Posted on 05/21/2022 12:21:36 PM PDT by dennisw
Fighting has sharply escalated in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. Both sides are bringing in more and heavier artillery, adding to the carnage.
But it’s the Russians who have the biggest guns and mortars—and who are most willing to shoot indiscriminately. “In the coming weeks, Russia is likely to continue to rely heavily on massed artillery strikes as it attempts to regain momentum in its advance in the Donbas,” the U.K. Defence Ministry warned on Tuesday.
The Russian army for weeks has been trying to position forces for an operation it realistically can complete. Earlier in the war, the Kremlin’s aims were maximalist—capture Kyiv, advance across the Donbas and also cut off Ukraine from the Black Sea. But after the Russian army suffered heavy casualties in the abortive assault on Kyiv, Russian leaders pivoted.
Pulling its forces back from Kyiv and Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv, Russian leadership focused its efforts on Donbas. And not all of Donbas, but rather one small city: Severodonetsk, which anchors a pocket of Ukrainian forces south of Russian-occupied Izium and north of the town of Popasna.
Two or three Ukrainian brigades, together overseeing several thousand troops, defend Severodonetsk. If the Russians can encircle Severodonetsk, they might be able to starve then defeat the garrison.
After trying and failing to cross the Seversky Donets River northwest of Severodonetsk—and losing around 70 vehicles and as many as 400 troops in the process—the Russians focused their offensive on the southern side of the Severodonetsk pocket. On Thursday, Russian airborne battalions, reinforced by Wagner Group mercenaries, rolled north.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Okay, and what will replace him is almost guaranteed to be worse. Ukraine may be spitting on its own grave afterwards.
I saw some video of Russians capturing amazing armament. Ukraine Army doesn’t care what they leave behind them - they didn’t pay for it.
Russia’s basic artillery principle is massed fires and that is how they historically have used artillery. The U.S has, since the 1920-30s, striven for accuracy and precision. We have completely different philosophies regarding artillery.
It’s not that they don’t know it, it’s that they believe mass is better for how they fight.
Many such videos, I stopped looking at them.
Do not think about Ukrainians as stupid — they figured long ago that crossing over with a supply of western weapons has some advantages. Others figured out that when running for their lives heavy weapons are not useful.
I other words, they use mass artillery barrages Just like how they throw expendable men into the battle.
We hit the bunkers at Omaha, Sword, Gold, Utah, and Juno beaches with endless artillery barrages and bombs, but the Germans survived and came out to devastate us.
Ivan is like a monkey with a hand grenade.
Man is the same animal he has always been. Times change, tactics change, weapons change but the constant is man and how he behaves and how men act to control his enemies.
All the pearl clutchers that are “appalled” by the indiscriminate shelling and destruction of cities with civilians has had an amazingly crappy education in history and philosophy. Look at Dresden, Baghdad, Beirut, Tokyo, Stalingrad, Berlin, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Hue, Hanoi, and on and on and on...... back to Atlanta, Carthage, Nineveh, Rome, Cairo, Ypres,
Maybe all those really smart university trained minds should have read some of the books written by dead white guys.....
I wonder if Putin not only read “The Prince” but understood it’s message?
“Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.”
Niccolo Machiavelli
You're sure about that?
It’s not that they don’t know it, it’s that they believe mass is better for how they fight.
Congrats.... Finally someone besides me understands that the Russians don't give a cr#p about buildings, people or targets... but destroy everything and roll in
.... if you leave...ok.
If you stay.. ok.
either way, your city is destroyed and GTFO or we'll just continue dropping shells on you.... till you starve, go crazy from shelling or die from wounds.
Putin never intended to do more than surround Kiev for obvious reasons.....I and others have already gone over this so it’s senseless just to keep repeating it now.
A good read of the Art of War and others like it might enlarge your understanding.
Never said Ukrainians are stupid....just reckless about armament and machinery.
It is surprising that they haven't employed the artillery doctrine yet against Ukraine but they certainly have the capability and ammunition to lay waste to the entire country.
FWIW The whole war has been one that has defied logic and reason in it's conduct. I think the Russians went in with a lightweight force thinking it would be a walk in the park. They gradually are escalating their combat tactic but, only after they get a licking using the lightweight tactics.
The Ukrainians are employing classic asymmetrical warfare. Attacking when it is to their advantage and picking their fights based on Russian weaknesses.
Another weird aspect is this is peer on peer when it comes to equipment. The Russians and Ukrainians are using the same equipment on each other and in an exceptionally weird twist, the Russians are using equipment that the Ukrainians manufactured for them. Go figure that one out.
“Anzio Annie’’.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.