Russian special military operation in Ukraine #38

Russian troops liberated Gryanikovka in the Kharkov region, by Vera Basilaya for VZGLYAD. 02.18.2023.

The Russian Armed Forces in the Kupyansk direction completely liberated the village of Gryanikovka in the Kharkov region, said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.

As a result of the offensive actions of the units of the "Western" group of troops in the Kupyansk direction, the settlement of Gryanikovka, Kharkov region, was completely liberated. The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amounted to up to 80 servicemen, three armored combat vehicles, four vehicles, the Msta-B howitzer and the Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, according to a message on the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Defence.

Also, on the Krasnolimansky direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Stelmahovka, Chervonopopovka and Chervonaya Dibrova of the LNR, more than 100 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, two cars, self-propelled howitzers "Acacia" and "Gvozdika", as well as D-20 howitzers were destroyed and D-30.

The Ministry of Defence reported that the offensive of the units of the "Southern" group of forces continued in the Donetsk direction: up to 150 Ukrainian servicemen, a Grad MLRS combat vehicle and a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer were destroyed, three warehouses of ammunition and rocket and artillery weapons of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were destroyed in Avdiivka and Krasnohorivka.

In the South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions in the areas of the settlements of Ugledar, Prechistovka of the DPR and Poltavka of the Zaporozhye region, the enemy’s losses amounted to more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, and an ammunition depot was destroyed in the area of ​​​​Ugledar.

Also, up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen were destroyed in the Kherson direction, as well as four Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers.

In total, aviation, missile troops and artillery of the groupings of troops (forces) of the Armed Forces inflicted defeat on 85 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 112 districts.

Air defense shot down three rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and destroyed 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in a day.

Earlier it was reported that Russian troops destroyed more than 470 Ukrainian soldiers per day.

https://vz.ru/news/2023/2/18/1199841.html

The Wagner thing is a counterintelligence maskirovka, they're a private company, they order weapons and ammo. They are also not encircled and have venues of retreat. Russians are trying to provoke Ukrainian charge into a trap.

If you don't understand this, then you know shit about Russian military strategy russia

Any cunning plan that we would have figured out on this forum, the Ukrainians and NATO would have figured out as well you best believe.

While the Ukrainian leadership may be incredibly dumb for having sold themselves as a NATO forward operating base for a proxy war with Russia, and while they may be sending waves and waves of their own men at the Russians in the hope of the later running out of ammo - they're far from incompetent in terms of analysis and military intelligence.

So no, I don't believe that Prigozhin is literally goading the Ukrainians in for some immediate attack; he knows it won't work. His objectives, assuming they're co-ordinated with the Russian leadership not purely self-serving and PR-orientated, are likely more subtle.

Hey I remember when hole, flamming, alamo, Belisarius, etc claimed during the retreat from balakleya that there was a master plan to counterattack the flanks and encircle the attacking UA army between balakleya and kupyansk

Oh really! Refresh my memory and show me when I specifically stated such a thing.

What was your take then?

I just brought here a text from The Saker, which I agree with 100%, here is a part of it:

"In other words, it would be absolutely INSANE for Russians to try to hold a static defensive line at all cost just to prevent the Ukronazis to claim yet another “immense victory”. So, keeping this in might, let’s revisit the Ukrainian “counter-offensives”, bullet style.

These supposed “counter-offensives” were announced weeks in advance (which the Russians noticed)
Then the Ukrainians began by sustained artillery strikes to weaken the Russian defenses (and, thereby, indicate again to the Russians where they planned to attack).
Then the Ukrainians concentrated large forces (which the Russians saw, of course) and then threw them all into a (relatively) mass assault on what they believed were the weakest spots in the Russian defenses.
This is what happened north of Kherson and this is what is happening just north of Balakleia now. And it will happen again on other parts of the immense frontline. And, each time, the Russians will resist if/when possible, but they will quickly concede terrain and fall back if pressed hard, not only to save Russian lives (why waste them for a few trenches or buildings??) and to “pull in” the Ukrainians into a network of mobile defenses.

So how does a mobile defense work?

Basically, it uses the Russian advantages (firepower, maneuverability, logistics, reach, C3ISR, morale and training) to save as many Russian lives as possible while killing as many Ukrainian soldiers are possible. Why? Because while terrain can always be re-conquered, dead soldiers cannot be resurrected."

https://www.russiadefence.net/t8833p100-russian-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-23



What's the problem Odin?
Can't I complain about someone criticizing me for saying something I never said?