Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Zen Archer (Raconteur)]

1 minute ago, Sergeant Wilson said:

Was there?

You need to get on the Morton thread, one of your sleeper agents is giving away secrets.

[Sergeant Wilson]

13 minutes ago, Zen Archer (Raconteur) said:

You need to get on the Morton thread, one of your sleeper agents is giving away secrets.

Loose lips sink ships!

[ICTChris]

Ukraine has received cluster munitions from Turkey, who produce them.  These weapons are designed to be used against heavily dug in positions and can be fired from more inaccurate artillery, the spread of the clustered munitions compensating for the lack of accuracy.

Up until about six months ago Ukraine had only used cluster munitions a handful of times in the war. Not sure how often the Turkish supplied bombs have been fired.

[TxRover]

Reports of Ukrainians in heavy fighting in and around Tokmak, which is literally halfway to the Sea of Azov from the Dnipro between Mariupol and Melitopol.

[ICTChris]

Looks like the main part of the Ukrainian offensive has begun.  Seems like there are three main areas of attack - around Bakhmut Ukrainian forces attack around the North and South of the city; towards Vuhledar in Donetsk and finally towards Tokmak and eventually Melitopol in the South.

Lots of clips coming out of Ukrainian forces pushing and also of them taking losses - this is inevitable in an offensive.  Still, quite a few of the 'Leopard tanks destoryed' clips are fake.

[welshbairn]

Couple of hints at Russian caused explosion at the Dam. I've been thinking it was more likely neglect and previous damage that led to it.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-security-service-says-it-intercepted-call-proving-russia-destroyed-2023-06-09/

https://www.jordskjelv.no/meldinger/seismic-signals-recorded-from-an-explosion-at-the-kakhovka-dam-in-ukraine?fbclid=IwAR3VPmBNZhv4IplUVmizn2Ohu9FPXeEJ43ACVeBOUd0mF4SEXmE02DEOez4

[Newbornbairn]

7 minutes ago, welshbairn said:

Couple of hints at Russian caused explosion at the Dam. I've been thinking it was more likely neglect and previous damage that led to it.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-security-service-says-it-intercepted-call-proving-russia-destroyed-2023-06-09/

https://www.jordskjelv.no/meldinger/seismic-signals-recorded-from-an-explosion-at-the-kakhovka-dam-in-ukraine?fbclid=IwAR3VPmBNZhv4IplUVmizn2Ohu9FPXeEJ43ACVeBOUd0mF4SEXmE02DEOez4

I saw something yesterday that they've actually blown a few dams in that entire area of the front so seems to be part of a plan to restrict Ukrainian routes of attack.  The Nazis did the same in Holland in 1944. 

[ICTChris]

The US has said that their spy satiellites showed an explosion before the dam breach.

Seems that there was the first damage to a Leopard in Zaporizhia, part of Ukrainian attacks.  The damaged tank survived the hit and will be repaired - a benefit of modern tanks as opposed to Soviet era equipment.  Heavy fighting in progress but Ukraine has taken several settlements and established positions on the strategic heights.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, welshbairn said:

Couple of hints at Russian caused explosion at the Dam. I've been thinking it was more likely neglect and previous damage that led to it.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-security-service-says-it-intercepted-call-proving-russia-destroyed-2023-06-09/

https://www.jordskjelv.no/meldinger/seismic-signals-recorded-from-an-explosion-at-the-kakhovka-dam-in-ukraine?fbclid=IwAR3VPmBNZhv4IplUVmizn2Ohu9FPXeEJ43ACVeBOUd0mF4SEXmE02DEOez4

The Spanish News reported that it was accidental Ukranian shelling that had weakened the damn and actually taken a small section out along the top a couple of days prior to the collapse. It then went unrepaired and as such, collapsed.

[welshbairn]

9 minutes ago, WATTOO said:

The Spanish News reported that it was accidental Ukranian shelling that had weakened the damn and actually taken a small section out along the top a couple of days prior to the collapse. It then went unrepaired and as such, collapsed.

They'd also allowed the water level upstream to rise to record breaking levels, increasing the pressure on weak points. Looks like the evidence is mounting for Russia using explosives but I don't really see what they gain by wiping out all the defences they’ve put a huge amount of effort into on the South of the river. I thought the Ukrainian shelling was back in January though. 

