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 ...
After viewing the link at comment #14,882, which was an audio video in English portraying an ancient story (comedy?), I went on to the link below. This was advertised as 30 minutes covering Temendous explosions in Russian cities (presumably by Ukraine or others) and troubles in the Middle East. check it out, there are other related links available here as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWuVMi2RXVU
The enforcer is pretty good. Lays out the stories and lets you decide.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 15, 2025
Two high-ranking members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle reiterated Putin’s June 2024 non-negotiable demands that any resolution of the war in Ukraine must result in regime change, extensive territorial concessions, and long-term limitations on Ukraine’s military after US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff’s April 11 meeting with Putin. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Head Sergey Naryshkin claimed on April 15 that any future peace agreement ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must include terms concerning Ukraine’s neutrality; the demilitarization and “denazification” of the Ukrainian state; the abolition of Ukrainian laws that allegedly discriminate against Russian-speakers in Ukraine; and the recognition of Russia’s illegal annexation of all of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts.[1] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed to Russian state business outlet Kommersant on April 14 that the current Ukrainian government is “unconstitutional” and that Russia “cannot give [Russian speakers living in occupied Ukraine] up” following the illegal and sham referendums Russia conducted in the four oblasts to join Russia in Fall 2022.[2] Lavrov reiterated that Putin “very clearly outlined” Russia’s demands for a future peace agreement to end the war during Putin’s speech on June 14, 2024, and stated that these June 2024 demands were “not some kind of request.” Lavrov stated that there are “no secrets” about Russia’s demands and reiterated the importance of addressing the “root causes” of the war in a future peace agreement.
Russian officials are using Putin’s June 2024 speech as the Kremlin’s current standing guidance on negotiations and the resolution of the war in Ukraine. Putin demanded on June 14, 2024 that Ukrainian forces must “completely withdraw” from Ukrainian-controlled territory in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts and that Ukraine must officially abandon its goal of joining NATO (by amending its constitution in which that goal is enshrined) before Russia can agree to a future ceasefire and peace negotiations.[3] Putin stated that Russia is prepared to begin negotiations with Ukraine as soon as Ukraine agrees to withdraw from the entirety of the four oblasts. Putin also demanded that the international community recognize the four illegally annexed and occupied oblasts as part of Russia and lift all Western sanctions against Russia in the event of a resolution to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin reiterated his calls for Ukraine to agree to full demilitarization and “denazification” and abandon its aspirations to join any external security blocs. These demands would preclude the bilateral security agreements Ukraine has negotiated and is negotiating with several European states.
Putin and other Kremlin officials have routinely issued these same demands, including by using vague language to obfuscate Russia’s most extreme demands.[4] Russian officials, including Putin, use this language to articulate their overarching demand that the West acknowledge Russia’s illegal annexation of occupied Ukraine and force Ukraine to concede not only territory but also its future sovereignty and ability to defend itself. Kremlin officials have consistently demanded that:
Ukraine must demilitarize. Putin named “demilitarization” as one of the main goals of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and stated on July 4, 2024, that Ukraine should undergo “irreversible” “demilitarization” in the event of a future ceasefire.[5] Russia demanded in the April 2022 Istanbul Protocol draft agreement that Ukraine shrink its military beyond pre-2022 levels and commit to never fielding a military capable of defending the country against future Russian aggression.[6] Russia demanded in the protocol that the Ukrainian military should be confined to fewer than 85,000 active-duty personnel, fewer than 15,000 National Guard personnel, and fewer than 1,400 tanks and armored vehicles. The pre-2022 Ukrainian military had 196,600 active-duty personnel, 60,000 National Guard personnel, and over 3,000 tanks and armored vehicles.
