Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Troops in Kyiv

     Ukrainian troops in Kyiv. Putin is looking to have talks. I suspect he has some idea of how badly it will go for him if his troops move into Kyiv proper. Urban combat favors the defenders in many ways so that they can inflict far more significant casualties against the attacker. For Putin's forces to have any chance, they'd have to level Kyiv in the same manner the Red Army pounded Berlin in 1945. Mass artillery, rocket, and bomber strikes coupled with a very large ground offensive. Even then, turning Kyiv into ruins only adds to the defensive capability of surviving Ukraine forces thanks to the rubble. Of course, there will sure to be international outrage if Putin proceeds with such an attack. If he does not and there are rules of engagement the Soviet troops need to follow, then it will be a very bloody slog for the Soviets.

Originally posted on February 25, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Soldiers Outside Kharkiv

 

     Ukrainian soldiers outside Kharkiv. The ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) system set up to fire down the road is the Ukrainian designed Skif (meaning "Scythian"). Using the 152mm tandem-charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) missile, the Skif can punch through 1,100mm of armor behind ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) as the tandem nature of the dual warhead allows it to defeat the ERA protection and strike the main armor beneath it.

Originally posted on February 24, 2022.