Posted on 02/28/2022 8:10:18 PM PST by Mariner
https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1758960199174423006
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 18, 2024
Russian milbloggers criticized the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) for failing to recognize 1st Donetsk People’s Republic Army Corps (DNR AC) Commander Lieutenant General Sergei Milchakov and the “Veterany” Assault Brigade (Volunteer Corps) for aiding in the Russian capture of Avdiivka, highlighting continued tension between Russian regular and irregular forces. A prominent Russian milblogger complained that Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian Central Grouping of Forces commander Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev for capturing Avdiivka, but not Milchakov, who the milblogger claimed has led the 1st DNR AC since its previous commander’s death in Popasna, Luhansk Oblast.[18] Russian milbloggers also complained that Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu did not credit the “Veterany” Assault Brigade with the Russian capture of Avdiivka, although noted that the Russian MoD later edited its statement to credit the “Veterany” Assault Brigade.[19] The Russian MoD may have edited its statement to credit the ”Veterany” Assault Brigade in an effort to prevent wider complaints from spreading in the Russian ultranationalist information space and appeal to Russian volunteer servicemen (dobrovoltsy). Tension between Russian regular and irregular forces – especially the 1st DNR Army Corps and DNR-affiliated formations – has continued throughout the war despite, and likely in part because of, ongoing Russian efforts to formalize irregular formations.[20]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-18-2024
Commander-in-Chief, general Oleksandr Syrskyi:
This morning, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed two russian planes that were attacking the positions of our troops with guided air bombs.
One Su-34 fighter-bomber and one Su-35S fighter.
Thanks for the work!
https://twitter.com/AFUStratCom/status/1759515541092315264
or
We lost two more planes. The reason, frankly speaking, horrified us.
On Monday, February 19, our Su-34 and Su-35 were shot down in the air defense zone. All three pilots, unfortunately, died. We confirm the information of a number of military officers - the planes were shot down as a result of “friendly fire” from our air defense. Moreover, the reason why such fire was opened is very serious.
“The planes were shot down from the S-300 system, the crew of which was in a drunken state. One of the air defense soldiers had a birthday, and he decided to celebrate it with his colleagues. Right in the morning and at the combat post. We drank too much, and the result is such a tragedy,” a source in the VKS told us.
And the interlocutor at the General Staff noted that all the soldiers who committed faults had already been interrogated. Perhaps a decision will be made to arrest them. To be honest, at first we didn't believe what happened. Now, having received confirmation of this information from several sources, we simply hope that there will be no more such emergencies at the front.
https://t.me/kremlin_secrets/3630
Which is worse for the Russians: being shot down by the enemy or by friendly fire?
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 19, 2024
Ukrainian officials reported that Ukrainian forces shot down two more Russian fighter aircraft, a Su-34 and a Su-35S, in eastern Ukraine on the morning of February 19.[9] Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that the Russian aircraft were striking Ukrainian positions with glide bombs when Ukrainian air defenses destroyed the planes.[10] Ukrainian forces also shot down two Su-34s and one Su-35 over Donetsk Oblast on February 17 and another Su-34 in eastern Ukraine on February 18.[11] Russian forces appear to have temporarily established limited and localized air superiority during the final days of their offensive operation to seize Avdiivka, but Ukrainian air defenders appear to be challenging Russian air operations in eastern Ukraine once again.[12]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-19-2024
Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?
Time.
The Kremlin continues to promote Russia's efforts to expand its defense industrial base (DIB). Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed on February 20 that Russia has increased the production of tanks by a factor of six and is also focused on modernizing tanks.[71] Ukrainian sources previously stated that Russia's reported tank production numbers in recent years largely reflect restored and modernized tanks drawn from storage rather than new production.[72] Latvian Defense Ministry's State Secretary Janis Garisons stated on December 13 that Russia can ”produce and repair” about 100-150 tanks per month, and Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev suggested in March 2023 that Russian can produce roughly 125 tanks per month.[73] Russia's ability to modernize and use tanks retrieved from storage still gives Russian forces an advantage on the battlefield in the overall number of available tanks for operations.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-20-2024
But the production of tanks per month is lower than the losses.