Ukraine must “denazify” and install a “legitimate” government. Putin named “denazification” as another of the main goals of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian officials have previously defined “denazification” as the “liquidation of those who instill” Russophobia in other people.[7] Russian officials often invoke the term “denazification” to call for regime change in Ukraine and the installation of a pro-Russian proxy government in Kyiv. Putin has routinely labeled all Ukrainian governments since 2014 as “illegitimate” and claimed on January 28 that Russia will not view any agreements it concludes with the current Ukrainian government as binding.[8]
Ukraine must abandon its aspirations to join NATO or any security bloc in the future. Putin’s demand for Ukraine’s âneutralityâ remains one of the central justifications for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.[9] Russia demanded in the Istanbul Protocol draft agreement that Ukraine amend its constitution to remove the provision committing Ukraine to NATO membership and add a neutrality provision that would ban Ukraine from joining any military alliances, concluding military agreements, or hosting foreign military personnel or systems in Ukraine.[10]
Ukraine must concede occupied Ukrainian territory and “Novorossiya” to Russia. Putin stated on June 14, 2024, that Russia will not be content with ending the war on the lines it currently holds and explicitly called for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the non-occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia oblasts as a prerequisite for any sort of “peace” negotiations with Ukraine.[11] Kremlin officials have indicated that they have territorial ambitions beyond the administrative borders of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts and often invoke the term “Novorossiya” (an amorphous, invented region in Ukraine that Kremlin officials have claimed includes all of southern and eastern Ukraine and is an “integral” part of Russia) to lay claim to other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts.[12]
Any resolution of the war must address the war’s “root causes.” Lavrov has repeatedly defined the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine as NATO’s alleged violation of commitments not to expand into eastern Europe and along Russia’s borders in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s and the Ukrainian government’s alleged discrimination against ethnic Russians and Russian language, media, and culture in Ukraine.[13] Russian officials have leveraged claims that Ukraine has mistreated Russian speakers to justify Russia’s occupation and illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Kremlin officials continue to set informational conditions to demand that Ukraine surrender territory that Russia does not currently occupy and to justify Russia’s ambitions of asserting control over independent countries, including NATO member states. Lavrov told Kommersant on April 14 that Russia and the United States have not agreed on any “key parameters” of a potential agreement to end the war in Ukraine.[14] Lavrov stated that Putin’s June 2024 demand that Ukraine cede all of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblast â including the territory that Russia does not currently occupy â continue to serve as the basis of Russia’s negotiating position.[15] Lavrov referred to Russia’s claimed territory in Ukraine as Donbas and Novorossiya. Lavrov claimed that the Ukrainian government “does not represent Crimea, Donbas, or Novorossiya” or “a number of other territories that still remain under the control of [Ukraine.]” Lavrov specifically claimed that the Ukrainian government does not represent residents in Odesa City and that Russia built Odesa City and “many other” cities in Ukraine. Putin recently claimed that “Novorossiya” is an integral part of Russia, and Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has defined “Novorossiya” as all of eastern and southern Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts.[16] Putin claimed in 2023 that Odesa City, Crimea, and the entire “Black Sea region” have nothing “to do with Ukraine.”[17] Lavrov’s continued amplification of these claims indicates that Russia aims to occupy even more of Ukraine than the territory that Russia is currently demanding, despite engaging in ongoing negotiations with the United States ostensibly to end the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov also indicated Russia’s desire to seize territory in countries in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia â including NATO member states. Lavrov claimed that it is “dangerous” when “fascists seize lands that never belonged to anyone except the Russian Empire [and] Soviet Union” and do “disgusting things there.” Lavrov’s statement indicates that the Kremlin views independent countries once colonized by the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire as rightfully part of modern-day Russia. Moldova and NATO members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were part of the Soviet Union and Russian Empire, and NATO member Finland and large parts of NATO member Poland were part of the Russian Empire. Russian Presidential Aide and former Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev recently threatened Finland using narratives resembling those that the Kremlin has used to justify its invasion of Ukraine, and Putin and other Russian officials are attempting to use Russia’s previous colonization efforts to set informational conditions and justify future aggression against NATO states.[18]
Naryshkin threatened a Russian attack against NATO states in response to NATO states building up their defenses in line with US President Donald Trump’s push for Europe to increase its own defense capabilities. Naryshkin claimed on April 15 that NATO states are strengthening their positions on their borders with Belarus and Russia, including Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast.[19] Naryshkin claimed that Poland and the Baltic states “should understand” that the “first to suffer” in the event of “NATO aggression” against the Union State of Russia and Belarus will be the Polish and Baltic political circles that have spoken about building up their defenses along their borders with Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast â although Naryshkin claimed that Russia “will certainly” inflict damage on the entire NATO bloc in this event.[20] Naryshkin claimed that European states, such as France, the UK, and Germany, are escalating the war in Ukraine, so Russia “needs to act preemptively” and “is ready for this.”[21] Russian officials, including Putin, repeatedly threatened NATO in 2023 and 2024.[22] Naryshkin appears to be claiming that European efforts to shoulder more of Europe’s own defense requirements and to defend against future Russian aggression â in line with Trump’s calls for such efforts â are allegedly provocative and escalatory.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-15-2025
Stories you might have missed:
New Russian Offensive Has Gained Little Ground So Far
Ukraine Situation Report: Russia is trying to create a ‘buffer zone’ in Sumy as both sides jockey for territory ahead of possible negotiations.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/new-russian-offensive-has-gained-little-ground-so-far
Excerpts:
The Latest
Overall there have been few gains across 600 miles of frontlines in Ukraine and additional territory inside Russia. Here are the key takeaways from the latest Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessment.
