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Five Wonders of the Ukraine-russia War: How the Ukrainians Did What Seemed Impossible
Defense Express ^ | 12-11-2022 | Інформаційна агенція Staff

Posted on 12/12/2022 9:13:09 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com

Five examples when the Ukrainian warriors proved there is nothing impossible for Ukraine

Since the first days of the russian full-scale invasion, Ukrainian defense forces have not only been deterring russian offense against multiply overwhelming force, but also doing it the way that writes the modern history of warfare.

Defense Express has gathered five examples of when the Ukrainians made what'd been seen impossible.

*Read more: [The russians Brought the Most Powerful Artillery Systems to Bakhmut, But They May Run out of Ammunition- https://en.defence-ua.com/analysis/the_russians_brought_the_most_powerful_artillery_systems_to_bakhmut_but_they_may_run_out_of_ammunition-5115.html]

The Terms of Mastering New Weapons

Nowadays it is taken for granted: the allies give some new weapons or equipment, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine put them to use. All seems simple and logical, there are even complaints about the unreasonably long periods of time established by some countries for the Ukrainian servicmen to learn new systems, for instance, for the PzH 2000 artillery gun, it was 40 days.

However, in most cases, it takes only a few weeks to master operating high-precision HIMARS rocket launcher or advanced NASAMS air defense system, teach artillerymen to handle NATO-standard howitzers and so on.

We should not also forget, that in addition to operating a weapon, one needs to learn how to transport, maintain and repair it. Even in this regard, the AFU managed to establish a support hub for foreign equipment, repair it in Ukraine and only send it abroad when it needs an overhaul or special works provided exclusively at the manufacturing plant.

For example, the United States created a center for "remote repair", basically a call-center where Ukrainian military seek consult from American specialists when needed and place orders for some required spare parts via the internal logistical network of the U.S. Army.

To add some contrast, let's recall all the talk by some skeptical Ukraine's partners this spring about how sophisticated western arsenal is, that it cannot be mastered in just a few weeks.

Elon Musk Couldn't Imagine...

The artillery fire proved once again to be the decisive factor of any military action, be it offense or defense. Given that, it's only logical to increase the effectiveness of artillery strikes with fire adjustment using UAVs and creating a reconnaissance-and-strike contour overall.

It's all simple in theory: a UAV operator sees a target, impacts around it and gives feedback to the artillerymen on whether they should "take 200 to the left" or briefly reports "overfly 100" for adjustment, just like in the movies. Of course, it would look that simple in the movies; now let's consider a situation: there is a Bayraktar TB2 hanging in the air, a Bohdana howitzer on an island in Dniester's delta, and a russian base on Zmiinyi island for the howitzer to fire at. Ukrainian Bohdana howitzer shooting on the Zmiyinyi island Ukrainian Bohdana howitzer shooting on the Zmiyinyi island, approx. October 2022 / Photo credit General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The UAV operator is hundreds of miles away, on the other end of the country, direct communication with the artillery unit is impossible because it would be spotted by enemy radars and reveal the howitzer's position. Other countries spent lots of money to solve this kind of situation, created special portable terminals for receiving visual data from the drone through an encrypted channel, deployed networks for automated C2.

What did the Ukrainian military do? They took a Starlink antenna for satellite internet connection and received the image from the Bayraktar TB2 drone right on the artillery spot via an ordinary messenger.

Western Missiles Under Soviet Aircraft Wings

Is it possible to fit a cutting-edge American missile under the wings of an aging Soviet fighter? If we answered the question back in 2021, most experts would say without a hint of doubt: barely so without an expensive deep modernization of the on-board systems.

The Ukraine's answer though: give us the AGM-88 HARM missiles, and we'll manage to integrate them into our MiG-29, we only need a special sort of "transitive pylon". What was the technology of this adjustment, we can yet only guess. Perhaps it was the standard pylon used by the U.S. Air Force which already had everything needed to launch the missile and somehow attached to the Ukrainian fighters, or pre-programming of the missile's target on the ground, or due to the missile's inherent algorithms.

Anyway, this innovation was a change in paradigm and apprehension of the interoperability potential of absolutely different weapon systems. This precedent opens the door for the integration of more air-launched missiles into seemingly incompatible aircraft and brings a new statement into the argument of whether or not to supply western technology to Ukraine.

Flagship Destruction

Retrospectively, Ukraine is not known for rewriting the history of naval warfare that often. But in the last nine months, the country has done exactly that already twice. For the first time history was written when Neptun missiles hit "Moskva", the flagship of the russian Black Sea Fleet.

This was the first time ever in multiple ways: a coastal anti-ship missile system hit the biggest warship – a missile cruiser; furthermore a fleet flagship was hit this way; and the hit was effective, resulting in the destruction of the said target. No flagship was destroyed since WW2, and no missile cruiser ever until that day.

