The War in the Ukraine

Ukrainian soldier: Russian artillery in Ukraine is hell. A soldier of the Ukrainian army appreciated the work of Russian artillery in Ukraine. According to him, this is hell, Russian artillery strikes everyone, Smerch MLRS, Hurricane MLRS, tanks, everything strikes, Russian artillery strikes for an hour, for two, and then the Russian army begins to attack, Ukrainian soldiers have to sit in the trenches and hide from the blows of the Russian Army


The Russian army hunts down and destroys Western weapons supplied to Ukraine. The M109A3GN self-propelled guns delivered by Norway to Ukraine with a caliber of 155 mm came under attack by Russian artillery in Ukraine. The M109 self-propelled guns were tracked by UAVs and the Russian MLRS Grad struck. On the video, you can see the guaranteed destruction of one installation, it is quite possible that others were damaged, since the body of the self-propelled guns is made of aluminum alloy. SAU M109A3GN is a Norwegian version of the American M109 SPG, which was supplied to many countries in various modifications.

People talk about the t-62 being old i am curious have there been any t-55's operating in ukraine? Wiki says ukraine has or had t-55 variants but i don't think i've seen anything of them.

⚡️Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry

The Ukrainian grouping in Donbass is suffering significant losses in manpower, weapons and military equipment.

During the liberation of Svyatogorsk in Donetsk People's Republic in three days of fighting alone, Ukrainian troops suffered losses of over 300 nationalists, six tanks, 15 armoured combat vehicles of various types, 36 field artillery guns and mortars, 4 Grad multiple rocket launchers and over 20 automotive equipment.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.

High-precision air-based missiles have hit armoured plant near Kharkov, which have been repairing and restoring tanks and other AFU armoured vehicles.

In addition, high-precision air-based missiles have hit 2 command posts, 13 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 1 battery of Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems near Kharkov. 4 weapon and ammunition depots have been destroyed near Malinovka in Kharkov Region, Spornoe in Donetsk People's Republic and Zvanovka in Lugansk People's Republic. 1 fuel depot for AFU equipment has been destroyed near Chuhuev, Kharkov Region.

Operational-tactical aviation have hit 63 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

The attacks have resulted in the elimination of command post of 14th AFU Mechanized Brigade, over 160 nationalists, 8 tanks, 2 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 1 artillery battery, 1 electronic warfare station and 13 vehicles of various purposes.

Russian air defence means have shot down 2 MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force near Snegirevka, Nikolaev Region, as well as 1 Mi-8 helicopter near Belaya Krinitsya, Nikolaev Region.

In addition, 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Donetsk, Rubtsy, Lozovoe, Krasnorechenskoe, Koroviy Yar, Peski Rad'kovskoe in Donetsk Peolple's Republic, Izyum, Dergachi in Kharkov Region and Chernobaivka in Kherson Region. 3 Tochka-U missiles and 5 Smerch rockets have been intercepted near Chernobaevka, Kherson Region.

Missile and artillery have hit 68 command posts, 172 AFU artillery positions, including 2 batteries of Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems near Aleksandrovka and Kutuzovka, 1 battery of Uragan MLRS near Kitsevka, Kharkov region, as well as 261 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 320 nationalists, 4 ammunition depots near Novolenovka in Zaporozhye Region, 9 armoured vehicles, 3 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 15 field artillery and mortars, 14 special vehicles, and Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile launchers near Shelkoplyasy and OSA-AKM in Verhnyaya Roganka in Kharkov Region.

In total, 192 Ukrainian airplanes and 130 helicopters, 1,150 unmanned aerial vehicles, 335 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,459 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 489 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,822 field artillery and mortars, as well as 3,488 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing
@mod_russia_en

Nill said:

People talk about the t-62 being old i am curious have there been any t-55's operating in ukraine? Wiki says ukraine has or had t-55 variants but i don't think i've seen anything of them.

Click to expand...

Outside of the T-54 taken down from its memorial, I think in Mariupol, we haven't seen any T-55/54 yet.


