A thread ( longest so far, hang on )
/1
The battle for Antonov International Airport, Ukraine.
By Sture Fredheim|Dec 22, 2023
36 hours that demolished the Kremlin's plans to conquer all of Ukraine through UDAR (Operational Shock).
"Sture has impressive and up-to-date knowledge of the Russian Armed Forces and the war in Ukraine, which he also presents in an interesting and educational way. His deep knowledge is also enough to be able to hold interesting discussions even with highly qualified personnel. As a former head of the army, I received regular reports from Sture, which broadened my picture of the situation and perception of the war. This article about the battle at the Antonov airport gave me in-depth knowledge and a more nuanced picture of the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Listen to Sture, his knowledge is unique, deep and important".
Karl L E Engelbrektson
Swedish Major General/ Major General
December 12, 2023
“What you saw, high up on the ridge, was a terrifying giant. The very thing that gave the giant his size was also the source of his greatest weakness. There is an important lesson in this, for battles against all kinds of giants. The mighty and the strong are not always what they appear to be.”
Malcolm Gladwell
Author's foreword
It is extremely difficult to get a clear and accurate picture of the events at Antonov Airport on February 24 and 25, 2022. The sources are scarce, many are not verifiable, the time information and distance information differ greatly and most factual information is, as a rule, grossly exaggerated.
Both sides and their sympathizers want to portray the fight for the airport as superhuman and heroic. Rather, it is the case that whoever made the fewest mistakes wins the battle. This article is based on a variety of international reports which have then been weighed against military technical and tactical realities. Some information may of course have been misinterpreted and the battle may have unfolded differently but I have tried to get as close to the truth as possible.
The choice to depict this particular battle is simple because it influenced the further development of the entire war. History repeats itself, there is a clear similarity with operation "Market Garden" September 1944, both battles sprung from the hubris of the leader, substandard and misinterpreted intelligence, underestimation of the enemy and that the mechanized relieving main force is delayed by narrow passages and unexpectedly strong resistance.
“Above all, we should recognize that the collapse of the #Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical disaster of the century. As for the #Russian nation, it became a genuine trauma. Tens of millions of our citizens and compatriots were suddenly outside Russian territory".
From that moment, the rhetoric from the Kremlin is filled with statements that cannot be misinterpreted: Ukrainians and Belarusians are referred to as Russians' "younger brothers", referring to the fact that Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are in fact "one people". President Putin has also said in repeated public contexts that "Kiev is the mother of all Russian cities".
The rhetoric is the basis for motivating and preparing the Russian population for what is to come: On the one hand, the annexation of Crimea (2014), the invasion and the low-scale war of eastern Ukraine, mainly in the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk (2014 – 2022), on the other hand the full-scale the invasion of #Ukraine (2022).
The key to Kyiv
Antonov International Airport (also known as Hostomel or Gostomel Airport, IATA designation GML), is an industrial test and cargo airport owned by Antonov, (which is part of UkrOboronProm State Concern, the group is owned by the Ukrainian state). The runway was also used by the Ukrainian Air Force.
/1
The battle for Antonov International Airport, Ukraine.
By Sture Fredheim|Dec 22, 2023
36 hours that demolished the Kremlin's plans to conquer all of Ukraine through UDAR (Operational Shock).
"Sture has impressive and up-to-date knowledge of the Russian Armed Forces and the war in Ukraine, which he also presents in an interesting and educational way. His deep knowledge is also enough to be able to hold interesting discussions even with highly qualified personnel. As a former head of the army, I received regular reports from Sture, which broadened my picture of the situation and perception of the war. This article about the battle at the Antonov airport gave me in-depth knowledge and a more nuanced picture of the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Listen to Sture, his knowledge is unique, deep and important".
Karl L E Engelbrektson
Swedish Major General/ Major General
December 12, 2023
“What you saw, high up on the ridge, was a terrifying giant. The very thing that gave the giant his size was also the source of his greatest weakness. There is an important lesson in this, for battles against all kinds of giants. The mighty and the strong are not always what they appear to be.”
Malcolm Gladwell
Author's foreword
It is extremely difficult to get a clear and accurate picture of the events at Antonov Airport on February 24 and 25, 2022. The sources are scarce, many are not verifiable, the time information and distance information differ greatly and most factual information is, as a rule, grossly exaggerated.
Both sides and their sympathizers want to portray the fight for the airport as superhuman and heroic. Rather, it is the case that whoever made the fewest mistakes wins the battle. This article is based on a variety of international reports which have then been weighed against military technical and tactical realities. Some information may of course have been misinterpreted and the battle may have unfolded differently but I have tried to get as close to the truth as possible.
The choice to depict this particular battle is simple because it influenced the further development of the entire war. History repeats itself, there is a clear similarity with operation "Market Garden" September 1944, both battles sprung from the hubris of the leader, substandard and misinterpreted intelligence, underestimation of the enemy and that the mechanized relieving main force is delayed by narrow passages and unexpectedly strong resistance.
“Above all, we should recognize that the collapse of the #Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical disaster of the century. As for the #Russian nation, it became a genuine trauma. Tens of millions of our citizens and compatriots were suddenly outside Russian territory".
From that moment, the rhetoric from the Kremlin is filled with statements that cannot be misinterpreted: Ukrainians and Belarusians are referred to as Russians' "younger brothers", referring to the fact that Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are in fact "one people". President Putin has also said in repeated public contexts that "Kiev is the mother of all Russian cities".
The rhetoric is the basis for motivating and preparing the Russian population for what is to come: On the one hand, the annexation of Crimea (2014), the invasion and the low-scale war of eastern Ukraine, mainly in the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk (2014 – 2022), on the other hand the full-scale the invasion of #Ukraine (2022).
The key to Kyiv
Antonov International Airport (also known as Hostomel or Gostomel Airport, IATA designation GML), is an industrial test and cargo airport owned by Antonov, (which is part of UkrOboronProm State Concern, the group is owned by the Ukrainian state). The runway was also used by the Ukrainian Air Force.
/2
The airport is located in the north-western suburbs of #Kiev, just over 26 km from the Mariinskyi Palace (the President's residence in the center of the city). The concrete runway has a length of 3,500 meters and a width of 56 meters. The landscape is flat and open surrounded by suburbs of Kiev: #Hostomel in the south, #Blystavytsia in the west and #Ozera in the northeast. To the west of the airport is hilly terrain that is wooded.
The location is of great strategic importance to an invasion force as the long, rugged airstrip so close to Ukraine's capital, Kiev, makes it an important bridgehead for airlifting in equipment, soldiers and supplies.
The location was considered so important that CIA director William Burns personally traveled to Ukraine at the end of January -22 and briefed Kyryto Budanov, the head of Ukraine's intelligence service. Several other intelligence services warned of attacks on the Antonov airport in particular, including the head of #Estonia's intelligence service, Margo Grosberg.
The plan for the "Special Military Operation".
Russia's plan to conquer Ukraine was to quickly take control of Kiev (and thus all of Ukraine) within 72 hours. A "Coup De Main" (An offensive operation based on surprise, air supremacy and simultaneously executing active measures, to achieve success, in one swift blow.) Active measures included covertly knocking out important structural war-promoting functions and key personnel such as political, administrative and military leaders. These were recorded on the HVTL, (High Value Target List, soft targets), where the actions were to assassinate, kidnap or otherwise put the people out of action, while key functions would be sabotaged, blocked or destroyed.
