re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

quote:

---

quote:

---

Here is a picture of the Bismark with deceptive cammo note they even painted bow and stern wakes on the sides.

---

Dr Robert Ballard taught me things didn’t work out too well for the Bismarck.

---

I don't want to go TOO far OT, but for those of you who might be interested, here's a photo of a battleship much more familiar to many of us, the U.S.S. Alabama, in wartime camouflage:



Obvious the Alabama survived the war and Bismarck did not--not that I think their respective camouflage schemes were major factors in that.

There is something about the big battleships that I just love.

When the US refurbished the four Iowa class ships under Reagan, they were the epitome of FU power when paired with a carrier battle group.

It was awesome to see them in action again during GW1.

quote:

---

Painting ships in camouflage really got started during WWI when the Allies began using it to confuse German U-Boats.

---

Dazzle camouflage.

Buckle up, we have less than 48 hours now. Been nice knowing everyone.

British Defence Intelligence
INTELLIGENCE UPDATE
UPDATE ON UKRAINE 04 July 2023

In recent weeks, Russia has prioritised and refined tactics aimed at slowing Ukrainian armoured counter-offensive operations in southern Ukraine.

The core of this approach has been Russia's very heavy use of anti-tank mines. In some areas the density of its minefields indicate that it has likely used many more mines than laid down in its military doctrine. Having slowed the Ukrainian advance, Russia has then attempted to strike Ukrainian armoured vehicles with one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, attack helicopters and artillery.

Although Russia has achieved some success with this approach in the early stages of Ukraine's counter-offensive, its forces continue to suffer from key weaknesses, especially overstretched units and a shortage of artillery munitions.

Wagner Grey Zone blog on Bakhmut: LINK

quote:

---

On the Bakhmut sector of the front, despite being deflected by the enemy, the situation is generally getting worse every day. Or at least a day later. The enemy does not abandon attempts to cut off our flanks.

So, for example, on the right flank to the north-west of Bakhmut, the 56th separate motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, advancing from Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, is trying to cut off the ledge, which we hold in defense from the settlement of Dubovo-Vasilyevka.

At the moment, this ledge not only provides cover for the flank of Bakhmut’s defense, but in fact it is a section controlled by us with dominant heights, the surrender of which will have very deplorable consequences, up to the unblocking of the Bakhmut-Slavyansk road, since in these conditions Berkhovka will have to leave almost without a fight.

At the same time, the 92nd separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is trying to cut off this ledge from the other side. There is also an enemy advance in this area and in the frontal part of the ledge. The enemy is aware of the importance of the area under his control and is trying to take this territory in small steps.

On the left flank of Bakhmut, the situation is no worse and no better - also consistently difficult. Over the last month, the enemy pushed our forces of the 72nd separate motorized rifle brigade of the Russian Armed Forces and the Storm-Z detachments, consisting of prisoners, over the line of the Seversky Donets-Donbass Canal to its left bank. The bridgehead on the right bank was occupied by the Wagner Group to develop an offensive to the west - an attempt to flank Chasov Yar, or immediately attempt a breakthrough to Konstantinovka. But history took its course.

Despite the worthy resistance of the 4th separate motorized rifle brigade of the Russian Armed Forces (formerly NM LPR) and adjacent allied units, the 5th separate assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was able to develop success south of Ivanovsky towards Kleshcheevka, in case of surrender of which one from the southern roads to Bakhmut.

But I can assume that before trying to move close to Kleshcheevka and take it by storm, there will be an attempt to take Kurdyumovka, where the other day the enemy occupied the last zones held by the Russian Armed Forces on the “right bank” of the Seversky Donets-Donbass canal, now the gray zone between the enemy and Kurdyumovka is only a water canal dam.

---

I saw that floating around Twitter and put it in a group chat to make fun of it and someone actually posted it being serious

Man I hope they enjoy the last 4th of July ever

quote:

---

I saw that floating around Twitter and put it in a group chat to make fun of it and someone actually posted it being serious

---

I'm not sure he was posting it seriously.

ISW Update Juky 3rd

quote:

---

Key Takeaways:

Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four sectors of the front and made marginal advances on July 3.

Russian milbloggers have seized on recent Ukrainian activity on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast to call for an increased presence of small river vessels and equipment in the Dnipro River to prevent further Ukrainian advances.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev published an essay that reamplified inflammatory Russian rhetoric towards Ukraine and the West, likely to undermine support for Ukraine at the upcoming NATO summit

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reiterated boilerplate rhetoric about the current state of the war in Ukraine and the Wagner Group rebellion on July 3.

Russian forces continued drone and missile strikes against rear areas in Ukraine overnight and during the day on July 3.

The Kremlin continues to use tools of digital authoritarianism to surveil Russia’s domestic population and aims to expand domestic production of surveillance technology.

Ukrainian and Russian forces continued limited attacks on the Svatove-Kreminna line and south of Kreminna.

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks in the Bakhmut area.

Ukrainian forces reportedly continued limited ground attacks in western Donetsk Oblast, near the Donetsk-Zaporizhia oblasts administrative border, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.

Official Russian sources continue to claim that Russian forces repel all Ukrainian assaults on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast near the Antonivsky Bridge.

The Wagner Group is reportedly suspending regional recruitment on a temporary basis.

Russian officials continue efforts to portray Russia as a safe custodian of Ukrainian children while inadvertently confirming that Russia is facilitating mass deportations of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation.

---

Yesterday:


Today:



As I've said, I don't take Ukrainian claims as gospel truth, but if the real numbers are half that, then the Ukrainian strategy in the south is working.