Kiev Is Burning

[alejandro_]

9 hours ago, Roman Alymov said:

Rare video of pro-Rus armor recovery team at work https://t.me/boris_rozhin/137455

Thank you that is very interesting. Vehicle seems to be based on T-62 (number of roadwheels and spacing). Any idea of the model?

[Roman Alymov]

12 minutes ago, alejandro_ said:

Thank you that is very interesting. Vehicle seems to be based on T-62 (number of roadwheels and spacing). Any idea of the model?

I'm affraid it is T-54/55 based, so probably it is old good BTS-type ARV (can't tell exact type under all this anti-FPV grids, may be JVBT). As for me, it is much better vehicle for recovery then T-72-based BREM  -motre dsimple ans light-weight, with reliable rear "plow". Yes low weight is disadvantege while towing heavy modern MBTs....

 

[Roman Alymov]

Video of pro-Rus forces blowing up central "tower" of "Yuzhnodonbasskaya №3" coal mine near Ugledar after capturing it as it turned out the buildings were heavily mined by retreating pro-Ukrainians with lots of traps etc. Note how massive this defence position was https://t.me/rusengineer/5229

[Roman Alymov]

Another random cluster MLRS strike on Belgorod residential areas early morning today, 8 cililians injured https://t.me/milinfolive/130680

P.S. "Iron dome" Russian way - video of AD SAMs intercepting part of MLRS salvo over Belgorod https://t.me/sashakots/48989

Edited September 16, 2024 by Roman Alymov

[ink]

1 hour ago, Roman Alymov said:

Video of pro-Rus forces blowing up central "tower" of "Yuzhnodonbasskaya №3" coal mine near Ugledar after capturing it as it turned out the buildings were heavily mined by retreating pro-Ukrainians with lots of traps etc. Note how massive this defence position was https://t.me/rusengineer/5229

Any photos for us old fashioned non-Telegram users?

[Roman Alymov]

3 minutes ago, ink said:

Any photos for us old fashioned non-Telegram users?

Video on VK

https://vk.com/video-107986197_456242397?ref_domain=rg.ru

<iframe src="https://vk.com/video_ext.php?oid=-107986197&id=456242397&hash=6c096f7741a25301" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"></iframe>

The tower was 115 m tall

[alejandro_]

10 hours ago, Roman Alymov said:

I'm affraid it is T-54/55 based, so probably it is old good BTS-type ARV (can't tell exact type under all this anti-FPV grids, may be JVBT). As for me, it is much better vehicle for recovery then T-72-based BREM  -motre dsimple ans light-weight, with reliable rear "plow". Yes low weight is disadvantege while towing heavy modern MBTs..

Thank you, the vehicle seems to have a high reverse speed, but maybe is because the video has been edited.

[Roman Alymov]

P.S. Location

[ink]

16 minutes ago, Roman Alymov said:

Video on VK

https://vk.com/video-107986197_456242397?ref_domain=rg.ru

<iframe src="https://vk.com/video_ext.php?oid=-107986197&id=456242397&hash=6c096f7741a25301" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"></iframe>

The tower was 115 m tall

Thanks 👍

[Roman Alymov]

A Russian Commander Sent His Best Drone Operator To Die As Infantry (forbes.com) 

An Allegedly Corrupt Russian Commander Sent His Best Drone Operator To Die As An Infantryman
Dmitry Lysakovsky reportedly died in an infantry assault after his commander disbanded his drone team.

     There are mistakes in the article:

1) Dmitry "Goodwin" Lysakovsky (whom i happened to know personally - his team was using some of our workshop products) was not alone - entire team was sent to take part in infantry assault ( including one man in LtCol rank), at least 6 died, one WIA and evacuated. It was quite possible for them not to follow this order (they were well-connected people), but they decided to go and attract public attention to the situation

2) Drone-for-drone attacks do not require some superb special skills from FPV pilot, but they do require some organisation measures, mostly in the field of signals intelligence and keeping FPV teams away from frontline on duty ready to intercept detected "wing" drone

  Also, the author have failed to notice the scandal created by this events - resulting in extraordinary statement from Minister of Defence Belousov himself ordering his deputies to investigate the situation.  

