[CNN] The general leading Ukraine’s counteroffensive along the southern front line says his forces have broken through in Verbove – and predicts an even bigger breakthrough to come.
“On the left flank [near Verbove] we have a breakthrough and we continue to advance further,” Oleksandr Tarnavsky told CNN Senior International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen during an interview on Friday, though he conceded his troops were moving slower than anticipated.
“Not as fast as it was expected, not like in the movies about the Second World War,” he said. “The main thing is not to lose this initiative (that we have). And, well, not to lose it in practice, with actions.”
The general’s claim is the latest indication by Ukrainian officials that inroads are being made on the southern front in the war with Russia.
Ukrainian forces claimed in recent weeks to have penetrated the “first line” of Russian strongholds in the Zaporizhzia region, in a sign that Kyiv was edging closer to Moscow’s sprawling network of fortified trenches along the southern front.
Russian-appointed officials in occupied Zaporizhzhia have given a different picture of the fighting. CNN is unable to verify the battlefield reports of either side. However, open-source analysis of available video suggests that some Ukrainian units have crossed through an important line of Russian defenses near the village of Verbove.
Ukraine’s long-term goal is to break Russia’s “land bridge,” which links territory it holds in the east with annexed Crimea.
Ukrainian servicemen conduct a reconnaissance mission on September 7.
At the beginning of September Ukrainian forces said they had taken the village of Robotyne and were pushing east toward the village of Novoprokopivka. Soldiers said they expected battles for control of high ground to the south and east of the village as they approached the next layer of Russian defenses. Verbove is a few miles east from Robotyne.
However, Tarnavsky told CNN he believed the big breakthrough of the counteroffensive would be if Ukraine could take Tokmak, a strategic hub for Russia, which is its first major target in its fight in the south.
CNN reported earlier this week that the Ukrainian forces were still some 20 kilometers from Tokmak, struggling to break through the multiple layers of Russian defenses.
“I believe yes [there will be a big breakthrough],” Tarnavsky said. “I think it will happen after Tokmak. At the moment (the Russians) are relying on the depth of their defensive line there.”
Rather than the ‘Surovikin line’ – a defensive line built on the orders of former General Sergey Surovikin, while he was in charge of Russian forces in Ukraine – Tarnavsky says the bigger issues are the “crossroads, tree lines and minefields between the tree lines.”
Oleksandr Tarnavsky is pictured during an interview with CNN.
“[There’s] a combination of small harmful enemy defense groups that currently are planted very precisely and competently,” he said. “But the actions of our fighters force them to slowly pull back when they face our assault squads.”
The general conceded that for the counteroffensive to be a success, Ukrainian forces need to at least reach the city of Tokmak.
“Tokmak is the minimum goal,” he said. “The overall objective is to get to our state borders.”
[TheDrive] Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov opens up about the ongoing counteroffensive, attacks inside Russia, warnings about Abrams tank usage and much more.
The first time I met Kyrylo Budanov, commander of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and the mastermind of many a thorn in Russia's side, was in November 2021. He was a young brigadier general, largely unknown beyond the borders of his homeland, where he was a special operations hero who was thrice wounded fighting the Russians since 2014. We sat down on couches in the middle of a busy Washington D.C. hotel lobby and he laid out how Russia was about to attack Ukraine as visitors milled about unaware of the heady discussion taking place. His prediction, which included a battle map, would prove prophetic just three months later.
Budanov, who reached out to me last week asking if I wanted to meet up with him during an otherwise secret trip to D.C., is now one of the world’s most famous sitting generals. He is the architect of the constant asymmetrical operations against Ukraine's great foe, Russia, and has become the subject of numerous stories, including interviews with The War Zone, and ubiquitous memes (more on that later).
[NYT at DNYUZ] They are made of plastic or plastic foam, weigh only a few pounds and are often launched simply by having a soldier throw them into the air, as if tossing a javelin.
In a slow-moving counteroffensive against Russian forces that has been reliant at times on the smallest advantages, a fleet of cheap, mostly off-the-shelf drones is providing one for the Ukrainians.
The drones have begun to make a difference in one corner of a stagnant war, soldiers, commanders and pilots said in interviews, because their different materials and variable frequencies can evade enemy jamming systems. That has allowed them to venture farther in searches for enemy artillery positions and multimillion-dollar air defense systems, all while risking aircraft worth only a few thousand dollars apiece.
Along one of their two main Ukrainian lines of advance in the south, they say, the Russian Army has been forced to move its howitzers out of range of Ukraine’s guns, as drone pilots have adapted well enough to regularly evade Russian electronic jamming systems that had been spotting them reliably earlier in the war.
#1
Cheap (500-1000 USD) drones with a $300 RPG attached is a real problem moving forward. The militaries will adapt, but there is a 5 year gap between a full solution and destruction.
#3
Frankly, the whole aspect of humans involved in warfare should be under review. Drones are just a part of the robotics that will be decisive in the wars to come.
#6
The first time I remember seeing the true effectiveness of the DJI type weaponized drones was in Mosul 9-10 years ago...and then observed it again a couple of years later in the US as the Cartels were using them to fly into US prisons to supply their leaders inside with cellphones/narcotics... This is not a new problem. It is biting the Russians within their borders in Moscow and other strategic areas. It is biting us now in our prisons, borders, and is looming in other strategic areas. My point is it ain't just a problem for the Russians and Ukrainians - it is here in the US and has been for awhile.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] The enemy supplies by rail.
by Iryna Lysohor
In the area of Klishchiivka, which was liberated by the Defense Forces five days ago , heavy fighting continues. In particular, the head of the press service of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ilya Yevlash, said on the air of Radio Liberty (Svoboda.Ranok) near the railway, which the Russians use to receive supplies.
He said that the railway is under constant artillery fire - both from the Defense Forces and the occupiers. At the same time, the Russians do not completely control the railway.
"It cannot be said that they directly and completely control the railway. That is what we are now trying to establish in order to completely repel the occupiers from any direction of progress in this direction, and the railway was ours," he said.
Earlier, Yevlash announced that the Bakhmut-Horlivka road was under fire control, which made logistics difficult for the enemy. The Russians also made supplies along this route.
In the afternoon of September 17, the first reports appeared about the liberation of Klishchiivka, Donetsk region, by defenders. In the evening, these data were confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Fighters of the "Lyut" National Police Brigade, together with soldiers of the 80th ODSHBr and 5th OSHBr, as a result of heavy fighting, drove out the Russian occupiers and returned the Ukrainian flag to the liberated Klishchiivka. This settlement was captured by the enemy in January 2023, in particular by the forces of the "Wagner group".
Yevlash explained that the liberation of this settlement created a bridgehead for the Armed Forces of Ukraine , which will allow for the development of a further offensive.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 21:07 Canada will provide long-term assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 650 million Canadian dollars (approximately 482.6 million US dollars), calculated for three years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Part of the money will go towards the construction of 50 armored vehicles and 50 ambulances. Canada will also send its instructors and technicians to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16.
20:03 Zelensky said that he had “fruitful as always” negotiations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Among the main issues are Ukraine's defense needs, continued financial and humanitarian support, economic and investment cooperation.
19:52 Zaluzhny said that he had a telephone conversation with the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, and discussed the situation at the front, the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, especially in terms of air defense and artillery. Milley's term in office expires this month, so he introduced Zaluzhny to his successor, Charles Brown. We agreed to maintain a high level of communication and hold negotiations in the near future.
19:27 As a result of the Russian strike on Kremenchug, at least 15 people were wounded, one of them was a child, and another person was killed , said the head of the Poltava Regional Police Department, Dmitry Lunin.
19:23 The Office of the President warned that Russia is now preparing an information campaign, the purpose of which is to discredit Zelensky and his team abroad. In particular, Russian propagandists will talk about the crisis in Kyiv and the authorities’ loss of trust among the political elites; about the scandal with Poland, which allegedly proves that there is no unity between Europe and Ukraine; about the “usurpation of power” in Ukraine and the cancellation of elections; about the benefits for the West of dealing with a “stable” Russian Federation, especially after Putin’s re-election.
19:15 At the beginning of September, the first ten Leopard 1 tanks, donated by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, arrived in Ukraine. Later, the German publication Spiegel stated that Kyiv refused to accept this batch due to their poor condition and the need for repairs. And then the Danish Ministry of Defense confirmed: the equipment is so worn out that it cannot be used. For more details, see the article Ukraine abandoned tanks .