Prominent independent Russian milblogger Andrei Morozov reportedly committed suicide on February 21 after refusing the Russian military command's orders to delete his reports about high Russian casualty rates around Avdiivka.[1] Morozov (also known under the alias Boytsovskiy Kot Murz) was a sergeant in the Russian 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (2nd Luhansk People's Republic's [LNR] Army Corps) and an avid critic of the Russian military command and the Ministry of Defense (MoD). Morozov published a lengthy suicide note in which he stated that an unnamed Russian colonel ordered him on February 20 to remove his February 19 report that claimed that 16,000 Russian personnel died in combat during Russian offensive operations in Avdiivka.[2] The colonel reportedly threatened to cut off ammunition and military equipment supplies to Morozov’s unit if he did not delete his reports about the Russian military's heavy losses in seizing Avdiivka and told Morozov that he would not be able to change the current situation on the battlefield and that only presidential elections could trigger some changes. Morozov claimed that the colonel was likely following orders from the Russian military command, political leadership, and Russian propagandists such as Vladimir Solovyov, who had sought to eliminate Morozov even prior to full-scale invasion. Morozov proclaimed that he tried to expose the truth about Russian battlefield realities and could no longer serve under this abusive colonel who assumed command over a “decapitated” brigade operating on a critical frontline and whose poor leadership made the situation worse for Russian forces. Morozov also implied that Russian authorities may have conspired to murder or arrest him and noted that he no longer saw the point in continuing his under-resourced fight against the incompetent Russian military bureaucracy.
Morozov used his suicide note to further discuss Russian military failures in Avdiivka and Donetsk Oblast. Morozov accused Russian generals of wastefully sacrificing thousands of servicemen to advance their military careers and implied that most Russian journalists lie about battlefield realities. Morozov also observed that the Russian military command had been increasingly using mobilized personnel as barrier forces (specialized units that shoot their own forces who retreat or refuse to attack) and amplified a formal complaint from a mobilized Russian serviceman of the 1487th Regiment (a mobilized unit under the command of the 1st Donetsk People's Republic's [DNR] Army Corps), which the Russian military prosecutor's office rejected in early February. The mobilized serviceman complained that the 1487th Regiment was reduced to less than 30 percent of its strength due to the regiment's lack of reinforcements and rotations since the regiment's deployment in mid-January 2023.[3] The serviceman added that the commander of the 1st Army Corps, nicknamed “Krym” (Crimea), transferred 300 servicemen from the 1487th Regiment to the command of the Russian “Veterany” private military company (PMC) in November 2023 – most of whom died or were injured in the Avdiivka direction. The mobilized serviceman accused the “Veterany” PMC – which is reportedly staffed with convicts, drug addicts, and looters – of using mobilized personnel as barrier troops and refraining from participating in assaults. The mobilized serviceman added that his battalion completely lacked grenade launchers, mortars, and vehicles necessary for offensive operations. The mobilized serviceman also observed that Russian military medical staff refused to treat shellshocked servicemen and sent them back to the frontlines without medical examinations and that these issues systematically plague other Russian units.
The Russian information space, apart from select Russian propagandists and Kremlin-controlled milbloggers, largely mourned Morozov’s death and blamed various military and political actors for his demise. Russian propagandist Yuliya Vityazeva implied that Morozov’s suicide was the fault of his friends who failed to help him and are using his death to throw shade at the Russian MoD to profit off social media attention.[4] One Kremlin-affiliated milblogger acknowledged Morozov’s humanitarian aid contributions to the Russian military but noted that Morozov’s criticism of the Russian military command was so extremely negative that it helped Ukraine.[5] The milblogger added that it is unfortunate that Russia's enemies and “hostile” Telegram channel networks will use the news of Morozov’s death to overshadow the Russian capture of Avdiivka. Wagner Group-affiliated milbloggers accused Solovyov and other propagandists of persecuting Morozov and mocking his death.[6] Supporters of the imprisoned Russian officer and ardent critic of the Russian military command, Igor Girkin, also condemned Morozov’s harassment and highlighted his years-long commitment to supplying Russian forces with equipment and exposing Russian military failures.[7] Several milbloggers blamed Morozov’s suicide on Russia's inability to value and internalize different opinions in pursuit of the common goal.[8]
Morozov’s reported suicide will likely further the Kremlin's and the Russian MoD’s efforts to consolidate a monopoly over the Russian information space. Morozov was one of the few remaining independent ultranationalist milbloggers who openly criticized the Russian military command and government after the Kremlin and the Russian MoD began to consolidate control over prominent Russian milbloggers in July 2023. Morozov, for example, previously warned about severely degraded Russian forces that were around Izyum, Kharkiv Oblast, in May-June 2022 – months prior to a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in the area in September 2022.[9] Russian officials have been increasingly targeting radical milbloggers and have arrested several milbloggers who have expressed critiques similar to Morozov’s complaints.[10] ISW observed that many Russian milbloggers have drastically suppressed their critiques against Russian military command since the failed Wagner mutiny and reported pressure against Morozov may encourage more critical milbloggers to refrain from discussing Russian military failures. The Kremlin began an effort to co-opt pliant milbloggers in November 2022.[11]
full report: https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-21-2024
21FEB2024
Who drove Andrei “Murza” Morozov to suicide?
