The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Tanks need crews, and experienced ones. They can have thousands of tanks in reserve but they are useless without calling up the reservists. And I have considerable doubts about the ability of those reservists to use those tanks, much less within an ATGM rich environment like Ukraine.
I think this is correct. Manpower casualties will be a bigger problem then equipment losses by far.

Thanks for explaining the details. Below is a graphic on a BTG’s vehicle fleet.
View attachment 49067
It's a useful picture, but I would treat it as more of a sample then a defining image. There are armored BTGs which have a tank btln and a m-r coy. There are VDV BTGs, and "light" BTGs where the IFV/APC component is replaced by something lighter. 2 btlns howitzer and 1 MLRS is pretty standard but we've seen variations. The chart also excludes the recon element. A BTG usually has a recon coy attached with its own vehicles. There should also be an artillery-recon element. We can also expect a separate EW element, and often a sniper element.

There's the weak spot right there in that graphic... no tractors!
Yep, the ARV component is horrifically weak. It's a traditional weakness of Soviet and Russian armed forces. There was an attempt made to remedy this in the Serdyukov area, but it was half-hearted at best.
 
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Soldier25

New Member
In the battles for the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, one of the Russian T-72B tanks withstood a hit in the upper part of the tower of the Swedish-British portable NLAW ATGM, in the attack footage, one of the nationalists of the Azov battalion shoots at a Russian T-72B tank.


The footage of the destroyed division of the S-300 air defense system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the settlement of Circuna, Kharkiv region, was published by the Russian Defense Ministry. The coordinates of the location of the S-300 air defense system of Ukraine were established with the help of electronic intelligence, after which the positions were struck by missile weapons. As a result of an accurate hit, the launchers of the S-300 air defense system and transport-loading vehicles with ammunition were destroyed.


Published footage of the calculations of the operational-tactical missile complex "Iskander-K" and the launch of the cruise missile R-500 in Ukraine. Iskander is a family of operational and tactical missile systems that has been in service with the Russian army for 15 years. Iskander is not a single missile system, but several modifications of various missiles. The basis of the Iskander-K complex is the 9K728 cruise missile, also known as the R-500, the launch of which is shown in the video. The missile has incredible accuracy, and is capable of hitting targets with an accuracy of up to two meters. Officially, the range of the R-500 missile is about 500 kilometers, but many sources believe that the actual range of the missile is 2000-2500

 

T.C.P

Well-Known Member
In the battles for the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, one of the Russian T-72B tanks withstood a hit in the upper part of the tower of the Swedish-British portable NLAW ATGM, in the attack footage, one of the nationalists of the Azov battalion shoots at a Russian T-72B tank.

I remember someone saying that this happened because the Nlaw was shot too near by, so the missile was not in its effective range, but I am no expert. Luckily this forum has several former infantry men as memebrs and hopefully they will explain it.
 

koxinga

Well-Known Member
I remember someone saying that this happened because the Nlaw was shot too near by, so the missile was not in its effective range, but I am no expert. Luckily this forum has several former infantry men as memebrs and hopefully they will explain it.
Warhead needs to be armed before it goes off. Not sure if NLAW's arming mechanism primes the warhead immediately after it leaves the tube or in this particular case, the warhead was not armed or defective.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
In the battles for the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, one of the Russian T-72B tanks withstood a hit in the upper part of the tower of the Swedish-British portable NLAW ATGM, in the attack footage, one of the nationalists of the Azov battalion shoots at a Russian T-72B tank.


The footage of the destroyed division of the S-300 air defense system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the settlement of Circuna, Kharkiv region, was published by the Russian Defense Ministry. The coordinates of the location of the S-300 air defense system of Ukraine were established with the help of electronic intelligence, after which the positions were struck by missile weapons. As a result of an accurate hit, the launchers of the S-300 air defense system and transport-loading vehicles with ammunition were destroyed.