18:48 The Czech Republic is negotiating with Sweden regarding the possible training of Ukrainian pilots on Gripen fighters on its territory, Defense Minister Jana Chernokhova said. She recalled that about 2,000 Ukrainian military personnel trained in the Czech Republic in the spring and summer. In total, the Czech Republic wants to train about 4,000 Ukrainian military personnel on its territory by the end of 2023.
18:42 The Russians launched missile attacks on Kremenchug, Poltava region. Air defense forces shot down one missile, and also hit civilian infrastructure. According to preliminary information, there are dead and wounded, said the head of the OVA, Dmitry Lunin.
18:37 The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue successful strikes on the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. This time, a missile strike hit the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. NSDC Secretary Alexey Danilov sees two future options for the Russian Black Sea Fleet - voluntary or forced self-liquidation. For more details, see the article Attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol .
18:20 Luxembourg handed over an additional package of military assistance to Ukraine, which included, in particular, nine Primoco One 150 reconnaissance drones, 3.2 million rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, 16 armored ambulances, 800 helmets, 150 night vision devices.
17:59 Biden promised Zelensky a small number of long-range ATACMS missiles, NBC News reports, citing sources.
17:27 Western media associate the dispute between Warsaw and Kiev with Polish domestic politics, but fear that the confrontation could negatively affect the supply of weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Read more in the material Conflict between Poland and Ukraine .
16:52 StratCom of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that today at about 12:00 the Defense Forces attacked the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet command in Sevastopol.
16:09 Russia plans to increase defense spending next year from the current 3.9% of GDP to 6% ($112 billion), Bloomberg writes. Defense spending will exceed social spending, despite the presidential elections in March. Also, classified expenses will almost double - from 6.5 trillion rubles to 11.1 trillion, amounting to 30% of total budget expenses.
16:06 One of the Russian “military correspondents,” citing his own sources, said that mercenaries of the Wagner PMC allegedly arrived in the combat zone in the Kherson region. The speaker of the Southern Defense Forces, Natalya Gumenyuk, believes that the Russians will deliberately spread such rumors in order to raise the morale of their troops and stop deserters.
15:34 The Russian Ministry of Defense clarified that as a result of the attack on Sevastopol, one serviceman “went missing, not died.”
15:29 12 out of 20 Leopard 1A5 tanks transferred to Ukraine were found to have defects, TV2 reports, citing an explanatory note by Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. He notes that these defects are already being eliminated by the Ukrainian side. The minister also said that ten more Leopard 1A5 tanks are in Poland - two of them have serious defects.
15:11 Commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Nikolai Oleshchuk commented on the strike on the headquarters in Sevastopol: “We promised that there would be a continuation... Therefore, while the invaders are coming to their senses in Melitopol, and in Sevastopol, air raid signals are still being heard, once again I will thank the Air Force pilots. “All the missiles were shot down!” I hope that next time the Russian air defense will not let us down again.”
15:03 The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that during the repulse of a missile attack on Sevastopol, five missiles were allegedly shot down by air defense systems, the “historic building of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters was damaged,” and one serviceman was killed.
14:48 The “head” of occupied Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, said that air defense forces allegedly shot down cruise missiles over the territory of the peninsula, and called for trusting “only official sources of information.” The “governor” of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, claims that the civilian infrastructure around the fleet headquarters was not damaged, the people who were on the street at the time of the strike were not injured, and work to extinguish the fire at the headquarters itself continues. Local residents say the city's sirens went off half an hour after the impact.
Meanwhile, Crimean publics reported that “a mushroom of smoke is rising” in Bakhchisarai in the area of the military unit on the street. Simferopolskaya, 2. Aksenov said that grass is allegedly burning near Bakhchisarai from the debris of a downed rocket; reports of an arrival in the city are “stuffing and fake.”
14:35 Three more ships are heading towards Ukrainian ports to be loaded with export products, the Ministry of Infrastructure reported. Bulk carriers AZARA, YING HAO 01 and ENEIDA confirmed their readiness to use the temporary corridor for civil ships and are moving towards the ports of Yuzhny and Chernomorsk. After loading with more than 127 thousand tons of Ukrainian agricultural products and iron ore, the ships will sail towards China, Egypt and Spain.
13:58 Crimean public pages write that in the building of the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, after the Ukrainian missile strike, “a hole appeared.” Dozens of ambulances are traveling to the site of the impact.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a missile attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in occupied Sevastopol
13:47 In October, the European Commission will recommend starting negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, Bloomberg writes, citing sources. European leaders could sign the recommendation at the summit as early as December. After this, Ukraine will have to complete reforms and bring the country’s legislation closer to EU standards in more than 30 areas.
13:25 “Governor” of occupied Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev announced a missile strike on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, a fragment fell near the Lunacharsky Theater. Information about the victims is being clarified.
13:09 Ukraine received the eighth tranche of macro-financial assistance from the EU in the amount of 1.5 billion euros, Shmygal said.
12:44 Germany did not refuse to supply Ukraine with Taurus long-range missiles and is still studying the request, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said: “We are studying the request and its consequences. For example, we need to take into account legal or technical aspects. I understand that this takes time ".
12:21 Shmygal said that the energy terror on the part of the Russian Federation did not begin yesterday, as Ukrenergo noted, but has been going on for two weeks: “We understand that the stage of energy terror in this heating season has already begun. We see this in the destruction of infrastructure, production, pumping , fuel storage. We see this in the first strikes on regional energy substations in the last two weeks."
According to the prime minister, Ukraine is better prepared for new Russian attacks in the current heating season, but the winter “will definitely be difficult, definitely not easier.”
11:39 The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that one Ukrainian guided missile and two drones were allegedly shot down off the western coast of Crimea. Earlier, a smoke curtain was used in Sevastopol, the Kerch Bridge was closed, and the movement of maritime passenger transport was stopped.
10:56 The Russians created a buffer zone in the Black Sea from civilian ships near the Kerch Strait in order to hide their warships behind them, said Natalya Gumenyuk, speaker of the Southern Defense Forces. In addition, according to her, the occupiers relocated large landing ships to Novorossiysk. Boats of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Border Service ply there.
10:24 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Ukrainian forces are moving forward and have already advanced beyond the last line of Russian defense in the Zaporozhye region. According to analysts, Ukrainian armor advanced south of Russian anti-tank ditches and "dragon's teeth" and entered the battle west of Verbovoy. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are using it for the first time outside the three-layer defense of the Russian Federation.
According to ISW experts, this indicates that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have ensured a breakthrough of the first two lines of Russian defense enough to move their equipment forward. But it is too early to say that the last line has been completely broken.
10:17 The ship Aroyat under the flag of Palau with 17.6 thousand tons of Ukrainian wheat for Egypt left the port of Chernomorsk. This is the second ship that used the temporary corridor for civilian ships to enter the port of Chernomorsk in order to export agricultural products to Asian countries, the Ministry of Infrastructure reported. The crew of the vessel are citizens of Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Belgium and Albania.
09:43 In the morning, the Russians fired at residential areas of Kherson - one person was killed, one was wounded, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin. Over the past 24 hours, seven people were killed and another 12 were injured as a result of Russian shelling in the region.
09:19 Zelensky said that Ukraine will de-occupy Bakhmut “and two more cities.” “I won’t tell you which cities, sorry. We have a plan. A very, very detailed plan,” the president added.
09:14 On the evening of September 21, the Russians fired two Iskander missiles at a residential area in Kurakhovo, Donetsk region, wounding 16 people. One of the missiles hit a two-story residential building, the prosecutor's office said.
08:38 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of September 22:
personnel - about 274,950 (+480) people,
tanks - 4644 (+6),
armored combat vehicles - 8891 (+8),
artillery systems - 6177 (+40),
MLRS - 785 (+4),
air defense systems - 528 (+0),
aircraft - 315 (+0),
helicopters - 316 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 4858 (+8),
cruise missiles - 1517 (+38),
ships/boats - 20 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 8690 (+20),
special equipment - 912 (+1).
08:17 Over the past 24 hours, 26 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report . In the Bakhmut direction, the Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in areas northeast of Grigoryevka, as well as Andreevka, Donetsk region. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their assaults south of Bakhmut.
