John Hardie Profile picture
Deputy Director, Russia Program, @FDD. Writing on Russian military @LongWarJournal. Alum, @universityofga, @georgetownsfs. #GoDawgs

Mar 18, 58 tweets

Thread on Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Belgorod Oblast today 1/

Russia's "Sever" Grouping of Forces initially said that Ukraine had attacked Grafovka and Prilese, near the border with Belgorod-Kursk border, with three groups of infantry supported by tanks as well as UR-77 and IMR obstacle-clearing vehicles.

The Russian MoD later said Ukraine attacked five times in the direction of Demidovka and Prilese, with the first attacking beginning at 5:50 AM local time and the last one beginning at 5:30 PM local time).

According to the MoD's report (which should obviously be taken with a handful of salt), the Ukrainians used 5x tanks, 16x other armored vehicles, 3x obstacle-clearing vehicles, an UR-77 mine-clearing vehicle, and four light vehicles.

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Reportedly, Belgorod operation was several weeks in the making and aims to create a “buffer zone.”

When asked about it, Zelenskyy characterized the operation as a preemption of a Russian buildup for an attack in Sumy Oblast.

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Russian drone footage of a Ukrainian column reportedly involved in the Belgorod incursion 4/

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More Russian drone footage of Ukrainian columns attacking in Belgorod Oblast, reportedly toward Demidovka. Possibly the same two columns seen in tweet 5. 6/

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More Russian drone footage of a five-vehicle Ukrainian column reportedly attacking in Belgorod Oblast. 7/

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Russian wire-guided FPV drone strikes by 177th Naval Infantry Regiment & 40th Naval Infantry Brigade's Arctic Battalion on Bradley IFVs, BMP-1TS w/ Spis combat module, IMR-2, & Wisent-1 MC in Belgorod Obl. Both units have been operating in Kursk Obl. Ukrainian vehicles have same tactical symbol used in Ukraine's Kursk operation.

First video 0:00-14: Bradley struck at 50.92963, 35.37978 (h/t @giK1893), soon after crossing the border, headed north toward Demidovka. Outcome unclear. Other vehicles seen coming behind it.

First video 0:15-31 and second video 0:28-1:03: Nearby abandoned Bradley destroyed at 50.92976, 35.38076.

Second video, 1:26-2:10: Wisent struck at ~50.92927, 35.38133. Seen destroyed earlier in the video.

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Photo of a Ukrainian UR-77 reportedly involved in the Belgorod incursion today. Possibly abandoned. Note the white triangle--the same tactical symbol used in Ukraine's Kursk operation.

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Russian analog FPV drone strikes on Wisent-1 MC, IMR-2, and UR-77 obstacle-clearing vehicles and an IFV (Bradley?) reportedly involved in the Belgorod incursion. The UR-77 (possibly same one seen in tweet 9) was hit right after firing. 10/

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2x Bradleys returning toward Belgorod border. One gets struck by Lancet then hits mine at 50.92974, 35.38066 (& later struck by FPVs, but crew escaped, as shown in twt 8). The other hit mine at border. 11/

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Geolocation for tweet number 7 above. Russian drone spotted this particular column at least ~3.5 km from Belgorod border.

Wire-guided FPV strike on an ATV. This looks like Mar'ine, Sumy Oblast, near the Belgorod border (50.92256, 35.37946). 13/

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Russia's "Sever" Group of Forces and other Russian sources claimed that Ukraine launched further attacks toward Demidovka in Belgorod Oblast last night. 14/

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Russian UAV footage of a Ukrainian column attacking toward Demidovka, Belgorod Oblast. They pass destroyed vehicles seen in tweets 8 & 11 and drop infantry at 50.93257, 35.38129. The troops move to take positions in nearby tree lines and come under artillery fire. Purportedly occurred last night. 15/

