Posted on 05/13/2023 3:28:57 AM PDT by Timber Rattler
The Ukrainian Army is advancing in attacks near the eastern city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian commanders said on Friday, in fighting that has shifted the front line only slightly but is exposing fissures, confusion and alarm among Russia’s forces in the war.
Russia’s pro-war bloggers were quick to claim that Ukraine’s long-anticipated counteroffensive had begun, but Ukrainian officials downplayed the advances and described them in more local terms. Ukrainian soldiers broke through Russian lines south of Bakhmut on Wednesday, they said, and then exploited that breach, assaulting Russian forces near the city and threatening Russian flanks to the north and south.
(snip)
A retreat from Bakhmut, a city that lacks strategic importance but has become a symbolic prize, would represent an embarrassing setback for the Russian military. Russia has not captured a Ukrainian city since last July, and had pressed ahead into Bakhmut despite soaring losses.
(snip)
Ukrainian advances this week have cut through Russian lines in the largest bulge by only about three miles, but the success erased what Moscow’s forces had painstakingly achieved over several months.
That presents Russia with a difficult choice. If Russia does not reinforce the flanking positions around Bakhmut, it risks a politically humiliating setback. But if it diverts reserve forces toward the city, it could weaken defenses in the south, where many analysts expect Ukraine to strike toward the Sea of Azov in an attempt to cut off a supply route to occupied Crimea.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
We’re just not smart enough to see how brilliant Putin is. The Russians have figured out how inadequate they are to question Putin. This is why they stay drunk and trust in Putin. Whereas we idiots in the west think we can question Putin. It’s beyond arrogance. It’s blasphemy!
Get Ukraine everything they need to defeat putin/russia
“Get Ukraine everything they need to defeat putin/russia”
I agree.
two Russian Mi 8 helicopters, one Su 34 bomber and one Su 35C fighter were shot down today. Most Russian aircraft lost in a day since beginning of war.
So with our Border exploding with an invasion and the US in turmoil - all you care about is this Ukrainian Crap - you must be getting paid well to keep pushing this manure pile.
If we don’t like Putin and his war we’re Biden supporters? I detest Biden as a corrupt, stupid old man, and I wouldn’t vote for a Democrat for anything. I guess that means I have to go along with Putin’s aggression.
Good shooting.
Russia shot down their own helicopter over Crimea yesterday, too. What Russian air defense doing?
Didn’t they shoot down a civilian airliner a few years ago?
Todays scorecard so far
MI-8 🚁
MI-8 🚁
SU-34 ✈️
SU-35 ✈️
Shoot first, ask questions later.
RU pilots that don't follow "safe passage" procedures will be shot down.
Probably some Ukrainian HARM missions not being reported. Russian AD operators are getting nervous and trigger happy.
Most likely true.
Preemptive HARMs could force long range acquisition radars to shut down.
This forces the short range AD systems into "autonomous" mode.
In autonomous mode, every radar contact is a potential threat and the decision whether the "track" is friend or foe must be made quickly.
The fact that both sides are flying Russian aircraft complicates the identification process.
That’s ok if the Russians hit their own planes. It is resources that you did not expend to get the same effects if you did it.
According to Russian Sources today has been the Worst Day in Decades for the Russian Air Force with 2 Mi-8 Transport Helicopters, 1 Su-34 Fighter/Bomber, and 1 Su-35 Air-Defense Fighter being Shot Down over the Bryansk Region of Western Russia by what is claimed to have been either Air-to-Air or Surface-to-Air Missiles which were Launched from Inside of Ukraine.
https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1657368327826571273
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