In the Maryinsky direction, the enemy unsuccessfully tried to advance in the area of Marinka and Krasnogorovka of the Donetsk region, in the Shakhtarsky direction - in the Nikolsky area of the Donetsk region, in the Zaporozhye direction - in the Malaya Tokmachka and Rabotino areas of the Zaporozhye region. In the Avdeevsky and Shakhtarsky directions, the Defense Forces continue to hold the defense on occupied lines, and in the Melitopol direction they continue to advance.
In the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation, in places of deprivation of liberty, prisoners are being agitated to sign a contract with the Russian Armed Forces in exchange for early release. The military command wants to equip units of the Airborne Forces with them. The validity period of such a “contract” is until the end of the war.
07:39 Zelensky arrived in Canada. He will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, deliver a speech in Parliament and then travel to Toronto, where he will meet with Canadian business leaders to strengthen private sector investment in Ukraine's future, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office said.
04:42 Ukraine and the United States agreed on the joint production of weapons and defense systems, in particular air defense. An industrial base is already being prepared for the production of air defense systems and other necessary things in co-production, Zelensky said following a meeting with Biden.
"This is a new level of our unity. Co-production in the defense industry with the United States is a historical thing. A new industrial base, new jobs - for both of our peoples. Ukraine will be able to produce, in particular, air defense. We are preparing to create a new defense ecosystem together with the United States States to produce weapons, together to further strengthen freedom and protection of life. This will have global positive results," the president said.
Zelensky also thanked for the new defense package - “exactly what our soldiers need right now.” In turn, Biden emphasized that the United States remains committed to supporting Kyiv in defending against Russian invasion. He also confirmed the long-term commitments to the security of Ukraine on the part of the United States and added that the United States has begun the process of formalizing these long-term commitments. In addition, Biden said that the first Abrams tanks will arrive in Ukraine next week.
01:56 The United States announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth $325 million. It will include:
AIM-9M air defense missiles;
additional ammunition for HIMARS;
Avenger air defense systems;
50-caliber machine guns to counter drones;
155 mm artillery shells;
105 mm artillery shells;
TOW missiles;
Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems;
more than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition;
Text taken from Russian ministry of defense website (available only through a VPN
[EngMilRu] Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (22 September 2023)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, in close cooperation with aviation and artillery, repelled four attacks launched by AFU assault groups near Vodyanoye and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy's casualties were up to 200 Ukrainian personnel killed and injured, two infantry fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.
In addition, in counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer, one 152mm Giatsint-B gun, as well as one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery radar station were neutralised.
In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopter strikes, and artillery fire repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the 12th Special Forces and 5th Territorial Defence brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.
Up to 30 Ukrainian personnel, three armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, and two 122mm D-30 howitzers.
In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces in air strikes and artillery fire defeated a cluster of manpower and hardware of the enemy near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
Up to 20 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were eliminated.
In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and three 122mm D-30 howitzers.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, air strikes and artillery fire delivered strikes against clusters of AFU manpower and hardware near Staromayorskoye, Novodonetskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).
Up to 110 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three pick-up trucks were eliminated.
An ammunition depot of the AFU 1st Tank Brigade has been hit close to Zelenyi Gai (Donetsk People's Republic).
In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aircraft and artillery inflicted fire damage on the enemy near Artyomovka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Sinkovka, Berestovoye, and Ivanovka (Kharkov region).
The enemy's losses were up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two German-made Leopard tanks, and three motor vehicles.
In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer, two 152mm Msta-b howitzers, one 122mm D-30 gun, and 100mm Rapira anti-tank gun.
Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 113rd Territorial Defence Brigade was neutralised close to Liptsy (Kharkov region).
In Kherson direction, up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen, seven motor vehicles, and one 122mm D-30 howitzer have been neutralised during the day.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 124 areas during the day.
P-18, ST-68, and PRV-16 radars for detecting and tracking air targets were destroyed near Novopetrovka (Kherson region).
Five command posts of the AFU's 24th, 28th, and 67th Mechanised, 100th Territorial Defence brigades, and 15th National Guard Regiment were hit near Serebryanka, Druzhba, and Dyleyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Air defence systems have intercepted 10 HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.
Moreover, 15 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were shot down near Verkhnekamenka, Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Staromikhailovka, Gorlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Ocheretovatoye, Chistopolye (Zaporozhye region) and Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).
In total, 475 airplanes and 249 helicopters, 7,035 unmanned aerial vehicles, 438 air defence missile systems, 12,027 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,154 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,488 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,301 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:55 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 09/22/2023 to 00:00 09/23/2023
Over the past 24 hours Representative officereportedabout 40 facts of firing from the AFU.
Information was received about the injury of seven civilians in the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk and Yasinovataya.
Nine residential buildings were damaged in the Kuibyshevsky and Petrovsky districts of Donetsk, the Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka, as well as three civil infrastructure facilities.
Areas of five settlements of the Republic were under enemy fire: Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district), Zaitsevo, Yasinovataya, Yasinovatsky district, the capital city of Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Kievsky, Petrovsky districts).
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy carried out 22 attacks from 155mm artillery, incl. with a cassette warhead.
At Gorlivske there were two artillery attacks from 152mm and 155mm artillery, incl. with a cassette warhead.
At Yasinovatsky there were 16 artillery attacks from 155mm artillery, incl. with a cassette warhead. A total of 163 units of various ammunition were fired.
A previous 43 artillery attacks were recorded from the VFU per day.
21:00 22nd Special Forces and Airborne Brigade defeated Ukrainian armored group that staged an assault in the Verbovoy area of the Zaporozhye region
19:30 Fixation consequences of artillery attack of the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk at 14:50 on September 22, 2023.
19:15 Crews of the 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS of the Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry continue to effectively carry out combat missions in the South Donetsk direction -video.
18:35 Consequences of the artillery attack of the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk, as a result of which five civilians were injured -photo.
18:24 According to the operational lines of the DPR JCCC for September 22, as of 18:00, additional information was received about damage as a result of artillery attack by the Air Forces of the cities of the Republic:
Donetsk (Petrovsky district): - “Mir-Mag” store on the street. Petrovsky.
n.p. Zaitsevo: - st. Bagritskogo, 16 – private residential building.
18:05 The Paratrooper’s Diary reports from the Zaporozhye direction:
“The enemy does not stop trying to attack Verbovoye from the south.
On armored vehicles with an assault group, he began to develop an offensive.
The paratroopers stopped the attack with targeted artillery fire, destroying two units of armored vehicles and several manpower.
The enemy abandoned five wounded near the damaged equipment, who later died.
The paratroopers continued to cover the retreating ones with fire, after which the number of enemy losses increased.”
18:00 Photo and video with destroyed German Leopard tanks were at the disposal of RIA Novosti.
The vehicles were shot down near Stelmakhovka on the Kupyansky sector of the front by soldiers of the 1st Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District.
17:44 Guardsmen of the 38th Motorized Rifle Brigade shot down an Ukrainian Armed Forces aircraft (presumably Su-25) with MANPADS in the Gulyai-Polye direction -video.
17:35 More than 15 missile strikes were carried out on industrial facilities in Kharkov
According to “Come and See,” over the past week, the Russian Armed Forces launched more than 15 missile strikes on Kharkov.
“Nobody noticed the work of the air defense, so they stopped covering Kharkov even nominally,” a source told the channel.
According to him, the strikes were carried out on workshops under construction, an armored tank factory and other military-industrial complex enterprises. All of them are located in the southern and eastern parts of the city, close to the railway tracks.
“Many equipment repair shops in Kharkov have stopped working, and tank repair specialists are visiting city hotels less and less often,” he notes.
Nevertheless, today there are still vacancies on online services in Kharkov related to the work of the military-industrial complex (turners, milling operators), which indicates the functioning of the remaining enterprises.
17:30 In Slavyansk, the DPR (occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces) strikes at enemy targets.
17:25 Powerful explosions in Kremenchug, Poltava region.
17:22 Zaporozhye direction
Verbovoe. Rabotino 17:00 09.22.23 Front Bird reports:
“Intensive work of artillery and UAVs of small and large types. The enemy, like us, is working on planned targets, reconnaissance and identifying concentrations of personnel and equipment.
