The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on March 20 2024

‘Death Awaits Them’: Russia Reveals Number Of Troops France Could Deploy In Ukraine

French Army “Ready” For War General Says, Russia Claims Macron Sending 2,000 Troops To Ukraine

Battlefield Earth The Russian Bear Prepares To Maul France

The Russian Art of War

Putin: “War with NATO is possible and this would be WW3″

French TV broadcasts fantasize about where French troops could be stationed in Ukraine if they were sent there – details

 - The map shows 2 delusional hypothetical scenarios – military deployment along the Dnieper River and along the border with Belarus.

 - Apparently the scenarios are from Col. Vincent Arbaretier, who was invited to the studio as an expert.

 - He argues that the deployment of troops along the Dnieper River would show Russia a “red line” that it is not allowed to enter the territory of right-bank Ukraine. And deployment along the border with Belarus would make Kiev safe.Arbaretier also allows for a mixed option with deployment in both of these locations.

 - He says “France has envisioned in this scenario” 20,000 soldiers assembled in mobile brigades.

 - “It’s not about putting up a continuous line of people, it’s about putting up units that can react very quickly. Close combat units, combat units and support units to be able to hold off the Russians,” Arbaretier said.

RVvoenkor

The French Ministry of Defense denies the plan to send 2,000 soldiers to Ukraine

▪️The Military Department claims that the statement by the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Naryshkin, about the preparation of 2000 French military personnel to be sent to Ukraine is not true.

▪️The text of the statement used standard phrases about “irresponsible provocation” and “disinformation operation.”

▪️Meanwhile, on French TV some analysts are actively discussing sending military personnel and their deployment on the territory of Ukraine.

When Britain and France secretly conspired to attack Egypt during the Suez “Crisis” (which they secretly planned with Israel in 1956)

It defined the end of France and Britain as global powers, but they remain hungry for that scent of power and relevance.

Now, Macron and Sunak, both desperately unpopular at home see an “opportunity” to deflect from their dire domestic woes by “refusing to rule out” sending what remains of their utterly dysfunctional and tiny militaries to Ukraine.

It’s a classic ploy to scramble some relevance in political careers marked by failure and division at home. The French and British people are not stupid and will not sacrifice the remnants of their normality to die in Ukraine for these two Elitist fantasists.

It’s all theatre, and you are the audience. Remain in your seats, under no circumstances be convinced to step onto a stage for these disingenuous liars, this is a farce doomed to become a tragedy, let them reap what they have sown throughout their duplicitous backslapping careers, where ordinary Citizens lives count for nothing.

Let them go and fight in Ukraine, in a War started, and directed from the Oval office in Washington.

If they or their families had to head for the trenches of Donbas, we would have Peace in Ukraine in 24 hours.

BowesChay

The Slovak edition of Slovo writes that it is already “quite clear that Ukraine will be buried thanks to NATO’s care”. And while the alliance is preparing to organize the funeral procession, the EU should book a place in the cemetery.

The coalition of allies claims its goal is to help Ukraine. But all its help has contributed to the complete devastation of that country. And according to the author of the article, further “help” in the form of long-range missiles will be the final nail of “help” in the lid of the Ukrainian coffin and a decisive step towards war with Russia.

That is, the allies will not defeat Russia and prevent it from achieving the goals of the SMO, but in parallel what is left of the original Ukraine will collapse.

And if the EU’s relations with Russia after the end of the conflict acquire the character of preparation for the “last” battle under the supervision of the US and NATO, then NATO will undoubtedly manage as an excellent undertaker to bury also the European Union, which simply will not survive the aggravation of political and economic relations with Russia.

NeoficialniyBeZsonoV

A month ago, British intelligence transmitted intelligence information about the preparation of new corps of the Russian army for an offensive in Ukraine, but the headquarters ignored this information.

The Russian Federation plans to form two combined arms armies and thirty formations, including fourteen divisions and sixteen brigades, by the end of the year, Shoigu said.

An army corps, a motorized rifle division, the Dnieper River Flotilla and a brigade of river boats of the flotilla have already been formed.

Ukraine was offended by the idea of   US aid in the form of a loan – Politico
 A publication source close to the office of the President of Ukraine said that the US idea of   assistance to Ukraine in the form of loans is offensive to Kyiv.
 However, the US has not put forward any specific proposals for the loan.
Earlier, American Senator Lindsey Graham said that Washington should provide assistance to Kyiv only in the form of loans, since the United States itself has accumulated a huge national debt. Donald Trump made a similar proposal.