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Footage of Lancet loitering munition, wire-guided FPV drone, and UAS-dropped munition strikes, including by the "Anvar" spetsnaz detachment, on abandoned Marder & tank w/ roof screens outside Mar'ine on the Sumy-Belgorod border (50.9237, 35.37957). An ATV was abandoned nearby. Also, a Lancet strike by Anvar on an M777 howitzer (reported at 50.86965, 35.29208 near Uhroidy, Sumy Oblast, ~6.5 km from the Belgorod border). And a tank burning following a Lancet strike at an unclear location. 16/

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Footage of a Lancet loitering munition strike by the Anvar spetsnaz detachment on an M777 howitzer in Uhroidy, Sumy Oblast, near the Belgorod border, plus a longer video of the Lancet strike on the M777 seen in tweet 16. The hanger at the start of the 2nd video is at 50.86679, 35.26414. 17/

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Footage of a strike by a Forpost-RU UCAV as well as ATGM strikes by Ka-52 attack helicopter(s). 18/

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It looks like the strike on the second Bradley at the Belgorod-Sumy border in tweet 11 was a Lancet loitering munition, not a mine. The Lancet doesn't appear to have gotten a clean hit, and the Bradley likely survived. 19/

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Lancet & wire-guided FPV drone strikes on Wisent-1 MC (likely same one seen in twt 8) & abandoned IMR-2 (same one seen in twt 8) in Belgorod Obl, reportedly on 3/18. Latter is at ~50.92488, 35.38012.

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Confirmation that Ukraine has attacked toward Priles'e (in addition to Demidovka) in Belgorod Oblast. Footage shows MLRS & howitzer fire targeting UKR position just across the Sumy-Belgorod border at 50.87934, 35.40168. The track marks indicate the vehicle seen here wasn't the first one to go that way. 21/

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Footage of Russian strikes including with wire-guided & analog FPV drones on a T-64BV tank, Wisent-1 MC, and another vehicle. The vehicle at the end is returning westward at roughly same spot as tweet 21, near Priles'e, Belgorod Oblast (~50.87922, 35.39924).

I cropped the video to cut out footage already seen above.

FYI @UAControlMap

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Vikhr ATGM strikes by Mi-28 and Ka-52 helicopters on an attacking Bradley and an abandoned vehicle, allegedly near Mar’ine on the Sumy-Belgorod border. (The latter vehicle might be the tank seen abandoned near Mar’ine in tweet 16.) 23/

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Russia’s “Sever” Group of Forced and other Russian sources say Ukraine continues to attack in the Demidovka and Priles’e areas in Belgorod Oblast and destroyed the bridge in Grafovka. 24/

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Ukrainian General Staff claimed the Ukrainian Air Force struck a Russian command post from 3rd Motor Rifle Division near Demidovka, Belgorod Oblast, on March 18. If true, the strike coincided with the launch of Ukraine's cross-border attacks toward Demidovka and nearby villages. 25/

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Footage of Ukrainian FPV drone strikes on a Russian Zemledeliye remote minelaying system in Belgorod Oblast by a unit from the 414th "Birds of Madyar" Separate Strike UAS Brigade. An unspecified SSO unit reportedly helped with reconnaissance. Apparently, the system was initially struck near Dobrino but was ultimately destroyed near Yusupovo, ~17 km from the border (h/t @blinzka). 26/

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Footage of Russian artillery fire and wire-guided FPV drone strikes targeting ATVs. 27/

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Footage from Anvar spetsnaz detachment showing the two Bradleys near Demidovka in Belgorod Oblast seen in tweets 8, 11, and 19, troops evacuating the Bradley that hit the mine and taking cover in a nearby tree line (50.93023, 35.37996), then coming under fire.

The footage indicates the Wisent lost by the Bradley (seen in tweets 8 and 20) was knocked out after the troops took cover in the trees.

