The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on May 23 2023

Belgorod incursion end game

More attempts to enter Belgorod [23 May 2023]

UKRAINIAN BELGOROD OFFENSIVE – Ukrainian forces attack from 4 directions, not just towards Grayvoron

Residents of Graivoron and Golovchino have returned home after being evicted while a sabotage and reconnaissance group was liquidated, said Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

“The situation as of today. Graivoron and Golovchino – residents have returned to their homes. And the residents of Gora-Podol, Glotovo and Kozinka will return centrally in the near future,” explained the head of the region.

He added that residents of surrounding villages continue to stay in temporary accommodation centres in Stariy Oskol, Yakovelevsky district, as well as in Ivnyansky and Rakityansky districts. They will be able to return home after the permission of the military personnel.

Also the restoration of the disrupted power supply has already begun and food deliveries have been organised.

“Tomorrow after 3 p.m. the electricity should be restored, along with cellular communication and water supply,” he promised.
 

Ukrainian forces invading Russia:

-Goals
The goals of the is to overturn the Russia government according to what’s so call Russian partisans. Achieving that goal is clearly impossible with that much of a force, so the real goal is not clear yet.

-Porsenals
Ukrainian scources claim the porsenals are involved in the tasks are Russians, but Russian official scources said the most are Ukrainian citizens.

-Equipments
The Equipments that were used were from the US, Ukraine and Poland.

-Results
The operation has ended with Russia securing its territory completely and capturig/ destroying the invaders equipments while Ukrainian forces capturing 1/2 Russian armored vehicles.

-Conclusion
By looking at the amounts of captured/destroyed between Russian forces and Ukrainian forces, it’s fair to assume the operation ended with a failure.

Following the 2nd Day of the Battle near #Belgorod, the #US began to change their Shoes in the Air⚡️

The Head of the Press Service of the US Department of State, Matthew Miller, said at a regular briefing that #US authorities “doubt the veracity of reports” that Ukrainian saboteurs had used US-provided weapons during a sortie in the Belgorod Region.

Then an even more amusing Report emerged, the Pentagon said it did not approve the transfer of equipment supplied to #Ukraine to a third party, and Kiev had not requested it.

▪️ At first Washington was silent for 24 hours, observing the situation. When it became clear that #Russia was once again losing in the information space and that the military’s sortie was having a positive propaganda effect, Miller burst into a post about (https://t.me/usaperiodical/7590) that “Ukraine decides for itself how to conduct hostilities”.

▪️ Exactly three days earlier, the State Department’s official Russian account had bravado (https://twitter.com/usaporusski/status/1659808732530786304?s=46&t=CKRzdGhssiKSiPGOtGEk6A): The RF Armed Forces are “suffering defeats at every level” and #Russia’s “credibility on the international stage has been undermined.”

📌 However, as soon as it became clear that the attack by Ukrainian saboteurs had been thwarted, and not at all parade photos of abandoned US equipment (very reminiscent of pictures of Americans fleeing #Afghanistan) appeared on the web, the State Department rhetoric changed dramatically to “this is not our weaponry”.

It is one thing for Ukrainian troops to win tactical victories in the #Donbass, but quite another for #US equipment to be used to raid #Russia’s “internationally recognised” borders. Republicans are already clinging to this, and voters will have a hard time explaining such irrational use of equipment.

RYBAR

War Map and the Situation on the Fronts in the Evening of 23 May 2023; pub. 00:15⚡️

ðŸ´‍☠️ The AFU continues to carry out (https://t.me/readovkaru/3378) terrorist raids on the territory of the #Belgorod region. Given the data on the militants’ losses, the attacks on the border strip are only necessary to create a media image of a serious threat to the residents. At the moment, most of the saboteurs have either been liquidated (https://t.me/readovkaru/3380), or retreated (https://t.me/readovkanews/59393). The regime of the counterterrorist operation in the #Belgorod region has been lifted.

