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

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.

Russia’s stocks of self-propelled tube artillery pieces were eliminated by combat losses in the Ukraine, worn-out barrels or exploded from firing with worn-out barrels, and were replaced by towed artillery from its reserve stocks.

Now the Russians have lost, worn out or almost worn out everything but their oldest reserve tube artillery, 50+ year-old 122mm towed guns of which they allegedly had about 4,000 in 2021.

These are Russia’s last artillery reserve, are being put into service now and, when those are worn out this year, Russia’s tube artillery park will be reduced to their current production of about 200 yearly tube artillery pieces.

At that point Russia can no longer continue the war unless their 2024 production increases to at least 2000 a year.

[ So that’s a 10X increase. ]

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All this means that the average number of shells they can fire before their liners wear out, and the tube steel itself is too corroded for safe firing by even Russian standards, is probably under half the 2,000 rounds the Russians have been firing from their now useless larger caliber towed and self-propelled artillery.

It is highly likely, given Russian corruption and maintenance standards, that only about 3,000 of the nominally available 4,000 pieces of 122mm artillery can be made ready for service. If those can safely fire only about 1000 rounds each, the Russian tube artillery park can only fire three million rounds before becoming useless, which is about their expected three million rounds of shell production for 2024.
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Russian tactical communications may collapse once their number of light AFV drop below 7,500 or so, and that will probably happen by the end of 2024 because 2022-2023 losses have been about 6,500 - 7,000 a year.

These are reasonable grounds for believing that Russia will be unable to continue its war in Ukraine past the end of this year.

[ lots of vatnik tears will be shed this year. ]

Reporting From Ukraine:
Note: other versions of this report are found elsewhere on FR, but this is guaranteed to be the complete transcript - unlike the others.
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU

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Day 756: Mar 20

Today, there are a lot of updates from the Lyman direction.

Here, Russians have reinforced this direction with additional forces and are preparing for their new spring-summer offensive. The ultimate Russian goal is to cross the Zherebets River and reach the Ukrainian city of Lyman, a key railway and logistics hub known as ‘The Gates of Donbas.’

Historically, to achieve this, Russians have carried out direct frontal assaults from the east, which the Ukrainians have repelled by flanking from the forest to the south, forcing the Russians back.

Recently, Russians have reorganized and reinforced their units in the area and are again attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses.

Right now, there are 2 important battles being fought: one in the forest and the other in the direction of Yampolivka. In the long term, if the Russians want to take Lyman, they must advance both from the forest and the river.

However, before they can cross the river and push on to Lyman, Russians need to establish control over three Ukrainian settlements: Terny, Yampolivka, and Torske.

During these attacks, the Russian flanks are vulnerable to Ukrainian counterattacks from the south. Therefore, it is critical for Russians to establish control over the outer area of the forest.

Nonetheless, Ukrainians hold steady defenses and have been able to hold off Russian attacks on the forest while simultaneously projecting fire control over the road to Torske and forcing the Russians to divert into the fields.

In distancing themselves from the forest, Russians have made Yampolivka and Terny their primary targets.

If we look at the topographic map, we can see that the settlements along the reservoirs are situated in the lowlands and are under Ukrainian control, while the hills to the east overlooking the settlements are partially under Russian control.

Russians have used this advantage to carry out direct frontal assaults on Ukrainian positions downhill. However, Ukrainians have been able to deal with these direct attacks by maintaining well-organized supply lines and quick reaction forces to counterattack, if the situation becomes dire.

To launch assaults on the settlements themselves, Russians must first expand control over the forests to the east. Here, Russians have increased the pressure on Ukrainian defenders by utilizing large mechanized assaults in order to overwhelm Ukrainian defenders.

However, in most cases, the assaulted positions are so heavily damaged that they are of little use to the Russian forces. Ukrainians then use their quick reaction forces to counterattack and retake the lost positions, forcing heavy casualties on the depleted Russian assault groups.

At the end of their previous assault waves and achieving small territorial gains in Febuary, Russians were forced to decrease their activity in the region and take time to recuperate and recover their losses.

Ukrainian Khortytsia Group of Forces spokesperson, Ilya Yevlash stated that Russian forces are reinforcing their assault groups with Sorm-Z convict recruits and are transferring additional forces to the area.

Russian aviation also conducted air strikes with FAB-500 glide bombs against Ukrainian positions in the area, in preparation for their attacks. Shortly thereafter, Russians completed their reorganization and launched a new wave of attacks towards Yampolivka.

The first attack took place during the night, where seven Russian armored vehicles attempted to reach Ukrainian defenses and catch them by surprise.