1. Kursk: Russian forces continued efforts to push Ukrainian forces from remaining positions in Kursk Oblast on April 13, but did not make any confirmed advances.
2. Kharkiv: Russian forces recently marginally advanced northeast of Kharkiv City.
3. Luhansk: Russian forces advanced near Borova, but did not make any confirmed gains toward Lyman or Kupiansk.
4. Donetsk: Russian forces recently advanced south of Chasiv Yar. However, they did not make any confirmed gains northeast of Siversk near Hryhorivka and Bilohorivka, Toretsk, Novopavlivka, Kurakhove or Velyka Novosilka.
5. Kherson: Russian forces conducted limited offensive operations in the Dnipro direction on April 12 and 13 but did not advance.
6. Zaporizhzhia: Russian forces conducted limited offensive operations northwest of Robotyne near Shcherbaky, Mali Shcherbaky, and Stepove on April 12 and 13 but did not advance.
A new Russian study gives high marks to the U.S.-donated Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
The study, titled âResults of Research Tests of the BMP âBradleyâ M2A2 ODS SA (USA),â claimed that the U.S. vehicle surpasses the Russian BMP-3 in terms of projectile and bullet resistance, mine protection as well as side and frontal protection.
The Bradley is also superior to the BMP-3 in firepower as well due to the accuracy of Bushmaster M242 25 mm automatic cannon, âwhich is twice that of the 30-mm 2A42 and 2A72 automatic cannons, increasing the effective firing range,â the study notes. In addition, the Bradley is easier for troops to enter and exit and requires less technical maintenance for key components and assemblies due to easier access.
However, the Bradley is not perfect. It is inferior to the BMP-3 in terms of mobility, range, off-road capability, and the ability to ford water obstacles afloat, the study found. Of the more than 300 Bradleys given to Ukraine, at least more than half are either destroyed or damaged. And at least 11 have been captured by Russia, according to the Oryx open-source tracking group. Those figures could be higher though because Oryx only tabulates losses for which it has visual confirmation.
Invisible North Koreans not mentioned ...
—
Russiaâs New Helicopter Carrier Is Taking Shape In Crimea
Work on the first Ivan Rogov class amphibious assault ship is ongoing at a shipyard Ukrainian forces have attacked in the past with long-range missiles.
https://www.twz.com/sea/russias-new-helicopter-carrier-is-taking-shape-in-crimea
Target rich environment
—
Trump Considering Buying Foreign Ships To Make Up Gap With China
The presidentâs comments come after he signed a new executive order aimed at reforming Americaâs shipbuilding capacity.
https://www.twz.com/sea/trump-considering-buying-foreign-ships-to-make-up-gap-with-china
Excerpt:
But once again, no matter how logical this all sounds, doing so is going to probably stoke a fight in congress. Any dollars moving away from key U.S. shipyards will be challenged. But if Trumpâs budget were to call for a major expansion in shipbuilding, even if the money was there, doing it would be very problematic using existing infrastructure in the U.S. alone.