⚔️ The Situation on the Fronts over the past Day:

🔹#Svatovo – #Kremennaya Direction:

▪️ On the outskirts of #Masyutovka there are counterattacks. Our fighters launched a successful attack near #Nevskoye, taking new positions.

🔹 #Artyomovsk (#Bakhmut) Sector:

▪️ Russian forces are attacking in the direction of #Krasnoye, but without success so far. Also, our forces are trying to counterattack near #Grigorovka to regain lost positions.

🔹#Donetsk Direction:

➖ Near #Avdeyevka, two fuel and lubrication depots of the AFU have been destroyed.
➖ The Russian army is attacking to the west of #Krasnogorovka, as well as around #Vodyanoye, #Nevelskoye and #Pervomayskoye.
➖ In #Maryinka, our forces continue to dislodge militants from the stronghold to the west of the city.

#Chronicle of the Special Military Operation for 23 May 2023⚡️

🔹 The main Topic of the Day was still the counterterrorist operation against the Ukrainian formations that invaded the territory of the #Belgorod region.

🔹 Russian Units repelled all new attempts to cross the border, and also established control over #Kozinka and the #Grayvoron border crossing.

🔹 The Head of the #Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced the end of the counterterrorist operation regime. A day of fighting in the #Belgorod region cost the AFU eight units of military equipment and at least a dozen killed.

🔹 Nevertheless, there is a possibility of new enemy attempts to break through the state border in the region, especially given the concentration of several thousand Ukrainian militants in the border territories of the #Kharkov region.

Read more on our Website

 

Special Operation, 23 May 2023, Main; pub. 21:40⚡️

▪️ An Ukrainian SRG invading #Belgorod Region has been defeated, with more than 70 military personnel killed, the Russian Ministry of Defence said;

▪️ About 100 residents have been evacuated from two settlements in the #Belgorod region where Ukrainian saboteurs had invaded the day before, regional head Gladkov said;

▪️ The activities of the Ukrainian SRG in the #Belgorod region are of deep concern and require great efforts, Peskov said;

▪️ The counterterrorist operation regime in the #Belgorod Region has been lifted;

▪️ A number of European Union countries, including #Poland, have started training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets, Borrel said;

▪️ #Europe does not rule out that Ukraine may receive F-16 fighter jets by the autumn, the Politico newspaper wrote;

▪️ In the #Krasny Liman and #Kupyansk directions, Kiev lost more than 170 people in a day, in Donetsk – up to 375 servicemen, 13 pieces of equipment;

▪️ Thirteen people injured in #Belgorod region after the Ukrainian SRG attack, one resident killed, local authorities said.

On the Situation in the #Belgorod Region until 17:00 on 23 May 2023⚡️

🔹 Russian Units continue to conduct a counterterrorist operation (CTO) on the territory of the #Belgorod region.

▪️ According to preliminary data, #Kozinka and the #Grayvoron border crossing have been taken under control by Russian troops. Measures to search for and clean up the surviving militants are continuing.
➖ Since there is a concentration of up to half a thousand members of Ukrainian formations in Bolshaya Pisarevka on the other side of the border, there are fears that another attempt will be made to break through the border.

▪️ Attempts are being made to cross the border by small forces from the side of Kazachya Lopan and the #Uda.

▪️ Russian border guards repelled sorties near #Shchetinovka and #Gorkovsky.

▪️ A small enemy SRG of five militants tried to cross the state border near #Tsapovka. After firing at Russian positions, the group fled back to the territory of #Ukraine under return fire.

▪️ The Russian border guards are closely monitoring the approaches to #Shebekino. There is an increased accumulation of equipment and personnel from #Volchansk.

📌 Despite the general completion of the main stage of the CTO, there is still a possibility of attempts to break through the state border by the enemy’s SRG in other areas.

Rumours are spreading amongst the rank and file of the AFU that they are about to rush “20km inland” into the Belgorod region and that what is happening is “not yet over”. To what extent these rumours with sentiments are confirmed and whether they are not the most common reassurance to themselves that all is not yet lost, we will see in the coming days.

