“Zelenskyy to visit UK and address parliament. @FT live blog:”
https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1623242810244710400
“The UK will provide Ukraine with longer-range capabilities – PM”
https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1623260364623298560
“Downing Street has confirmed that the UK government will increase training for Ukrainian troops, ensuring that pilots have the capability to fly Nato-standard fighter jets. –
@FT”
https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1623243217222221828
“Zelensky asks UK for fighter jets: ‘Give us wings to protect freedom.’ Addressing the British parliament, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 8 asked the U.K. to provide fighter jets to protect Ukraine’s freedom.”
https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1623332487312162817
“”Leaving the British Parliament 2 years ago, I thanked you for the delicious English tea. Today I will leave the Parliament thanking you all, in advance, for the powerful English planes.” “
https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1623322813993046021
“After his visit to London, Zelenskyi is expected to visit France and meet with Macron wednesday evening, BFMTV writes.”
https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1623320100211138560
Just thought I’d share that the Word of the Day for the Putinistas is “bloodlust”.
I guess Lavrov thinks using this word will help the Russian barbarians win the war.
wow , there must be 20 or 30 propaganda posts to yourself just to boost that reply count... - LOL
.
another bad day for Z.
Ukes continue losing territory around the Bakhmut meat grinder (just another mile or two to go to get the last supply road within artillery range), Kreminna (Rus recapturing the serum-broken forest) and Kupyansk.. update from neutral source DPA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e51udWSdbI
.
Weeb has good topographical map today for north side of Bakmut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN9sGv8PPFA
Ukraine: military situation update with maps, Feb 7, 2023
(’Orc’ is associated with the various hoards of 13th century Mongol invaders, as well as LOTR evil villains)
War in Ukraine Explained/Reporting from Ukraine:
https://www.youtube.com/@RFU
Artillery (key to success in this war), Fuller explanation of Orc military structure, Other Bonus articles - see previous postings in “Attack on Europe” (FR title search).
(Numbered printed material below - Some of the items below may be out of date, and not updated yet)
••Denotes Transcribed Dialogue. The entirety of the analysis is from a Ukrainian guy named Reporting from Ukraine’s daily video - I only transcribe it. Extras are just that - from other sites, or my comments marked (Edit: .... ) or { } or [ ].
-—> Current to date and past MAPS: <——
https://militaryland.net/
-—> The True State of Russian Army <——
posted 2 months ago, 21.13 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KiII_2qabk
———————————————————————————————————————
Extras:
-—> The Soviets Built Bespoke Balloon-Killer Planes During The Cold War <——
With high-altitude surveillance balloons back in vogue, it’s worth taking a look at how the Soviets considered fighting these tricky targets.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/the-soviets-built-bespoke-balloon-killer-planes-during-the-cold-war
Excerpts:
According to Russian sources, between 1956 and 1977, a total of 4,112 balloons were identified above the territory of the Soviet Union, of which 793 were shot down by fighter aircraft. While some of these balloons belonged to civil research organizations, the majority were used for military purposes.
The peak of spy balloon activity occurred in January and February 1956, when almost 3,000 balloons were launched; after this, they were much more seldom observed, with the exception of short periods of increased intensity. Many years later, in December 1980 and January 1981, the Soviets recorded the presence of several hundred smaller balloons.
During one sample period, from August 11 to September 14, 1975, 11 drifting balloons were detected above Soviet territory at an altitude between 36,000 and 46,000 feet. They were attacked by interceptors operated by the Soviet Air Defense Troops, including MiG-19, MiG-21, Tu-128, Su-15TM, and Yak-28P fighters. Sometimes a dozen or more aircraft were tasked against a single balloon. Of these 11 balloons, eight were shot down.
In two other cases, the equipment carried in the balloons was determined to be destroyed. The one other balloon was undamaged. The average munitions expenditure was high: 1.4 air-to-air missiles (AAMs), 26 unguided rockets, and 112 cannon rounds per balloon. This kind of weapon use is not necessarily a problem if a large balloon is involved, but it becomes very expensive if there are several hundred of these balloons and it’s not known what kinds of payloads they carry.
