|
a
|
|
Ukraine - Russia Invasion conflict
|
|
|
|
|
Russian military personnel from the Espanyol volunteer unit in Ukraine have used the latest AMB-17 assault rifle for the first time, which they received for testing. The soldiers from the Espanyol Unit will present, study, and test the new product under combat conditions to subsequently provide feedback to the creators of this machine gun.
According to a recent video published on Telegram, the Ukrainian army has used a new locally-made loitering munition called RAM X, also dubbed 'Ukrolancets,' due to its similar design to the Russian Lancet kamikaze drone. In the video, the new RAM X strikes and destroys a Russian 2S6 Tunguska self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system.
On April 10, 2024, reports emerged on Russian social media detailing an operation by the Russian Zarya battalion against Ukrainian positions, where off-road motorcycles were utilized for the assault. This operation was captured in published footage that highlighted the battalion's rapid movement towards enemy defenses after artillery preparation. The tactic employed, which focused on speed and maneuverability, allowed the assault groups to approach their target without detection until they were close, leading to the successful capture of a Ukrainian stronghold.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Naval Forces, Dmytro Pletenchuk, revealed on Facebook the destruction of a Russian Ka-27 helicopter in Crimea. "Minus one Russian Ka-27 in Crimea. It was on a search mission. And it found something," Pletenchuk said on April 10, 2024. Several other sources corroborate this information, but no official Russian sources have confirmed it.
On April 9, 2024, the French television channel Lci reported that the Russian army was secretly training 120,000 soldiers in Eastern Siberia. According to Ukrainian sources, the target of this massive mobilization of Russian forces would be Kharkiv. However, this information about a forthcoming offensive is of great strategic importance. Over the past two years, there have been several instances showing that information can be partially or completely distorted to support a particular narrative. Army Recognition therefore suggests tracing the source of this information.
On April 9, 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces released a video on social media platforms showcasing the launch of an S-125 NEWA-SC missile, NATO code-named SA-3 Goa, aimed at neutralizing a Russian UAV within Ukrainian territory.
On April 9, 2024, social media platforms showcased images of a Russian T-72 main battle tank with a massive drone cage covering almost the entire vehicle, humorously nicknamed the "Iron Mess". This type of armor, known as "cage armor" or "armor cage," consists of a metallic grid structure mounted around the most vulnerable parts of the tank, such as the turret and main body. Its primary function is to prematurely detonate the warheads of anti-tank hollow-charge missiles or intercept various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), thereby reducing their ability to penetrate the tank's main armor.
In a recent development, Russia has shifted its attack strategy against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, now targeting power stations in less protected regions compared to Kyiv. This shift follows a series of renewed attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, combining the use of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Andrii Chernyak, a representative of Ukraine's Military Intelligence, reported that the Kremlin has enough missiles to conduct one or two major assaults in the coming weeks.
On April 8, 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a new video showcasing the Russian Air Force's Su-34 fighter bombers executing strikes on targets within Ukraine. They utilized an advanced version of the FAB-500 M62 high-explosive bombs, fitted with the Universal Modular Platform-Control (UMPC) kit, converting the bombs into precision-guided munitions. This modification enables the munitions to deliver accurate strikes under any weather conditions, marking a significant enhancement in their operational effectiveness.
A recent video published on the Telegram channel @Mechanized33/60 documents the destruction of a Russian T-90S tank in Donetsk. This incident marks the seventh recorded loss of the T-90S model T-90S model, initially intended for export, since the onset of the conflict. Attributed to the actions of the Ukrainian 33rd Brigade, the destruction of this tank highlights the challenges faced by the Russian military in sustaining its operations in Ukraine. It reflects the use of not only older vehicles but also those originally intended for export.
The Russian Ministry of Defense released a video on April 6, 2024, demonstrating the use of innovative drone warfare tactics. The footage showcased First Person View (FPV) drones, armed with the warhead of an RPG-7 type rocket, being used by the Russian armed forces to target Ukrainian patrol boats on the Dnieper River. This strategic river flows through Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, and is of significant geographical, economic, and historical importance to Ukraine.
In a compelling advancement in military robotics, the Ukrainian army has intensified its utilization of ground robotic systems, embracing the deployment of UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) equipped with anti-tank mines for operational superiority. A captivating video released on April 2, 2024, unveils the strategic use of the locally-made Ratel S UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle or Ground Robot) in a high-stakes mission to demolish a bridge in the village of Ivanivske, Donetsk region. This calculated action effectively countered the efforts of Russian engineer troops, showcasing the tactical advantage and innovative prowess of the Ukrainian forces in leveraging unmanned technologies for battlefield success.
