ANALYSIS UKRAINIAN TACTICS MORNING JUNE 8

twitter.com/MikaelValterss ^ | June 8, 2023 | Mikael Valtersson

[elpadre]

I must say that I'm both a bit confused and disappointed in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and their behaviour on the battlefield on the Southern front. There might be an hidden tactic that will be seen in the coming days, but what we have seen since June 4th doesn't look good.

I was very disappointed in the Russian Armed Forces in the beginning of the war and surprised of the combat prowess of the ukrainian forces. While awaiting the ukrainian counteroffensive I expected ukrainian forces to act and perform better than they have. I wonder if it's a case of underestimating the russian enemy. It seems like the ukrainian forces expected the russians to buckle under pressure and just abandon their positions. I can't explain the ukrainian tactic otherwise. They are attacking with wave after wave straight into minefields and russian kill zones.

Russians are often accused of using human waves while attacking, but now it seems that the ukrainians do the same against the russian defences. That's suicide if the enemy stays and fight. Even if ukrainian forces succeed in breaking through one defenceline due to local superiority in soldiers and weaponry they are losing the bigger game with horrendous losses. They must understand that, I'm sure of it. So the only explanation is that they underestimated their russian adversary and expected them to flee.

[The Iceman Cometh]

Russians are often accused of using human waves while attacking, but now it seems that the ukrainians do the same against the russian defences.

I did hear similarly today that the Ukrainians laughed at the Russians attacking in columns early in the conflict and how easy it was to pick them off.

Then, today, the Ukrainians are attacking in columns. Can't make this up.

Another video showed (could be fake, but who knows), that the Ukrainians were attacking in a column and for some reason didn't have a mine sweeper at the front. You can guess how that ended up.

[elpadre]

excerpted” “...This underestimation is probably based on the successful information war from Kiev and the west claiming that russians are worthless fighters. That narrative seems to been so successful that ukrainian planners was convinced by their own propaganda that they just to kick in the door, then the entire rotten russian house would fall apart. This might have cost Ukraine any chance of victory this summer. But the chock of reality might cost Ukraine much popular support for the war effort, both in the West and even within Ukraine....”

[lodi90]

It’s hard to take any analysis seriously when the author refuses to capitalize the word “Ukrainian” over and over. Frankly, that’s pretty nutty.

[Kazan]

So the only explanation is that they underestimated their russian adversary and expected them to flee.

There is another explanation -- those running this proxy war have no regard whatsoever for Ukrainian lives. They don't care if Ukrainians are used as cannon fodder.

[Kazan]

So, incorrect grammar is reason to reject a point. That’s a new excuse I hadn’t heard before but very lame.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Russians are often accused of using human waves while attacking

When was this myth true? The Russians didn't fight Napolean this way. And neither the Germans nor Russians used human wave tactics in their bloody 1941-45 war. And Russia hasn't used any human wave tactics in Ukraine. They pound with artillery, or the employ the "meat grinder" as they call it.

[elpadre]

“..when the author refuses to capitalize the word “Ukrainian” over and over..”

Actually it is a mix in his article. In my generation you are correct, but in today’s crazy world writing in lower-case seems to be popular.

[rfp1234]

In many languages (e.g. Italian), nationalities are not capitalized (e.g. “italiano”, “americano”) even though the countries are, as well as organizations (”Armed Forces”).

This author does capitalize Ukrainian (and Russian) Armed Forces. It must be a European peculiarity that wasn’t properly rendered into English.

[kiryandil]

While awaiting the ukrainian counteroffensive I expected ukrainian forces to act and perform better than they have.

They planted a lot of their best troops in the battle for Artemovs'k.

[BobL]

“I must say that I’m both a bit confused and disappointed in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and their behaviour on the battlefield on the Southern front.”

It’s very easy to understand. The West has invested HUNDREDS of Billions of dollars into Ukraine, including virtually all of their land forces, and wants to see some Russian blood spill in return.

The problem is that a LOT MORE Ukrainian blood will have to spill (than Russian blood) to make anything notable happen, but the West gave Ukraine no choice - either they spill their blood, or the West is gone and Ukraine will have to work out a deal with Russia (which will likely include executing Ukrainian war criminals).

