Confirmation is above that the Luhansk province of the Donbas region is now in Russian hands . Russia is making slow but steady progress in the region . This is in part due to the slowness and reluctance in some cases of the West to supply weapons that they need to hold the Russian forces . Mere words and empty promises are not good enough. Where are the German Gepards promised over 8 weeks ago ? Too little too late . I said Russia will take the Donbas by August. I think I am on course to be correct with that prediction . I wish I wasnt A German Gepard Anti Aircraft tank is pictured below
Not all is lost there have been some small victories.... Russian warehouse EXPLODES as Ukrainian forces strike in Donetsk
Latest pictures courtesy of Sky News ,showing American made rocket artillery in use in the Ukraine. Very nice equipment but not in the numbers the Ukrainian military need to prosecute this war . They have arrived to late to help reversing the Russian advances in the Donbas .
I think the Donbas has so far been easy mode for the russians, because of the pro-russia traitors there willingly helping them. It's going to be interesting to see how well the russians would fare going deeper inside Ukraine, where the resistance would be much fiercer, while at the same time the anti-russian sentiments would also grow. Assuming, of course, they'll ever get that far with this piss poor performance they're showing.
Well knowing the history of the area the more east you go the more aligned to Russia the people are as regards language and traits etc. So traitors is possibly a but harsh lol. Military speaking ,Russia has a big advantage fighting in the Donbas with it being more tank country ,closer to its supply lines,concentration of forces and command and control much more improved since that of the initial invasion . As regards going deeper into the Ukraine, I dont think they will . My view is they will call for a ceasefire once the Donbas is under Russian control and then lick their wounds .
It seems Russia is scratching around for equipment as well. The problem is they have a lot of this second line reserve equipment and therefore operationally it will not be too detrimental to them . MT LB pictured below. Basically an obsolete piece of junk from the Cold War days but still can serve a purpose in getting troops from A to B
The fact that many of the units deployed to the Ukraine havnt had a break is another reason I reckon a cease fire will be called once the whole of the Donbas is under Russian control .
The Second paragraph indicates a problem with recruitment and are getting desperate . This is kind of Putins own doing . Russia has a reserve strength of around 2 million personnel . Because he called it a Special Military Operation ,he cannot tap into this almost endless resource . He would have to declare it a war for him to do that as the Russian constitution stands at the present time . Should he do that, it would invite probing questions of which he would be forced to answer .
Oh he will be . Just wait until majority of his troops are sent home . He cant keep them there indefinitely , Remember Afghanistan .
This upto date map clearly shows that Ukraine is losing the war but it will be a costly Russian victory and they will not have enough forces to go further into central Ukraine .