Some BDA.
The Morozovsk airbase in Russia is glowing like a Christmas tree on the NASA Firms map. It seems that the entire facility is compromised by the explosions.
https://x.com/Tendar/status/1819606798996832756
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 ...
“Big explosions at the Russian military airfield in Morozovsk, Rostov region. 270km from the frontline. Russian Su-34s are based in Morozovsk.”
https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1819541308043616750
But Jon Boy says Ukrainian lines are collapsing. Could he possibly be wrong? Full of crap?
“đź’Ą”Holy crap! What is this?”, “Where to run?” This is a video from Morozovsk, Rostov region of the Russian Federation, where UAVs allegedly attacked the airfield🔥💥”
https://x.com/UaCoins/status/1819556666569847016
Big explosions indeed.
Kyiv Independent:
“An overnight drone strike caused damage to targets in Russia’s Rostov and Oryol oblasts on Aug. 3, according to the governors of the respective regions and local Telegram news channels.
Residents in Rostov Oblast reported hearing explosions in Rostov-on-Don, Bataysk, and Morozovsk. Locals also reported a fire at the Morozovsk military airfield. Fuel tanks reportedly caught fire in the region’s Kamensky district.
“As a result of a massive UAV attack, a number of storage facilities in the Kamensky and Morozovsky districts were damaged,” Rostov Oblast Governor Vasily Golubev said.”
Massive UAV attacks are becoming a regular feature.
Production is on track to keep ramping up quickly - this is likely to become a nightly routine
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
[ You need to have the Telegram app to view. ]
The complete transcript.
—
[ Ukrainians Make Russians Evaporate With 200kg of Hydrogen & Plastic Explosives ]
—
Today [ Aug 3 ], there are a lot of updates from the Kharkiv direction.
The most interesting updates come from the area of Vovchansk.
Here, after successfully driving Russians out of their bridgehead to the south, the Ukrainians amplified their operations by deploying the newest ground drones equipped with powerful hydrogen bombs, erasing the Russian positions.
The Russian forces in Vovchansk failed in their offensive to advance south of the town, suffering severe losses that forced them to retreat north of the Vovcha River. This setback effectively put the Russians on the defensive, with a limited number of troops holding positions primarily at the Aggregate Plant.
In theory, the combination of the plant and the river should have provided strong defensive positions. However, the Ukrainians managed to identify several key vulnerabilities.
To advance further into the northern part of Vovchansk, the Ukrainians had to exploit these vulnerabilities to compromise the Russian defenses at the aggregate Plant. The plant provides the Russian fighters with a highly elevated position that overlooks most of the town.
By suppressing Russian forces at the aggregate plant, the Ukrainian fighters could advance along Sobornaya Street with reduced resistance. This suppression would enable them to link up with troops advancing from Haharina and Shevchenko Streets, effectively cutting off the Russian stronghold at the aggregate plant once again.
Suppressing the Russian positions at the plant was a challenging task for the Ukrainian fighters. Previous guided bomb strikes on the plant by the Ukrainian Air Force were no longer possible due to a shortage of foreign military aid. Regular aerial drones also had limited effectiveness due to their small explosive charges.
For this reason, Ukrainian fighters in the area had to improvise using a highly innovative method to successfully destroy the Russian firing positions at the plant. They salvaged parts from wrecked civilian electric cars, primarily from abroad, to create drones and bombs.
Batteries and alternators from electric vehicles, like Teslas, were repurposed as power sources for drones, helping to sustain the Ukrainian drone force. This resourceful approach enabled them to overcome the limitations imposed by the shortage of foreign military aid and maintain pressure on the Russian positions.
Given the circumstances of the battle of Vovchansk and the disruption of operations by Russian electronic warfare systems, the Ukrainians had to adopt a different approach. They decided to use spare parts from wrecked electric vehicles to create an innovative bomb.
This bomb was built using a fully loaded hydrogen canister from a wrecked Toyota Mirai car and weighed over 200 kilograms. It was capable of inflicting severe damage on Russian defenses, comparable to an aerial bomb. The hydrogen composition of the bomb enabled it to generate powerful blast waves, fireballs, debris, and mushroom clouds.
Since drones were compromised by electronic warfare and the bomb was too heavy for aerial drone delivery, the Ukrainians opted to use a remotely operated ground drone to transport the bomb to the Russian positions.
The ground drone carrying the bomb was sent over a narrow, intact section of a partially destroyed bridge along Metalista Street, just wide enough for the drone to traverse. The bridge’s location to the east of the Aggregate Plant, coupled with the nearby trees that blocked the Russians’ view, prevented the drone from being detected. After crossing the bridge, the drone moved towards the first building to the west within the aggregate plant complex.