 

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

Yes, this was on a podcasts the other day, I meant to bring it up. Supposedly it wasnt just one guy, it was at least 8 to 12 of them which was sent. The command didnt dig the things they were saying, such as young people shouldnt sign contracts to join the war. So they disbanded the unit, and sent the troublemakers to the infantry where the Ukrainians could then dispose of them. From what I hear, the commander was only wounded. But when they requested someone to go in and evacuate him, nobody was sent so he bled out.

These were some of the best Drone operators in the Russian Army, but they would prefer to have them dead, rather than actually express political opinions. Something I find absolutely completely not surprising.

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

Speaking of stuff I heard in the podcasts, there seems to be something of a tactical envelopment underway in Kursk. Russians attacked the Ukrainian left flank, a Ukrainian counteroffensive came over the border and seems to have part enveloped them, with many bridges also being taken out with ATACMS. Hearing this from several different sources, so there is seemingly something in it.

[urbanoid]

Compare them to typical Ukrainian exchanged POWs.

 

[Roman Alymov]

39 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

These were some of the best Drone operators in the Russian Army, but they would prefer to have them dead, rather than actually express political opinions. Something I find absolutely completely not surprising.

More complex than that: it is actually former "1st Slayansk Brigade" of DNR militia ("Strelkov's brigade") now formally converted into regular Russian Army unit but still not integrated completely, causing lots of room for "manuvers" by the command (who, after years of "Minsk agreements" got nothing to do with original ideologically motivated volunteers who fought under Strelkov's leadership, but are more focused on personal survival/benefit). Regiment command are locals, while "drone team" were all from different places of "mainland Russia", creating the tensions of "For whom the bell tolls" style. Also, drone team was unofficial  - officially this people were regular riflemen or snipers, so technically it was nothing illegal for regimental commander to use them as infantry. But they were sort of famous media faces (at least in pro-Russian circles) so theit appeal (especially with their death in combat after that) created the situation when even Kremlin spokesman Peskov now commented on that. 

     Next to every media figure in pro-Rus TG have commented on this situation. Alexander Liubimov of KTsPN have even demanding the brigade disbanded.

[Roman Alymov]

1 minute ago, urbanoid said:

Compare them to typical Ukrainian exchanged POWs.

 

What is the sence of comparing pro-Ukrainians after 2+ years in prison (since there are about 6500 POWs in Russia and "first in-first out" approach is used by Russian side) with fresh POWs captured during "Kursk offencive" (where, as pro-Ukrainians themselves say, capturing prisoners for exchange was one of priority tasks)?   

   By the way one of the reasons pro-Russians on grass roots level are sort of reluctant to take new POWs is they know prisons are allready full of pro-Ukrainians whom Ukr Gov is not especially interested in (except Azov members and other "media value" figures like this).

[urbanoid]

1 minute ago, Roman Alymov said:

What is the sence of comparing pro-Ukrainians after 2+ years in prison (since there are about 6500 POWs in Russia and "first in-first out" approach is used by Russian side) with fresh POWs captured during "Kursk offencive" (where, as pro-Ukrainians themselves say, capturing prisoners for exchange was one of priority tasks)?   

   By the way one of the reasons pro-Russians on grass roots level are sort of reluctant to take new POWs is they know prisons are allready full of pro-Ukrainians whom Ukr Gov is not especially interested in (except Azov members and other "media value" figures like this).

One can be given a warm place to sleep and enough food for 2 years as well.

Either the Ukrainians are trying to capture prisoners for exchange or they are 'not especially interested'.

And what business of frontline soldiers is whether Ukraine is interested in exchanges or not? That's not their department, if you capture the POWs some other people come and take them to POW camps, where they might get exchanged. Or not. It's generally better to take POWs than not.

[Roman Alymov]

"Inokhodets" drone vs. M270 MLRS (?) https://t.me/anna_news/70822

[ink]

While I agree (how could I not?) that Russian POW conditions are hellish - it might be worth pointing out that there have also been cases (allegedly anyway) of Ukrainian POWs refusing food or going on hunger strike for various reasons.

Even Ukrainian civilians taken into detention while being processed for whatever purpose sometimes refuse food. The young guy I mentioned in an earlier post told me he didn't eat for nearly two weeks while he was being processed by the FSB (in his words, partly because the food on offer was that bad, but also partly because "fuck them").