HYSTERIA AROUND BELGOROD.

We are not experts, let alone “military correspondents” to sit around and fabricate “analytical” reports for you, the fleeting thoughts of great passers-by. We are fighters, here is our answer to you, as from active servicemen:

What is happening at the border is visible to everyone. What is this? An offensive? Physically and tactically, yes.

They chose a convenient “window” and jumped into it according to the classical scheme.

Informationally, this is destabilization, an “advertising” move, intended to sow panic. In fact – they just ride around shooting videos. The stolen armored personnel carrier was purely trolling.

It’s not a secret, these operations and the conduct of offensive operations in the Belgorod region have been talked about for three months already.

Why are you all shocked right now?

One thing is known about those “patriots” who entered the villages with women and the elderly – this is a gang of so-called “National Socialists”, they had a well-known leader, he has already died, these are his friends who fled from the Russian Federation.

Tactically, this move was organized competently, it was aimed more at publicity, since the attack on the gardens and the border point does not incur strategic losses.

Well, what else can they do, having lost Bakhmut?

Now, according to information, they are accumulating forces, there is infantry, oncoming battles. We know where and we know who. The information is closed, we are not an advertising agency, if we are silent, then it must be so.

We do not say that the enemy is weak and that they are fools, the rivalry is serious and it is already on our soil.

While some are spreading panic, and the khokhols are rejoicing at dubious successes, I would like to ask – What’s with the sad face, Kharkov? Stuff is exploding again.

Archangel Spetsnaza

The attack of Ukrainian saboteurs on the Belgorod region has all the signs of an operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

According to the correspondent of the British newspaper The Times Maxim TAKER, members of the DRG were armed with NATO-standard rifles and led American HMMWVs into battle under the close supervision of Ukrainian intelligence groups.

In addition, it is no coincidence that the attack coincided with the publication of a video by the head of the GUR, Kirill BUDANOV, calling on the Russian military to surrender.

His goal was to cause chaos among the inhabitants of the Russian Federation, in addition, to divert troops “in a wide defensive arc, burning fuel and confusing logistics lines.”

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation published footage from the site of the liquidation of the Ukrainian DRG in the Belgorod region. They rolled out the saboteurs notably.

That’s what got the attention. The inscription “For Bakhmut!” is clearly visible on the destroyed equipment. That is, while the Ukrainian military leaders, trying to delay the inevitable, urinate into the ears of Western curators, assuring them that the “fortress” is standing still, the militants are already going to the Russian Federation to “avenge” him. Kind of a bummer, to be honest.

In general, the DRG operation, apparently, can be called a failure. Noise effect – for a maximum of a day, losses in equipment and manpower – huge. Although you should not be surprised  -  the idiots were clearly sent for slaughter.

The question is: Was it worth it?

Medvedev: As for these scumbags. I can’t call them anything else. The question is what to do with them. They should be exterminated like rats and not taken prisoner!

About Russian Character    When people in the West talk about Russians and Russia, sooner or later they come up with the quote by Churchill that Russia is “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. It is telling – Russia is not understood today, just as it was not understood then.

How did Western Europe fight in the Middle Ages? Cousin Ludovic, the owner of the neighboring farm, drunkenly called me a dumbass. I can’t stand it, so I gather my four vassals, distribute sticks and pitchforks to the inhabitants of my farmstead, and go to war with him. Hooray… victory. And when I’m about to cut that creep Ludovic’s head off, my cousin the bishop, my aunts, my uncles and everyone else intervenes, saying it’s disproportionate. All he did was call me a dickhead. And Ludovic stays alive. This moderation by relatives from the ruling class took place at all levels, from squabbles between farmsteads and petty nobility to wars between states. Hence a strange cult of proportionality developed in Western Europe: if I stab you half a lisp, you must respond in the same way, not blow my head off.