- Executive infiltrators were appointed from various Russian organizations such as: SSO (Special Operations Forces, Kubinka-2, Moscow), Directorate "C" "Smerch" (affiliated with the FSB, Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation) and elements of the 45th Separate Guards Spetsnaz Brigade (linked to the GRU from Kubinka, Moscow).
The points on the HVTL were to be executed immediately before or during the start of the invasion.
An active choice in the original plan was not to destroy infrastructure in Ukraine as it would be needed intact when the conquest of the country would transition to administration.
The plan was drawn up not by the Russian General Staff, which had been the norm, but by the security service, the FSB. President Putin also refers to the plan as a "special military operation".
Antonov Airport forms a hub for the entire operation against Kiev. Due to its strategic location, much manpower and equipment could be quickly brought into Kiev via an airlift from the interior of Russia. This is to ensure the advance of the main force in Kiev.
The plan also explains why parts of Russia's National Guard (Rosgvardija) were among the invading troops against Kiev, their task was not as combatants but as a police force to keep order in the planned, quickly occupied Ukraine.
History:
Russia had 169,000 to 190,000 troops deployed on Ukraine's border before the invasion.
The invasion plan is according to the principle of UDAR, which is a term in the Russian art of war that would most closely be described as Operative shock, it is a high-risk plan which at the same time, if successful, gives a great reward.
- The plan is to make a quick main thrust at the heart of the Ukrainian leadership while large maneuver forces push deep into the country towards a number of major cities to create a paralysis of the Ukrainian armed forces. Within Soviet and Russian history, the methodology has been used successfully a number of times:
Operation Danube, Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. Where Ruzyne International Airport, outside Prague plays an important role.
The airport is located in the north-western suburbs of #Kiev, just over 26 km from the Mariinskyi Palace (the President's residence in the center of the city). The concrete runway has a length of 3,500 meters and a width of 56 meters. The landscape is flat and open surrounded by suburbs of Kiev: #Hostomel in the south, #Blystavytsia in the west and #Ozera in the northeast. To the west of the airport is hilly terrain that is wooded.
The location is of great strategic importance to an invasion force as the long, rugged airstrip so close to Ukraine's capital, Kiev, makes it an important bridgehead for airlifting in equipment, soldiers and supplies.
The location was considered so important that CIA director William Burns personally traveled to Ukraine at the end of January -22 and briefed Kyryto Budanov, the head of Ukraine's intelligence service. Several other intelligence services warned of attacks on the Antonov airport in particular, including the head of #Estonia's intelligence service, Margo Grosberg.
The plan for the "Special Military Operation".
Russia's plan to conquer Ukraine was to quickly take control of Kiev (and thus all of Ukraine) within 72 hours. A "Coup De Main" (An offensive operation based on surprise, air supremacy and simultaneously executing active measures, to achieve success, in one swift blow.) Active measures included covertly knocking out important structural war-promoting functions and key personnel such as political, administrative and military leaders. These were recorded on the HVTL, (High Value Target List, soft targets), where the actions were to assassinate, kidnap or otherwise put the people out of action, while key functions would be sabotaged, blocked or destroyed.
- Executive infiltrators were appointed from various Russian organizations such as: SSO (Special Operations Forces, Kubinka-2, Moscow), Directorate "C" "Smerch" (affiliated with the FSB, Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation) and elements of the 45th Separate Guards Spetsnaz Brigade (linked to the GRU from Kubinka, Moscow).
The points on the HVTL were to be executed immediately before or during the start of the invasion.
An active choice in the original plan was not to destroy infrastructure in Ukraine as it would be needed intact when the conquest of the country would transition to administration.
The plan was drawn up not by the Russian General Staff, which had been the norm, but by the security service, the FSB. President Putin also refers to the plan as a "special military operation".
Antonov Airport forms a hub for the entire operation against Kiev. Due to its strategic location, much manpower and equipment could be quickly brought into Kiev via an airlift from the interior of Russia. This is to ensure the advance of the main force in Kiev.
The plan also explains why parts of Russia's National Guard (Rosgvardija) were among the invading troops against Kiev, their task was not as combatants but as a police force to keep order in the planned, quickly occupied Ukraine.
History:
Russia had 169,000 to 190,000 troops deployed on Ukraine's border before the invasion.
The invasion plan is according to the principle of UDAR, which is a term in the Russian art of war that would most closely be described as Operative shock, it is a high-risk plan which at the same time, if successful, gives a great reward.
- The plan is to make a quick main thrust at the heart of the Ukrainian leadership while large maneuver forces push deep into the country towards a number of major cities to create a paralysis of the Ukrainian armed forces. Within Soviet and Russian history, the methodology has been used successfully a number of times:
Operation Danube, Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. Where Ruzyne International Airport, outside Prague plays an important role.
/3
Operation Storm-333, the Soviet Union's storming of the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, with Kabul International Airport becoming a hub.
Operation Pristina Russia occupies Pristina International Airport, Kosovo, Serbia.
Operation Crimea, Russia's annexation of Crimea, where Simferopol International Airport became the bridgehead.
The plan for the invasion of Ukraine is a departure from the new generation of warfare launched and introduced by Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov in 2013 and very successfully used during the annexation of Crimea. The doctrine assigns the use of non-military means a value as great as 4:1 and means in brief:
"For each target and for each specific occasion, a tailor-made solution is chosen that can contain any ingredients from the toolbox that Russia has at its disposal, which provides a complex Multi-Vector-Hybrid-Warfare situation, where Non-Traditional Means are integrated with and supported of Traditional Conventional Military Resources which in turn are both protected by a Nuclear Weapons Umbrella”.
The plan instead became an echo of the old traditional Soviet warfare.
Ukraine
Ukraine had 196,600 soldiers and 102,000 paramilitaries available for defense before the invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky was criticized for being too slow to respond to the Russian upload despite Western warnings. Ukraine's military reserve was called in as late as the day before the invasion
Since the air war has had such a large direct impact on the outcome of the war, Ukraine's air defense is specifically highlighted here.
- At the time of the invasion, Ukraine had the largest ground-based radar-guided air defense network in Europe, a legacy of the Soviet Union.
The air defense consisted of: Three brigades and two regiments of S-300PS/PT (SA-10 Grumble), one brigade of S-300V1s (SA-12 Gladiator), two brigades of Buk-M1s (SA-11 Gadfly), some modernized S-125 system (SA-3 Goa) and a mix of 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko) short-range anti-aircraft systems, with refurbished 9K330 Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet).
Also MANPADs, (Man-Portable Air-Defense), portable anti-aircraft robot, partly Russian 9K38 Igla (SA-18 Grouse), partly added Western Stinger and Starstreak. The air defense network, combined with the skill of the operators, made it arguably the most lethal that the Russian Air Force had ever encountered. Hence the upcoming passivity and absence of the Russian air forces in terms of support and protection for the ground offensive, CAS, (Close air support).
On February 21, the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Valery Zaluzhnny sent a message on all social media addressed to Russia:
“You are attacking us with a force advantage of 14:1 but we will not meet you with flowers but with weapons in our hands. Welcome to Hell” It became part of the psychological defense because the Ukrainians went out and put up signs everywhere saying “Welcome to Hell”.
Preparations for the defense of the airport are initially slow because the defenders were prevented from entering by the company that owned the airfield, Antonov, only on February 23 could the preparations be started.
