[NYT] A painstakingly negotiated declaration Saturday evening at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi omitted any condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or its brutal conduct of the war, instead lamenting the "suffering" of the Ukrainian people.
It was an eye opening departure from a similar document agreed to less than a year ago in Bali, when leaders acknowledged different views over the invasion but still issued a strong condemnation of the Russian invasion and called on Moscow to withdraw its troops.
This year, amid low expectations that the divided group would reach any sort of consensus with Ukraine,the declaration pointed to past United Nations resolutions condemning the war and noted the "adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world." The statement also called on Russia to allow the export of grain and fertilizer from Ukraine and "to support a comprehensive, just and durable peace." Seems the wheels are making that "about to come off" noise...
American officials defended the agreement, saying it built on the statement released last year and that the United States was still pressing for peace in Ukraine.
"From our perspective, it does a very good job of standing up for the principle that states cannot use force to seek territorial acquisition or to violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of other states," Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, told reporters.
But Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, said on Facebook that the omission of Russian aggression was "nothing to be proud of."
Mr. Biden and his advisers focused on what the new declaration had achieved: It included new language on the issue of global debt and on overhauling institutions like the World Bank to address the growing strains on poorer countries; an invitation to the African Union to join the G20; and a push for more financing to help vulnerable nations deal with the costs of dealing with climate change. The declaration also underscored the potential of digital technologies to increase inclusion in global economies.
The president joined other leaders in announcing a project to create a rail and shipping corridor linking India to the Middle East and, eventually, Europe. It was a promise of new technological and trade pathways, they said, in a part of the world where deeper economic cooperation was overdue.
The project lacked key details, including a time frame or budget. Even so, it represented much softer than usual rhetoric about Russia from Mr. Biden and other Western leaders, who have spent the better part of two years spending billions on arming Ukraine and burning untold domestic political capital building support for the war. Facing a summit rife with deep divisions, Mr. Biden did not speak publicly about the war or almost anything else, except to say "it would be nice" if President Xi Jinping of China, who skipped the summit along with the Russian leader, Vladimir V. Putin, had attended.
Mr. Biden spent most of his time at the summit quietly nurturing his relationship with Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, who has continued his country’s traditional practice of abstaining from superpower skirmishes, but who has his own tensions with China. He is also keenly interested in presenting himself — and his country — as an ascendant global player.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
09/10/2023 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[12 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
American influence is clearly on the decline. How can we lead the world when we're thirty trillion dollars in debt and trying to tell people than men can have babies?
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/10/2023 15:51 Comments ||
Top||
#1
A remembrance of things past. Wiki: Doctors' plot
Before his death in March 1953, Stalin allegedly planned the execution of doctors' plot defendants already on trial in Red Square in March 1953, and then he would cast himself as the savior of Soviet Jews by sending them to camps away from the purportedly enraged Russian populace.
The Russian ministry of defense failed to post an update/compilation for September 9th.
Dunno why.
A separate section of the the news compilation does contain a summary from September 9th that does not appear on their website.
Link goes to a September 9th item about the Kupyansk Offensive now taking place.
UPDATE: Russians did post a summary for September 2nd through September 9th, but since that already is embedded in the Donbass compilation, it won't be posted here. They did post a summary for September 10th, which will be forthcoming tomorrow.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title
22:53 Azerbaijan respects the sovereignty of Ukraine and does not recognize pseudo-elections in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.
22:49 Kuleba said that the issue of creating a special tribunal for war criminals of the Russian Federation was the only one where he could not fulfill Zelensky’s instructions. According to him, despite the fact that a number of countries, including Ukraine, support the creation of a special tribunal, the G7’s position is inclined towards a hybrid option. “Recently, the president asked me what had been done to create a special tribunal, and for the first time in my position as minister, I admitted that I could not propose a solution,” the head of the Foreign Ministry noted.
22:38 Crimean public pages write about explosions in Novoozernoe, after which a fire started not far from a military unit near Lake Donuzlav. Meanwhile, the occupation “authorities” announced the alleged downing of three drones in the west of the peninsula.
22:00 In Ukraine there will no longer be “limitedly fit” persons for military service - a citizen must be either fit or unfit, said Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets. According to him, this issue is currently being worked on. If a person, due to his state of health, is unfit to carry out combat missions with a machine gun in his hands on the front line, he can serve at headquarters or as part of the missile forces, Lubinets explained.
19:41 In Romania, they discovered the wreckage of another drone, similar to those that Russia uses to attack Ukraine. The country's President Klaus Iohannis "strongly condemned" the incident, "provoked by Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube," and declared an "absolutely unacceptable violation of Romanian sovereign airspace."
18:39 Crimean publics report a strong fire in a military unit in Simferopol. "Authorities" said it was a "common domestic fire."
17:43 Denmark took Leopard 1A5 tanks from three museums in order to quickly begin training the Ukrainian military. The tanks from the museums turned out to be in better condition than the 100 units that remained in warehouses, Forbes writes. The publication notes that Denmark removed the last Leopard 1 tank from service back in 2005, and instead of them, Leopard 2 appeared in the army. Now almost 100 old vehicles are stored in warehouses, many require repairs.
16:27 Zelensky announced in an evening video message about another agreement - Ukraine will receive more German Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery systems to protect the energy network. “But we will mobilize all our forces to increase the supply of various air defense systems and the physical protection of facilities,” the president added.
16:02 Reuters cites the main points of the declaration agreed upon by the G20 leaders. The main thing about Ukraine:
countries must act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter;
countries must refrain from acting against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any state;
During the war in Ukraine, the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable;
peaceful resolution of conflicts, diplomacy and dialogue are critical;
calls from the Russian Federation and Ukraine to ensure immediate and unimpeded supply of grain, food and fertilizers.
15:35 The Russians shelled Solnechnoye, Kherson region, hit private houses - one person was killed, said the head of the OVA Alexander Prokudin.
15:14 The Russians fired artillery at the village of Kostobobrov, Semenovsk community, Chernihiv region, one person was seriously wounded, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported.
14:48 Zelensky said that he met in Kiev with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasu and agreed to begin negotiations on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees in development of the G7 Declaration.
14:17 Participants at the G20 summit came to a consensus on the text of the final declaration and adopted this document - it will be made public on Sunday at the end of the summit, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bloomberg writes, citing a source, that G20 diplomats have reached a compromise on wording on the war in Ukraine - they are similar to those agreed upon at the 2022 summit in Indonesia.
13:58 In the occupied village of Skelki, Zaporozhye region, several drones flew into the Russian “election headquarters” - after the explosion, a fire started, the Russians cordoned off nearby streets, began checking people and raised drones into the air. Ballots and documents were stored in the room, the UP reports citing sources in the SBU.
13:09 Zelensky said that he held a meeting of the Headquarters - they discussed the implementation of a plan to protect energy and critical infrastructure from Russian attacks from the sky, the protection of the ports of Odessa and the infrastructure of the grain corridor, the protection of front-line territories, and preparations for winter.
12:50 Peskov said that the proposed options for resuming the grain deal do not suit Russia - it requires “implementation of previously reached agreements.” In particular, according to Peskov, Rosselkhozbank should be connected to SWIFT, and not its subsidiary, as the UN proposes.
12:16 Zelensky said that he had a meeting with Michael McFaul, who, together with Ermak, heads the International Working Group on Sanctions against Russia: “It is important to tighten sanctions against the energy, financial and banking sectors of Russian terrorists. It is also necessary to block the supply of any components and spare parts to Russia , used for the production of missiles and drones."
11:58 Zaluzhny said that he had a telephone conversation with the Chief of the Defense Staff of the Romanian Armed Forces, Daniel Petrescu: “We discussed the situation that has arisen due to Russian air attacks on civilian and port infrastructure on the Danube. Security risks, issues of interaction and exchange of information with partners "He emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense."
11:30 Erdogan, at closed meetings on the sidelines of the G20 summit, asks to fulfill Russia’s demands under the grain agreement and ease sanctions, Bloomberg writes. In particular, he asks world leaders to make it easier to insure Russian food and fertilizer exports and to reconnect Russia to the SWIFT system.
10:16 British intelligence reports that Russia has begun to transfer reinforcements from other sectors of the front to Rabotino, Zaporozhye region, putting pressure on its defense lines. Analysts note that Ukrainian forces have entered the Russian multi-layered defense line located east of Rabotino, are continuing a gradual tactical advance and are exhausting Russian troops.
In addition, pressure remains on Russian positions south of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian forces are gradually advancing between Kleshcheevka and Andreevka.