—
B-2 Stealth Bombers Deployed To Diego Garcia Have Been Striking Targets In Yemen
At least six of America’s prized B-2 bombers are deployed to the island outpost and are now participating in combat operations against the Houthis in Yemen.
https://www.twz.com/air/b-2-spirits-deployed-to-diego-garcia-have-been-striking-houthi-targets-in-yemen
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Greenland âAbsolutely Criticalâ For Hunting Russian Submarines: Top U.S. General In Europe
Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, the top U.S. general in Europe, testified that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security.
https://www.twz.com/sea/greenland-absolutely-critical-for-hunting-russian-submarines-top-u-s-general-in-europe
And it plans to âcleanseâ men who join the army simply to earn money. Our insider information is once again fully confirmed. In mid-March, we wrote that payments for signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense could be seriously cut. The reason is the desire to weed out those who, in anticipation of the imminent completion of the Second Military Military Service, just want to get money, undergo training, but not fight. The process announced by Tabakerka has begun. Payments to contract soldiers will be seriously reduced (from 3.1 to 1.9 million rubles at once) in Yamal. According to our sources in the Ministry of Defense, there are still âquite a fewâ regions in line. One of the reasons for such actions is certain crisis phenomena in the economy and fears of an even greater crisis. But this is not the main reason. âA lot of âtouristsâ have appeared among those who sign contracts.â The scheme is this: a guy does not want to fight for Russia, but thinks that the SVO will soon end, he will run around with a machine gun at exercises, and will not have to fight. We do not need such sly people in the troops. The SVO will definitely not end soon. And how will such a contingent strengthen the army? No way,â our source in the Ministry of Defense explained the situation.
Note that the problem has now become really acute. Other military personnel , including a combat officer , have previously complained to us about those who join the army simply to earn money and do not want to fight. Therefore, the ministry decided to take action. âWe want to take on a contract only those men who understand that the SVO is in full swing. And are ready to fight for at least a few more years. We want to, excuse the expression, âweed out and clean outâ all the rest. We will start by reducing contract payments. This will help, but not completely. Therefore, we will identify âtouristsâ who are waiting for the end of the SVO. Check applicants for a contract for readiness to fight. Those who come just to earn some extra money will be fined. I would put them in jail, we are currently thinking about how to launch the appropriate mechanism,â said the channel's source in the Ministry of Defense. Another confirmed that work in this direction is underway. But he believes that âsly contract soldiers need to be treated by the front.â âIf a person came to the army to earn some extra money and does not want to fight, he needs to be thrown into the hottest areas of the front. There he will understand that the SVO will not end anytime soon. And patriotism will awaken,â our source is sure.
https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/5545
Running out of money
Two days ago I posted the very popular meme seen in post # 14901.
FORTY-EIGHT hours later THIS THREAD has a total of 28 total posts.
I'M CLOSE to declaring this Thread officially DEAD!!
Either pick it up or wrap it up!
On April 15, 2025, the first visually confirmed destruction of a Russian 2S43 Malva 8x8 self-propelled howitzer was reported
The 2S43 Malva is a 152 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by TsNII Burevestnik as part of the Nabrosok initiative to create modern artillery systems based on a wheeled platform. The system was designed from 2019 to 2023 and entered service with the Russian Armed Forces in late 2023. The 2S43 is built on the BAZ-6610-027 Voshchina 8Ă8 chassis produced by the Bryansk Automobile Plant and is powered by a YaMZ-8424.10 diesel engine with 470 horsepower. It has an operational mass of 32 tons, can reach a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour, and has a road range of 1,000 kilometers.
“A hometown hero returns, as Lansdale mourns fallen Marine Corey Nawrocki”
“LANSDALE â The intersection outside of Huff and Lakjer Funeral Home in Lansdaleâs West Ward stood silent Saturday night, save for the low hum of engines and the occasional crackle of a police radio.
Beneath a dark sky, a massive American flag rippled between the raised ladders of two Fairmount Fire trucks â its fabric catching the wind like a solemn salute.
At 10:30 p.m. Saturday, the body of a Lansdale son and retired Marine returned to the place he once called home, draped not in celebration, but in the stars and stripes of sacrifice.
