Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine (2 year anniversary)

ORYX ^ | Since February 24, 2022 and daily | ORYX

[PIF]

Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos

Reporting From Ukraine Uncensored Combat Footage (from this and past Reports) is found on Telegram:
https://t.me/RFUEnglish or @RFUEnglish
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The complete transcript.

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[ Storm Shadows Unleashed. Russian War Machine Crippled ]

Today [ Dec 28, 8 pm ], there is a lot of news from the Russian Federation.

Here, Ukrainians launched a bold and coordinated campaign of long-range strikes, targeting critical infrastructure in Russia’s Rostov, Krasnodar, and Chechnya regions. By crippling airbases, ammunition depots, and logistical hubs supporting the Donbas offensive, these strikes delivered a significant blow to the Russian Pokrovsk and Kurakhove offensive operations.

The latest development occurred when Ukrainian forces launched a massive drone strike against the Millerovo airbase in Russia’s Rostov region. This high-profile attack, involving 15 drones, showcased Ukraine’s growing capability to target not only deep into Russian territory, but also aiming at objects that are known to be severely guarded by air defense.

While Russian sources claimed no personnel or equipment losses, and released footage of their alleged repulse of the attack, the same images were later used by military analysts to geolocate the approximate point of the strike.

A technical and operational facility that performs maintenance and routine repairs on aircraft, based at the airfield is located in the designated area. The Russian 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Aerospace Forces, equipped with SU-30SM and SU-35 fighter jets, is stationed at the Millerovo airbase.

Tactical aviation takes off from the base to participate in combat operations against Ukraine. Hence, the attack aims to directly disrupt the air support for the Russian troops in Donbas which will benefit Ukrainian forces.

The 2nd major strike focused on an ammunition depot near Novocherkassk, also in Rostov Oblast, reportedly used by Russia’s 150th Motorized Rifle Division. The December 22 attack destroyed a substantial munitions stockpile, significantly reducing Russian firepower in frontline operations.

The destruction of this depot also complicates resupply efforts, further straining Russian logistics that are already in a vulnerable position.

The 3rd target of Ukraine’s recent strikes was the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery, a critical facility in Rostov Oblast that supplies fuel to Russian military operations. On December 18, a coordinated drone and missile assault caused significant damage, igniting a fire at the catalytic cracking unit.

This refinery, processing 7.5 million tons of oil annually, is now fully offline, cutting off a vital source of fuel for Russian forces, and dealing a logistical blow to their war effort.

Another critical target was the Kamensky Chemical Plant, hit by a Storm Shadow missile strike several days ago. This facility produces rocket fuel, explosives, and ammunition components essential to Russia’s wartime production. The attack caused severe damage to key buildings, disrupting the supply of crucial materials for Russian missile systems and ammunition.

The strike also demonstrated Ukraine’s precision capabilities, marking one of the boldest uses of Western-provided long-range missiles on Russian territory, despite initial claims that they are only allowed to be used in the Kursk region.

These attacks also highlight the evolving strategy of combining drones and precision-guided missiles to target a diverse range of critical infrastructure. Drones are often used to initially offload Russian air defense and make the decision-making process for its operators as hard as possible.

Then it is easier to use the benefits of the more expensive missiles to cause significant damage with pinpoint accuracy.

Another significant Ukrainian strike targeted a Chechen Akhmat unit base in Grozny, Republic of Chechnya, employing a variety of drone types. While Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov claimed that 2 drones were successfully intercepted, subsequent footage and eyewitness accounts revealed at least 4 powerful explosions at the military installation.

This base, a critical hub for deploying Chechen forces to Ukraine, suffered substantial damage, highlighting the reach and precision of Ukraine’s expanding strike campaign.

Overall, by focusing on airbases, fuel production, ammunition stockpiles, and industrial facilities in Russia’s rear, Ukraine aims to weaken the ability of the enemy to sustain its military operations in Donbas. The strikes not only disrupt supply chains, but also force the Kremlin to divert resources to repair and defense efforts, creating new vulnerabilities across multiple fronts.