(The former head of Antonov, his deputy and the head of airport security are suspected of preventing the Ukrainian military from securing the Antonov airport, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). SBU investigators determined that from January to February 2022, the suspects deliberately prohibited the Ukrainian military to build defensive fortifications and barriers around the airport. The people are in prison awaiting sentencing.)
Operation Storm-333, the Soviet Union's storming of the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, with Kabul International Airport becoming a hub.
Operation Pristina Russia occupies Pristina International Airport, Kosovo, Serbia.
Operation Crimea, Russia's annexation of Crimea, where Simferopol International Airport became the bridgehead.
The plan for the invasion of Ukraine is a departure from the new generation of warfare launched and introduced by Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov in 2013 and very successfully used during the annexation of Crimea. The doctrine assigns the use of non-military means a value as great as 4:1 and means in brief:
"For each target and for each specific occasion, a tailor-made solution is chosen that can contain any ingredients from the toolbox that Russia has at its disposal, which provides a complex Multi-Vector-Hybrid-Warfare situation, where Non-Traditional Means are integrated with and supported of Traditional Conventional Military Resources which in turn are both protected by a Nuclear Weapons Umbrella”.
The plan instead became an echo of the old traditional Soviet warfare.
Ukraine
Ukraine had 196,600 soldiers and 102,000 paramilitaries available for defense before the invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky was criticized for being too slow to respond to the Russian upload despite Western warnings. Ukraine's military reserve was called in as late as the day before the invasion
Since the air war has had such a large direct impact on the outcome of the war, Ukraine's air defense is specifically highlighted here.
- At the time of the invasion, Ukraine had the largest ground-based radar-guided air defense network in Europe, a legacy of the Soviet Union.
The air defense consisted of: Three brigades and two regiments of S-300PS/PT (SA-10 Grumble), one brigade of S-300V1s (SA-12 Gladiator), two brigades of Buk-M1s (SA-11 Gadfly), some modernized S-125 system (SA-3 Goa) and a mix of 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko) short-range anti-aircraft systems, with refurbished 9K330 Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet).
Also MANPADs, (Man-Portable Air-Defense), portable anti-aircraft robot, partly Russian 9K38 Igla (SA-18 Grouse), partly added Western Stinger and Starstreak. The air defense network, combined with the skill of the operators, made it arguably the most lethal that the Russian Air Force had ever encountered. Hence the upcoming passivity and absence of the Russian air forces in terms of support and protection for the ground offensive, CAS, (Close air support).
On February 21, the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Valery Zaluzhnny sent a message on all social media addressed to Russia:
“You are attacking us with a force advantage of 14:1 but we will not meet you with flowers but with weapons in our hands. Welcome to Hell” It became part of the psychological defense because the Ukrainians went out and put up signs everywhere saying “Welcome to Hell”.
Preparations for the defense of the airport are initially slow because the defenders were prevented from entering by the company that owned the airfield, Antonov, only on February 23 could the preparations be started.
(The former head of Antonov, his deputy and the head of airport security are suspected of preventing the Ukrainian military from securing the Antonov airport, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). SBU investigators determined that from January to February 2022, the suspects deliberately prohibited the Ukrainian military to build defensive fortifications and barriers around the airport. The people are in prison awaiting sentencing.)
/4
The preparations, for the 300 maintenance soldiers from the National Guard led by Major Vitalii Rudenko had been assigned the task of defending the airfield, did not have time to be that extensive, a number of vehicles were displayed as obstacles on the runway and fighting positions were assigned, essentially 20 men were allocated for the defense of the radar installation at the northern end of the runway and the rest were grouped in the southern part of the runway, at the airport buildings and at the barracks area.
The soldiers were transported every day at 05.00 to their grouping area from their temporary base south of the airport, this to avoid elimination in the event of a possible pre-emptive attack. Within the area was a grouped 15.5 cm howitzer battalion, northwest and northeast of Kiev, which was prepared to support the defending soldiers at/around the Antonov airport, the airport was well within range of the pieces.
The winter in Ukraine so far during the year had been unusually mild and gray, a few days had been below freezing, otherwise almost a little spring warmth with up to plus ten degrees.
- A consequence of the unusually warm winter was that the ground was not frozen enough to support tanks and other vehicles, which meant that invading mechanized units could not leave the roads but were forced to remain on hard-made roadways no matter what.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
The Ukrainians woke up to another gray day, the sun rose at 6.52 but was completely obscured by a thick cloud cover and ground fog, it was completely windless and two plus degrees.
03.40 local time (Ukraine).
- The fighting began in Luhansk Oblast near Milove, a small Ukrainian village on the border with Russia, with artillery shelling and armored thrusts.
03.40 – 04.40 Local time (Ukraine).
The main force starts its advance from its starting formations on the borders of Belarus/Ukraine and Russia/Ukraine, consisting of mechanized units on both sides of the Dnieper River.
On the west side of the Dnieper, four brigades of around 15,000 to 20,000 men from the 29th, 35th and 36th Combined Armies, Tactical Identification Mark "V", led by the commander of the Eastern Military District, in addition, units from the National Guard participated.
On the eastern side of the Dnieper, two divisions of 20,000 to 24,000 men from the 41st Army and the 90th Guards Tank Division, Tactical Mark "O", led by the head of the Central Military District, in addition, units from the National Guard participated.
Towards Kharkiv with parts of units from the 1st Guards Tank Army, 20th Guards Army and 6th Army, Tactical insignia "Z in a square", led by the Chief of the Western Military District.
Towards Mykolaiv and Odessa with elements of units from the 8th Guards Army, the 49th Army and the 58th Army, Tactical Identification Mark "Z", led by the Chief of the Southern Military District.
04.50 local time (Ukraine).
- President #Putin appears on TV and announces that #Russia has begun a special military operation against Ukraine. In his speech, Putin claimed that there were no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory and that he supported the Ukrainian people's right to self-determination.
Putin also stated that Russia sought the "demilitarization and de-Nazification" of Ukraine. He further said that "any responsibility for any bloodshed will rest entirely on the conscience of the regime that rules the territory of Ukraine". At the same time, Putin warns all other countries to interfere in the conflict, in case of possible interference "It would have consequences so great that they have never been seen before".
The preparations, for the 300 maintenance soldiers from the National Guard led by Major Vitalii Rudenko had been assigned the task of defending the airfield, did not have time to be that extensive, a number of vehicles were displayed as obstacles on the runway and fighting positions were assigned, essentially 20 men were allocated for the defense of the radar installation at the northern end of the runway and the rest were grouped in the southern part of the runway, at the airport buildings and at the barracks area.
The soldiers were transported every day at 05.00 to their grouping area from their temporary base south of the airport, this to avoid elimination in the event of a possible pre-emptive attack. Within the area was a grouped 15.5 cm howitzer battalion, northwest and northeast of Kiev, which was prepared to support the defending soldiers at/around the Antonov airport, the airport was well within range of the pieces.
The winter in Ukraine so far during the year had been unusually mild and gray, a few days had been below freezing, otherwise almost a little spring warmth with up to plus ten degrees.
- A consequence of the unusually warm winter was that the ground was not frozen enough to support tanks and other vehicles, which meant that invading mechanized units could not leave the roads but were forced to remain on hard-made roadways no matter what.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
The Ukrainians woke up to another gray day, the sun rose at 6.52 but was completely obscured by a thick cloud cover and ground fog, it was completely windless and two plus degrees.
