“Insider job: Ukraine targets high-level double agents who helped Putin invade”
“Kyiv thinks traitors helped the Russians take Kherson and Chernobyl early in the war.”
“Ukraine is deepening a purge of double agents in its spy service, saying top-level traitors laid the ground for last year’s Russian invasion by helping enemy forces seize the southern city of Kherson and Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the north.
Tetiana Sapian, spokesperson for the state investigations bureau of Ukraine, said Russia’s FSB intelligence operatives had infiltrated both Ukraine’s SBU security service and local government, undermining Ukraine from within with help from fugitive pro-Moscow Ukrainian officials, who fled the country after the Maidan uprising in 2014.
Sapian suggested that revelations to date could prove to be only the tip of the iceberg.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-double-agent-russian-invasion-fsb-intelligence-operatives/
Ukraine: military situation update with maps - April 20, 2023
(’Orc’ is associated with the various hoards of 13th century Mongol invaders, as well as LOTR evil villains)
War in Ukraine Explained/Reporting from Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU
Artillery (key to success in this war), Fuller explanation of Orc military structure, Other Bonus articles - see previous postings in “Attack on Europe” (FR title search).
(Numbered printed material below - Some of the items below may be out of date, and not updated yet)
••Denotes Transcribed Dialogue. The entirety of the analysis is from a Ukrainian guy named Reporting from Ukraine’s daily video - I only transcribe it. Extras are just that - from other sites, or my comments marked (Edit: .... ) or { } or [ ].
-—> Current to date and past MAPS: <——
https://militaryland.net/
-—> Daily Battle Maps by Date and Region, Showing Troop Dispositions and Movements: <——
https://deepstatemap.live/
==
-—> The True State of Russian Army <——
posted 2 months ago, 21.13 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KiII_2qabk
The Russian military, the second largest military in the world, may not be what it looks like. Lies and systematic corruptions may in fact have dragged Russia into this war with Ukraine, which has been heavily backed up by the US and NATO. We will present the evidence, you make your own decision, because the Russian Army, is not what you think.
==
-—> Understanding Combined Arms Warfare <——
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZOGdKANL5s
Designed to support the U.S. Army Captains Career Course, “Understanding Combined Arms Warfare” defines and outlines the important aspects of modern combined arms operations. This is not a complete history of combined arms warfare. It is intended to highlight the most important aspects of the subject.
The beginning of the documentary establishes a common understanding of combined arms warfare by discussing doctrinal and equipment developments in World War I. The second part compares the development of French and German Army mechanization during the interwar period and describes how each country fared during the Battle of France in 1940. The film concludes by showing how the United States applied combined arms operations in the European Theater in World War II.
==
-—> Combined Arms Breach, 1990 <——
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ-sCT_maAQ
What UA will have to master to smash Orc Lines. This visualization was developed for the Maneuver Center of Excellence and is closely based upon the National Training Center Breach and Assault exercise executed circa 1990. This visualization demonstrates viable Techniques, and Procedures as discussed in Army Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures March 3, 1990 for the conduct of the combined arms breach against a hypothetical enemy.
==
-—> How Many of Each Type of Tank Does Russia Have In Storage? <——
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PHUK6zkbpc
Type Good 2023
T-54/55 270
T-62 560
T-64 248
T-72 1841
T-80 942
T-90 50
~3,911 operational tanks in storage as of ~04/07/2023 | Ball park tank number.
==
-—> Bizarre Plot To Steal Russian Jets Ends In Ukrainians Charged With Treason
A commander was killed, troops were wounded and two jets were destroyed as a result of the failed operation, Ukrainian state security says.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/bizarre-plot-to-steal-russian-jets-ends-in-ukrainians-charged-with-treason
[ Western Artillery Upgrade! | Russians Were Speechless| Genius! Ukrainians Develop Special Armor From Counterbattery ]
••Day 421: April 20
Today there is a lot of news from the East.
Here, the longer the Battle for Bakhmut goes, the heavier both parties start relying on artillery support.
As artillery proved to be extremely influential in stopping the enemy and also generating breakthroughs, both Russians and Ukrainians started conducting intense counterbattery operations.
Russians quickly realized that they had big problems because not only is most of the western artillery out of their range, but Ukrainians also upgraded their armor and neutralized the threat of the most prevalent Russian counterbattery weapon.
Last time I told you that Ukrainians conducted a counterattack in the northern part of the region, pushed Russians towards Rose Alley, and blew up the building of the Municipal Department of Culture in order to complicate Russian advances.