However, Ukrainian drone operators were monitoring the area and spotted the Russian assault group well in advance. One by one, they were then completely destroyed by mines and Ukrainian artillery.

Later, during the day, Russians launched two more attacks in an attempt to reach the settlement.

The first attack consisted of one T-90M tank in the lead and one BMP infantry fighting vehicle following it. They are seen to be driving around the remnants of the night attack.

They decide to take a different route, however, and Ukrainian artillery crews almost instantly open fire on the assault group, which manages to drive about a kilometer further before the tank drives over a mine and gets disabled on impact.

The tank crew and the assault group then manage to dismount and run into the tree line, with the BMP providing fire support.

Ukrainian artillery crews, however, opened fire on the infantry with cluster munitions. With no more infantry to support, the BMP then decides to retreat, but is quickly taken out by a kamikaze drone.

The third assault that day was carried out by a small group of soldiers on Chinese-made all-terrain vehicles.

These so-called golf carts are very agile and allow for quick maneuvers along the frontline. Unfortunately for Russians, however, these carts also provide zero protection against enemy fire, artillery, or mines and were subsequently destroyed by Ukrainian cluster munitions.

Overall, Ukrainian forces managed to successfully defeat a huge wave of Russian assaults and hold their positions in front of the settlements.

Nonetheless, a Ukrainian soldier active in the area stated that the attacks will not stop here, as Russians have increased their presence in the area and are using a large amount of infantry, armor, artillery, and aviation in their attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses.

On the other hand, a prominent Russian military blogger also stated that while Russians hold the initiative in this direction, they have been unable to translate small tactical gains into serious operational successes.

If Ukrainians can manage to hold off the new wave of Russian assaults, this will likely be the last before the seasonal mud takes over and makes any armored assault impossible, at least until the summer.

Kremlin snuff box, 03/21/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets

Gasoline prices are going up, but there’s no need to panic

Against the backdrop of attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on industrial enterprises in the oil refining industry, there is an increase in fuel prices.

The day before, the cost of AI-95 gasoline for the first time since September exceeded 65,000 rubles per ton (data from the St. Petersburg International Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange (SPIMEX).

Sources assure that the authorities have already taken adequate measures in this situation; no crisis should be expected at gas stations. But the price of fuel may actually rise, even despite the ban on gasoline exports introduced earlier.

“There are significant reserves that will allow us to balance the market. At the same time, we understand that seasonally demand will increase in the spring and summer. Some of our capacities, alas, may not be repaired until the summer.

“In general, we plan to proceed normally, but due to increased demand, prices may rise. No more than 10%, I think,” a government source said. He suggested that after the damaged oil refining capacity is restored, prices may fall.

The source also clarified that the ban on gasoline exports will not affect budget revenues, since oil exports are growing.

First, China’s economy is growing slightly faster than expected. Accordingly, Beijing is buying oil in larger volumes than planned. Secondly, Saudi Arabia’s decision to reduce production as part of the OPEC agreement plays into our hands.

However, the level of supplies on the European market has decreased significantly over the past two years. The losses were balanced by supplies to China and countries of the Global South.

Kremlin snuff box, 03/21/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets

In Belgorod, Putin’s words about their region were received with alarm. What did they say in Moscow?

Vladimir Putin’s statement that the authorities will help residents of the Belgorod region and other border regions with compensation for destroyed property and businesses should have reassured local residents. But the President’s words had the opposite effect.

“Belgorod is essentially on the front line, every day something flies, something explodes. But we are not a northern military zone,” a deputy of the Belgorod Regional Duma does not hide his indignation on the condition of anonymity. According to him, the President’s statement at the local level rather raised fears that this whole nightmare would continue.

“There is more shelling. There is also destruction. Some villages are even being attacked by traitors. All this does not add optimism. Why do we need compensation if we just want to live peacefully,” said another deputy, representing, by the way, United Russia.

Government sources confirmed that there is money to compensate residents of the Belgorod region for lost property. However, local authorities will collect information, and they will also distribute assistance. With appropriate control from Moscow, of course.

However, other interlocutors hint that until the fighting stops completely, there will be no rush to restore property in the area within close reach of enemy artillery. That is, in fact, some of the destroyed houses will remain in this state either until the end of the NWO, or until the collision line is moved.

In Moscow they assure that absolutely everyone who suffered as a result of hostilities should receive compensation. The president guaranteed this, and it will be implemented in practice.

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Also see:
Moment Putin unleashes hell on his OWN Russian territory in bombing blitz on rebel fighters in war-ravaged Belgorod
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4225793/posts

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