NBC’s Richard Engel obtained an unclassified look on the standing map at a Ukrainian headquarters. Click on the hyperlink for the complete video, however right here’s a screenshot of the map itself:
For all of the speak about Ukraine encircling the Russian spearhead at Bucha, northwest of town, it’s truly the northeastern facet of Kyiv the place counter-attacks are having probably the most success. Right here’s @War_Mappers newest map of the realm, up to date final evening:
Each of those maps have Bohdanivka, simply northeast of Brovary, in Russian arms. However take a look at the skinny tendril supplying it within the official HQ map. Some experiences declare that these provide traces have been reduce. Definitely wouldn’t take a lot. The HQ map additionally appears to have cleared the provision routes to Chernihiv of all Russian forces (all that orange within the second map), and that vital freeway that runs north of Nizhyn. With Russians out of the way in which, supples can now circulate extra simply into embattled Chernihiv.
NASA’s forest hearth satellite tv for pc FIRMS is clearly exhibiting the frontlines:
That total decrease tendril ending at Bohdanivka is below assault. In response to the Pentagon, that line has now collapsed:
Bohdanivka is 40 kilometers (26 miles) away from Kyiv, so this is able to imply it’s been cleared of Russian troops. But there may be no video affirmation wherever that this has, certainly, occurred. So take with an enormous grain of salt. Equally, Bucha is 32 kilometers away from central Kyiv. Is that this Pentagon official suggesting Russians have been cleared from Bucha, Irpin, and Hostemel airport? There may be zero indication this has occurred. So let’s simply assume one thing was misplaced within the translation, as a result of the Pentagon (just like the Ukrainian Ministry of Protection) have each been conservative when discussing territorial good points and losses. [See update below, that reporter misreported the briefing.]
The Pentagon has been bizarre the final couple of days, like this:
Russia has been making an attempt to encircle Ukraine’s vital combating pressure on the Donbas entrance traces as a result of it will isolate and probably destroy a 3rd of Ukraine’s armed forces. That’s a heck of a prize! It has nothing to do with “reinforcing cities,” since Russia has proven zero capacity to take any cities. It nonetheless hasn’t managed to take Mariupol, regardless of having surrounded it from the start of the conflict, remoted, starved, and pounded to oblivion. A Ukrainian retreat from their ready trench defenses, over open, flat land, can be a turkey shoot for Russian forces, artillery, and air pressure. The truth that Russia has been unable to dislodge the defenders from these positions speaks to their efficacy.
Ukraine has loads of defenders of their cities, and Russia severely lacks the troops to make a severe push into most of them. Certainly, it’s this confidence in territorial protection forces and ready city defenses that has given Ukrainian excessive command the boldness to go on the offensive round Kyiv and Kherson within the south.
Yesterday, Russia destroyed a key rail junction supplying Ukrainian forces on the Donbas entrance. For those who’re questioning why Russia didn’t try this on day one, that’s a superb query. It took them a month, however they lastly wised up. And that’s the objective, to starve these troops of meals and ammo, in order that they’ll both immediate their give up, or maintain hitting them till they run out of ammo and don’t have anything left with which to combat again.
In response to Ukrainian intelligence, these promised Syrian troopers ain’t coming.
On March 22, a gathering was held between the commander of the eighth Brigade within the southern Syrian province of Dera, Colonel Nasim Abu Irra, and Russian Armed Forces Common Alexander Zhuravleov (performs the operate of the commander of the Russian group within the southern provinces cíyah of Syria).
In the course of the assembly, the Russian basic made a transparent demand to formulate and supply an inventory of names and private info of militants from Abu Irra models and the Syrian Protection Forces able to take part within the conflict in opposition to Ukraine.
The Syrian colonel didn’t present a transparent reply. As an alternative, he promised to get in contact after session “with different representatives of the administration group of the eighth brigade”.
“I’ll get again to you,” is hilarious. Identical to Belorussian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Who would need to ship troops, understanding Russia would simply feed them into the wooden chipper? Russia doesn’t even deal with its personal troops effectively.
This can be a plea from the Ukrainian authorities to the passion drone producer DJI. Regardless of how the textual content could make this sound, it’s not about these drones getting used to hold Russian weapons. It’s not even about these drones getting used to spy on Ukrainian positions. It’s about one thing constructed into these drones that known as “AeroScope.”
AeroScope is a sign that every drone offers off. It was designed to fulfill the wants of presidency businesses around the globe to find drones that enter restricted airspace, like that round airports. DJI will promote to “reputable” purchasers, like authorities businesses and police forces, each short-rage and long-range instruments for detecting these AeroScope indicators. Encoded within the indicators is each the situation of the drone itself, and the situation of the drone operator on the bottom.
Amongst these reputable purchasers of the AeroScope system have been Russian businesses and Russian police. Now they’re utilizing the AeroScope sign to find Ukrainian drone operators. And kill them. Generally that is troopers utilizing the DJI drones for reconnaissance. Generally these are children taking part in with a birthday present.
In response to Ukrainian officers, 100 youngsters have already died from this technique. They, understandably, for each humanitarian and army causes, need DJI to show off AeroScope.
Nonetheless, there is a matter. DJI is a Chinese language firm. China has offered a token quantity of humanitarian assist to Ukraine (far much less, and that is true, than Every day Kos readers). Nonetheless, it has not taken any place in assist of Ukraine’s army. In reality, there continues to be an opportunity it’d assist Russia in some type. So getting AeroScope turned off appears unlikely.
Ah, okay, that tweet above was mistaken.
That makes extra sense. Russians are nonetheless comparatively shut in NW Kyiv and digging in, however have been pushed method again on the japanese facet.
