War in Ukraine, technical and military aspects only

[Roman Alymov]

FPV drones vs. "robotic" (actually. remote controlled) platforms https://t.me/boris_rozhin/186613

[alejandro_]

On 11/6/2025 at 9:04 PM, Roman Alymov said:

Good interview with DNR mobilized tank crew member (in Russian), including his opinion on T-80 vs. T-72, "barn tanks" etc. Из первых рук, мобилизованный ДНР на Т-80. | Vault8 | Дзен

Thank you, some websites have translated excerpts. Somme comments are rather surprising:

The crew compartment, he noted, is uncomfortably tight, particularly for the commander, because of additional thermal imaging equipment.

T-80BVM does not have a thermal sight for commander. Back in 2023 it was announced that ROMZ had started to supply  TKN-3TP thermal sights for commanders, but it is a conversion of an existing sight, it does not not need extra volume. T-90M, which the interviewee prefers, is the only Russian tank that uses a full independent thermal sight.

Regarding mobility, I don't see how T-72 can be superior. Maybe in muddy terrain the tracks are more effective? Turbine is more flexible and provides a higher power to weight ratio.

I have not come across comments on construction quality. Interviewee seems to state that quality can vary, maybe he got a tank that was not properly fixed?

Finally, can you confirm that the ammunition used is 24 HE-FRAG + 4 HEAT? Link does not work today

 

[alejandro_]

Interesting article on the operations of Ukraine's 19th Rocket brigade, only unit equipped with Tochka-U systems

 

To the day of the creation of the 19 rocket brigade "St. Barbara" rocket fighters raised the curtain of the mystery of their work in the first days of the Great War. The commanders and immediate participants of the events spoke about the impact of "fat" Russian targets, and the important role of old missile complexes in repelling Russian aggression.

... 

In February 2022, the Russian Federation plans "military training", which will then grow into a large-scale armed invasion of the regular Russian army into Ukraine.

At that time in Ukraine there was actually no heavy long-range and precise weaponry - artillery hits up to 40 km, RSZV - up to 70 km and works on the area, missiles "Neptune" existed only in modification "land-ship", anti-aircraft complexes S-300 designed for air purposes and are inaccurate when working on ground, and not trucking enough. The most accurate, the most long-range, the most lethal weapon of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of 2022 is the 9K79 "Tochka-U" missile complex

The complex consists of several cars - command, launcher and transport-charger (TZM), the launcher is equipped with one rocket, the TZM carries two more and is equipped with an overload crane. Rockets with a combat part weight 482 kg of fugasnogo or cassette type, probable circular deviation - 95 m, maximum distance - 120 km. Adopted to arm the Soviet army in 1989, is a deep modernization, developed back in 1973, the Tochka Complex. Since 2007, 19 Rocket Brigade is fully equipped with "U-Dots", and as of 2022 remains the only rocket brigade in Ukraine.

Permanent deployment point:

Almost a week before the start of the full-scale invasion, the brigade's command receives an order from the top leadership to move several units to the concentration areas to counterbalance "Russian training", at the same time, instruction on the case of Russian aggression comes with clear orders on what to do and where to move to deter, from whichever side the Russians climb. Russians came in simultaneously from all directions.

The panic of the first days did not catch the rockets by surprise, some units were already in the task areas and knew clearly what to do, the rest of the military units moved to the areas of concentration to repel the invasion. At the point of permanent deployment, a unit that was directed to defense Kyiv was formed. A few days before the start of the invasion, the commander of the brigade was given an order to form battle columns and demonstratively leave through the city towards the eastern Ukraine, after which to return to the police station to knock down possible spies and secure the city from possible missile attacks of the enemy. Thus, the crew was deployed across the entire frontline and on the defense of the capital.

Taking into account the maneuverability and the possibility of impact, brigade units took on one or two areas of Ukraine and changing direction struck along the line of combat, destroying the enemy with impunity. Dozens of launches were carried out every day, with them at such an operational depth that the opponent did not expect strikes and felt safe.

North bound:
On February 25, the unit took a position in a forest in Chernihiv region, located between two roads, on which occupation columns followed. The rockets, while in the surroundings, got the opportunity to hit not only forward on the logistics and warehouses of the Russian Armed Forces (BC), but also back on the columns that passed by them, and on the outskirts of the capital and the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl NPP. The bravery of the drivers who transported missiles to the surrounding unit, almost on the "wolf trails", deserves special attention. The lost occupiers did not understand where on them flies and suffered heavy losses. Later, the Russians calculated the approximate location of the unit and began to drop to the forest of the FBI. But thanks to the skillful command and reading of the operational environment, the unit suffered no losses in personnel or in equipment, and the nearest FAB fell as far as 150 meters from the positions. "They were buried barely with their hands, black, sleepless, unwashed and hungry. Worked in all directions, because the enemy was everywhere" - recalls one of the management officers.