The first video also shows an FPV strike on another Wisent, already seen seen in tweet 22; artillery fire targeting a Ukrainian position in roughly the same spot near Priles'e seen in tweet 21 (50.8792, 35.40183); unguided rocket fire; and a wire-guided FPV drone targeting infantry.

The beginning of the second video also shows what looks like the aftermath of a Krasnopol laser-guided artillery strike on a (likely abandoned) vehicle near Mar'ine (50.92285, 35.37951), possibly the UR-77 seen in tweet 10.

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Video posted 3/18 indicating the "Hateful Eight" UAV unit is also in the Demidovka area in Belgorod Oblast. This unit also operated in Kursk. (The vehicle losses shown here were already seen earlier in this thread.) 29/

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Russia's "Sever" Group of Forces and other Russian sources say Ukraine continued to attack in Belgorod Oblast today. Demidovka apparently seems to remain the main effort. 30/

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Video from Ukraine's 33rd Assault Regt (which fought in Kursk) showing a strike in Demidovka, Belgorod Obl (50.95097, 35.38998). The antenna suggests the target was command post or UAS operator station. 31/

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Footage of a Ukrainian DPICM/M30A0 GMLRS strike near Bondarev, Belgorod Oblast (50.88388, 35.52463), ~8.5 km from the border (h/t @moklasen). Dated March 19. 32/

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Video from Ukraine's 33rd Assault Regiment showing an UR-77 firing a mine-clearing charge near Priles'e, Belgorod Oblast. A shell lands near it. The track marks visible in tweets 21 & 22 above are already there, indicating this was not the first attack in this area. 33/

FYI @UAControlMap

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Forgot the coordinates: 50.87929, 35.3996 @UAControlMap

Inokhodets/Orion UCAV strike, purportedly targeting several ATVs near Petrushivka, Sumy Oblast. 35/

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Russian drone footage of Ukrainian infantry moving on foot near the Belgorod-Sumy border. 36/

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Russian soldier from 76th Air Assault Division's 234th Regiment reportedly in the Demidovka area in Belgorod Oblast, noting the threat from Ukrainian drone ISR & strikes, including thermal imaging reconnaissance UAVs that prevent the troops from heating their positions.

Forces from the 234th are known to have fought in Kursk. Unclear whether the soldier in this video was already in this area or redeployed from Kursk after the Belgorod incursion.

Video posted March 20.

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Wire-guided FPV drone strikes by 177th Regt on the abandoned Marder & tank seen in tweet 16, a T-64BV tank w/ roof screen south of Demidovka (50.93085, 35.38412), an ATV, IMR-2, another engineering vehicle near Mar'ine (50.92372, 35.38031), and a Bradley. The video also shows various other damaged/abandoned equipment, most of which has already been seen above. Reportedly occurred on March 20. 38/

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Videos from Ukraine's 17th NGU Brigade and the "Tac Team" UAS unit showing FPV drone strikes on various Russian vehicles, including an MRAP, T-72B3M tank, and a car knocked out near Priles'e, Belgorod Oblast, on or before March 19. 40/

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Inokhodets/Orion UCAV strike targeting what's claimed to be an SPH, reportedly near Naumivka, Sumy Oblast, near the Belgorod border. Looks like: 50.87591, 35.2398. 41/

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Footage from Anvar detachment indicating the strikes on the tree line seen below used Krasnopol laser-guided artillery shells. Also, longer footage of the Krasnopol strike on the vehicle seen below, which apparently missed. 42/

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Video from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces reportedly showing M30A2 GMLRS strikes targeting Russian Ka-52 and Mi-8 helicopters at a FARP near Ivnya, Belgorod Oblast (51.05479, 36.18589), ~58 km from the border. 43/

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Russian sources say that Ukrainian forces have continued attacking in Belgorod Oblast in recent days, including at Popovka & Demidovka. Footage shows UKR troops in Demidovka at 50.94212, 35.38271 (2nd video) and FPV drone strikes on UKR positions elsewhere in Demidovka at 50.94692, 35.39193 (3rd video) & 50.94608, 35.39191 (4th video). 44/

