we finally have photos of the TU bomber being hit by an Ukrainian drone deep inside russia.

https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1693252329091293209?s=20

Orekhovsky area:
situation as of 16.00 on August 20, 2023

Assault groups of the 3rd battalion of the 82nd Airborne Brigade, the 46th Brigade and the 15th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine continue to roll on the positions of the Russian group at the Robotyne-Verbove line.

▪️On the northern outskirts of Robotyne, infantry groups are still operating, trying to gain a foothold in the village. Russian artillery is actively working on them, which confirms the presence of this part of Rabotyne in the gray zone.

▪️West of Verbove, after the transfer of two additional detachments on two Stryker armored personnel carriers, the paratroopers of the 82nd brigade were able to oust the fighters of the RF Armed Forces from a pair of strongholds. Now Ukrainian formations are trying to dig in in the area, despite the losses.

▪️In the vicinity of Balka Chubenkov there are evacuation detachments of the enemy, which promptly remove the bodies and damaged equipment from the battlefield. The other day, four Leopard 47 mechanized brigade tanks were sent to Germany for repairs, which once again indicates problems in restoring equipment on the spot.

▪️At the same time, a little to the east, English-speaking mercenaries lit up in the Pologovsky and Gulyaipole sections, and artillery pieces and ammunition were moved to Zheleznyanskoye, which indicates a possible activation in the area.

A trio of Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley IFVs move under fire outside of Robotyne

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1...5576948936?s=20

Ooooo so sad
When the west kills civilians in donbass never say anything huh?
Ukraine refuses peace talks right?
Kesian ukrainian citizens with having a clown as a leader

so based on what you say, a "superpower", many times bigger than Ukraine in many aspect, can't even handle the country with a clown as a leader and drag the war from three days to... more than a year to the point its own currency is now crumbling...

i see 🫢🫢🫢

thank you for pointing it out.

Ukraine has rejected gloomy assessment of its ongoing counteroffensive. Ukrainian Foreign Minister urged patience and called for more military aid. Dmytro Kuleba remarked that Kyiv's success will 'ruin the reputation of doubters'. This comes after U.S. officials sounded unhopeful about Ukraine's counteroffensive strategy.
Just how much more madness from the Zelensky regime?

The Russian forces have yet again dashed Ukraine's hopes to fulfil its counteroffensive goals. The Russian defense ministry noted that in the last 24 hours, 14 Ukrainian attacks were foiled, over 700 "enemy" soldiers were killed and 23 drones were shot down. It also released footage of its First Person View drone attacking Ukrainian armoured vehicles moving towards Zaporizhzhia. Watch this video for more updates from the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone.

(1/5) The leadership of Russia’s Aerospace Forces (VKS) is highly likely under intense pressure to improve air defences over western Russia. In recent months, the range of threats penetrating well inside Russia has increased.

(2/5) Strikes deep inside Russia are strategically important because President Putin almost certainly invaded Ukraine on the assumption that it would have little direct effect on Russians.

(3/5) Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles are regularly hitting Moscow. In addition, there have also been increasing reports of SA-5 GAMMON missiles striking Russia.

(4/5) This Soviet-era 7.5 tonne, 11-metre long weapon is retired from its air defence role in Ukraine’s inventory. However, it is now apparently being employed as a ground attack ballistic missile.

(5/5) Pressure is likely to particularly fall on VKS Chief of Staff, Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov; VKS Commander-in-Chief General Sergei Surovikin remains absent, suspected to have been detained in relation to the June 2023 Wagner Group mutiny.

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/169314...3897066540?s=20

The Russian navy is reportedly incapable of enforcing control over Black Sea maritime traffic. (1/3)

2/ A prominent #Kremlin-affiliated milblogger claimed on August 18 that at least six civilian ships are leaving #Ukraine towards the Mediterranean Sea through Ukrainian-created temporary corridors in the Black Sea.

3/ The milblogger claimed that the Russian navy's ability to prevent these movements is limited due to “gross mistakes in the construction of the fleet in the pre-war period, the irrational use of forces and means,” and unresolved organizational issues.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/16...4402724237?s=20

with the initiative, seems like most likely there be a possible battle at Robotyne soon or already happened as due to OPSEC, AFU media are usually a few days old.

Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations in western #Zaporizhia Oblast and reportedly advanced on Aug 19. Geolocated footage posted Aug 19 indicates that Ukrainian forces have advanced north of #Robotyne (10km south of Orikhiv).

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/16...8613978603?s=20

TLDR:
russian guns are outranged by westerns ones.
China not able or cannot help.

-----

Russian Mil-Analyst Dmitry Kornev -- The RF Forces are not capable of counterbattery fights due to inferior artillery systems and China cannot help.

The Russian army cannot conduct an effective counter-battery fight due to the shortage of modern artillery systems in the troops. This was stated by military expert Dmitry Kornev.

"If they shoot at you from a distance of 40 kilometers, and you have guns that shoot at 20 kilometers, then you can fight counter–battery as much as you want - it will not give any results. Unfortunately, Western artillery systems have a range of conventional projectiles that exceeds the range of our traditional systems that were created in the eighties and earlier."

"We need to fight this problem with supplies and the development of new artillery systems. Actually, this has been done for the last 15-20 years, but the number of new barrels is small. Big bets were placed on the "Malva" (Russian prototype 2S43 Malva 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer recently contracted for production, Photo 1), but it went to the troops only in the form of an experienced party. Now bets are placed on the Malva system, for which a contract for supplies to the Armed Forces has been concluded. But this is the future, and they are needed yesterday," Kornev said.