Every day the same thing. With breaks for attacks on their part and a rollback to their previous positions.
At night, the impact of cassettes increases. At night we hit their equipment and moving groups.”
17:05 Zaporozhye direction situation as of 17.00 September 22, 2023
The main battles have been taking place in the Verbovoy area south of Orekhov in recent weeks. Units of the 82nd Airborne Brigade and the 71st European Brigade are trying to storm the first line of defense of the Russian Armed Forces to break through to Tokmak, but to no avail.
Western sources, including The Wall Street Journal, write that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have finally achieved significant success, breaking through the “Surovikin Line” west of Verbovoy. But in fact, the clashes here have been going on for more than a month, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have no visible success.
Attempts to gain a foothold in the village end in the same way: artillery attack by artillery of the Russian Armed Forces and the subsequent retreat of the enemy to the starting points. The forces of the 71st Jaeger Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that recently entered the battle have already suffered significant losses, and the number of refuseniks is growing every day.
Similarly, the assault on height 136.7 northeast of Novopokropovka is unsuccessful. Yes, there is some progress, but the price for a couple of tens of meters is huge. Another convoy of military equipment passed through Dnepropetrovsk to replace losses.
Now special forces of the Ukrainian MTR have shown up at Orekhov in several armored fighting vehicles, including three command and staff vehicles. Special forces teams are checking communications and are likely to launch a new attack in the coming days.
In addition, in the Gulyai-Polye area, the intensity of work of TOPAZ military satellites, which are photographing settlements east and southeast of Pologi, has increased. This activity indicates the collection of data on the position of the Russian Armed Forces before a possible resumption of hostilities.
16:50 As a result of the artillery attack of the Kuibyshevsky district near the Uglestroy public transport stop, there were casualties, including among the employees of the regional water utility department - Mayor Kulemzin.
15:31 Zaporozhye Front, area of the settlement of Verbovoe. The 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade ends in the direction of the main attack of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It was supposed to build on the success of the offensive and reach the Sea of Azov, but it failed -video.
14:29 “They have no option to enter our territory, let alone gain a foothold.” A Russian soldier of the Crimea battalion told how mortars work on the Ukrainian Armed Forces militants and what is being done to confuse the enemy.
14:05 According to the operational lines of the DPR JCCC for September 22, as of 14:00, information was received about damage as a result of artillery attack by the Air Forces of the cities of the Republic:
Donetsk:
Petrovsky district:
artillery attack at 01:00:
– st. Lokhtina, 31 “a” - private residential building, a car was also destroyed.
artillery attack at 05:30:
– st. Klubnaya, 35 – a private residential building, an outbuilding was also damaged.
Kuibyshevsky district: - st. Bogatyrskaya, 42 – private residential building.
Information has been received about the discovery of the Lepestok PFM in the following locations:
Donetsk (Petrovsky district): – PFM “Lepestok” was discovered in the Zhilplostok area near the stadium.
13:31 Defeat of a mortar crew of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Novomikhail'ovka. The result of the work of the artillery of the 68th Army Corps -video.
12:29 Kherson direction situation as of 12.00 September 22, 2023
In the island zone of the Dnieper, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to try to gain a foothold on the existing bridgehead. Russian troops are artillery attack the enemy's DRG concentration areas, however, despite the losses, the transfer of units does not stop.
Yesterday evening, artillery of the Russian Armed Forces hit the observation post and ammunition depot of the 131st Reconnaissance Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Kozatsky Island, as a result of which three people were killed and four more were injured.
A boat was sent to evacuate the militants from Nikolaevka, but it was destroyed by precise fire. However, already in the morning the command of the Omaha tactical group again deployed the DRG on the island.
At the same time, it is planned to send 100 people from the 129th defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the 131st Separate Reconnainssance Battalion, as well as three 120mm mortars, to strengthen the group at the Ol'govka-Nikol'aevka line.
The command of the tactical formation "Grom" also rotated forward groups on Alekseevsky Island. Five people from Sadovoy were transferred there. In addition, Russian troops destroyed a boat with Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel near Kizomys.
However, the activity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the direction may increase in the near future. Since September 15, naval infantry units have been transferred from the Dnepropetrovsk region through Krivoy Rog to Nikolaev and Kherson.
During this time, 197 units of equipment passed through Dnepropetrovsk, including BTR-70 and BTR-80, as well as armored combat vehicles "Humvee", "Kozak", "Kirpi", "Mastiff". In total, about 5,100 people arrived in this zone, which is actually the size of one brigade.
Considering the sharp decline in activity in the Vrem'evsky sector, it is likely that one of the formations that participated in the battles near Novodonetsky is being transported. And their appearance near Kherson indicates a possible operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Dnieper.
12:00 Situation in the South Donetsk direction:
In the Vrem'evsky section between Novodonetsky and Novomayorsky, the territory where two weeks ago the forces of the 35th Infantry Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces entered and were buried there was finally cleared. The enemy is rotating formations that have suffered losses, transferring new reserves, and trying to accumulate fresh units in the forest belts south of Prechistovo. Our artillery complicates this process for them. The Ukrainian Armed Forces may attempt another offensive in this area.
To the north of Priyutnoye-Staromayorsky, the enemy is also amassing forces from regular brigades and defensive units. Their opened PVDs in Velikaya Novosyol'ka, Malinovka, and Poltavka are hit by fire. In the forest belts west of Staromayorsky, a group of sappers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was spotted, scattered by mortar fire, and while trying to evacuate the wounded, the enemy lost their vehicles.
There are no changes in the Ugledarsky section. Mutual artillery artillery attack and the work of our aviation.
11:30 The criminal Kiev regime continues to shell the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired cannon artillery:
–- in the village of Peschanovka 12 rounds;
–- in the village of Korsunka nine rounds;
-- n.p. Aleshki 17 rounds;
-- n.p. Dnepryan 10 rounds;
-- n.p. Solontsy eight rounds;
-- n.p. Krynki seven rounds;
-- n.p. Golaya Pristan nine rounds;
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the settlement of Novaya Kakhovka, settlement. Kakhovka, Dnepryany, Korsunka, Krynki, firing a total of 34 rounds from cannon artillery
Civilian casualties and infrastructure damage are being determined
10:39 Situation in the Zaporozhye direction at 10:10:
“The enemy does not calm down, trying to bring in new reserves and evacuate the wounded. The paratroopers identify them at the early approaches and hit them with all types of weapons. At night there was an attempt to transport personnel on two M113s - they were destroyed, one did not even have time to open the ramp.
On Verbovoy, the paratroopers destroy the “valiant” 82nd Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they are showered with meat and their positions are shut down.”
10:15 Zaporozhye Front, Rabotino-Verbovoye, Front Bird reports:
“After an unsuccessful attempt at an extreme offensive, the enemy switched to reconnaissance tactics and the use of artillery and MLRS.
They are targeting rear areas and control points. The missiles do not spare even 2-3 military personnel.
At night, without breaks, they work with cluster munitions along the entire line of combat contact.
At this time, groups of dry landmen sit in pits and are subjected to hourly artillery attack from both small arms and artillery.
The greenery will fall off and the fighting will take on a different color. What was hidden will become clear."
09:46 During the past 24 hours, the DPR representative office in the JCCC recorded 43 cases of firing by the Ukrainian Federal Unitary Forces, and 161 units of ammunition were fired.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy carried out 36 attacks from 155mm artillery, incl. with a cassette warhead.
On Gorlovka - four artillery attacks from 152mm caliber artillery.
On Yasinovatsky - three artillery attacks from 155mm artillery, incl. with a cassette warhead.
The enemy fired at Donetsk, Yelenovka, Makeevka, Yasinovatsky district and Gorlovka.
Over the past 24 hours, two people were injured of varying degrees of severity in the Petrovsky district of Donetsk and the Chervonogvardeysky district of Makeyevka.
Four residential buildings and three civil infrastructure facilities were damaged in Donetsk, Makeevka and Gorlovka.
09:20 APU fired at Dnepryan, Kherson region - the “arrival” was recorded on Sadovaya Street. The houses of civilians were damaged.
09:15 There are battles near Kurdyumovka. The Ukrainian Armed Forces militants are trying to break through our defenses with “meat.” The guys confidently hold their positions and destroy at the same time. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are rolling back with heavy losses.