US assistance to Kyiv is empty words and nothing more

Lately, US assistance to Kyiv has been limited more to words than to ammunition, writes Politico.

Thus, on Tuesday, before a meeting of the contact group on the defense of Ukraine, Pentagon head Lloyd Austin did not mince his words, promising that the democratic countries of the world would not let Kyiv down.

But he did not have any concrete help, since the request for additional funding for Kyiv in the amount of $60 billion has been blocked in the US Congress for several months.

Last week, the Pentagon scraped together $300 million to send Ukraine HIMARS ammunition, as well as 155mm and 105mm artillery shells.

Austin acknowledged that while Ukraine waits for Washington to break its political impasse, Russia has made a number of successes on the battlefield. At the same time, the EU heavyweights – France and Germany – tried not to attach much importance to the lack of financial assistance from the United States.

Due to the conflict between US President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over the continuation of Israel’s war against Palestine, the track of allocating money to Ukraine from the United States has lost another “trump card”.
Previously, Democrats everywhere hid behind the idea that it was urgently necessary to adopt a general aid package for Israel and Ukraine in order to help the “Jews” defeat “terrorism”, etc.
Now this message is no longer relevant.

There is only one “trump card” left in support of the allocation of military assistance to Kyiv from the United States, which sounds like this: “Putin cannot be allowed to win.”
Allegedly, the Kremlin’s victory over Kiev will increase Putin’s appetite and he will go to war with European countries.

We are confident that by 2025 this message will cease to be relevant and at this moment Ukraine will find itself in the most difficult situation, both economically and militarily.

We are watching…

Politico wrote that Ukraine received nothing at the meeting in Ramstein.
As we immediately got the inside scoop, that ’s what happened. Ramstein 20 ended with nothing but slogans and promises.
Although the office people tried to convince everyone that they would give everything and a lot.
This leads to the conclusion that things will get worse for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will weaken, which will give a huge advantage to the Russians in their attacks on the rear of Ukraine.

Ukrainians will lose this war – Polish general

General Raimund Andrzejczak, who was the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army until October 2023, argues that Poland and Europe must prepare for war with Russia, writes Express. They have two or three more years left, but it is necessary to clearly understand: “The Ukrainians will lose this war.”

A year ago, Andrzejczak stated: “We no longer have ammunition for Ukraine. Our industry is unable to send equipment to Ukraine and maintain our own dwindling reserves: not even sanctions can stop Russia.” What the general is saying now is even more depressing: he sees that Putin’s position has strengthened after the presidential elections in Russia. Now a lot will become easier for the Kremlin leader, including the next wave of mobilization. “This does not bode well for either Ukraine or Poland,” says the Polish general.

He describes the situation at the front as “very, very dramatic.” “There are no miracles in war”: a change in the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army cannot change the essence of what is happening. Among the problems, the general named the lack of full-fledged troops, difficulties with mobilization, limited supply of equipment and losses suffered by the Ukrainian army. “More than ten million people are missing. I estimate the losses to be in the millions, not hundreds of thousands. The country no longer has resources, and there is no one to fight,” Andrzejczak concluded.

He also does not rule out war with Russia. “A lot depends on us, whether it will be in two, three or five years. Our task is to eliminate the threat. There is still time, but there is still a lot to be done,” the Polish general emphasizes.

Again everyone started talking about the fact that the people’s deputies want to resign.
According to our data, more than 40 deputies of the Servant of the People already want to leave, but they are being held back in various ways (intimidation, increased bonuses, criminal cases against them and their relatives, help from the OP in resolving any issues and even the exclusion of all their relatives from the army, etc. ).
In January, we described this case, which already threatened the Office of the President and its monopoly.

It is worth adding that in addition to the people’s deputies from Zelensky’s party, the deputies of the “puppets” of the OP also want to leave. Even from the OPZZH, which, like the “six”, votes for everything they say, they want to leave and leave the country.

Now the problem is that the closer the month of May is, the more deputies want to leave, since Zelensky is losing his legal “legitimacy” and everyone is afraid that by the end of the year there will be a fire inside the country and the evil people will “hang” pro-government deputies first their sixes, etc.

