Russia

Four more Russian ships (boats) sunk overnight, in the Black Sea near Crimea. A Russian supply ship, escorted by two patrol boats, was struck by a Ukran sea drone, severely damaging it and causing it to stop, while taking on water. A call was made for a tugboat to come to tow the disabled supply ship into port. The tug was escorted by two patrol boats. These patrol boats, KC-51, are about 35 feet long, armed with light weapons like machineguns, and are fairly fast and nimble. The two patrol boats near the supply ship were themselves targeted and completely destroyed by Ukran sea drones. The tug appeared in the area when the commanders of the two escorting patrol boats saw what happened to the others and they fled the scene, leaving the damaged supply ship and tugboat to fend for themselves. Neither would survive long. The tug was struck by a sea drone, sinking it in a matter of minutes. The crew of the supply ship took to lifeboats and watched their vessel sink, later rescued by Russian helicopters.

Ukraine has perfected the sea drone and is now the world experts on these weapons. Taiwan is building their own fleet of sea drones, modeled after the Ukrainian drone, and done under the guidance of Ukrainian engineers.

Ukraine has complete control of the Black Sea west of Crimea and have extended their reach to the rest of the Black Sea and into the Sea of Azov too.

Getting worse for Putin, the two Kirov-class battlecruisers, the largest warships in the world, next to our supercarriers, have been ordered into port probably for the last time. These older ships, dating back to 1980's are in need of major repairs, overhauls, and updates, especially to their electronics, and the Russians are broke, busted, don't have the funds to make the necessary improvements to the ships. Ah...too bad.

France is sending 12-15 Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine. These are older planes, dating back originally to the 1970's, but the plane has undergone many, many upgrades and improvements. Ukraine pilots have been training in the Mirage jet in France.

Russians in full retreat out of Kharkiv. Ukran forces in pursuit. Ukraine has been striking Russian reserves and supply bases in Belgorod Oblast, also hitting bridges and a railroad line, using western missiles. This has made supporting Russian units in Kharkiv impossible, thus the retreat. For two+ years Ukraine has been operating under a HUGE handicap unable to neutralize Russian assets across the border, except with the use of their own drones. And morons have been criticizing Ukraine saying they can't win this war, blah, blah, blah. Well, it's been a boxing match with Ukraine having one arm tied behind its back. That arm is free now; now it's a fairer fight.

BTW...just watched a documentary based on a German tank commander fighting the Russians in WWII. His unit fought at Kursk, the famous "biggest tank battle in history" and then retreated into Ukraine. They were at Belgorod, Kharkiv City, and other places in the center of the war today. They showed a photo of this German and his tank crew, a Tiger 1, in front of the large cathedral in Kharkiv City. Just saw a Ukran unit posing in front of that same church posted this week. The church was damaged during WWII in a battle, repaired, and now there it is again, potentially in the middle of another battle 81 years later. History repeating itself.

LGCBT jets! Hah! Russians use a pink undercoating/primer before painting their planes grey or whatever. Two of those "pink jets" were struck by Ukran drones as they outside a hangar, destroyed! made a Ukran YouTuber make fun of the "gay" Russians. They were MIG-31s. The Ukrans also blew up a SU-57, Russia's most advanced fighter jet, as it sat at an airbase. The strike was close to 500 miles inside of Russia, done by long-range drones.

Putin has admitted to 25,000 casualties per month, of those he said 5,000 are KIA and 20,000 wounded/captured. If he is admitting to these numbers, that means they are higher. He qualified his statement by claiming the Ukrans are suffering 5X that number. Ah, no. No way is Ukraine losing 125,000 soldiers every month. Reliable sources place the ratio at 8 to 1 in favor of Ukraine. Which means if Putin is losing 25,000 per month, Ukraine's losses are about 3,000. Ukraine also enjoys a vastly, and it's not even close, advantage in medical care for their wounded. Most of Ukraine's wounded soldiers survive, many of them (most?) return to duty after recovery. That cannot be said about the poor souls fighting for Putin. Many (most?) of their wounded never recover and very, very few ever return to duty.

