Big bavovna.
Kyslivka is east of Kupyansk.
Another 770 Russian casualties. At this rate, Russia will have recorded 400k casualties right around the second anniversary of the invasion.
This is an interesting assessment of the situation in Bohdanivka, which is northwest of Bakhmut, by a Russian Storm Z instructor.
The village sits in a swampy lowland where Russians control almost half of the town. He points out that the place has zero tactical value because of the terrain and the fact that Ukraine controls the hills around it. So it’s like a shooting gallery.
But the military honchos see a point on a map and think taking it was the best thing since the invention of the washing machine. The honchos think this is a stepping stone on the way to Chasiv Yar, several kilometers to the west. This guy says they are delusional.
A few days ago the flag was hoisted in Bogdanovka [Bohdanivka]. Despite the fact that, judging by the enemy's reports, at the moment we have managed to occupy only about 40% of this settlement. But
the flag is uplifting, it needs to be hoisted.
Now I will not speculate on what reports could go to the top in connection with the hoisting of the flag, simply because I do not have such information. Let's talk about something else. Back in September, I outlined the problem of media reporting in general and in the Klischiivka line in particular.
In relation to the unfortunate Bogdanovka, I have been observing exactly this picture for some time. This is a point with a specific name, which can be easily seen on a simple map, and therefore conveniently indicated in reports and covered in the media space.
In addition, some arrogant misunderstanding gave birth to an amazing idea about the most important significance of Bogdanovka as a springboard and key to Chasiv Yar. This bullshit managed to quickly and reliably take root in the information space and quite obviously also influences the process of making military decisions.
So, Bogdanovka itself is located in a swampy lowland, from where it will be extremely difficult to develop an offensive in the direction of Chasiv Yar.
This low-lying location, in principle, puts our forces in Bogdanovka in a very vulnerable position in relation to the enemy, who occupies the adjacent hills, based, among other things, on Kalinivka and the Kanal microdistrict, not to mention Chasiv Yar itself.
Moreover, this narrow lowland in which Bogdanovka is located runs almost perpendicular to the line of combat contact, allowing enemy artillery operating from Chasiv Yar to conduct essentially direct fire. With a standard dispersion ellipse, this is simply a gift to artillerymen.
With all the emphasis on Bogdanovka, there are also attempts to advance along the hill adjacent to it on the northwestern side in the direction of the cattle farm, as reported in particular by dear comrade Temny.
It would seem that the option of taking this very cattle farm and the prospect of further advancement to Kalinovka looks more sensible, but there is a very significant nuance, which is again visible to the naked eye on the topographic map. Moreover, this nuance is severely applicable to Bogdanovka itself, which already has no tactical significance.
In both cases, assault troops have to climb through a swamp in a lowland, in places waist-deep in water, under fire from enemy artillery and drones. Thus, reaching the attack line in itself is already a non- trivial task. Further, this fucking swamp turns the supply of entrenched groups into a very difficult task, and the evacuation of the wounded into complete trash.
Considering also the alternative approaches to organizing offensive actions that are being practiced, it does not surprise me at all that Storm Z are refusing to go into assaults.
However, the command of our Bakhmut group stubbornly continues to hit our assault troops with their heads against this fucking Bogdanovka. Is it even sane there? As far as I can see, the practices have not changed since Sychev left.
Maybe it's worth doing some more meaningful magic with the command there? It will smash everyone it can drag into the site against this strategically important Bogdanovka. But there is an option. We need sane people.
This actually makes sense. Ukraine’s summer offensive made very little in the way of territorial gains. Strengthening the Ukrainian military while engaging in an active defense — which will have to include F-16s to counter Russian aerial bombardments — will prevent the needless loss of troops by throwing them against dense minefields and Russian trenches.
This has become the Highway of Death.
The war crimes just pile up.
Speaking of war crimes.
OMG. This guy sounds like Trump.
Mayor Mikhail Minenkov complained about the low birth rate, the reason for which he cited as a lack of money and a desire to "live for themselves". He then gave an instruction to his viewers: "go tonight and sneak up on your women so that 10,000 children will be born in 9 months."
"10,000 families, couples, have to do something today, tomorrow night. Fall in love. The remaining 10,000 have to do it next year," Minenkov summarized.
Nobody feels sorry for any of these idiots.
A revealing essay in the Financial Times by Anastasia Stognei.
The infamous “almost naked” party at Moscow techno club Mutabor in December has been the hottest topic in Russia for weeks, plunging the country’s main pop stars, the party guests, from a life of glamour to public shame and opprobrium. The event — at which guests flounced around in semi-transparent clothing and jewellery worth as much as an apartment in the capital — provoked the ire of the Russian president, who believes such nudity and excess to be ill-befitting of a country at war.
Putin was particularly enraged by a video of guests pretending to lick a Balenciaga sock that rapper Vacio, otherwise naked, wore on his nether regions. “People in the provinces suffer from war and inflation . . . and here you are in Moscow, licking penises,” an ally explained to Russian news outlet Agentstvo.
The partygoers, desperate to show contrition, are now recording apology videos, fending off lawsuits, travelling to the annexed Donbas and even risk being sent to the trenches in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine.
A few years ago, an event like this would barely have registered. However, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s moral compass has radically shifted — though few were prepared because, superficially at least, life in Moscow has not changed much at all.
South Africa should be warned that choosing sides with Russia will have economic consequences.
Erdogan got what he wanted.
And Greece will be getting 40 F-35s.
Warfare by other means.
He should have stayed home. Now his son will grow up without a father.
The all-new bouncing drone.
And a drone that is essentially a remotely manned torpedo.
An art form unique to Ukraine.
I don’t know the lyrics, but the sound is rather wistful.
Good Kherson news for a change.
Chow time for the puppy patrol.