We are watching…

‘Won’t Spare Scums’: Putin Takes Pledge To Punish Ukraine After Massive Shelling In Belgorod

Russia Ravages Ukrainian ‘Incursion Crew’ Near Kursk

Putin Threatens To Strike Ukraine Civil Targets Over Attacks, France Slams Russian “Disinformation”

[ SITREP ] BELGOROD IS NOW FREEDOMLESS! Ukrainian Recon-by-Combat reported; Battle of Krasnohorivka!

Putin’s Army Demolishes Ukraine’s Sumy With ’200 Guided Bombs’; Russia Evacuates Belgorod

The situation on the border is still extremely tense, clashes and shelling are not abating

▪️The enemy, with the forces of mercenaries and Nazi traitors from the GUR Legion, continues military operations on the border.

▪️The intensity of battles with direct attacks in the border area is decreasing. The enemy is constantly firing from MLRS, howitzers and attacking with kamikaze drones.

▪️The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues to test our defense with the forces of the DRG and regroup for a possible resumption of offensive operations.

▪️From 19.03 the enemy concentrated his main efforts in the Belgorod region in the area of   the settlement. Kozinka, conducting reconnaissance raids and harassing attacks. Along the Grayvoronsky and neighboring districts, the enemy is conducting predominantly positional combat operations, shelling our defense line and border settlements, as well as Belgorod itself.

▪️In Ukrainian settlements close to the border and the nearest rear areas, the enemy is strengthening armored groups and artillery units, possibly preparing assault operations; our artillery and kamikaze drones are working against it.

▪️Russian Aerospace Forces aviation daily carries out massive strikes on targets in the Sumy and Kharkov regions with controlled air bombs, hitting places where enemy forces are concentrated.

The enemy has thrown foreign mercenaries into the offensive on the Russian border: militants of the Getica group are fighting under the guise of the RVC

 - Under the guise of Nazis of the “Russian Volunteer Corps” created by Kiev, Western mercenaries under the leadership of the GUR special forces and, apparently, Western security services are attacking the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

 - Western mercenaries under the guise of Nazis of the “Russian Volunteer Corps” created by Kiev are attacking the Belgorod and Kursk regions under the leadership of special forces of the GUR and, apparently, Western intelligence services.

 - Thus, Romanian mercenaries from the “Getica” militant group published a video showing armored vehicles with RDK flags and frankly stated that they were participating in raids on the Belgorod region

  – “We pretended that we were not fighting much and secretly “prepared a large-scale operation together with the Free Russia Legion, the Siberian Battalion, Russian volunteer corps, Chechens from Ichkeria, brothers from Belarus, Georgia and many other “wolves” from the forests of the free world. We raided their border villages,” the Romanian mercenaries said in an official statement.

RVvoenkor

In the Belgorod direction, the Russian Armed Forces completely cleared the settlement of the remnants of Ukrainian militants. Kozinka – Ministry of Defense

▪️Measures are being taken to prevent the penetration of SRG.

▪️Aviation and artillery strikes destroyed up to 650 militants, 2 Vampire MLRS combat vehicles (Czech Republic).

Ukrainian militants have been shelling the Graivoron district of Belgorod Region since early morning – Governor Gladkov

- Two civilians who were on the street at the time of the strike were killed in Graivoron.
 - Two more people were wounded. They are being taken by ambulance crews to medical facilities in the city of Belgorod.
 - In the city, the food service center was badly damaged. Presumably, an employee of the institution may be under the rubble. Rescue teams are still searching for her.
 - In 9 private houses windows were broken, roofs, facades and fences were cut. Two more houses are half destroyed. Two cars were damaged.
 - In the village of Golovchino, the roof, facade, fence and windows of one house were damaged.
 - In the village of Kozinka, one car was damaged as a result of an incoming shell.

Slobozhansky direction: decrease in attack pace and partial AFU retreat from the border
Situation at 13:00, March 20, 2024

Since yesterday evening, there has been a reduction in Ukrainian formations’ activity in several areas. These formations have been carrying out attacks in the border region throughout the week.

▪️ Russian military personnel have successfully pushed the enemy out of the vicinity of the village of Kozinki. The remaining AFU forces have withdrawn from the state border and are not launching new attacks.

▪️ Meanwhile, Ukrainian formations continue to shell settlements in the Belgorod region. This morning, they fired a series of rockets at Belgorod, resulting in one casualty. In response, regional authorities are taking steps to evacuate certain groups of the population.