As the drone approached the building, the bomb detonated, resulting in a powerful explosion that caused significant structural damage. The blast was followed by a fire, suggesting that the Russians may have been storing ammunition in the building, which likely contributed to the intensity of the explosion.
Moreover, this building was the sole Russian firing position that defended the eastern part of the aggregate Plant from Ukrainian assaults.
The powerful bomb detonation forced the Russian troops to abandon the building due to the extensive damage and fires, leaving it in a contested state. This strike compelled Russian forces in the area to shift their focus to the building, anticipating a potential Ukrainian assault to capture it.
The Russian command was aware that if the Ukrainians seized the abandoned position, they could station dozens, if not up to a 100, troops inside. This would enable the Ukrainians to use the building as a staging ground for further assaults on the aggregate plant, a crucial position that the Russians were determined to protect at all costs.
While the Russian forces were distracted at the aggregate plant, the redeployment of troops left a gap along Sobornaya Street.
Ukrainian fighters swiftly exploited this vulnerability, seizing control of undefended sections of the street. This oversight further strained the Russian logistical situation, as they lost control of a key supply route to their main force.
Although Russian troops could still move through houses connecting small sections of Shevchenkova and Haharina Streets under their control, this situation could lead to the further collapse of their positions, potentially resulting in their eventual expulsion from Vovchansk.
Overall, the Ukrainians managed to make a gap in Russian defenses by decimating their positions with powerful bomb detonation that managed to set in motion a broader operation to retake the town.
In recognition of the recent achievements by Ukrainian fighters in the area, President Zelensky and members of the Ukrainian High Command visited Vovchansk. The President personally awarded distinguished Ukrainian fighters with state honors and expressed his gratitude for their successful and professional execution of combat missions.
Interesting articles:
—
Ukraine’s “Baba Yaga” Drones Now Appear Capable Of Launching Guided Munitions
Making Ukraine’s large multi-rotor industrial drones capable of launching guided munitions at targets behind enemy lines would certainly be a major capability upgrade.
https://www.twz.com/air/ukraines-baba-yaga-drones-now-appear-capable-of-launching-guided-munitions
—
More U.S. Combat Aircraft Heading To Middle East Ahead Of Expected Iranian Attack On Israel (Updated)
Iran has vowed to attack Israel to avenge the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who was assassinated Wednesday in Tehran.
https://www.twz.com/air/more-u-s-combat-aircraft-heading-to-middle-east-ahead-of-expected-iranian-attack-on-israel
—
Chinese Sea Dragon Commandos Show Off Drones That Look Just Like Birds
Weaponized drones that look and fly like birds may sound like something out of a movie, but they are very real with a long history.
https://www.twz.com/land/chinese-sea-dragon-commandos-show-off-drones-that-look-just-like-birds
—
More Top Secret F-35 Stealth Fighter Data Given To NATO Members
Giving NATO allies a deeper understanding of the F-35 will help them better use the jets, including together with fourth-generation fighters.
https://www.twz.com/air/more-top-secret-f-35-stealth-fighter-data-given-to-nato-members
Kremlin snuff box, 08/03/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
Bad news from the Rostov region
There, the enemy launched a massive drone attack on the Morozovsky district. According to our data, most of the drones were shot down (the authorities announced the destruction of 36 drones), but approximately 10 more flew to their targets.
It is preliminary reported that an ammunition depot came under attack, and due to detonation, the fire spread to fuel tanks. Several vehicles burned down.
Information was also received about damage to two Su-34 aircraft. While the sources are not very talkative, they noted that not all the equipment had time to be scrambled into the air by alarm.
The Atlas plant in the Kamensky district was also attacked. It is part of Rosrezerv. The plant stored fuel for the army. Unfortunately, there are also hits in tanks.
In general, interlocutors at the Ministry of Defense note an increase in the number of drones that the enemy already launches across Russian territory almost every night. The current mechanisms for their elimination are not enough. The reason is banal and obvious - too many different military and paramilitary facilities are located in the European part of Russia. There is no way to close them all with air defense and even electronic warfare.
—
Night Video of strike and still daylight image:
Rostov News | 161.RU, 08/03/24
https://t.me/news161ru/49225
According to eyewitnesses, the fire at the “warehouse facility in the Kamensky district,” as the governor called the oil depot, continues. A column of black smoke is seen by drivers driving along the M-4 highway. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has not yet commented on the fire. The moment of the fire was filmed by one of our readers who happened to be near the “storage facility” at night.
Kamala rates a mention
Kremlin snuff box, 08/03/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
Don’t trust Trump? Why did Putin agree to an exchange with the Americans right now?
The prisoner exchange that took place this week caused heated discussion in the media and telegram channels. One of the fair questions that has arisen in patriotic circles is why the Presidential Administration agreed to conduct an exchange with the current US authorities without waiting for the elections.