The Soviets reworked some of their older S-25 Berkut (NATO codename SA-1 Guild) and S-125 Neva (SA-3 Goa) anti-aircraft missiles specifically to target balloons. Meanwhile, the requirements for new air defense radars included the ability to detect aerostats, since it was quickly revealed that the balloons could not be easily detected by existing radar ...
A special electro-optical sight was made for the M-17, able to detect a balloon with a diameter of around 100 feet from a distance of 19-25 miles and then automatically track it. The laser rangefinder coupled with it had a range of 5 miles.
Aiming the gun using the entire aircraft, typical for a fighter, was impossible in this case. Therefore, the BD-59 gun turret was prepared especially for the M-17, with a movable twin-barrel 23mm GSh-23 cannon and a supply of 500 rounds.
This allowed the plane to combat balloons flying at more than 13,000 feet above the interceptor’s own ceiling, which was around 70,000 feet. Tactical aircraft guns incorporating some kind of articulated mechanism to make it easier to hit a wider range of targets was nothing new in the Soviet Union, as you can read about here.
To tackle balloons, special projectiles were also needed, with very sensitive fuse activated by hitting the balloon’s thin skin; the projectile itself would then tear a hole in the coating with an area of several square meters.
—
-—> Our First Look At Chinese Spy Balloon Debris Being Recovered <——
The U.S. government began a retrieval operation of the Chinese spy balloon’s remains the moment after it was shot down.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/our-first-look-chinese-spy-balloon-debris-being-recovered
Excerpts:
The current contingent working to retrieve the debris includes a Navy component that includes the members of EODGRU2, as well as the Harpers Ferry class amphibious warfare ship USS Carter Hall, the Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Philippine Sea, the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Oscar Austin, and the oceanographic research vessel USNS Pathfinder.
“The Pathfinder is a ship that conducts survey operations using sonar and other means to map out the debris field,” Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, the head of the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), explained at a press conference yesterday.
“It’s capable of conducting oceanographic, hydrographic, bathymetric surveys of the bottom of the ocean to do that. And they’ll eventually produce us a map - they’re in the process of doing that, and I expect to have much more today - of the full debris field.”
VanHerck said unspecified uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV) are also being employed to locate, document, and potentially recover debris.
“So the balloon assessment was up to 200 feet tall for the actual balloon. The payload itself, I would categorize that as a jet airliner type of size ... “Probably weighed in excess of a couple thousand pounds.”
There is much that could potentially be gleaned from the debris, including about the balloon’s capabilities and its basic construction. Detailed analysis of the balloon’s capabilities could provide further insights into Chinese concepts of operation surrounding these kinds of high-altitude surveillance activities and help in the development of countermeasures.
———————————————————————————————————————
••Day 349.
Today the Russians increased the intensity of their attacks around Siversk.
Here, the Russians are trying to cut through the Ukrainian defense south of Siversk and take the Ukrainians in a pocket, but so far, the challenging terrain and synergistically structured Ukrainian defense have only led to a huge spike in Russian losses.
The main direction of the Russian advance is the southern part of the Siversk group.
The reason why the Russians are trying to expand their control over the region here is that this is where the Ukrainians have their main supply road.
If we look at the topographic map, we can see that this road is located behind the hill, so by establishing control over that hill, the Russians will be able to establish total fire control over the road.
But even if the Russians are successful in this regard, there is still one more road behind the next hill, so supplying this group may become more time-consuming, but it would still be possible.
Nonetheless, the Russians are far from reaching this goal because, over the last two weeks, the fights have been taking place in the lowlands.
The Ukrainian defense line here goes along the big villages that are conveniently located on the same line.
As of now, the Russians established control over two small villages: Mykolaivka and Sakko i Vantsetti.
Even though Russian sources are saying that the Ukrainian defense line has been breached, if we look closer, we can see that these villages consist of several houses that are also cut off by the river from the main Ukrainian positions.