Killed in October while fighting as a volunteer on the side of Ukrainian forces, 1st Sgt. Corey Nawrocki was escorted with reverence from Philadelphia International Airport by Pennsylvania State Police, then handed over to a procession of fire engines, EMS crews, veteransâ groups, and first responders of numerous area public safety agencies.
More than 200 neighbors, friends, strangers and family members stood waiting to receive their hero one final time.
As a bagpiper played âAmazing Grace,â a color guard and pall bearers of veterans carried the casket of the Class of 2001 North Penn graduate into the vestibule of the funeral home, where select family and friends said their goodbyes to the decorated veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient.
Nawrockiâs body will remain at Huff & Lakjer until such time that he can be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Nawrocki, 41, was killed in action October 27, 2024 in the Bryansk region of Russia during a reported reconnaissance and sabotage incursion as a volunteer fighter with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to multiple online reports and Northern Provisions on Instagram. He was found with an alleged American volunteer fighter who had a U.S. Army 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Regiment tattoo on his arm, per reports.
He spent 20 years with the U.S. Marine Corps, serving multiple tours of duty, retiring in 2021. He was a gunnery sergeant at the Marine Barracks Washington and served with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines B-Co. and the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Blackfoot Co.
âFat Stacks,â as he was known by his Marine brothers and sisters, grew up on the 600 block of Spruce Street.
According to The Moscow Times, Russiaâs Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed responsibility for killing four âsaboteursâ of a Diversion Reconnaissance Group who attempted to cross into Bryansk with the A3449 military unit of Ukraine. Per reports, he was issued a military ID on Sept. 4, 2024.
â(He) had every single medal the Marine Corps could offer and more. 1st Sgt. Nawrocki was more than just a Marine 1st Sgt. He was a mentor, a friend, a leader, a well of knowledge, a gunslinging motivator, but above all a hero,â wrote Jared Romero on Facebook. âThis is a loss that hits home. Nawrocki cared about all his Marines he served with. He was a pure joy to have as a 1st Sgt. and a friend.â
Fellow Marine Terry McElwain, on the eve of Nawrockiâs retirement, wrote on Facebook that âCorey has always swayed with confidence, passion for his craft and understanding ⊠Your service to the nation cannot be repaid and we shall be forever in your debt. You have led a life of valor and courage and bled for our great nation.â
âYou knew you did not want to come home unless it was on your shield,â wrote McElwain. âHis memory will live on with us â along with his bravery, nobility, and sacrifice. He will be remembered.â
Nawrocki is survived by his mother, Sandy Rosenski Nawrocki. His father, John, a Moosic, PA native, died in August 1983 at the age of 21 in Lackawanna County after his Jeep crashed into a utility pole.
Sandy Nawrocki worked with the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine and the R.T. Weatherman Foundation to return her son home.”
https://x.com/United24media/status/1912028746187415690
“USMC 1st Sgt. Corey Nawrockiâa son of Lansdale, a decorated Marine, and a true American heroâserved our nation with honor for 20 years, earning a Bronze Star for Valor and two Purple Hearts. And when freedom was threatened once more, he didnât hesitateâvolunteering to join Ukraineâs elite forces and standing on the front lines in the fight against evil and tyranny.
Tragically, on Monday, October 28, 2024, Corey was killed in actionâgiving his life to defend liberty in the face of Putinâs brutal aggression.
Now, after months of anguish and advocacy, Corey finally returns home to our community.
Join me in praying for his remarkable mother, Sandy. And may we, as a nation, honor Coreyâs sacrifice by remaining steadfast in the cause he gave his life for: defending liberty, rejecting tyranny, and protecting freedomâwherever itâs threatened.
Welcome home, Marine. We are forever humbled by your valor, and will carry your legacy forwardâalways.”
https://x.com/RepBrianFitz/status/1911180794221170919
It is funny to watch the triumph of stupidity in the Russian information space regarding the ruble as the âstrongest currency relative to the US dollarâ. The Russian ruble is not a freely convertible currency, and its rate relative to anything is set by the political leadership based mainly on an absurd understanding of the processes in the economy and financial system. Russia, at the moment, is not even on the edge, but in the process of falling into the abyss of crisis, and the joy regarding the âsuper strongâ ruble looks ridiculous. Of course, the Russian leadership will use this âfactâ for propaganda purposes, holding Russiansâ ruble deposits in banks and attracting new deposits.