Mi-8AMTSh being used against the Ukrainians

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/v7ineq

here are the journalist's observations:
- ukrainians have excellent artillery training & equipment
- AFU emphasize small unit tactics; this slowed down russian advance at the beginning of the war
- russian offensive routes largely matched with those ukrainians trained for in NATO exercises
- border regions were full of photo traps & other surveillance equipment that gave ukrainians a good idea of what was happening militarily
- even a full liberation of the DPR & LPR won't secure Donetsk from ukrainian shelling because of long-range weapon systems
- the seemingly senseless shelling of Donetsk is explained by ukrainian attempts to cause discontent among civilians in the sense that the RuAF cannot protect them
- the capture of Lisichansk will mark the full liberation of the LPR
- "small cauldron" tactics & the slow advances are deliberate, but not the tactics of choice; russians are advancing at best with a 1:1 ratio and often against a numerically superior enemy
- prisoner exchanges are still taking place, but not mass exchanges, 15 for 15, 30 for 30
- ukrainian army generally refuses to pick up their dead despite being offered ceasefires to do so
- the average level of experience in the AFU has dropped significantly since the start of the war, it's now 20% professionals and 80% conscripts
- ukrainian infantry is of very low quality in terms of training & morale; their artillery & special forces are decent
- ukrainians generally don't accept close quarter combat and retreat instead, but they usually do so in an organized manner
- volunteers from all over russia who are trained in Gudermes (Chechenya) are doing quite well in the war
- this scale of combat is seen for the first time since WW2; Kots has never worked in a conflict of this intensity
- russia is not at war with ukraine, but with the entire NATO infrastructure: intelligence, satellites, communications, military equipment, counter-battery systems, electronic warfare systems
- "bayraktars" are absolute crap, they're fish in a barrel for any decent anti-air
- ukrainians are having problems with some munitions, e.g. their Smerch & Uragan MLRS systems rarely fire in volleys nowadays, mostly single shots
- ukrainian artillery is often the only thing slowing down russian advances
- securing Donbass won't automatically win the war


gotta say, this conflict renewed my respect for artillery, creeping barrages followed by clean up is a perfectly viable method of fighting if your enemy doesn't have air superiority/supremacy; good ol' cannons are not an obsolete weapon system

alfreddango said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1534465824274239489

here are the journalist's observations:
- ukrainians have excellent artillery training & equipment
- AFU emphasize small unit tactics; this slowed down russian advance at the beginning of the war
- russian offensive routes largely matched with those ukrainians trained for in NATO exercises
- border regions were full of photo traps & other surveillance equipment that gave ukrainians a good idea of what was happening militarily
- even a full liberation of the DPR & LPR won't secure Donetsk from ukrainian shelling because of long-range weapon systems
- the seemingly senseless shelling of Donetsk is explained by ukrainian attempts to cause discontent among civilians in the sense that the RuAF cannot protect them
- the capture of Lisichansk will mark the full liberation of the LPR
- "small cauldron" tactics & the slow advances are deliberate, but not the tactics of choice; russians are advancing at best with a 1:1 ratio and often against a numerically superior enemy
- prisoner exchanges are still taking place, but not mass exchanges, 15 for 15, 30 for 30
- ukrainian army generally refuses to pick up their dead despite being offered ceasefires to do so
- the average level of experience in the AFU has dropped significantly since the start of the war, it's now 20% professionals and 80% conscripts
- ukrainian infantry is of very low quality in terms of training & morale; their artillery & special forces are decent
- ukrainians generally don't accept close quarter combat and retreat instead, but they usually do so in an organized manner
- volunteers from all over russia who are trained in Gudermes (Chechenya) are doing quite well in the war
- this scale of combat is seen for the first time since WW2; Kots has never worked in a conflict of this intensity
- russia is not at war with ukraine, but with the entire NATO infrastructure: intelligence, satellites, communications, military equipment, counter-battery systems, electronic warfare systems
- "bayraktars" are absolute crap, they're fish in a barrel for any decent anti-air
- ukrainians are having problems with some munitions, e.g. their Smerch & Uragan MLRS systems rarely fire in volleys nowadays, mostly single shots
- ukrainian artillery is often the only thing slowing down russian advances
- securing Donbass won't automatically win the war


gotta say, this conflict renewed my respect for artillery, creeping barrages followed by clean up is a perfectly viable method of fighting if your enemy doesn't have air superiority/supremacy; good ol' cannons are not an obsolete weapon system

Click to expand...

This is an good summary, how reliable is this source? RE: artillery, if you played World of Tanks video game (made by Russians), you would learn artillery is very powerful and often times overpowered (OP). Paired with modern drones that provide real-time updates on targets and correct fire, artillery is super deadly. It's likely the only reason Ukraine is still in the game due to their artillery. Without it, they will inevitable lose. This is why it's crucial for Russia to interdict artillery, MRLS, AA systems the moment it crosses into Ukrainian territory, or at minimum the war will be prolonged with more causalities for both sides.

alfreddango said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1534465824274239489