He noted that at the same time, it is not worth hoping for China and other allies – they are unlikely to supply such serious weapons.

"If China is ready to risk a huge share of its exports, then of course they can do it by any tricks. But if they didn't do it, then there are some unsolvable problems.", said Kornev.

https://twitter.com/UKikaski/status/1693188422079291819?s=20

Will US fighter jets really be a game changer in the Ukraine war?
Denmark and the Netherlands have been given approval by the United States to transfer some of their old F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, bringing the country one step closer to obtaining its long-demanded fleet. Ukraine believes that these jets will help to protect its skies from Russian attacks. Eleven countries, forming a coalition, are scheduled to train Ukrainian pilots to operate the aircraft this month in Denmark. Once training is complete, the transfer can proceed, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The exact number of planes to be transferred and when they will be put into action remains unknown. Ukraine does not anticipate using the F-16s until next year, and it has requested up to 80 jets to assist in its fight against Russia's invasion. The sale or transfer of the US-made jets must be authorized by Washington.

Gamechanger? Nope. Just like the Leopard 2 tanks, they aren't. 🙃

Summer Operations | Ukraine Will Get 61 F-16 | Mass Evacuation In Kharkov. Military Summary 2023.8.20

Morning briefing of the Ministry of Defense of Russia (August 20, 2023) ❗Text only❗
⚡️ Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation

(20 August 2023)

▫️ The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

▫️ In Zaporozhye direction, active and coordinated actions of the Russian grouping of forces supported by artillery repelled eight attacks launched by the enemy close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

▫️The enemy's losses amounted to up to 135 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, two Stryker armoured personnel carrier, three motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, as well as one UK-made FH-79 and U.S.-made M119 howitzers, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar.

▫️ In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces in close cooperation with ground-attack and army aviation has successfully repelled six enemy attacks close to Andreyevka, Veseloye, Krasnogorovka, Pervomaiskoye, Veseloye, Maiorsk, and Staromikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic) over the past 24 hours.

▫️The enemy suffered losses of over 280 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, six armoured fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and D-20 and D-30 howitzers in this direction in the past 24 hours.

▫️Moreover, field ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were obliterated close to Kostantinovka and Ivano-Daryevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

▫️In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical Aviation, and artillery inflicted fire damage on the enemy neat Staromayorskoye and Urozhainoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

▫️The Russian Armed Forces disabled four sabotage and reconnaissance groups detached from the 56th Mechanised Brigade and 38th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Marfopol, Chervonoye (Zaporozhye region), and Urozhainoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

▫️ As a result of the fighting, more than 130 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit were eliminated.

▫️ In Kupyansk direction, as a result of air strikes and artillery fire and courageous actions of the Zapad Group of Forces, six enemy attacks were successfully repelled close to Olshana, Sinkovka, Ivanovka (Kharkov region), and Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

▫️The ene️my's losses in this direction amounted to up to 60 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

▫️ In Krasny Liman direction, three enemy attacks close to Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic) were repelled by the Tsentr Group of Forces, strikes by army aviation and artillery fire.

▫️Up to 70 Ukrainian troops, as well as two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks were neutralised over the past 24 hours.

▫️ In Kherson direction, as a result of the shelling, enemy losses totalled up to 30 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

▫️ An AFU ammunition depot was destroyed near Ochakov (Nikolayev region).

▫️ Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of groups of forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation engaged manpower and military hardware of the enemy in 153 areas during the past day.

▫️ Air defence systems intercepted three HIMARS projectiles, and shot down one HARM anti-radiation missile.

▫️Moreover, 23 AFU's unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Novopetrikovka, Zaitsevo, Yakovlevka, Pavlovka, Semigorie (Donetsk People's Republic), Tokmak (Zaporozhye region), Kamenka, Novoalekseyevka (Kherson region) and Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic).

📊 In total, 461 airplanes and 246 helicopters, 5,877 unmanned aerial vehicles, 431 air defence missile systems, 11,409 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,144 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,951 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,334 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley IFV engaging Russian positions outside of Robotyne with 25mm Bushmaster and 7.62 M240 fire.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1...8435229863?s=20

A Russian 2S7[M] Pion 203mm self-propelled howitzer was destroyed by a GMLRS strike of the Ukrainian forces in #Donetsk Oblast.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/169321...6639848662?s=20

Why assume NATO wants a real outcome. They have been purposely sending weapons slowly to up the amount of Russian casualties.

F16 is just another platform for them to deliver payload onto Russians and increase the body count.

Also, if Ukraine lose, then at least there are less Slav men around to join the army if Russia take over.

Helping Ukraine is just a reason but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to cripple Russia before they move on to China. The more Russia bomb Ukraine civilian buildings, the more confident NATO know this war is going well for them because too much damage done for both side to back down.

Latest Livestream that ended 25 minutes ago

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JYpfTW0ejW4

This post has been edited by Catnip: Aug 21 2023, 10:20 AM

The operation of the 🇺🇦Ukrainian UR-77 "Zmiy Horynich" remote demining installation in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/...8530383168?s=20

note:
there are unconfirmed reports that Ukrainian forces already entered or battling in Robotyne this morning.

Retired army colonel, Tony Shaffer says Putin's latest attack has devastated and crushed Ukraine. Stephen Gardner shares Ukraine Russia War update.