08:59 Acting Governor of the DPR Denis Pushilin spoke about the situation on the front line -video.
08:20 RF Armed Forces in the Kupyansk direction using a towed howitzer destroyed an American-made Avenger anti-aircraft missile system, as well as two M777 howitzers and a Paladin self-propelled artillery unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This was announced by the head of the press center of the group of Russian troops “West” Sergei Zybinsky.
08:19 Frontline summary for the morning of 09.22.2023:
In the Zaporozhye direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with massive artillery support, managed to advance slightly north of Novoprokopovka. The outskirts of the village are about 800 meters away. But this is open territory.
Similar actions at Verbovoy did not bring success to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukrainian positions in the settlements of Orekhov, Rabotino and Gulyaypole are under attack. Russian ones are in Kopany, Il'chenkovo and Novopokrovka.
In the Ugledarsky sector there was a successful counterattack of the Russian Armed Forces from Novodonetsky and Novomayorsky. Russian artillery worked against the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Novodarovka, Staromayorsky, Urozhainy, Prechistovka and Ugledar. Ukrainian - according to the positions of the Russian Armed Forces in Priyutny, Zavetny Zhelanie, Staroml'ynovka, Kermenchik, Novodonetsky and Novomayorsky.
On the Donetsk front - another assault by Russian troops in Mar'inka. With artillery support, they unexpectedly attacked Ukrainian positions in Severny (a settlement northwest of Gorlovka). Under fire, Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the city of Krasnogorovka, New York and Toretsk.
In the Bakhmut direction, the Russian Armed Forces counterattacked in Andreevka. With the support of aviation - in Kleshcheevka. LBS has not changed. Under attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Bogdanovka, Orekhovo-Vasilevka and Vesyol (a settlement northeast of Soledar). RF Armed Forces - in Ozaryanovka, Kurdyumovka, Bakhmut and Yakovlevka.
08:15 Crews of T-90M “Breakthrough” struck positions of militants in the Northern Military District zone with direct fire: footage of combat work.
The crews of the T-90M Proryv tanks, assigned to the units of the Tula paratroopers in the Seversky direction, hit the positions and destroyed the equipment of the Ukrainian nationalists, repelling the attack.
“This is a good car, it drives briskly, accelerates to 65 km/h, is maneuverable, and doesn’t get hot. I drove the T-72B3, its engine power is 840 l/s, and here we have a turbocharged engine with 1030 l/s. The tank is quite easy to drive – I would say even easier than a car,” said the T-90M driver mechanic with the call sign “Grandfather”.
08:11 Russian military ripped off rotation of the naval infantry of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the South-Donetsk direction, said the head of the press center of the Russian Armed Forces group “Vostok” Oleg Chekhov
08:05 Both day and night, crews of the Tor anti-aircraft missile systems "scan» sky in the Kupyansky direction.
During a special military operation, crews of anti-aircraft missile systems of the Western Military District continue to provide the troops with an ultra-reliable shield from attack by enemy air targets around the clock.
“The main targets are UAVs. We also work on cruise missiles and MLRS. Everything that we discover, we can work on everything. We have been with our crew from the very beginning of the Northern Military District. Interchangeable. The crew is completely autonomous,” said the crew chief of the Tor-M2 air defense system with the call sign “Dutch.”
This crew came under fire from the Ukrainian Armed Forces more than once, but always continued to carry out assigned combat missions.
08:02 In the Kupyansk direction, the AFU is trying to dislodge our military personnel from previously lost positions. About itreportedmilitary expert, retired lieutenant colonel of the LPR NM Andrey Marochko.
“In the area of the settlement of Novoselovskoye, the enemy is taking active steps to regain previously lost positions. During artillery attack of the UFU, cluster and incendiary munitions are actively used. Also, on a regular basis, in small groups, Ukrainian militants try to penetrate the flanks of our defending formations,” Marochko wrote in the Telegram channel.
08:00 Summary on the morning of September 22, 2023
Yesterday evening, the Russian Armed Forces fired Onyx missiles at an enemy target in the village. Sergeevka South of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky Odessa region.
To the south of Artemovsk (Bakhmut), fighting continues in the area of Kleshcheevka and Andreevka, in the area of which the Russian Armed Forces attempted to take counterattack actions. The Armed Forces are accumulating reserves, not refusing to take Artemovsk in pincers. In the Kleshcheevka area there are artillery duels and the destruction of the enemy by drones.
The enemy is concentrating efforts near Verbovoy on the Zaporozhye Front: units of the 7th Airborne Division report that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have again launched an attack on a populated area using NATO armored personnel carriers. However, our mines and artillery stopped the breakout attempt.
In the Kherson direction there are battles for the islands and exchange of artillery strikes. Enemy rounds are again hitting civilians.
In the Vrem'evsky direction, the enemy is making up for the losses of the advanced units: the 36th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade of is leaving, units of the 58th Separate Infantry Battalion are moving into position. Artillery strikes are carried out on areas where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are concentrated.
In the Kupyansk direction near Sin'kovka, they report rotation of units of the 105th Local Defense Brigade (Ternopil region) due to loss of combat capability due to high losses.
On approach to Tuapse in the Krasnodar Territory and off the southeastern coast of Crimea, one UAV was shot down. In the Belgorod region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled a village. Vyazovoe, Krasnoyaruzhsky district and Novaya Tavolzhanka, Shebekinsky urban district. Two civilians were wounded by Nazi fire in the DPR
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] The Ukrainian armed forces launched a missile strike on the territory of Crimea. According to the governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev , the target of the attack was the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy. Immediately before the attack, smoke screens were placed in the bay of Sevastopol to protect warships.
The Russian Ministry of Defense, in turn, stated that Crimea was attacked by cruise missiles. As a result of the air defense, five missiles were shot down, but at least one damaged the historical headquarters building of the Black Sea Fleet. As a result of the incident, one soldier is listed as missing.
Within an hour after the attack, local authorities announced the threat of a second missile launch, but the alarm was subsequently canceled. It is noteworthy that the strike was carried out at noon, whereas previously the Ukrainian Armed Forces chose mainly the dark time of day for attacks on Crimea. Presumably, Ukrainian aviation used Storm Shadow cruise missiles to attack Crimea.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian aircraft have increased the intensity of their strikes on Crimea, aiming to hit military installations located on the peninsula. As military expert, author of the telegram channel “Russian Engineer” Alexey Vasiliev noted in a commentary to Regnum news agency, the strikes on Crimea pursue a purely media goal.
“The fact is that for them, attacks on the central part of Russia - Bryansk, Belgorod - are not as effective in the media as on Crimea. For the Kyiv regime, media presence comes first. The goal is clear - to force us into some kind of negotiations, to raise public outrage,” the expert said.
As an example, the specialist cited the recent attack on the Sevastopol Marine Plant, which resulted in damage to one diesel-electric submarine and a large landing ship of the Black Sea Fleet.
“Damage to damage is different. You can strike in two ways: for the future and here and now. These attacks are, rather, for a very distant future, because they will not bring immediate profit. The only thing is that the damaged landing craft complicates the conduct of some kind of landing operation, but since it was not planned, this is a media moment in the first place. A blow to the headquarters in this sense could be even more “effective,” added Alexey Vasiliev.
Fleet headquarters was chosen as a target for a number of reasons. In particular, the Ukrainian Armed Forces would like to disrupt the coherence of the Black Sea Fleet and disorganize the actions of warships. Fleet headquarters officers, documentation or technical equipment could also be the target of the strike.
“Of course, if employees who are involved in areas related to fleet management systems could die there, this complicates the work of the headquarters. There is no way to summarize, analyze information, consolidate it, or issue orders. This is all a bureaucratic mechanism that is necessary for the existence of any complex system, and its work is disrupted. Well, don’t forget about the technical side. In case of damage, paper storage media, communication systems, some servers suffer - all this then complicates the work, of course ,” the expert added.
At the same time, the expert believes, an attack on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet will not affect its combat effectiveness. All key elements of command and control of the armed forces provide for the creation of reserve control points. This is done so that a blow to any part does not lead to paralysis of the system. To ensure the safety of stationary objects, it is necessary to distribute the functions of control systems between several safe objects protected from possible missile and air strikes.