Published footage of the calculations of the operational-tactical missile complex "Iskander-K" and the launch of the cruise missile R-500 in Ukraine. Iskander is a family of operational and tactical missile systems that has been in service with the Russian army for 15 years. Iskander is not a single missile system, but several modifications of various missiles. The basis of the Iskander-K complex is the 9K728 cruise missile, also known as the R-500, the launch of which is shown in the video. The missile has incredible accuracy, and is capable of hitting targets with an accuracy of up to two meters. Officially, the range of the R-500 missile is about 500 kilometers, but many sources believe that the actual range of the missile is 2000-2500

Thank you or sharing.
Well, at least they have destroyed the machinegun on top of the T-72B tank.... :)
I remember someone saying that this happened because the Nlaw was shot too near by, so the missile was not in its effective range, but I am no expert. Luckily this forum has several former infantry men as memebrs and hopefully they will explain it.
According to the Product Update Letter from Saab which was released in June 2015, the effective range of NLAW is 20-600 meters with a maximum firing range of 1000 meters.
 
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cdxbow

Well-Known Member
I’m not sure why you routinely accuse me of “rehashing Russian propaganda“ whenever I point out the CIA meddles with other Countries, which in many cases contributes to conflict. This is a defence forum. Surely we are allowed to discuss the causes of conflict? The issue is hardly limited to the Ukraine situation;


The CIA is even suspected of interfering with Australia’s political process;


We are in the middle of a proxy war. If we want to avoid future Wars it is important to understand how they start. Both sides will invariably blame the other but the truth inevitably lies somewhere in the middle. The West is trying to pass this off as being 100% Russia’s fault but that view ignores reality.
The war is 100% Mr Putin responsibility.

You can debate all you like who has contributed to the ongoing conflict between the West and Russia over the Ukraine in the last decade. You can blame various people, chose sides, you can do 'what ifs' or engage in viscous hand wringing, 'if only we'd ??????????'. All of which is completely irrelevant once Mr Putin escalated it to an invasion, which has killed and injured tens of thousands. It's only speculation that any action on behalf of the west would have made any difference. As I have pointed out before, Russia has continually invaded it's neighbours for centuries, irrespective of it's type of government, which suggests it's expansionist/imperial impulses run deep and are it's normal behaviour. It started well before NATO.

CIA meddling in countries is wrong, including my own, but is irrelevant to this thread, it's just a 'What-about-ism'.
 

CumbrianRover

New Member
If you can receive BBC Hard Talk, Maria Butina, Russian Duma, is being interviewed.

I think she has had lessons in how to evade telling the truth by Boris Johnson:

Only 20 soldiers are dead
Only professional soldiers
What senior soldiers have died?
The hospital was empty for a year.
I believe the official Russian press statements
Mariopol theatre? I have no facts - speculation, fabrication.

Difficult to watch.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
I’m not sure why you routinely accuse me of “rehashing Russian propaganda“ whenever I point out the CIA meddles with other Countries, which in many cases contributes to conflict. This is a defence forum. Surely we are allowed to discuss the causes of conflict? The issue is hardly limited to the Ukraine situation;


The CIA is even suspected of interfering with Australia’s political process;


We are in the middle of a proxy war. If we want to avoid future Wars it is important to understand how they start. Both sides will invariably blame the other but the truth inevitably lies somewhere in the middle. The West is trying to pass this off as being 100% Russia’s fault but that view ignores reality.
Yes the discussion of conflict causation is important, however within that discourse we have to ensure that we have evidence to support our claims. Innuendo and conspiracy theories are not part of the discourse. If people want to discuss innuendo and conspiracy theories there are plenty of other venues on the internet to do so; this Forum is not such a venue. We prefer evidence based discourse.

You ask why I call you out on spreading Russian propaganda and my answer is because you have a habit of it at present that's why. Whether you are doing it deliberately or not I don't know, but there is a lot of disinformation be thrown around by both the Russians and the CCP / PRC in support of the Russian war effort. So many people are being duped spreading such misinformation unawares.

The firing of Gough Whitlam by the then Governor General of Australia has been done to death in conspiracy theory channels for the last 47 years. It's about time certain Aussies built a bridge and got over it. Nothing they do now can change anything.

This fixation by some people on the CIA being behind all that is wrong with the world is conspiracy theory material. Kind of reminds me of the American paranoia about communism and socialism, especially during the 1950s. Yes the CIA are a pack of mongrels but it doesn't mean that they are behind every evil that is inflicted upon this world. Us Kiwis would say that the Australian Cricket Board is behind some of that evil :D
Land based NSM would diametrically change in the Black Sea, heavens, the Russians can witness armour being destroyed, however, start sinking their ships with much larger crews and that is a bad news day.

