For these of you maintaining observe, at the moment, Wednesday, August twenty fourth, 2022, marks the 182nd day of the battle in Ukraine. Virtually half a yr. These of you of a selected technology might keep in mind watching the nightly information (we solely had three networks then) when the anchorman would say daily in a severe voice, “At this time marks day (fill within the quantity) that our hostages have been held in Iran.” I’ve form of turn into that means with this battle in Ukraine; one can’t assist however depend the times and marvel when it will likely be over. For the file, the Iranian hostage disaster lasted 444 days.
In at the moment’s information, in accordance with Ukrainska Pravda, Ukrainian particular forces (SSO) have just lately shared a video filmed throughout operations the place they destroyed bridges in an try to cripple Russian resupply routes. The video was filmed a number of weeks in the past, however it was not cleared for public distribution till just lately for unspecified safety causes.
Right here, we see what seems to be drone footage of the destruction of a bridge. By statements they’ve made in Telegram, the SSO informs us this injury was executed within the Donetsk area of Ukraine. Video courtesy of YouTube through SSO and Telegram.
Below the Telegram publish made by the Particular Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (@ukr_sof), they wrote the next:
“We pay nice consideration to the destruction of logistics, provide routes and maneuvers of the Russian occupiers. To this finish, SSO troopers use a wide range of strategies and perform assaults on many, specifically, delicate areas for infrastructure, briefly managed by the enemy.
This video was shot just a few weeks in the past, however for some motive we’re solely posting it at the moment. Because of the bombing of cities within the Donetsk area, it turned an impediment for the Russians.
After the deoccupation, the destroyed Ukrainian objects will likely be restored. Not like the Russian occupiers.”
The extent of destruction proven right here means this bridge can’t be simply repaired. That reality is alluded to within the SSO assertion above, which means it will likely be rebuilt solely after the Russian occupiers go away. At this time, Wednesday, August twenty fourth, 2022, marks the 182nd day of the battle.
Zenger News experiences that in a press release made Monday by Normal Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, near 9,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since Russia’s February twenty fourth, 2022 invasion. This contrasts with the roughly 45,700 Russian troops reported by Ukrainska Pravda to have been killed in Ukraine as a consequence of President Putin’s “particular navy operation.”
Lengthy-distance strikes comparable to those on the bridge in Donetsk have turn into extra commonplace as Ukrainian forces have just lately used the longer-distance missiles despatched to them (comparable to HIMARS). As I’ve talked about earlier than, these weapons have been used strategically to strike behind enemy strains, taking out ammunition resupply factors and command and management facilities. Within the instance famous above, Ukrainian particular forces have knocked out infrastructure to have the last word impact of slicing off their enemy from the provides they want.
In a current piece showing in The Washington Submit, Nationwide Safety reporter Alex Horton writes about how the newest cache of weapons we provide to Ukraine could also be used for “nearer in” combating. He speaks of how Ukrainian forces have been speaking about launching an offensive towards the presently Russian-controlled metropolis of Kherson. Nonetheless, the Russians have the benefit of getting extra troops in place. Extra floor troops, extra armored autos, and highly effective short-range weapons are wanted to reach this example.
Coincidentally, we’re sending the Ukrainians forty MaxxPro MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected autos), fifty armored medical remedy autos (for rapidly eradicating casualties from the positioning of harm), twenty 120mm mortar methods together with 20,000 rounds of mortar ammunition, tons of claymore mines, C-4 and demo gear and sixteen 105 mm howitzers together with ammunition for them.
The 105mm howitzers (with a spread of about 11,000 meters) are appropriate for shut assist of floor troops. Relying on the sort, the 120mm mortar methods can vary roughly 7,200 – 9,500 meters. Once more, good for shut assist of floor troops.
A senior US protection official, talking beneath situations of anonymity, advised WaPo Friday, “The mine-clearing is a very good instance of how the Ukrainians will want this kind of functionality to have the ability to push their forces ahead and retake territory.”
Re-take territory? I’m wondering in the event that they know one thing we don’t? Chances are high, they do.