Scottyboi
Well-Known Member
From "The Analyst":
RUSSIAN DISASTER AT CHASIV YAR
By far the biggest news is the Russian offensive south of Chasiv Yar that was designed to push west then up and behind Ukrainian forces in the Canal District.
They used the forest to build up two assault groups, one to strike north and one to strike west. This is the section of the canal that goes under the hill in a tunnel with forest above it, and the only place the Russians can cross it with vehicles of any weight.
This move would let them advance into the western forest and then north to the more weakly defended residential areas. If they captured the Novi residential district they would cut Ukrainian supplies into the canal district and force them out.
The Russian idea on paper sounds fine, but the reality of it is more complex. For one it’s almost completely road and track free so the idea of vehicles in support quickly becomes mute. The area can only really be traversed by infantry and even then only slowly.
Add to that the crossing between the forests isn’t forested itself leaving a wide open area to traverse on foot in full view.
So the Russian troops on their way to begin their attacks were constantly under attack from drones and artillery. The Russians also didn’t seem to realise that they couldn’t use air strikes because they had no way of distinguishing their forces or their location in the density of the forest.
Despite it all the Russians carried out the attack, getting to the outskirts of the Novi District.
The Ukrainians used reconnaissance drones to map out the path the Russians were taking, and quietly kept their own forces in the forest, slowly preparing to act as they got into position.
Once ready and guided by drones, the Ukrainians pounced on Russian infantry groups one at a time, eliminating them in surprise attacks.
The Russians lost hundreds of men in the attacks, and even Russian sources say they gave up trying.
Having failed moving west - and bizarrely not having launched both attempts simultaneously, the other Russian group attacked northward. Again they had to cross open terrain and quickly lost most of their manpower and equipment. A T-90M assault tank, three BMD’s and an armoured car were lost in short order.
The whole operation was carried out by supposedly elite airborne forces. The Russians lost almost everything they sent in.
Having failed, they returned to their expensive attacks on the front and direct assaults which drain their manpower in one sided attrition.
Poor planning and lack of coordination, preparation and a failure to understand the terrain they were operating in still shows how incompetent many Russian commanders are. If it’s not outright incompetence it’s utter disregard for the costs of making these decisions in terms of manpower - which they have low regard for anyway. Yet when they are now clearly running low on tanks and armoured vehicles they waste them in piecemeal operations. That suggests the truth about supply of these vehicles isn’t being communicated down the line from above - presumably because nobody wants that known. Satellites tell us that the days of vast Soviet reserves are over - they have used them up.
It seems increasingly clear that Russia must rely on its only real advantage- endless manpower.
Ukrainian patience and planning, preparation and thoroughness again provided a victory over potentially overwhelming manpower - expert use of drones and tactical surprise wrecked this Russian operation.
Slava Ukraini !
RUSSIAN DISASTER AT CHASIV YAR
By far the biggest news is the Russian offensive south of Chasiv Yar that was designed to push west then up and behind Ukrainian forces in the Canal District.
They used the forest to build up two assault groups, one to strike north and one to strike west. This is the section of the canal that goes under the hill in a tunnel with forest above it, and the only place the Russians can cross it with vehicles of any weight.
This move would let them advance into the western forest and then north to the more weakly defended residential areas. If they captured the Novi residential district they would cut Ukrainian supplies into the canal district and force them out.
The Russian idea on paper sounds fine, but the reality of it is more complex. For one it’s almost completely road and track free so the idea of vehicles in support quickly becomes mute. The area can only really be traversed by infantry and even then only slowly.
Add to that the crossing between the forests isn’t forested itself leaving a wide open area to traverse on foot in full view.
So the Russian troops on their way to begin their attacks were constantly under attack from drones and artillery. The Russians also didn’t seem to realise that they couldn’t use air strikes because they had no way of distinguishing their forces or their location in the density of the forest.
Despite it all the Russians carried out the attack, getting to the outskirts of the Novi District.
The Ukrainians used reconnaissance drones to map out the path the Russians were taking, and quietly kept their own forces in the forest, slowly preparing to act as they got into position.
Once ready and guided by drones, the Ukrainians pounced on Russian infantry groups one at a time, eliminating them in surprise attacks.
The Russians lost hundreds of men in the attacks, and even Russian sources say they gave up trying.
Having failed moving west - and bizarrely not having launched both attempts simultaneously, the other Russian group attacked northward. Again they had to cross open terrain and quickly lost most of their manpower and equipment. A T-90M assault tank, three BMD’s and an armoured car were lost in short order.
The whole operation was carried out by supposedly elite airborne forces. The Russians lost almost everything they sent in.
Having failed, they returned to their expensive attacks on the front and direct assaults which drain their manpower in one sided attrition.
Poor planning and lack of coordination, preparation and a failure to understand the terrain they were operating in still shows how incompetent many Russian commanders are. If it’s not outright incompetence it’s utter disregard for the costs of making these decisions in terms of manpower - which they have low regard for anyway. Yet when they are now clearly running low on tanks and armoured vehicles they waste them in piecemeal operations. That suggests the truth about supply of these vehicles isn’t being communicated down the line from above - presumably because nobody wants that known. Satellites tell us that the days of vast Soviet reserves are over - they have used them up.
It seems increasingly clear that Russia must rely on its only real advantage- endless manpower.
Ukrainian patience and planning, preparation and thoroughness again provided a victory over potentially overwhelming manpower - expert use of drones and tactical surprise wrecked this Russian operation.
Slava Ukraini !