I hope it happens.
I do too, but I don't think it will because NATO won't give Putin a reason to go nuclear and the sinking of Russian ships may be just enough to cause him to nut off and cross the nuclear Rubicon. That's something none of us really don't want.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
but I don't think it will because NATO won't give Putin a reason to go nuclear and the sinking of Russian ships may be just enough to cause him to nut off and cross the nuclear Rubicon.
Before going Nuclear, one other thing to consider is those Russian fleet outside Odessa waters have enough missiles to flatten Odessa if they choose (without nuclear warheads). Also I don't know how good Russian CWIS, Shipborne SAM and counter measures on handling Western SSM (it was never been tested before). However seems so far their land based SAM doing quite good job on shooting down Ukraine missiles.

I put Odessa region, as that's practically the only Ukraine shore based left that still save to put Land Based SSM. Even some Western defense analysts agree that Russian despite the amount of resources they have committed in the war, still can be considered holding back.

If by putting Western land based system able to sink one of two Russian naval vessels, on the price the rest of Russian fleet unleash their missiles toward Odessa regions, that's something to consider upon too.

I also wondering on Ukrainian own Neptune land based SSM. They claim it is already operational (as they marketing them to SEA region), however they never use them. I suspect some of that Neptune already exists. However perhaps they holding it in case Russian Navy decided to do amphibious action to Odessa.
 

CumbrianRover

New Member
Before going Nuclear, one other thing to consider is those Russian fleet outside Odessa waters have enough missiles to flatten Odessa if they choose (without nuclear warheads). Also I don't know how good Russian CWIS, Shipborne SAM and counter measures on handling Western SSM (it was never been tested before). However seems so far their land based SAM doing quite good job on shooting down Ukraine missiles.

I put Odessa region, as that's practically the only Ukraine shore based left that still save to put Land Based SSM. Even some Western defense analysts agree that Russian despite the amount of resources they have committed in the war, still can be considered holding back.

If by putting Western land based system able to sink one of two Russian naval vessels, on the price the rest of Russian fleet unleash their missiles toward Odessa regions, that's something to consider upon too.

I also wondering on Ukrainian own Neptune land based SSM. They claim it is already operational (as they marketing them to SEA region), however they never use them. I suspect some of that Neptune already exists. However perhaps they holding it in case Russian Navy decided to do amphibious action to Odessa.
Is it not posturing?

RN ships put to sea on a regular basis ffbnw, however, mess with them and you may or may not get an interview without coffee with an Astute.

RAF knowing there maybe shorebased NSM means they have to calculate with the threat - maybe move further out to sea, escort supply vessels - looks at the RN in the Baltic this week when we put a supply ship into Estonia.

Effective defense systems complicate things!
 
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Ananda

The Bunker Group
not posturing?
I believe the Russian doing that. Basically they're screening all the Ukrainian shores not under their control. Practically they are bottling up Odessa. Somehow it works, as Ukraine (in my opinion) prematurely scuttle their own flag ship, because of that 'posturing'.

Effective defense systems complicates things!
Yes, Russian Navy I believe also calculating that Ukraine actually have some of that Neptune Land Based SSM operational. That's one of the reason I believe they are still keep some distance from Odessa.


Perhaps why Ukraine did not ask (at least in media talking) on Land Based SSM. Because they have it, but not decided to use it yet. Unless I suspect Russian Navy making Amphibious operation. I don't know, that's just my speculations, as Ukraine already talk publicly this system already operational before this war.
 
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OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
Warhead needs to be armed before it goes off. Not sure if NLAW's arming mechanism primes the warhead immediately after it leaves the tube or in this particular case, the warhead was not armed or defective.
IIRC 20 metres is the minimum arming distance for this ATGM. Normally there is an arming distance for many ATGMs, to prevent the person firing from dying.

At very short range, you want to fire unguided missiles — cheaper & just as effective (when the tactics used is correct).

Luckily this forum has several former infantry men as memebrs and hopefully they will explain it.
There are very specific anti-armour tactics taught at the school of infantry weapons — that I prefer not to detail. It is not about the missile but how it should be employed, by a commander. There are also numerous tactically different scenarios, depending on mission objective — we use a lot of simulators to train troops before they go for a confidence firing — the mistakes will be caught in training 95% of the time.

If the employment of weapons is less than optimal, the team, as subject matter experts will tell the commander. There will be GPMG gunners, company marksmen (with M110s) that are deployed to a sector and supported by a sensor operator.