09:20 North Korea is ready to conclude an agreement with Russia on arms supplies, writes the Financial Times. According to the publication, in response, Moscow could offer grain, oil and military technology, as well as currency.
08:47 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that the Ukrainian counteroffensive forced the Russian Federation to change its control system. According to the Center for Security and Emerging Technologies (CSET), Russian troops have moved headquarters beyond the range of most Ukrainian strike systems and placed forward command posts behind heavily defended positions.
08:19 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of September 9:
personnel - about 268,140 (+600) people,
tanks - 4544 (+15),
armored combat vehicles - 8739 (+13),
artillery systems - 5789 (+36),
MLRS - 757 (+3),
air defense systems - 508 (+1),
aircraft - 315 (+0),
helicopters - 316 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 4588 (+18),
cruise missiles - 1455 (+0),
ships/boats - 19 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 8298 (+34),
special equipment - 870 (+10).
08:07 Over the past 24 hours, more than 30 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report. In the Kupyansky, Limansky and Bakhmutsky directions, the enemy is not abandoning attempts to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Sinkovka, Novoegorovka, Orekhovo-Vasilievka and southeast of Dibrova, as well as to regain control of positions in the areas of Kleshcheevka, Andreevka and Kurdyumovka. The enemy is transferring reserves to these directions and recruiting assault groups mainly from prisoners.
In the Avdeevsky, Maryinsky and Shakhtarsky directions, the Defense Forces have the initiative, carry out assaults, and liberate territories. Near Avdeevka and Marinka, Ukrainian defenders are holding the line; during the day, the enemy made more than ten unsuccessful attempts to oust Ukrainian units from their positions. In addition, all enemy attacks were repelled in the Novokalinovo, Krasnogorovka and Prechistovka areas of the Donetsk region.
In the Melitopol direction, the Defense Forces continue the offensive, forcing the enemy to retreat from their positions. In turn, the Russian Army is transferring the most combat-ready units from the airborne troops to this direction and is trying to restore the lost position. More than ten such attempts were repulsed in the Rabotino area of the Zaporozhye region.
07:59 Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will visit Ukraine for the first time since the Russian invasion, the country’s Foreign Ministry reported. Hayashi intends to demonstrate strong support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The minister is accompanied by heads of Japanese companies. The Japanese Foreign Ministry expressed hope that these companies will make their contribution to the restoration of Ukraine.
04:06 The Biden administration still intends to send ATACMS long-range tactical missile systems to Ukraine, ABC News reports, citing sources. Officials did not rule out that missiles could be included in future aid packages, but clarified that there is no final decision yet, and it could be months before Ukraine receives missiles.
01:13 Zelensky said that he had a conversation with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman about cooperation between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, thanked for the support of all peace efforts, in particular the successful meeting of national security advisers and political directors in Jeddah.
#1
Ukraininans reached the eastern edge of Novoprokopivka. Also approaching from the North.
Velyka Novosilka axis
➡️AFU has entered Novomaiors'ke, landing infantry that grabbed a foothold in the western parts
➡️Fighting going on just west of Novodonets'ke
➡️Russian sources talk about a deteriorating situation due to lack of ammunition, shells and artillery backup
23:55 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 09.09.2023 to 00:00 09.10.2023
Over the past 24 hours Representative officereportedabout 80 facts of firing from the AFU.
Over the past 24 hours, information has been received about the death of two civilians in the Kiev and Kuibyshev districts of Donetsk.
Five civilians were injured of varying degrees of severity in the Kiev district of Donetsk, Yasinovataya, Kalininsky district of Gorlovka.
Six houses were damaged in the Kiev and Kuibyshev districts of Donetsk. Four civil infrastructure facilities were damaged in the Kiev region of Donetsk.
The areas of four settlements of the Republic were under enemy fire: Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district), Yasinovatsky district, the capital city of Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Kievsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district).
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy carried out 65 attacks from 155mm artillery, incl. with a cassette warhead.
At Gorlovske there were four artillery attacks from 155mm artillery.
At Yasinovatsky there were 11 artillery attacks from 155mm artillery, incl. with a cluster warhead.
Having released 225 units of various ammunition.
A previous 39 artillery attacks were recorded from the VFU side per day.
21:50 Arrivals of FPV drones in the dugouts and trenches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine -video.
21:25 Open and destroy: combat work of artillery crews of 152mm D-20 howitzers of the Central Military District unit
Krasnoliman direction
Military personnel of artillery crews of 152mm towed howitzers D-20 of the Central Military District destroyed suitable enemy reserves with accurate fire, disrupting the rotation of Armed Forces personnel.
During combat work, the crew of unmanned aerial vehicles discovered the active movement and rotation of enemy personnel.
The coordinates were promptly transferred to artillery crews.
In a matter of minutes, the artillerymen aimed the gun at the target and fired several accurate shots at the concentration of Ukrainian nationalists.
20:45 RF Ministry of Defense: On September 9, at around 19.30, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist UAV attack on objects on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped.
Duty air defense systems destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
19:45 Statement of Head of the press center of the "South" group:
The assault and army aviation of the “Southern” group of forces inflicted a defeat on the manpower of the attacking units and armored vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Lisichansky, Soledaro-Artyomovsky, Aleksandro-Kalinovsky, Avdeevsky and Mar'yinsky directions.
The command and observation post of the enemy's 110th Mechanized Brigade in Avdievka was destroyed by missile strikes.
The group’s artillery destroyed three strong points, a command and observation post, a temporary deployment point for Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the areas of the settlements of Kleshcheevka, Ivanovskoye, Kurdyumovka, Zvanovka, and also hit the position of an LNG grenade launcher crew, an electronic warfare station, two pickup trucks in Novokalinovo, Veseloy, Zvanovka, Yasnobrodovka .
A missile unit struck a temporary deployment point for units of the 28th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, located on the territory of a glass factory in Konstantinovka.
During the counterbattery fight, the enemy lost two American-made M777 155-caliber guns, a 152mm D-20 towed howitzer, a 100mm MT-12 “Rapira” anti-tank gun in the areas of the settlements of Chasov Yar, Konstantinovka, Seversk, Zhelannye Pervoe, as well as five mortars 120mm caliber in Orekhovo-Vasil'ievka, Verkhnekamensky, Keramika, Pisetsky, Avdievka.
Crews of the Solntsepek heavy flamethrower systems inflicted fire on concentrations of manpower of assault units of the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kleshcheevka and Malolinovka.
Kamikaze drones destroyed a tower with a repeater in Netailovo and two dugouts in Pisetsky and Mar'inka.
18:50 Summaries with LBS from FRONTOVIK:
Mar'inka. We have successes in advancing and capturing Ukrainian fortifications in houses. We believe and pray for our soldiers! Glory to Russia!
We must admit the fact that crests will not give up Sin'kovka without a meat grinder. There are heavy battles going on.
There are heavy battles going on near Novoegorovka, our guys are having success.
Andreevka. The southern flank moved into the gray zone.
There are heavy battles going on.
18:20 “The enemy is defeated, loses many people":
The commander of the tank company, Hero of Russia, Ruslan Kurbanov, spoke about the situation in his unit’s area of responsibility.
On the eve of the professional holiday - Tanker's Day - the crews of T-80BVM tanks of the Pacific Fleet naval infantry units continue to effectively provide fire support to assault units in the Ugledar direction of the special military operation. “On the account of my unit during the summer period of this year alone there were more than 50 units of damaged armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” says Ruslan Kurbanov.
17:35 Vremevskyplot: preparation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for an offensive situation as of 15.00 September 9, 2023
At the Novodonetskoye-Novomayorskoye line, detachments of marines, under the cover of heavy artillery fire, almost non-stop rolled into the positions of the 37th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 40th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade and 4th Infantry Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces.
As a result of several attacks, Ukrainian formations were able to occupy two houses in the northeast of Novomayorsky across the Shaitanka River. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are holed up in the basement, and massive artillery fire from the Russian Armed Forces is coming at them.
In the case of Novodonetsk, the situation for the enemy is even worse: attacks by infantry waves did not bring any results, the village is under the complete control of the Russian Armed Forces. According to it, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are using cluster munitions.
But at the Zolotaya Niva-Prechistovo line, naval infantry reserves are concentrated. The 37th and 38th Naval Infantry Brigades are being transferred to the area of two settlements, and the total strength of the strike force is planned to be increased to 1,000 people for a breakthrough to the south.
Due to adjustments in plans and a change in direction to Novodonetskoye - Novomayorskoye near Priyutny and Urozhaynoye, the Ukrainian Armed Forces grouping has been reduced, and now the enemy is conducting a positional defense.