The "Aged Brigade." Yes, it is true, older Ukrainians, most of them former soldiers, have volunteered and returned to the ranks. There was some released video showing some of them at a shooting range. But these brave patriots will not be deployed to the front line, as Putin propagandists claim. Instead, they will be truck drivers, other logistical support, and in some cases, assigned to fixed artillery batteries. One of them was interviewed, he is 73, a former sergeant in the Ukrainian army, and he was shown negotiating an obstacle course. He did better than most of us, younger than him, would have done. Then, to show the realities of this war, they showed video of two captured Russians, both old and very feeble. So, it appears both sides are in need of recruits and are accepting just about anyone.

No important changes along the front to report, for the fourth straight day. Russians have made some very small gains in places and have lost ground in other places. At one key location where the Russians have been pushing hard, Chasiv Yar, the Ukrans have stabilized the line, east of a deep industrial canal which serves as a moat, a real barrier, to the Russians. The lone bridge across that canal is held by the Ukrans, as is half the suburbs east of the canal. Ukraine has mined the bridge and will destroy it if they can't hold it. The Ukrans have retaken ground in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, as the Putinites are in retreat. A Russian attack at Vuledar was completely wiped out; three tanks, four APCs, and an assortment of trucks, ATVs, and Chinese-made golfcarts used by the Russians were destroyed.

On the latter incident, it amazes me, and other observers, how stupid the Russians continue to be. They repeat the same mistakes over and over, getting absolutely blown to bits with no tactical achievement to show for it, and keep doing it. I have a theory; it's because the idiots don't survive to be able to warn their comrades not to try the same foolish tactics. It's like the Russians go, oh look! here's a nice road, let's use it to attack those "evil Nazis" we are told we are fighting. Never mind that the road and surrounding fields have been mined and are zeroed-in by Ukran artillery, not to mention the swarm of kamikaze drones ready to be used. Stooooopid!

The Russian guided-missile frigate, the Admiral Levochenko, is burning and appears to be lost. It caught fire due to a mechanical problem; it was in the Artic Ocean on routine patrol. Rescue ships are trying to reach it to save the crew.

The US has lifted the official ban on US-made weapons/ammo going to the Azov Brigade (the 3rd Assault Brigade). Remember the stupid notion that this unit was a bunch of Nazis, LOL! Only a moron would have thought that, and as such, the Biden administration placed the ban. A perfect group of morons. Of course, the Ukrans ignored the silly ban by having other units transfer US-made weapons/ammo to the Azov Brigade. Good thing too, because the 3rd Brigade, together with the 47th and 79th, has been one of the best units. The Azov Brigade has won every engagement they have been in, tactically. When they learn it is the 3rd Brigade they are fighting, the Russians have turned tail and run away.

For those of you still questioning our support for Ukraine vs. Putin, please note who his friends are: the commie Chinese, the commie Fat Boy of North Korea, the evil islamic extremists of Persia, and the commie a-holes occupying Cuba. Please note, all these regimes support Putin and want Ukraine to lose. So, should we support Ukraine in her noble fight against evil? I think so! What say you?

One international media source said the Russkis sending ships to Cuba was a direct "in your face" to Joe Biden. But, when informed of it, Sleepy Joe wanted to know if he could go for a ride on the Russian submarine...but only if they serve ice cream aboard. Actually, Biden doesn't even know the Russkis are in Havana. Hardly any "in your face" here.

The Ukrans have fitted anti-drone cages on their Abrams tanks. This is not unexpected. Of the 31 Abrams in Ukrainian service, 5 were hit by Russian drones, one completely lost, and the other four sent for repairs. There has never been, and still isn't, any question about the offensive superiority of the US Abrams tank. It has proven time and again to be the best tank in the world when it comes to delivering long-range, accurate and very deadly fire against any other tank, or some other target. But, the reality is the modern battlefield has changed. Drones rule the battlefield today, they are at the very top of the food chain, the alpha predator. So, hopefully, these anti-drone cages will enhance the survivability of the Abrams tanks such that there return to the front will make a difference for Ukraine.