In addition to the epithets "for the first time" we can confidently add "for the last time" as well, and "put to an end", too. Because "Moskva" is likely to become the last warship of the cruiser type destroyed during this war.

The thing is, cruisers as such are leaving the naval warfare arena and only remain in service with the USA and russia, while destroyers and lesser ships have long become the main carriers of missile-launching systems. That is why the Neptun strike has put a decisive end to the entire class of warships known as cruisers. Assessed photo of the Moskva cruiser on fire Assessed photo of the Moskva cruiser on fire / Open source photo

Heart-Piercing Attack

The second time Ukraine wrote its name in the history of navy was the attack of naval kamikaze drones on the most well-protected place of any fleet, the bay. On October 29, Ukraine attacked russian ships stationed at the occupied Sevastopol Bay, the base of the Black Sea Fleet of the russian federation.

The outcome is a hit of the "Admiral Makarov" frigate which had formally become the new flagship of the fleet and the "Admiral Essen" sea trawler.

Had there been sea drones before? Certainly yes. Had there been experiments with sea kamikaze drones? Maybe, yes. Yet it was a fully Ukrainian-made drone operated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine that made a statement by attacking the heart of the enemy fleet in the enemy's own bay and showed how prospective is this vector of weapon development.

These were the five most notable examples of Ukrainian resolve in the face of russian invasion and inventiveness in the approach to modern warfare shown by the Ukrainian defense forces. But there are more, such as the shooting down cruise missiles with MANPADS, destroying a helicopter with an anti-tank guided missile, and more to cover next time.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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To: familyop

excellent point. thank you


61 posted on 12/12/2022 11:28:18 PM PST by Sunsong
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To: Sunsong
How was your 7-year sabbatical from FR?      
62 posted on 12/12/2022 11:31:52 PM PST by kiryandil (put yer vote in the box, chump. HARHARHARHAR)
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To: Monterrosa-24

No one thought Ukraine had a chance against russia.

But putin is serving his own negative ego, not russia.

Ukraine has made putin a laughing stock LOL

can’t even defeat a bunch of farmers and musicians LOL

putin is an evil, self-absorbed failure


63 posted on 12/12/2022 11:32:47 PM PST by Sunsong
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To: alexander_busek

very curious to support an evil man like putin


64 posted on 12/12/2022 11:34:41 PM PST by Sunsong
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To: kiryandil

Financial Times:

Military Briefing: Escalating air war depletes Ukraine’s weapons stockpile

Stocks of S-300 and Buk ammunition and spare parts used by Ukrainian forces to repel Russian strikes are dwindling, and it is impossible to buy new ones. - FT


65 posted on 12/12/2022 11:49:58 PM PST by Cathi
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To: kiryandil

Have you read this?

“Vladimir Putin’s traditional end-of-year press conference has been cancelled over fears that the event would be hijacked by uncomfortable questions about the invasion of Ukraine, the UK’s Ministry of Defence says.

There are increasing concerns about the prevalence of anti-war feeling in Russia, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update today.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ukraine-news-live-russia-extremely-sensitive-about-war-questions-hijacking-putin-event-says-uk/ar-AA15cUoc?rc=1&ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=fb6a6472cf1f44c2ce4785df9ad05876


66 posted on 12/12/2022 11:51:20 PM PST by Sunsong
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To: Sunsong

LOL UK Ministry of Defence LOL


67 posted on 12/12/2022 11:57:42 PM PST by kiryandil (put yer vote in the box, chump. HARHARHARHAR)
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To: kiryandil

yes, exactly putin is an evil coward

he’s too scared to take questions about his failure in Ukraine


68 posted on 12/13/2022 12:01:30 AM PST by Sunsong
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To: Right Brother

I think it was a sketch video making fun of a popular boyband looking very gay. A sort of thing like Weird Al Yankovic does.


69 posted on 12/13/2022 12:03:03 AM PST by Krosan
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To: kiryandil

https://t.me/i20028843

💥💥💥Due to the losses in the battles near Soledar, the Ukrainian command withdraws the remnants of two mechanized battalions of the 93rd separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the combat area.
Two of the 93rd Brigade’s three full-time mechanized battalions lost their combat capability completely. The surviving, but demoralized servicemen are sent to the brigade’s permanent deployment point in the village of Cherkasskoye, Dnepropetrovsk Region. There, from disparate units, having been recruited from the mobilized ones, they will try to assemble two mekhbats💥💥


70 posted on 12/13/2022 12:05:15 AM PST by Cathi
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Comment #71 Removed by Moderator

To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
And here's a Sixth Wonder!!: This morning, a platoon consisting of seven Ukrainian Freedom Fighters™ (they're fighting for all of us!!!) overran 15 Russian Battalions and are now only miles from the Kremlin!