I also told you that in order to break Ukrainian momentum, Russian forces started using massive air bombes, wiping out the residential area with small houses.
The freshest reports suggest that due to the intense artillery and aviation strikes, the northern part of the region became a grey zone. A Ukrainian fighter that took part in the recent Ukrainian counterattack reported that Ukrainians stepped back from 1 of the previously liberated streets to be able to hold defense from more reliable positions.
Looking at the geolocated footage, this is hardly surprising, as the buildings next to Rose Alley have been completely demolished.
Ukrainians also finally stepped back from the train station as the ring around it became too tight. A Ukrainian fighter from the Aidar Battalion explained the situation and elaborated on the reasons for the retreat.
As you remember, Ukrainians withdrew from the blocks north of the station quite rapidly and seemingly prematurely. But this move allowed Ukrainians to entice Russians to start storming the train station from the north while Ukrainians held defense in the high-rise buildings around it.
After 10 consecutive days of unsuccessful assaults, Russians realized that the shortest way was not the fastest and started attacking from the south. This was when the situation became very inconvenient for Ukrainians as there are no powerful positions on the southern line to hold off Russian flank attacks. In fact, this part of the residential area was reduced to rubble.
Ukrainian artillery crews from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade were eliminating Russian forces concentrations here, but some units still managed to cause trouble for some time. When Russians reached hotel Tranzyt from the south, the bridgehead became too small and counterproductive to hold, and Ukrainians stepped back.
Recent geolocated footage showed that Ukrainian artillery is already targeting Russian forces near the hotel and preventing them from using the intact houses. As usual, Ukrainians know which buildings are still suitable for establishing positions or local ammunition depots, so when they retreat, they closely monitor these positions, and once Russians assume them, they either blow up the building or hit it with artillery.
Ukrainian artillery is also reducing Russian forces in the northern part of the region. In a bid to match the intensity of Russian artillery fire in this area, Ukrainians shelled Russian positons so heavily that Russians also could no longer maintain a permanent presence in this region.
Recent geolocated footage showed Russian positions around what was left from the grain elevators, confirming that there is not much place to hide for long. That is why the situation became very dynamic here, and one hour clashes happen in ruins to the north, and another hour in ruins closer to the center.
Russian sources also complain that Ukrainians are actively using western artillery, and especially HIMARS. Today’s footage from the Bakhmut direction indeed confirms that Ukrainians are increasingly targeting Russian concentrations of manpower and equipment, and not only those located in Bakhmut but also Soledar, Klynove, and Pokrovske.
The reason why Russians are apprehensive about western artillery is that it is usually stationed out of reach of their artillery, which does not allow them to conduct counterbattery fire.
For the most part, Russians are using kamikaze drones in order to take out Ukrainian longer-range artillery. Russians sources published a number of videos showing how their Lancets destroyed M777 and other artillery systems.
However, this tactic very quickly became inefficient because Ukrainians learned how to catch these drones. In order to prevent unpleasant surprises, Ukrainians started establishing nets on top of the artillery systems.
Some Ukrainians even established nets on the machines themselves as a second layer of armor because it takes time to set up nets on a new position, making the artillery vulnerable during the position changes.
Russians tried to adapt and started using highly skilled drone operators for counterbattery missions, who could attack artillery by using a more sophisticated trajectory, however, Ukrainians adapted to that as well and started creating all-round mobile cages.
Russian forces struggle to mirror Ukrainian tactics because of the bureaucracy of the Russian Ministry of Defense which only allows going by the book and is very stiff when it comes to innovation. Some volunteers started providing them with nets regardless, but the extent to which it influences the situation is negligible.
That is why for the most part, Russians are relying on air defense. And such a heavy reliance on air defense puts a further strain on the availability of these systems, which forces them to spread them thinly and decreases the protection against concentrated strikes.
Russian forces struggle to mirror Ukrainian tactics because of the bureaucracy of the Russian Ministry of Defense which only allows going by the book and is very stiff when it comes to innovation. Some volunteers started providing them with nets regardless, but the extent to which it influences the situation is negligible.
That is why for the most part, Russians are relying on air defense. And such a heavy reliance on air defense puts a further strain on the availability of these systems, which forces them to spread them thinly and decreases the protection against concentrated strikes.
Russians understand this, and they have already deployed as many of them as possible and even canceled the export of batteries to other countries.
And the declining export of weapons, in turn, puts fiscal pressure on the state. Not that there are a lot of eager buyers because the global economy is on the decline, and additional sanctions would cause a lot of trouble.