And, to further highlight the point of the domination of drones, all of the much-heralded Russki "turtle tanks" have been destroyed. It was not a bad idea and certainly worth trying, but the ever clever and highly skilled Ukran drone operators have already rendered the "turtle tanks" as nothing more than death traps. Back to the drawing board for the Putinites.

Latest report shows Russia has surpassed 15,000 losses in armored vehicles in this war. Putin was forced to un-mothball the old T-62 tanks and send them to Ukraine, just to be destroyed.

Whoa! I have subscribed to one of those membership-only YouTube channels, one that has no restrictions on the video it can show. War is brutal...war is hell. Maybe these videos of the reality of war should be widely shown to the whole world, might make more folks more anti-war than many are now.

Video, shot from a Ukran drone hovering over the battlefield, shows a Ukran Abrams tank and two Bradleys, supported by infantry, ambushing a Russian armored column, this somewhere west of Bakhmut. The Russians had two T-90 and two T-72 tanks, six APCs with infantry in each, four trucks, with infantry, and several ATVs, four-wheelers. Although outnumbered in terms of vehicles and soldiers, the Ukrans attacked. The two Bradleys boldly blocked the main road, using their TOW missiles and 30mm cannons to knock out the two lead tanks, both being the T-72s. The lone Abrams tank, supported by Ukran infantry armed with anti-tank weapons, like the javelin, flanked the Russian column. The Russian T-90s, supported by infantry attacked the two Bradleys on the main road, apparently unaware of the Abrams maneuvering on their flank. The entire fight lasted 18 minutes, start to finish. The results: the Ukrans lost a Bradley. It took several direct hits, catching on fire and being disabled, but the entire crew was able to get out safely. The Ukrans also suffered a few losses amongst its infantry. But the Russians lost everything. All four tanks, and all the other vehicles were destroyed. Losses in their personnel is unclear, as some of the Russians were videoed abandoning their vehicles and the fight and withdrawing back up the road from whence they had come. Some of the most brutal imagery showed Russian soldiers, several who had gotten out of their burning tank, being unmercifully fired upon by Ukran infantry and the Bradleys. The 30mm cannon does unspeakable things to the human body...think hamburger meat. One Russian soldier, who dove to the ground to avoid machinegun fire, was run over by one of the Russian T-90 tanks which was dashing across the road seeking cover. Not a pretty sight. In this fight the Ukrans had a plan, stayed in communication with each other, while the Russians were in utter chaos and were scrambling around trying to deal with the surprise attack. The US Abrams tank received some kind of automatic weapons fire, it was getting hit with hundreds, maybe thousands of rounds from some kind of machinegun, the bullets doing no harm to tank, but the ricochets caused some harm to the Ukran infantry near it. One Ukran soldier was struck by a bullet glancing off the tank, his buddies seen dragging him away to safety. Both Bradleys took a pounding too, with one of them finally being knocked out. The Russian tanks and APCs went up in fireballs after being hit just once by a TOW missile or the Abrams' main gun. The 30mm cannons took out armored vehicles too, but it took a good 30 seconds of steady fire to cause the Russian vehicle to catch fire and then explode.

The Ukran drone then hovered over the site recording about 10 minutes of footage, showing Ukran soldiers sifting through the wreckage, taking items off the Russian dead, and also aiding the Russian wounded who were scattered about, their walking wounded surrendering. Some of the dead Russians were so blown to pieces not even their mothers could identify them.

This was a complete, total win for the Ukrans, the YouTuber chiming in saying this is typical of most of the engagements. Even when the Russians "win" a fight, measured by them taking ground, they suffer more losses than the Ukrans. How long can Putin sustain this madness? At some point, surely, the Russian people will have enough of this crap.

The International Legion (IL), composed of volunteers from around the world, including a company of Americans, has generally kicked ass every time they have gone into battle. These are mostly veterans, experienced/trained soldiers, in Ukraine fighting for a just cause. They are motivated fighting pure evil, and they are very good at what they do. They are also experienced/smart enough not to get themselves into unwinnable circumstances. So, they win each time.

