All it takes is a bit of thinking and logic... Why on earth would you put a launcher so close to the radar? Launchers can be deployed 15-20kms from its radar.That in itself should have raised a redflag for Russian forces but it did not. Noy only that but the radar was pointing the opposite where the launcher was pointing... another redflag. It was a decoy.
Position didn't matter. If you're trying to fool the Russians anyway you would also try to position the radar as realistic as possible. You also do not want to waste two decoys in one strike, if you can lure two separate missiles on two separate targets.
If it was a decoy both the launcher and radar would have been to blown tosmithereens. It wasn't. There were still big discernable metal wrecks there. I doubt that with the corruption going on with the Ukrainian MIC they would spend so much expense on an extremely sturdy metal decoy. Decoys are usually made from wood or balloons.
The radar is obviously in the clearing because it has a clear unobstructed view of the sky, particularly towards the horizon which is needed in dealing with low altitude targets. Trees would obviously affect the radar. Since they obviously affect radio waves that would also mean radio communication between the radar and the launching unit. So it makes sense to put them close in a wooded area. This isn't a clear empty field or a desert.
There's also the expense of this clearing. Clearings are a scarce resource by themselves, since it takes a lot of work to find the right position and clear it. This makes the position very valuable. Wasting it on a decoy would actually be an act of self suppression.
And then there's the surrounding fires. Seen enough vehicles on fire inside a forest to know what those are. Oh and an evac vehicle and a fire fighting vehicle coming to the scene. For a decoy. Yeah right.
Dima of Military Summary channel is also calling it real.
If there's anything that was a decoy it's from that satellite pic you posted on the S-300 launchers after the ATACMS strike in Crimea after the real ones have left their clearings, which would mean if there's anything left its likely a decoy.
Onto other things.
YouTube version of the Iskander-Tornado S strike on Ukrainian temporary helicopter parking field.
Another M777 taken out by Krasnopol.
105mm L119 howitzer gets knocked out by Russian counterbattery fire.
The result of a failed counterattack on the 39th Brigade yields a captured Spartan APC.
Casualties on the Belgorod apartment strike now up to 11 civilians including two children.
Lancet strike on a Western type 155mm SPG that's heavily masked. Probably a Krab.
Another Ukrainian SPG goes down by a Lancet, either an Akasya or a Gvozdika.
Krasnopols hit Ukrainian shelters in Krasnogorovka by the 238th.
Near Liptsy, Kharkhiv region, a FAB-1500 strikes a Ukrainian position.
Another Abrams gets Krasnopoled in the Avdeyevka Ochertino direction. This time, the target wasn't lighted by an Orlan but by a Granat-4 UAV, making this a first case use. This UAV is produced by Kalashnikov-ZALA. The drone has a range of 70km. Consequently this means the drone can light targets for Kitolov, Gran, Smelchak shells and X-38ML missiles.
ODAB-1500 with some messages.
Lancet strike on a Ukrainian T-72.
AGM-88 found landed in a muddy field.
The Mad Dogs and the Siberian Association takes out a Maxxpro. Both Spetznaz units operate in the Avdeyevka Ochertino region.
Russian T-72B3 firing at Ukrainian stronghold in support of an assault. Gets hit by an FPV drone but shrugs it off like a boss.
Lots of Ukrainian POWs including from Kraken unit coming from the northern front. Which means frontline contact with that unit has been made with Group North. Forum policies forbid posting of POWs however.