Edited June 9, 2023 by welshbairn

[Guest]

4 hours ago, welshbairn said:

They'd also allowed the water level upstream to rise to record breaking levels, increasing the pressure on weak points. Looks like the evidence is mounting for Russia using explosives but I don't really see what they gain by wiping out all the defences they’ve put a huge amount of effort into on the South of the river. I thought the Ukrainian shelling was back in January though. 

God knows, so much propaganda and blaming and counter blaming, ultimately it was a disaster which has caused both sides a serious headache.

[Guest]

At least 9 civilians confirmed dead from the flood. It'll make life hugely difficult for the old, the ill, the disabled, infants, pregnant women and all other vulnerable cohorts. For most folk there, their homes will've been the only economic asset they owned, for many that's now lost. Drinking water unavailable, food and medical supplies destroyed, electricity cut. The flood water contaminated with sewage, oil, fertiliser and even anthrax from animal burial sites. Civilian life, while obviously reduced significantly by the war was still ongoing, its now suspended entirely. So children not going to school, people completely cut off from each other socially, no leisure activities. Mental health toll from the trauma of it all too.

[TxRover]

1 hour ago, FreedomFarter said:

At least 9 civilians confirmed dead from the flood. It'll make life hugely difficult for the old, the ill, the disabled, infants, pregnant women and all other vulnerable cohorts. For most folk there, their homes will've been the only economic asset they owned, for many that's now lost. Drinking water unavailable, food and medical supplies destroyed, electricity cut. The flood water contaminated with sewage, oil, fertiliser and even anthrax from animal burial sites. Civilian life, while obviously reduced significantly by the war was still ongoing, its now suspended entirely. So children not going to school, people completely cut off from each other socially, no leisure activities. Mental health toll from the trauma of it all too.

And the Russians shelling people trying to evacuate…

[HoBNob]

On 07/06/2023 at 16:18, TxRover said:

It’s AP mines that are equipped this way, and it’s an anti-tamper mechanism. The use of a probe, often seen as a knife in old war movies, to find the edges of a buried mine and figure out where the fuse is is common de-mining practice…or was, 

It still is when finding a path through a minefield. 

On your belt buckle, using a needle, poking the ground to find a safe passage. 

[TxRover]

3 hours ago, Grant228 said:

It still is when finding a path through a minefield. 

On your belt buckle, using a needle, poking the ground to find a safe passage. 

The Russian use of anti-stab designs has reduced the use of this technique by de-miners…when it’s all you got, you take your chances.

[HoBNob]

9 minutes ago, TxRover said:

The Russian use of anti-stab designs has reduced the use of this technique by de-miners…when it’s all you got, you take your chances.

Has it? It isn't designed to De-mine, it's used to locate. 

[TxRover]

37 minutes ago, Grant228 said:

Has it? It isn't designed to De-mine, it's used to locate. 

The anti-stab moniker is used for some mines with either a much more easily tripped by a probe (hence the term anti-stab) design, or some form of a motion sensor added on. Basically, instead of the mild risk of probing directly onto a trigger that requires a 5-15kg activation force, the modified design makes it much easier to activate the trigger via either probing or the anti-tamper elements. It’s a deterrent to clearing, and generally also teamed with anti-overpressure elements in the trigger unit. It’s quite simply designed to resist clearance by means other than detonation as designed.

[Bairnardo]

Talking that the Russian Army are moving to take over Wagner.

Prigozhin presumably won't take kindly to this....

[TommyDickFingers]

"Whits the Tor daein' Tom"

 

[LongTimeLurker]

On 08/06/2023 at 23:44, TxRover said:

Reports of Ukrainians in heavy fighting in and around Tokmak, which is literally halfway to the Sea of Azov from the Dnipro between Mariupol and Melitopol.

Something to bear in mind is that could mean the raion (district) as well as the town itself. A village called Robotyne on the northern edge of Tokmak raion was where the frontline was a few days back and that was only a few kilometers from where the Ukrainian frontlines were before the offensive started.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokmak_Raion

 

My understanding is that the Russians have up to three fortified defence lines and lots of minefields in place so rapid progress wasn't expected initially.