🧵Despite continuous reports from OSINT groups, researchers, and even officials, based on the available to me the information I can't confirm that Russians are having critical logistical issues. Here are some major points:
1. Yes, Russians have occasional shortages of some types of ammo, but overall we continue observing significant efforts to organize logistics and move humongous numbers of supplies across entire Russia.
2. Russian logistical routes have been significantly disrupted multiple times and it forced them to change ways to deliver supplies, and how to transport them. It makes it harder to deliver, but it also makes it safer for them.
3. Because their logistical routes were disrupted, people falsely assumed that Russians are running out of ammo. This is false and factually incorrect
4. We continue to observe massive preparations of mobilized units, formations of new regiments, and other organizational units. Unlike initial mobilization, this time they are putting more effort into preparing and supplying units.
5. Russia continues the build-up of units with emphasis on offensive capabilities, compromised mostly of mobilized mixed with rotated units.
These past weeks have been very busy, and I am not able to provide weekly updates, however, I will try to get back to the casual routine as soon as the situation will allow. It would be helpful if you like this thread🇺🇦
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🧵When the video of the LNR commander beating his subordinates surfaced, some people were surprised by this attitude. Considering that, I want to share some interesting stories told by POWs, as well as from other sources, which I will publish once the war will be over
Names, geographical locations, and some details are removed for security reasons, but things that I will share are something that occurs daily. Mostly they cover the November-early December period. This might give you a glimpse of what’s going on
Story#1. A unit of freshly mobilized arrives in a town not far from the frontline. A National Guard unit comprised of ethnic Chechens came to the unit and took away any valuable equipment such as thermal scopes. Those who decided to resist were beaten.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Did you know that in Ukraine people celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December and the 7th of January? If not, this short thread might be interesting for you🧵
About 60% of believers in Ukraine associate themselves with Orthodoxy. Both Orthodox and Western Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, etc) celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, but why do many Ukrainians celebrate it on the 7th of January?
A year lasts 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 6 seconds. When the Julian calendar was created (45 BC), 5 hours were included, but 48 minutes and 6 seconds were omitted. As a result, in 1582, astronomer Aloysius Lilius noticed that the calendar "lags behind" the solar cycle.
Based on the Planet imagery dated 14.12.2022, Russians left Chaplynka airbase shortly after Ukraine pushed Russians away from Kherson in November, and the base looks almost abandoned
While Russians already evacuated their C&C center in October, they kept some helicopters, as well as armored fighting vehicles, air defense, and logistics in the airfield.
Throughout November, Russians continuously reduced their presence in the airfield, eventually reducing their presence to just a few logistical trucks and AFV.
Some people have been wondering why Russians have concentrated several brigades near a tiny town called Vuhledar, which approximately occupies only 5 square kilometers, and what makes Russians so obsessed with the idea to take it?
To understand that, we need to look at the Russian military doctrine. Railroads are a core of Russian logistics and essential to supply entire armies. It allows Russia to move large numbers of supplies and reinforcements within a relatively short period.
After the destruction of the railroad section in the Crimean bridge, Russians are facing significant logistics issues and frantically looking at possible solutions to reinforce their Southern group.
🧵After a failure to take full control of Pavlivka, Donetsk Oblast, the enemy has been building up a striking force near Vuhledar for the past few weeks, it’s unclear whether the enemy is going to start this week or is waiting for more favorable conditions.
This is an example of how Russians are using a helicopter in the Vuhledar area. Such a relatively close, direct fire indicates the insufficient AD capabilities which Russians are exploiting. They didn’t do any harm but let them celebrate
They have been using a combination of artillery, tanks, helicopters, and MLRS to target observation posts and fortified positions hoping to soften up defenses in the Vuhledar area. They are likely preparing for another doomed offensive operation.
🧵As numerous experts argue whether the era of tanks has ended, tanks continue to play a crucial role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The dismissal of tank relevance leads to flawed conclusions that Ukraine doesn’t need tanks, which only worsens the situation.
I want to emphasize that these concepts might be irrelevant in other wars or doctrines, such as the US doctrine, which is centered around air supremacy, but the current focus is Ukraine. My analysis is based on the experience of troops on the receiving end, as well as tank crews.
Poor combined arms readiness of the Russian army, cooperation and communication issues, unsatisfactory logistics, inadequate training, and incorrect strategic and tactical use of tanks led to an opinion that tanks are no longer needed