03.40 local time (Ukraine).
- The fighting began in Luhansk Oblast near Milove, a small Ukrainian village on the border with Russia, with artillery shelling and armored thrusts.
03.40 – 04.40 Local time (Ukraine).
The main force starts its advance from its starting formations on the borders of Belarus/Ukraine and Russia/Ukraine, consisting of mechanized units on both sides of the Dnieper River.
On the west side of the Dnieper, four brigades of around 15,000 to 20,000 men from the 29th, 35th and 36th Combined Armies, Tactical Identification Mark "V", led by the commander of the Eastern Military District, in addition, units from the National Guard participated.
On the eastern side of the Dnieper, two divisions of 20,000 to 24,000 men from the 41st Army and the 90th Guards Tank Division, Tactical Mark "O", led by the head of the Central Military District, in addition, units from the National Guard participated.
Towards Kharkiv with parts of units from the 1st Guards Tank Army, 20th Guards Army and 6th Army, Tactical insignia "Z in a square", led by the Chief of the Western Military District.
Towards Mykolaiv and Odessa with elements of units from the 8th Guards Army, the 49th Army and the 58th Army, Tactical Identification Mark "Z", led by the Chief of the Southern Military District.
04.50 local time (Ukraine).
- President #Putin appears on TV and announces that #Russia has begun a special military operation against Ukraine. In his speech, Putin claimed that there were no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory and that he supported the Ukrainian people's right to self-determination.
Putin also stated that Russia sought the "demilitarization and de-Nazification" of Ukraine. He further said that "any responsibility for any bloodshed will rest entirely on the conscience of the regime that rules the territory of Ukraine". At the same time, Putin warns all other countries to interfere in the conflict, in case of possible interference "It would have consequences so great that they have never been seen before".
/5
05.00 local time (Ukraine).
- Extensive electronic jamming (EW) attacks, both airborne, sea and ground, are launched to disrupt and damage defensive radars and anti-aircraft installations while extensive air decoys, to mislead/saturate/identify target guidance for the anti-aircraft defenses, are employed.
Almost all civilian/military communications were disrupted, both SATCOM and the cellular network, as well as the global navigation satellite systems and control of UAVs. Here it is assessed that Russian EW platforms still did not reach their full potential.
05.07 local time (Ukraine).
- The preemptive action begins, approximately 180 cruise missiles and ballistic missiles were launched from sea, air, and land-based launch systems along with combat air operations. The fight was concentrated on a prepared HVTL, (High Value Target List) which included, among other things, radar installations, anti-aircraft positions, C2-Infrastructure, ammunition storage, fuel storage, troop concentrations and flights on the ground/airfield. The objective was above all to achieve air supremacy.
Most of the mobile military elements were out-located from their regular groupings to avoid elimination. The result after the first 48 hours was: 75% of stationary Ukrainian air defense installations were hit, 10% of mobile tactical air defense equipment was hit.
A significant proportion of the air defense infrastructure survived but was unable to mount a coordinated defense. Instead, it largely delivered pop-up attacks against Russian airlines. In general, the list of selected targets was in many cases incorrect, out of date and static which meant a relatively low effectiveness of the prevention, which would turn out to have disastrous consequences as the goal of absolute air supremacy could not be fulfilled and which in turn meant greatly reduced air support to attacking troops, CAS, (Close air support).
06.30 local time (Ukraine).
Two cruise missiles (3M14 Kalibr) hit the airport, the first missed the soldiers' barracks (which were evacuated) for the National Guard and instead hit the training ground, the second hit in front of a high-rise in the absolute vicinity of the airport. The shelling, without effect on the target (Airport).
06.48 local time (Ukraine).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued Decree No. 64/2022 on the imposition of martial law throughout Ukraine.
08.00 local time (Ukraine).
- In the dim light of dawn, a large group of Russian helicopters took off from Bobrovichi Military Airfield, 16 km northeast of Kalinovichi, Belarus, bound for Antonov International Airport, Ukraine, it was 188 km to the target, as the crow flies, making the tactical flight distance 260 km, the operational flight time was calculated at 120 minutes. (The flight is conducted as low level/combat trail.)
08.56 local time (Ukraine).
- The border between Belarus and Ukraine is crossed at the southernmost point of Belarus. After the border crossing, the transport flight turns into tactical transport flight in double column with escort at the front, at the rear and on the flanks, divided into several echelons.
(The flight is carried out as Contour/Combat Cruise.) At the front and rear of the formation, a total of ten Kamov K-52s Alligator, attack helicopters flew, otherwise four Mil Mi-24s Hind, Attack helicopters, four Mil Mi-28s Havoc, attack helicopters participated as flank protection and sixteen Mil Mi-8s, Hip, transport helicopters (Cargo capacity, 24 men).
- In the transport helicopters was a VDV elite force consisting of elements of the 11th Guards Airborne Assault Brigade, from Ulan-Ude, Eastern Military District and elements of the 31st Guards Airborne Assault Brigade, which is a rapid response force, from Ulyanovsk, Central Military District, a total of three companies of just over 300 men.
05.00 local time (Ukraine).
- Extensive electronic jamming (EW) attacks, both airborne, sea and ground, are launched to disrupt and damage defensive radars and anti-aircraft installations while extensive air decoys, to mislead/saturate/identify target guidance for the anti-aircraft defenses, are employed.
Almost all civilian/military communications were disrupted, both SATCOM and the cellular network, as well as the global navigation satellite systems and control of UAVs. Here it is assessed that Russian EW platforms still did not reach their full potential.
05.07 local time (Ukraine).
- The preemptive action begins, approximately 180 cruise missiles and ballistic missiles were launched from sea, air, and land-based launch systems along with combat air operations. The fight was concentrated on a prepared HVTL, (High Value Target List) which included, among other things, radar installations, anti-aircraft positions, C2-Infrastructure, ammunition storage, fuel storage, troop concentrations and flights on the ground/airfield. The objective was above all to achieve air supremacy.
Most of the mobile military elements were out-located from their regular groupings to avoid elimination. The result after the first 48 hours was: 75% of stationary Ukrainian air defense installations were hit, 10% of mobile tactical air defense equipment was hit.
A significant proportion of the air defense infrastructure survived but was unable to mount a coordinated defense. Instead, it largely delivered pop-up attacks against Russian airlines. In general, the list of selected targets was in many cases incorrect, out of date and static which meant a relatively low effectiveness of the prevention, which would turn out to have disastrous consequences as the goal of absolute air supremacy could not be fulfilled and which in turn meant greatly reduced air support to attacking troops, CAS, (Close air support).
06.30 local time (Ukraine).
Two cruise missiles (3M14 Kalibr) hit the airport, the first missed the soldiers' barracks (which were evacuated) for the National Guard and instead hit the training ground, the second hit in front of a high-rise in the absolute vicinity of the airport. The shelling, without effect on the target (Airport).
06.48 local time (Ukraine).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued Decree No. 64/2022 on the imposition of martial law throughout Ukraine.
08.00 local time (Ukraine).
- In the dim light of dawn, a large group of Russian helicopters took off from Bobrovichi Military Airfield, 16 km northeast of Kalinovichi, Belarus, bound for Antonov International Airport, Ukraine, it was 188 km to the target, as the crow flies, making the tactical flight distance 260 km, the operational flight time was calculated at 120 minutes. (The flight is conducted as low level/combat trail.)
08.56 local time (Ukraine).