At the same time, north of Priyutnoye, Russian troops, according to some reports, were able to push Ukrainian units beyond the Grushevaya Balka, restoring the line of control several kilometers from Priyutnoye.
17:05 Statement of Head of the press center of the Vostok group:
In the South Donetsk direction, the forward units of the Vostok group of forces, with artillery support, repelled two enemy attacks in the Novodonetsk area and one in the Prechistovka area. An armored combat vehicle, automotive equipment and manpower of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were destroyed.
An attempt to attack a group of Ukrainian Armed Forces and an attempt to rotate militants in the Priyutnoye area was stopped by artillery fire. Vehicles and personnel were destroyed. During the assault, two strongholds with nationalists in the area north of Nikolskoye were destroyed.
Artillery fire destroyed ammunition depots in the Konstantinovka area, north of Vladimirovka and in the Uglesborochnaya area.
Temporary deployment points of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Vodyanoye, as well as places of concentration of militants of the 37th and 38th Naval Infantry Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Urozhaynoye and Novodonetsk were hit.
During the counterbattery fight, a US-made M777 towed howitzer was destroyed in the Velikaya Novoselka area, as well as mortar crews in the Makarovka, Ugledar and Novomikhailovka areas.
Bomber, attack and army aviation hit places where the Armed Forces of Ukraine accumulated manpower and equipment in the areas of Prechistovka, Staromayorsky, Urozhayny.
The crew of the Osa anti-aircraft missile system shot down the Leleka aircraft-type UAV.
16:30 Mar'insky direction, September 9th.
103 Motorized Rifle Regiment, trains charges for kamikaze drones to destroy fortified areas of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
16:00 Statement of Head of the press center of the Center group:
In the Krasnolimansky direction, competent actions of units of the Center group of troops, with the support of aviation and artillery fire, thwarted and repelled six attacks by assault groups of the 21st, 67th Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 5th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in the areas of the Torsky ledge and Serebryansky forestry. Enemy losses amounted to more than 40 military personnel.
During the counterbattery fight, about 30 artillery units were exposed and suppressed, and a 152mm D-20 howitzer and a 120mm mortar of the Ukrainian troops were hit.
The group's bomber aviation carried out four strikes with guided aerial bombs on two enemy command and observation posts and two temporary deployment points in the areas of the settlements of Kirovsk and Serebryanka.
15:25 ZVO tanks destroy enemy armored vehicles on the Kupyansky front:
The crews of the 1st Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District knocked out Nazi infantry fighting vehicles with well-aimed fire. After which another infantry fighting vehicle arrived to evacuate her, which was alsodestroyedour warriors. /RIAN/
15:00 Soledarskoe direction: advancement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Andreevka, situation as of 14.00 on September 9, 2023
In the south-west of Bakhmut, Ukrainian formations continue to make their way to the railway track: after passing to the north-eastern outskirts of Kleshcheevka, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck near Andreevka.
As a result of fierce fighting, enemy units were able to oust the Russian army soldiers from the village. According to some reports, the line of control of the Russian Armed Forces runs along the railway line.
This is indirectly confirmed by the activity of Ukrainian reconnaissance groups north of Kurdyumovka. Detachments in armored vehicles are moving north of the Russian fortified area, which could not have happened if the Russian Armed Forces were present in Andreevka.
There are also clashes in Kleshcheevka. Units of the Russian Armed Forces hold the northeastern outskirts and are trying to counterattack. The distance to the railway track is about 400 meters.
14:30 On the flanks of Bakhmut, our troops are hunting for wandering infantry of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and their vehicles.
Video maybe not with so much action, but it clearly shows how much better our artillery has begun to shoot
14:10 Lancet loitering ammunition destroys another American counter-battery radar AN/TPQ-50 -video.
13:40 Orekhovsky section: confirmed losses of the Marun TG of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a new attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forcessituationas of 12.00 September 9, 2023
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian formations have tried several times to break through the defenses of the Russian army at the Rabotino-Verbovoe line.
Near Verbovoy, three assault groups of the 82nd Special Assault Brigade and 46th Specialized Assault Brigade, each with 15 people under the cover of armored vehicles, attacked the positions of the Russian Armed Forces near Verbovoy, but to no avail: they were heavily targeted by artillery.
Also, the combined detachments of the 46th Brigade and the 47th Brigade carried out at least five attacks from landings east of Rabotino to the heights northeast of Novopokropovka, control over which is necessary for further advancement to the south.
As a result of the ensuing battle and concentrated fire from artillery, aircraft and tanks, the enemy was stopped. Some paratroopers of the 46th Brigade refused to fight and fled from their positions.
And the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are growing. Only in the Marun tactical group, according to confirmed data for August, the number of losses was 867 people from the 82 Airborne Assault Brigade, 46 Airborne Brigade and 132 Reconnaissance Battalion.
Because of this, preparations are underway to bring into battle the 71st Ranger Brigade, which is fully equipped and is already located in the Orekhov area. Also, along with the transfer of the 3rd battalion of the 80th Airborne Brigade to Orekhov, the arrival of a unit of the 35th Infantry Regiment from the Donetsk direction is expected, which indicates the imminent activation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this area.
13:00 Summary Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (for the period from September 2 to September 9, 2023)
In the period from September 2 to September 9 of this year. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out six group strikes with high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, against the following targets: electronic intelligence of Ukraine, port infrastructure, production of unmanned boats, warehouses for storing ammunition and Western weapons, fuel, as well as training bases sabotage groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and terrorists from the so-called “Russian Volunteer Corps”*.
In addition, as a result of the strikes, the operation of strategic radio reconnaissance systems, as well as the logistics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' troops operating in the Kherson and Zaporozhye directions, was disrupted.
– In the Zaporozhye direction, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued for a week unsuccessful attempts to break through the defenses of Russian troops in the areas of the settlements of Rabotino and Verbovoye, Zaporozhye region.
For this purpose, the enemy threw into battle 39 times assault detachments of the 46th Airmobile, 47th Mechanized, 82nd Air Assault Brigades, as well as the 15th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
To support the offensive actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this direction, they deployed an artillery group of up to 360 guns, of which over 160 were Western-made 155mm guns.
All enemy attacks were repelled by the selfless actions of Russian military personnel.
During fierce fighting in this direction, more than 845 Ukrainian military personnel, 27 tanks and armored combat vehicles, including a British-made Challenger tank and 25 vehicles, were destroyed. During the counter-battery fight, 63 enemy field artillery guns were destroyed.
The 82nd Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces alone lost up to 500 servicemen killed and wounded over the past week.
– In the South Donetsk direction, units of Russian troops, with coordinated actions, repelled four enemy attacks over the course of a week, continuing to inflict comprehensive fire damage on concentrations of manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Over the past period, the total enemy losses in this direction amounted to over 1,230 Ukrainian military personnel, 24 armored combat vehicles, 37 vehicles, as well as 17 field artillery pieces.
– In the Donetsk direction, within a week, competent actions of units of the “Southern” group of Russian troops repulsed 56 attacks by Ukrainian troops, as a result of which more than 2,100 military personnel, 23 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 45 vehicles, as well as 30 field artillery guns were destroyed.
– In the Kupyansk direction, Russian units of the “Western” group of forces continued to improve the tactical situation in their areas of responsibility through active operations.
Over the course of a week, 22 attacks were repelled in this direction, during which the enemy lost up to 425 Ukrainian military personnel, eight armored combat vehicles, 18 cars and pickup trucks, as well as 15 artillery pieces.
– In the Krasnolimansk direction, as a result of the actions of units of the “Center” group of troops, aviation strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems, 12 enemy attacks were successfully repelled during the week.
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this direction amounted to more than 450 military personnel, 13 armored combat vehicles, 15 vehicles and seven guns.
– In the Kherson direction, the main efforts were focused on the fire defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ personnel, preventing landing on the islands in the Dnieper River bed, as well as conducting counterbattery warfare.
During the execution of combat missions, an attempt to land enemy troops in the area of ??the Tendrovskaya Spit island was prevented.
In addition, five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were destroyed within a week.
In this direction, up to 355 Ukrainian military personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a tank, 32 vehicles, as well as twelve field artillery guns were destroyed.
During combat service in the southern part of the Kerch Strait, ships of the Black Sea Fleet discovered and destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned semi-submersible boats attempting to attack the Crimean Bridge.
In addition, naval aviation aircraft in the Black Sea waters west of the Crimean Peninsula destroyed four high-speed boats with landing groups of special operations forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, totaling up to 50 Ukrainian military personnel.
During the week, operational-tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces and air defense systems shot down: a MiG-29 aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force, and also destroyed the launchers of the S-300ps anti-aircraft missile system in the area of the village of Lyubimovka, Zaporozhye region.
