The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on March 16 2023

Russian Forces Capture Southern Bakhmut

Battlefield Ukraine End of Bakhmut

THE RUSSIAN FORCES ARE SWEEPING FORWARD

Russian invasion of Ukraine [16 Mar 2023] ‘Today’

A number of sources, incl. on the part of the enemy, they report a deterioration for the APU of the situation on the road between Khromovo and Chasovy Yar.

As of the evening of March 16, the section of the road adjacent to Khromovo was under heavy fire from the gunners of the Wagner PMC. During the day, Ukrainian fighters suffered significant losses on it.

On the question of what the UKR telegram channels Rezident and Legitimny say of Zaluzhny urging more militarily sound options throughout the SMO (husbanding military resources including manpower, urging tactical withdrawals, caring for his men) – we agree with Alexander Mercouris of the Duran – it’s not true.

We agree that Zaluzhny formally presents these requests but shares Zelensky’s desire to hold every last inch to the last Ukrainian and that Zaluzhny does not actually care about the death and suffering his orders require and indeed has contempt for officers and soldiers who complain – which is why General Moskalyov, the former UKR commander of the Donbass group of forces, was dismissed – from the perspective of Zaluzhny, Zelensky and Syrsky – he complained too much about his men getting killed and wounded and they wanted someone who would do as he was told without much complaint.

Pentagon releases footage of U.S. drone, Russian jet encounter

Washington’s Downed Drone + Growing Admissions of Ukraine’s Military Deterioration

VIDEO of drone incident shows pilot screwed up: Blaine Holt and Rebecca Koffler

‘Prevent miscalculation’: US and Russia resume contact after drone incident

Biden pissed! Russian jet pees fuel on US drone for Black Sea smack down!

Pentagon says United States does not seek conflict with Russia

Again about the crash of an American UAV off the coast of Crimea

The US Air Force European Command published a video from the camera of an MQ-9 Reaper drone that crashed (https://t.me/rybar/44625) into the sea off the coast of Crimea during a reconnaissance sortie on March 14.

▪️ The video shows the approach of a Russian Su-27 fighter, which opens the release valve and pours fuel over the UAV. Then the VKS aircraft makes the same second run, after which the picture disappears.

▪️ At the end of the recording, one can clearly see the deformation of one of the blades, presumably caused by the impact of a fuel jet. Apparently, it was this damage to the main rotor that caused the MQ-9 to fall into the waters of the Black Sea.

As we wrote earlier, (https://t.me/rybar/44625) what happened was a logical consequence of the provocative actions of NATO aviation in the Black Sea. For months, alliance drones have been coming close to the Crimean coast and coordinating Ukrainian strikes on the peninsula.

It is quite possible that what happened will force the United States, if not to reduce intelligence activity in the region, then at least to stay away from Russian airspace.

Pentagon (Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder) statements on the drone incident

“We assess it’s very unlikely that they would be able to recover anything useful given a couple of factors. One, the fact — and I’m not going to go into details — but that we took steps to protect information aboard that aircraft. And two, the fact that it crashed in extremely deep water,”

Mr Ryder also said the US did not ask Russia for an apology after the drone incident in the Black Sea.

The United States is evaluating the feasibility of conducting reconnaissance missions using unmanned aerial vehicles in the Black Sea region, CNN reported.

According to them, the Pentagon “weighs the cost and feasibility” of such flights after the incident with the US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper UAV, which crashed in the international waters of the Black Sea on March 14. As the CNN television company emphasizes, the US military is studying the flight paths of its UAVs and assessing how to reduce the risk of a military confrontation with Russia.

Maria Zakharova to John Kirby

White House Security Council communications coordinator John Kirby on US prospects for MQ-9: “We didn’t get it. And I’m not sure we can do it. He fell very, very deep into the Black Sea. So we’re still trying to see if it’s possible to make any effort to get it. Perhaps not. We are studying footage taken in the area of ​​the crash.”

