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Russkies have enjoyed some success in Donbas the past two days. Ukrainians report 200 of theirs KIA and dozens taken prisoner. Ukraine officials are screaming for more ammo and support from the West.
In the south, the province along the Black Sea, a WWI stalemate has developed, both sides dug in and entrenched. Probing attacks are bloodily repulsed. Ukrainians getting the better of the artillery duels with the much-superior US-built M777 Howitzer.
Russia's main offensive at this point appears to be the encirclement of Severodonetsk. From what I can tell, a significant percentage of the Ukrainian army is here, but how many depends on who is talking. Russia pushed through Popasna quickly after Mariupol but has slowed down since. The encirclement looks to cut off two highways into the city; I imagine Russia doesn't want to assault the city directly. Street to street fighting is difficult under any circumstance.
I've liked the @UkraineMaps account lately. The maps are high quality and I can't tell if the account is pro-Russia or pro-Ukraine, so at least it's balanced.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and June 13, Russia had lost 32,300 personnel, 1,432 tanks, 3,492 armored fighting vehicles, 718 artillery systems, 226 multiple launch rocket systems, 97 anti-aircraft systems, 213 warplanes, 178 helicopters, 2,460 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 warships/boats, 585 drones, 54 pieces of special equipment and 125 cruise missiles.
If this doesn't scare Putin.. nothing will...
It certainly scares meOriginally Posted by FriscoDog
If this doesn't scare Putin.. nothing will...
Pure evil at work
The more “learned”society becomes, the less we know.
Indiscriminant shelling of Donetsk continues. I don't believe some OSINT who are claiming this is purely vindictive, I think the AFU is trying to draw Russian forces away from Severodonetsk to relieve the shelling on the city (which would be a bloodbath and so I don't think they'll trade Donetsk for Severodonetsk).
I think those two Americans the Russians captured are toast.
They were Americans firing American weapons at Russian forces, and since we are technically not at war with Russia (a fine line we are walking), they will likely not be treated as regular POWs. The US would treat them as terrorists and I suppose Russia will do the same. I think they sentenced two English combatants to death already.
Maybe they'll just establish their own GTMO and just imprison them till they die.
Peter Kemp talks about this in Mine Were of Trouble, when he's tasked with executing a foreign national fighting for the Republicans, knowing that they would do the same to him if captured. Very brutal but those are the risks you take when you get involved in someone else's war I guess.
Russia has no shortage of Gitmos that's for sure.
Putin has gulags.
Biden does too. Tell me again why Trump is the totalitarian and not the guy who rules as a totalitarian?
Ukrainian forces in full retreat out of Severodonetsk and are likely to abandon the Lugansk region as well. The Russkies have concentrated heavy units, lots of artillery, in that area in an all-out effort to secure it. Ukrainian officials state it was foolish to continue to suffer casualties when they lacked the means (big guns) to fight back.
In other happenings, the first of German Leopard heavy tanks have reached Ukraine. These are considered to be among the finest tanks in the world, many pundits saying it is superior to the US Abrams Tank. This and some more heavy artillery from both Germany and Sweden will greatly enhance Ukraine's chances in the large engagements. But, Ukraine will still not have enough of the heavy weapons to mount a comprehensive counter attack to drive the Russkies out of their country. This will enhance their defensive posture preventing gains by Putin outside of Donbas, which is probably the intentions of the Germans and Swedes. Provide enough equipment to contain Putin in the eastern provinces, but not enough to risk widening the war.
Russia's completed an encirclement of Zolotoye-Gorskoye. Looks like a small area to me but my understanding is a significant amount of AFU troops were here. Some have allegedly surrendered already. AFU is trying to pull out of Severodonetsk before the final escape routes are taken over.
Col. Macgregor had an interesting interview last week where he said that the attitude of the Donbass civilians has changed significantly towards the Russian troops: previously, they were reluctant to help because if Russia just left (as was claimed originally) after the war, good luck convincing Ukrainian secret police not to shoot your family. He says it is now clear that Russian forces intend to stay and that has made them much more welcoming. I'm not sure if that was an official statement from some Russian source or if it's just Macgregor's view of the situation now that Russia has taken most of the Donbass.
Russia missed a $100 million payment and has defaulted on a loan for the first time since 1918. Russia has the money, but it can't get to it because of international banking sanctions.
Putin's health continues to deteriorate.
But, the Russkies have made some modest military gains in Donbas.
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