“You can act like in Ukraine. There, in the event of an air raid, employees of key departments and headquarters leave the building. It is also necessary to reserve and distribute services across different premises, including confidential ones. Well, transfer individual controls to protected shelters and objects. These are basements, bunkers, etc. ,” the specialist added.
Earlier, new attacks on Crimea were announced by the head of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. Speaking at a meeting of the UN General Assembly, Zelensky named among the conditions for a possible peace “the withdrawal from Ukrainian territory” of troops, including ships of the Black Sea Fleet or “those leaky troughs that will remain from it during the war.”
Zelensky’s pathetic statements, says military expert Alexander Mikhailovsky, are aimed primarily at a Western audience. In a commentary to IA Regnum, the expert pointed out the serious problems faced by the military and political leadership of Ukraine, and explained the increasing frequency of attacks in Crimea by Zelensky’s need to justify the money spent on the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Western allies.
“Zelensky’s much-anticipated visit to Washington ended in real failure. Instead of promising $24 billion in military aid, they received $325 million. Plus we quarreled with Poland. The question arises about why Ukraine is sponsored at all if there is no result, and there is no banal gratitude either. What should Zelensky do in such a situation? Show results first. Where did the money previously spent on arming the Armed Forces of Ukraine go, where is your successful offensive? But we hit the headquarters in Sevastopol. And the West has nothing to object to, because it sounds serious and respectable ,” the specialist believes.
According to Alexander Mikhailovsky, attacks on Crimea have become regular in recent weeks against the background of the failure of the offensive of Ukrainian troops in Zaporozhye. Having failed to break through to Crimea by land, as previously stated, the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces changes tactics and attacks targets on the territory of the peninsula.
“More like some kind of action in the spirit of “don’t get it from anyone.” This is ineffective simply because I highly doubt that in the second year of hostilities, headquarters are operating in buildings that say “Headquarters.” It's simply irrational. This is the Black Sea Fleet, this is Crimea, which back in the Soviet years was called the “unsinkable aircraft carrier.”
There are a lot of underground facilities and backup control points. There are even mines where nuclear weapons were previously stored. So there is somewhere to move the control center. But, I repeat, Zelensky is now playing for sponsors: I said that there would be no Black Sea Fleet, and so I attacked it. That the fleet was not damaged is the second question, but now give us new loans, subsidies and subsidies,” summed up Alexander Mikhailovsky.
In order to carry out strikes on the territory of Crimea, Ukrainian aviation will use aircraft located at the Starkonstantinov airbase near the city of Khmelnytsky. Su-24 front-line bombers, converted to use Western-made missiles, are based at the airfield. However, the small number of aircraft does not allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to carry out more intense strikes.
“Why did their strikes begin to hit individual targets in Crimea? — explains Alexey Vasiliev. — They began to use more ammunition. The first successes were due to the fact that they used the effect of surprise. Then four to six missiles were fired, as a rule, at targets in the Kherson and Zaporozhye directions. Then the blows became massive, due to which success is achieved. They launch several dozen drones, they are shot down by our air defense, and their ammunition is consumed.
During reloading, cruise missiles approach. Discharged air defense installations do not have time to shoot down all targets. And it turns out that out of ten missiles, one or two break through. They have only 5-6 combat-ready aircraft, that's 10-12 missiles. That is, now they are operating at the limit of their capabilities,” the expert added.
As experts note, the intensity of attacks on Crimea will subside as the Ukrainian Armed Forces exhaust their stocks of Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles transferred from Great Britain and France. Next, the Ukrainian leadership will have to ask for new supplies, in particular, of German Taurus missiles. However, given the gradual cooling of Western interest in the Ukrainian conflict, if new missiles arrive, they will be in quantities that are by no means sufficient for mass use.
Therefore, the Ukrainian leadership chooses media-significant targets for strikes, regardless of issues of strategy and military expediency. However, Kyiv's capabilities are not limitless, so the threat of air strikes may soon fade away.
British Deputy Foreign Minister Tariq Ahmad did not confirm to RIA Novosti that Kyiv attacked Sevastopol with British Storm Shadow missiles.
“Like any sovereign state, Ukraine has the right to self-defense. And Great Britain supports a sovereign Ukraine,” he said after a request to comment on the information that Storm Shadow struck Sevastopol.
However, Akhmad did not respond to a request to confirm whether this type of missile was used.
The attack on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet was announced on Friday by the Governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev . As the Ministry of Defense clarified, the historical headquarters building was damaged, and air defense forces shot down five missiles. One soldier is missing.
The Sky News television channel, citing a source in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported that British Storm Shadow missiles were used for the attack.
The commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Nikolai Oleshchuk, actually admitted that Ukraine struck Sevastopol. In his Telegram channel, he wrote that he “thanks the pilots.”
Britain and France supply Storm Shadow to Kyiv as part of Western military aid. This missile was developed jointly by France and the UK (in France it was called SCALP and is produced by the MBDA concern). London announced the transfer of Storm Shadow cruise missiles (destruction range from 250 to 560 kilometers, depending on modification) to Kiev on May 11 of this year.
Ukrainian intelligence announced the death of at least nine members of its headquarters, including Russian generals.
At least nine people were killed and 16 were injured as a result of a Ukrainian missile attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol on Friday, September 22. This was announced by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, in a commentary to the Voice of America .
He noted that Russian generals were injured.
"Among the wounded is the commander of the group, Colonel General (Alexander) Romanchuk, in very serious condition. The chief of staff, Lieutenant General (Oleg) Tsekov, is unconscious. The number of casualties among ordinary military personnel who are not headquarters employees is still being established. These are the military who are carrying service, security, and so on - they are not included in the list that I voiced to you,” Budanov noted.
At the same time, Budanov did not confirm reports about the probable death of the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov. There is no information from the GUR about his condition yet.
When asked what role the partisans and local residents played in planning the strike, Budanov replied that intelligence collects data from all sources. “It is clear that intelligence sources are one of the main ones,” he added.
At the same time, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate did not answer whether Western-made missiles were used to attack the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
“Here I must refrain from answering, I think you should understand me,” he said.
Alexander Romanchuk - commander of the group of Russian forces in the Zaporozhye direction, received the rank of colonel general in 2023. Lieutenant General Oleg Tsekov – commander of the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Coastal Forces of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy.
Let us remind you that in Sevastopol the headquarters of the Russian Fleet was attacked; in Russia, casualties were reported.
Later, the partisan movement announced involvement in the strike.
#2
As a result of the air defense, five missiles were shot down, but at least one damaged the historical headquarters building of the Black Sea Fleet. As a result of the incident, one soldier is listed as missing.
So one out of six missiles hit the target and inflicted only one casualty.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/23/2023 12:43 Comments ||
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#3
^Probably not even one: the Internet is full of pics of the hit building - does it look like 450 kg of explosive?
#4
Dunno what 450 kg of explosives looks like but the pictures I saw of that building looked pretty bad. It had to have been evacuated before it was hit if there were so few casualties.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/23/2023 13:41 Comments ||
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#5
^(a)About a hit on the building of Staff of Black Sea Fleet. Immediately for people who may have questions: NOBODY IS in this building except for maintenance and guard crew. During war time all C4 departments of the Staff operate out of ZKP (Запасной Командный Пункт--ЗКП)--a Reserve Command Post, which is underground and is very difficult to identify and attack. So, the attack is primarily for PR reasons, militarily it has a very low value, plus disruption of the civilian traffic in the area of Lenin's Street, Nakhimov's Square, Nakhimov's Ave and on the hill where the Staff and Rear Service of the Fleet are located.
(b) I've seen that 10 kg warhead of a 155 mm artilery shell can do to a solid stone house. 450 Kg (1000 pounds) of modern explosives inside the building - Storm Shadow penetrates before exploding = all the walls fall outside in pieces.
IMO, it was one of these pesky UAVs that got inside and started a fire.
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin
[ColonelCassad] 1. At least one missile hit the Black Sea Fleet headquarters. One soldier was killed, six more were injured. The fragments of one of the downed missiles fell on Nakhimov Avenue.
The fleet command staff was unlikely to be there during the attack.
2. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the downing of five cruise missiles. Aksenov confirmed the information about the downed missiles, one was destroyed near Bakhchisarai. The missiles were launched from the airfield in Kulbakino. In addition to missiles, decoys and drones were launched. In the morning, in addition to missiles, four drones were shot down in the Crimea and Sevastopol region.
3. The civilian infrastructure around the fleet headquarters was not damaged. The building itself received significant damage, now they are putting out a fire there, repairs there will not be cheap, a couple of floors have collapsed at the place of arrival.
4. During an attack in the bay, aerosol smoke was traditionally used on ships as a precaution. Traffic on the Crimean Bridge was also suspended. This is already standard practice.
5. Local authorities urge citizens not to film air defense operations and the consequences of arrivals. Everyone fell for it, both citizens and the media. Until prisons begin with lives being broken for 5-10 years for filming, then all the exhortations and threats of the authorities are basically a fart in the puddle. After 1.5 years of war, the authorities were still unable to provide an information dome over this or that event. The enemy has moved much further on this issue.
6. Regarding what flew into the fleet headquarters - either Storm Shadow or SCAPL-EG.
The strikes, of course, were provided with target designation from NATO and full reconnaissance and technical support from NATO, like all previous ones. For anyone who has forgotten, we are in a proxy war with NATO.
And everything that is below the threshold of using nuclear weapons can and will be used against us.
Empty threats without clear, proportionate responses did not scare anyone in 2022, and they certainly do not scare anyone now. So all that remains to be desired is less chatter about answers and red lines, more practical and painful actions for the enemy.
In the next 2 days, we can expect massive attacks on Ukraine.
The enemy hit the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet. Why? There can be many theses here. Starting with the fact that Kyiv, in the absence of successes at the front, needs to demonstrate some kind of victory. And ending with the fact that the enemy was egged on by the omnipresent West.
But there is only one main reason - because it can. They have no brakes, no red lines, no moral anguish over random victims. There are missiles and there are targets that are being scouted, including as a result of combined strikes.
During these raids, NATO intelligence records the reaction algorithm of the Russian side, the points of our air defense systems and coastal defenses, identifying targets for future attacks. We did the same, the enemy learns from our experience.
After a missile attack by the Ukrainian army on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) in Sevastopol, the time has come to strike the building of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the office of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, located in Kiev on Bankovaya Street,ex-commander of the Black Sea Fleet Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov told RIA Novosti .
“It’s time to hit the so-called decision-making centers in Kyiv, the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Finally, along Bankovaya ,” he said.
Komoyedov added that in order to repel the increasing attacks on Crimea, it is necessary to increase the number of air defense systems (air defense). He called for the protection of the main control and communications centers to divide the territory of the peninsula into sectors and reserve air defense forces for them.
As Regnum reported , the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out a missile attack on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol on September 22, causing damage to the building. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that after the strike one of the servicemen went missing.
The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev , noted that the blast wave from the impact on the headquarters knocked out the windows in ten residential buildings . No civilians were injured.
The head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov , said that air defense systems shot down cruise missiles over the peninsula. He called for calm.
Romanchuk is in charge of Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia where the main thrust of Ukraine’s counteroffensive is occurring. This suggests that it wasn’t just a strike on the Black Sea Fleet HQ, but timed to target key senior leaders during a meeting.
The Russian MoD says that Colonel General Alexander Romanchuk is commanding Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia direction. Rybar suggests he played a role in the 2014 Zelenopillia rocket attack.
-----
Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsekov is described as Romanchuk's chief of staff. "Among the wounded is the commander of the grouping, Colonel-General Romanchuk, who is in a grave condition. Their Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Tsekov, remains unconscious. The number of affected military servicemen who are not part of the headquarters is still being verified. These are military personnel who were on duty, serving as guards, and so on – they are not included in the list that I spoke about," Budanov said.
Also: At the same time Budanov at this point cannot confirm the death of Black Sea Fleet commander Admiral Viktor Sokolov.
#2
It seems there have three missile attacks on Sevastopol beginning on September 13. The first was rated a success. The second, on September 20 was a failure as I posted yesterday. Then on September 23, yesterday, it sounds like six missiles were launched and one found its target while the other five were shot down by Russian air defense.
Like I said yesterday, it's tough to find reliable information about a war in which lies and propaganda from both sides fly thicker than missiles and drones. I admit, I am not willing to go to the front to find out for myself.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/23/2023 13:03 Comments ||
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#3
^You just have to know how to interpret Abu.
In general: Russians lie 70% of the time (though not about things that can be checked i.e., they say they've blown up two Leopards, they did).
Ukrainians - think Harvard Crimzon on steroids or Palestine Chronicle meets Der Stürmer.
[X: 22 part thread] Wounded Russian soldiers and their relatives say they are being sent back into battle without being treated, and in some cases are not paid injury compensation or even their regular salaries. It's been blamed on a shortage of frontline manpower. Some are choosing to flee.
[RT] The country is expected to export nearly 50 million tons of the grain this year.
Wheat prices have declined to a three-year low due to an “exceptionally strong” yield in Russia, which is helping to fill the export gap left by the shortfall from Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
A boon for the poor of the world, after farmers responded to the price jump in the normal way. But how much of Russia’s yield was confiscated from Ukraine this year? I remember that being one of the first things Russia did after her troops crossed the border at the beginning of this thing.
Prices have dropped by more than a fifth since the end of July as Russia’s wheat export outlook has been upgraded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to 48 million tons slated for foreign sales.
“We have seen wheat prices substantially decline basically as a result of Russia,” said Michael Magdovitz, senior commodity analyst at Rabobank.
Ukraine’s share in global wheat exports is expected to fall from 9.2% in the 2021-2022 agricultural year to 6.4% during the 2023-2024 harvest season, according to S&P estimates.
Meanwhile, Russia, already the world’s largest exporter,
...I was under the impression America was the largest exporter. Perhaps we’re the largest producer, but keep a large share at home? Or perhaps we no longer are the largest at all...
is set to supply 22.5% of global exports in the current agricultural year, compared to 15.9% last year.
“Ukraine’s loss has been Russia’s gain,” said Magdovitz.
According to estimates from S&P Global Commodity Insights, Moscow will export 47 million tons of wheat this year. However, chief agricultural economist at S&P Global, Paul Hughes, said he would not be surprised if it exports 50 million tons.
Traders expect that abundant supply from Russia will keep prices low, helping to offset shrinking yields in other major wheat-producing countries such as Argentina, Australia and Canada, where the current output has been downgraded.
Global wheat prices have more than halved since reaching a peak of $13 per bushel following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine last year. Wheat futures were near $5.9 per bushel in mid-September, hovering close to the lowest level in nearly three years.
While market players expect lower wheat prices to persist, economists also warn that an escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea region could trigger a new spike at a time when inflation is fueling other agricultural commodities such as cocoa and coffee to multiyear highs.
Posted by: Grom the Reflective ||
09/23/2023 00:00 ||
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#1
But how much of Russia’s yield was confiscated from Ukraine this year?
None. Ukraine still has all its (actually foreign companies' who rent land in Ukraine, and - if there's an Ukraine next year - will be able to buy land) grain. That's why there is such a row over grain deal.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Stanislav Stremidlovsky
[REGNUM] Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Arkadiusz Mularczyk, on the radio stations RMF FM and Radio RMF24, revealed the “secret” of resolving the conflict between Warsaw and Kiev. To do this, it is necessary for the “ unfortunate statements of Ukrainian politicians,” to end.
“ I think that to some extent the participation of the United States will cool the sore Ukrainian heads,” Mularczyk added after that.
However, why should Washington, according to the Polish diplomat, not only reconcile Poland and Ukraine, but also play along with Warsaw? Previously, American representatives had not expressed any intention to intervene in the dispute.
National Security Advisor to the US President Jake Sullivan , who was asked at a briefing to comment on the words of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki about the end of arms supplies to the Kiev regime, learned about what was happening from “newspaper headlines.”
According to Sullivan, he believes that Warsaw will continue to support Ukraine, while the United States will consult with Poland to find out its position on this issue. The presidential adviser did not specify whether Washington will request additional clarification from Kyiv.
But in general, emphasizes the Voice of America (a media outlet recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation), “ the United States did not attach much importance to the disputes between Poland and Ukraine .”
The situation in Europe was perceived differently.