It's difficult for us to write this post. The fact is that one of us was personally acquainted with Andrei Morozov, who committed suicide.
“Murz” was a complex man, but for everything he did, he deserved at least the title of Hero of Russia. And not persecution by generals and their various servants. Let's be honest, from time to time we received information from Andrei about events at the front. When he could no longer remain silent, he shared with us, we published the information. From time to time, after our publications, some measures were even taken.
The news of Andrei's death shocked us. We didn't think it would happen this way. At the same time, we must say an important thing.
“Murz” did not write the post about the loss of 16 thousand of our military in Avdeevka (which he was forced to delete and because of which everything happened). He was asked by several respected commanders who stormed the city. And who are now, by the way, offended by the words of Sergei Shoigu about the fact that Avdiivka was taken with minimal losses.
The officers hoped that Moscow would see the post and stop sending our guys to slaughter. They will fight somehow differently. Unfortunately, it didn't work out... Andrei wanted to save many lives, but it didn't work out.
We know who is involved in driving “Murza” to suicide. We won't name names now. After all, the situation at the front is difficult. Not at all as rosy as many may think. But we will not forget these names. We won't forget anything now.
We attach that ill-fated deleted post to ours. To be remembered. And so that at least this will finally help save the lives of our guys. Avdiivka has been liberated, but losses at the front, unfortunately, still remain high.
22FEB2024 Rumors appeared that Andrei (Murza) Morozov was killed. We answer them.
About a dozen interlocutors told us yesterday that Murza could have been killed. We checked this information, including talking with those who spoke with Andrei shortly before his death.
No, there was no murder! Andrei Morozov committed suicide . Again, instead of being rewarded for everything he did.
But there is one point. Sergei Shoigu knows for sure who drove Murza to suicide. We also know, but we believe that the Minister of Defense should name the names. And there are very big names there.
Sergei Kuzhugetovich, [Shoigu] will you name them and tell the truth? Otherwise we will have to do it. Andrey would approve of this, we know for sure...
When will our isolationist idiots in the House wake up and do something? Even if Johnson did return the funds given him by a Russian controlled, Putin loving company, the important question is why they thought Johnson would be receptive to their support. How many others in Congress have received overt or covert support from Russian controlled sources? These people should be rushing back to vote the Ukraine funds to help Putin celebrate the anniversary of his Feb. 24 attack on Ukraine. s/ Give Putin something to choke on while he celebrates.
I am glad you have reactivated this long informative thread as the fateful 2/24 anniversary approaches. I shudder to think what further horrors Putin plans to inflict on Ukraine, as our Congresscritters enjoy a 2 week vacation while the people of Ukraine freeze and grieve.
I wonder how many of our Congresscritters who are moving like crippled snails on the Ukraine aid package have stock in companies skirting the US laws on providing microchips and other critical goods to Russia and Iran? Definitely something to consider and look at.
Meanwhile here is a link that completely outlines the plan for Russia to control Europe and then the world. The author is known as “Putin’s Brain”. And Putin has ordered this book to be taught in the military schools. It is as important as Hitler’s Mein Kampf was in the 1930’s. See the simple 21 point plan for conquering the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics
Interesting to see how Putin’s behavior has caused other major countries to rethink their international posture. Here we see India having to balance is market with Russia in oil and weapons with the risks of activating China to be a bigger problem than they are right now. If our current administration had not brushed off Indian state Uttar Pradesh’s success in fighting Covid with Ivermectin, zinc and other inputs, they might have a more favorable view to buying US weapons. Instead they are worrying about getting repair parts for the Russian equipment they now have.
Russia might attempt to annex Transnistria around Feb 28th.
When will our isolationist idiots in the House wake up and do something?
—
The House “isolationists” have given Moscovia, and Putin especially, a wonderful gift just in time for his re-election.
The Moscovian people are celebrating the wonderful victory at Avdiivka, brought on in part by these patriotic US House “isolationists”, who firmly believe they are justified in holding the lives of Ukrainians hostage until JoeB changes his policy on the US border.
Some in that crowd will not give Ukraine aid under any circumstances, as those “isolationists” firmly believe that money is more important than human life, than freedom, than just about anything one could name. They equate conserving money with conservatism.
Some of these people have been to the US southern border, none have been to the front in Ukraine, or even Ukraine for that matter. They have no idea of the calamity they are causing or the huge amount of blood they have on their hands. Very likely they do not care about either.
What they are doing to Ukraine is comparable to what JoeB did to the Afghan people & to the US when he suddenly and rapidly pulled out of Afghan. Which will end up costing more lives?
To answer your question of when they will wake up ... how could they, when not waking up is their policy?
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