Posted on 03/21/2023 3:18:02 PM PDT by Eleutheria5
In this episode of MWI’s Urban Warfare Project Podcast, John Spencer is joined again by Michael Kofman, director of the Russia Studies Program at CNA. He researches Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.
He also recently returned from Bakhmut, Ukraine—the scene of intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces over the past several months. In the conversation, he describes that trip and what he learned there. He also analyzes the situation from the perspective of both sides in the battle, including their approaches and motivations, as well as the battle’s possible outcomes. Finally, Kofman and Spencer discuss the unique urban features that are contributing to the complexity of this battle as well as others in the Russia-Ukraine War.
You can listen to the discussion below or find the episode on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite podcast app. Be sure to subscribe, and if you’re enjoying the Urban Warfare Project Podcast, please take a minute and leave the podcast a review or give it a rating!
Audio Link
(Excerpt) Read more at mwi.usma.edu ...
one of the lucky few
He was an observer, I think, not a combatant.
Thoughtful commentary, without the hyperbole from either side.
I’m almost through it now as I type this. Very informational.
IMO they’re missing that Bakmut is being used by the Russians as a bonfire for men, equipment and western resources.
They touch on it, when they talk about classic seiges, and the way the Russians control the the MSRs and surrounding high ground. Also the attrition ratios tell a story.
Ukraine as a whole is, at least now, being used as a bonfire in the same way - and we’re playing right along, without a real plan, or a real clue
John Spencer knows urban ops.
Just start producing and moving oil and natural gas in the US to drive the global price down, and Putin’s golden goose is deep fried and eaten. He’ll either have to come hat in hand to Xi Jinpig, who’ll want some or all of Siberia in payment, or he’ll have to lose and get Romanov’d.
Yeah, I think he said he wrote about Fallujah.
Correct - but there's zero chance that the Pervy Tuber's puppeteers will allow that to happen.
I saw a report today that both sides meaning NATO and Russia are enjoying testing weaponry and infantry grouping
I think there is some truth in that
Problem for Ukraine is they don’t have the personnel nor access to as much stuff
At least not practical stuff
It’s sorta like the Spanish civil war that way
Hattip Demi
He’s actually meeting with Xi right now I think in Moscow
Oh yeah, that one. My colleagues and I were about 20 miles away as the crow flies and heard all the various muffled popping sounds all day and night. We could see things in the distance during the day like A-10s swooping down, dropping things off, issuing its own popping sounds and ascending.
Our analysis was, “Somebody’s getting their asses kicked.”
It was over in a New York minute.
Probably be a mixed result, I think.
I’ve been well aware of his work.
The A-10 is from the viewpoint of ground troops the most important aircraft deployed by the Air Force in a combat zone.
“The A-10 is from the viewpoint of ground troops the most important aircraft deployed by the Air Force in a combat zone.”
True, but it is only useful when you have secured air superiority.
Right now both sides have a lot of SAMs and it is preventing both of them from using much airpower beyond expendable drones.
And, sadly, the woke USAF is getting rid of them
That’s what disgusts me. The Ukrainians have to thank him profusely for all this dribbling aid he gives them, while he is the one who made this war inevitable by jacking up the price of crude and gas with his green BS policies. Endless proxy wars. Phooey. The human cost is appalling. Here’s hoping that the Ukes do something to devastate the Russians and win a decisive victory. The Polish MIGs are finally in the pipeline.
Excellent point. The A-10 has to date shown amazing survivability even when hit with multiple types of munitions when coming in low over a combat zone. Yet few of the people it has attacked have been armed with modern SAMs. It might be said that the days of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters over a modern battlefield against a technologically sophisticated opponent are over. As are perhaps the role of naval surface combatants. Warfare is always changing. It was once hoped the modern machine gun would make war so costly that war itself would not be an option. Today surveillance, drones and unmanned aircraft of many sorts are now paramount. Pity the poor ground soldiers who must actually fight and try to survive. No doubt war colleges will adapt what they learn from this war to develop new tactics. The thing that will remain unchanged will be the dying and maiming of the common ground soldier.
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