image from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=albNYcBDi1U
We start with major acknowledgments by Ukraine that Russia has captured important positions in Avdeevka, particularly around the Slag Heap and Stepove-railway area. Yes, these are the same positions discussed for a week now but I believe they have been going back and forth in a ‘gray zone’ that no one quite controlled. Now Russia has reportedly established firm control over them from which further expansions can be made, after some consolidations.
…
I emphasize this to highlight the point that all the so-called “losses” Ukraine claims Russia is incurring here are not really Russian losses. Yes, the DPR units are now officially subsumed into the Russian military corps structure, but you have to understand the differences.
Why do the Ukrainians highlight Russian losses? It’s under the hope that Russia incurs so many losses their society will no longer accept the war, because too many cemeteries will be filled, soldiers returning home in body bags, etc. But not a single one of these soldiers return to Russia—they are all Donetsk natives. That’s not to belittle their sacrifice but simply to point out that the actual mainland of Russia proper will never “feel” the effects of these losses—the families in Moscow or any other Russia proper region will be completely oblivious. That means any hoped-for socio-political action against Putin or whatever it is pro-Ukrainians hope for cannot possibly happen as a result of any perceived “losses” in this sector. No cemetery in Russia proper will expand with a single grave or plot from this front. The actual real Russian army is not suffering almost any losses at all at present, except maybe some in the Kupyansk direction. In short, Russian political leadership can “afford” losses here without issue, as callous as that might sound.
[…] ← SITREP 10/24/23: Avdeevka Victories Confirmed as Mid-East Continues Slide Toward War […]
And the Russians have made a radical improvement in their air defense operations. Something like 24 Ukrainian aircraft shot down in 5 days. I didn’t think the Ukrainians had that many aircraft left. Apparently, Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria are slipping Ukraine a few Migs now and then. Ukraine has lost over 500 fixed wing aircraft during the SMO. Didn’t see that on the boob tube.
I recall reading a book about WWII and they were fighting around these slag heaps in the same area. Poor old slag can’t get no rest.