here are the journalist's observations:
- ukrainians have excellent artillery training & equipment
- AFU emphasize small unit tactics; this slowed down russian advance at the beginning of the war
- russian offensive routes largely matched with those ukrainians trained for in NATO exercises
- border regions were full of photo traps & other surveillance equipment that gave ukrainians a good idea of what was happening militarily
- even a full liberation of the DPR & LPR won't secure Donetsk from ukrainian shelling because of long-range weapon systems
- the seemingly senseless shelling of Donetsk is explained by ukrainian attempts to cause discontent among civilians in the sense that the RuAF cannot protect them
- the capture of Lisichansk will mark the full liberation of the LPR
- "small cauldron" tactics & the slow advances are deliberate, but not the tactics of choice; russians are advancing at best with a 1:1 ratio and often against a numerically superior enemy
- prisoner exchanges are still taking place, but not mass exchanges, 15 for 15, 30 for 30
- ukrainian army generally refuses to pick up their dead despite being offered ceasefires to do so
- the average level of experience in the AFU has dropped significantly since the start of the war, it's now 20% professionals and 80% conscripts
- ukrainian infantry is of very low quality in terms of training & morale; their artillery & special forces are decent
- ukrainians generally don't accept close quarter combat and retreat instead, but they usually do so in an organized manner
- volunteers from all over russia who are trained in Gudermes (Chechenya) are doing quite well in the war
- this scale of combat is seen for the first time since WW2; Kots has never worked in a conflict of this intensity
- russia is not at war with ukraine, but with the entire NATO infrastructure: intelligence, satellites, communications, military equipment, counter-battery systems, electronic warfare systems
- "bayraktars" are absolute crap, they're fish in a barrel for any decent anti-air
- ukrainians are having problems with some munitions, e.g. their Smerch & Uragan MLRS systems rarely fire in volleys nowadays, mostly single shots
- ukrainian artillery is often the only thing slowing down russian advances
- securing Donbass won't automatically win the war


gotta say, this conflict renewed my respect for artillery, creeping barrages followed by clean up is a perfectly viable method of fighting if your enemy doesn't have air superiority/supremacy; good ol' cannons are not an obsolete weapon system

Click to expand...

Yeah this sounds all very on point. MLRS ammo shortage is a bit unexpected, I would've thought Russia would be fine with unguided rocket production. I can think of one solution:

There's a certain unnamed country with a very large stockpile of krasnopol laser guided artillery rounds, those rounds are getting on with age and it might be high time for them to go back to the factory for refurbishment. During refurbishment it would of course be expected that some of the ammo would be sampled at random to determine how well they are standing up to aging and corrosion.

No. What he is saying is that Ukraine are running out of MLRS rockets. Not Russia. That would explain this urgency to get systems from NATO.
In particular the larger caliber MLRS weren't widely exported. So there shouldn't be that many stocks in NATO countries.

Phead128 said:

This is an good summary, how reliable is this source? RE: artillery, if you played World of Tanks video game (made by Russians), you would learn artillery is very powerful and often times overpowered (OP). Paired with modern drones that provide real-time updates on targets and correct fire, artillery is super deadly. It's likely the only reason Ukraine is still in the game due to their artillery. Without it, they will inevitable lose. This is why it's crucial for Russia to interdict artillery, MRLS, AA systems the moment it crosses into Ukrainian territory, or at minimum the war will be prolonged with more causalities for both sides.

Click to expand...

russian journalist's observations disseminated by a pro russian twitter account.
personally I'll take these with a grain of salt and just use them as a starting point: if events on the battlefield will unfold like so in the next days/weeks, it'll mean he will have been reliable

alfreddango said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1534465824274239489

here are the journalist's observations:
- ukrainians have excellent artillery training & equipment
- AFU emphasize small unit tactics; this slowed down russian advance at the beginning of the war
- russian offensive routes largely matched with those ukrainians trained for in NATO exercises
- border regions were full of photo traps & other surveillance equipment that gave ukrainians a good idea of what was happening militarily
- even a full liberation of the DPR & LPR won't secure Donetsk from ukrainian shelling because of long-range weapon systems
- the seemingly senseless shelling of Donetsk is explained by ukrainian attempts to cause discontent among civilians in the sense that the RuAF cannot protect them
- the capture of Lisichansk will mark the full liberation of the LPR
- "small cauldron" tactics & the slow advances are deliberate, but not the tactics of choice; russians are advancing at best with a 1:1 ratio and often against a numerically superior enemy
- prisoner exchanges are still taking place, but not mass exchanges, 15 for 15, 30 for 30
- ukrainian army generally refuses to pick up their dead despite being offered ceasefires to do so
- the average level of experience in the AFU has dropped significantly since the start of the war, it's now 20% professionals and 80% conscripts
- ukrainian infantry is of very low quality in terms of training & morale; their artillery & special forces are decent
- ukrainians generally don't accept close quarter combat and retreat instead, but they usually do so in an organized manner
- volunteers from all over russia who are trained in Gudermes (Chechenya) are doing quite well in the war
- this scale of combat is seen for the first time since WW2; Kots has never worked in a conflict of this intensity
- russia is not at war with ukraine, but with the entire NATO infrastructure: intelligence, satellites, communications, military equipment, counter-battery systems, electronic warfare systems
- "bayraktars" are absolute crap, they're fish in a barrel for any decent anti-air
- ukrainians are having problems with some munitions, e.g. their Smerch & Uragan MLRS systems rarely fire in volleys nowadays, mostly single shots
- ukrainian artillery is often the only thing slowing down russian advances
- securing Donbass won't automatically win the war


gotta say, this conflict renewed my respect for artillery, creeping barrages followed by clean up is a perfectly viable method of fighting if your enemy doesn't have air superiority/supremacy; good ol' cannons are not an obsolete weapon system

Click to expand...

To overcome artillery, one has to be, if or when one possess the assets sufficiently, willing to risk aerial offense in significant numbers, no?