Commentary by Russian blogger Donetsk
[DonRF] Blue - enemy control, red - ours. What does Balakleya give to the enemy?
See the graphic at the link
It gives a significant, by the standards of this conflict, advancement, a direct threat to Kupyansk and Izyum, and, with a favorable development of the situation, the capture of a significant part of the KhNR. Plus media bonuses - an arsenal (I was assured that it was taken out) and the city.
Small, but a win. What does this bring us? You can forget about offensive operations in the north. In principle, until the recapture of the lost areas. We have not lost the city; there are battles going on. It all depends on the reserves and on which units are holding it. For the same regiments mobilized in the DLNR ...
Emphasis mine: AKA a meeting engagement.
For understanding - the Soviet motorized rifle regiment is three motorized rifle and tank battalions, artillery and anti-aircraft divisions, an anti-tank battery, reconnaissance and rear services. A total of 2600 people, 40 tanks, 147 infantry fighting vehicles, 8 self-propelled guns, 9 ATGMs, 6ZSU, 6 air defense systems.
Secondary formations were planned to be weaker, but with equipment. In principle, that regiment is equal to the brigade now. Therefore, by the way, UAVs and communications could not have bothered in the USSR either - there was no reception against scrap.
And in the DLNR, a regiment is light infantry without heavy weapons. In the units which are lucky there are mortars and several armored personnel carriers. That is, in fact, for the third time (Ingulets, Vysokopolye, Balakliya), the strike falls on light infantry of the militia type. And this is not an accident. The Ukrainians not idiots, sitting on the other side. Soberly assessing their strengths and capabilities, they choose areas for operations where second-class units are located.
And we closed a number of sites with them. Why is it clear is the front (calling things without euphemisms such as lines of contact) has a huge length, with a small number of troops.
The enemy, for a second instance, has a threefold advantage in people. And to cover this huge line with something of little value is a huge temptation. They cover it ... in the first line. It is clear that when personnel units strike, light infantry retreats. It has no means to reflect this. And the nuances of mobilizing resistance to hundredth regiments are not added.
Of course there is a way out. All and sundry talk about it. There are even two of them - to attack on their own, and then the enemy will defend themselves, or else form normal regiments, already from citizens of the Russian Federation who have completed contract service, with normal equipment and normal staff.
And take hundredth regiments to the rear and retrain them. In terms of both weapons and personnel. Then yes, there will be an effect. In the meantime, we have what we have. Namely, enemy strikes where they were not expected, and these are the situations when winter comes suddenly, like with Soviet road builders.
Let's see how the situation will end. I'm skeptical about Ukrainian peers, if only because "guys go, there's no one there" does not differ from "lads, go, there's no one there" practically nothing. It’s just that the bells themselves are not good, moreover, rather in the media field than in the military. In the military, we can resist, but the fact that we have a tank biathlon and beautiful maneuvers:
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief observed the maneuvers. Vladimir Putin arrived at the Sergeevsky training ground together with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. They were present at the final part of the exercise, which involved more than 50,000 military personnel, thousands of pieces of military equipment, many aircraft and warships.Donetsk refers to a recently released video which showed a rather dour looking Vladimir Putin entering a press box with an apparently cowed Sergey Shoigu and his defense ministry chief of staff
This does not overlap the results of SVO. Basically. And these results of the last two months are modest. And it’s good if this time is spent on creating new combat units that have been trained and tested ... And preparing a new campaign in order to finally pacify the unexpectedly peppy pig. But if all this has been spent:
Russia is working with the UN to ensure that the Istanbul agreements are fulfilled, although the West continues to prevent food from reaching world markets
For something like this, then I can’t even begin to predict where this will lead. Not from inside, nor the outside. The weak are beaten, as one prominent politician said. The people will understand and accept everything. One vessel is a reality, but the partners will finish it off. Without options.
Later:
Evening
[DonRF] Throughout the operation, I try to maintain a minimum of neutrality in relation to the authorities and command. For the goals of the NWO are declared noble, the stakes are high, and it is stupid to beat the captain in a stormy sea.
Moreover, I can repeat that the current offensives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are more of a media nature, and their success is determined not by the high qualities of the enemy, but by frank hatred in our country. This does not apply to fighters and commanders, the army, the National Guard, Corps and PMCs which are fighting. Heroically. And that's bad. Heroism is always the consequences of mistakes and is worth the loss.
Our troops are fighting. The state does not fight. And hence the consequences. While in the form of flowers in the south and north. We will continue to play - there will be more. There are no morons, no Selyuks and no downs. And it is high time to understand this.