- The border between Belarus and Ukraine is crossed at the southernmost point of Belarus. After the border crossing, the transport flight turns into tactical transport flight in double column with escort at the front, at the rear and on the flanks, divided into several echelons.
(The flight is carried out as Contour/Combat Cruise.) At the front and rear of the formation, a total of ten Kamov K-52s Alligator, attack helicopters flew, otherwise four Mil Mi-24s Hind, Attack helicopters, four Mil Mi-28s Havoc, attack helicopters participated as flank protection and sixteen Mil Mi-8s, Hip, transport helicopters (Cargo capacity, 24 men).
- In the transport helicopters was a VDV elite force consisting of elements of the 11th Guards Airborne Assault Brigade, from Ulan-Ude, Eastern Military District and elements of the 31st Guards Airborne Assault Brigade, which is a rapid response force, from Ulyanovsk, Central Military District, a total of three companies of just over 300 men.
/6
In order to avoid radar, the flight was conducted as tactical low flight (The flight is conducted as Contour/Combat Cruise.), height <10 m (Which more than halves the flight speed) above the water surface along the Dnieper River/Kiev Dam (Power plant dam of the Dnieper, 5 to 10 km wide).
- The Russian jamming units managed to paralyze Ukraine's ears and eyes, almost all C2 (Command and Control), GPS and radar communications in the strike area stopped working which meant that the strike force flies completely frictionless and remains undetected.
For the defenders, the lack of opportunity to communicate via radio/mobile phone meant that orders had to be handed over by means of ordinances.
09.52 local time (Ukraine).
- The airline goes into attack formation. At the Kyiv hydroelectric plant, located in Vyshhorod north of Kyiv, the helicopters were discovered by a Ukrainian National Guard guard force that immediately began firing on the helicopter force with small arms and some MANPADs, the firefight becomes intense between the attackers and the defenders, the expeditionary force suffers its first casualties, losing an Alligator and a Hind helicopter, both crashed, one in the river and one on the river bank.
The battle delays the attack on the airport. The airline banks to the west and then has about 8 minutes left to the destination.
Reinforcement force of 1,000 VDV soldiers from the 76th Guards Airborne Attack Division starts the flight from Pskov, Russia in 18 Ilyushin IL-76, Candid, transport plane
10.05 local time (Ukraine).
- The attack helicopters of the expeditionary force split into two formations (The flight is carried out as Nap of the earth/Combat Spread.) to attack from: The northern end of the runway with attack helicopters, flying in a northern arc via Rakivka and towards the southern end of the runway with transport helicopters and attack helicopters, flying in a southern arc via Hostamel for the landing of the VDV soldiers.
The helicopter force is also supported by a number of units from the Russian Air and Space Defense Forces, with the Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer and Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot aircraft types attacking the defense positions around the airfield with their missiles and Gatling guns.
The airport's fuel depot is set on fire and black smoke covers parts of the field. The aircraft that were lined up on the plate were destroyed.
- The Ukrainian defenders, despite warnings, were surprised and somewhat taken aback by the intensity, speed and firepower of the Russian attack on the airfield and its immediate surroundings. Despite the massive display of superiority, the defenders offered a formidable resistance from the first moment.
10.15 local time (Ukraine).
- A lone National Guard soldier, Sergiy Fatalyk rushes out onto the airstrip armed with the 9K38 Igla, MANPAD, developed in the 70s and manages to hit a Kamov K-52s Alligator attack helicopter from behind which crashes straight down the airstrip. One of the world's most advanced attack helicopters fell victim to a 50-year-old weapon.
The incident had great significance for the self-confidence of the defending soldiers.
My sword may be short – but it is long enough to pierce your heart” – Unknown Spartan Soldier.
10.25 local time (Ukraine).
- Air landings begin in the southern part of the airfield, 3 rounds of six Mil Mi-8s, Hip, transport helicopters landing within an area of 300 by 400 meters, the companies land together in each round. Although the airfield's defenders forced the Russian attack helicopters to withdraw and cease fire support for the Russian ground forces, the Russian Air Force still managed to land all of its VDV soldiers.
- During the battle, several Russian helicopters are shot down and, among other things, a Mil Mi-28s Havoc is damaged, which is rendered inoperable and unable to take off from the scene, the VDV soldiers blow up the helicopter itself so that it would not fall into enemy hands.
In order to avoid radar, the flight was conducted as tactical low flight (The flight is conducted as Contour/Combat Cruise.), height <10 m (Which more than halves the flight speed) above the water surface along the Dnieper River/Kiev Dam (Power plant dam of the Dnieper, 5 to 10 km wide).
- The Russian jamming units managed to paralyze Ukraine's ears and eyes, almost all C2 (Command and Control), GPS and radar communications in the strike area stopped working which meant that the strike force flies completely frictionless and remains undetected.
For the defenders, the lack of opportunity to communicate via radio/mobile phone meant that orders had to be handed over by means of ordinances.
09.52 local time (Ukraine).
- The airline goes into attack formation. At the Kyiv hydroelectric plant, located in Vyshhorod north of Kyiv, the helicopters were discovered by a Ukrainian National Guard guard force that immediately began firing on the helicopter force with small arms and some MANPADs, the firefight becomes intense between the attackers and the defenders, the expeditionary force suffers its first casualties, losing an Alligator and a Hind helicopter, both crashed, one in the river and one on the river bank.
The battle delays the attack on the airport. The airline banks to the west and then has about 8 minutes left to the destination.
Reinforcement force of 1,000 VDV soldiers from the 76th Guards Airborne Attack Division starts the flight from Pskov, Russia in 18 Ilyushin IL-76, Candid, transport plane
10.05 local time (Ukraine).
- The attack helicopters of the expeditionary force split into two formations (The flight is carried out as Nap of the earth/Combat Spread.) to attack from: The northern end of the runway with attack helicopters, flying in a northern arc via Rakivka and towards the southern end of the runway with transport helicopters and attack helicopters, flying in a southern arc via Hostamel for the landing of the VDV soldiers.
The helicopter force is also supported by a number of units from the Russian Air and Space Defense Forces, with the Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer and Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot aircraft types attacking the defense positions around the airfield with their missiles and Gatling guns.
The airport's fuel depot is set on fire and black smoke covers parts of the field. The aircraft that were lined up on the plate were destroyed.
- The Ukrainian defenders, despite warnings, were surprised and somewhat taken aback by the intensity, speed and firepower of the Russian attack on the airfield and its immediate surroundings. Despite the massive display of superiority, the defenders offered a formidable resistance from the first moment.
10.15 local time (Ukraine).
- A lone National Guard soldier, Sergiy Fatalyk rushes out onto the airstrip armed with the 9K38 Igla, MANPAD, developed in the 70s and manages to hit a Kamov K-52s Alligator attack helicopter from behind which crashes straight down the airstrip. One of the world's most advanced attack helicopters fell victim to a 50-year-old weapon.
The incident had great significance for the self-confidence of the defending soldiers.
My sword may be short – but it is long enough to pierce your heart” – Unknown Spartan Soldier.
10.25 local time (Ukraine).
- Air landings begin in the southern part of the airfield, 3 rounds of six Mil Mi-8s, Hip, transport helicopters landing within an area of 300 by 400 meters, the companies land together in each round. Although the airfield's defenders forced the Russian attack helicopters to withdraw and cease fire support for the Russian ground forces, the Russian Air Force still managed to land all of its VDV soldiers.
