasn't as lucky.

Steve

[Battlefront.com]

36 minutes ago, Harmon Rabb said:

On a more humorous note. Looks like that AT4 was a little too much for the guy on the bottom to handle.

He comes to the conclusion that this happened because "NATO weapons are ****"...Obviously.

Heh... that's a good one.  I saw the raw footage of the Russian (he is some well known Mil Blogger, IIRC) and also laughed.  Someone in the comments section pointed out the obvious... there's a handle in front for a reason!  So the real conclusion here is that Russians are idiots

When I look at a tool I'm not familiar with the first thing I do is figure out how I'm supposed to hold it.  Seems pretty basic, but this moron seems to think that Western weapons manufacturers expends a lot of money to add pointless features, like a forward stabilizing front grip.

I think it would be hilarious to see what this guy would do with a jackhammer...

 

Steve

[Haiduk]

Ukrainian "Offensive Guard" of National Guard will replenish with ninth brigade. Big number of recruit applications allows to establish new brigade - it will be named 13th Operative purpose brigade "Khartiya" (eng. "Charter") and will be formed on the base of existing volunteer unit "Khartiya" (about batalion-size).

"Khartiya" was formed as DFTG detachment (Volunteer formation of territorial community - irregular unit of armed civilians) in first days of full-scale war mostly from citizens of Kharkiv oblast. The unit was given under command of 127th Territorial Defense brigade of Kharkiv city. "Khartiya" defended Kharkiv, fought in Rus'ka Lozova area, liberated Kharkiv oblast in Balakliya operation, participated in the battle for Bakhmut. 

Interesting, that founder and first commander of "Khartiya" was Vsevolod Kozhemiako - Ukrainian agriculture businesman, 88th position in Forbes top-100 reachest Ukrainians. Though, since in March "Khartiya" came under National Guard Command, new commander was appointed.     

Edited April 12, 2023 by Haiduk

[pintere]

15 minutes ago, Haiduk said:

Ukrainian "Offensive Guard" of National Guard will replenish with ninth brigade. Big number of recruit applications allows to establish new brigade - it will be named 13th Operative purpose brigade "Khartiya" (eng. "Charter") and will be formed on the base of existing volunteer unit "Khartiya" (about batalion-size).

It’s surprising to hear that recruit applications are so high despite the war having gone on for a year now. Are most of these recruits drawn from other military formations?

[Haiduk]

French TRF1 howitzer somewhere on Donbas

 

[Haiduk]

16 minutes ago, pintere said:

It’s surprising to hear that recruit applications are so high despite the war having gone on for a year now. Are most of these recruits drawn from other military formations?

Yes, I heared about 60-70 % of applications are from current military units, most of them from National Guard. And many of this nunber are current servicemen of theese brigades, which have to make formal application to "new" (but indeed "re-branded") units.

Several months ago Parliament changed size of payment for servicemen, so all who not on frontline or do not execute combat tasks inside the country (like AD and aviation, for example) became to get only 30 000 UAH (750 $) instead 100 000. This caused enough angry among servivemen, but from other side, many of those, who served in rear units got additional motivation to transfer to combat units. National Guard has many units of different purpose - from pure combat units like "Azov" or 4th Rapid reaction brigade, to Operative purpose units, law support units, convicts escort units, important facilities security units etc - so potential for new recruites was enough large. Interesting that Parliament yesterday turned back 100 000 salary to all servicemen again %)   

Edited April 12, 2023 by Haiduk

[Lethaface]

5 minutes ago, Haiduk said:

Interesting that Parliament yesterday turned back 100 000 salary to all servicemen again %)   

Sounds like your democracy is getting tuned to the EU type bureaucracy