Eastward direction:
On February 24, the units advanced for point-to-point strikes on airports and warehouses of Russians. So one of the units drove ahead of time to Siverskodonetsk to cover the Milerovo airport of Rostov region, because at 6:00 Russian aviation takes off into the sky and targets may be missed. On February 25, successful launches were made, aircraft and personnel were affected.

A huge column of the Russian army decided to crash at the crossroads between the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, as a result - the destruction of dozens of units of BMP and BTR and countless personnel of the occupiers with just a few Point-U rockets with a cassette combat unit.

South-east direction:

Parallel to this, a few kilometers from Volnovakha, one of the units in full combat readiness expected a launch order, but there was no communication. By demonstrating dexterity and using manual means, communication was able to repair and successfully work around Taganrog Airport, destroying one IL-76 with all the personnel and equipment on the runway and significantly damaging another.

South bound:

In the early days, the enemy moved from the Crimean Peninsula in the direction of the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant. Due to the minimum launch distance of 20 km, the units of the crew were forced to retreat. Rolled back, loaded rockets, hit the invaders. Rolled again, loaded rockets, hit. To stop the advancement of the enemy succeeded near the city of voznesensk, Mykolaiv region.

The rocket launchers had a lot of work, the units were making dozens of strikes daily, and the rockets began to run out rapidly. It's a good thing that since Soviet times in storage warehouses there are many factory missiles without combat parts (tails). The military and engineers were able to replace the factory combat unit (head) with a joint-bomb combat unit, carry out all necessary tests in the shortest possible time and adjust the serial production of new missiles in less than a month.

The shortage was overcome, and the rockets still had a lot of work to do. Of more than thirty strikes on Chernobayivka, almost half - at the account of Tochka-U, strikes on Snake Island, the rebound of Kherson and Kharkiv, the large landing ship "Saratov", enemy airports, warehouses, logistics and many-many different targets - all of these 19 Holy Barbarian Rocket Brigade and their Tochka-U.

Author: Sergeant Vadim KUDINOV

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1243123674528694&id=100064932184088&rdid=eq0I0BgupDTmWsbe#

[bojan]

4 hours ago, alejandro_ said:

...Finally, can you confirm that the ammunition used is 24 HE-FRAG + 4 HEAT? Link does not work today..

IIRC 20HE + 4 APFSDS ("лом") and 4 x HEAT.

[Josh]

1 hour ago, bojan said:

IIRC 20HE + 4 APFSDS ("лом") and 4 x HEAT.

I think that was a fairly standard load going back deep into Soviet days, though I would think actual load outs would vary with the circumstances.

[bojan]

No, Soviet one had more APFSDS in autoloader, IIRC 10 for T-64/80 and 8 for T-72.

[Josh]

31 minutes ago, bojan said:

No, Soviet one had more APFSDS in autoloader, IIRC 10 for T-64/80 and 8 for T-72.

Fair enough. Is the auto loader limited by ammunition type? I had assumed all rounds were interchangeable and standard loads were doctrinally decided, not technically specified.

[old_goat]

1 hour ago, Josh said:

Fair enough. Is the auto loader limited by ammunition type? I had assumed all rounds were interchangeable and standard loads were doctrinally decided, not technically specified.

Any combination is possible. You just have to make sure to set the memory unit properly. 

[mandeb48]

 

I believe the T80's autoloader has a larger capacity (28) , hence why it can carry more APFSDS

[Yama]

12 hours ago, alejandro_ said:

 It's a good thing that since Soviet times in storage warehouses there are many factory missiles without combat parts (tails). The military and engineers were able to replace the factory combat unit (head) with a joint-bomb combat unit, carry out all necessary tests in the shortest possible time and adjust the serial production of new missiles in less than a month.

There is some translation fuzziness there, but sounds like Ukraine had plenty of Tochka fuselages stored, but lacking warheads.