- During the battle, several Russian helicopters are shot down and, among other things, a Mil Mi-28s Havoc is damaged, which is rendered inoperable and unable to take off from the scene, the VDV soldiers blow up the helicopter itself so that it would not fall into enemy hands.
/7
The remaining Russian helicopters are returning to their bases in Belarus.
- The airborne VDV soldiers equipped with only small arms, 8 cm grenade launchers and portable anti-tank weapons 9K111 Fagot were mercilessly at their mercy, the flat airfield offered neither protection nor cover.
They did have air support from some Su-25 frogfoot, but with only 300 soldiers, the task of controlling this large air base and its surroundings was an overwhelming task. They relied on reinforcements from Pskov to land soon and fought valiantly to secure that landing, moreover the estimated arrival time of the main mechanized force was 12:00 which gave hope that they would succeed in their enterprise.
The truth is that the VDV companies would not receive any rescue from their own units during the next 20 hours.
11.30 local time (Ukraine).
- #Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on his citizens to fight and be ready to defend the country in any way. Kiev would hand out weapons to anyone who wanted to participate in the defense of the city.
11.41 local time (Ukraine).
- The 18 transport aircraft with the VDV reinforcement force are deemed unable to land at the Antonov airport due to heavy shelling and partially damaged runway. The aircraft is ordered to change course and fly to Gomel airport in #Belarus.
13.00 local time (Ukraine).
- The Russian airborne soldiers take control of the entire airport.
Despite heavy shelling from the defenders of the airport, which was also supported by an artillery battalion and units from the Ukrainian Air Force, which included, among other things, Sukhoi Su-24MR, Fencer, reconnaissance aircraft Sukhoi Su-24M, Fencer, bomber, and Sukhoi Su-25, Frogfoot, attack aircraft, the Russian soldiers managed to capture the airport after several hours of fighting, however, the heavy shelling of the airport had caused extensive damage to the runway.
A Pyrrhic victory for Russia both personally, materially and above all in missed goal fulfillment. (To quickly conquer the runway intact)
The defending force, the brave 300 from the 4th Rapid Action Brigade, ("Rubizh"), the National Guard is forced to retreat when the ammunition ran out. They use minor roads and manage to get to safety with limited losses.
The 20 soldiers defending the radar station were captured by the Russian soldiers.
Immediately after the capture of the airfield, the Russians began a clean-up of the runway and attempts to repair damaged parts of the runway, this turned out to be impossible because the Russian soldiers were constantly exposed to shelling partly from ground troops, partly from artillery and also aircraft.
14.00 local time (Ukraine).
- Realizing the danger of a Russian bridgehead at Antonov Airport being established, Ukrainian General Valery Zaluzhny then ordered the 72nd Mechanized Brigade under Colonel Oleksandr Vdovychenko to hastily organize a counterattack with all available units.
Ukraine's heavy 72nd Mechanized Brigade arrives at the airport after its march from its home base, Bila Tserkva 100 km south of Kiev and exit groups for assault
15.00 local time (Ukraine).
- The 72nd Mechanized Brigade, along with the Georgian National Legion, elements of the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade, elements of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade, Alpha Group (SBU) and Civilian volunteers, succeed in completely encircling the airport.
15.30 local time (Ukraine).
- President Volodymyr Zelensky orders his troops who surrounded the airport to drive out the enemy and destroy it.
17.30 local time (Ukraine).
- The counterattack by the Ukrainian forces besieging the airport begins.
Ukrainian artillery units and aviation units with su-24 bombers, begin destruction of the runway.
21.00 local time (Ukraine).
The remaining Russian helicopters are returning to their bases in Belarus.
- The airborne VDV soldiers equipped with only small arms, 8 cm grenade launchers and portable anti-tank weapons 9K111 Fagot were mercilessly at their mercy, the flat airfield offered neither protection nor cover.
They did have air support from some Su-25 frogfoot, but with only 300 soldiers, the task of controlling this large air base and its surroundings was an overwhelming task. They relied on reinforcements from Pskov to land soon and fought valiantly to secure that landing, moreover the estimated arrival time of the main mechanized force was 12:00 which gave hope that they would succeed in their enterprise.
The truth is that the VDV companies would not receive any rescue from their own units during the next 20 hours.
11.30 local time (Ukraine).
- #Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on his citizens to fight and be ready to defend the country in any way. Kiev would hand out weapons to anyone who wanted to participate in the defense of the city.
11.41 local time (Ukraine).
- The 18 transport aircraft with the VDV reinforcement force are deemed unable to land at the Antonov airport due to heavy shelling and partially damaged runway. The aircraft is ordered to change course and fly to Gomel airport in #Belarus.
13.00 local time (Ukraine).
- The Russian airborne soldiers take control of the entire airport.
Despite heavy shelling from the defenders of the airport, which was also supported by an artillery battalion and units from the Ukrainian Air Force, which included, among other things, Sukhoi Su-24MR, Fencer, reconnaissance aircraft Sukhoi Su-24M, Fencer, bomber, and Sukhoi Su-25, Frogfoot, attack aircraft, the Russian soldiers managed to capture the airport after several hours of fighting, however, the heavy shelling of the airport had caused extensive damage to the runway.
A Pyrrhic victory for Russia both personally, materially and above all in missed goal fulfillment. (To quickly conquer the runway intact)
The defending force, the brave 300 from the 4th Rapid Action Brigade, ("Rubizh"), the National Guard is forced to retreat when the ammunition ran out. They use minor roads and manage to get to safety with limited losses.
The 20 soldiers defending the radar station were captured by the Russian soldiers.
Immediately after the capture of the airfield, the Russians began a clean-up of the runway and attempts to repair damaged parts of the runway, this turned out to be impossible because the Russian soldiers were constantly exposed to shelling partly from ground troops, partly from artillery and also aircraft.
14.00 local time (Ukraine).
- Realizing the danger of a Russian bridgehead at Antonov Airport being established, Ukrainian General Valery Zaluzhny then ordered the 72nd Mechanized Brigade under Colonel Oleksandr Vdovychenko to hastily organize a counterattack with all available units.
Ukraine's heavy 72nd Mechanized Brigade arrives at the airport after its march from its home base, Bila Tserkva 100 km south of Kiev and exit groups for assault
15.00 local time (Ukraine).
- The 72nd Mechanized Brigade, along with the Georgian National Legion, elements of the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade, elements of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade, Alpha Group (SBU) and Civilian volunteers, succeed in completely encircling the airport.
15.30 local time (Ukraine).
- President Volodymyr Zelensky orders his troops who surrounded the airport to drive out the enemy and destroy it.
17.30 local time (Ukraine).
- The counterattack by the Ukrainian forces besieging the airport begins.
Ukrainian artillery units and aviation units with su-24 bombers, begin destruction of the runway.
21.00 local time (Ukraine).
/8
- After several hours of intense fighting, the Ukrainian forces manage to dislodge the remaining Russian VDV soldiers who regroup to the forest west of the airport.
Ukraine's president orders general mobilization and bans all men aged 18-60 from leaving the country
Friday, February 25, 2022
- In the morning, the second day of the war, thick clouds rest in the sky over Kiev, there is ground fog and no wind, with a temperature of plus 2 degrees. Emotionally and physically a particularly cold and unpleasant morning. During the night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has published several different videos on social media, which are widely distributed.
A video is titled "don't believe the fakes" where Zelensky surrounded by several of his ministers shows that he is still in Kiev. The clip was shot outside the Mariinskyi Palace in central Kiev” I'm here. We are not laying down our arms. We will defend our country, because our weapon is the truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this, Enough is enough. That's all I wanted to tell you.
Glory to Ukraine”. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky's response to the US government offering help to evacuate the family from Kiev was spread “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not shots”. The effect that these appearances have had on the development of the war, the people's confidence in their leader and the collective willingness of the Western countries to help cannot be overestimated, it is in many ways absolutely decisive for Ukraine's continued success.
01:00 to 05:00 local time (Ukraine)
- The main Russian force advancing on the west side of the Dnieper had a theoretical driving distance of 126 km to reach the airport, which gives a tactical driving time of just over 8 hours, which means a planned ETA of 12.00.
- But the force ran into difficulties through Chernobyl and Ivankiv, ending up in combat that significantly delayed the units. The main force reaches the edge of the airfield late at night/morning and takes up positions to attack the airfield.
06:00 to 18:00 local time (Ukraine)
- The Ukrainians knew that the Russian mechanized forces were approaching from the north and that they themselves lacked sufficient combat power to hold the airfield, so they withdrew.
The main Russian force together with an airborne force recapture the Antonov airfield.
The attack is extended to include the entire city of Hostomel.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry initially denied that the airport had been fully captured by Russian forces, stating that it had "changed hands" and that fighting was ongoing.
- The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense declared that the airfield was too badly damaged to be used by Russian troops.
Later in the day, Ukraine confirmed that Russian forces had taken control of the airport.
The author is a reserve officer at the Bohuslän Regiment, the Lapland Hunter Regiment and the Livregementet's hussars. He is active as a lecturer and advisor in, among other things, intelligence services, threat analysis, risk management and background checks.
#Sweden
Epilog comes later this evening
#SlavaUkrayinikkrva.se/striden-om-ant…
- After several hours of intense fighting, the Ukrainian forces manage to dislodge the remaining Russian VDV soldiers who regroup to the forest west of the airport.
Ukraine's president orders general mobilization and bans all men aged 18-60 from leaving the country
Friday, February 25, 2022
- In the morning, the second day of the war, thick clouds rest in the sky over Kiev, there is ground fog and no wind, with a temperature of plus 2 degrees. Emotionally and physically a particularly cold and unpleasant morning. During the night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has published several different videos on social media, which are widely distributed.
A video is titled "don't believe the fakes" where Zelensky surrounded by several of his ministers shows that he is still in Kiev. The clip was shot outside the Mariinskyi Palace in central Kiev” I'm here. We are not laying down our arms. We will defend our country, because our weapon is the truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this, Enough is enough. That's all I wanted to tell you.
Glory to Ukraine”. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky's response to the US government offering help to evacuate the family from Kiev was spread “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not shots”. The effect that these appearances have had on the development of the war, the people's confidence in their leader and the collective willingness of the Western countries to help cannot be overestimated, it is in many ways absolutely decisive for Ukraine's continued success.
01:00 to 05:00 local time (Ukraine)
- The main Russian force advancing on the west side of the Dnieper had a theoretical driving distance of 126 km to reach the airport, which gives a tactical driving time of just over 8 hours, which means a planned ETA of 12.00.
- But the force ran into difficulties through Chernobyl and Ivankiv, ending up in combat that significantly delayed the units. The main force reaches the edge of the airfield late at night/morning and takes up positions to attack the airfield.
06:00 to 18:00 local time (Ukraine)
- The Ukrainians knew that the Russian mechanized forces were approaching from the north and that they themselves lacked sufficient combat power to hold the airfield, so they withdrew.
The main Russian force together with an airborne force recapture the Antonov airfield.
The attack is extended to include the entire city of Hostomel.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry initially denied that the airport had been fully captured by Russian forces, stating that it had "changed hands" and that fighting was ongoing.
- The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense declared that the airfield was too badly damaged to be used by Russian troops.
Later in the day, Ukraine confirmed that Russian forces had taken control of the airport.
The author is a reserve officer at the Bohuslän Regiment, the Lapland Hunter Regiment and the Livregementet's hussars. He is active as a lecturer and advisor in, among other things, intelligence services, threat analysis, risk management and background checks.
#Sweden
Epilog comes later this evening
#SlavaUkrayinikkrva.se/striden-om-ant…
/9
Epilogue
March 25, 2022
- Russia's deputy defense minister announces that Russian forces would be withdrawn from the Kiev area, including the abandonment of Hostomel airport.
March 28, 2022
- Satellite images show that no Russian forces remain inside the airport.
March 30, 2022
Ukrainian forces have retaken control of the airport following the large-scale Russian withdrawal along the Kiev axis. In their hasty retreat, Russian troops destroyed much of their own equipment, while other equipment was captured intact by the Ukrainians.
April 1, 2022
- The Russian forces have completely withdrawn from Hostomel, giving up their goal of capturing Kiev and thus winning the war quickly.
Sense morality
How could it go so catastrophically wrong for the "special military operation" Of decisive importance was surely the fact that Russia, through pressure from China, was forced to postpone the day of the invasion in view of the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing.
- Through the forced delay, parts of the element of surprise were lost at the same time as the Russian troops were forced to spend an unnecessarily long time grouped together, which reduced the fighting value of the soldiers. In addition, Ukraine was given more time for preparations, which, among other things, led to the regrouping and spreading out of units and equipment, which meant that they managed to avoid meeting during the pre-emptive action.
In addition, there were too many wrong decisions initially during the invasion, while the Russian soldier did not receive any information, and thus one had approached...
Epilogue
March 25, 2022
- Russia's deputy defense minister announces that Russian forces would be withdrawn from the Kiev area, including the abandonment of Hostomel airport.
March 28, 2022
- Satellite images show that no Russian forces remain inside the airport.
March 30, 2022
Ukrainian forces have retaken control of the airport following the large-scale Russian withdrawal along the Kiev axis. In their hasty retreat, Russian troops destroyed much of their own equipment, while other equipment was captured intact by the Ukrainians.
April 1, 2022
- The Russian forces have completely withdrawn from Hostomel, giving up their goal of capturing Kiev and thus winning the war quickly.
Sense morality
How could it go so catastrophically wrong for the "special military operation" Of decisive importance was surely the fact that Russia, through pressure from China, was forced to postpone the day of the invasion in view of the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing.
- Through the forced delay, parts of the element of surprise were lost at the same time as the Russian troops were forced to spend an unnecessarily long time grouped together, which reduced the fighting value of the soldiers. In addition, Ukraine was given more time for preparations, which, among other things, led to the regrouping and spreading out of units and equipment, which meant that they managed to avoid meeting during the pre-emptive action.
In addition, there were too many wrong decisions initially during the invasion, while the Russian soldier did not receive any information, and thus one had approached...
/10
Overall strategic mistakes
- There are many misdecisions, made at the absolute highest military command, that alone are sufficient to fail entire battles. If the wrong decisions occur together, the effect is catastrophic.
Russian military commanders have historically had a tendency to amplify their own failures (Contemporary examples of this are the battle for Avdiivka, a strategically/tactically unimportant city where the Russians continue to press despite heavy losses).
Below are some examples of factors that contributed to Russia's obvious underperformance on the battlefield:
A large dose of hubris and politically correct associates clouded the judgment of the Kremlin leadership.
