[dennisw]

THE REST OF THE STORY>>>>>>>

The Battle of Severodonetsk has begun.

It’s an artillery fight. Ukrainian gunners, perhaps deploying their new, American-made M777 155-millimeter towed howitzers, did most of the killing at the Seversky Donets bridgehead.

Russian gunners meanwhile have brought in their biggest cannons and mortars. Videos that circulated online in recent days depict both 2S7 203-millimeter self-propelled howitzers and 2S4 240-millimeter self-propelled mortars firing on Ukrainian positions in Donbas.

These massive artillery pieces with their 200- or 300-pound shells can penetrate earthworks and bunkers to a greater depth than smaller-calibers guns can do.

And fired indiscriminately at towns and cities, they’re devastating to civilians. Intensive Russian shelling earlier in the war around Chernihiv, east of Kyiv in northern Ukraine, damaged thousands of homes and businesses. “The scale of this damage indicates Russia’s preparedness to use artillery against inhabited areas, with minimal regard to discrimination or proportionality,” the U.K. Defense Ministry explained.

At the same time, it’s possible the Russians are learning an important military lesson. That poorly-aimed shelling isn’t an effective method of dislodging a dug-in enemy—and certainly can’t replace tanks and infantry working in close coordination with targeted fires.

“What we saw the Russians trying to do at the top of this was, you know, just pounding away at what they believe the line of contact was of the Ukrainians in large artillery barrages—and then trying to move against them in frontal assault after that, and were being rebuffed,” an unnamed U.S. Defense Department official told reporters on Thursday.

More recently, there are signs that, in the bombardment of military targets if not civilian ones, the Russians are making a greater effort to pinpoint targets—using scouts, drones or other means—before opening fire.

“And so, I think what you’re seeing is a result of their failure to make much progress using large artillery barrages against larger units,” the official added. “I think they’re adjusting because their previous tactics have been unsuccessful.”

Deliberate targeting during combined-arms operations might not spare the thousands of civilians who haven’t yet evacuated Severodonetsk, of course. For the Russians, shelling cities is a terror tactic, not a military one.

They might be taking pains to aim their guns at Ukraine’s defensive works. But that doesn’t mean they won’t also lob 200-pound shells in the general direction of some Ukrainian town.

[libertylover]

Does either side have an air force left?

[SoConPubbie]

willing to shoot indiscriminately

Sure they are.

[Caipirabob]

Pulling its forces back from Kyiv and Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv, Russian leadership focused its efforts on Donbas.

Russian Leadership? The only job with a historically higher open position rate than “Russian General” is “Al Queda Leader”.

Kiev is a total and utter humiliation for them.

Russia is going all in for total disaster.

[McGruff]

But it’s the Russians who have the biggest guns and mortars—and who are most willing to shoot indiscriminately

Yeah they probably have so much ammunition they can waste some on little old ladies hiding in their basements and pregnant women in maternity wards.

[caww]

Members of the National Socialist Movement rally on the steps of the Capitol Building in Lansing, Michigan, behind three rows of chain-link fencing and tight security. The NSM members had to be brought in to the rally in a police convoy of buses from a secret meeting location, and returned there afterwards.

KATERINA YUSHCHENKO, Former FIRST LADY AND CIA AGENT Ukraine......Just to show how the US was involved in destabilizing Ukraine years ago.... When Ukraine became independent in 1991, she was sent to the country, where she was introduced to the men who mattered at that time. It was on a plane carrying her and her future husband that she met her target for the first time... Victor Yushchenko’

https://www.donbass-insider.com/2022/05/20/katerina-yushchenko-first-lady-and-cia-agent/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

[DannyTN]

I predict within 24 hours from now the “giant artillary” will be blown up.

[BenLurkin]

[Not_Who_U_Think]

The advances made by the Russians in the last week have placed the main supply route in artillery range, and as the Ukrainian forces attempt to hold the front line, an orderly retreat in the Dombas is becoming impossible for thousands of troops.

[BobL]

“...as Russia Goes On The Attack In Donbas”

Nice to see the Western media getting around to reporting this, considering that Russia has been advancing in the Donbas for the past month. I suspect that they’re finally reporting on it because some really bad news for the Ukranians is about to come out.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Billions of Russians and billions of Ukrainians killed and maimed in this damn war. Oh, the huge manatee! </sarc>

Propaganda coming from Russia is only matched by the propaganda coming from the WEF loving, compliant demonrats and lying MSM. As the old saying goes, ‘Truth is the first casualty of war!’

This war is designed to destroy freedom in the West and facilitate the emergence of ,der Führer und Reichskanzler’ Klaus Schwab’s WEF fascist superstate. Enslavery of the masses for the benefit of the WEF oligarchs. Schwab (and aligned Western leaders) are willing to sacrifice as many Ukrainians as is necessary, to gain control!

NO MORE BILLIONS TO FUND THIS WAR!

[CarolinaReaganFan]

as it attempts to regain momentum in its advance in the Donbas,” the U.K. Defence Ministry warned
—————————— -—————— -— — -—
that’s almost as funny as using forbes. LOL
.
momentum is huge due to the big breakout from Popasna.
L-chansk/Severo will be the next mariupol if Ukes don’t retreat.
oops - russians blew up the bridge from Severo to L-chansk.now some ukes are cut off with no retreat path. see link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM3ot_EAUF0

.
[ Ukraine SITREP ] Day 86 (20/5) Summary - Russian forces continue to gain grounds around Popasna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK2QQ8Apaj0

[Revel]

“But it’s the Russians who have the biggest guns and mortars—and who are most willing to shoot indiscriminately.”

most willing to shoot indiscriminately

LOL What nonsense.

[TexasFreeper2009]

at some point Ukraine needs to start attacking inside Russia.

[Robert DeLong]

You seem surprised, even though many of us have been telling Freepers supporting this war that they are not helping the Ukrainians and that this would eventually be the reality.

[Kazan]

But it’s the Russians who have the biggest guns and mortars—and who are most willing to shoot indiscriminately. Totally horse manure. It's the DPR and LPR doing most of the frontline fighting to liberate their OWN territory.

Ukrainian nationalists and neo-Nazis hate the ethnically Russian population of Donbass, have sought to exterminate them for eight years and have repeatedly launched attacks on civilians as well as raped and looted the population.

[familyop]

Ivan is like a monkey with a hand grenade.

[Dick Vomer]

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