Over the course of a week, air defense and electronic warfare systems destroyed and suppressed 247 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, including 23 in the western regions of the Russian Federation.
In addition, 49 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, three JDAM guided bombs, and one HARM anti-radar missile were intercepted.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the following have been destroyed: 467 aircraft, 248 helicopters, 6,540 unmanned aerial vehicles, 436 anti-aircraft missile systems, 11,742 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,149 combat vehicles of multiple launch rocket systems, 6,306 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 12,840 units of special military vehicles.
12:30 Commander of tank company with the call sign “Hunter” is a careerist in the good sense of the word. Having signed a contract back in 2017, he started as a tank gunner, rose to become a tank commander, and is now an officer. From the first day he participates in the special operation. We wish our hero to become at least a colonel! Or maybe a general.
12:05 The “White Wolves” battalion from the “O” group is firing at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces -video.
11:30 Statement of Head of the press center of the “West” group:
During the fighting in the Kupyansk direction, assault groups of the 20th combined arms army captured a strong point, four dugouts, defeated more than a platoon of manpower and destroyed an American-made Max Pro armored fighting vehicle south of Sergeevka.
In order to restore lost positions, units of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade, with the support of armored vehicles, conducted three counterattacks on the positions of our troops in the direction of Kovalevka. All counterattacks were repelled by artillery fire from the group.
During the counter-battery fight, the group’s artillery destroyed a towed M777 howitzer, a 122mm 2S1 “Gvozdika” self-propelled artillery mount and a mortar crew in the area of the settlements of Borovskaya, Andreevka, Peschanoye and Krakhmalnoye.
Air defense systems destroyed two Furiya reconnaissance UAVs in the area of the settlements of Kotlyarovka and Ploschanka.
The total enemy losses amounted to about a company of manpower.
10:55 One missile - one target: calculations of the Tor-M1 air defense system continue to hit air targets in the Kupyansk direction
This crew of the Tor-M1 air defense system has hit over 110 air targets since the beginning of 2023. A serviceman with the call sign “Tsvet” spoke about the combat work of his crew. Once he saved a car from artillery fire, for which he was awarded the Order of Courage.
The modernized Tor self-propelled system, unique in its characteristics, can hit both ballistic targets and targets with variable control vectors, from small unmanned aerial vehicles of helicopter and airplane types to large missiles and rockets. There are no analogues to it in any other army in the world.
10:25 Frontline summary for the morning of 09.09.2023:
In the Zaporozhye direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with the support of artillery, tried to attack Russian positions on the heights south of the village of Rabotino. They also tried to break through from the east to Novoprokopovka. Their artillery struck powerfully. The Russian Armed Forces fired at Ukrainian positions in Orekhovo. The Ukrainian Armed Forces fired at Nesteryanka, Kopany and Novopokrovka.
In the Ugledarsky sector, Ukrainian troops managed to advance near Novodonetsky, and at Novomayorsky they counterattacked the Russian Armed Forces.
On the Donetsk Front, the Russian Armed Forces, with artillery support, attacked at Novomikhailovka, in Mar'inka and on the southern approaches to Avdeevka. Under fire, Ukrainian positions in Antonovka, Pobeda, the city of Krasnohorivka, Pervomaisky, Severny (a settlement west of Avdeevka), Stepnoy (not to be confused with the settlements of the same name in the Zaporozhye and Ugledar directions), Keramika, New York and Severny (a settlement to northwest of Gorlovka). Russian ones are in Donetsk, Gorlovka and Zaitsev.
In the Bakhmut direction, the Russian Armed Forces counterattacked at Andreevka and Kleshcheevka. They tried to recapture the heights from the last of the listed settlements. They also sought to push back the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Orekhovo-Vasil'ievka area. Russian artillery worked against Ukrainian units in Ivanovsky, Chasovy Yar, Razdolovka, Vesyol (a settlement northeast of Soledar), Sporny and Verkhnekamensky. Ukrainian - according to the RF Armed Forces in Ozaryanovka, Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, Kleshcheevka and Bakhmut.
In the Lugansk direction, the Russian Armed Forces continued offensive operations near Novoegorovka and Sinkovka. Under attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Belogorovka, Yampolevka, Nevsky, Tabaevka, Kucherovka and Dvurechnaya.
10:00 Situation in Zaporozhye direction at 10:00
In the morning the enemy tried to break through our positions to the south of the settlement. Rabotino worked three times on three Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, one was destroyed along with an engineering vehicle.
They passed confidently, but were driven back.
The assault groups were in a hurry.
At the moment, the artillery is working on the enemy.
The enemy is constantly evacuating. Many dead and wounded.
09:26 Official summary of Representative offices of the DPR in the JCCC from 00:00 09/08/2023 to 00:00 09/09/2023
Over the past 24 hours, the Representative Office reported 39 incidents of firing by the Ukrainian Federal Unitary Forces.
Over the past 24 hours, information has been received about the death of a civilian, a woman, in the Kirovsky district of Donetsk.
Seven civilians were injured of varying degrees of severity in the Petrovsky, Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk, and Aleksandrovka.
A total of 11 houses were damaged in the Kiev and Kuibyshev districts of Donetsk.
Three civil infrastructure facilities were damaged in the Kuybyshevsky district of Donetsk.
Districts of four settlements of the Republic were under enemy fire: Gorlovka (Tsentralno-Gorodskoy, Kalininsky, Nikitovsky districts), Yasinovatsky district, the capital city of Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Kievsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district).
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy carried out 27 attacks from MLRS and 155mm artillery, incl. with a cluster warhead.
At Gorlivske there were 11 artillery attacks from 152mm and 122mm artillery.
On Yasinovatsky there was one artillery attack from 155mm artillery.
Having released 141 units of various ammunition.
In the previous day, 92 artillery attacks were recorded from the AFU.
09:25 The criminal Kiev regime continues to shell the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired cannon artillery:
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the settlement of Novaya Kakhovka, settlement. Kakhovka, Sagi settlement, Korsunka settlement, Novaya Zburevka settlement, Cossack Camps firing a total of 35 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction to be determined.
08:22 Summary on the morning of September 9, 2023
Over the past 24 hours, the Russian Armed Forces carried out strikes on targets in Zaporozhye and Krivoy Rog.
The front section between the Vremevsky direction and Ugledar becomes a new direction for concentrating the enemy’s efforts. Fighting is taking place on the outskirts of Novodonetsky and Novomayorsky, between the settlements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces they are crossing the Shaitanka River. The blow is being carried out by units from the DPR, the Cascade OBTF and Far Eastern soldiers.
On the Zaporozhye Front there are battles on the Rabotino-Verbovoye line, the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is located near Verbovoye (pd - Lvov). Rabotino is in a gray zone, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have nowhere to consolidate under the fire of MLRS and high-explosive bombs. Heavy fighting is going on.
South of Artemovsk (Bakhmut), the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue “meat assaults” in the battles for Kleshcheevka; enemy attacks were also organized near Andreevka. Enemy artillery is destroyed by the Lancet UAV, and footage has appeared of the defeat of another Polish self-propelled gun "Crab".
A GUR agent was detained in Crimea, whose task was to disrupt military railway transportation and obtain data on booms, air defense and Caliber carriers. In the Bryansk region over the past 24 hours, constant UAV raids and drones that broke through the air defense damaged a microelectronics plant and a railway station building. In the Belgorod region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine shelled border villages; in the Valuysky urban district, a UAV damaged three private households. In the DPR, a civilian was killed by Ukrainian Armed Forces fire and seven civilians were injured.
08:19 “I pulled out the wounded and fired back from the enemy, defending positions. It was scary and dirty. Unwashed, unshaven, but we completed the task.” Guard corporal Nikita Molev tells about his participation in the assault operations in the Orekhovsky direction -video
Text taken from a RUSI report by Jack Whiting and Nick Reynolds.
Fragment of the RUSI report on the battles on the Vremevsky ledge. Technical translation using a neural network.
Introduction
In the fall of 2022, Russian troops suffered a serious defeat as a result of the collapse of the Western Group of Forces in Kharkov and the forced withdrawal of troops from Kherson. In response to these failures, General Sergei Surovikin, then commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, adopted a new strategy.
First, Russia will use long-range precision strikes to carry out a campaign to deplete Ukraine's power and grid infrastructure, with the goal of making Ukrainian cities uninhabitable in the winter.
Second, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will build a series of defense lines in the occupied territories in an attempt to contain further Ukrainian advances and prolong the conflict by exhausting Ukrainian troops.
