Russo-Ukraine War 2017-2018

[davidbfpo]

Alas our regular reporter on this war departed the Forum, although a few posts have appeared. I caught this Soufan Group commentary today, which is helpful, especially this one point:

Four years on though, no major military operations have taken place since the Minsk II Peace Accord on February 2014

It starts with:

• The armed conflict in Ukraine has received scant attention in the Western media lately, however, tensions have recently increased between the U.S. and Russia.
• The U.S. is bolstering Ukraine’s armed forces with new technology and joint training exercises, actions interpreted by Russia as provocations.
• Russia is sure to increase its contribution of troops and materiel in Ukraine if NATO continues to ramp up its military and diplomatic presence.
• The front lines witness daily clashes between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian armed forces, leading to casualties and sparking concerns of further escalation.

Link:http://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrie...ia-in-ukraine/

[davidbfpo]

A BBC News report after a clash between Russian and Ukrainian vessels - over access to the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait, now with a land bridge over.
Link:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46333976

A more detailed report via REFL.
Link:https://www.rferl.org/a/sea-of-troub.../29417753.html

[AdamG]

Russia has opened fire on Ukrainian ships and captured three vessels in a major escalation of tensions off the coast of Crimea. Three sailors have been wounded after the Ukrainian navy said two artillery boats were hit by the strikes in the Black Sea. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko called an emergency session of his war cabinet and said he will propose that parliament declare martial law.

https://news.sky.com/story/russia-fi...k-sea-11563775

KIEV (Reuters) - The Ukrainian navy said Russian special forces had seized three of its ships in the Black Sea and that two of its sailors had been wounded in the incident. It made the statement after earlier saying that Russia had opened fire on the ships, which Russia blocked from passing through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov. There was no immediate response to the allegation from Russia.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN1NU0YK

[AdamG]

What triggered the military confrontation in Black Sea? l Inside Story - Al Jazeera English

Relations between Russia and Ukraine the countries are still raw after Russia annexed Crimea four years ago. And Moscow's since been backing pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine where fighting continues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKZE0pWtaL8

[davidbfpo]

That is a lot of metal:

Satellite imagery from Google Earth taken on November shows hundreds of Russian main battle tanks at a new military base on the outskirts of the Kamensk-Shakhtinsky.The large-scale military base only 18 kilometers away from the border with toward rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine. Images show hundreds of main battle tank like as T-64 and also T-62M, while a thousand military trucks, artillery systems tankers are located slightly higher.

Link:https://defence-blog.com/army/satell...raine.html/amp

Curiously I recall the Ukrainian Army a few years ago kept its most modern tanks inside buildings during the winter.

[davidbfpo]

A comprehensive demolition job on my last post, alongside the broader question will Russia attack?

A "taster" on the satellite photos, previous post:

The problem is that these are mostly T-62 variants (M/MV), which have long been retired from the Russian military, and are not in service with Russian trained separatist forces either. This tank last saw service during the Russia-Georgia War of 2008, and was considered obsolete decades ago. There is no Russian unit that fields T-62 tanks today, or T-64 tanks for that matter. The Russian armed forces use this tank for target practice during major military exercises, as was the case in recently held Vostok 2018.....Note the rest of the vehicle park at the base, and the contingent, remains the same after the arrival of these tanks, which suggests that they are here for storage and not a force addition.

Link:https://russianmilitaryanalysis.word...e-near-future/