Leaving tomorrow for DC for a couple of days and then Miami for 3 days. Plan to post daily if possible.
Ukraine: military situation update - June 28, 2023
Extras:
——> Purges Underway In Russian Security Apparatus After Prigozhin’s Mutiny <——
Reports say Gen. Sergei Surovikin, head of the Russian Air Force and erstwhile Prigozhin ally, was arrested for his part in the mutiny.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/purges-underway-in-russian-security-apparatus-after-prigozhins-mutiny
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——> Ukraine Situation Report: Naval Strike Missiles May Be Headed To Ukraine <——
The stealthy Naval Strike Missile, as used by the U.S. Navy, would provide a versatile long-range weapon for use at sea and on land.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-situation-report-naval-strike-missiles-may-be-headed-to-ukraine
[ Incredible Operation | Ukrainians Capture a Large Group of Russians in The Forest ]
••Day 490: Jun 28
Today there are a lot of updates from the east. [ South of Klishchiivka ]
First of all, more information became available about the massively successful Ukrainian operation along the canal.
As Russians understood that it was just a matter of time until Ukrainians finished what they started west of the canal, Russians mined the approaches to their positions.
Each tree line, therefore, became a formidable defense line, which required a lot of preparation and technical excellence to overcome.
The first thing Ukrainians did was to clear several pathways through the field by blowing up the mines with a special line charge.
Next, Ukrainians used 3 armored fighting vehicles to close the distance and simultaneously suppress enemy fire.
As we can see, Ukrainians used only one of the pathways created by the line charge.
Creating multiple lines is necessary for several reasons, one of which is to confuse the enemy and make them panic in trying to identify at the last minute which way the assault units are going to turn, but more importantly, to dissipate enemy artillery and mortar fire.
The assault was quite short, and the first line of defense was breached with no hurdles, which is why Ukrainians immediately started pushing further.
The next Ukrainian target became an extensive trench network just several hundred meters away from the newly captured positions.
After cutting the distance and entering the first trenches, Ukrainians engaged in close combat fighting. Judging by the footage, Ukrainians had an absolute tactical advantage just because they had drones.
As you might expect, it is extremely difficult to navigate inside a trench network because it is effectively a labyrinth.
However, looking from above reduces the complexity virtually to zero.
Ukrainian drone operators continuously notified the troops on the ground about the number of Russian soldiers in front of them, the movement of these soldiers, how many turns they are away from them, and especially when Russians are reloading.
A group of Russians that started reloading simultaneously immediately got charged and killed.
Soon, Russian soldiers that were cut off from the rest started surrendering, while other soldiers tried to flee by crossing the canal and reaching other Russian positions separated by the water.
But the biggest news today is that Ukrainians took a large number of Russian troops into a pocket near Klishchiivka.
Here, the main goal of Ukrainians is to breach the Russian defense in Klishchiivka and start encircling Bakhmut from the south.
Last time I told you that Ukrainians cleared the last tree line in front of the main Russian fortification, which also opened access to the forest.
Since there is no point in immediately rushing to the strongest Russian position, Ukrainians decided to develop their success further in the forest and managed to reach the main part of it.
Today a Ukrainian fighter from the 24th assault brigade reported that they noticed that a Russian airborne company lost connection with other units.
Ukrainians conducted a pincer movement by advancing from the Bakhmut’s gardens and the newly captured tree line.
Russian soldiers appeared in a pocket before they even knew it.
Soon, Ukrainian fighters offered them to surrender, and some soldiers even published it on social media.
4 minutes later, another Ukrainian soldier reported that the Russian airborne company surrendered.
Overall, Ukrainians continue being extremely flexible with their plans and trying to capitalize on any opportunities that they identify in the battleground.
Such a quick reaction to the news about no radio connection of a Russian forefront position allowed Ukrainians to save a lot of lives that otherwise would have been lost in direct assaults of the same positions when Russians would have fixed the issue.
Unfortunately for Russians, this position was quickly lost today, and Russian control over the forest shank even more.
If the current trend continues and Ukrainians completely clear the forest, the main Russian fortification on the hill will no longer be as formidable due to the lack of supplies.
It looks like Ukrainians are undermining this trench network as much as possible before the main confrontation.
••Russian military correspondents and Z-channels report that Army General Surovikin is in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center.
Surovikin knew in advance about Prigozhin’s plans to start a rebellion in Russia, - The New York Times
An alliance between Sergei Surovikin and Yevgeny Prigozhin could explain why Prigozhin is still alive, sources say. Washington is now trying to find out if Surovikin helped Prigozhin.