Assessing the Ukrainian actions so far, the enemy has not achieved any military or media success. Their attacks have resulted in hundreds of casualties, both killed and wounded, and the loss of dozens of equipment pieces, which has been confirmed by objective monitoring. In contrast, the losses suffered by the Russian Armed Forces during this period have been significantly lower. (https://t.me/vysokygovorit/15049)

Moreover, the ongoing shelling of the Belgorod region has led to civilian casualties, destruction, and economic harm to the area. This underscores the importance of addressing organizational challenges (https://t.me/rybar/58307) that are hindering the effectiveness of counter-battery warfare.

rybar

One can simply feel trouble brewing, that’s how quiet it is today, Too quiet.

In fact, a fantastic analyst I follow, Will Schryver, has noticed (https://twitter.com/imetatronink/status/1770511828852093221) an “unprecedented magnitude of reconnaissance” operations by NATO in the Black Sea, which usually portends another “Ukrainian” attack on Crimea, the Kerch Bridge, or the Black Sea Fleet.

Kiev is literally trying every trick in the book to get the attention of its sponsors so it can get more money — hence the Belgorod “invasion” and mass drone attacks. Moscow would do well to be extra vigilant.

This thing in Belgorod is the most sustained it has ever been.

I wonder what the play here, but it is notable that all of the units involved in this cross border raiding operation are non Ukrainian, at least going by the material they are putting out, a way for Kiev go present that Ukrainian forces are not invading Russia, but instead a coalition of Chechen salafists, German and Russian neo nazis and anti Putinists are.

The on the ground operations, the constant shelling and strikes.

The question is why?

Aside from tying down Russian military assets, what justifies this diversion of crucial Ukrainian material at a time while the front in the Donbas is struggling?

There is a bigger play going on here.

Battle for #Orlovka – Is the Village Captured?⚡️

On Tuesday 19 Mar 2024, the capture of #Orlovka by the RFAF was officially 👉 announced (https://t.me/sitreports/24742). A confirmation of the other side is still missing.

It seems that the village is not fully captured:

According to Google Maps there is a separated part west of the Village, see maps.👆This part is not also marked as occupied in Rybar’s latest map, also not in Petrenko’s map (I added 2 green arrows).

West of #Avdeyevka, Russian units have gained a foothold in #Orlovka, the Two Majors wrote in today’s Morning Report (https://t.me/sitreports/24775).

If Google Map is right, the village is strategical captured, but not in its geographical borders. The letter is decisive as we know from #Soledar and #Bakhmut. Ukraine can rightly deny the loss. This is all irrelevant to the operational strategic situation!

How the capture of Orlovka (DPR) will affect the further offensive of the Russian Armed Forces:

▫️ Why is important taking Orlovka?

Firstly, the most combat-ready units of the AFU in this area retreated from Orlovka with heavy losses: the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade (formerly “Azov”, a terrorist organization), the 110th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, as well as parts of the 109th Territorial Defence Brigade, with the help of which the Armed Forces carried out “meat counterattacks”, trying to recapture the village and regardless of losses. Secondly, the capture of Orlovka pushed part of the artillery units of the AFU west towards Uman, in particular the self-propelled artillery division of the 53rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

▫️How will events develop further?

After the loss of the village, we can almost certainly expect attempts at a counterattack. The Ukrainian army undertook them even with smaller territorial losses in Orlovka, even if it was a matter of withdrawing from two or three strongholds. After the further advance of the RF Armed Forces from Orlovka, the plan of the operation will be clear: there is no information yet whether the attack will be carried out on Umanskoye or near Semyonovka north of Orlovka. In fact, on the combat line in this area there are only two outposts of the AFU left: Semyonovka, which is defended by the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade and the withdrawn units of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade with the support of the 63rd OSB, and Berdychi, for which there is a battle with the 47th Mechanized Brigade and the 116th Territorial Defence Brigade.

Presumably, both directions will be strengthened after the loss of Orlovka, since the loss of Semyonovka or Berdychi (regardless of the order) actually makes the defense of neighboring sectors of the front meaningless, including the area around Tonenkoye.

▫️ Where is this heading?

Taking into account the fact that Orlovka, Semyonovka, Berdychi and Tonenkoye are located in the lowlands, the most probable withdrawal of the AFU to lines 2 km to the west seems likely. However, there are no large concrete fortifications there: the area west of Orlovka is continuous fields. Therefore, from these positions, in the event of the worst-case scenario, part of the units of the Ukrainian army will have to retreat to Novoselovka Pervaya and Novopokrovskoye. The other part will be forced to roll back to Umanskoye and hold the defense along the route.