For Singapore, each infantry section is armed with the Matador (replacing the Armbust), each infantry company is armed with the Spike SR (replacing the 84mm RR) & each battalion is armed with the Spike LR (replacing the MILAN).
 
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T.C.P

Well-Known Member
Mauripol Urban Combat

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/tsm685
Some great urban combat footage featuring the Kadyrov boys. Dead bodies in the video be warned, the Chechens seem to be in very high morale.
A lot of people mocking the Chechens on Western forums and calling them tik tok battalions, but they have been involved in the heavy fighting in Mauriopol, that unscripted interview of the DPR soldier had praises for the chechens. I will try to find that interview video as well

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/tslkwz More footage of the urban combat

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/tskxbw Chechens laying down a barrage of RPG and rockets. That one rocket the end, that had flames coming out of it, is a Russian themobaric version of the Nlaw, forgot its name

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/tsijla Russians handing out food to the civillians

Naval Strike
https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/tsb5mf
Russian Naval SHip launching Khaiblres

DPR ATGM attacks

Probably the best ATGM shot I have seen in a while, they hit the whole in the wall. A true needle in the thread shot!


Hitting a building with UA forces inside (alleggedly)

Another ATGM strike



Russian SEAD


Apparently taking out a Buk launcher and radar and control vehicles

Missile Strikes



The Admin building in Mykolaiv that was struck and the after math photos


Russian Anti AIr

Tor M-1 taking out an alleged TB2. We have been seeing much less videos of TB2 attacks from the UA, either the Russianwere right that they did take out most of the TB2s or the UA is following the Turkish request to not publish more videos of the TB2 in action.

Misc


A very excited man wathcing a su-25. The child like excitement in his voice is sth else.

Russian vehicle hit by mine
 

T.C.P

Well-Known Member
Somehow it works, as Ukraine (in my opinion) prematurely scuttle their own flag ship, because of that 'posturing'.
A single Khalibre from one of the Russian Navy's missile boats would have destroyed that ship. Ukraine did the right thing. A Russian missile boat taking out the Ukrainian flag ship would have made for great propaganda footage for the Russians.

It sucks losing tanks and air planes, but there is something very visceral about a ship being sunk by a missile, that would greatly demoralize the defenders and improve the morals of the attacker.
 

OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
@T.C.P, there are a lot of videos on the Chechens — some forums are calling them tik tok battalions, which is harsh — there might be tactical reasons. This is because they are at times seen just making common 3rd rate conscript mistakes — trainers will do after action reviews or yell at trainees, when these sort of mistakes are made.
 
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T.C.P

Well-Known Member
@T.C.P, there are a lot of videos on the Chechens — some forums are calling them tik tok battalions, which is harsh — there might be tactical reasons. This is because they are at times seen just making common 3rd rate conscript mistakes — trainers will do after action reviews or yell at trainees, when these sort of mistakes are made.
That and their initial videos of them singing that they would be inside Kyev in 24 hours made them look like idiots. But from all indication, they have been in the thick of things in Mauriopol.
 

OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
1. Watch this to see conscripts being f##ked by instructors for poor tactics. You can see smoke being used to get across a danger area to enter the urban area from the jungle — there is about a 3 second window to clear a danger area. The fights are not static.
(a) Later, the instructor is shouting — if you don’t have line of sight — don’t fire. Aim and shoot. BTW, ammo usage is heavy in urban warfare — don’t waste bullets that need to be resupplied.​
(b) In the middle of a fire fight, the conscripts talk about 1 person keeping watch on the enemy firing — the rest of the section do a flanking attack, over the wall in another direction — this is about how to find and fix the enemy. The decision making process here is quite poor. It’s too slow to fight a thinking enemy.​
(c) You can see these conscripts being f##ked left, right and centre. While the enemy keeps moving after firing. To find, fix and kill a moving enemy is not easy.​

…they have been in the thick of things in Mauriopol.
2. Urban warfare is very unforgiving, even if soldiers are from a well trained unit executing a competent plan. A bit of luck and good TTPs are needed, to stay in the fight.

3. If you can’t see the enemy, don’t shoot. I have no idea why the Chechens want to waste ammo to shoot at nothing.

4. This is a staged video to pretend that they are using suppressive fire to cross a danger area is one way of doing it. A more effective way is to use smoke grenades to cross the danger area. I don’t even know what sort of targets they are shooting at in the above video — if the enemy is hidden well, they would taken multiple causalities at this danger area — based on their tactics. We will see how many Chechens remain in the fight in the next 14 days. The stupid tend to die first.
 
