"Fighting at Antonov Airport (Ukraine)" Topic

The airfield is now back in control of Ukrainian forces. By every available indication, the battle that occurred there was a ferocious one. Details are very limited, but apparently, a contingent of Russian special forces flew to the airfield as reinforcements aboard a number of helicopters. Some claim as many as six of these helicopters were shot down with the loss of all those onboard. This happened in broad daylight, which put the helicopters at great risk. Once again, these details could change drastically at any time, but it seems Ukrainian forces scored a major victory today and Russia took a major loss. This airport was clearly seen as of extremely high value to Russian war planners.

The Drive: link

Another source says Ukraine drove off the first assault, Russians took the airport on the second attempt, then the Ukrainians took it back.

Yes, surprisingly equal fight in places. I bet the Russkies were expecting to just roll over the Ukrainians but there seems to be some solid resistance and counter-attacks in places. Wonderful to see Putin getting a bloody nose, even if only briefly.

Putin seems to be holding back much of his troops. Perhaps he is not confident in the proficiency of his basic infantry.

On Dutch television a Russia-specialist talked of a Russian saying: "A Russian fights until the last drop of blood, an Ukrainian fights until the first drop of blood". Clearly this is definitely not the case anymore – a post on social media showed a small island occupied by fourteen Ukranians and a voice from a loudspeaker telling them "This is a Russian warship, surrender !" You hear another voice (perhaps the one with the smartphone, recording ?): "Shall we tell them to f..k off ? Russians, f..k off !". Dutch news informed us that all fourteen Ukranians were killed.

There is no such saying.
Better be very prudent with infos now on. We will have huge doses of bull from all sides. Proper analysis will be done afterwards.

There is F you in Russian. Russians have a lot of fun expletives.

There was a video of an old grandmother who went up to a Russian soldier and asked him why the f he was there and to leave. I imagine the translation wasn't exact in the English news, but the sentiment was clear. In that case the Russian soldier looked very abashed as this old woman defiantly berated him and then walked off after telling him to put sunflower seeds in his pockets so that after he was killed he'd be good fertilizer.

Snake Island is the Ukrainian Alamo and will give their people something to rally behind. F the Russians.

Putin seems to be holding back much of his troops. Perhaps he is not confident in the proficiency of his basic infantry.

No I think since he has 70-80% of his entire military in and around Ukraine. He does not want to waste any of his assets. As he knows if MOUT and guerilla warfare could occur in Kyiv and elsewhere it could be very costly. E.g. Stalingrad. He also may want to limit CD as the whole world is watching. As many GENs etc., noticed the Russian initial bombard with air, missiles, etc. was not as massive as their tactics normally show.

Logistics has to also be taken into account as always. He has to support a 3-4 axis of advance into a country bigger than TX.

Again … He probably does not want to lose too many assets. But as we know he is "crazy … like a fox." …

The News just said the Airport is in Russian hands. More Russian forces will be flying there. Very close to Kyiv.

As I said on another thread … Something "horrific" I just saw on the news. According to this report. The Russian Army has mobile crematoriums to cremate their losses. As the strong protests by the mothers of sons killed in A'stan helped push the USSR gov't decide to pull out of that war. I saw the footage … this should be a war crime if this is true. And I don't doubt …

Looks like according to intel the Russians did not make their first Day's objectives. By the Ukraine forces on 3 of the 4 axis of advance held up the Russians. Today that held up the 4 axis.

However, looks like the Russians have entered Kyiv. Will there be a MOUT and partisan battle ?

Also some US GENs believe the Russian first strikes with air, missiles, etc., assets on Day 1 was not strong enough. Giving the Ukrainians many of their own assets to still be used, fortunately. A tactical error on Russia's part. Looks like they underestimated the Ukrainians' will to fight, etc. But sadly eventually the Ukraine will yield to Russian numbers.