We would like to remind you that the financial system in Russia is stable as long as citizens do not try to withdraw their money from deposits and current accounts. Moreover, as long as Russians deposit more money into accounts than they withdraw, the banking system even feels good. BUT! Banks do not have even 5% of the total amount of deposits to issue to respected citizens, therefore the notorious freeze of deposits took place âin factâ, Russians are simply not informed about it, so as not to traumatize in advance and counting on imaginary stability in the future. There is no doubt that the inverted information about the ruble rising in price faster than gold, and even at 22% in deposits, will force gullible Russians, of whom there are most, to rush to the bank with rubles with double enthusiasm. Pavlov's reform, the default of 1998, MMM and numerous âtrustsâ of the 90s are forgotten forever.
Pavlov Reform https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlov_Reform
1998 Russian financial crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Russian_financial_crisis
MMM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMM_(Ponzi_scheme_company)
He went, you wont.
Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos
The complete transcript.
â
[ Russian Troops Walk Into a Brutal Ukrainian Ambush! ]
Today [ Apr 15, 8 pm ], the biggest news comes from the Kursk direction.
Here, Russians are desperately trying to break into Sumy Oblast and carve out a buffer zone, but are instead walking straight into a Ukrainian trap. Nightly ambushes destroyed Russian assaults before they could even begin, while unsuspecting Russian infantry was funneled into deadly kill zones.
In the short term, the main Russian goal is to push Ukrainians fully out of Kursk and into Sumy Oblast. Russians plan to advance deeper into Sumy and create a large buffer zone in Ukrainian territory. By creating a buffer zone, they hope to prevent another Ukrainian cross-border incursion, as the main Ukrainian force that withdrew from Kursk remains strongly operational still.
In the long term, according to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia plans to use a buffer zone as a staging ground for a future offensive into Sumy Oblast, potentially bringing the city of Sumy within artillery range. Similar to how Ukrainians planned to use Kursk as leverage to trade for Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories, Russia hopes to use gains in Sumy to pressure Ukraine into ceding eastern territories instead, or expand its own territorial claims to include Sumy as well.
To combat Russian plans of creating a buffer zone, Ukrainians are using a flexible, multi-layered defense in the forests near Guyevo. To prevent the frontal defenses from collapsing under constant pressure and incurring significant losses, Ukrainians are allowing some Russian assaults to pass through, luring them into brutal ambushes, as they are cleaned up by Ukrainians manning the defenses in the rear. One of the most prominent ways Ukrainians do this is through strategically placed minefields, using various tactics and techniques to stop different types of Russian advances.
During armored assaults, to reduce losses to Ukrainian drone strikes, Russians are mounting anti-drone grills and onboard electronic warfare to their vehicles, and only advance under fog or low visibility weather conditions. In response, to not waste FPVâs, Ukrainians use drones to drop landmines onto key roads at night. This way, Ukrainians donât need drone strikes to eliminate Russian armored assaults. During the day, when Ukrainian drone operators survey the area, they are equipped with drone-dropped grenades to finish off all the disabled vehicles that drove into the minefield, which suddenly appeared overnight.
The next major Russian assault tactic is to use pure-infantry assault groups to infiltrate Ukrainian lines, or get as close as possible to Ukrainian positions before storming their trenches. To delay their detection for as long as possible, Russians sneak through tree lines and terrain features such as dried river beds or gullies. Recognizing this, Ukrainian paratroopers laid out antipersonnel minefields along these exact locations, knowing that Russians would walk right into them during their infiltration assaults. Geolocated footage shows one Russian assault group not moving in a tactical formation, and as a result, three soldiers in the front stepped on landmines almost simultaneously, as the rest of the group froze, unable to do anything to help, or risk stepping on a mine themselves.
