Posted on 02/28/2022 8:10:18 PM PST by Mariner
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 23, 2023
Russian authorities ended the “counterterrorism” operation in Belgorod Oblast and claimed to have defeated the all-Russian pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and the Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR) in the region on May 23.
Russian forces likely pushed the RDK and LSR forces at least to the Kozinka border settlement and possibly out of Russian territory as of May 23.
Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted raids across the Kharkiv-Belgorod border on May 23, but ISW has observed no confirmation that these raids occurred.
Ukrainian officials stated that the pace of fighting in the Bakhmut direction has decreased amid continued limited Ukrainian counterattacks on Bakhmut’s flanks on May 23.
Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line.
Russian forces continued offensive operations on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
Russian forces continued defensive operations in southern Ukraine ahead of the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Pardoned Wagner Group convicts continue to commit crimes in Russia after finishing their military contracts with Wagner.
Zaporizhia Oblast occupation officials announced the start of preliminary voting for the ruling United Russia party.
Read details:
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-23-2023
1) The Russian government released this photo of the alleged Belgorod insurgents vehicles after a battle. I used to be a tow truck operator. This is staged. These vehicles didn't crash into that trench. I'll explain why
2) No gravel stuck in the tire tread. In fact, no dirt on the tires at all. This was loaded into that trench off a flatbed and carefully choreographed in place. Not even a low-budget war movie production would be this sloppy with realism. Let's go to the next
3) So this humvee slammed into the trench wall head on but no soil was pushed ahead of it. Which you would have even if it hit at 10MPH. It's a heavy vehicle. It's going to displace soil on impact. This vehicle was placed there off a flatbed.
4) How did the front tire get over the trench but the rear wheels didn't? Especially since the other vehicle nose-dived into it. Not only that, but it didn't leave any tire tracks. In fact, the tire never touched the ground at all. Remarkable, since it just crossed a trench
5) But this one takes the cake. See that displaced soil? That's from movement of the tire from your right to your left in the photo. The direction of the arrow I drew. That's from shoving it sideways into the trench from the front of the vehicle semi-diagonally
6) Here's how they did it: They used a flatbed truck and a crane. Lowered the vehicles into position, and pushed them by hand into a more dramatic pose. They probably captured these in Ukraine months ago or got them from Iran who captured them from ISIS who captured them in Iraq.
Total amateurs. People who burn their cars for the insurance money put more work into making it look like it was stolen.
https://twitter.com/FluteMagician/status/1661162964261404673
The #RoyalMarines send their thoughts and warmest wishes to the Ukrainian Marines on this their 105th Birthday.
– Commandant General Royal Marines, General Gwyn Jenkins.
Russia has released footage of captured Humvees from the Bilhorod Raid. The Freedom of Russia Legion claims that there were no losses. These vehicles were most likely previously captured. They were lowered by crane into position, because there are no tire tracks and there is a circular disturbed dirt pattern by one of the wheels, from when it was lowered. The disturbed grass in the background shows a trail that is too large for two Humvees, so the crane approached from the rear. The scene was staged with debris from the building in the background. Building material is littered around the vehicles, but not near the building. The Humvees were dropped into what looks to be an underground shelter that used logs for bracing, not craters. The white cross that was painted on the side of the Humvee seems to have faded due to the elements.
On the driver's side rear of one of the vehicles there appears to be damage from an explosion. Rust in the non-painted areas suggests the damage is not new. There is also not damage to the dirt area near the vehicle, which would occur from an explosion. It is clear that this vehicle was disabled long before being moved to this location.
If these vehicles crashed into position, you would also expect to see dirt on top of the hood, and damage to the front of the vehicles. All you see is broken glass from what appear to be bullets that impacted after the crash. The debris from a headlight also appears to have landed long after the crash. Again, there does not appear to be any evidence that suggest the vehicles struggles to get out, after being stuck. There is also no blood in the vehicle, which you would expect to see in any accident of this magnitude.