There are indications that other Russian generals supported Prigozhin’s attempt to change the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry. Prigozhin would not have started the uprising if he did not believe in help.
The Kremlin called this information “speculation and gossip.”
==
Our fighters with MANPADS-Igla shot down one of the Ruzzian SU-25 attack aircraft in the Bakhmut direction.
==
It is very likely that the current year is decisive in the war in Ukraine - Pistorius
“It is very likely that this will be a decisive year, now decisive months. That is why Germany came up with a big support package worth 2.7 billion euros a few weeks ago,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
According to him, today he bets on the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and “everything else will fall into place.”
==
Americans support giving Ukraine weapons has skyrocketed from 46% in May to 65% now - Reuters
The transfer of military aid is supported by 81% of Democrats, 56% of Republicans.
Also, the survey showed that 76% of respondents believe that providing assistance to Ukraine demonstrates to China and other rivals that the United States has “the will and ability to protect its interests, and the interests of its allies.”
Hopefully we also play some role with our efforts. Stay awesome
==
KA-52s and mine continue to be the main weapons holding Ukraine back; F-16s would take care of the first. KA-52s can take out Ukraine armor from 9 miles away. More KA-52s have been sent to Berdyansk.
==
Chinese 152mm shells are arriving via Iran. They were evidently sold to Iran a long time ago.
==
New Wagner camp is being built 90km from Minsk. The camp is closer to Russian border, Smolensk and Moscow than to Ukraine border. The main forces of “Wagner” will be concentrated in a camp on the territory of the Mogilev region, Belarus.
Russia building a new military base for Ukraine in Crimea, not far from Simferopol.
==
“Putin” in Dagestan.
==
Ahmed Brigade troop shown wearing a $700 ball cap. Brigade said it was just waiting for Putin to give the word before attacking Wagner troops. They clam they were only a few 100 meters away. But then there are the images of them pulled over to the side of a highway which caused them to be stuck on the shoulder in a traffic jam on an otherwise deserted road.
==
Head of military recruitment in Odessa region busted by journalistic association. He had bought many expensive cars an a villa in Spain during the past year. Bribes likely came from people who do not want to serve in the army.
He addressed world leaders [ yesterday ] with a warning that Russia is preparing to undermine [ destroy ] the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
“Our intelligence received information that Russia is considering a scenario of a terrorist attack at the ZNPP with a release of radiation.
They have prepared everything for this.
Unfortunately, I have repeatedly had occasion to remind that radiation does not know state borders, and who it hits, is determined only by the direction of the wind.
We pass on all available information to our partners, all evidence - Europe, America, China, Brazil, India, Africa, the Arab world - all countries and international organizations should know this.
This time it should not be like with Kakhovskaya [ Nova Kakhovka ]. The world has been warned.”
==
[ Think of this disaster as Chernobyl times 6, only worse as the reactor explosions will be deliberate. This is not hyperbole, over reaction or anything of the sort. Why mine something like this if one does not, at some point, plan to detonate the mines?
Maps of the Chernobyl effected Zones:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/commonwealth/chornobyl_radiation96.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e0/7d/73/e07d7397c6d629c6f1c6a8e294c31085.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster
##•• It bears repeating: if the Russians and Putin go through with this plan, the release will render Ukraine and several surrounding countries uninhabitable, and if the cloud moves over Europe, it too will become uninhabitable. This will be the worst crisis in all of human history, bar the Mt. Toba eruption 74,000 years ago. ••## ]
••It turns out that 20 years ago, the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, published the children’s fairy tale “Indraguzik” about the country of small people with a “shrinking” king.
Prigozhin wrote it together with his daughter Polina and son Pasha, then he was known only as “Putin’s chef”.
According to the story, the main character accidentally turns the king into a giant, capable of destroying his small people by mistake. With the help of a magic flute that does “anything”, he enlarges the whole country and creates a dystopia where even dogs have the same name - Tuzik.
Spoiler or not?
==
Ukraine’s counteroffensive is now at an early stage. Major events will take place over the coming weeks and months. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have everything for success - Blinken
==
“The Wagner PMC center resumes work in Novosibirsk.
Posters were again hung near the building where recruitment is underway.” The mayor of the city declined to comment on the situation. Previously removed advertising posters for PMC “Wagner” are being hung in the city.
Prygozhyn was spotted in Saint Petersburg yesterday…
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Russian officials said everything is going according to the Plan & Prigozhin agrees.
Russia is a 14th century feudal empire running a gas station with nukes in the backroom.