Previous day’s thread: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4165649/posts
Calling someone a RuZZian on FR is considered an insult.
Calling someone a Comrade on FR is considered an insult.
Ukraine: military situation update - July 5, 2023
Extras:
——> Ukraine Situation Report: A Peek Into Prigozhin’s Bizarre Pad <——
Among the findings were millions in cash and gold bars, a disguise collection, a giant sledgehammer, and a cache of guns and ammo.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-situation-report-a-peak-into-prigozhins-bizarre-pad
==
——> Crashed Storm Shadow Missile Falls Into Russian Hands <——
The Storm Shadow missile isn’t cutting edge, but it could still be of significant intelligence value to an adversary.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/crashed-storm-shadow-missile-falls-into-russian-hands
==
——> Our First Look At Winged Bombs Being Launched By Russian Jets <——
After months of hearing how Russian glide bomb kits are an increasing problem for Ukraine, we finally see them in action.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/our-first-look-at-russia-launching-its-winged-bombs
[ Ukrainians Breach The Strongest Position south of Bakhmut ]
••Day 497: Jul 05
Today, Ukrainians conducted yet another HIMARS raid on Russian logistics and batteries, which finally resulted in the collapse of the most formidable Russian strong point in the east.
The target of the first HIMARS strike once again became Makiivka.
If yesterday Ukrainians destroyed a huge ammunition depot that had just received fresh supplies of shells, then today Ukrainians destroyed a huge oil depot.
Russian sources reported that the Russian air defense shot down HIMARS rockets, and the fire was caused by the falling remnants, however, the result suggests otherwise.
In the aftermath of a successful strike, at least 5 oil reservoirs were caught on fire.
The fire proved to be extremely difficult to put out and expects estimated that firefighters will not be able to do much until the morning.
The target of the second strike became an echelon with equipment that was being transported to the front-line positions through Yasynuvata.
The footage shows wrecked freight-cars and trucks near the railways.
Just like Donetsk, eastern cities are extremely industrialized, which means that they have very well-developed logistics that Russians are constantly using.
Unfortunately for Russians, they are closely being monitored.
The destruction of multiple ammunition depots, echelons with equipment, oil depots, and a dozen of artillery batteries on such a narrow front line created massive short-term problems for the Russians.
And a short-term decrease in the ability of the Russians to conduct defensive operations is all Ukrainians needed.
Today, Ukrainian sources reported that Russian forces had problems with deploying their reserves to Klishchiivka on time, possibly due to the Ukrainian precision strikes on Russian logistics.
Soon, the most prominent Russian sources started raising the alarm that Ukrainians breached Russian defense and took Klishchiivka.
Interestingly, Ukrainian sources claimed that they have not taken Klishchiivka yet, however, the news about the fact that Ukrainians entered it is true.
It looks like Russian sources understand that Klishchiivka is shortly going to fall and are setting the information conditions for the collapse of the front line.
And this is not surprising because the fact that Ukrainians entered the village means that they have cleared the most powerful fortification on the entire front, namely, an extensive trench network on a hill.
After destroying a dozen of Russian batteries, the Russian artillery fire significantly decreased and made these positions that were already in a salient even more vulnerable.
Russian sources reported that Ukrainians had opened 4 axes of advance: 2 north of the village and 2 south of the village.
All Ukrainian assault units necessarily leveraged the tree lines that they have cleared east of the canal.
One group successfully entered the village from the south, got into the Russian rear, and caused a lot of problems for the Russian forces.
This operation was a massive success because by drawing Russian attention and resources to the southern part of the village, Ukrainians made sure that Russians had fewer troops to protect the most powerful fortification.
Overall, Ukrainians established control over the trenches, but more importantly, the local heights.
As you can see, the next Russian defensive positions are located in the lowlands, which means that moving further will be much easier.
And this is exactly why Russian analysts are so concerned about this direction and urge the Russian command to hold the line no matter the losses.
The Russian command once again seems to be making a grave mistake - prioritizing holding settlements instead of tactical heights around these settlements.
Such a setting is very beneficial for Ukrainian assault units.
••Bakhmut area:
Main UA force still in Chasiv Yar. Process continues north of Bakhmut.
Southern area is quiet as is the Kherson region.
Nuclear power plant - all is quiet. [ There are only 4 people from the IAEA to inspect the plant, which is the size of a city. There is no way 4 people can inspect an entire city - Zelensky ]. More on this topic in back issues of this thread - see link above.
==
After the raid on Prigozhin’s apartments, the FSB returned the $100 million, some in gold, because he said the money is to pay his soldiers. Also, on one wall was the picture of many decapitated heads.
==
UK Intelligence update:
The is a big crack between organizations in Russia: between FSB, RGF, and GRU. No one knows where Gen. Surovikin is - presumably, he is in the same place as Prigozhin, whose whereabouts are also unknown.
==
Russian elite and military bloggers say that the only way to win is to use nuclear weapons. If they nuke Poland, for instance, the West will ignore it and not reply. [ These people are certifiable. ]
In 2021, Ukrainians believed Putin would not dare to attack their country; in 2022, Ukrainians believed that Putin would not dare to blow the Nova Kakhovka dam; in 2023, Ukrainians believed that Putin would not dare use nuclear weapons or blow up the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
But, the use of nuclear weapons being talked about by important Russians and is believed to be part of Putin’s Plan to Win.
==
The UK announced it will start training F-16 pilots in June. F-16s will be ready to use in Spring.
==
Russia is desperate to replace Wagners around Bakhmut.
==
100 photos found of Prigozhin in various disguises - with wigs, beards, in different uniforms, and civilian clothes.
••Lviv, night, Russian missile attack.
There were 10 Calibers, 7 were shot down. But 3 arrived at a residential building and critical infrastructure facilities. In a residential building in two entrances, the 3rd and 4th floors were destroyed. Four people died.
==
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.
Twitter silently removes login requirement for viewing tweets
“Days after requiring users to log in to view tweets, Twitter has silently removed these restrictions. This means you can open Twitter links in a browser without an account.”
https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/05/twitter-silently-removes-login-requirement-for-viewing-tweets/
Again, RU forces are using tanks for indirect fire.
These tanks are well within range of the FPV drones.
RU artillery is MIA.
Because Speedy is traveling today and may or may not update this thread, I’m going to go ahead and post my July 6the report below.
