Why Sudzha axis of attack by Ukraine? A short thread.
First terrain taking the localized high ground can give them fire control over insanely critical GLOC for the 🇷🇺 Task Group North. Which will be highlighted in later tweets.
The Sudzha axis sits one of the primary rail lines that goes to Belgorod which is the main logistics depot for Task Group North in Kharkiv. Having direct fire control over this rail line shutting it down.
Economic and Energy factors, the natural gas pipeline that flows to Hungary enters Ukraine at Sudzha this line has been shut off by the Russians since the beginning of the war, though taking this junction would be a useful propaganda victory to leverage against 🇷🇺 and 🇭🇺
Defensibility the terrain in conjunction with pre-made defensives if 🇺🇦 throws its weight into this, it will be difficult to dislodge, along with once again having that fire control over a critical GLOC will degrade 🇷🇺 logistics and supplies to Task Group North in Kharkiv.
Task group North was split into 4 different smaller groups and the northernmost portion was staging at Sudzha which now puts pressure on Russia's flank for this entire task force along with severing a critical GLOC for the entire Task Force.
If 🇺🇦 throws its weight on this axis and pushes for Sudzha the logistics for the entire task group North becomes significantly strained, particularly when it comes to the movement of significant quantities of equipment and supply by the ZHV via the Russian railroads.
The Line from Oryol to Kursk was knocked offline over months ago and has been regularly by OWA-UAV's. Taking Sudzha cuts the line from Lgov to Belgorod this effectively makes the only way to supply Task Group North along a single track.
This single route left several starting points such as either comes from Bryansk or Voronezh doesn't matter where, the line bottlenecks and only option left is Bulanets to Belgorod.
Green shows single route.
Orange is offline Oryol line
Red is Lgov line
Grey old tracks.
Last note, for now you might say there's no way Russia is operating freight rail mere kilometers from the Ukrainian border and I present to you the Tsar train which at its closest point operates 5 mi from the line of contact. This line has operated for over a year.
@tom_bike always does amazing independent work. Looking at combat related fire from satellite imagery and is able to corroborate some of the mapping that has been done on alleged Ukrainian advances in Sudzha sector.
Something to also keep an eye on that's happening further south on the opposite end of the front lines trains are being attacked with fpv drones. We did see an fpv drone attack on a Russian train in Kursk in June
The rail bridge just south of Sudzha at 51.191316,35.340380 was blown up May 1st 2022 and restored by May 4th 2022 and has been operational since bringing Russian military supplies down to Belgorod
Lgov to Sudzha to Belgorod rail line is part of The Primary Railway network of former USSR. Imagine this like a Rail Interstate Highway Network connecting all of the former USSR.
Primary Railway is denoted by thicker red lines.
Blue arrow is Sudzha.
Information from @barleybird
As people are looking back for signs that may have been missed on the preparation for this offensive this convoy getting attacked might be one of them
🧐🧐 Oh Hezbollah, IRGC operatives operating with SMC well, there is one group in particular that stands out. The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria (IRFS) which was created back in January from SAA/Hezbollah/IRGC remnants in southern Syria after the fall of Assad and have not been targeted by SMC, STG, nor IDF
This also begs the question why the Israelis have not been bombing these weapon depots that are clear targets under what Israel has publicly said which is the demilitarization of Southern Syria and it also shows that there is still operational supply lines from Iran to Suwayda to Lebanon and the Syrian Coast.
There was one raid earlier in the year in Suwayda that had previously interdicted a shipment of Iranian weapons through SMC territory by the STG. Otherwise I haven't seen much actions taken previously.
From the previous raid it was shown that the SMC was receiving Iranian weapons and now we have today's weapon Depot captured which shows more Iranian weapons. So question is why is the SMC allowed to receive Iranian weapon shipments while at the same time getting Israeli weapon shipments
17 Patriots are to be included though I doubt this is 17 Batteries and may be referring to launchers and may be the 3 Batteries talked about last week which according to the reports will be arriving to Ukraine in days.
Using standard 6-launcher batteries this would be 2 full batteries and one 4 launcher battery with 1 launcher to spare or could be equal to four batteries with 4 launchers each.
Also, to all the doomers out there, these direct foreign military sales do not require Congressional approval or the petty squabblings of politicians on the hill and a foreign military sale typically does not have the same end user restrictions and strings attached that you would find in a presidential drawdown authority and you also cannot just cancel them on a whim because the day of the week ends in the letter y. Can also sell this as a win to the isolationist and say America is making money off this. The taxpayer is not being sucked dry the Europeans are doing their part to increase military spending just like you wanted.
"We tell the Ukrainians, ‘You’ve got to come to the table, and if you don’t come to the table, support from the United States will dry up.’ And we tell Putin, ‘He’s got to come to the table and if you don’t come to the table, then we’ll give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field.’”
Well looks like Trump is getting fed up with Putin.
US and Ukraine joint production of pre-cursor chemicals is massive.
For those tracking.
We are now producing gunpowder with the ukrainians.
1 Patriot Battery that we had loaned to Israel that they retired has been given to Ukraine
3 Patriot Batteries sold to Ukraine and will be purchased by Germany and Norway.
$300 Million PDA Package
Resuming ISR flights over the black Sea which had been canned after Russia shot down our drone.