The risk of social discontent would be extremely high as people’s savings have already been pushed to the brink. As inflation continues to stay high and the stock market keeps being extremely volatile, neither holding cash nor typical investments don’t really help to preserve savings.
==
More on Donated MiG-29s from Poland And Slovakia | MIG-29 deliveries are underway, but is the Soviet-era jet up to the task in Ukraine? | DW News, 04/21/2023:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjWHX9PiuwI
Condition makes them mostly spare parts. Western equipment could make 2 divisions: One of tanks and one of armored infantry, and further divisions of mechanized infantry. Western fighters (and helicopters) provide the next level of capability for the offensive - this is why Western aircraft are so important for Ukraine.
••UA forces have crossed the Dnieper River in Kherson region near the Antonivskyi Bridge and set up camp, according to Russian mil-bloggers. The Russian control Oleshky 5km from the river, but moving closer would bring them in range of UA short-range artillery. Not good place to launch an offensive because of the terrain.
However, just west of the Nova Kakhovka area would work fine. Inside the city, there was some sort of intense firefight - no other information.
UA got 50 riverine boats from the US - which would be good for some sort of mission, perhaps to liberate the city.
==
Ramstein Meeting will include Ukrainian representatives in person from the first time - Denys says something extraordinary may come out of the meeting.
==
Big scandal about Ukrainians trying to hijack Russian military jets last year, using blackmail against the pilots and offered reward for bringing them to Ukraine. But the FSB learned about it and jailed the pilots.
Then the FSB guys pretended to be the pilots and agreed to deliver the planes to the Kanativa Ukrainian airfield, but instead of planes the Russian delivered lots of rockets. This killed one Commander and destroyed 2 airplanes - rumor has it that the drone hanger was also destroyed.
This incident is now being investigated.
First war I’ve seen where all losses are on only one side - every single day.
How are the weather and soil conditions for a counteroffensive? What is the historical norm?
@visegrad24 26m
“The Ukrainian People’s Republic started its military offensive against Bolshevik-controlled Crimea on this day 105 years ago.
The troops under command of Petro Bolbochan took control of the peninsula in 4 days.”
(Probably need firmer ground for modern heavy armored vehicles, but we are entering the historical fighting season in the area)
@visegrad24 9h
Germany plans to withdraw its Patriot Missile Defense battery from Poland by June according to the Polish Press Agency.
It’s an excellent opportunity to send Ukraine another battery, just like Poland asked for initially.
The war coming home to the Great Russian elites in Moscow and St. Petersburg?
@KyivIndependent 4h
Media: Military summonses distributed at Moscow State University dormitory.
Military summonses were being handed out to graduate students in a dormitory at Moscow State University, independent Russian media outlet Doxa reported on April 21...
The students were informed to appear at a military enlistment office “for events related to military service conscription,” according to Doxa.
@KyivIndependent 3h
Bloomberg: Russian arms shipments to India fall through due to financial sanctions.
Russian arms shipments to India have been hindered by the increasing difficulty of finding a payment system that doesn’t violate U.S. sanctions, Bloomberg reported on April 21...
Due to U.S. sanctions against Russia, India cannot pay Moscow in dollars. Moreover, Russia will not accept rupees because of the currency’s alleged exchange volatility, according to Bloomberg. Russian rubles likely cannot be purchased at a “fair rate” by New Delhi either.
@visegrad24 51m
At Ramstein, Latvia announced that it will transfer all of its remaining Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine.
From today 4/21/23
“‘A Quick Death or a Slow Death’: Prisoners Choose War to Get Lifesaving Drugs
An estimated 20 percent of Russia prisoner recruits are H.I.V. positive. To some, the front lines seemed less risky than prisons where they said they were denied effective treatments.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/world/europe/russia-wagner-group-hiv-prisoners-ukraine.html
From 2010 Reuters
JULY 14, 2010 UPDATED 13 YEARS AGO
Almost half Russia prisoners are ill, many with HIV
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Almost half of inmates in Russia’s notorious prison system are ill, many infected with HIV or with tuberculosis, the country’s Federal Prison Service said late Tuesday.
Of Russia’s 846,000 prisoners, the overwhelming majority of whom are men, just under half are ill, including 55,000 infected with HIV, highlighting the country’s AIDS epidemic which Moscow blames on drug users who inject heroin from nearby Afghanistan.
https://www.reuters.com/article/oukwd-uk-russia-prisons-illness-idAFTRE66D13M20100714