“Biden is certainly not a friend for us. But there is a strong feeling that Trump (if he wins) might do something strange. We decided to complete the exchange process that began last year,” said a source in the diplomatic corps.
Interlocutors in power note that in Moscow there is no final certainty who will take the post of US President after the elections. Moreover, there are fears that if he wins, Trump may not live up to our hopes.
At the same time, the weaknesses of another contender, Kamala Harris, can (and should) be used to achieve our geopolitical goals.
Here it is worth emphasizing again: Trump, despite the expectations of many, may become an anti-hero for Russia. There is no need to create unnecessary illusions.
Some BDA.
The Morozovsk airbase in Russia is glowing like a Christmas tree on the NASA Firms map. It seems that the entire facility is compromised by the explosions.
https://x.com/Tendar/status/1819606798996832756
https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1819663212331057304
The pics above are stills from the reconnaissance drone's video at the link above...very interesting.
Either the drones are flying a circuitous route to their target or ruzzian air defense has difficulty tracking them.
My guess is the latter...the air base did not get advance warning of the attack.
Satellite pictures released by the TG channel "Dnipro Official" show that the cover of docking area, where the Rostov was recently docked, is littered with burn marks.
This submarine was struck last year in September by Ukrainian missiles and was heavily damaged. Russians have been trying to repair that submarine since then.
https://x.com/Tendar/status/1819735724100293069
The pic below shows the damage from the previous attack.
The pic below, shown in numerous x.com blog posts, documents Ukraine's claim of damage to the sub.
“an increase in the number of drones that the (Ukrainians) already launch across Russian territory almost every night... too many different military and paramilitary facilities are located in the European part of Russia. There is no way to close them all with air defense and even electronic warfare.”
More Ukrainian drones, less Russian Air Defense.
This is going to increase through the rest of this year, and it is going to take a big chunk out of the Russian Aerospace Forces, as well as ground logistics and their oil industry.
How long before Moscow is burning?
By inauguration day, Russia will urgently need a deal to get themselves free from this tar baby.
Joe Blogs on YouTube reports on the collapse of Russian Arms exports (the only major thing Russia manufactured, that people wanted to buy).
France has now passed Russia, to become the world’s second biggest Arms exporter. The USA’s market share has grown, while Russian exports have crashed.
India (Russia’s biggest customer) reduced their purchases from 3/4ths of their procurement budget, down to 1/3, while their procurement budget size remained constant. Second largest customer China also reduced its purchases significantly. Many former large customers, like Vietnam and Egypt, made no purchases at all last year. Even former loyalists, like Serbia, ordered nothing. Nobody increased their orders.
After the war, Russia may offer State subsidized fire sale prices to prevent their wartime economy from collapsing too suddenly, as so much of it has shifted to weapons production, but even that is unlikely to recapture a large chunk of their long term customer base. Likely gone for good.
Putin did that.
less Russian Air Defense.
—
Particularly since some are being converted into front line troops.
Ground logistics, including ammo dumps.
Video #4 at the link below shows a massive secondary explosion.
Kudos to UKF target intel for locating this ammo storage facility.
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1819624364842574139
India is facing a dilemma.
They bought russian hardware because they considered it best value and western hardware was overpriced.
Ruzzia has them over a barrel...continue to buy ruzzian or ruzzia will stop supplying spare parts for existing hardware.
“continue to buy ruzzian or ruzzia will stop supplying spare parts for existing hardware.”
That is the kind of pressure that Russia aggressively uses (as Putin long did with his energy weapon, until he used it all up) - but it is a sword that cuts both ways. Russia needs to sell its arms products after the war is over, and needs India more than any other customer.
But India’s long investment in Soviet/Russian hardware, leaves them on the hook for a long lifecycle sustainment budget for that legacy gear. They also need to try to keep Russia in play during any potential Indian confrontation with China. But India no doubt sees the need to diversify its arms supplies as well, as Russia careens deeper into China’s orbit, and control. They are trying to license and develop more domestic production.
“less Russian Air Defense. — Particularly since some are being converted into front line troops.”
I think that production of complex new High Altitude Air Defense systems is very slow, if it is happening at all. Most, if not all (likely all) of those systems were in the operational force structure (Active Duty or Reserve units), with assigned crews.
When the systems are destroyed in combat, only a small fraction of their assigned people who happen to be on shift are likely taken out. As the number of systems is reduced, the number of excess personnel in those specialties increases, as newly produced equipment in not likely coming for years. No further need for those excess crew.
So here’s a rifle and some amphetamines Ivan, you have three weeks to practice sprinting, before you storm the line. Make the most of it.
Some submarine repair technicians have just become available.
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