Ukraine war, December 14, 2022

I would like to do more, but now — and with some exceptions related to air/ missile warfare — I ’ll entirely concentrate on the situation in the Bakhmut area. Reason is that I find there's a need to sort out some of affiliated gibberish ‘ flying ’ around in the social media.

AIR/ MISSILE WARFARE

A videotape surfaced shown a launch of a Ukrainian Tu- 141 drone seems to confirm reports assessments according to which it was similar munitions that were used to strike Russian bomber bases of Engels- 2 and Dyagilevo. Ukraine should have caught some 68 similar drones, back in 2014.

The first videotape about deployment of Swtichblade- 300mini-LPGM was released. There was a lots of talk about their deliveries, back in March- April, but so far none were seen in action.

The Biden administration seems to have taken the decision to deliver PAC Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. The Pentagon has formerly agreed, but the plan still needs to be approved by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and also inked by Biden. As of now, exact volume and interpretation of the PAC- systems to be delivered are unknown

Seemingly in response to the US advertisement, and reportedly, France and Italy are about to deliver SAMP/ T and Mamba air defence systems to Ukraine. Paris should have formerly verified this, but accommodations with Rome are still going on.

To say all of this is taking place much too late — also over to 15 million of Ukrainians are without power and heating, frequently without water too, and that since days, and to remain without electricity for days longer — would be an understatement. But at least many of talking- heads in the West have eventually figured out that equipping Ukraine with protective munitions ca n’t be considered a ‘ provocation ’ indeed by Xi’s hand — not to talk about Putin’s.

At least the systems delivered so far, and those formerly operated by Ukrainian Air Defences since earlier times, are working ever more. This morning( around05.30 –09.00 hrs original time) 10( this was latterly increased to 13) Shahed- 136 LPGMs were released by the Russians in two swells in direction of Kyiv reportedly, all10/13 were shot down. Some damage was caused to executive structures in the Shevchenkivskyi District by debris, however.

Ah yes, and the GenStab- U reported a M142 HIMARS- strike on the HQ of the 58th CAA in Melitopol. Results remain unknown.

BATTLE OF BAKHMUT

Up front, have gabbled with several people serving there, the last many days, and they all stress there's no trace of anything like ‘ pullout ’ of the ZSU from Bakhmut. relatively on the negative indeed if some of Russian attacks( like one on eastern side of Bakhmut, the last two days) are causing problems, and although several of ZSU units have suffered heavy casualties, basically, the garrison was corroborated and holds forcefully.

North of Bakhmut, Yakovlivka, Soledar, Bakhmutske and Pidhorodne remain under Ukrainian control( yes, ‘ indeed ’ Pidhorodne). They ’re held by a collectanea of lower units drawn from different armies, but commanded by the HQ of the 57th Mech.

Foremost, all of Bakhmut remains in Ukrainian hands sole exceptions are the eastern cities( east of the Patrice Lumumba Street), and southern cities( south- eastern side of Opytne and Ivanhrad). Further south, the frontline stabilised east of Klischiivka, but the Russians are controlling Andrivka.

Now, both in Ukraine and outside of it there's lots of guessing about what’s the purpose of Putin/ Surovikin pushing this hard on Bakhmut? What’s the end of this battle?

As can be seen heard in this videotape — containing an interview with ‘ Arty Green ’, one of top Ukrainian ordnance commanders( and a veritably sober person) — the overall Russian end is to reach the executive borders of the Donetsk Oblast. This ‘ happens ’ to include Bakhmut. For this purpose, the Russians are trying to by- pass the city through attacking north- east-( Soledar area) and south of it( Opytne and Klischiivka). Purpose of these attacks is to cut off Ukrainian force links to Bakhmut.

Conversations ABOUT LOSSES

As mentioned several times ahead, I don't like conversations about losses because they ’re actually meaningless precise numbers are a well- kept secret, no matter what party in this( or any other) war. thus, one can only guess and gauge, but noway be sure. And, if one isn't sure about commodity, what’s the point of agitating it?

Foremost, there are always people who prefer to misinterpret and fantasise about whatever numbers I do mention — as ‘ incontinently verified ’ by multiple compendiums of my rearmost reports.

For illustration I ’ve mentioned a team of the 30th Mech and wrote, there were 22 colors, three of these went missing and Ukrainians presumed them as captures of war, while 17 were wounded. In ‘ response ’ to this, some began fantasising effects like this was a team of 22 17 3 colors and whatever differently

I ’ve got used to similar fatuities like being called a ‘ Nazi ’, and ‘ Jihadist- supporter ’, and ‘ paid by Qatar ’, and ‘ by Turkish MIT ’, and by the CIA, and Mossad, and Mukhbarat, and whatever differently. at most, I ’m laughing about them. But, really, in this case I don't understand specific ‘ responses ’ because it’s so simple.

22 colors in total( in letters twenty- two).

22. No 21 and no 23. Especially no 22 17 3( i.e. ‘ 42 ’). 22 — and there’s absolutely no reason to misinterpret this into anything like ‘ ZSU units are organised along NATO- norms, therefore this team must have XY number of colors ’. It’s just 22.

People, please be so kind and spark your smarts when reading 22 is 22, no 11, no 37, and no 42

A 2S1 Gvozdika tone- propelled howitzer of the 30th Mech in action in the Bakhmut area, back in November.

It’s analogous in respects of the 93rd Mech, where a ‘ destruction ’ of its II Battalion claimed by one of top Putin’s propaganda outlets, is meanwhile bandied as ‘ destruction of the entire squad ’. ‘ because Tom Cooper said so ’.

I've no indication what kind of person it must be to come to similar ideas, but one thing is sure I noway ‘ said ’ anything of that kind. At utmost, and in the process ofre-reporting what's the Russian social media reporting, the last many days, I ’ve quoted WarGonzo’s claim about the ‘ destruction ’ of the II Battalion 93rd — and instantly expressed my dubieties about that. Indeed the many Russians who are still sober enough to do so, are denying the destruction of the 93rd( or corridor of it). For illustration, then what bone of their levies has to say in this respects. ‘ But Tom Cooper said so ’?!?

One thing is sure after these gests I ’m clearly not going to bandy any farther details of this kind. Sorry, but it’s entirely meaningless.