...and so we see an ‘offensive’ into an opponent armed to the teeth, with mines fully laid out, and full air superiority.

Ukraine never had a chance, but at least their leadership will not, for now, be facing the gallows in Moscow and thus still has a fighting chance to flee to Western Europe.

[kiryandil]

Yeah, Valtersson is a Swede:

Former officer Swedish Armed Forces/Air Defence, former defence politician and chief of staff Sweden Democrats. Current political and military analyst.

You are correct about European usage peculiarities.

[wildcard_redneck]

"So, incorrect grammar is reason to reject a point. That’s a new excuse I hadn’t heard before but very lame.

I have to admit that when Idiot Zeepers misspell Russia as RuZZia I automatically want to take their keyboard and beat them wi to it. It is such an idiotic tell and a window into their tiny minds.

[ConservativeInPA]

He’s not German. They capitalize all nouns, proper or not.

[kiryandil]

see post #12 - he’s a Swede, through and through.

[delta7]

Correct, Artymovsk’s losses no doubt hamstrung the Ukies infamous “offensive”. Worth repeating:

Operation Bakhmut Meat Grinder results:

1. 6.5 thousand foreign mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were destroyed.
2. 10 thousand units of military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.
3. 35 thousand units of weapons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were taken as trophies.
4. More than 50 aircraft and helicopters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.
5. 55,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed.
6. 85 thousand soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were wounded.
7. Such a large percentage of the dead was due to the fact that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were almost surrounded and did not have time to take out the wounded.
8. PMC Wagner has also losses, but several times less.
9. 10 brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were completely destroyed and deprived of combat capability.
10. 21 brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were defeated and withdrawn to the rear for reorganization.
11. All these brigades were preparing for the offensive but instead of an offensive, they were defeated in Bakhmut.

Who was decimated in Artymovsk ( Bakmut)::
Brigades:
45th Brigade
43rd Brigade
26th Brigade
28th Brigade
62nd Brigade
63rd Brigade
53rd Brigade
60th Brigade
24th Brigade
57th Brigade
30th Brigade
Advance Rubizh Brigade
Advance Azov Brigade
Advance Uragan Brigade
Advance Spartan Brigade
109th Brigade
116th Brigade
119th Brigade
241st Brigade
93rd Brigade
77th Brigade
46th Brigade
4th Brigade
17th Brigade
61st Brigade of Jaegers
Special Forces and Spetsnaz Regiments:
5th Assault Regiment
8th Regiment of Special Forces
Kraken Battalions:
122nd Battalion
68th Battalion
214th OPFOR Battalion
49th Rifle Battalion
15th Mountain Assault Battalion
Omega
Border Guard Donetsk
8th Regiment of the UDAR UAVs:
Shershen
Adam
Karlsen
Terra
Skala
Madyar
Khartia
Kep
Seneka
WASP Legions:
Dudaev Battalion
Georgian Legion
Mansur Battalion
Shamil Battalion
Gonor
Normandy Legion”

The Western narrative spun their defeat at Artymovsk as nothing but a flesh wound, unimportant, no strategic value, etc…..it most likely is the beginning of their end….unless of course the West makes a very, very stupid move and escalates. When will America wake up and heed Trump’s warning about the corrupted western media?

[MinorityRepublican]

The Russians are always terrible when they fight in their wars in the beginning. Then they are able to figure out how to fight and win their wars. Napoleonic Wars. World War II. And even recently in the Chechen Wars.

[kiryandil]

7. Such a large percentage of the dead was due to the fact that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were almost surrounded and did not have time to take out the wounded.

Yes - the "Golden Hour".

[freeandfreezing]

I hope you don't really believe the nonsense you post. If you do you really need to do something other than read Russian propaganda.

Do you really think 6,500 foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine got killed in Bakhmut?

Why don't you try to post some evidence for just that one statement.

[hardspunned]

I don’t take either side’s position too seriously. In a stalemated quagmire like this you’ll have ebbs and flows, back and forth. So what if the Ukes claw back some of what they’ve lost only to lose it right back in the counter counteroffensive? Thousands more young Uke and Russian boys are dying but nothing of significance will change.