If we zoom out a little bit, we can see that the main Ukrainian positions are in big villages, such as Vasiukivka, Fedorivka, and Rozdolivka.
Advancing towards Fedorivka is difficult because of the natural obstacle in the form of the river.
The same river also limits the Russians in their room for maneuvering when attacking Vasiukivka and Rozdolivka, however, the main hardship in attacking the latter lies in the fact that the Ukrainians are controlling the highlands around these villages.
If we look at the topographic map, we case see that they have good fire control over all possible axes of the Russian advance.
In order to maintain control over these positions, the Ukrainians have developed an extensive system of trenches on the fields that are extremely hard to cross.
These systems of trenches are exactly what is holding the Russians off, as they already tried to expand westward of Soledar.
That is why the Russian lately started shifting their focus somewhere else, such as Bilohorivka and Spirne.
Over the last several days, many Russian sources have been reporting that the Ukrainians were surprised by a massive attack on Bilohorivka and were forced to leave this village. However, this is not true.
First of all, it is impossible to conduct a surprise attack here, as there is plenty of engagement here almost every day.
Secondly, the Russians only returned control over the area to the east of the village.
And thirdly, today, the Ukrainians posted a photo confirming that they are still present in Bilohorivka, so no changes happened here.
When it comes to Spirne, at first glance, it is very surprising that the Ukrainians have been defending this tiny settlement for more than half a year in total, especially given the intensity of Russian attacks.
The reason why Spirne is so tough to take lies in the fact that there are a lot of underground tunnels that allow to supply this group and also hold ammunition.
If we combine this with the fact that the Ukrainians have also developed a system of trenches and that these trenches are located on the local heights, it becomes easy to understand why this area has been holding for such a long time.
Right now, the setting is less favorable than in summer because now the Russians are in control of Berestove, however, so far, all Russian assaults have been fiercely rebuffed.
Overall, the situation in Siversk is very stable. The Russians are facing a difficult problem because they ran into the line of fortifications along the local heights.
The Ukrainian defense east of Siversk has been tested time and again, so the highest risk of Russian success is still in the south.
So far, the Ukrainians are fighting in the lowlands under total cover of their troops on the hills, which are helping to eliminate the attackers already on the approach.
In fact, today, the Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian losses finally crossed the threshold of 1 thousand killed per day.
—
At the bitter end of today’s dialogue, an interesting graphical assessment was presented from the Armed Forces of Ukraine: using their figures: 537,880 Russian casualties, 134, 220 KIA, 339,060 WIA, 1,000 POW.
The 190,000 troops intended for the invasion, 100% have been killed;
The 900,000 total ground troops - professional and conscript at the beginning of the war, 59.3% have been killed, wounded or POW.
Also 3259 tanks destroyed, captured, abandoned:
1,200 intended for invasion, 100%;
Total Russian tank force of 3,300 tanks at start, or 98.3% of total Russian stock have been destroyed, captured, abandoned.
Other Stats:
Armored Combat Vehicles: 6,471 (destroyed, captured, abandoned), or 46.8% of total Russian stock destroyed, captured, abandoned
Artillery Pieces: 2233 (destroyed, captured, abandoned) or 39.2% of total Russian stock have been destroyed, captured, abandoned.
Aircraft: 21.5% of total Russian stock have been destroyed, captured, abandoned.
Helicopters: 29.6% of total Russian stock have been destroyed, captured, abandoned.
Ships and Boats: 3.5% of total Russian stock have been destroyed, captured, abandoned.
Brace yourself for a bigger month.
@ChuckPfarrer 19h
BURN RATE: Newsweek reports that RU has lost more than 25 main battle tanks in the last 48 hours. Several were destroyed during a farcical Russian attack on the city of Vuhledar.
https://newsweek.com/russia-loses-25-tanks-two-days-video-deadly-strike-ukraine-general-staff-new-offensive-1779400
"KREMINNA AXIS/2315 UTC 7 FEB/ RU resumed artillery fire missions against targets in Kreminna– confirming a UKR lodgment in the city. Sources report that UKR troops are engaged with RU units in central Kreminna along Kuybyshev St and south of School No 4 in the city center."