Extensive preparations for defensive operations - compared to the Kremlin's aggressive military goals - contributed to Surovikin's removal in January. and the chief of the Russian General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, launched a poorly prepared and costly series of offensive strikes in January. 2023 However, the defensive lines were completed and Russia was able to retreat to these defenses after the failure of its offensive efforts. The Surovikin Line now poses a serious barrier to Ukrainian troops seeking to liberate the occupied territories.
During the preparation for the Ukrainian offensive, various operational concepts were considered. Much of the evidence supporting the tactics that Ukraine's international partners sought to train Ukrainian forces in was based on 20th-century operational analysis that was consistent with the range of technologies used in Ukraine. Therefore, understanding how effective these tactics were is important for improving both the tactics of Ukraine's international partners and for improving the preparation of Ukrainian forces for subsequent operations.
The purpose of this report is to examine the range of tactical actions of the Ukrainian military in the initial stages of the counteroffensive, as well as how the Ukrainian and Russian sides have improved their response.
The general plan of attack is very sensitive. Detailed reports on cumulative losses and other data are also confidential because they will provide Russia with information about the extent to which they have written off Ukrainian units. Therefore, rather than summing up the offensive, this report provides an example of a series of tactical actions that were conducted over two weeks over the villages of Novodarovka and Rivnopol, located on the border between the Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions.
The tactical series was chosen because it reflects broader trends and is informative about how Russian forces solve various tactical problems, as well as the different approaches taken by Ukrainian forces. The review is based on reports from participants about operations, captured documents from Russian command posts, materials from open sources, including satellite imagery of combat operations, as well as a review of closed-circuit videos of relevant tactical actions.
This report was submitted to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) prior to publication to ensure that its publication would not jeopardize any ongoing operations or tactics. The report remains solely the work of the named authors.
I. Capture of Novodarivka and Rovnopol
The line of contact between Ukrainian and Russian forces along the border between the Zaporozhye and Donetsk regions was relatively unchanged in the months leading up to the Ukrainian offensive. Russian offensive operations in early 2023 focused on Vulkhedar, located approximately 40–50 kilometers to the east, and Bakhmut. Ukrainian troops remained in a thicket of trees about a kilometer north of Novodarivka, around the village of Novopol. For some time, the defense was held by a brigade of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces (STO), reinforced in May with a mechanized brigade and another line brigade in anticipation of an offensive. The mechanized brigade led the breakthrough.
The Russians had one company in Novodarovka and another in Rovnopol, and a third occupied a number of fighting positions between the two settlements.The approaches to populated areas were heavily mined. To begin advancing south towards the Surovikin Line, Ukrainian troops needed to break through these villages and then through Priyutnoye, approximately 6 km to the south. (since Priyutnoye is still controlled by the RF Armed Forces, it is not difficult to guess that the enemy never reached the Surovikin line here)
The Ukrainian offensive began in late May with a long period of preparatory artillery bombardment. In the Rivne-Poland direction, batteries of 155mm M777 howitzers were allocated to support the offensive, positioning their firing positions in the north-west. Typically, Ukrainian howitzers had to move from 2 to 15 minutes from the moment they opened fire, depending on their distance from various threat systems. This time it was clear that Ukrainian intelligence had pinpointed the Russian firing positions, and thanks to the greater range of the 155mm guns, the Ukrainian artillerymen quickly forced the Russian artillery to retreat.
Since the targets at this stage were mostly in close proximity, the Ukrainian artillery established a steady rhythm of strikes without the need to shift. Among the crews and infantry watching the fire, There was a feeling of delight. For several months the number of shells available was strictly limited. Ukraine tried to preserve its ammunition to create reserves for the offensive. There was now freedom of fire, and when requests for resupply came in, additional shells were delivered immediately.
The Ukrainians have also worked to weaken Russian tactical reserves with UAVs. Daytime reconnaissance will reveal Russian positions, which will be attacked at night using converted agricultural UAVs dropping RPGs. This tactic was fairly binary in its viability. If Russian electronic warfare (EW) were active, the UAVs could not penetrate and would not typically be used. If electronic security were to weaken, the consequences could be dramatic. In one incident, a company of Russian tanks took up a position in a wooden block behind the front. Five UAVs were launched, each carrying four RPGs, destroying or seriously damaging seven tanks, although all UAVs were lost.
The decision to attempt to break through the original Russian combat positions was made on the evening of June 3; this task was assigned to mechanized troops. A discussion broke out in the command group about the swampiness of the area after the recent rains. Nevertheless, the decision was made to continue. The goal of the initial attack was to break through an area where the minefields were less dense due to the short distance between the lines, and to break into the village of Novodarovka.
The village had been almost completely destroyed by Russian shelling when initially taken and was now simply a collection of fighting positions for a Russian infantry company. Long and narrow, running from east to west, the village provided the Russians with a covered position overlooking most of the approaches to their company positions to the east and west.
After identifying the breakthrough points in the early morning of June 4, the offensive began. Two UR-77 Meteorite charges were fired at the narrowest part of the minefield, exploding two six-meter-wide channels from the forest border north to the outskirts of Novodarovka. Under the cover of artillery fire, the first column advanced along the eastern gap. The column was led by a pair of tanks, followed by MaxxPro MRAPs with infantry. Unfortunately, the MRAPs struggled in swampy terrain, especially in the wake of tanks.
Several MRAPs were stuck, and the cleared lane was not wide enough for other vehicles to pass. It was at this moment, when the column was completely occupied by the breakthrough, that a pair of Russian tanks unmasked and began to attack the column. Ukrainian tanks returned fire from a distance of about 800 meters. However, the vehicles in the convoy were consistently hit. The landing infantry either turned back or moved forward along the cleared strip, trying to find cover.
Some infantry units reached the outskirts of the village, but the open ground behind them, now devastated by fire, made the crossing dangerous, threatening to isolate these forces. Too small to take the village, the Ukrainian military now had to push forward or risk losing the platoon that reached Novodarovka.
This allowed the victims to be evacuated. now devastated by fire, the transition was dangerous, which threatened to isolate these forces. Too small to take the village, the Ukrainian military now had to push forward or risk losing the platoon that reached Novodarovka. The threat to those suppressed in the minefield diminished after the SPG-9 recoilless rifles managed to hit the Russian tanks from the flank and knock them out. This allowed the victims to be evacuated.
The direction of the second company to the western breakthrough was determined both by the need to advance towards the goal and by the need to strengthen the troops in Novodarovka. The ground on this strip turned out to be more solid. However, when the column was completely occupied by the breakthrough, two more Russian tanks appeared, which quickly moved towards the column and opened fire.
With the help of a UAV, the command post monitored the appearance of the enemy and fired to try to disrupt the fighting. Having been exposed, the breakthrough group tried to speed up the breakthrough, but deviated from the course. Then all the company's vehicles were sequentially immobilized by mines. The Russians then opened fire on the column. The stormtroopers split up again: some reached the outskirts of the village, others retreated.
The Russian defenders of the village moved to repel positions that had by then been occupied, retreating to strong points on a farm to the east of the village and to several fighting positions along the central road. Realizing the importance of expanding the territory held to divert forces from Russian fire, the Ukrainian commander deployed two assault groups as reinforcements. One platoon group advanced along the breach, using stopped vehicles as cover, while fire suppressed the Russian positions. Another platoon to the west noticed that the dead ground had become viable as the redeployment of Russian troops in the village had removed it from view and thick foliage prevented UAV surveillance.
These troops advanced cautiously to the western end of Novodarovka and began an assault on Russian positions to secure the crossroads dividing the settlement. After fierce fighting, Russian troops withdrew east to prevent their positions from being isolated. Fighting inside Novodarovka will continue for another week, with Russian firing positions on the eastern estate holding out until they are isolated by further Ukrainian actions in the direction of Rovnopol. Although the Russians held some positions, they no longer controlled the approaches to other Russian positions, opening up additional attack opportunities. The first new position to come under attack was the high ground west of Novodarovka. Previously, Russian positions in the populated area blocked the approaches to the heights,
Before any further action could be taken, the Russian company in front of the village of Rovnopol to the east had to be dealt with. This position controlled access to a series of wooden blocks that ran semi-contiguous from north to south. Ukrainian commanders were concerned that if they tried to push forward, Russian anti-tank guided weapons (ATGM) teams and other troops would flank them and cause significant damage to critical equipment. Therefore, it was necessary to take such a position. However, at the same time, the Ukrainian command was cautious. They lost two companies of equipment during the capture of Novodarovka. This level of casualties would have been unacceptable if they had eventually broken through the Surovikin Line.Therefore, it was extremely important that the assault on the Rivne Poland positions take place without such setbacks.