Additionally, on some of the vehicles, the words “For Bakhmut” are written. This occurred recently after Russians claimed to have fully captured Bakhmut. In the midst of staging or embellishing this scene, they appear to be lamenting the Bakhmut experience. When they should be celebrating, they are looking for revenge?
Not very effective propaganda.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 24, 2023
Discussions regarding reported Russian losses in Bakhmut have saturated the pro-war information space and are drowning out any remaining positive informational effect resulting from the city’s capture.
The overall Russian information space response to the capture of Bakhmut has fixated on attributing responsibility for its capture and speculating on the associated costs of the operation, thus depriving the Russian MoD of the oxygen necessary to positively frame the city’s capture.
Prigozhin is likely using his heightened profile following the capture of Bakhmut to intensify his attacks against the Russian military establishment and elites. Prigozhin is also using the perception that Wagner is responsible for the capture of Bakhmut to advocate for a preposterous level of influence over the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
The Kremlin continues efforts to portray Russia as having significant diplomatic partnerships.
Russian sources continued to respond to the limited all-Russian pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and the Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR) raid into Belgorod Oblast.
Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line.
Russian forces continued limited ground attacks on the outskirts of Bakhmut and along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
Russian forces continue to target Ukrainian positions in southern Ukraine with FAB-500 aerial bombs.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed on May 24 that more than 120,000 Russian personnel have undergone training since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Federation Council approved a law on holding elections in territories under martial law on.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-24-2023
“The rest will pack up by June 1st and will pass [the city] to the military [Ministry of Defence units]!” - Prigozhin confirms that Wagner PMC will leave Bakhmut by 1st June.
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1661646335399870465
24 May: Multiple Russian Convoys CAUGHT ON THE MOVE AND DESTROYED | War in Ukraine Explained
Day 455: May 24
When it comes to the Belgorod region, today, the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps declared that all goals of their special operation were achieved, and they returned back to the base on Ukrainian territory. Soon, the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, Denis White Rex, gave an interview and elaborated on everything that happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VxMqN9XFeE
5 min
During a raid in Belgorod region, legionnaires found a chick of an long-eared owl. The chick was... to put it mildly, surprised by what was going on around it. The owl was watered and returned to its worried parents.
https://twitter.com/legion_svoboda/status/1661732360910675976
Note:
‘Trolling lvl 800’: Ukrainian Intel logo upsetting Kremlin
>
1. Russian intelligence motto - “Above us – only stars,” Ukrainian – “Wise to rule the stars.”
2. Symbol of the Russian intelligence – a bat, Ukrainian – an owl (guess who she eats).
3. Well, to be sure, the owl plunges the sword in the map Russia.”
Bump
This doesn’t pass the smell test.
Governor of Belgorod region Gladkov urged hunters and other civilians in possession of weapons not to use them on saboteurs and partisans.It seems the mistrust between Russian authorities and population is getting deeper. People don’t believe they will be protected by authorities and want to keep themselves safe.
Russian authorities are afraid of losing control and are scared the weapons can be turned against them if the situation worsens.
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1661691094973775885
Perhaps this is better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY6lHjZjYXE
Flowers for the bride https://twitter.com/auto_glam/status/1661405487189880838
The indepedent Russian media outlet Verstka has noticed that the map appears to indicate Wagner's worldwide business interests in 32 countries around the world, including in Latin America, Asia and Oceania. It comments:
/ “Attached to the map are 32 markers in three colours – red, white and green. Red marks are on seven African countries: Mozambique, Central African Republic, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Eritrea.
4/ “By comparing the markers and the news, Verstka came to the conclusion that the presence of Wagner PMC fighters was marked with red markers: all these countries appeared in the reports about Prigozhin’s mercenaries.
5/ “There are 13 countries marked with white markers, including Zimbabwe, Madagascar, the Union of the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea.
xxx
Thread https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1661503695064793089.html
https://twitter.com/ChuckPfarrer/status/1661768468750823426
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