Posted on 02/24/2024 5:59:01 AM PST by SpeedyInTexas
This list only includes destroyed vehicles and equipment of which photo or videographic evidence is available. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here. Loitering munitions, drones used as unmanned bait, civilian vehicles and derelict equipment are not included in this list. All possible effort has gone into avoiding duplicate entries and discerning the status of equipment between captured or abandoned. Many of the entries listed as 'abandoned' will likely end up captured or destroyed. Similarly, some of the captured equipment might be destroyed if it can't be recovered. When a vehicle is captured and then lost in service with its new owners, it is only added as a loss of the original operator to avoid double listings. When the origin of a piece of equipment can't be established, it's not included in the list. The Soviet flag is used when the equipment in question was produced prior to 1991. This list is constantly updated as additional footage becomes available.
(Excerpt) Read more at oryxspioenkop.com ...
Poor guy he has lost it
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 14, 2025
A Russian military court recently decided to keep former 58th Combined Arms Army (CAA) Commander Major General Ivan Popov in custody after reports that Popov would command a penal assault detachment in Ukraine. Kremlin newswire TASS stated on April 11 that the Second Western District Military Court rejected an appeal against a February 28 ruling that changed Popov’s house arrest to two months of pre-trial detention.[18] Russian ultranationalist outlet Tsargrad claimed on April 11 that Popov’s lawyer stated that Russian authorities had not yet considered Popov’s petition to suspend court proceedings and send Popov to fight in Ukraine.[19] Popov’s lawyer stated on April 9 that Popov signed a military service contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and would return to military service in Ukraine in exchange for the suspension of his impending criminal trial.[20] A Russian security official stated to Russian state business outlet Kommersant on April 9 that Popov would assume command of an unspecified “Storm Z” penal detachment operating in Ukraine. Popov publicly appealed to Putin in March 2025 to reinstate him in active military service, and Popov’s support base, particularly within the Russian ultranationalist and veteran communities, widely supported the appeal. The court’s seeming reversal of the decision to send Popov to the war in Ukraine suggests that the Kremlin continues to struggle to respond to situations in which the Kremlin’s desired outcome is at odds with that of the Russian ultranationalist and veteran communities. The Kremlin may be conflicted about how to punish Popov for weaponizing the information space in July 2023 when he attempted to reverse his removal from command. The Kremlin likely fears that allowing Popov to return to the battlefield at his request would set a precedent in which popular commanders and officials could threaten to blackmail the Kremlin into accepting their demands.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-14-2025
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1912117372795625890
Putin reacts to stories with “black widows”
Rumors have reached the president that some Russian women have decided to build a business on the deaths of SVO participants. This phenomenon has already been dubbed “black widows” by the people. Simply put, Russian women marry single servicemen and receive payments from the state after their death, we wrote about this. https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/4219673/posts?page=14837#14837
“Many military men are lonely. Young guys, they want affection. When they find (as they think) the one, they are ready to run and get married that very day. Few people think about payments at that moment,” a source in the Ministry of Defense explains. According to him, the complexity of the situation is that it is almost impossible to prove the planning of actions and insincerity. Especially if the serviceman has already died.
The president instructed the Ministry of Defense to look into the situation. Investigations are expected. Now the military is worried about whether their families will definitely receive payments after their death. The mechanism for serious inspections is already being developed.
Why In the Ukraine War’s Third Year, Russia Is On Its Third Army
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine with what was presumed to be the world’s second most powerful army. The Ukrainians were considered plucky but far overmatched. Well, that was then.
Three years on, most of that first, professional Russian army is dead or incapacitated. Most of its equipment has likewise been destroyed. The second, substitute Russian army of 2023-2024 is also now largely decimated. It was made up of a mix of convicts, hapless conscripts and recruits fighting for money, using equipment pulled from Soviet storage depots. They did not fare much better in terms of objectives achieved. So Russia is now on its third army in three years, a combination of highly compensated contractors, surviving convicts and North Koreans, a force almost entirely bereft of recognizable armor due to previous losses. The thirds appear to be hanging on but not accomplishing much. Ukraine is arguably on its second army (some say third) focused primarily on drone operators and those defending them, with some special forces and mechanized/artillery units. They are holding their own. But the larger lesson is that force generation during conflict may be more important in high tech war than who is available at the start.