FYI @UAControlMap

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Footage of KUB & FPV drone strikes targeting the 2S22 SPH shown below prior to the UCAV strike. The "Irlandtsy" detachment, which fought in Kursk, conducted the FPV strike. 45/

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Forpost-RU UCAV strike targeting troops near the Belgorod-Sumy border at 50.92975, 35.38013. Another vehicle (Bradley?) is seen apparently abandoned next to the abandoned Bradley seen in tweets 8, 11, & 28. Posted March 22. 46/

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Forpost-RU and Inokhodets/Orion UCAV strikes reportedly in Sumy Oblast near the Belgorod border. Some of the strikes were already seen in tweets 18 & 35 above. 47/

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Analog and wire-guided FPV drone strikes reportedly in the Sumy-Belgorod border area, including by 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, which fought in Kursk. The targets included an IMR-2, the Wisent-1 MC seen in tweet 22 above, ATVs, various armored vehicles, a T-64BV tank, and other equipment. Posted March 22-23. 48/

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Further indication that forces from Russia's 155th Brigade were fighting in the Demidovka area in Belgorod Oblast as of March 22, as indicated in tweet 48 above. 49/

Russian FPV strike on an abandoned tank. Other damaged/abandoned vehicles nearby. Looks like they were returning west near Tur'ya, Sumy Obl (~50.90597, 35.3399), near where the UKR column was seen in tweet 7. Posted March 20. 50/

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Footage of wire-guided and analog FPV drone strikes by Russia's "Irlandtsy" UAS detachment, which previously fought in Kursk, targeting various equipment and infantry in the Belgorod-Sumy border area, much of which has already been seen in the thread above. Posted March 22. 51/

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A Russian spetsnaz-focused TG channel says troops from 2nd Spetsnaz Brigade, elements of which fought in Kursk, are defending the Sumy-Belgorod border. Purportedly, troops from the brigade and scouts from an unspecified motor rifle regiment defended positions near the border during Ukraine's initial attack until naval infantry arrived several days later. 52/

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Footage of severe damage to bridges in Grafovka & near Nadezhevka, Belgorod Oblast. They reportedly were struck on March 20 & 23, respectively. 53/

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Strike by an Inokhodets/Orion UCAV, reportedly near Ukop, Sumy Oblast, near the Belgorod border. 54/

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Russian TG channels say FSB border guards from Primorsky Krai were defending Popovka on Sumy-Belgorod border and took casualties when Ukraine attacked it on March 24. (One report said a few spetsnaz were there, too.) Allegedly, they were later relieved by troops from 128th Motor Rifle Brigade (44th Army Corps, previously reported to be in Vovchansk area) and supported by drone and artillery crews from 204th Akhmat Regiment's "Aida" detachment and other units. Russian sources allege that the attacking Ukrainian troops were from 8th SSO Regiment, but take with grain of salt. 55/

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Wire-guided FPV drone strikes by 204th Akhmat Regiment's "Aida" unit on an abandoned Wisent-1, reportedly in the Popovka area in Belgorod Oblast. 56/

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Ukrainian FPVs killed a Rosgvardia soldier on the Grafovka-Repyakhovka road on 3/20 and killed & wounded troops from the "Orlan" volunteer battalion in Ilek-Koshary on 3/21, per the Belgorod governor. 57/

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Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Regiment said it eliminated a deputy battalion commander from Russia’s 83rd Motor Rifle Regiment (69th MRD). Reportedly occurred in Demidovka, Belgorod Oblast, when scouts from the 225th Regiment destroyed a command post in the village, according to Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov.

Both these units fought in Kursk.

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Ukrainian FPV drone strikes by the “Requiem” SOF unit on a Russian 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled gun near Repyakhovka, Belgorod Oblast. Posted March 24.

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