The intensity and precision of these operations reflect a deliberate shift in Ukraine’s approach, signaling its ability to escalate pressure on Russia, while undermining its logistical and industrial base. As the war continues, these strikes represent a significant challenge for Russian forces struggling to adapt to the growing sophistication of Ukrainian tactics.

[BeauBo]

Covert Cabal on YouTube (Open Source INTel Analyst) has posted his end of year count on Russian tanks remaining in storage bases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8CcuVCDEUw

Bottom line: About 3,000, but roughly half are not economically repairable, and the rest are among the worst condition of those Russia had in 2021.

About 1,100 each T-72s and T-62s, about 650 T-64s, 250 T-80s, and no T-90s remain in storage (again, about half of those totals are probably just good for parts).

About 6,000 were visible outside at the start of the invasion, and estimates vary between about 1,000 - 2,000 more that had been stored inside, which have also been pulled out for service in Ukraine (estimated to be effectively all of those that had been stored inside, now having been used).

So from a total of about 7,500 in storage at the start of this invasion, about 80% of those that could be economically restored have already been pulled - the best first, so quality is now quite low.

The non-economically repairable hulls (roughly 1,500) could be made back into operational tanks, if Russia wants to pay the higher cost, and wait for the longer refurbishment time, which would mean slower output. That is what we are likely to see in 2025 (my observation), if expenditure rates stay high.

We already see the tank shortage on the battlefield operationally, and in the decline in confirmed battlefield losses. Russia can no longer field the kind of tank force that they could in 2022.

[JonPreston]

Hey Gang, it looks like Speedy is gone for good.

I'd call this Thread Abandonment, but you can call it whatever you want.

TBR seems like a swell place for warmongers and Neocons.

Maybe it's a place you might feel at home at?

Timber Rattler

The Briefing Room

Hey Gang, SpeedyinTexas and Canuck Conservative joined TBR today, Dec. 21, 2024!!!

Please join today!

[ANKE69]

Timber Rattler is a
“Hero Member” ??
A “Conservative Purist and Patriot” ??

😆😂😆🤣😅

[AdmSmith]

BAKU, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday that the passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan killing 38 people had been damaged due to shooting from the ground in Russia, Azerbaijan state television reported. Aliyev said he regretted that “some circles” in Russia had tried to hush up the truth about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines planes by sowing false narratives about the causes of the crash.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/azerbaijans-president-says-plane-that-crashed-was-shot-russia-2024-12-29/

[JonPreston]

Timber Rattler is a “Hero Member” ??

A “Conservative Purist and Patriot” ??

Absolutely!

Like all believers in the Ukranian Myth, members of TBR are allowed to describe themselves in the most glowing terms possible. None of it is true, but that's ok!

[blitz128]

that the Russians refused the plane to land after they hit it with missile and forced it across the sea to find place to land and jammed its navigation so it would crash in the water to cover up its crime is just par for the Muscovites.

[AdmSmith]

This is their usual way of dealing with reality.

[blitz128]

Thanks for the update, usual, 😂

[JonPreston]

that the Russians refused the plane to land after they hit it with missile and forced it across the sea to find place to land and jammed its navigation so it would crash in the water to cover up its crime is just par for the Muscovites.

I honestly tried.

[blitz128]

lol, true
I think one of my favorites lately from a usual is how Russia losing 4 ships in a few days is no big deal.

[blitz128]

Come on 🍈 you can do it😂

[ANKE69]

I wonder if they give out gold and silver star stickers, too? 🤔🤔🤔
Ahh, what the heck....
I just hope they stay there, and have a good time brown-nosing each other.

[BeauBo]

“killing 38 people… due to shooting from the ground in Russia… Russia… sowing false narratives”

I am shocked to learn that Russia killed and lied again.