https://www.thelowdownblog.com/2025/04/why-in-ukraine-wars-third-year-russia.html
One of them was wounded and the other surrendered;
🔹 One of the PoWs said that there were ten Chinese in his unit & two in the unit of the other one;
🔹 POWs want to return home and hope that China will help;
🔹 They assume that they served in the 7th motor rifle brigade of the Russian Ground Forces;
🔹 When asked if they tried to escape, one of them said: ”Control was strict”;
🔹 While staying in a Ukrainian Armed Forces dugout, they likely came under a chemical attack. Ukrainian Defenders helped them hide and told them what to do;
🔹 One of the PoWs said that his card, which received money for a contract with the Russian army, was used exclusively by Russians;
🔹 They are satisfied with their treatment in Ukraine: ”We are treated well. They also organized food for us from McDonald's.”
https://bsky.app/profile/antongerashchenko.bsky.social/post/3lmtoelsvgc2t
One day ago I posted the very popular meme, # 14901.
TWENTY-FOUR hours later only eight additional posts have been added to this Thread, with the foreigner adding his usual DUMP just now.
The time is getting close to declare this Thread Done
One could argue that they are on their 10th Army.
In Soviet times, a Soviet Army was 100,000 troops. Since they have crossed the 900,000 casualty line, that would signal the beginning of the 10th Army, by the old standards.
Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos
The complete transcript.
—
[ 1,100 Russians Killed! Shevchenko Completely Cleared! ]
Today [ Apr 14, 8 pm ], there is interesting news from the Pokrovsk direction.
Here, the battle for Shevchenko is reaching a new intensity, as Russian commanders have thrown hundreds of soldiers into the Ukrainian meat grinder. Ukrainians are turning this determination back around against them, driving a spear into Russian advancements, while securing a ring of fortresses around the town.
Ukrainians continue their counteroffensive to fully recapture the key settlement of Shevchenko, which is strategically located on elevated terrain and serves as a critical point in the broader Ukrainian plan to a fortified defense line around Pokrovsk on the high ground. With the infamous mud season intensifying, low-lying areas will soon become swampy traps, bogging down Russian troop movements and making supply runs a logistical nightmare.
By contrast, Ukrainian forces aim to establish a fortified position on drier, more manageable terrain, with direct and secure lines to Pokrovsk itself. In this way, they’re hoping to turn the approaching seasonal shift into an advantage, with Russians stuck in the mud below, limited to pushing forward infantry on foot or even using donkeys to carry supplies, while Ukrainians maintain control from above.
Currently, Shevchenko remains a fiercely contested battleground. After breaking through Russian lines and entering the settlement, Ukrainian units moved quickly to cut off Russian reinforcement routes. However, Russian commanders clearly understand the settlement’s importance and are determined not to let it go without a fight. Russians have been funneling reinforcements into the area in constant waves, often larger infantry groups to disrupt clearing operations and prevent Ukrainians from consolidating the surrounding area.
Russian troops are making use of the tree belts around the local railway to approach Shevchenko with some level of cover from Ukrainian drones, but this tactic is proving increasingly costly. With so many units packed into narrow corridors and exposed to coordinated drone and artillery strikes, Russian losses are mounting.
At the same time, the frontline inside the settlement remains fluid, with brutal close-quarters combat and drone strikes as seen in numerous geolocated footage. The action is relentless; positions are sometimes taken and retaken within hours, as both sides fight for control of buildings, streets, and basements. Still, Ukrainian momentum continues to build.
At the heart of this push is the Ukrainian Skala regiment, a battle-hardened unit that’s become the tip of the spear in Ukraine’s Pokrovsk counteroffensive. Known for its precision, adaptability, and integration of drone warfare into frontline tactics, the Skala regiment has been repeatedly deployed to lead key breakthroughs. Their work in Shevchenko has been instrumental in slicing through Russian defenses, with the unit publishing numerous geolocated videos showcasing their deadly work.
As a result, the cost for Russian forces has been staggering with over 1,100 Russian troops dead, in and around Shevchenko alone. Ukrainian infantry, supported by drone operators, have turned the village into a death trap for invading units. These losses are especially damaging in the context of the wider Pokrovsk front, where Russia has deployed around 70,000 troops, making it one of their most heavily reinforced sectors. But with Ukraine’s counteroffensive putting pressure on them, Russian commanders have been forced to shift even more units into the area to maintain their lines.