Will the Russians have the logistics to support this operation ? As it 70-80% of the entire Russian forces. Putin even took troops from their border with China. No surprise Xi & Putin are "allies". Along with Iran who both supports. The new Axis Powers – Russia, PRC & Iran …

It would be a great turn of events if the Russian population, whom many don't support this war. Threw Putin & is ilk out of the gov't. And started over. But this is Putin's Russia. Footage of Russian LEOs roughly handling protestors yesterday makes any real movement to get rid of Putin et al. is very, very, small AFAIK.

Again … this is Putin's Russia …

Russia will come out on top, mainly due to air superiority and just an over abundance of resources that will overwhelm the defenders. From the video footage I've seen, and granted, it's hard to piece together a coherent view at this time, it confirms what I've believed for quite some time. That is the Russians (and I suspect the Chinese as well) are a bit over rated. Units getting lost, not much urgency, little to no coordination between air and artillery, etc. Definitely shows an army that needs a lot more training.

It would be a great turn of events if the Russian population, whom many don't support this war. Threw Putin & is ilk out of the gov't. And started over. But this is Putin's Russia. Footage of Russian LEOs roughly handling protestors yesterday makes any real movement to get rid of Putin et al. is very, very, small AFAIK.

Well the BBC reporting arrests as being around a couple of thousand. Street interviews also seem to have elicited some surprising shows of dissent. But I can't help but feel the West's approach is based on the hope that if we squeeze the oligarch's hard enough they will do our dirty work!

And Belarus a banging people up for two years for making critical comments on social media. Unlikely given the opposition are largely all in jail but an uprising in Belorussia right about now would be a rather interesting wrench in Putin's works! Even just the odd section of rail track going missing might help the Ukrainian's.

Well the BBC reporting arrests as being around a couple of thousand. Street interviews also seem to have elicited some surprising shows of dissent.

I saw and heard similar.

But I can't help but feel the West's approach is based on the hope that if we squeeze the oligarch's hard enough they will do our dirty work!

I know I'd think that would be a positive outcome. But I wouldn't bet on it. It's Russia, not Seatle, Portland, NYC, etc.

That is the Russians (and I suspect the Chinese as well) are a bit over rated. Units getting lost, not much urgency, little to no coordination between air and artillery, etc. Definitely shows an army that needs a lot more training.

I generally believe the same. However, the Russians are getting experience that may be the best training available – war … But as we know the learning curve is steep in the early days of any conflict.

Most of the reports that I have heard, is that the Russians still do not have air superiority. So the Ukrainians are still putting up a fight. I also heard that the Russians didn't hit as hard in the preliminary Bombardments because they didn't want to destroy the infrastructure. One thing I thought odd was the reports that the Russians weren't using night vision devices. So they only attacked during daylight. I hope the Ukrainians win! A long shot, but I am sure the Russians do not want to fight a long insurgency fight.

F the Soviets.. err.. Russians.

Does anyone think he might be saving his troops for a second round ? Poland, Estonia ?

Pundits and analysts have been saying he's only deployed about a third of that available in theatre. But given that's a pretty big chunk overall of the Russian military. Would he or his generals want to push all of that into the fighting? Previously its been suggested that the overall readiness and quality of the Russian army isn't that great beyond a limited number of high quality units. My guess is on a second round, but if most of his best units just got feed into a grinder with way more teeth than expected who knows how it will go?

Back to the original topic, in most of the news I have seen the place is referred to as "Hostomel airport", though it is a bit unclear to me whether this is the official name of the airport, or the name of the place where it is located.

"Pundits and analysts have been saying he's only deployed about a third of that available in theatre."

They are saying this because the Pentagon is saying that only 1/3 of the Russian forces in the area around Ukraine have been committed to actually fight in Ukraine so far.

Hostomel Airport is the official name but its owned by Antonov.
link

Pundits and analysts have been saying he's only deployed about a third of that available in theatre.

Now they're saying 75% of Russian forces are committed.

Has this airport now been taken by the Russians?

Last night, it sounded like it had fallen to them, but that was previously thought to be the case right after the start of the war, and then the Ukrainians apparently re-took it shortly thereafter.

IIRC, the Russians have this airbase …