“John, take the telephone number of a private Ukrainian company from The New York Times, which, according to American propaganda, blew up the Nord Stream pipelines very, very deep in the Baltic Sea. These, judging by your newspapers, are specialists in deep flight. They will get it, “advised Maria Zakharova.

UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES DESECRATE THE HOLY QUR’AN SHOWING HOSTILITY TOWARDS RAMZAN KADYROV!

Kadyrov called them “scum” and cursed the AFU militants who violated the Koran.
The head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov promised to do everything to punish the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who violated the holy book of Muslims. At the same time, the head of Chechnya added that “the scum will not have to endure the cold for long,” promising them hellfire.

Battle for Avdiivka situation as of 20.00 March 15, 2023

 ðŸ”»To the north of Avdiivka, Russian troops completely cleared Krasnohorivka. The settlement came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces. At the moment, the military personnel of the Russian Army are advancing west of the village and securing themselves in the liberated areas.

▪️ Due to the loss of Krasnohorivka, Ukrainian formations have been actively transferring ammunition and essential supplies to Avdiivka in the past few days in case of a breach of the defense. In addition, 15 people from the 116th Brigade unit of the AFU Territorial Defense arrived at the front line.

🔻South of Avdiivka, several units of armored vehicles and assault detachments from the 53rd mechanized brigade of the AFU were deployed to the area of Toninke and Siverne.

▪️ In the area 4 km northwest of Pervomaisky and 1.5 km north of the village, firing positions of 155-mm M777 howitzers are equipped, and in Pervomaisky itself, at least one MLRS launcher.

▪️ Over the past 24 hours, the AFU with the forces of 53 Mechanized Brigade and 145 and 147 separate battalions conducted reconnaissance in force, advancing from the outskirts of Severne. As a result, the Ukrainian formations managed to recapture one position, but they could not advance further than the AFU, losing eight people wounded.

🔻With the liberation of Krasnogorovka, the situation of the AFU in Avdiivka worsened, but it is too early to talk about the encirclement and the attack on the fortified area itself. Before that, it is necessary to create a favorable foothold by cutting the supply lines, which, among other things, pass from the south from Lastochkino and Orlivka.

More Work to do – Military Expert Boris Rozhin commented on Readovka’s capture of #Krasnogorovka in the context of the Operation to encircle #Avdeyevka⚡️

🔹Progress was confirmed today in the #Avdeyevka sector (https://t.me/readovkanews/54837) – #Krasnogorovka was taken in the socalled northern phase of the contour of the future encirclement of the city. Every success in this direction is already habitually perceived as another step towards the long awaited encirclement and destruction of the notorious fortified area, from which the peaceful city of #Donetsk has been terrorized by artillery for many years. Military expert Boris Rozhin gave his assessment of today’s liberation of the settlement as part of the operation to encircle #Avdeyevka specifically for Readovka.

🔹According to the Expert, it is too early to talk about encircling the city, if only because the offensive in the southern facade, which was outlined after the capture of #Opytnoye and #Vodyanoye in the direction of #Tonenkoye and #Severnoye, has not started, while #Pervomayskoye is still under the control of the enemy. As for the northern facade, the directly liberated #Krasnogorovka, this would indeed be progress after months of position fighting near the #Avdeyevka – #Konstantinovka road. One should not expect rapid progress after the fall of this enemy stronghold, given the AFU’s longstanding fortification efforts there. The same applies to the situation with supply roads.

🔹”Currently, there is no objective control over all roads to #Avdeyevka. Yes, artillery is stationed there from time to time, but it is too early to say that there is some kind of tight fire control there. Moreover, if we take the same #Orlovka [a village west of #Avdeyevka], three roads diverge there, that is, at least one of them can be safely used by the enemy,” Rozhin said.