The Slavs and especially the Russians never fought like that. The war was us or them. Without alternatives, it was war with the Basurmans. And without “proportionality.” On survival. As a result, the Slavs had a diametrically opposed tradition: either not to react and, at worst, mention mother, or end the problem once and for all. The transition from the first option to the second is instantaneous, without warning, final and irrevocable. The red line itself, beyond which lies “Finish the survivors and have a nice day,” varies, from “at once” with the Poles to “when the sun becomes a red giant” with the Bulgarians. The Russians are somewhere in the middle, and for a man brought up in the traditions of Western culture, this “middle” is precisely a “mystery wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. He cannot help but poke the bear with a stick and try to see where that red line is. He will do this in spite of all the stories of his grandmother about his grandfather, who also poked a bear with a stick at Stalingrad or Borodin. In this respect the West is unlearnable. The historical memory of the first sixteen centuries is stronger than the last four.

The recent incidents in Belgorod are a Western mindset. There is nothing Ukrainian there. The Ukrainian remains fundamentally Slavic and will use whatever he has without supervision. At the level of decision making, it’s not a Ukrainian, it’s John, with Excel and his attempts to build a model: “If you poke a bear with a stick using a force of 10N, then the bear responds with a force of Y”. And John doesn’t know that that’s not how a bear works. The bear has two states – hibernation (well, or eating raspberries) and head-breaking. But John will keep trying to build his model anyway. He doesn’t care how many “guinea pigs” go to their deaths. A comfortable chair, an office with service coffee in a Brussels suburb on Boulevard Leopold 3rd. In the present decision-making office. Decisions are made there. And by the way, it makes no sense to yell about Bankova and other facilities in Ukraine – they may be deciding something in detail on the front in Donbass, but they are not deciding on operations where the data for John’s model is collected. That’s not the way to do it.

So what to do here? Is John in the dust? Not yet.
Unlike Europe, Russia in four centuries of “living together” has learned how to send signals. Yesterday such a signal was given.Whose dinner shells went off and where did the cloud go? Will John’s chiefs figure it out? Doubtful. They are unlearned. Not only is the idiocy about proportionality reigning there, but also the cult of “data collection.” They’ll keep it up. There will be no other reaction to this yet. It will be “business as usual” to grind out the main Ukrainian army in Donbass.

The bear is experienced, savvy, and acts slowly, calculatingly, so as not to get trapped and scare John away. 

Prigozhin in his latest interview statement:

Prigozhin declares the figures of losses of the AFU 50,000 irretrievable. They practically coincide with the calculations of the War Tears project, which, according to its methodology, gave 55,000 AFU losses, based on the calculation of the established losses of the AFU units noted in Artemovsk and regional obituaries.

Wagner’s losses amounted to up to 20% of the total killed and up to 20% wounded.

At the peak, the number of PMCs “Wagner” reached up to 50 000, according to Prigozhin.

The AFU group defending Artemovsk numbered up to 82 000 people. (which coincides with the  estimates that estimated the AFU grouping in the Artemovsk area was at 75-85 000 people.

Prigozhin main statements from the interview:

▪️We fought in Bakhmut against superior forces, destroyed about 50,000 military APU and wounded up to 70,000

▪️The Wagner PMCs had 3.2 times fewer dead than the AFU, and about 2 times fewer wounded.

▪️The PMCs in Artemovsk had 50,000 people at the best moments, and the APU had 82,000, and the ratio for the assault should be 3 to 1 for the stormers.

▪️ During the operation, I selected 50,000 prisoners, 20% of them died, another 20% were injured.

▪️The goal of Artemovsk was not Artemovsk itself, but the “Bakhmut meat grinder”. And in Artemovsk, we destroyed everyone we were supposed to destroy, completed the task.

▪️The task was completed due to the highest level of organization.

▪️ And we have our own: planes, helicopters, air defense, artillery, MLRS, reconnaissance and even our own satellite reconnaissance.