The attack on the positions of the Russian company in front of Rovnopol will be led by naval infantry forces. To carry out the operation, the attacking forces were reinforced by two tanks from a neighboring brigade and an artillery battery. The attack began with artillery preparation of Russian positions. After this, two tanks took up positions providing direct visibility of the target and began firing. Tanks moved in and out of cover and attacked Russian firing positions to attract attention and suppress the defenders. Soon after this, artillery strikes on combat positions were combined with the supply of smoke in front of the tanks. The tanks moved forward, giving the impression that they were covering the advance of the infantry with smoke.
While the tanks attracted the attention of the defenders, several platoons of Ukrainian paratroopers moved along the tree line east of the Russian combat positions. From here he began to lay down suppressive fire and advance in pairs. This action attracted the attention of the defense, who were now aware of a clear tactical game with a fixing action on its front and a major attack about to begin from its flank. The Russian unit began repositioning itself to prepare for this attack and attempted to win the skirmish in the east. Reinforcing the feeling that the city was about to be attacked, Ukrainian artillery then fired a heavy salvo into the positions, signaling an imminent attack.
The attack, when it occurred, did not materialize as Russian defenders had expected. Instead, a platoon of assault troops, having penetrated forward along the western flank of the position, then quickly advanced forward, reaching defensive positions that had been thinned out in anticipation of an attack to the east. Disoriented and fearful of encirclement, Russian troops began to retreat towards Rovnopol, abandoning communications equipment and leaving five soldiers captured.
Ukrainian forces had to quickly develop an attack beyond the company's positions, since its coordinates had been previously recorded by Russian artillery, which was striking the trenches. However, the rapid collapse of this position forced a redistribution of forces in Rovnopol itself, which allowed another brigade to launch an attack on the village and, within a few days, force the Russians to retreat to the tree line beyond the village.
Eventually, Russian troops withdrew through the water barrier behind the village and blew up several agricultural dams, flooding the area and setting up a series of ATGM firing posts in the woods beyond. The density of the anti-tank shield was significant: approximately four launchers per tree line with 50 missiles. These ATGM teams allow themselves to be advanced and then conduct anti-tank ambushes from the flank before attempting to retreat. They therefore had to be deliberately cleared before any armor could be brought forward. With only one vehicle available to overcome obstacles, Ukrainian units had to pause to consolidate their successes.
These ATGM teams allow themselves to be advanced and then conduct anti-tank ambushes from the flank before attempting to retreat. They therefore had to be deliberately cleared before any armor could be brought forward. With only one vehicle available to overcome obstacles, Ukrainian units had to pause to consolidate their successes.
The capture of Novodarovka and Rovnopol took two weeks, while the need to secure flank positions was a prerequisite for further offensive. The rate of advance during this period was therefore one tactical offensive per three days of fighting, with each offensive moving the line of control approximately 700–1,200 meters forward. The difference in methods for achieving various successes has led to completely opposite results in terms of the level of costs for the successes achieved. While the first tactical offensive on Novodarovka cost two companies of equipment, losses during the offensive on Rovnopol were small. Since these initial exchanges, both Russian and Ukrainian forces have adapted their methods. The emphasis of the Ukrainian troops shifted to withdrawing positions while preserving equipment and personnel.
II. Russian Language Lessons and Adaptation
The tactical actions around Novodarivka and Rovnopol were largely viewed as successes by Russian forces, as they inflicted enough early equipment losses to reduce the reach of Ukrainian maneuver units, suggesting a constant level of casualties deep in Russian defensive positions. At the same time, Russian losses in artillery and tanks were high, with the former worrying the Russian command more.
The losses of Russian troops, although acceptable for the 58th Combined Arms Army in terms of attrition, were nevertheless unsustainable in the conditions of a protracted offensive without the supply of reinforcements. In short, Russia achieved tactical success in preventing a breakout and could have achieved operational success if it had continued to inflict comparable materiel losses on the enemy. However, the reduction in personnel, if it continues until the fall, will create the risk of operational defeat, and the loss of artillery systems threatens to reduce the ability to deplete Ukrainian troops. Given these dynamics, several changes were made to Russian defensive operations.
The first adaptation was to increase the depth of the minefields. Before the offensive, Russian minefields were doctrinally set to a depth of 120 meters. After the initial engagements, it was noted that mines of this depth could be penetrated by MICLIC and UR-77 to a depth sufficient to allow infantry to penetrate Russian defensive positions.
Thus, the goal was to increase the depth of the minefields to 500 meters, which far exceeds the capabilities of a quick breakthrough. This had a number of secondary consequences. First, Russian logistics systems were organized to equip brigades with sufficient mines in accordance with doctrinal templates. The increased field depth means that Russian forces do not have enough mines to consistently counter this load with a mine density consistent with doctrine. The result was the improvisation of explosive devices, an expansion of the range of mines available and a decrease in the regularity of minefields.
Other common measures included placing two anti-tank mines together—one on top of the other—to compensate for the reduced density by ensuring single mine strikes immobilized vehicles, even if the vehicles were equipped with dozer blades. Before this, a tank equipped with a bulldozer blade often withstood three mine hits before being immobilized by the fourth. Although minefield consistency has now decreased, this has made Ukrainian minefield planning and exploration much more difficult.
Russian forces have also concluded that the practice of using pre-registered fire to hit friendly positions if they are lost is ineffective and dangerous when the enemy has an artillery advantage in terms of detection, range and counterbattery accuracy. Problems with this method include detection of friendly guns, reduced effectiveness due to the tendency of Ukrainians to withdraw from combat positions as quickly as possible, and dependence on communications.
To solve these problems, the Russians resorted to preparing their combat positions to destroy their reserves. This is often done using improvised charges. The plan is to blow up the first line as soon as Ukrainian troops reach their fighting positions and Russian troops withdraw through the rear of the trenches. According to the Russians, this is more rapid and effective than the use of artillery fire, and poses a threat to the bravest and most combat-ready airborne units of Ukrainian formations, deterring attacks on firing posts.
If the increased complexity and extent of minefields imposes restrictions on the enemy's tempo, and the backup demolition of combat positions inhibits the rapid clearing of positions, then such an enemy consolidation requires that the Russians have the means to inflict damage on advancing troops. Artillery remains the primary method, but due to fewer guns and the need to protect them, greater emphasis is now placed on other means.
One of the main methods adopted by the Russian Armed Forces is to place groups of ATGMs on the flanks of their positions, with priority given to more trained and motivated troops to conduct anti-tank ambushes. While there are limited personnel capable and willing to fight in this manner, there appears to be no shortage of Russian anti-tank systems, with the Ukrainian military noting that these groups are well equipped with newly produced ammunition. These troops also have priority for engaging enemy aircraft.
The use of strike aircraft presented a constant challenge to Ukrainian forces throughout the counteroffensive. The greatest threat is posed by the Ka-52 “Alligators” firing the “Vikhr” and “Ataka” ATGMs.
However, the Russians have also begun installing Ataka on the Mi-35M, which also perform area attacks using salvos of raised S-8 missiles.Air strikes are carried out from a depth of approximately eight to ten kilometers from the target. The Ukrainian military notes that the presence of strike aircraft is often indicated by the removal of GPS jamming among Russian formations, reflecting the need for precise navigation to coordinate strikes given that both armies use many of the same platforms.
Russian helicopter groups also often use helicopters equipped with electronic warfare equipment for defensive purposes, equipped with targeting units designed for radar guidance. The Russians have to keep helicopters relatively close to the front lines, leaving their forward weapons, refueling and other infrastructure vulnerable. However, the lack of Ukrainian tactical air defense, the low altitude supported by these assets, and the limited period of time,
The Russian military also decided to tactically exploit opportunities when Ukrainian forces became bogged down in aggressive flanking attacks with armored vehicles to cripple Ukrainian systems. It is worth noting that Russia often loses tanks used for these counterattacks, but they cause disproportionate damage because the mines limit the ability of Ukrainian vehicles to maneuver or react. This willingness to counterattack and the decision to defend attackers underscores that the training of Russian tank crews and other specialists continues to function, producing new crews with some tactical competence compared to the problems of collective training that hamper Russian infantry.
There are also areas of adaptation that reflect significant improvements in practice and are not specific to the current context. One area in which Russia will continue to adapt, as well as improve, is electronic warfare. The Russian electronic warfare system is a major area of investment, and Russian electronic warfare operators are generally technically competent. However, Russian EW platforms are largely modernized versions of Soviet equipment, with each type of actuator placed on one large platform, with groups of platforms providing a wide range of EW effects.
The vulnerability of this approach was recognized by the RF Armed Forces, given the focus on specific emission sources.