Overestimation of own abilities and underestimation of Ukraine's capabilities.
Incorrect and substandard intelligence gathering that leads to wrong analysis and thus to counterproductive intelligence products, such as initial IPB & HVTL, (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield & High Value Target List).
- Departure from proven war planning through the General Staff, to letting the FSB, Fifth Directorate unilaterally design the war plan. (Immediately after the inauspicious beginning of the war, there is a great purge of the Fifth Directorate and its head Sergey Beseda was imprisoned)
Poor or non-existent communication of the war plan to the executive military units, at all levels. The delivery of the war plan was also far too late. (Many did not receive information until the Ukrainian border was crossed)
Initially, there was no responsible manager appointed for the overall operation, …
Specific operational mistakes
Russia's deviation from current doctrine, operational practice and normal soldiering knowledge is striking.
- Initially, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine shows a great anomaly in the execution of its operational art of war. Some of the most war-decisive mistakes were:
The airborne force lacked units for ABEK, artillery combat, which allowed the Ukrainian artillery units to operate completely unhindered against the Antonov airport.
- As a result, the airborne forces were delayed in capturing the airfield, but most importantly failed to secure the airfield from destruction.
The airborne forces lacked MANPADS units to combat aircraft carriers, which allowed the Ukrainian Air Force relatively undisturbed to combat ground targets and participate in the destruction of the airstrip.
Pre-emption was inadequate and many targets were fought unnecessarily as Ukraine had evacuated and dispersed its forces. Knocking out the Ukrainian Air Defense and Air Force failed. Initially, some success was achieved in achieving local air supremacy, but already after a few hours, control of Ukrainian airspace was lost. The battle for the airport and what happened afterwards shows how important it is to achieve and maintain air supremacy.
The total failure of the special forces and infiltrators to neutralize selected key individuals and key functions is remarkable. When such large resources invested in gray zone operations, which can still be considered a Russian specialty, do not yield any significant dividends, Ukraine's intelligence and security organization SBU has made a fantasy...
Overall strategic mistakes
- There are many misdecisions, made at the absolute highest military command, that alone are sufficient to fail entire battles. If the wrong decisions occur together, the effect is catastrophic.
Russian military commanders have historically had a tendency to amplify their own failures (Contemporary examples of this are the battle for Avdiivka, a strategically/tactically unimportant city where the Russians continue to press despite heavy losses).
Below are some examples of factors that contributed to Russia's obvious underperformance on the battlefield:
A large dose of hubris and politically correct associates clouded the judgment of the Kremlin leadership.
Overestimation of own abilities and underestimation of Ukraine's capabilities.
Incorrect and substandard intelligence gathering that leads to wrong analysis and thus to counterproductive intelligence products, such as initial IPB & HVTL, (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield & High Value Target List).
- Departure from proven war planning through the General Staff, to letting the FSB, Fifth Directorate unilaterally design the war plan. (Immediately after the inauspicious beginning of the war, there is a great purge of the Fifth Directorate and its head Sergey Beseda was imprisoned)
Poor or non-existent communication of the war plan to the executive military units, at all levels. The delivery of the war plan was also far too late. (Many did not receive information until the Ukrainian border was crossed)
Initially, there was no responsible manager appointed for the overall operation, …
Specific operational mistakes
Russia's deviation from current doctrine, operational practice and normal soldiering knowledge is striking.
- Initially, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine shows a great anomaly in the execution of its operational art of war. Some of the most war-decisive mistakes were:
The airborne force lacked units for ABEK, artillery combat, which allowed the Ukrainian artillery units to operate completely unhindered against the Antonov airport.
- As a result, the airborne forces were delayed in capturing the airfield, but most importantly failed to secure the airfield from destruction.
The airborne forces lacked MANPADS units to combat aircraft carriers, which allowed the Ukrainian Air Force relatively undisturbed to combat ground targets and participate in the destruction of the airstrip.
Pre-emption was inadequate and many targets were fought unnecessarily as Ukraine had evacuated and dispersed its forces. Knocking out the Ukrainian Air Defense and Air Force failed. Initially, some success was achieved in achieving local air supremacy, but already after a few hours, control of Ukrainian airspace was lost. The battle for the airport and what happened afterwards shows how important it is to achieve and maintain air supremacy.
The total failure of the special forces and infiltrators to neutralize selected key individuals and key functions is remarkable. When such large resources invested in gray zone operations, which can still be considered a Russian specialty, do not yield any significant dividends, Ukraine's intelligence and security organization SBU has made a fantasy...
11/11
#Ukraine️
The rearmament of Ukraine's defenses started immediately after the annexation of Crimea. The preparations with training, equipment and intelligence material from the West were of great importance, it was a completely different opponent Russia faced in 2022 compared to 2014.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's leadership has been instrumental in keeping the nation united and resilient during an extremely difficult time. He plays a decisive role in the fact that the war did not end in total defeat after just one week.
Many of the Western intelligence services were unequivocal in their judgment when fighting broke out, that it was only a matter of hours before Ukraine would fall.
The President's courage and determination have not only inspired the Ukrainians to stand united around him and defend Ukraine, but also united the Western countries to stand in solidarity with Ukraine, making the prophecies fall and the Western countries now see a formidable force that can change the entire world order. His role in the war will undoubtedly…
The strength of mission tactics is illustrated by Ukraine, where the actions of individual commanders, soldiers and citizens have a direct decisive influence on the outcome of the war. Together with motivation and a willingness to sacrifice, the odds are leveled against an enemy many times stronger. It becomes even clearer when Russia, with poor motivation and low willingness to sacrifice, reverts to command tactics and becomes stagnant waiting for orders.
Glory to Ukraine.
“The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemy's”.
Napoleon Bonaparte
The Academy of Military Sciences was founded in 1796 by Gustav Wilhelm af Tibell with the task of seeking, creating and disseminating knowledge about #Sweden's security and defence. The Tibellska fonden was established to support the Academy's publishing activities.
#Ukraine️
The rearmament of Ukraine's defenses started immediately after the annexation of Crimea. The preparations with training, equipment and intelligence material from the West were of great importance, it was a completely different opponent Russia faced in 2022 compared to 2014.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's leadership has been instrumental in keeping the nation united and resilient during an extremely difficult time. He plays a decisive role in the fact that the war did not end in total defeat after just one week.
Many of the Western intelligence services were unequivocal in their judgment when fighting broke out, that it was only a matter of hours before Ukraine would fall.
The President's courage and determination have not only inspired the Ukrainians to stand united around him and defend Ukraine, but also united the Western countries to stand in solidarity with Ukraine, making the prophecies fall and the Western countries now see a formidable force that can change the entire world order. His role in the war will undoubtedly…
The strength of mission tactics is illustrated by Ukraine, where the actions of individual commanders, soldiers and citizens have a direct decisive influence on the outcome of the war. Together with motivation and a willingness to sacrifice, the odds are leveled against an enemy many times stronger. It becomes even clearer when Russia, with poor motivation and low willingness to sacrifice, reverts to command tactics and becomes stagnant waiting for orders.
Glory to Ukraine.
“The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemy's”.
Napoleon Bonaparte
The Academy of Military Sciences was founded in 1796 by Gustav Wilhelm af Tibell with the task of seeking, creating and disseminating knowledge about #Sweden's security and defence. The Tibellska fonden was established to support the Academy's publishing activities.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