We are used to attacking. If the Ukrainians launch a counter-offensive, it will be new, but we are ready”
“Orchestra” fighters, who participated in the liberation of Bakhmut, spoke about the situation in the city and shared their opinion on the Ukrainian counter-offensive
Now the settlement will be inspected for hidden enemy groups, the Wagner will create the necessary lines of defense

Artemovsk will not be left in ruins, the city will be restored. The first in line are the destroyed enterprises, the resuscitation of which should breathe new life into the agglomeration. This was officially announced today by Denis Pushilin.

#Artyomovsk in the Afternoon of 23 May 2023 ⚡️

🔹1. The Enemy continues attacks to the northwest and southwest of #Artyomovsk with limited forces. He could not achieve significant progress and, moreover, capture settlements, despite the efforts made and the losses incurred. Nevertheless, we can expect that the AFU attacks will continue here for some time.

🔹2. Since the AFU has completely lost the city itself, now they are already hammering their former positions in Domino, Nest and Airplane without any restrictions. Along the way, they simulate activity to the east of #Krasnoye. No significant actions are being taken to return to #Artyomovsk. The activity of the SRG near the western outskirts of the city is sporadic.

🔹3. The City is still being cleaned up. Serious work is ahead on mine clearance, dismantling of rubble and cleaning up corpses. In the western districts of #Artyomovsk, it will be more difficult to do this because of the rubble.

🔹4. An Attack on the Chasov Yar is not underway at the moment. Also, talk about the surrender of positions by the enemy in #Krasnoye, #Bogdanovka, etc., is far from reality. The enemy is preparing for defence there. Taking into account the fact that the rotation of the Wagner PMCs from #Artyomovsk begins on 25 May, right now an offensive of the RF Armed Forces to the west of the city looks unlikely.

Boris Rozhin

Zelenskyy Visits Frontline to Congratulate Marines

Russia drops aerial bombs on Toretsk, shells Avdiivka as Zelensky visits Donetsk frontline

According to our research the “undisclosed direction” Zelensky visited after he “returned” is near Avdeevka.

It is still unknown to us how old the video is, but in case he indeed returned, he visited that direction.

Also, it’s important to consider that his visits to any part of the front are always met with the loss of territory and a considerable amount of human life.

Russian Defence Ministry Report on the Progress of the Special Military Operation (23 May 2023)⚡️

◽️The Kiev regime, defeated in Artyomovsk, started to carry out terrorist actions against civilians.

◽️On 22 May this year, after the intense shelling of Kozinka international checkpoint, as well as a number of other civilian facilities in Grayvoron district of Belgorod region, a unit of an Ukrainian nationalist formation entered the RF territory.
 
◽️In the course of the counterterrorist operation, as a result of air strikes, artillery fire and active action by the units of the Western Military District that covered the state border, the nationalists have been blocked and destroyed.
The remnants were pushed back into Ukraine, where they continued to be hit until they have been completely eliminated.

💥The enemy losses were over 70 Ukrainian terrorists, 4 AFVs and 5 pickup trucks.  

The RF Armed Forces continue the special military operation.

◽️In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, as well as the active actions of the Group, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Masyutovka, Timkovka, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), and Novoselovskoye (LPR).

◽️In addition, the actions of 2 Ukrainian SRGs have been disrupted close to Timkovka.

💥The enemy losses were up to 110 troops, 2 AFVs, and 2 motor vehicles have been eliminated.

◽️In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Chervonaya Dibrova (LPR) and Serebryanka (DPR).

💥The enemy losses were over 65 troops, 1 tank, 3 AFVs, 2 motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B, D-20 and D-30 howitzers.

◽️In Donetsk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces, as well as the active actions of the Group, have resulted in the neutralisation of up to 375 troops, 2 tanks, 5 AFVs, four motor vehicles, 1 D-30 howitzer, and 1 U.S. AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

◽️2 AFU ammunition depots of 60th and 64th mechanised brigades have been destroyed close to Verkhnekamenskoye and Stupochki (DPR).