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Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

Around Kiev.

Artillery exchanges. Location and context unclear.


Aerial footage of battle damage in Irpen'.


Russian T-72B3 destroyed near Kiev.


Ukrainian positions near Kiev, note the SHORAD (Shilka and 2XTunguskas) and a MBT.


The North.

Trophies from an alleged Russian SpN raid near Chernigov.


Russian EoD clearing roads near Chernigov.


Colonel-general Lapin, commander of Center MD, handing out awards near Chernigov.


Kharkov-Sumy.

Russian artillery taking out Ukrainian vehicles and troops near Kharkov.


Battle damage in Kharkov.


Massive explosion in Belgorod region, Russia. Ukraine has tried to struck the region several times before. Some theorize a Russian munitions dump getting hit.


Russian Hinds near Sumy.


Kherson-Nikolai-Odessa.

The city administration building of Nikolaev got hit by apparently a cruise missile. At least one of the casualties appears to be a Ukrainian service member.

.

Pantsyr-S missile booster stage floating in the water near Novaya Kahovka, likely as a result of them operating against targets in the area.


MAM-L Bayraktar munitions captured near Kherson.


Russian humanitarian aid in Kherson.


LDNR Front.

Rebel artillery firing near Popasnaya.


Alleged Ukrainian MiG-29 shot down near Kramatorsk.


Donetsk got hit by Ukrainian strikes.


Assorted footage, Mar'inka. The town is the site of heavy fighting between rebel and Ukrainian forces.


LNR area, abandoned BRDM-2, apparently Ukrainian.


Russian helos over rebel areas.


S. Ossetian fighters in DNR lands.


Russian BMP-3s near Volnovakha. This appears to be a single Russia element riding BMP-3s. No sign of MBTs either. Possibly a symbolic force to reassure the rebels.


Rebel technicals.


Assorted footage, Donbass.


Rebel artillery and mortars, location and context unclear.


Mariupol'.

Chechen fighter getting first aid. Warning graphic footage of injuries.


Mortar shelling, Mariupol'.


Rebel fighters in action, Mariupol'.


Russian and rebel forces assaulting the Azov rgt base in Mariupol'.


TOS-1 rolling through Mariupol' near a destroyed MBT.


Battle damage in Mariupol'.


Tochka missile fragments in Mariupol'.


Ukrainian Novator armored car captured in Mariupol'.


We have messy and unconfirmed reports from the Russian side indicating that attempts may have been made by Ukraine to get someone important out of Mariupol'. Allegedly a Ukrainian Hip was shot down over the Azov Sea and Ukrainian forces have allegedly painted markings for helo landings inside the Azovstal' industrial complex.


Russian tanker assaulting Mariupol' says their tank got hit by an RPG, they all survived, got a different tank and are back in action.


Rebel fighters raise the DNR flag over the Kal'mius area of Mariupol'.


Aerial shots of Ukrainian and then Russian forces in Mariupol'.


Russian Chechen National Guard in Mariupol'.


Russian and rebel forces in Mariupol', assorted footage.


Assorted footage, Mariupol'.


A likely rebel T-64BV in Mariupol'.


Misc.

Allegedly Ukrainian Grads destroyed. Given that they're loaded full of rockets, it's quite realistic that they were literally ripped to pieces.


Allegedly Ukrainian Grads destroyed by Russian strikes.


Ukrainian IFV taken out by a Russian strike, location and context unclear.


Ukrainian BMP destroyed, location and context unclear.


Ukrainian positions destroyed by shellings, location and context unclear.


Ukrainian arty positions after a near-miss of counter-battery fire. Context and location unclear.


Russian Mi-28Ns operating over Ukraine.


Russian strike on Ukrainian vehicles parked somewhere.


Russian UAV operator directing Grad fire.


Aerial combat over Ukraine, context and location unclear.


Russian Orlan-10 over Ukraine.


Captured Ukrainian S-300 TEL, allegedly taken to Crimea.


There's unconfirmed info that Russia has concentrated masses of additional military equipment near Ukraine. One possible explanation is a second echelon to the invasion. The other is replacements for casualties.


Russian up-armored Tigr-M. Location and context unclear.

 
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