🔹As for the Prospects of the #Avdeyevka operation, and specifically the question of where the next move will be made – from the north or from the south of the city – the expert is in favour of the “northern” option, that is, continuing to move further along the northern front. However, it is in the coming days, when issues with the stabilization of the frontline and the enemy’s weaknesses after the loss of #Krasnogorovka should become clearer, that our troops will limit themselves to at least cleaning up the areas near the #Konstantinovka highway.

The situation on the fronts on the evening of March 16

 Russian army liberated Krasnohorivka north of Avdiivka . Also, our troops are taking under fire control the section of the railway from the 437th kilometer station to the Khimik station , which is an important artery for supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thus, opportunities are opening up for the RF Armed Forces to cover Avdiivka from the north. According to military expert Boris Rozhin, it is too early to talk about the encirclement of the city, since the offensive from the south has not yet begun, and fighting continues for Pervomaiskoye . Therefore, at the moment there is no objective control over all the roads to Avdiivka .

⚔️The situation on the fronts for the past day:

⚫️ Artemovskoe (Bakhmut) direction

 ”Orchestra” are moving in the direction of Chrome and Orekhovo-Vasilyevka. Also, the fighters of PMC “Wagner” continue to push the militants out of the territory of the “AZOM” plant. Ours are gradually making their way in the center of Artemovsk . In addition, the “orchestra” approached the highway to Konstantinovka as a result of moving to the southwestern outskirts of the city from the side of Opytnoye.

⚫️ Zaporozhye direction

 After the failure of the militants near Pology and Gulyaipol , the Armed Forces of Ukraine switched to positional battles, there is a mutual artillery fight. In the area of Vasilyevka, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation repulsed the attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also, in the area of the city of Pologi , militants are shelling the positions of 291 SMEs.

💥Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 in the Novovodyany LPR area. Also, the Ukrainian S-300 air defense system was destroyed in the Yasenovy DPR area.

 ðŸ’¡The Kiev regime still managed to beg NATO for fighter aircraft. But instead of the F-16s coveted by Zelensky, four MiG-29s belonging to Poland were delivered . Deliveries of aircraft suggest the start of a large-scale offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the near future, since without aviation, any tank formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be quickly defeated by the Russian Aerospace Forces, which will hit Zelensky’s prestige and the positions of the West hard.

Chronicles of the special military operation for March 16, 2023

 ðŸ”» Border areas:

▪️In the Belgorod region, Russian air defense systems intercepted enemy missiles over Belgorod: residential buildings, office buildings and train cars were damaged by shrapnel.

▪️ In the Saki region of the Republic of Crimea, air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian drone.

🔻Starobelsk direction:

▪️In the Kupiansk sector, the parties are engaged in artillery duels along the entire line of contact: the Russian Armed Forces hit the accumulations of manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army in Dvurechnaya and Kupyansk.

▪️ In the Lyman area, positional battles continue near Zhuravka Balka and in Serebryansky forestry.

🔻Soledar direction:

▪️To the north-west of Bakhmut, units of PMC “Wagner” are expanding the zone of control around the village of Zaliznyanske and are preparing for a possible counterattack by the AFU.
-At the same time, Russian forces are advancing towards the village of Bogdanovka, and are also storming enemy positions in Orikhove – Vasilevka.

▪️ In Bakhmut itself, fierce street fighting continues in the northern and southern districts of the city.
- In the north, the assault detachments of the “Wagnerites” are expanding the zone of control on the territory of the “Artemovsky plant for the processing of non-ferrous metals.”
-In the south, Russian units are fighting in the areas of Sobachevka, Budenovka and Vodokanal.

▪️ To the southwest, fighting continues on the outskirts of the Kostyantynivka -Bakhmut highway and the outskirts of Krasnoye.

🔻 Donetsk direction:

▪️In the Avdiivka sector, after the liberation of Krasnogorovka, Russian troops are expanding their zone of control to the west of the village.