◽️In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Velikaya Novosyolka (DPR), Marfopol, Malaya Tokmachka, Novodanilovka and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region).

◽️The actions of 1 Ukrainian SRG have been disrupted close to Olgovskoye (Zaporozhye region).

💥The enemy losses were over 150 troops, 3 pickup trucks and 1 Msta-B howitzer.

◽️In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were over 20 troops, 3 motor vehicles, and 1 Msta-B howitzer.

💥Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the RF Armed Forces have neutralised 96 artillery units of the AFU at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware at 112 areas.

◽️The command post of the AFU’s 24th Mechanised Brigade has been neutralised near Toretsk (DPR). 2 fuel depot for AFU hardware has been destroyed near Avdeyevka (DPR).

💥Air defence facilities have intercepted 13 HIMARS and Uragan rocket-propelled projectiles.

◽️Air defence facilities have shot down 11 AFU UAVs close to Kremennaya (LPR), Ivanovka, Kirillovka, Novoandreyevka and Petrovskoye (DPR), and Tokarevka (Kharkov region).

The counteroffensive will begin soon – Budanov in an interview with the Japanese agency NHK

“We already have the necessary minimum of weapons. We must drive Russia out of our territory. We must use all our forces and means to achieve this goal, we need large stocks of weapons and ammunition to successfully prolong the operation.

Japanese TV also added that Ukraine is sending signals to the West with a request to send more weapons. In particular, it refers to the F-16 fighters.

The promotion of the topic of transferring the F-16 to Ukraine in the foreseeable future is currently one of Bankova’s ways to shift the informational focus from the extremely sad events in Bakhmut for the Ukraine regime. However, this does not mean at all that the fighters will not be handed over to them.

Most likely, this will happen, and probably soon enough. After all the statements made by Western leaders, it will be embarrassing to turn on the “back” one. So with a high probability, that Ukraine will still receive these aircraft, including for air defense. NATO has few suitable air defense systems, and they have few, and there are much more of these aircraft, which are also being removed from service to be replaced by more modern models.

The main value of this fighter lies in the fact that almost the entire range of Western air-based weapons can be used with it, and it is integrated into NATO information systems. But there are serious problems with logistics and service.

But these issues are supposed to be resolved by launching aircraft at the airfields of Poland and Romania. And they will be piloted and serviced, according to Ukrainian sources, by foreign specialists. But at the same time, it is supposed to assume that the planes are Ukrainian, and NATO is not at war with us.

But Moscow is unlikely to accept this strange logic, as well as Western ideas about our borders, which do not coincide with the boundaries delineated by the Russian Basic Law. And therefore, our enemy must be made aware that as soon as NATO aircraft with NATO crews make a sortie against Russia from the territory of a NATO country, it will immediately be hit back. Such a warning will make them look at life more seriously.

Western intelligence believes that the protracted nature of the war in Ukraine will allow Russia to achieve its goals, which means a change of approach is necessary.

“Russia is still capable of fighting in the long term, adding troops, weapons and ammunition. In this regard, there can be no question of weakness or that activities may be curtailed,” Bruno Kahl, head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), told Die Welt.

According to him, if the West “does not support Ukraine in a very organized way and does not organize resistance,” then Vladimir Putin’s chosen “strategy of relying on the long-term perspective and the masses may prevail.

It is premature to talk about a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, there are no prerequisites for this yet, Dmitry Peskov said.

Answering the question which of the plans for a peaceful settlement of the conflict proposed by different parties is closer to Russia and whether it has its own version of such a plan, the press secretary said: “It is premature to talk about it while there are no prerequisites for a peaceful settlement, obviously.” “The special military operation continues,” he added.

When asked to clarify whether the Kremlin is ready to negotiate with any of the representatives of the current Kiev authorities, Peskov said: “It is unlikely that this can be discussed, because any negotiations with the Russian Federation are prohibited [in Ukraine].”

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