"Battalion of Russian conscripts destroyed in Luhansk" Topic

We were dumped into the forest and ordered to entrench; we had only three shovels for the battalion, and there was no support at all. We entrenched as best we could, and in the morning the [Ukrainian] attack started. [Ukrainian forces used] artillery, Grad MLRS, mortars and copters; we were just shot.

When it all started, the officers immediately ran away. In between the attacks, we tried to entrench, but the copters immediately spotted us and just shot us. Out of 570 people, 29 managed to survive, 12 more were wounded, and the rest are all dead.

Ukrainian Pravda: link

If true is shows the complete lack of military training and the incompetence of the Russian army. All they have is numbers if even that.

Well that's really unfortunate…

A recent UK intelligence briefing was basically saying Russia don't have anyone, much, left to train those 300K mobilised troops. By the sound of it the officer corp aren't much good and wonder who's populating it. Putin may as well just line them in Red Square and shoot them himself!

I remember reading something similar to this, but it was Finland 1939.

Further possible evidence of the above:
youtu.be/XGYrjCodfSU

Seems the Russians are demonstrating incompetence only last seen by many Mid East forces.

The whole conflict has been a giant tragedy. What a waste. And all for a syphilitic old man's delusions

One recent analysis video I watched said that 60% of Russian casualties are from friendly fire.
The trainers are busy fighting or are casualties.
They've burnt through capable leaders.
They burnt out their arty tubes.
Now they're burning through untrained conscripts.

What a waste of human life…

Andy +1

A non comedic tragedy.

One recent analysis video I watched said that 60% of Russian casualties are from friendly fire

I'd be interested in the link for that. Sounds way too high to be credible – unless 'friendly fire' includes command incompetence?

I think it was one of the sky news videos.

This wasn't where I saw it, but it's a quote.
link

'Only three shovels for the battalion' sounds a bit implausible. There may have been, but how would they know?

I rather think that the poor S**s will need a few more, now.

Further possible evidence of the above

IIRC the 1st video is of pro-Russians advancing near Donetsk Airport toward Pisky, some time ago.

…

60% of Russian casualties are from friendly fire

This may just be for the Vostok Battalion.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Perhaps Khodakovsky shouldn't have drunk Putin's kool aid – even without 20:20 hindsight it was clear the Separatist's were always going to end up under the bus diplomatically or militarily. Putin certainly supports irredentism and rights for the ethnic Russian – its just that the ethnic Russian in question is him!

The fact that Russian positions are being hit by their own artillery is probably not a huge surprise. It happens. But I'd guess it's happening way more and for far longer than would happen in an army with its S**t together.

Given the lack of co-ordination we've seen the mine-laying-thing doesn't surprise either.

I'd also agree that the three shovels thing sound a bit off but this is the Russian army we're talking about. It wouldn't surprise me if we found out that Russia had stashed away a gazillion AK's but no trenching tools. Or that the Oligarch who got the contract to deliver said tools owns Russia's largest chain of agricultural and gardening centres which had an exceptionally good deal on spades a few years back….

Maybe they thought they'd be advancing. No need to bring those spades with us.
How many spades do you want for that bottle of vodka?