Not caring or allowing Ukraine to strike targets they want in the Russian Rear.
This day in history 162 years ago Green Mountain Boys held back the Confederate high water mark at Gettysburg repulsing Pickett's Charge. What started out as 12,500 Confederates would be destroyed by Vermonter's, at the end of the charge 1,123 confederates were killed 4,019 wounded 3,750 captured.
“Glory to God! Glory to God! See the Vermonters go at it!” The 2nd Vermont Brigade, in helping to defeat Pickett’s Charge, performs one of the most complex and heroic efforts on a battlefield filled with courageous actions. These Vermonters were 9 month men meaning they signed up for only 9 months of duty. Posted in support roles until this fateful day at Gettysburg, they have seen no combat, and their enlistment is up in just a couple of weeks. Posted directly in front of Pickett’s Division (due west of their position on Cemetery Ridge), once they get close enough, the Vermonters poured in volley after volley, until, to their surprise, the Virginians move north by the flank. This is part of the Confederate plan, to concentrate forces near the Copse of Trees. The Vermonters do not know this, believing they have defeated the Confederate foe. The Confederate move north has cleared the Vermont front the flank of Pickett’s Division is now exposed. The Vermonters take a bold action they move out, perpendicular to Cemetery Ridge, to assault Pickett’s men on their flank. “Change front forward, by first Company! Forward! Half wheel, March!” The Vermonters execute this complex parade ground maneuver flawlessly. Now perpendicular to Cemetery Ridge, a blue wall reaching far out from the main Federal line, and at “half pistol range” of the densely packed Confederates, the Vermonters pour in volley after volley into the exposed and mostly unprotected flank of Pickett’s Division every shot seeming to deal death and destruction. The slaughter is tremendous. At one point Colonel Randall, Commander of the 13th Vermont, screams over the din of combat for the Confederates to just drop their arms and lie down. A Vermont Private: “Sir, you are treating them better than us!” Randall: “Their work is done but our isn’t!” As the attack culminates, Col Randall, unable to shout “cease fire!” loud enough, actually steps in front of his own men, to get them to stop firing. The Confederate Forces sent to protect Pickett’s flank, Alabamians and Floridians, have stepped off too late, out of sight in a low spot in the terrain. Approaching Cemetery Ridge south of their position, the Vermonters about face, move south and perform the same flank attack on these hapless soldiers, to devastating effect. These 9 month men, days from the end of their enlistment, in their first battle, have performed actions the envy of any seasoned Regiment. They do great damage to Pickett’s Charge, taking many prisoners, but have suffered greatly in the endeavor. “Glory to God! Glory to God! See the Vermonters go at it!” General Abner Doubleday on witnessing the Vermonters that day at Gettysburg. Painting by Michael J. Middleton
"Men of Vermont: The troops from your state have done nobly and well on the battlefields of this war. The praises of the old Vermont brigade are on every lip. We expect you to sustain the honor of your state. Today will decide whether Jefferson Davis or Abraham Lincoln rules this country. Your Colonel is about to lead you into battle where you will have hard fighting and much will be expected of you.”
- General Doubleday
General Pickett started his charge with around 12,500 men across 11 Brigades supported by 170 cannons the largest artillery bombardment in North America spread out over a mile within the course of an hour he would suffer
1,123 KIA
4,019 WIA
3,750 POW
Out of the 42 Confederate Battle Flags between 31 and 38 would be captured by the Union
Out of the around 5,000 soldiers that made it back to the Confederate rear from Pickett's charge only 800 reported for duty on July 4th the rest had deserted overnight
"With the enemy on the run, Alexander Hays took a flag and… immediately dropped his flag behind his horse and trailed it in the dust and blood of the battlefield… To General Hays and the men of his division these captured flags were but the emblems of disunion. He and the men under him could conceive no better fate than to trample them under foot and trail them in the dust as evidence of utter disdain, both for the flags and themselves for the cause they represented..."
Developing situation in Coeur D'Alene Idaho wildfire intentionally set and unknown shooter ambushing firefighters and law enforcement. At least 4 firefighters shot
I normally don't share Lord bebo content, but he posted something that I do like to talk about which is trains and my God. It's been quite a long time since we've seen an actual Russian armor train running around Ukraine, let alone near the front lines. The Russian armored train is back and it is operational in the Pokrovsk Sector to ensure Russian Military Freight gets delivered as close as possible to the Front. Without precise geolocation throwing a dart at the wall its likely near Kurakhove which is a single track track line to Donetsk unlike the line to Ocheretyne which is double track.
Zaamurets died 1931
Zaamurets reborn 2025
This specific armoured train is the Yenisei under the Central Military District.
The Yenisei train is currently made up
1) Leading flatbed platform wagon with ZU-23-2 and armoured box for crew with 4x gun slits
2) Flatbed platform wagon with BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle with camo netting and cope cage
3) CHME3-type locomotive
4) Standard Box Car to carry supplies, crew and to act as a gun car.
5) Flatbed Platform Car with another vehicle mounted with camo netting
6) Standard Box car to carry supplies, crew and to act as a gun car.
7) Second CHME3-type locomotive
8) Flatbed platform wagon with BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle with camo netting and cope cage
9) Flatbed platform wagon with ZU-23-2 and armoured box for crew with 4x gun slits