[TrustMe]

Latvia to send almost it's entire recon armoured force to Ukraine ...

 

 

[Roman Alymov]

7 minutes ago, urbanoid said:

One can be given a warm place to sleep and enough food for 2 years as well.

They are alive after two years of captivity - unlike many pro-Russian prisoners who were tortured to death or just killed.  That is enough.

8 minutes ago, urbanoid said:

Either the Ukrainians are trying to capture prisoners for exchange or they are 'not especially interested'.

Probably i have failed to explain it properly. Rus side is insisting on "first in-first out" approach, while Ukraine officials are not interested in regular UkrArmy soldiers POWs, while insisting on having first Azov members, Marines, officers etc. whom they could parade to their supporters. So the idea of " trying to capture prisoners" in Kursk region was to capture Russian CONSCRIPTS (whom, for political reasons, Russian Gov is considered as super valuable and priority for exchange) and exchange them for Azov etc. There was no way to capture conscripts except invading "non-combat zone" Russian territory, as Russian law is banning use of conscripts in combat duties except in time of official war.

16 minutes ago, urbanoid said:

And what business of frontline soldiers is whether Ukraine is interested in exchanges or not? 

It is exactly the business of frontline soldiers because they are the people who are risking their lives first while capturing prisoners, and then when escorting them for many miles across "gray zone" over mined land under constant strikes of artillery and drones (and pro-Ukrainians are known to especially attack those of their own troops who surrendered - to maintain discipline). So not every private is willing to put his life at risk saving the life of pro-Ukrainian, especially after what happened to those of them captured in Mariupol (who were airlifted by Abramovich's personal jet to Turkey and given best new iPhones as gifts "to call their families"). 

    So it is actually surprising POWs are still taken.

[Stuart Galbraith]

32 minutes ago, TrustMe said:

Latvia to send almost it's entire recon armoured force to Ukraine ...

 

 

They may as well, they are probably full of fatigue cracks. Useful though, able to operate on amazingly low ground pressure, and with a 30mm cannon. They could be very useful during the wet season.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Eastern Border is worth listening to this time. He has good coverage of the background on the Drone operators that were 'executed', as well as some information on the envelopment in Kursk. There is talk of 32000 troops being bottled. I think maybe divide that by 10 would be closer to it.

https://theeasternborder.lv/podcast/war-in-ukraine-episode-237/

[Roman Alymov]

"Vikhr' " ATGM from Ka-52 vs. unidentified target through treeline https://t.me/infomil_live/10199

[ink]

21 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Speaking of stuff I heard in the podcasts, there seems to be something of a tactical envelopment underway in Kursk. Russians attacked the Ukrainian left flank, a Ukrainian counteroffensive came over the border and seems to have part enveloped them, with many bridges also being taken out with ATACMS. Hearing this from several different sources, so there is seemingly something in it.

It will be interesting to see, in terms of the validity of those podcasts, if anything comes of this. Presumably, if in a couple of weeks time it transpires that there was no envelopment, the credibility of these armchair analysts will be seriously impacted.

Conversely, if they turn out to have been right, I might start listening to those podcasts after all.

Edited September 17, 2024 by ink

[Stuart Galbraith]

Well there is a near envelopment, I think you can take that to the bank. The Russian sources have admitted the Ukrainians did come across the border and took a town to their rear. OTOH, there was a near envelopment at Pokrovsk, and the Ukrainians managed to pull out of that, without much trouble. They did the same at Bakhmut. It seems entirely possible, as has been the case in this war so far, that ground movements are so slow moving, the ability to kettle any enemy forces is nearly impossible. The only place I know its happened of with any numbers was Mariupol.

That said, it does appear the force ratios in Kursk are less, as are a whole host of other systems on the Russian sides. Perhaps there, the Ukrainians might finally manage it. Looking at the situation maps, its enought to make one think that yes, they do seem to have a drop on the Russians, and its going to be tough to get out of it.

This guy is usually fairly even handed. He was very critical of the defence of Pokrovsk, but he is pro Ukrainian, and seems even handed enough to get a good critique on whats going on. He thinks the Russians are going to try to withdraw, although, with HIMARS in the viscinity, that doesnt necessarily mean its going to be easy, or not costly.