[Roman Alymov]

Archive video (from May 2024) of Lancet vs. British Raven SAM https://t.me/infomil_live/24039

The same vehicle filmed by bypassing pro-Ukrainains https://t.me/milinfolive/160347

[Roman Alymov]

Compilation of "speedboat war" on Dniper videos from pro-Rus side https://t.me/milinfolive/160414

[Roman Alymov]

Locals are learning to avoid pro-Rus fiberFPV attacks by showing they are civilians and not afraid of drone https://t.me/sashakots/57634

    Reverse side is, it is question of time pro-Ukrainians would also start using this trick (as they have allready did with unmarked civilian-type vehicles).

[Roman Alymov]

FPV vs. pro-Ukr tank stuck on railway tracks https://t.me/NeoficialniyBeZsonoV/48424

FiberFPV chasing T-64 down the forest road after first drone frightened it off from cover https://t.me/boris_rozhin/186776

Rare case of two pro-Ukr tanks operating as group https://t.me/boris_rozhin/186735

[Roman Alymov]

Walk around old Soviet Volga adapted for frontline use https://t.me/milinfolive/160497

[Roman Alymov]

Group of pro-Ukr armor attack in heavy fog near Bakhmut https://t.me/creamy_caprice/10517

[Roman Alymov]

Rare CCTV video of SAMs (Patriot?) in action in Kiev https://t.me/UAVDEV/9335 

[Roman Alymov]

New type of improvised anti-drone set on TOS https://t.me/milinfolive/160500

[Stuart Galbraith]

On 11/13/2025 at 12:15 AM, Yama said:

There is some translation fuzziness there, but sounds like Ukraine had plenty of Tochka fuselages stored, but lacking warheads.

Probably ex nuclear ones.

[alejandro_]

On 11/12/2025 at 4:26 PM, bojan said:

No, Soviet one had more APFSDS in autoloader, IIRC 10 for T-64/80 and 8 for T-72.

I ill have to check for T-64/80, but for T-72 there are data already available:

A T-72A, having a total ammunition capacity of 44 rounds, carries 22 rounds of HE-Frag ammunition, 16 rounds of APFSDS ammunition, and 6 rounds of HEAT ammunition. The ratio of ammunition types in the autoloader carousel remained the same. There should be 11 rounds of HE-Frag, 7 rounds of APFSDS, and 4 rounds of HEAT. A standard load such as this would weigh around 564 kg in the autoloader carousel.

In the T-72B, the slightly larger ammunition capacity of 45 rounds accommodates a different loadout which may or may not include 6 ATGMs. Of that, 4 would be in the carousel, and 2 would be stowed in loose stowage. This would be accompanied by an equivalent reduction in the number of HEAT rounds. If ATGMs are not carried, which would always be the case in a T-72B1, the combat load is identical to a T-72A but includes one more APFSDS round. Additional HEAT rounds are not favoured.

https://thesovietarmourblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/t-72-soviet-progeny.html#ammu

East Germany, T-72, courtesy of Stefan: 14 APFSDS, 22 HE-FRAG and 5 HEAT

 

[Stefan Kotsch]

3 hours ago, alejandro_ said:

East Germany, T-72, courtesy of Stefan: 14 APFSDS, 22 HE-FRAG and 5 HEAT

This applied to the T-72M from the CSSR and Poland. Of wich in carousel: 9 APFSDS, 2 HEAT and 11 HE-FRAG

Edited November 14, 2025 by Stefan Kotsch

[Markus Becker]

 

@Damian

 

"Wondering if that's an attempt to resume Ukraine aid out of sight of the isolationist/anti-Ukraine peanut gallery.

After all, Polish government is 99% not interested in operating Strykers, they have domestically produced Rosomak 8x8's that cover roughly the same applications, they are still in production, it would make no sense.

However Ukraine is using Strykers and certainly would like more..." 

 

 

[Roman Alymov]

Official UkrAF video about F-16 maintanance https://t.me/milinfolive/160536

[Damian]

3 hours ago, Markus Becker said:

 

@Damian

 

"Wondering if that's an attempt to resume Ukraine aid out of sight of the isolationist/anti-Ukraine peanut gallery.

After all, Polish government is 99% not interested in operating Strykers, they have domestically produced Rosomak 8x8's that cover roughly the same applications, they are still in production, it would make no sense.

However Ukraine is using Strykers and certainly would like more..." 

 

 

If we would agree to get these Strykers, these would be used to rearm some of ours battalions/brigades. At the moment, Poland do not plan to donate anymore equipment to Ukraine, we donated enough.

[Roman Alymov]

Good view of Oskol river crossings from fiberFPV (in process of attack on backhoe loader https://t.me/RVvoenkor/103826 )

FiberFPV vs. rafts on Oskol https://t.me/milinfolive/160349

Edited November 15, 2025 by Roman Alymov