First of all, this led to a much more subtle use of large platforms, such as the Resident R330-Zh. This has also led to a preference for mounting antennas on lightweight platforms, or dismantling and deploying antennas that can be placed to cover tactical positions. Thus, the transmission of influence through the antenna can be carried out by electronic warfare systems that are not tied to the emitting signature. Losing an antenna when they come under attack is a cost the Russian military thinks they can bear.
This is a period of transition and therefore there is no uniform approach. However, the preference to use systems like Pole-21 and treat them as expendable systems to provide broad protection against UAV strikes reflects a change in thinking and how the Russian electronic warfare industry is learning lessons from the conflict.
Another interesting area of conceptual innovation that began before the Ukrainian offensive but has been accelerated by today's dynamics is the transition to Russian fire doctrine. Based on statistics collected during World War II, Russian artillery established fire levels that were estimated to provide a certain effect on certain targets.
For example, it was estimated that 720 rounds were needed to suppress a platoon's fighting position. This is the basis on which Russian fires operated during the early stages of the invasion of Ukraine. Russians now consider this approach unviable. First, Russian forces do not have the ammunition to withstand this volume of fire. Secondly, the logistics that provide such a volume of fire are too vulnerable to detection and high-precision strikes at a long distance. Thirdly, the loss of the counter-battery radar and wear of the barrels led to a decrease in the effectiveness of this mass approach to firing.
The general conclusion that Russian fire doctrine is not viable has led to a redoubled focus on the concept of the Reconnaissance Fire Complex (ROC), which prioritizes effect over volume. While production of a range of Russian ammunition has become limited, production of the 152mm Krasnopol laser-guided rounds has been a priority, with the new rounds being widely available across the front. The use of UAVs to provide guidance to Krasnopol has also increased. The Lancet was also widely used in conjunction with FPV UAVs to strike forward Ukrainian units. When used in conjunction with ISR UAVs, these effects ensure accuracy.
The Russian military, of course, continues to rely heavily on MLRS, 120mm mortars and other inaccurate systems, while cutting corners in ammunition production becomes apparent. Nevertheless,the trend seems to be towards maximizing accuracy and reducing the number of shots needed to achieve the desired result, rather than resorting to saturating fire. This is a worrying trend as it will likely significantly improve Russian artillery over time.
The increasing complexity, variety and density of Russian UAVs is a cause for concern. The improvement in both warhead efficiency and economics of its design between Lancet 3 and Lancet 3M demonstrates how the Russians are actively improving their warhead equipment. Also noteworthy are modifications to loitering ammunition to reduce noise on the Shahed-136 and improve navigation. It is obvious here that the AFRF is actively learning from Ukrainian forces and thereby reducing the extent of some Ukrainian advantages.
Effective warfare depends on communications. And here the Russian army has made important progress. At the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian forces relied heavily on custom-made military radios. The scramble for equipment late last year involved a wide range of civilian systems. Conceptually, however, the Russians now appear to have moved on, relying increasingly on military data networks as well as application-based services to encode and access data.
As a result, a system like Strelets can provide 3G connectivity to multiple devices running applications that are intuitive for civilian users.This separation of communication channels and services is in its infancy, and the security and reliability of the systems under test must be questioned. However, the reduced training burden associated with this approach and the improvements already achieved in fire control mean that the Russian military will likely continue to move in this direction and increasingly systematize its communications architecture around these methods.
(c) Jack Whiting and Nick Reynolds
PS. Then there was a lengthy block about the problems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and what NATO should do to eliminate structural deficiencies and problems before the 2024 campaign.
Text taken from the Telegram channel of Viktor Murakhovsky
All previous weapons programs have been scrapped. As well as the state armaments program currently being developed for the period until 2035. The priorities of programs aimed at fulfilling tasks in the field of the Aerospace Forces and the Navy are a thing of the past. Now completely different tasks are coming to the fore, primarily in terms of developing the potential of the Ground Forces.
Tanks play an important role in the potential of ground forces. And not only there, but they also make a significant contribution to the development of the Airborne Forces, Marine Corps and coastal forces of the Navy.
The war on land is concrete, bloody, tanks are shooting at each other at a distance of hundreds of meters. For enemy losses, please refer to the website “Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation.” Our losses are also impressive.
This is a people's war. In addition to the conscription of the 300,000 conscripts, there was widespread support for various initiatives carried out by volunteers using funds raised from public money.
I will note those that are carried out for tank forces:
- equipping tanks with closed communication means that allow communication with infantry and artillery, with all interacting bodies;
- equipping tanks with dynamic protection “boxes”;
- equipping tanks with programs for firing from a closed firing position (IOP);
- equipping tanks with electronic warfare equipment;
- equipping tanks with camouflage means.
Now the troops are receiving tanks T-72B3 (upgraded in 2023), T-90M, T-80BVM, T-62MV-1. Plus, the troops have tanks from previous years of production. Where is Armata?
Unfortunately, the company of Armata tanks in the army has been disbanded; their further path follows from the desire to improve it. When will he appear in the troops? Not until next year.
The T-14 "Armata" will fully play a leading role on the battlefield when it is in a single armored battle formation along with the heavy infantry fighting vehicle T-15 "Barberry". Advancing after the firing line of the mobile firing zone supplied by 2S35 "Coalition-SV".
This offensive can be supported by:
- ATGM based on MT-LB;
- Tunguska-M1 air defense systems and Tor-M2 air defense systems;
- UR-77 mine clearing installation, BMR-3M combat clearing vehicles, MTU-90 tank bridge layer;
- PRP-5 artillery reconnaissance vehicles;
- combat vehicles of the aircraft controller BOMAN;
- a group of electronic warfare equipment.
All calculations have been carried out, the composition of forces and means has been determined.
Our cause is just, the enemy will be defeated, victory will be ours!
The involvement of Yevgeny Prigozhin in the rebellion, the “secret dungeons of the Kremlin”, the criminal case - what incredible rumors were generated about the former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Commander of the United Group of Russian Forces in the Ukrainian direction, Army General, Hero of Russia Sergei Vladimirovich Surovikin.
After Turkish President Erdogan’s visit to President Vladimir Putin, journalists in Sochi asked Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was part of the Russian delegation, whether an investigation was underway into Surovikin’s activities. The Minister of Defense remained silent - and it is clear why. He considered it beneath his dignity to react to gossip.
But the indirect response was the appearance in Ksenia Sobchak’s channel of a fresh photograph of Sergei Surovikin in civilian clothes, arm in arm with his wife, against the backdrop of decorative grapes and tall pines wrapping around the wall. Sobchak said that the general is “alive, well, at home, with his family, in Moscow.” Why was Ksenia trusted to disseminate this information? This had its own irony: whoever spreads loud rumors should refute them.
Let us recall the outline of the development of events with the participation of “General Armageddon”.
On October 8, 2022, it becomes known that Sergei Shoigu appoints General Surovikin as commander of the troops in the Northern Military District zone.
On October 10, Russia begins to launch constant massive attacks on the energy structure of Ukraine.
On November 9, Surovikin reports to Shoigu on the need to withdraw Russian troops from Kherson.
On January 11, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov became the commander of the Russian group in the special operation zone, and Sergei Surovikin became one of his three deputies.
In June, the general is in Rostov at the time of the mutiny of the head of the Wagner PMC. He records a video message to the rioters: “I urge you to stop and return to your places of deployment.” After this, Surovikin “disappears from the radar.”
This is where various rumors about his fate begin to circulate. The head of the State Duma Committee on Defense, Andrei Kartapolov, characterizes the situation very briefly: “He is resting for now, unavailable.” As we see now, he was rested, judging by his fresh appearance, and available.
The general’s possible “fall from grace” is associated with Prigozhin’s “march on Moscow.” In fact, no evidence of Sergei Surovikin’s involvement in the conspiracy was made public. We raised Yevgeny Prigozhin’s past statements about him.
October 2022: “Surovikin is the most competent commander in the Russian army.” November, after the withdrawal of troops from Kherson: “He acted like a man... He is the Brusilov of today.”
April 2023: “Sergei Vladimirovich Surovikin took direct part in the development and implementation of the Bakhmut operation at the time when he headed the group. And therefore, I would attribute a huge number of decisions that were made to his account.” “The increase in Surovikin’s rating makes me happy.”
At the same time, in the spring, Prigozhin admitted: “I haven’t seen Surovikin for a long time, I don’t know what he’s doing.”
Against the backdrop of Prigozhin’s complimentary statements, the words of the commander of the Donbass battalion, Alexander Khodakovsky, were contradictory: leaving Kherson, according to his information, was “purely a decision” of Surovikin. It is clear between the lines that other solutions were possible.