However, a flexible defense does not mean that Ukrainians are just letting all enemy assault groups move freely into their back line, regardless of whether they get ambushed and destroyed or not. POV footage from Ukrainian soldiers fighting at Guyevo shows them in intense nightly firefights with Russian forces on the front line. The footage shows the Ukrainian fighters from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment using infrared lasers to point out and target the Russian soldiers, lasers that are only visible to the Ukrainians because of their night vision goggles.
Overall, Ukrainians are successfully holding a flexible defense in Kursk to block any Russian attempt to create a buffer zone into Sumy Oblast. The earlier coordinated withdrawal allowed Ukrainians to set up a flexible and multilayered line of defense, exploiting predictable Russian attack vectors in ambushes and surprise minefields throughout the forests. Thanks to superior coordination, even when Russians breach the first line, the rear defenses can quickly destroy the advance. If the success of the Ukrainian defense continues, Russiaâs advances can be stalled here indefinitely, preventing another deep push into Ukrainian territory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOQBbxqfyJY
Thank you for posting, we need the activity.
“Running out of money”
How will they fill the ranks, when the current method of paying big enlistment bonuses has run its course?
The politically risky option of forced mobilizations would seem to be a growing possibility.
But maybe they are anticipating an economic crisis, that will leave a new pool of potential recruits with little alternative to Military service, so they won’t need to offer such big bonuses.
Putin: Making Russian lives nasty, brutish and short.
'Significant progress' â Ukraine, US to conclude minerals deal in 'near future,' Deputy PM says
Kyiv Independent reports:
"U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have made "significant progress" in talks on a minerals deal, which will be concluded in the "near future," Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on April 16...
(She's pretty!)
...The statement follows consultations between U.S. and Ukrainian delegates in Washington on April 11 and 12, which were meant to hash out details of the long-debated deal on Ukraine's natural wealth.
While initial reporting indicated the talks began in an "antagonistic atmosphere," President Volodymyr Zelensky later said the round of discussions concluded in a "positive mood."
"We have now agreed with the U.S. side to affirm this positive development by a relevant memorandum of intent â we are preparing a formal conclusion of the deal in the near future," the deputy prime minister noted...
...Bloomberg reported earlier on April 16 that the U.S. has softened its "maximalist" demands, lowering the payback it seeks for the provided aid from $300 billion to $100 billion...
...Speaking to Bloomberg, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent nevertheless said that the negotiators are "very close" and the deal could be finalized as early as this week.
"The teams will continue to work on the details, a lot has been worked out," Svyrydenko said.
"The agreement will be subject to ratification by the Ukrainian parliament and will provide opportunities for investment and development in Ukraine and ensure conditions for tangible economic growth both in Ukraine and the U.S.""
Reporting From Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/videos
The complete transcript.
â
[ Turmoil on The Front! Ukrainian F-16s Are on The Hunt! ]
Today [ Apr 16, 8 pm ], the biggest news comes from the Ukrainian skies.
Here, Ukrainians launched a massive F-16 air strike campaign on Russian military targets, using the new Western jetsâ deadly capabilities to the maximum. Ukrainians demonstrated their new capabilities by crippling Russian preparations for their spring offensive.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified its aerial operations against Russian targets, leveraging newly acquired F-16s from the Netherlands and Mirage 2000s from France to conduct a series of strategic airstrikes. As you remember from previous reports, Ukrainians have already destroyed a massive number of Russian air defense systems, not only opening the sky to long-range strikes, but now also enabling much more aggressive air operations close to the front.
On the northern front, Ukrainians executed multiple precision strikes to disrupt Russian efforts. Near Grafivka, Ukrainians used an American GBU-62 JDAM to destroy a Russian border checkpoint being used to store ammunition and gather personnel. Geolocated footage also confirms several more hits on Russian positions, targeting and disrupting Russian force accumulations, as Russians keep sending in more reinforcements to deal with the Ukrainian incursion into Belgorod.
In Kursk, Ukrainian MiG-29s used French AASM HAMMER guided bombs to target Russian force concentrations in Guyevo and Goptarivka, preventing them from establishing footholds in these villages. The Ukrainian-French air strike combination continued to devastate Russian efforts, targeting Russian drone operatorsâ launching points and command posts in Tiotkino, and then finally destroying a critical bridge used by armored vehicles in Kursk.
