Ukraine: military situation update with maps - April 17, 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(Numbered printed material below - Some of the items below may be out of date, and not updated yet)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/
-—> Daily Battle Maps by Date and Region, Showing Troop Dispositions and Movements: <——
https://deepstatemap.live/
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-—> The True State of Russian Army <——
posted 2 months ago, 21.13 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KiII_2qabk
The Russian military, the second largest military in the world, may not be what it looks like. Lies and systematic corruptions may in fact have dragged Russia into this war with Ukraine, which has been heavily backed up by the US and NATO. We will present the evidence, you make your own decision, because the Russian Army, is not what you think.
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-—> Understanding Combined Arms Warfare <——
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZOGdKANL5s
Designed to support the U.S. Army Captains Career Course, “Understanding Combined Arms Warfare” defines and outlines the important aspects of modern combined arms operations. This is not a complete history of combined arms warfare. It is intended to highlight the most important aspects of the subject.
The beginning of the documentary establishes a common understanding of combined arms warfare by discussing doctrinal and equipment developments in World War I. The second part compares the development of French and German Army mechanization during the interwar period and describes how each country fared during the Battle of France in 1940. The film concludes by showing how the United States applied combined arms operations in the European Theater in World War II.
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-—> Combined Arms Breach, 1990 <——
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ-sCT_maAQ
What UA will have to master to smash Orc Lines. This visualization was developed for the Maneuver Center of Excellence and is closely based upon the National Training Center Breach and Assault exercise executed circa 1990. This visualization demonstrates viable Techniques, and Procedures as discussed in Army Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures March 3, 1990 for the conduct of the combined arms breach against a hypothetical enemy.
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-—> How Many of Each Type of Tank Does Russia Have In Storage? <——
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PHUK6zkbpc
Type Good 2023
T-54/55 270
T-62 560
T-64 248
T-72 1841
T-80 942
T-90 50
~3,911 operational tanks in storage as of ~04/07/2023 | Ball park tank number.
[ Incredible Tank Duel | They Lost One Tank After Another | Unfazed Ukrainian Tank Master Gave Russians No Chance To Win ]
••Day 418: April 17
Today a lot of updates are coming from the Donetsk region.
Avdiivka Region:
Here, after solving problems with degraded assault units and replenishing and substituting damaged formations, Russian forces tried to recapture what they lost in the aftermath of Ukrainian counterattacks. They launched a series of tank assaults along the southern line, however, they faced experienced Ukrainian tank operators that won one duel after another for weeks.
Last time I told you that Ukrainian forces took advantage of the decreased capabilities of some Russian formations and the ongoing changes inside others and conducted a series of successful counterattacks. I also told you Ukrainians recaptured an extraordinarily important strongpoint in the south that dispels all Russian hopes of quickly taking Avdiivka into a pocket.
The freshest reports suggest that Russians put enormous effort into trying to recapture what they lost. Due to the unfavorable terrain for Russians, pure infantry assaults, even with artillery support, are not even considered. That is why after intense shelling, Russian immediately started using tanks to push Ukrainians out of their positions.
Due to the intense fire, Ukrainians stepped one tree line back in order to not lose their men, however, they still continued preventing Russians from establishing control over the empty position. Russian sources reported that the situation was very challenging for them because the moment Ukrainians noticed Russian armor in Vodiane, they immediately sent their own tank to meet the assault unit.
Recent combat footage shows a tank duel along the tree line just 1.5 km north of Vodiane. The Ukrainian tank successfully destroyed the Russian tank, forcing the crew to abandon the vehicle and flee. Judging by the number of destroyed vehicles caught in the frame, Ukrainian tank operators destroyed at least 3 Russian assault units.
When it comes to the second of the two crucial strong points in front of Vodiane, here, Russians were less active because attacking it is even more difficult than the previous one. Russian forces still tried to conduct reconnaissance and establish positions in close proximity to Ukrainians, however, Ukrainians reconnaissance is also working nonstop and immediately coordinates with artillery to destroy the enemy on the approach.
One of the limiting factors for the Russians is that their positions in Vodiane and Opytne are closer to Ukrainian positions than to their own. Since the fighting is taking place in the fields, Russian supply lines to these two villages are under extensive fire control and often in direct view. Recent footage shows how Russian tried to reinforce Opytne with a tank, but this tank never reached the village because it got caught by Javelin.
Because the previous batch of armor got destroyed in assaults around Opytne, Russian infantry here, for the most part, is just holding positions in the trenches. Ukrainian 53rd Mechanized Brigade showed a video that some Russian units simply do not withstand constant fire and, at some point just abandon their positions.
Ukrainian artillery is also targeting Russian equipment and ammunition in Donetsk. Donets is a huge city located right next to Avdiivka, so Russians are using a lot of buildings as storage. Recently, Russian sources even published footage of their equipment being sent from some warehouse inside the city to the front, so a successful identification and destruction of such warehouses can save many lives of the soldiers on the zero line.
But despite the best efforts of Ukrainian reconnaissance and artillery crews, Russians managed to accumulate forces to the north of Avdiivka for another wave of assaults. Ukrainian sources reported that over the last two days, Russians once again tried to establish control over Stepove. Unfortunately for Russians, because this was their second attempt and there was no element of surprise, this time, Russians did not even manage to cross the rails.
Today a soldier from the 10th Assault Brigade reported that today Russian attack finally ended with massive losses and a retreat. In order to decrease Russian morale even more, Ukrainian drone operators and artillery crews continued to chase Russians around the village of Krasnohorivka and also the surrounding trenches, in particular in front of the Terrikon.
The only place where Russians managed to advance over the last two weeks is in the area of Novobakhmutivka. Recent geolocated footage shows that the Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade is trying to prevent Russians from crossing the highway. Since the Russians established positions near the destroyed bridge, for more precise fire, the marines also frequently deployed their tanks.
Overall, the Russian failure to reinforce their units in Vodiane on time led to the deterioration of their bridgehead, that they unsuccessfully struggled to return for two weeks. A former Russian Head of the Donbas Militia, Girkin, recently said that the ratio Russian of losses in Avdiivka is even worse than in Bakhmut.
Also, several weeks ago, Russians were reportedly relocating their 70-year-old T-55 tanks in the direction of Ukraine, and several days ago, some Russian sources confirmed that they arrived at the front. But it looks like Russians lack not only armored but also regular vehicles because two days ago, the senior priest of the Trinity Cathedral in the city of Kurgan conducted a ceremony and sprinkled holy water on the ancient vehicles before they were sent to the front.
••Denys thinks that the goal of the UA Command is to keep Bakhmut under control until the offensive begins.
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Russians off Americans $2000 per month to fight for Russia. You also get a white kitten!
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Huge large scale fire: oil refinery in Tyumen, Russia again? Or just a grass fire as Russian media claims?
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Leopard 2 tank pops turret during training in Poland. Now fixed. Cause is either that tank went nose first into a sand pit and the turret was pryed off due to pressure, or was result of a tank on tank collision - can see dents on barrel gas reliever. Sand on the front right side of hull has tank tracks right up to the turret - so collision is the most likely.
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All 13 of the Slovakian MiG-31s arrived in working order.
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Shows image of T-72B3 that met a Javelin: reactive armor on the turret worked, but the missile penetrated anyway.
All 13 of the Slovakian MiG-31s arrived in working order.