Ukraine counter offensive

[JohnD]

Land mines stalled the Ukrainian advance so they have changed tactics.



"The losses from Ukraine’s much vaunted counteroffensive were heavy and early. Pushing into the country’s sprawling southern fields earlier this summer, Kyiv lost almost a fifth of Nato kit provided for the operation, according to Ukrainian and western officials.

Kyiv’s military response across much of the frontline is now becoming clear: to change tactics. The shift in fighting doctrine applied in recent weeks, according to Ukrainian commanders, appears to be achieving some hard-fought but tangible results on the battlefield, at a more tolerable cost.

Rather than dart across Russian minefields aiming to punch through enemy lines with Nato armour, Ukrainian forces have moved their focus to pounding Russian defensive positions with heavy artillery fire."

FT.com

 

[Odds]

Ah yes, the WWI tactic beloved of British Generals: pound the wire and it will break.
Good luck with that.

 

[IT Minion]

Cluster munitions can be used to clear minefields apparently. Explosive breaches are the preferred option for rapid mechanised warfare rather than slower flails or dismounted infantry with pokey sticks.

Especially when you have off-route mines that can be located 50m away from your cleared path waiting to immobilise your engineering vehicle.

Minefields are difficult.

 

[andyso]

Completely agreed with this, but than they thought before. Everyone knew that the Russians' first line of defense was mined. I think they should be taken into account.

 

[transam]

That former French president Allende was talking on the news yesterday evening

Basically in his opinion all this Russian invasion caper stemmed from the wests inability to sort out Assad in Syria when he used chemical weapons

 

[IT Minion]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1686001233876647936

That's the rail bridge at the western end of Crimea into occupied Ukraine. That's important as it was a major supply route that was previously secure, unlike the overland road route which is much closer to hostile Ukrainian forces. It makes it much harder for supplies to make it to the defending troops and complicates any attempts to retreat if Ukraine manages to dislodge Russian forces.

Apparently it was a Storm Shadow strike (or the French variant) a few days ago.

 

[JohnD]

That former French president Allende was talking on the news yesterday evening

Basically in his opinion all this Russian invasion caper stemmed from the wests inability to sort out Assad in Syria when he used chemical weapons

Appeasement has been unsuccessfully tried before.

 

[denso13]

Slowly but surely...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687351195701039104

 

[motorbiking]

I hope Ukrainian get a breakthrough soon.

 

[motorbiking]

 

[JohnD]

In the seadrone's video, I see no sign of anyone on the ship firing at it.

Russian ship hit in Novorossiysk, Black Sea drone attack, Ukraine sources say

Ukraine intelligence sources say the Olenegorsky Gornyak was damaged during a strike at Novorossiysk.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Brigadier]

In the seadrone's video, I see no sign of anyone on the ship firing at it.

Russian ship hit in Novorossiysk, Black Sea drone attack, Ukraine sources say

Ukraine intelligence sources say the Olenegorsky Gornyak was damaged during a strike at Novorossiysk.

www.bbc.co.uk

I thought exactly the same, when I saw the footage earlier today.

Fake footage, or appallingly-bad Russian defences?

 

[motorbiking]

You’d probably see splashes as the rounds hit or the odd tracer.

Maybe the drones are too small for CIWS

I have to say the footage in my link has a bit of an ARMA3 feel about it.

 

[Doug99]

No incoming rounds and the ship's gun is facing forward in the normal stowed position.
The for'ad jackstaff is showing a white light which suggests the ship was at anchor.
Many portholes showing lights so ship was in normal routine.
Seem's very strange that they don't seem prepared, especially as surface drones have been active in recent days.

 

[IT Minion]

No incoming rounds and the ship's gun is facing forward in the normal stowed position.
The for'ad jackstaff is showing a white light which suggests the ship was at anchor.
Many portholes showing lights so ship was in normal routine.
Seem's very strange that they don't seem prepared, especially as surface drones have been active in recent days.

My guess is they didn't consider the location to be under threat. Novorossiyk is quite a long way from any Ukrainian controlled ports.

There's rumours another Russian ship has been hit and stiles are ongoing on one of the Crimean bridges at the moment.