Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[grumbler]

We've seen how vatniks attack a trench line, here's the Ukrainians doing the same. Compare and contrast.

These are perhaps the first UK-trained soldiers in action.  

Honestly all these combat footage videos. I can't make head nor tail of them.
Obviously, real battles be like that, but I need video game or Hollywood style to comprehend. Not confused shouting and dots in the distance.

Anyone know of any good youtube folk who helpfully annotate these things?

That video is hardly "dots in the distance."  I was rather surprised by how early the Russians (barring the suicidal one at the bend of the trench) didi'd out of there.  I'd have done the same, of course.

Also surprised at the extremely tactical use of drone, dropping hand grenades precisely from (in one case) very low altitudes.

[Jacob]

We've seen how vatniks attack a trench line, here's the Ukrainians doing the same. Compare and contrast.

These are perhaps the first UK-trained soldiers in action.  

Having the drone camera feed (and I assume there's some sort of communication going on with the infantry here) is going to be extremely useful I imagine, in addition to the obvious benefit of using it to drop grenades prior to the actual infantry action.

[Jacob]

Also surprised at the extremely tactical use of drone, dropping hand grenades precisely from (in one case) very low altitudes.

Yeah there was one shot where the grenade looked like it banked off the slope and went into the bunker area of the trench system. That's pretty impressive.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Crazy.
It also shows what de uaf is up against that despite te lowish quality of so many Russian troops they're still managing to advance. Even if it is at a snails pace.

Hopefully the Ukrainians manage to punch through in the upcoming offensive.

And hopefully the western alliance, especially the euros, find their balls and start delivering what's been promised, declare that they want Ukraine to win and then act accordingly.

[Admiral Yi]

What surprised me about that clip is the very low density of troops.  7 Ukrainians attacking 6 Russians with no other troops to be seen for miles.

[Hamilcar]

What surprised me about that clip is the very low density of troops.  7 Ukrainians attacking 6 Russians with no other troops to be seen for miles.

My guess (since I don't have real subject knowledge): the front is huge and if you bunch up your forces you leave a big hole.

[Syt]

We've seen how vatniks attack a trench line, here's the Ukrainians doing the same. Compare and contrast.

These are perhaps the first UK-trained soldiers in action.  

Looks to me a lot like playing Graviteam Tactics, not least because of the overhead drone footage.

[Syt]

Weird, wonder why. 

https://www.euronews.com/2023/04/26/eu-becoming-militarised-at-a-record-rate-claims-russian-fm

EU 'becoming militarised at a record rate', claims Russian FM

The European Union (EU) "is becoming militarised at a record rate", claimed Russia's top diplomat on Tuesday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters the bloc had become increasingly aggressive in its goal of containing Russia, saying there was now "very little difference" between the EU and NATO.

He alluded to a "strategic partnership" declaration between the Western military alliance and Brussels signed in January

Criticising Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the "gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades", the text called for closer EU-NATO cooperation, though did not say it would ensure the security of the EU.

Lavrov echoed complaints by Russian President Vladimir Putin about NATO's expansion, which the Kremlin has used to justify invading its western neighbour. 


Russia was promised on several occasions new states would not join but "those were lies", he claimed.

"Unbiased assessments that our political scientists as well as those abroad made is that NATO sought to break Russia apart...but in the end it only made it stronger, brought it closer together."

Russia's invasion sent shockwaves through Europe, prompting Finland to join the US-led alliance earlier this month.

With Sweden also seeking protection under its security umbrella, Putin has been dealt a major political blow as the war has galvanised NATO's growth. 

Finland's membership doubles Russia's border with NATO, the world's largest security alliance.

Lavrov was asked whether the war in Ukraine was a miscalculation on Moscow's part in light of this, with Ukraine now also hoping to join the military alliance.

"NATO never had any intention of stopping," he replied. Sweden and Finland were "increasingly taking part in NATO military exercises and other actions that were meant to synchronise the military programs of NATO members and neutral states."

Though formally neutral, both were closely aligned with the Western military group.

Last week, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg defiantly declared that Ukraine's "rightful place" was in NATO, pledging more support for the country on his first visit to Kyiv since the fighting began in February.

The Kremlin responded by repeating that a key goal of its invasion was to stop Ukraine from joining NATO, arguing that Kyiv's membership would pose an existential threat to Russia.

In October, experts told Euronews Ukraine is unlikely to join NATO any time soon.

They pointed to the risk of provoking a wider war, the difficulty in getting all members to back the bid and the possible "propaganda victory" for Putin, amongst other things.

Ukraine is also seeking EU membership, with officials in the bloc pledging to do what they can to get Ukraine in. 

But they have not offered a firm timetable for talks on joining the EU, as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has wished for.

[crazy canuck]

Also surprised at the extremely tactical use of drone, dropping hand grenades precisely from (in one case) very low altitudes.

Yeah there was one shot where the grenade looked like it banked off the slope and went into the bunker area of the trench system. That's pretty impressive.

George Gervin would be impressed.  The bankshot has become a lost art.

[Hamilcar]

Sevastopol fuel storage got hit by Ukrainian drones.

I guess Russia doesn't have any air defense?

[Tamas]

Sevastopol fuel storage got hit by Ukrainian drones.

I guess Russia doesn't have any air defense?

I am sure it was just yet another cigarette incident. Apparently they are endemic in Russia.

[Tamas]

I do wonder if this is preparation for the Ukrainian offensive; hitting Russian logistics.

[Jacob]

A reasonable hypothesis. Hitting Russian logistics before an offensive fits the pattern so far, and seems to have been pretty successful as well.

[Josquius]

Sevastopol fuel storage got hit by Ukrainian drones.

I guess Russia doesn't have any air defense?

Ukraine is running short on anti air missiles. Maybe Russia is too due to all the problems of corruption, crap storage, etc... We've seen?

[Admiral Yi]

Ukraine is running short on anti air missiles. Maybe Russia is too due to all the problems of corruption, crap storage, etc... We've seen?

Has Russia developed missile interceptors?  I haven't read anything about that.