Many experts and analysts reduced the discord between Warsaw and Kiev purely to the parliamentary election campaign in Poland, hinting that after the vote (October 15) everything would get better again for the “best friends.”
However, the American portal Politico cites a statement from an unnamed Western diplomat of a different nature.
“For 18 months, Poland has persecuted any country member of the European Union that showed even the slightest hesitation towards Ukraine,” he said. “Now they (the Poles - S.S.) are showing their true colors.”
The perception of Kyiv by the Polish ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has changed, which Mularczyk also confirmed. He rejected Brussels' offer to mediate in the Polish-Ukrainian dispute.
“ Ukrainians must understand that if they want to have good relations with Poland, they must establish them with Poland, not with Berlin,” said the Polish diplomat.
In turn, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau noted that “it will take titanic work to restore the trust of Polish society in the goodwill of the Ukrainian authorities.”
In other words, Warsaw made it clear that it was seriously concerned about the frequent visits of German ministers to Kyiv and the meetings of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky with important German politicians.
Poland exchanges political leadership in Europe for a fragment of Ukraine
In Poland they suspected that the Kiev regime was concluding “ agreements over our heads ” with Berlin. And Zelensky’s proposal to grant Germany a seat as a permanent member of the UN Security Council was assessed as shocking.
Achieving a resumption of dialogue between Warsaw and Kiev thus becomes an extremely difficult task. Vilnius has begun to make active mediation efforts in recent days.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that he is in direct contact with Duda and Zelensky and hopes to see them at the same table.
“We are partners and friends, we are the Lublin Triangle, which is always together,” Nauseda emphasized. "All problems can be solved through open dialogue. Lithuania is ready to contribute to this."
Vilnius's direct interest is obvious.
There they perceive the Polish-Ukrainian dispute over grain in geopolitical categories. The behavior of Poland's ruling politicians is not only indecent, but also dangerous, writes the Lithuanian business newspaper Verslo žinios. Moreover, this danger, in her opinion, exists not only “ for Ukrainians, but also for the Baltic countries, Moldova, Georgia and the Poles themselves, who, God forbid, will not be saved by the 4% planned for defense in the event of war. ”
But who should Kyiv talk to in Warsaw now?
“Law and Justice” has not yet guaranteed its re-election; if opposition parties come to power in Poland, the mediation of Brussels will be required. PiS itself, judging by the continuing harsh statements of its politicians, will not be the first to make contact.
The problem for Warsaw is that it could be made extreme for the difficulties of the Kyiv regime or even for its defeat.
A number of Western experts believe that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which were “one of Kiev’s most loyal allies ” in the last year, may begin, following Poland, to refuse support for Ukraine, which will return the leadership of the Franco-German tandem to the scene.
For Warsaw, this means a deterioration in its reputation and a decrease in political capital in dealings with regional partners.
Apparently, it will be possible to forget about the integration projects in Central and Eastern Europe that Poland tried to promote here. Already now, in some neighboring countries, “Polish egoism” is causing bewilderment, even to the point of irritation.
In fact, Warsaw, with its radical anti-Russian policy, invited the others to follow it, but at the last moment decided to be the first to get off the tram.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki publicly called on Vladimir Zelensky not to make any offensive statements against Warsaw. Morawiecki's words were quoted by the Polish television channel TVP.
“I want to say... to Vladimir Zelensky that he never again insults the Poles the way he recently insulted them during his speech at the UN. The Poles will never allow this,” Morawiecki said during a meeting with voters on September 22.
He noted that Poland intends to defend its interests, which also include active assistance to Ukraine, including military assistance. “The hub in Rzeszow operates, has acted and will operate in cooperation with our allies ,” the Prime Minister added.
On September 20, Mateusz Morawiecki announced the suspension of arms supplies to Ukraine due to Warsaw’s need to increase its defense capability.
As Regnum reported, earlier the head of the French Patriots party, Florian Philippot, called for stopping Vladimir Zelensky after his accusations against Poland, before the actions of the Ukrainian politician led to a global catastrophe. Filippo emphasized that Poland, since the beginning of the armed conflict, has become the country that provided Ukraine with the greatest assistance, both military and humanitarian.
The United States demanded clarification from Poland regarding statements about the cessation of support for Ukraine. Bloomberg reported this on September 22, citing a senior Pentagon official.
An agency source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, explained that the disagreements that have arisen between Warsaw and Kiev have not yet provoked “cracks” in the alliance supporting Ukraine. However, Poland’s specific position on the issue of supporting Ukraine remains unclear, the agency’s source noted.
In addition, as an anonymous European diplomat clarified to the agency, the Polish authorities will continue to provide military support to Ukraine, but the volume of assistance will decrease. The diplomat pointed out that a complete cessation of military support for Kyiv from Warsaw could cause a split in NATO.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on September 20 the suspension of arms supplies to Ukraine due to Warsaw's needs to increase its defense capabilities. At the same time, the Polish authorities have repeatedly noted that the country ranks third in military supplies to Kyiv after the United States and Great Britain.
Earlier, IA Regnum reported that Prime Minister of Poland Morawiecki publicly called on the head of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky not to make any offensive statements against Warsaw. He noted that Poland intends to defend its interests, which also include active assistance to Ukraine, including military assistance.
[eurointegration] The European Commission is preparing to recommend starting EU membership talks with Ukraine.
Bloomberg’s sources say the recommendation is expected next month. Yet the Commission will also insist that Ukraine make progress in solving problems in some priority areas, including fighting corruption.
The Commission’s recommendation will be discussed by EU member states in December when they gather for a summit. Meanwhile the position of some countries, such as Hungary, remains unclear, sources say.
If the recommendation is approved, Ukraine will embark on a long process of completing reforms and aligning its legislation with EU law in more than 30 sectors, including the rule of law and the economy.
[FoxNews] Republicans blast 'incredibly offensive' DOD plan to continue supporting Ukraine military if Congress can't reach deal
Republicans are voicing outrage after the Pentagon confirmed it would shield its operations to support the war in Ukraine from any potential U.S. government shutdown.
As the Sept. 30 deadline looms for lawmakers to reach a deal on funding the government, the Department of Defense (DOD) said its activities in support of Ukraine’s military would be exempt from any potential shutdown.
"Operation Atlantic Resolve is an excepted activity under a government lapse in appropriations," DOD spokesperson Chris Sherwood told Fox News Digital in a statement, providing a link to the DOD’s contingency plan guidance.
Republicans lashed out at the plan on social media, saying it unfairly prioritizes Ukrainians over Americans.
Sherwood told Politico on Thursday that the Pentagon’s decision to continue aiding Ukraine during a shutdown was made just this week, and that the law permits such exceptions.
The Pentagon's statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior leaders at the Pentagon on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a small group of hardline conservatives killed a procedural vote on a Pentagon appropriations bill earlier this week over its $300 million in funding for Ukraine.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reportedly said Friday that he will remove the $300 million for training of Ukrainian soldiers from the Pentagon spending bill and hold a separate vote on it.
President Biden also announced a $325 million security assistance package for Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy on Thursday.
According to the DOD, the package includes antitank weapons, air defense equipment, artillery rounds and other equipment to help meet Ukraine’s needs on the battlefield against Russia.
"We're committed to help Ukraine build a force capable of ensuring Ukraine's long-term security, capable of deterring future threats against sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom, which are underway now," Biden said. "Because that's what this is all about — the future, the future of freedom. America can never, will never walk away from that."
Last week, the White House confirmed the Biden administration had spent more than $100 billion on the war in Ukraine, through documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
In addition to the more than $100 billion already spent in Ukraine, the White House last month asked Congress to authorize an additional $24 billion.
Biden's request comprises $13 billion for defense and $11 billion for economic and humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
A selection of indignant social media posts by Republican politicians and staffers can be read at the link, though they’re about what you expect, dear Reader.
#2
So, they will make sure the payments going to defense contractors (cause that's where the money ends up) get thru, while military paychecks maybe stop.
This tells you who's in charge.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
09/23/2023 17:51 Comments ||
Top||
#3
It's a bad idea to try to short someone who has wholesale access to heavy ordnance.
Just sayin'...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
09/23/2023 17:56 Comments ||
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#4
So faceless civilian feather merchants in the Five-Sided-Nut decide where our tax dollars are sent.
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Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