And now let’s state how the NWO continued after General Surovikin left the public field. Against the backdrop of Prigozhin’s complimentary statements, the words of the commander of the Donbass battalion, Alexander Khodakovsky, were contradictory: leaving Kherson, according to his information, was “purely a decision” of Surovikin. It is clear between the lines that other solutions were possible. And now let’s state how the NWO continued after General Surovikin left the public field.
Against the backdrop of Prigozhin’s complimentary statements, the words of the commander of the Donbass battalion, Alexander Khodakovsky, were contradictory: leaving Kherson, according to his information, was “purely a decision” of Surovikin. It is clear between the lines that other solutions were possible. And now let’s state how the NWO continued after General Surovikin left the public field.
It is enough to quote the words of Vladimir Putin at a press conference with Erdogan: “As for the stalling of Ukraine’s counter-offensive, this is not a stalling, it is a failure.” At the same time, no one glorifies the exploits of the head of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, belittling other military leaders. No one is trying to rename the "Surovikin Line" - the fortifications that prevented the Ukrainian "counter-offensive" - after the names of other commanders who actually planned and oversaw its construction for many months.
The military methodically, every day, without hysterics or, conversely, fanfare, do their job - as one team. As it should be in the army. The reappearance of Sergei Surovikin in the public sphere is a sign that it is absolutely possible that he will be in demand again. But again - only as part of a single team. After all, without unity it is much more difficult to win.
#4
Why not? The Kremlin needs a fall guy when losing Ukraine
American world news information awareness…….I had to take a screen shot to show my friends at the club during chukkas tomorrows.
…….this is why America is doom LOL
Ukraine should be ready to become an EU member in the next two years, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina told Voice of America on Friday. As Kiev’s official responsible for "European and Euro-Atlantic integration," she says her nation is one of the "best prepared" for such a step.
"I believe that two years would be enough for full preparedness," Stefanishina said, when asked about Ukraine’s EU prospects. She also vowed to do "10 times more than we do now" to achieve the goal once the conflict with Moscow ends. However, the minister admitted that the timeline would ultimately be determined by the "course of war."
According to Stefanishina, Ukraine remains one of the "best prepared [nations] for the EU accession" since it is "a big part of the European economy" even in the midst of armed conflict. The country is one of the EU’s "top 20" import partners and the Ukrainian domestic market is "the biggest" on the territory of Europe, she stated.
We don't have a category Salo-Reich fantasies, do we?
Posted by: Grom the Reflective ||
09/10/2023 01:56 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[12 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
The EU has already declared the Ukraine will become a member of the EU. Who is harboring fantasies now?
[Stars & Stripes] At a recent town hall back home in Omaha, Republican Rep. Don Bacon was confronted by one of his constituents who, like a growing number of conservatives, was displeased with the vast sums of U.S. weaponry and money being given to Ukraine. Why, this man wanted to know, does the congressman believe that after 18 months it remains in America’s best interest to continue bankrolling the war?
Bacon, a retired Air Force general, was ready. Russia, he explained, launched its invasion because Ukraine was growing closer to the United States, becoming more democratic, and posing an existential threat to the authoritarian rule of President Vladimir Putin and his desire to reclaim the Kremlin’s lost empire.
"I told the town hall: ’When I was a kid, if you had a bully on the playground - that bully never stops unless he gets punched in the nose," Bacon said later in an interview. " ’And so we’ve got to stand up to Putin here.’ " But he said he included a caveat in that response too: "We shouldn’t give just a blank check to Biden. He’s got to justify why he needs this."
The exchange in Nebraska is emblematic of a growing tension throughout the Republican Party, and among a small number of Democrats, as Congress begins anew the contentious process of considering just how big of a check President Biden can have to sustain the flow of U.S. assistance - and for how long lawmakers will keep the spigot open. American attitudes toward Ukraine are shifting, Capitol Hill is feeling the pressure as the country heads into an election year, and Ukraine’s highly anticipated summer offensive has made only minor territorial gains thus far. So, with each subsequent ask for funding, securing congressional approval is likely to grow more challenging, lawmakers and analysts say.
The White House in August sent lawmakers a supplemental budget request seeking $40 billion, more than half of which would go toward aiding Ukraine and related efforts intended to shore up NATO allies’ defenses and provide a cushion for other vulnerable countries impacted by the war. The funding, if approved, would bring total U.S. investment to $135 billion, according to an analysis by Mark F. Cancian at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
As the war struggles onward, though, questions like the one aired in Omaha reflect a larger dispute that’s tearing at the GOP, whose raucous right flank is waging an aggressive campaign to rally public support for slashing Ukraine aid. If some Republicans had their way, the price tag on future assistance would be zero.
#2
Bacon, a retired Air Force general, was ready. Russia, he explained, launched its invasion because Ukraine was growing closer to the United States, becoming more democratic, and posing an existential threat to the authoritarian rule of President Vladimir Putin and his desire to reclaim the Kremlin’s lost empire.
And anybody who'd call the estimed general an ignoramus or/and liar must be Putin's agent.
#4
As long as Putin wants to build a NovayaRossiya empire out of his neighbors, it's in our interests to help Ukraine kill Russians at their own risk using our obsolete hardware.
#5
Most of the weapons the US sends to Ukraine is decommissioned cold war or War on Terror surplus that US forces would never use and would have to pay to store or scrap. The US is paying little build new weapons. This is funny (phony) money.
The major layout is for ammunition. The US sends old stock and buys new stock for those that the US wants to replace.
#6
As long as Putin wants to build a NovayaRossiya empire out of his neighbors, it's in our interests to help Ukraine kill Russians at their own risk using our obsolete hardware.
I would think USA national interest is to restore things at home. You know, things like constitutional republic, equality before the law, industrial base - so you don't have to rely on Chinese exports. But what do I know? I'm so ignorant (not having the luck to be born an American, or the brains to stay in USA after 6 years of living there), I think that NATO's 20+ years of eastward expansion constitute a provocation justifying Russian response. I think that dogmatic American insistence that Ukraine and the Baltics are shining examples of democracy - despite their oppression of Russian minorities are on par with the insistence (by the very same people) that USA suffers from systemic racism/sexism/and whataboutism.
Finally, I think that people who don't understand the difference between patriotism and "cheering for our team" are morons who don't understand that USA became an attack dog of Globalists.
#7
I think you are a Russian that still hasn't grown past your longing for "Greater Russia". It isn't Russians or your right to decide what former captive nations of the USSR decide to be friendly with or seek protection from.
#8
'Shining example of democracy' is not required to be better than Putin's kleptocracy. And last I checked it was Russia on Ukraine's side of the border, not the reverse. Nothing says peace and Slavic fellowship like slaughtering your neighbors. Putin can end the war any time he wants by leaving.
And, yeah, you're a Putin parrot. Why don't you spend some time on your lovely Israeli 'supreme court' if you're so concerned about representative governance.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/10/2023 15:32 Comments ||
Top||
#14
Ukraine was a democracy before Victoria Nuland engineered a coup there in 2014. After that is was just a corrupt little shit hole where Joe Biden went to twist arms and collect bribes. The last man on earth who I want to hear talking about democracy is Joe Biden.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/10/2023 16:14 Comments ||
Top||
#15
^It was always (since 1991) a corrupt little shit-hole.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/10/2023 16:51 Comments ||
Top||
#17
^Or Russia was the same thing. Until forces led by Putin took power and rebuild the country.* In Ukraine there was no such forces, so it continued it's merry way (52 millions in 1991, 40 million in 2014, 30 million before the war).
However, in 2014 somebody in Obama's team - maybe the Lightbringer himself - had a brilliant idea how to deal with Russia ignoring Obama's red lines in Syria.
"What if we'll otherthrow the pro-Russian (meaning not pathologically hostile to Russia) by a pro-Western government that will deny Russia the Sevastopol port. Then Russians won't be able to flaut our will in Syria. But, why would Ukrainians do it they've extensive trade with Russia & all these historic relations? We'll promise them membership in EU & NATO (free staff).
But, are they that dumb? Dumber."
And the rest is history: "The rebirth of Russian Empire".
#21
Until forces led by Putin took power and rebuild the country.
Putin built nothing. He rode the rise in energy prices that began at the end of the 90's. There was a lot more to money loot and government coffers filled as prices rose and western energy majors tapped Siberian oil and gas fields. Historical crude oil price. Select all on graph.
#23
Been thinking "Highly Albedinous" meself every time he gets (or affects to get) a h.o. for black folks. Mind you, I've always liked him and am glad he's back.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
