Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(115,227 posts)
Wed Sep 11, 2024, 10:46 PM Wednesday

12 Sep: 3% Survival Rate: Russian Commanders Try A New Tactic. - Reporting from Ukraine



Today there are a lot of updates from the Kurakhove direction.

Here, in a shocking turn of events, Russian forces have launched a series of high-casualty "meat wave" assaults on the town of Vodiane, near Vuhledar. These devastating attacks, with soldiers advancing over the bodies of their fallen comrades, have left military analysts questioning how long Russia can sustain such a costly and desperate strategy before once again rolling back and nullifying their gains.

As outlined in the previous report, Russian forces have altered their approach in their renewed effort to capture Vuhledar. Instead of relying on direct frontal assaults as they did before, they are now attempting to encircle the town, launching coordinated offensives from the south and northeast.

The Russian strategy for the northern pincer hinges on crossing the T0532 highway and capturing the town of Vodiane. Once they establish fortified positions there, the plan is to advance southward toward the South Donbas coal mine. Russian commanders believe that seizing control of this key facility would significantly boost their chances of finally taking Vuhledar—a strategic objective that has remained out of reach for over two and a half years.

Recent geolocated footage has captured a series of intense and costly Russian assaults on Vodiane. In one particularly disastrous attempt, around ten motorcycles advanced from the northern flank of the Vuhledar front. This tactic, previously used by Russian forces in other sectors with often catastrophic outcomes due to the lack of protection for the riders, underscores their continued reliance on high-risk strategies despite repeated failures.

Even more disturbing footage captures the grim continuation and conclusion of this ill-fated motorcycle assault. The images reveal a Russian "meat wave" attack, with dozens of soldiers advancing under relentless mortar fire. Russian troops are seen literally marching over the bodies of their fallen comrades, showcasing the brutal nature of these saturation tactics. The full uncensored video of the shocking Russian meat wave attacks can be found on our Telegram channel through the link in the description.

Ukrainian soldiers report that the relentless, infantry-heavy assaults enable small groups of surviving Russian troops to make incremental advances, as the sheer volume of attackers makes it difficult to eliminate them all. Survivors from the initial waves regroup in tree lines and small dugouts. Once enough have gathered, they push forward again. While Ukrainian forces focus on neutralizing the nearest threats, Russian reinforcements continue to bolster the lines behind. This tactic allows Russian forces to inch closer to the village, advancing tree line by tree line, and eventually infiltrating buildings and hiding in basements until another critical mass is formed. This slow, high-casualty strategy explains Russia's gradual, albeit costly, advance toward Vodiane.

These two pieces of evidence explain how, according to recent reports and visual confirmation, Russian forces have managed to penetrate the northern part of Vodiane through relentless saturation attacks. Geolocated images now confirm that Russian troops have established positions in the northern residential area. In the background of these images, the auxiliary buildings of the South Donbas coal mine and its waste heap are clearly visible, further validating their foothold in this critical zone.

Following the capture of Vodiane, the next strategic objective for Russian forces is the South Donbas coal mine. If we look at the topographic map, we can see that Vodiane lies in the lowlands, whereas the coal mine is located on the high ground. This elevation, combined with the presence of tall, robust buildings offering concealed defensive positions, provides a significant advantage for Ukrainian defenders—an advantage they lacked in Vodiane. The contrast in terrain and defensive infrastructure suggests that Russian forces will likely face far greater resistance and must endure the loss of many more soldiers before they can hope to seize the coal mine. The elevated and fortified nature of the area makes it a much more formidable challenge compared to the lowlands recently overtaken.

This is why, despite their localized gains, military analysts argue that Russian forces are unlikely to maintain the initiative across eastern Ukraine indefinitely...
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
12 Sep: 3% Survival Rate: Russian Commanders Try A New Tactic. - Reporting from Ukraine (Original Post) TexasTowelie Wednesday OP
Slava Ukraini. Thank you for the update. niyad Thursday #1
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Foreign Affairs»12 Sep: 3% Survival Rate:...