In the early hours of Friday, April 5, 2024, Ukrainian forces, as reported by the Ukrainian Intelligence Services and using drones, targeted the Russian Morozovsk Air Force base in the Rostov region. The assault led to the destruction of six Russian fighter aircraft, delivering a significant blow to the military capabilities of Russia in the area. Home to the 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment, this base hosts three squadrons of Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO designation: Fullback) within the 1st Guards Composite Aviation Division.
According to a video released on social networks on April 4, 2024, the Russian Army 4th Guards Tank Division of the 1st Guards Tank Army, currently deployed in Ukraine, has been equipped with T-80UE-1 Main Battle Tanks, known for their rarity and advanced technological features. Produced in limited quantities by the Russian defense industry, the T-80UE-1 is one of the latest variants in the Soviet-made T-80 tank family.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to weigh heavily on Russian military forces, with recent reports highlighting substantial losses in personnel and equipment. The situation on the ground, marked by intense and sustained military engagements, particularly in eastern Ukraine and around key strategic points like the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, underscores significant wear and tear on Russian forces. However, it is sometimes difficult to discern the true extent of Russian losses in Ukraine, and here we will attempt to provide an overview of the various sources and different numbers reported.
On April 2, 2024, the Crimean-based "Atesh" Ukrainian partisan group reported the deployment of Pantsir-S1 and S-300 air defense systems by the Russian Federation near the Kerch Bridge, which links the Russian mainland to the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014. The bridge, known officially as the Crimean Bridge, is considered by Russia as crucial for both logistical, strategic, and psychological reasons in the region.
According to information published by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 4, 2024, the Russian Air Forces use now new ODAB-500 thermobaric bombs equipped with a UMPK guidance kit that converts traditional bombs into highly accurate guided ammunition. The new bomb was used to strike Ukrainian positions launched by Su-34 bomber aircraft. The ODAB-500 is considered one of the deadlier air-dropped weapons due to this vacuum or thermobaric charge.
On April 2, 2024, the Russian defense company Kalashnikov Concern released a video on its Telegram account confirming the deployment of the new KUB loitering munition in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. According to information published by Kalashnikov Concern, the KUB, equipped with an onboard camera, can engage targets at a range of up to 50 km thanks to its advanced targeting system.
As part of the ongoing examination of military equipment shaping the dynamics of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, the seventh episode of the Army Recognition series focuses on a Ukrainian search and tracking radar, the Mineral-U.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in its April 3, 2024 report, indicates that Russian forces are intensifying their offensive operations across Ukraine. There has been a marked increase in the frequency and magnitude of mechanized ground assaults on specific frontline sectors in the last two weeks, signaling a widespread escalation of Russian mechanized attacks across the operational theater. This escalation is occurring alongside intensified missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The intensification of these attacks forces the Ukrainian command to redistribute air defense systems away from the frontline, thereby facilitating Russian air operations in support of ground assaults more effectively.
In a sustained effort to assist Ukraine amid current challenges, the Latvian government has sanctioned a significant aid package for the year 2024, totaling €9.6 million. As shared by Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Head of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada, via a Facebook post, this financial aid is partitioned into two primary segments: €5.3 million dedicated to Ukraine's reconstruction and €4.3 million aimed at bolstering the Ukrainian Armed Forces through the European Peace Facility.
On April 3, 2024, the Ukrainian elite unit "Shadow" successfully neutralized a Russian tank equipped with electronic warfare systems capable of countering drones. The vehicle's jamming system had reportedly been neutralized beforehand with the help of artillery, allowing the drones to come into action.
According to a tweet from Ukrainian Front, a US truck from the M939 family was spotted among the Ukrainian armed forces. These behemoths from the Cold War era, designed in the 1980s in the United States, perfectly illustrate how old military equipment can be reused in modern contexts. However, it should be noted that officially, no one has delivered this type of vehicle to the Ukrainian armed forces.
In a striking demonstration of ingenuity and tactical innovation on the battlefield, Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed an abandoned Russian T-90M tank, the latest generation of Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) deployed by Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, using an American-made M67 hand grenade dropped by a drone.
On April 1, 2024, in the Avdiivka sector, soldiers from the 25th Airborne Brigade announced they had repelled an offensive of Russian armored vehicles, marking a victory against the invading forces near the village of Tonenke. The military brigade shared a video showcasing the successive destruction of a Russian convoy, including 12 tanks and 8 BMPs of the 6th Tank Regiment.