Despite being outnumbered, Ukrainian forces are showing that numbers alone don’t always determine the outcome. Their effective use of drones, artillery, and well-coordinated infantry maneuvers, allow them to punish the enemy by making the most of every tool available, turning technological advantages and battlefield experience into a deadly edge. Russia still has the manpower, but losses like those seen in Shevchenko are not easily replaced. Ukraine, meanwhile, must use its available forces carefully, balancing offensive thrusts with holding fortified lines.
Overall, as the fight for Shevchenko continues, the Ukrainian command is staying focused on clearing out the entire western flank around Pokrovsk. If Ukrainian troops can fully secure Shevchenko, it will mark a crucial step forward, not just tactically, but also for the entire defense of Pokrovsk. With control of the high ground, Ukraine would be in a strong position to dominate enemy movements during the muddy spring months, putting Russia’s offensive ambitions at risk of being bogged down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWuN-34cYvQ
Thank you for posting, there’s crumb cake and coffee ☕️ in the back.
unbelievable that this propaganda is allowed to continue.wow
thank god trump was elected... #MAGA
North Korean artillery now dominates Russia’s ammunition supply in war against Ukraine
Kyiv Independent reports:
“The majority of artillery shells used by Russian forces in Ukraine in 2024 were manufactured in North Korea, according to a joint investigation by Reuters and the Open Source Center (OPS), published on April 15.
North Korea has become a key military ally of Russia, supplying artillery shells, missiles, and reportedly even soldiers in exchange for oil products and advanced rocket technology.
Internal technical reports from Russia’s Defense Ministry, obtained by investigators, indicate that in some Russian military units, between 75% and 100% of artillery shells are North Korean-made. Overall, North Korea is providing roughly half of all artillery shells used by Russian troops, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), as cited by Reuters...
...Deliveries peaked in January 2024, with seven batches per month, and cargo ships are currently transporting about three batches of shells per month, according to the investigation. The containers could carry between four and six million artillery shells alone.”
Russia running low on blood money for recruiting - the price for a Russian life may have peaked.
Kyiv Independent reports:
“The Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug has become the first Russian region to reduce enlistment payments for soldiers fighting in Ukraine, the Moscow Times reported on April 15, citing local officials.
Throughout the three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, regional authorities in Russia have significantly increased recruitment bonuses to encourage new troops to join the military amid heavy losses on the battlefield in Ukraine.
In Yamalo-Nenets, payments have now reverted to earlier levels. Instead of the previously offered 3.1 million rubles (about $37,700), new recruits will receive 1.9 million rubles (roughly $23,100). The higher payment had been in effect from Jan. 20 through April 15...
...As of late March, the Russian government was spending about 2 billion rubles ($24.3 million) per day on enlistment bonuses, according to the Russian Finance Ministry. Roughly three-quarters of that — 1.5 billion rubles ($18.2 million) — is paid by regional governments, which are spending nearly 3% of their budgets on recruitment efforts. The remaining 500 million rubles ($6 million) comes from the federal government.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin approved a reduction in compensation for soldiers wounded in the war against Ukraine.”
Welcome to the Zeeper Clown 🤡 show CRF. Coffee and crumb cake in the back.
There are no North Koreans engaged in the fighting. Feel free to offer proof to the contrary if you want.
Looks like Putin may be squandering the opportunity for Russia to come in from the cold, offered by President Trump’s election. EU preparing the next steps in divorcing from Russian energy supplies - shipborne cargoes of LNG and refined oil products.
“The European Commission will present by May 6 a long-awaited roadmap detailing how the EU will phase out Russian fossil fuel imports, Reuters reported on April 14.
The strategy, originally scheduled for release last month, was postponed amid growing uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariff policies, which could affect energy trade and strain transatlantic negotiations.
The European Union committed in 2022 to ending Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027 in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Despite cutting pipeline gas deliveries from Russia, the bloc continues to rely on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), which made up 19% of total EU gas and LNG supplies in 2024. (this is why so much new LNG export capacity is coming online, especially in the USA - to take Russia’s market share for good)
Unlike crude oil and coal, Russian gas remains unsanctioned due to internal EU divisions and energy supply concerns.”
The idea that Russia can increase the overall size of its military while replacing losses is almost comical.
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