These strikes disrupted the Russian command and control structure, preventing coordinated Russian assaults into Sumy, and dooming them to small infantry group tactics that were doomed to fail. Meanwhile, the strikes on Russian drone operators’ outposts denied Russians the ability to target Ukrainian troop movements on the Sumy-Sudzha road.
On the Donetsk and Luhansk frontlines, Ukrainian airstrikes have aimed to alleviate the pressure off Ukrainian defenders in the hottest sectors of the front. Along the Pischane funnel near Kupiansk, Ukrainian aircraft successfully struck two-story buildings full of Russian soldiers. In Soledar, north of Bakhmut, a Mavic 3 drone captured the impact of two GBU-62 JDAM bombs on Russian troop positions preparing for frontline deployment and assaults toward Siversk.
At Pokrovsk, Ukrainians carried out precision strikes in Selydove and Novoyelizavetivka, targeting large buildings housing Russian soldiers and drone operators, collapsing the structures, and eliminating everyone inside.
Finally, in Velyka Novosilka, reconnaissance drones guided AASM HAMMER bombs to hit buildings being used as command posts and gathering points for Russian soldiers.
Notably, Ukrainian strike aircraft have been operating with increased confidence, bolstered by air-to-air fighter cover provided by the newly acquired F-16s and Mirage 2000s. This enhanced fighter support with increased air-to-air and radar capabilities was used to engage enemy aircraft while allowing Ukrainian strike planes to focus on destroying their targets.
At Kherson, this allowed Ukrainians to repeatedly target the command post of Russia’s 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment near Nechayeve, resulting in the elimination of approximately 30 Russian officers. After the Russians had replaced the killed commanders of the regiment, Ukrainian intelligence passed on the coordinates of their new command post.
The footage shows Ukrainian bombs hitting the target on precise weak points with GBU-62 guided bombs, allowing them to penetrate and do massive internal damage to the new command post, despite not even being bunker busters.
Additionally, a MiG-29 delivered 2 AASM HAMMER bombs on a Russian company command post and a building housing Russian troops in Babine on the Dnipro River bank.
Overall, Recent airstrikes reveal a clear Ukrainian focus on hitting troop concentrations and command centers, disrupting command structures and undermining Russian assaults before they can even begin. Bolstering Ukraine’s aerial capabilities by delivering Western fighter jets and precision-guided munitions has allowed for a massive air strike campaign against Russian targets.
The Air Force has combined older jets like the MiG-29s with newly acquired F-16s and Mirage 2000s, enabling more expansive use of precision munitions such as GBU-62 JDAM and AASM HAMMER bombs. These Western multirole fighters are both able to participate in the Ukrainian air strike campaign, as well as provide air-to-air cover for Ukrainian jets conducting strikes.
Most notably Ukrainians conducted over 19 successful air strikes against high priority Russian targets over the last 2 weeks alone with France continuing to supply approximately 50 ASM hammer bombs to Ukraine per month ensuring Ukrainians can continue to devastate Russian offensive plans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKnpQ9qcqzw
lol that will work out well nail your troopsđ
Party on Russia’s former market share - another casualty of Putin’s Folly:
India targets traditional Russian arms customers with cheap loans, Reuters reports
“India is developing a new strategy to boost its defense exports, offering long-term, low-cost loans through its state-owned Export-Import Bank to foreign buyers, including those traditionally reliant on Russian arms, Reuters reported on April 16, citing officials familiar with the plan.
As global demand for military equipment rises, New Delhi aims to position itself as a low-cost, alternative supplier. The initiative includes dispatching more defense attachés to embassies in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, and having the Indian government directly negotiate some arms deals, multiple Indian officials told Reuters.
The initiative is focused on countries that have historically purchased Soviet or Russian weapons and whose military standards are often more compatible with Indian equipment than NATO systems. These countries include Brazil, Algeria, Morocco, Guyana, Tanzania, Argentina, Ethiopia, and Cambodia.”
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