Most recently the IL was heavily engaged in a fight clearing trenches east of Lyman. This is a key area along that portion of the front, as Lyman is an important crossroads town. For 6 months the Russians have threatened to overrun Lyman, as they did at Avdiivka, but the Ukrans have valiantly held out. It resulted in a World War I style stalemate, each side clinging to their trenches no more than 400 yards apart. Drone footage revealed the Russians have weakened their position by moving reserves to other sectors of the front. Noting this, the IL volunteered to clear out the Russians. In two days of up-close, brutal combat, the IL captured 3 miles of Russian trenches, actually two lines of main trenches and a reserve trench, plus 8 bunkers. They inflicted over 600 casualties on the Russians, most being wounded/captured, estimated 180 KIA, while suffering 2 KIA and 13 wounded themselves. The IL has a British unit in it, and it was this unit that released some bodycam footage of the fighting.

The IL are paid mercenaries. No confirmed figure has been given, at least none I have seen, but based on information provided from various sources, the IL is composed of three battalions, each divided into 4 companies, each company comprising 150 soldiers, so about 1,800 total. Of course, that is the infantry combat arm of the legion. There is also an artillery battalion, with howitzers and mortars, an armored vehicle, "cavalry" battalion, and a HQ battalion for logistics and supply. So about 3,500 total personnel. To join the IL one has to have had military experience. Based on information, most of the IL comes from the US, UK, Denmark, and Australia. There is a platoon from Italy, and other nations, as well.

There are other, MANY OTHER, foreign units fighting for Ukraine. They hail from all over: Japan, South America, other European countries, and some from former Soviet countries, but these units are either independent or are incorporated into a Ukraine unit, such as a being one company in an Ukran battalion. The IL is totally separate, has its own command structure, although it is embedded in a Ukrainian division/corps for organizational continuity.

Still about 400 Russians trapped in a part of Vovchansk, the Kharkiv Oblast. They are what remains of about 700 who got cut off during the Ukran counter-attack retaking the city. Some (about 40) of the Russians have surrendered but the rest are either dead (about 260) or still trapped. The Ukrans are continuing to plead with the Russians to surrender, but they have not, probably due in part of the fear of being executed by their officers, which has already happened. Eight Russians came out into the open waving a white flag, and all were instantly shot and killed by machinegun fire, coming from the Russian positions. It has been well documented that the Russian commanders are under orders directly from Putin to execute any soldiers trying to surrender. Meanwhile, the Ukrans have begun pounding the buildings with artillery where the trapped Russians are. Every hour or so, the artillery ceases and again a call goes out offering the Russians a chance to surrender.

Those 400 Russians are down to just 50, according to reliable reports from multiple sources. No details on what happened to the additional 350 losses, but based on video footage, the Ukrans are pounding the hell out of the area with artillery. Safe to assume those are 350 more KIA.

British Military Think Tank released satellite images of Russian bases and they are ghost towns. They showed photos from pre-war and from this week, and what used to be thousands of vehicles and planes is now empty lots. Another source claims Putin's trip to see Fat Boy in NK was an attempt to secure more replacements, supplies and ammo, and it is reported, Putin and Fat Boy signed a bilateral agreement to go to war to support each other in the event of an attack on either. Putin has fought his military to frazzle and there are growing concerns he is growing desperate enough to use nukes. Maybe just tactical nukes, to begin with, aimed at Ukraine only. But this could easily lead to escalation.

Another Russian column has been utterly destroyed, this one east of Chasiv Yar. Four tanks, and four APCs kaputted!

The Russian minister for civil defense is recommending Russian civilians to evacuate Crimea. The Ukrans have systematically eliminated Russian defenses there, destroying the last of the 15 anti-aircraft/anti-missile locations, and the last of the radar stations rendering the Russians defenseless against future attacks. One media source, located in Hungary that is pro-Putin, blasted the minister for unnecessarily panicking and causing more harm as Russian civilians are now crowding the only way out, across the Kerch Bridge, which is routinely attacked by Ukran drones. This source calls on Putin to can the minister...which is likely to lead to prison time for the poor sap. Things are not looking very rosy for poor ole Valdimir...

