Putin beordrar styrkor att gå in i Ukraina - INVASION NU (2022-02-24)

In the town of Polohy in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Russian invaders shot about 20 of their cars in order to avoid being sent to the front lines

Zmeiny Island—Igor Strelkov’s SitRep

Based on the information available to me, the situation with respect to the Zmeiny Island is as follows:

1—After the Ukrainian forces demonstrated their anti-ship defence capabilities (consisting of anti-ship missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones), and strike and recon air force, all coordinated by NATO aerial and satellite intelligence operations), continuing to hold the island in the absence of active offensive operations in the area of Odessa-Izmail lost all operational purpose.

2—Conducting purely defensive operations at the island raised the spectre of complete isolation of the island’s garrison and its subsequent elimination, just as the Ukrainian garrison was originally taken prisoner by the Russian forces. In addition, the proximity of the island to established anti-ship systems on the shores controlled by the Ukrainian army inevitably would have led to further losses among the naval and air force units of the Russian army (for instance, the Admiral Makarov frigate recently faced—albeit without any consequence—an Bayraktar TB2 attack). As a result, a decision was made to evacuate the garrison, which, unfortunately, was not accomplished without losses—of a Mi-8 helicopter and two amphibious landing launches.

3—At the same time, the Black Sea Fleet command and the Russian troops were able to catch the Ukrainian units in a trap during their own attempt at an amphibious landing on the island, which landing was important almost solely as a propaganda victory. According to a number of sources, in the course of the landing, the Ukrainian forces lost:

— one Su-27 aircraft;
— up to three Su-24 fighter jets;
— up to three Mi-24 attack helicopters;
— between two and four Bayraktar TB2 UAVs; and,
— several amphibious assault craft.

4—In the course of the battle, several air defence batteries of the Ukrainian forces were also struck, with one battery completely destroyed and up to 8 Pechora air defence systems damaged and put out of commission.

5—The losses of the Ukrainian forces totalled 78 people killed in action and several dozens more missing in action (presumed dead). Unconfirmed reports suggest that a significant number of the dead and missing (i.e. drowned) fighters were members of an as yet unidentified PMC (private military company).

6—At the time, Zmeiny island remains unoccupied by either of the warring parties

In the town of Polohy in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Russian invaders shot about 20 of their cars in order to avoid being sent to the front lines