Shocked.

It must be a day of the week, whose name ends in the letter Y.

That’s the only time these things happen.

[JonPreston]

The US authorities spent millions of dollars to support Ukrainian bloggers-influencers, said Republican Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul.

‘Someone in the State Department thought it was a brilliant idea to allocate an additional $4.8 million for an article titled ‘Kiev, Ukraine, public relations – Influencers staff,’’ Rand Paul said.

The senator recalled that since the beginning of the conflict, the United States has provided Ukraine with aid totalling nearly $174 billion.

‘It is strange to see our government spending taxpayers‘ money on what can be called a pompous festival of selfies’, – said the Senator.

We will remind, earlier the President of Poland Andrzej Duda said that Warsaw allocated for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine 3.3% of the country’s GDP, which amounted to more than 26 billion dollars.Britain’s Armed Forces have conducted a test of RFDEW radio frequency directed energy weapons

UkraineUSA

[gleeaikin]

“Russia losing 4 ships in a few days is no big deal.”

Actually I would agree on 3 of those ships as they were not lost from enemy action, but from Russian engineering incompetence. Now that Ukraine has forced Russia out of the Black Sea for much of the time, Russia was trying to convert some of its wild water fleet to river and lake utility. They cut midsections of of 3 ships, and welded the two ends together to make a smaller ship. when subjected to fierce Black Sea storm conditions all 3 ships were severely damaged or split and sank. The first ship sunk by the new Ukrainian Sea Baby system was very significant. Ukraine can now send an unarmed boat holding drones armed with heavy explosives and/or machine guns all around to attack Russian shipping while risking NONE of their own personnel.

A fifth ship loss is probably the most important. The Ursa Major (Sparta class) was carrying 2 large cargo cranes, and 2 large massive hatches for either a submarine or an icebreaker. All this is now lost, and the chances of shipping such equipment in mid winter from Western Russia through warm waters all the way to far eastern Russia is now much delayed even if they have the replacement cranes or hatches available. The important question is what was/is Russia planning with the icebreaker or the submarine? Mobility in high Arctic waters is especially competitive now as warming changes the ice cover and accessibility to far north land areas.

It is reported new Russian icebreakers can go 4 mph and break 13 feet of ice at that speed. US icebreakers apparently are only able to cut 3 ft. ice at that speed. Where might such a Russian icebreakers, followed by a nuclear sub be able to travel north of Alaska, and Canada with such equipment? How many minutes away from critical targets could that place them?

[AdmSmith]

What is Going on With Shipping? Tanker Eagle S Seized by Finland for Severing Cables Between Finland & Estonia | Is it a Spy Ship?

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano—a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the seizure of the Cook Island-flagged tanker Eagle S by Finland for using its anchor to sever power and submarine cables between Finland and Estonia in the Baltic Sea and the discovery of monitoring equipment on board.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy27qiKVCSI
30 min

[FtrPilot]

Frontline Report: Eight Chechens die in North Korean friendly fire near Kursk

A North Korean contingent operating in Kursk Oblast destroyed multiple vehicles of their allies, killing 8 Chechen Spetsnaz soldiers after mistaking them for Ukrainian forces.

https://x.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1873096010098196831

Perhaps the Chechen Spetsnaz soldiers should learn Munhwaŏ.

[BeauBo]

“Tanker Eagle S Seized by Finland for Severing Cables Between Finland & Estonia”

Those ships should be seized and auctioned off as a penalty.

[AdmSmith]

The Norks were just following their instructions:

김정은 동지께서는 러시아 당국이 가정, 병원, 진료소, 상점, 대중집회 및 휴식처를 고의적으로 공격하는 테러 행위를 계속하고 있으며, 러시아 당국이 그러한 노선을 계속 추진한다면 더 강력한 반격에 직면하게 될 것이라고 말씀하셨습니다.