▪️ Ukrainian formations once again fired at civilian targets in the Donetsk agglomeration.
- In the capital of the DPR, the Kirovsky district was also under attack: one man was injured.
- In Gorlovka, residential buildings and outbuildings were damaged: civilians were not injured.

🔻 Zaporizhia direction ( map (https://t.me/rybar/44704) ):

▪️In the Gulyai-Polye sector, the parties are fighting in the area of Novozlatopol.

▪️ After an unsuccessful offensive in the Pologovsky and Orekhovsky sectors, Ukrainian units switched to positional battles.

▪️ In the Vasilyevsky section of the recon groups, the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the AFU conducted an unsuccessful sortie at the Russian Armed Forces positions near Vasilyevka: the attack was repulsed, the enemy’s losses amounted to two killed and ten people wounded.

🔻 Southern Front. Kherson direction:

▪️Artillery duels continue along the entire line of contact: the Russian Armed Forces hit enemy concentrations in Antonovka, Dneprovsky and Kherson.

In turn, the enemy fired on the left bank of the Kherson region: residential buildings in Cairo, Tavriysk and Novaya Kakhovka were also under attack.

Russian Defence Ministry Report on the Progress of the Special Military Operation (16 March 2023)⚡️

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
 
◽️In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by Ground-Assault and Army Aviation and the artillery of the ‘Zapad’ Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy manpower and hardware near Grianikovka, Kotlyarovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye and Rozovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).

💥Up to 50 Ukrainian personnel, 2 motor vehicles, and  1 U.S.-manufactured M-777 artillery system have been eliminated.
 
◽️In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems from of the ‘Tsentr’ Group of Forces, have resulted in neutralisation of the AFU units near Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic) and Yampolovka, Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥The enemy losses were over 100 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, 1 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and 1 D-30 howitzer.
 
◽️In Donetsk direction, the active operations of the ‘Yug’ Group of Forces, as well as the attacks by aviation and artillery, have resulted in the neutralisation of up to 275 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 tanks, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, 2 pickup trucks, 1 Uragan multiple-launch rocket system, 1 D-20 howitzer, 1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and 1 U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system.
 
◽️In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Operational-Tactical Aviation and the artillery of the ‘Vostok’ Group of Forces have launched a complex fire attack against the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near Ugledar and Pavlovka (Donetsk People’s Republic), Novodanilovka and Scherbaki (Zaporozhye region).

💥The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, 4 tanks, 1 armoured vehicle, 1 D-20 howitzer, and 1 U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system.
 
◽️In Kherson direction, more than 35 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 tank, 2 Grad MLRS vehicles and 1 D-30 howitzer have been destroyed.
 
💥Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 93 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 186 areas.

💥The command post of the AFU 59rd Motorised Infantry Brigade has been neutralised near Kamyshovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥1 Ukrainian S-300 air defence missile system has been destroyed near Yasenovoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥1 Ukrainian Osa-AKM air defence missile system has also been destroyed near Konstantinovka

💥1 U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Minkovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
 
💥Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down 1 MiG-29 of Ukrainian Air Force near Novovodyanoye (Lugansk People’s Republic).
 
◽️Air defence facilities have intercepted 8 projectiles, launched by HIMARS and Uragan MLRS, as well as 1 HARM anti-radar missile.

💥In addition, 9 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near near Ivanovka (Kharkov region), Zeleny Gai, Verhnetoretskoye, Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic), Kremennaya (Lugansk People’s Republic), Malaya Kardashinka and Alyoshki (Kherson region).

Ukraine Update, US Drone Incident, RF Nuclear Torpedo, Swiss Bank, G7 – Oil, India Stays With Russia

Poland to send four fighter jets to Ukraine

Col. Tony Shaffer: Russia STRIKES Ukraine With DEVASTATING Blow

Russian media discusses the GOP’s position on Ukraine

Scott Ritter begs Russians to give Americans a chance to do the right thing

Child victims of Russia – Ukraine War In Donetsk