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RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE
NOT GOING WELL FOR RUSSIAN MILITARY Destroyed Russian equipment in Ukraine ... Ukraine update: Russia's equipment loss is catastrophic, and about to get worse 
Ho hum, just another destroyed Russian tank. Original article: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/3/18/2086591/-Ukraine-update-Russia-s-equipment-loss-is-catastrophic-and-about-to-get-worse Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess | ||
Destroyed Russian equipment in Ukraine
Ukraine update: Russia's equipment loss is catastrophic, and about to get worse
Daily Kos Staff
Friday March 18, 2022 · 8:02 AM EDT
As of Thursday night:
OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical
Per the tracker from @oryxspioenkop
Russia has lost 1502 vehicles, including 240 tanks and 449 A/IFVs
Ukraine has lost 373 vehicles, including 66 tanks and 113 A/IFVs
Russia has also lost a number of trucks, including 144 Ural-4320 and 173 KamAZ 6x6.
oryxspioenkop.com
Attack On Europe: Documenting Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine By Stijn Mitzer in collaboration with Joost Oliemans Kemal , Dan , Jakub Janovsky and A detailed list of destroyed and captured vehic... 7:11 PM · Mar 17, 2022 Remember, these are only visually confirmed kills, so they are most definitely an undercount. Yet even that number presents a bleak picture for Russia. There were around 120 Russian BTGs at the start of the invasion around Ukraine, and reportedly 160 BTGs army wide. We’ve already looked at the problems with Russia’s BTGs, but for now, let’s just look at how it’s constructed: Each BTG has approximately 600–800 officers and soldiers, of whom roughly 200 are infantrymen, equipped with vehicles typically including roughly 10 tanks and 40 infantry fighting vehicles [...]That means there were around 1,200 tanks in Ukraine, and around 1,600 in the entire Russian army. Of course, Russia likely has potentially tens of thousands of Soviet-era tanks in storage, but good luck getting that stuff working mechanically. Not to mention, they don’t seemingly have the crews for them anyway. Conscripts don’t learn to drive tanks. They are given 1950s-era rifles and thrown into the meat grinder. Oryx counts 240 Russian tanks destroyed, captured, or abandoned. That is a very neat, nicely rounded 20% of Russia’s in-theater supply. Gone. Of the 4,800 infantry fighting vehicles, Russia has lost at least 449, approaching 10% of the total. And again, this is the floor, as not every battle, every loss, is video recorded, and not everything recorded makes it online. Furthermore, remember that destroying a BTG doesn’t mean killing everyone in it. [D]estruction of 60 [of its 600-800 soldiers] and 15 [of its 50 vehicles] will force a BTG to withdraw and reconstitute.A few days ago, Ukrainian general staff had claimed over 30 Russian BTGs had been forced to withdraw to reconstitute, which is 100% plausible, given that nearly 700 tanks and APCs have been confirmed destroyed. Russia’s saving grace has been its artillery, which by virtue of sitting behind the front lines, has suffered fewer confirmed losses than those spearhead infantry and tank units. Oryx counts just around 100 destroyed pieces of artillery. Ukraine just hasn’t had the capabilities to strike behind enemy lines, and it has given Russia free reign to conduct its heinous campaign of terror against urban civilians. And no, a no-fly-zone or Mig-29s wouldn’t be of any use dealing with this critical task. But you know what are? Those Switchblade killer suicide drones on their way from the United States to Ukraine. As Mark Sumner wrote yesterday, Ukraine will now have 1,000 new killer drones to deploy against the scourge of Russian artillery. It’s certainly what the Pentagon is expecting, as last night’s background briefing confirms: Given how effective anti-tank missiles have proven against Russian armor and mechanized infantry, Ukraine is free to use the drones against artillery positions and their command-and-control and supply lines. If the steady supply of Javelins is any indication, those first 1,000 Switchblades are just the start, as replenishments get put on auto-delivery. Take Russia’s artillery away, and what’s left? Two dozen cruise missiles fired daily from across the border, of which they’re likely running low anyway? Russia will always have the tools to murder, but take away their artillery, and there goes about 95% of that capability, while Javelins, NLAWs, and brave Ukrainian defenders take care of the rest of Russia’s war machine. Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 10:40:59 AM EDT · Barbara Morrill Continuing coverage can be found here. OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical · Mar 17, 2022 Replying to @Osinttechnical “it's not just Stingers. I mean, we're flowing more Javelins to them. And there are other anti-armor crew-served weapons that other nations are providing that the Ukrainians are using with great effect on Russian heavy vehicles, including their artillery.” OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical “these tactical UAVs can be useful against Russian vehicles and artillery. And so we're trying to get them the kinds of things that we think they could use in this fight, in particular, the fight against artillery bombardment and the long-range fires by the Russians.” 8:00 PM · Mar 17, 2022 Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 8:22:05 AM EDT · Mark Sumner On Friday, a series of cruise missiles struck Lviv on the western edge of Ukraine near the Polish border. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are in the area, seeking to cross in Poland. How many were injured by the enormous blasts in the area of the local airport, isn’t clear, but this is the second time Russia has made a large strike in the Lviv area. The last such strike killed 35. However, there could be some good news when it comes to future attacks. After over 1,000 missiles fired into Ukraine, Russia may be punching itself out. To what extent Russia can actually resupply isn’t clear. Sanctions are cutting off access to critical components, but Russia may have a stockpile of necessary hardware. Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 8:28:28 AM EDT · Mark Sumner More Russian equipment that appears to have been lost to Russia’s inability to maintain and supply its army in the field. These vehicles don’t appear to be stuck or damaged, just left behind; possibly because of something as simple as an empty fuel tank. 
Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 8:40:12 AM EDT · Mark Sumner The most heartwarming / heartbreaking source of supply to the Ukrainian military. Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 9:03:20 AM EDT · Mark Sumner People keep making assumptions about what Putin is “not.” Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 9:45:14 AM EDT · Mark Sumner Putin is about to speak at a rally in Moscow where about 80,000 people have been bussed in to fill the stands. Unlikely that he’s going to admit a mistake or say anything that hints at peace. Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 9:47:25 AM EDT · Mark Sumner Politico is reporting that EU leaders have evidence that China may intervene to help Russia militarily. What form this assistance might take isn’t clear, but it would be a hugely unwelcome increase in scope and possibly a lifeline to the failed Russian strategy. Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 9:49:40 AM EDT · Mark Sumner The coverage of Putin’s speech is from Russian state TV, but the actual event seems to have taken place about an hour ago. There has clearly been some extensive editing, as both portions of the speech and other events are being shown out of order. 
Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 9:54:22 AM EDT · Mark Sumner Putin spent most of his speech defending the “special military operation” as necessary to “prevent genocide in Donbas.” The speech has been oddly choppy, with sections clearly clipped out. Other than justification and flag-waving, there doesn’t seem to be anything significant. Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 9:55:01 AM EDT · Mark Sumner Friday, Mar 18, 2022 · 9:59:21 AM EDT · Mark Sumner The entire affair seems to have been like Putin’s version of a Trump rally, from the interviews in the parking lot, to the warm up speakers, to the banners and flags, right through to the belligerent but meaningless speech. If there was any new content, it’s not clear. But like everything Putin does, this was definitely aimed at a home audience.
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