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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 17, 2022 7:46:41 GMT -5
I heard a news report, which I cannot verify, that Russia had suffered 30% casualties among the troops it had committed to the operation. If true, that seems to be an extraordinary rate of loss
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Post by mm67 on May 17, 2022 8:11:21 GMT -5
Were the losses 30% casualties or 30% of their force structure? Whatever, the slaughter of Ukrainians by the Russian military is an abomination.
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Post by rgs318 on May 17, 2022 11:47:01 GMT -5
I heard a figure of between 28% and 30% casualties (a staggering number) among the forces that the Russians committed. No distinction behind that as to the exact meaning of "casualties" in this regard.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 17, 2022 13:03:30 GMT -5
Below are the tweets of May 15 from the daily Defense Intelligence Update of the UK Ministry of Defence which led to articles such as this. www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/05/15/russia-lost-a-third-of-its-forces-in-ukraine-now-its-losing-the-war/?sh=367aa998352eThe 30 percent estimate is off a base of an estimated 150,000 troops. A 30 percent troop loss would be killed, wounded, missing, deserted. The 30 percent equipment loss would be destroyed, abandoned, captured. In 2021, Russia had a total of 170 battalion tactical groups (BTG). (According to Wiki) A typical BTG has 800-1000 men, and is comprised of armor, mechanized infantry, and artillery units. Russia started the invasion with about 120 BTGs, and after heavy losses, reinforced with an additional 10-20 BTGs. Currently, the number of BTGs is estimated by US defense officials to be 106. Some of these are at substantially reduced strength, with ranks filled by replacements of untrained conscripts, members of private militias. Most of the BTG have been operating at a high combat tempo for at least eight weeks. This is exhausting, and compounds the already widespread low morale, and reluctance to fight. The Russian army has no reserves at this juncture. Belarus is unwilling to supplement the Russian forces with its own units. Basically, the high rate of attrition means that the Russian army is running out of soldiers, and no ready means of replacing them.
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Post by Chu Chu on May 17, 2022 13:33:06 GMT -5
Thanks, phreek. Very encouraging.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 17, 2022 15:47:36 GMT -5
Excerpts from the May 11 assessment by military officers at the Scowcroft Center at the Atlantic Council. Comment: Ukraine reached the border northeast of Kharkiv on May 15 Comment: From Politico. "The Ukrainian government reports that Russia’s two major tank plants have halted work due to lack of foreign components,” Kendler said. “Even Russian car maker Lada has shut down production as U.S. and partner countries’ export controls have deprived the company of necessary parts and supplies.”....In two other examples, Baikal Electronics — a Russian semiconductor company and computer manufacturer — has been cut off from the integrated circuits it needs to support its domestic communications equipment, while Taiwanese company TSMC’s exit from the Russia market has deprived Moscow of access to “Elbrus chips” widely used in Russian intelligence and military systems, Kendler added." Russia already had low inventories and production of 'smart' munitions because of post-Crimea sanctions imposed in 2014. Comment: The U.S. military's logistics operation has been phenomenal, IMO. Phoenix Ghost is a kamikaze-type drone, that is not yet deployed to the U.S. military. Its capabilities are classified. As it was developed by the US Air Force, it possibly has a longer range, higher speed, greater loitering time, bigger warhead than the Switchblade drones. Phoenix Ghost may present a smaller radar signature, to avoid detection, hence the name 'Ghost'. The Switchblades were developed for the Army and Marine Corps, and the original Switchblade model proved to be highly effective in Afghanistan. The original Switchblade is ineffective against armor. The second-generation Switchblade is much heavier, with a payload similar to the highly effective Javelin anti-tank missile. The second generation Switchblades are being rushed into production, and have not yet reached Ukraine. Its quite possible that units originally produced for demonstration and testing were sent to Ukraine. An Excalibur 'smart' round for the 155 mm howitzer has a unit cost of $125-150,000, has a max range of 25-35 miles, with a very high probability of hitting within 3-4 meters of the target. Given the unit cost, clearly its use will be restricted to high-value targets. The Ukrainians are using drones to do target spotting and correction. The Russians not so much. A bit more on Phoenix Ghost. www.airforce-technology.com/comment/phoenix-ghost-drone-switchblade/ www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/russia-crisis-military-assessment-how-ukraine-is-taking-the-fight-to-russian-soil/
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Post by longsuffering on May 17, 2022 15:54:41 GMT -5
Ukraine just arrested a young man in a village who was "spotting" (spying) for Russia. He had been paid $10. by Russia to reveal Ukrainian troop locations and gave up immediately when apprehended.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 17, 2022 19:42:51 GMT -5
Treason
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Post by longsuffering on May 17, 2022 21:39:08 GMT -5
It's a war of wild contradictions. $150,000 for a high tech cannon ball, satellites in orbit to spot enemy positions and ten bucks to a stupid kid in a village to do the same thing.
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