Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Dargo]

Ukraine claims 20 square kilometers of territory gain at Bakhmut: 'Russians trapped like rats'

Ukrainian counterattacks in Bakhmut have not missed their mark. The region can be actively defended, and the Russians are trapped like "rats," says Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces. According to Ukraine, 20 square kilometers of territory have been regained in recent days. "The advance of our troops towards Bakhmut is the first success after our offensive actions," the 57-year-old colonel-general said in a statement yesterday. Visiting the front near Bakhmut this morning, he added that "the Wagner mercenaries crawled like rats in a trap". Ukrainian troops were able to switch to successful counterattacks near the eastern Ukrainian town through "active defense". "The enemy has more resources, but we disrupt their plans," Syrskyi explained. At that, he honored several soldiers with medals. In recent days, several Ukrainian army units north and southwest of Bakhmut have effectively pushed back Russian troops. According to Hanna Maliar, deputy defense minister, this involves a total of about 20 square kilometers of ground gains, and heavy fighting continues.

The main supply route to the besieged eastern Ukrainian city, via the village of Chromove, has already been re-secured more effectively, according to British army experts. This is stated in the British Ministry of Defense's daily intelligence report on Tuesday. The road south of Bakhmut, near Ivanivske, is also once again firmly in Ukrainian hands. The Donets-Donbask canal between Chasiv Yar and Klishchiivka has now become a natural dividing line between Ukrainian and Russian forces. But Kiev also warned that the situation in Bakhmut remains difficult and that Moscow has not changed its aim to capture the city. In the city itself, Wagner forces are advancing westward house by house and apartment block by apartment block. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin also claimed on Tuesday that his mercenaries have again made progress in capturing the last streets in the city centre. Moreover, the Russian army has brought reinforcements to the centre, and also sent elite assault troops to the outskirts of the city to try to stabilize its flanks. According to Maliar, the Russians are "completely laying waste to the city with artillery".

"The fact that the defense of Bakhmut has been going on for so many months, and we are making progress in certain places, is thanks to the strength of our fighters, and the professionalism of the command," Maliar added. "Remember that the enemy has a great quantitative advantage, both in terms of men and weapons. Yet, thanks to the actions of our troops, he has not yet been able to push through his plans for Bakhmut since the summer." https://www.demorgen.be/snelnieuws/o...open~be219c3c/

[Jimbuna]

It is being reported today that Russia’s war machine has reached a “turning point” in its invasion of Ukraine, that there was clear evidence that key Russian weapons and components were now running out.

[Moonlight]

^The western media have been spreading that nonsense since this russian 'special military operation' started, I'll believe it when the guns go silent.

[Skybird]

A US official told CNN that the latest atacks my Russia damaged one Patriot battery, not destroying it but damaging it.

Russia claims to have intercepted (=destroyed) a Storm Shadow. No external confirmation for this latest trophy Russia claims. They already have claimed so many trophies, so this news is possible, but - well, unconfirmed.



Two days ago a Ukrainian source told German radio that the Iris-T systems so far had a success rate of 100%. If true - that's what one calls a golden bullet.

[Skybird]

Bubble-Olaf babbles again from inside his bubble. He just said that the bridges to the other Russia (beyond Putin, he probably means) must be maintained.

He seems to hallucinate and sees things that are not there. But it shows that the war has not really changed his illusions about Russia. In his defence, Germany has illusions about Russia sinc eover one hunbdred years at least.



Beware the Germans.

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

I just read a thought by a war economist who said the Storm shadows provide Ukriane with a Crimea paradoxon. Now that they may have or may be close to the ability to strike the Kerch bridge as well as striking most of Crimea' surface, it may be that they will NOT strike the bridges. Because if they are successful in isolating Crimea by interrupting the northern land connection and then attack Crimea and the Russians want to flee - they couldn't and would need to fight and that means the Ukrainians would need to fight them down. I may be better to leave them one exit route so that they can evacuate Crimea and saving both sides the fight.

As I understand it, the bridge is two-tracked, one car bridge and one train bridge. For logistical support to the military I strongly assume the train bridge is far more important, maybe they will bomb the train bridge and leave only the road bridge open. If the missiles can be programmed to strike with such accuracy to target just the one and not the other bridge, that is, they are parallel and very close to each other, practically one bridge.


Meanwhile the Pentagon has confirmed that the claimed damaged Patriot system indeed has received damage, but insists it still is operational. The russians however insist on that the radar system and several missile batteries had been taken out. Flip a coin to see who is right.

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I just read a thought by a war economist who said the Storm shadows provide Ukriane with a Crimea paradoxon. Now that they may have or may be close to the ability to strike the Kerch bridge as well as striking most of Crimea' surface, it may be that they will NOT strike the bridges. Because if they are successful in isolating Crimea by interrupting the northern land connection and then attack Crimea and the Russians want to flee - they couldn't and would need to fight and that means the Ukrainians would need to fight them down. I may be better to leave them one exit route so that they can evacuate Crimea and saving both sides the fight.

As I understand it, the bridge is two-tracked, one car bridge and one train bridge. For logistical support to the military I strongly assume the train bridge is far more important, maybe they will bomb the train bridge and leave only the road bridge open. If the missiles can be programmed to strike with such accuracy to target just the one and not the other bridge, that is, they are parallel and very close to each other, practically one bridge.


Meanwhile the Pentagon has confirmed that the claimed damaged Patriot system indeed has received damage, but insists it still is operational. The russians however insist on that the radar system and several missile batteries had been taken out. Flip a coin to see who is right.

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard. Such is the art of warfare.

Russian also says they destroyed 5 Patriot systems launchers with one attack. https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/17/7402681/

[Skybird]

Related.

No end to Norwegian naivety: Norway is failing to protect against Russian North Sea incursions. The European North Sea region is vitally important for Moscow. The Russian fleet harbors its strategic nuclear weapons there. On the Norwegian side, the sea is dotted with energy production facilities. The confrontation between the West and Russia is intensifying.

https://www.nzz.ch/english/norway-co...sea-ld.1738350

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

I should imagine Africa in particular as well as a few other countries are breathing a sigh of relief.

An agreement allowing Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea despite the ongoing conflict with Russia has been extended.

The two-month extension, negotiated by the United Nations and Turkey, was announced a day before the previous deal was due to expire.

There had been concerns that Russia could pull out of the pact.

It was first agreed last July following fears of global food shortages as a result of the war in Ukraine.

The agreement has been renewed several times since then, despite Russia's criticism of Western sanctions against its agricultural sector.

Ukraine is one of the world's top producers of grain, but its access to ports in the Black Sea was initially blocked by Russian warships following the invasion in February last year.

On Wednesday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said : "With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends, the contribution of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to extend the Black Sea grain deal for two more months."

More than 30m tonnes of grain have left Ukraine under the deal - mostly going to the world's poorest countries.

Moscow wants Russian producers to be able to export more food and fertiliser to the rest of the world, but says sanctions are preventing them.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the UN, told reporters on Wednesday: "We still do not lose hope that the problems that we are raising will be sorted out. The sooner the better."

Russia briefly withdrew from the deal in November last year, accusing Ukraine of attacking its fleet in the Crimea - but it re-joined a few days later.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65627175

[Skybird]

Kyiv and the Ukrainian army spread plenty of confusion. And maybe that confusion actually IS the offensive.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/18/e...cmd/index.html