"Bakhmut Area Frontline Situation 8/02/2023: Russian forces are leading more than 12 assault directions around Bakhmut. They have made advances on the NE/N/E/SE/S sides of the city where battles currently rage in residential areas."
@bayraktar_1love 9h
A worthy Russian candidate for a prize in the turret throwing competition.
https://t.me/supernova_plus/17324
@DefMon3 50m
RU engineering units have been removing mines in the Kreminna area for a while, recently in the Yampolivka direction. The removal of mines is most likely preparation for an offensive.
Poland, after they heard that 18 HIMARS were tearing up the Russian Army:
“We’ll take 486 please.”
Poland is also buying 288 equivalent Chunmoo MLRS systems from South Korea.
Oh, and also 1366 Main Battle Tanks (Abrams, K2 & K2PL)
BREAKING: The UK will offer long-range weapons to Ukraine. Source: BBC
@visegrad24 10h
BREAKING:UK PM Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK will start training Ukrainian pilots on Western NATO-standard fighter jets!
@visegrad24 3h
BREAKING: PM Sunak has asked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to assess which fighter jets London could send to Ukraine.
Young Tatar nationalists gathered on the streets of Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia yesterday to celebrate the Day of the National Emblem of Tatarstan.
Tatarstan will at some point become an independent state.
Russia conquered Kazan in 1552, but many Tatars still dream of sovereignty.
Free Tataria!
"On the factory floor, spaces are being cleared for new machines so the Scranton plant can make even more shells for Ukraine."
Arsenal of Democracy go brrr
@hangalamasta Feb 6 Replying to @Mortis_Banned
Russia: Stop giving weapons to Ukraine!
Scranton: You know what? I'm going to start doing it even harder!
Press release from 10 Downing Street (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-extends-ukraine-military-training-to-pilots-and-marines-as-president-zelenskyy-makes-first-visit-to-the-uk-since-russian-invasion ):
President Zelenskyy will visit the UK today to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and address parliament as the UK steps up its delivery of lethal aid into the country, and prepares to train fighter jet pilots and marines.
The leaders will discuss a two-pronged approach to UK support for Ukraine, starting with an immediate surge of military equipment to the country to help counter Russia’s spring offensive, and reinforced by long-term support...
...The training will ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future... begin an immediate training programme for marines...
...Just last week, Ukrainian troops arrived in the UK to learn how to command Challenger 2 tanks...
...The Prime Minister will also offer to provide Ukraine with longer range capabilities...
...The UK will also announce further sanctions today in response to Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukraine, including the targeting of those who have helped Putin build his personal wealth, and companies who are profiting from the Kremlin’s war machine.
Zelensky has arrived to Paris and is now meeting with Macron & Scholz.
What 155th doin?
Being followed into the grave by Tatars.
So Putin’s that superyachts can have solid gold toilet bowls.
@Tatarigami_UA 20m
Vuhledar thread: About a week ago, I wrote that the enemy (Russia) moved a brigade from the 3d army corps. Given that the enemy revealed itself, I think it’s time to add more details for the public.
2/4 Based on OSINT, it’s likely that on 06.02 (Feb 6) the enemy decided to utilize the so-called volunteer battalion “Alga”, which is a part of the 72nd brigade from the 3rd army corps (do not confuse with Ukrainian 72nd brigade), confirming the information which I published previously.
3/4 It was formed in Tatarstan and predominantly, albeit not entirely, comprised of ethnic “Volga Tatars”. Thanks to @666_mancer the information has some open-source evidence and hopefully, we will observe even more obituaries in Tatarstan soon.
4/4 It is another indicator that both 155th and 40th brigades are no longer capable to perform significant assaults, which is why the enemy uses ethnic battalions and mobilized, to retain some pressure. The results are predictably disastrous.