They are being led by the Bravest And Most Righteous Freedom Fighter Of All Time™, a piano dick-playing, cross dressing, high heel wearing, gay dancing "comedian" who is also a grifting, totalitarian anti free speech scumbag and money laundering darling of the UN, EU, George Soros, the WEF, the Biden Administration and the rest of the vile, anti-West, GloboHomo cabal.

The name of this Incredible Superman™ is (drum roll please. . . ) Zelenskyyyyyyyyyy! (he's a hero to all of us!!!!) Cue YMCA song!!!! (he's dancing dressed as a rough trade homosexual for all of us!!!) Free Donbas!!!! (it is freedom for all of us!!)

Take that Putin!!!

72 posted on 12/13/2022 1:20:42 AM PST by Rocco DiPippo
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To: ransomnote

Amen!


73 posted on 12/13/2022 1:21:39 AM PST by Rocco DiPippo
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To: Renfrew
The US has provided a large supply of missiles in the form of HIMARS launchers and the MLRS and GMLRS rocket artillery they fire. Also, US made or equivalent US standard NATO artillery have been provided, along with large stocks of precision guided shells.

The US has also sent enough MANPAD Stinger antiaircraft missiles to deny use of low and middle altitudes to Russian aircraft, making effective ground attacks on Ukrainian forces by manned aircraft nearly impossible due to the risk. Meanwhile, US Javelin, NLAWS, and TOW antitank guided missiles have wrecked large numbers of Russian tanks and other vehicles.

US manned aircraft and US tanks are another matter due to training and logistic requirements. Instead, the US has provided drones and financed the provision to Ukraine of refurbished and upgraded models of Russian tanks that Ukrainian troops are already familiar with and ready to use in battle with little additional training or instruction needed.

There is talk of the US and Britain buying and providing Ukraine with older model Swedish fighter bombers, which are relatively simple and easy to fly and made for service on the dispersed, improvised landing strips like highways that Ukraine's air force now uses.

A new ground launched model of the US winged small diameter bomb (the GLSDB) is being rushed into production for delivery to Ukraine in a few months. It will have an effective range of well over 200 miles, sufficient to hit virtually all useful targets in combat zones and their associated logistics -- including Crimea and adjacent areas.

Moreover, the US and NATO have provided a great deal of training, small arms, communications gear, clothing, food, and medical supplies. The result is that Ukrainian troops have much better leadership and tactical skill, with better communications, clothing and field gear, food, and medical care than Russian troops.

74 posted on 12/13/2022 1:57:16 AM PST by Rockingham
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To: cranked
Heil Zelinsky! Sieg Heil!

75 posted on 12/13/2022 1:57:51 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
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To: Rockingham

>There is talk of the US and Britain buying and providing Ukraine with older model Swedish fighter bombers

Should just go for F-16s right from the start. A lot of countries have these near the end of their airframe lifetime.

That would get some use out of these before being retired anyway.

Biden would need to lead on this and therefore I temper my hopes.


76 posted on 12/13/2022 2:07:25 AM PST by Krosan
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Comment #77 Removed by Moderator

To: Krosan

The proposal for surplus Swedish fighters for Ukraine came from a British military think tank and made good sense. Given Britain’s strong support for Ukraine, the idea has a fair chance of going forward.


78 posted on 12/13/2022 2:14:59 AM PST by Rockingham
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To: Monterrosa-24
"Brave Ukrainian soldiers are not being used. They are fighting brutal criminal invaders with the Spirit of ‘76. YOU are being used by those who hate freedom-loving peoples. Those who invaded the Republic of Georgia and Ukraine are America-hating scum of the earth.

The Ukrainians are being used by the WEF globohomos as part of the "Great" Reset. 80% of the country is without electricity and clean water and are flooding Europe as refugees. The Ukraine as a nation is already gone as it send women, boys, and old men into a meat grinder. Your little gimp Zelensky is going to be cursed by Ukrainians for centuries.

79 posted on 12/13/2022 2:21:14 AM PST by WMarshal (Neocons and leftards are the same species of vicious rat)
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To: Rockingham

Still think it is a half-measure and see no reason why it wouldn’t be F-16s.

Sweden is a small country (10M) and will be afraid to sign off on it.

If America would lead with the near end-of-life F-16s (that are basically almost worthless anyway) then a lot of smaller countries having these would dare to join too.

A lot more training programs, spare parts and ammo available than when going with Gripen too!


80 posted on 12/13/2022 2:27:37 AM PST by Krosan
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