Oops! another pocket of trapped Russians has formed in Vovchansk. Ukranian counterattack is continuing and the Russkis are in full retreat out of Kharkiv Oblast.

Ukrans have blasted 4 more of Putin's oil storage facilities inside of Russia. Most of these are (were!) fairly close to the border, at least within 150 miles. All four were left burning, all in the past 48 hours. Ukrans also struck the port city of Rostov, on the Sea of Azov. This had been considered a safe haven for Russia, but the Ukrans are "reaching out and touching" Putin all over the place. Early reports say there was minimal damage, two cargo ships hit and damaged, a dock destroyed, and a warehouse also damaged. It was long-range drones used; they generally can carry only lighter warheads. Still, it sends a message to the Putinites that what they thought was a safe port, is not.

A Ukran military spokesman is praising the US-built ATACMS missiles and the HIMARS saying the Russians have no answer for this US technology. Now that the Biden administration (and several European countries) have lifted the ban on the use of these weapons on targets inside of Russia, the Ukrans are gaining ground. Heretofore it's been an unfair fight, Russia doing whatever it wanted while Ukraine was hamstrung by stupid policies from her allies.

60 F-16s are expected to be delivered to Ukraine within a month. One source says there are still not enough Ukran pilots trained well enough to fly the Falcons into combat. There was some talk of basing the F-16s in a NATO country thinking that would deter Russia from striking the bases, trying to destroy the jets on the ground. But US sources say, no, once delivered the F-16s become the full responsibility of Ukraine who will have to protect them the best they can. This will require more Patriot missile batteries and the construction of hardened hangars at the bases.

Putin made a formal request (begged!) Fat Boy to send NK troops to fight in Ukraine. Fat Boy declined. Heck, the NK troops are as stupid as the Russkis. They breached a wall along the border with South Korea and promptly blew themselves up in a minefield. This just happened yesterday.

Ukraine getting A-10s? Just saw a report saying Ukran pilots have been training to fly the A-10. Report claims this has been going on for over 6 months. And that there are A-10s already on the ground in Ukraine. If true, how did they manage to keep this a secret?

Ukrans did launch a surprise helicopter attack against a Russian position recently. Two Ukran attack-helicopters successfully came in low and jumped a Russian gathering place, taking out several armored vehicles, and then quickly departing. The helicopter has been rendered as a relic of the past on the modern battlefield. The Russians tried using them early in the war, even their most advanced chopper, the KA-52, was shown to be vulnerable to hand-held anti-aircraft missiles, like the Stinger, and even drones carrying rockets were wreaking havoc with the copters. After losing over 30 of their best copters, the Russians gave up and they have not been seen again. The Ukrans used the German-built H145 Attack Helicopter in this recent attack. Drones were sent to scout the site and to provide video surveillance guiding the two copters in. The Russians were completely surprised and were not ready with any anti-aircraft weapons.

Scary! is how one Russian civilian described the sound of scores of Ukran drones passing over during the night. Sounds like a swarm of angry hornets. Ukraine used their long-range drones to attack a Russian airbase and two more oil storage facilities deep inside of Russia, these locations east of the Sea of Azov. The drones came in three waves, each with at least 30 drones. The first wave is sent to neutralize any air defenses, the next wave to knock out any physical barriers and the third wave to destroy the targets. Only in this case there were practically no defenses to be had, so all three waves were used to attack the primary, then secondary targets. This morning huge fires are burning at the oil sites and the airbase. Later satellite imagery will reveal the extent of the damage.

Ukraine is continuing its counterattack in Kharkiv; another village was liberated overnight. The Ukrans have taken back about 75% of Vovchansk, with there being two isolated pockets of trapped Russians.

A Russian officer, a major, was murdered in St. Petersburg. He was found in a park near his home, an ax buried in his back, and a note left stating, "here's for your service in the special military operation," a reference to the war in Ukraine. The officer was home on a two-week R&R furlough. Local police are investigating it as a homicide, of course. Official statements released blame Ukraine. But most pundits say it was the action of anti-Putin Russians who are fed up with the illegal war and fed up with Putin.