However, the turn will reach these fortified areas relatively quickly, since the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces in Tonenkoye is at the final stage.

Military Chronicle

Powerful explosions have been reported in the Kharkov region near Ivanovka

The mayor of Kharkov, Terekhov, and the governor, Sinegubov, have confirmed the occurrence and announced the resulting destruction.

Russian Telegram channels report that the Russian Armed Forces conducted two Iskander missile strikes, targeting an ammunition depot which might have been used for the Vampire MLRS.

The strike also targeted a concentration of enemy personnel, resulting in secondary detonations and fires.

Map of military operations and the situation on the fronts on the evening of March 20

⚔️The situation on the fronts over the past 24 hours:

⚫️Svatovo-Kremennoe direction

In the Kupyansky sector, without major changes, there were positional battles in the Sinkovka area. Meanwhile, our fighters advanced in the Ternov area.

⚫️Donetsk direction

Fighting for Berdychi continues. Ours are consolidated in previously occupied positions in Orlovka . The Russian army advanced to Tonenkoye and Pervomaisky .

⚫️Zaporozhye direction

In the Orekhovsky sector, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying, with the help of reserves, to knock out the Russian army from Rabotino , without success. To the north-west of Verbovoy there are oncoming battles.

◼️The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to carry out terrorist attacks on the Belgorod region. In mercilessly attacked Grayvoron, the enemy struck the MFC point. In addition, the catering unit was destroyed . The regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported two dead and two wounded. In Belgorod itself, a person also died as a result of shelling .

Russia attrition war and fear of summer collapse

Russian Forces Reach Terny l Russia Penetrates Deeper Into Robotyne

Wagner Storms Krynki | RUAF Launch Armored Assault on Terny

Russia Captures New Territory In Donetsk; Orlivka ‘Liberated’ As Putin Begins New Term As President

 Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (20 March 2024)

▫️In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated the enemy near Sinkovka, Kislovka, Yagodnoye, and Timkovka (Kharkov). Two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 18th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade were repelled near Terny (DPR).

The AFU lost up to 85 servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system.

▫️In Belgorod direction, Russian units fully mopped up Kozinka of the rest of Ukrainian militants and continued to carry out activities to prevent sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the AFU from entering the border area.

As a result of air strikes and artillery fire, the enemy lost up to 650 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicles.

▫️In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions as well as defeated units of the 79th Air Assault and 46th Airmobile Brigades of the AFU near Krasnoye, Andreyevka, Kleshcheyevka, Novomikhailovka, and Georgiyevka (DPR). One counter-attack launched by units of the AFU 81st Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Belogorovka (LPR).

The AFU lost up to 420 servicemen, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and eight motor vehicles.

In course of counter-battery warfare, one D-20 howitzer, one U.S.-made M119 and one UK-made L119 howitzers, one Grad MLRS, one S-300 SAM director illuminator
system, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station, two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations, one Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system, as well as four field ammunition depots.

▫️In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces’ units inflicted fire damage on the enemy and improved the situation along the front line.

Seven counter-attacks of the AFU 47th, 53rd mechanised, 59th motorised rifle, and 3rd assault brigades were repelled close to Novogorodskoye, Pervomayskoye, Tonenkoye, Vodyanoye, and Berdychi (DPR).

The AFU lost up to 395 servicemen, four armoured fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun.

▫️In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces’ units improved their tactical position and inflicted fire damage on the AFU units near Vodyanoye, Pavlovka, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (DPR).

The AFU lost up to 110 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

▫️ In Kherson direction, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 28th Mechanised, 128th Mountain Assault brigades, and 126th Territorial Defence Brigade near Kopani, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye) and Ivanovka (Kherson).

The AFU lost up to 65 servicemen, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer.

▫️Operational-Tactical Aviation, UAVs, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have been eliminated: a fuel depot for military equipment of the AFU, the Grad MLRS combat and transport-loading vehicles, as well as AFU manpower and military hardware in 121 areas have been eliminated.

Air defence systems have shot down 145 UAVs, 22 projectiles the U.S.-manufactured HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS systems, the Tochka-U tactical missile, one missile of the S-200 converted to surface-to-ground system, as well as one U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile.