Morning briefing of the Ministry of Defense of Russia (October 12, 2023) ❗Text only❗
⚡️Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation

(12 October 2023)

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

▫️ In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled seven counter-attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 4th Tank Brigade, 14th, 32nd, and 115th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka (Kharkov region), and Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic).

▫️ In addition, Russian units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 14th Mechanised Brigade and 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Kupyansk and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

▫️ The enemy has lost up to 105 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

▫️ In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, artillery repelled three attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 21st and 67th mechanised brigades close to Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

▫️ The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, as well as two D-30 howitzers.

▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks of AFU assault detachments near Kleshcheyevka and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

▫️ Ground-attack aircraft launched strikes at manpower and hardware of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, 53rd, 93rd, and 110th mechanised brigades close to Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Kurdyumovka, Avdeyevka, and Mariynka (Donetsk People's Republic).

▫️ During the day, the enemy lost more than 340 Ukrainian troops killed and injured, one tank, five armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles.

▫️ In the course of counterbattery warfare, one French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, and one D-30 howitzer were neutralised.

▫️ In addition, three AFU ammunition depots were destroyed close to Avdeyevka, Orlovka, and Latochkino (Donetsk People's Republic).

▫️ In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted loses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Brigade and 79th Airborne Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

▫️ Up to 165 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery howitzer were neutralised.

▫️ In Zaporozhye direction, two attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 23th and 65th mechanised brigades near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region) were repelled by competent actions of the Russian units, air strikes, and artillery fire during the day.

▫️ The enemy lost up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer.

▫️ In Kherson direction, up to 50 Ukrainian troops, 11 motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised during the day.

▫️ In addition, one electronic warfare station, as well as one ammunition depot, were neutralised close to Berislav (Kherson region).

▫️ Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 129 areas during the day.

▫️ One military hardware depot was destroyed near Izmail (Odessa region).

▫️ An AFU hangar with landing boats was wiped out close to Solonzhaki (Nikolayev region).

▫️ Air-delivered ordnance depots of the Ukrainian Air Force were destroyed at Mirgorod airfield (Poltava region) and Dnepr airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region).

▫️ Air defence units intercepted six U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

▫️ Moreover, 39 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were downed close to Spornoye, Peski (Donetsk People's Republic), Belogorovka, Nyrkovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Novofedorovka, Romanovskoye, Gulay Pole (Zaporozhye region), Nikolayevka, Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

📊 In total, 488 airplanes and 250 helicopters, 7,748 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,528 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,738 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,115 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

Is Ukraine Finished? w/Karen Kwiatkowski fmr USAF

Battles near Rabotino: Russian Aerospace Forces strike at concentrations of Ukrainian Armed Forces
▪️On the Zaporozhye front, the enemy reduced the activity of offensive actions, sending small assault groups forward and trying to gain a foothold in the landings between Kopani and Rabotino.
▪️The enemy is also regrouping to resume a large-scale offensive in the Orekhov area.
▪️Russian Aerospace Forces aviation and our artillery are striking enemy concentrations.
▪️The fighting on the front line does not stop. More details in the next reports. The enemy choked and retreated.



Repelling an enemy attack near Klishchiivka: destruction of a tank by special forces
▪️ On the southern flank of Artyomovsk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to try to break through our defenses along the railway.
▪️ Enemy assault groups are attacking in the areas of Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Kurdiumivka.
▪️ In the footage, our scouts destroy a tank of the Armed Forces of Ukraine supporting an infantry attack.
▪️ Our ATGMs, artillerymen and tankers continue to cover the enemy in the course of repelling attacks and positional battles.
▪️ The enemy is still attacking in small groups, regrouping and preparing to resume a large-scale offensive.



Fiery hell for the Ukrainian Armed Forces: “Solntsepek” burn the enemy, supporting the attack on Avdiivka
The Russian army continues its offensive near Donetsk, seeking to encircle Avdiivka.
For three days, massive strikes have been carried out on enemy positions by our aviation, artillery and the Solntsepyok TOS.

This post has been edited by Catnip: Oct 13 2023, 03:11 AM

The Fall | The Russians Started The LARGEST Offensive Operation. Military Summary 2023.10.12

Russia Takes Important Heights In Massive Offensive With 100s of Tanks | Heavy Losses Recorded

The Russian army is advancing near Donetsk, the enemy is transferring reserves to prevent Avdeevka from being taken into the cauldron
The offensive near the capital of the DPR has been going on for almost three days with massive support from artillery, aviation and TOS Solntsepek. <Post #4824> 3rd video Progress is slowed down by minefields, and the enemy is actively using kamikaze drones and Baba Yaga-type bombers in an attempt to slow down our troops.
▪️ Our troops attack towards each other in the direction of the settlement. Berdychi and in the direction of the settlement. Tonenkoye is 5 km west of Avdeevka.
▪️ The enemy is moving reinforcements to hold back the onslaught of Russian troops. Thus, enemy infantry and equipment were deployed in the Berdychi area.
▪️ South of Novomikhailovka, an assault armored group of the Russian Armed Forces attacked a forest belt, occupying a number of positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and fighting is underway.
▪️ Russian troops continue attacks in the direction of Tonenky and Severny.
▪️ As we advance from Vodyanoy, heavy fighting does not subside.
▪️ Northeast of the village of Stepovoye, the Russian Armed Forces attack on the approaches to the railway.
▪️ West of Krasnogorovka, the Russian army attacks in the direction of the railway. The fighting is in the gray zone, Ukrainian military analysts report.
▪️ The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports 7 attacks by the Russian Armed Forces in the Avdeevka area and 7 more attacks near Lastochkino, Tonenky, Pervomaisky, Nevelsky. More than 10 airstrikes were carried out on positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Avdievka. The positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Novokalinovo, Stepovoy, Pervomaiskoye and Nevelskoye are under fire.

In the battles near Avdiivka, enemy positions are being burned with incendiary ammunition
Video published by enemy resources.

Lightning strike: Paratroopers destroy a militant observation post
The crew of the Fagot ATGM, having discovered the enemy in the forest belt, moved into position. In a matter of seconds, he deployed the launcher and hit the position of the VSUshnikov with an accurate shot from the Fagot.

"Lancets" destroy enemy artillery systems along the entire front
A selection of the work of the Russian "Иксоводов":



▪️ 3 M777 howitzers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed by Lancet kamikaze drone strikes by airborne units.



▪️ A kamikaze drone hits a Ukrainian CAESAR self-propelled gun in the Zaporizhzhia direction.



▪️ The loitering munition destroys the American M-109 Paladin self-propelled gun.



▪️ The Lancet destroys the militants' MLRS with an accurate hit.

The Russians Are Fighting For Strategic Heights Near Avdiivka. Military Summary For 2023.10.13

Few hours ago, while leaving Sevastopol Bay, Ukrainian formations attacked the Project 22160 patrol ship “Pavel Derzhavin”.

Unfortunately, the ship received damage to the rudder group. To provide assistance, a tug was sent to the Derzhavin, which was also attacked by the enemy. The ships remained underway, but the extent of the damage is unknown.

📌 What is curious about this situation is that the epicenter of the explosion was under water. This may indicate the use of fully submersible unmanned attack boats.

This explains the absence of any opposition from the ship’s crew (they were not noticed), as well as the passage of sea drones through booms.

Moreover, the AFU already have drones of this type.



Supply of maritime drones from Germany to Ukraine

The German government approved a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth more than 400 million euros. The most interesting position in it was unmanned boats in the amount of 50 units (on the government website they say about ten).

However, in this situation, not everything is so simple. Before the Northern Military District, Germany actually did not have its own program for the development of an unmanned fleet, and everything that is in service was purchased abroad. This was also noted in Forbes. Therefore, we are more inclined to the option with ten copies.

🔻What can the Germans ultimately offer?

In 2016, the Bundeswehr acquired only one ARCIMS drone from the British company Atlas Elektronik UK. Outwardly, it is similar to the hydroscooter that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have already used for attacks on Sevastopol, but the variant with German origin can most likely be discarded.

The most common type of drone among the German Navy was the Remus-100 autonomous underwater vehicle, which Berlin had been purchasing in batches from the United States for more than ten years. Their exact number remains questionable.

❗️ But it was precisely this type of drones that was most likely discussed, only they were delivered to Ukraine a few months ago. Remember we wrote about testing the V-BAT UAV, which crashed near Odessa? So, Remus-100 was used to search for debris.

And unlike other types of BeKov, which are semi-submersible, the Remus can operate underwater at a depth of up to 100 meters, which reduces its visibility. Its use even for monitoring the Black Sea Fleet makes it an extremely dangerous weapon in the enemy’s arsenal.

Russians Successfully Penetrate Ukrainian Defence Lines Near Avdiivka, Starting A Pincer Maneuver!

Kherson direction: intensive artillery preparation of the AFU
situation as of 15.00 October 13, 2023

🔻 In the Kherson region the situation remains the same. Ukrainian formations are preparing for active operations on the left bank. The intensity of shelling is not decreasing, but only increasing.

And now, for the first time in a long time, artillery units of the AFU Forces have begun to hit bridges and crossings, as happened last year during the attack on Kherson. Over the past 24 hours, the bridge to Novaya Kakhovka near the village of Tsukur came under attack, including from HIMARS.

🔻 The transfer of sabotage groups to the island zone also continues under fire cover. The enemy's recon groups are setting up positions and trying to expand the zone of control.

In two days, Russian fighters destroyed four Ukrainian boats: one near Pereyaslavsky (Kazatsky) island, three after leaving Nikolskoye. Another boat went back.

❗️ At the same time, in the rear areas, the Territorial Defense assault groups and the Marine Corps are coordinating. One of the battalions of the Territorial Defense was sent to Republican, which may indicate possible attacks on the left bank in that area.

In addition, light motor boats are actively transported from Nikolaev to the vicinity of Kherson. They were tested on reservoirs in the Nikolaev region, and now they are being used by brigades of Marines.

Orikhiv sector: slowing down the pace of Ukrainian attacks
situation as of 17.00 October 13, 2023

🔻 South of Orekhov, the AFU of Ukraine are still trying to expand the zone of penetration into the defensive lines of the Russian Armed Forces. But now the pace of the offensive has slowed down for obvious reasons due to heavy losses.

▪️ Yesterday, an armored group of the 12th tank battalion of the AFU tried to attack the positions of the Russian Army in the hedgerows northeast of Novoprokopovka, but to no avail.

▪️ The village of Robotyne, which the AFU said was captured, is still in the gray zone. Its location is unfavorable for developing an attack, and all approaches are shot from the heights, so there are neither our troops nor the AFU there.

▪️ To strengthen the group, a column of the 65th Mechanized Brigade was deployed from Novodanilovka. At the same time, during the movement, one infantry fighting vehicle of an unknown type was blown up by its own mine.

🔻 Some of the ordinariness of battles at the site should not be misleading. Ukrainian formations are preparing for a new attack. Now their efforts are concentrated on counter-battery warfare. The Arthur, AN/TPQ-36 and -50 radars were pulled to the front line.

And at a short distance from the line of contact, nine combined assault detachments with a total number of up to 300 people are formed from the 23rd and 65th Mechanized Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 71st Jaeger Brigade, 82nd Air Assault Brigade and 15th NSU Brigade .

And activation should be expected at approximately the same time as the Kherson direction, where the AFU are trying to interrupt the logistics support of the front line. And the attack on the Robotyne - Verbove line, apparently, should be a distraction.

Regarding today’s incident in Sevastopol Bay, we received many messages in our bot asking us to comment in more detail on the information about the attack by underwater drones on the patrol ship “Pavel Derzhavin”.

We would like to make it clear: there was an attempt. One of the drones exploded underwater, causing minor damage to the ship's steering section. After a short inspection, "Derzhavin" continued to move to the Novorossiysk area.

However, the tugboat that went to meet him received slightly more damage from the second explosion. Now it is being restored by repair crews. There were no casualties among the crew.

🔻 We understand everything perfectly, but ignoring the problem only distances us from the correct conclusions and overdue solutions. The fact that the AFU have underwater drones is a fact.

But there are certain difficulties in effectively countering this threat that need to be resolved as soon as possible. Since the AFU hit them now, the number of such attacks will increase in the near future. And the use of drones underwater creates an additional danger, because booms in this case are not entirely effective.

Avdiivka The New Bakhmut? | The Truth About Ukraine's Offensive

The Fall | The Noose Is Tightening | Ukrainian Forces Are Cut Off. Military Summary For 2023.10.13

Enemy offensive at Rabotino: Special forces destroy enemy tanks
▪️On the Zaporozhye front, the enemy continues attacks on the Kopani-Rabotino-Novoprokopovka-Verbovoe line, regrouping forces to resume a large-scale offensive.
▪️Above is footage of the combat work of the ATGM crew of the army special forces "Osman" to destroy the T-72 tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Orekhovsky sector of the front.
▪️With the support of artillery and armored vehicles, the enemy continues to send assault groups to storm our positions.
▪️Special forces, infantry and artillery of the Southern Military District and Airborne Forces destroy militants and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine every day.

Battle for Avdeevka: our tanks are advancing on the enemy’s fortifications
▪️Framework of a large-scale battle for the Ukrainian Armed Forces fortress near Donetsk.
▪️The Armed Forces of Ukraine are desperately hitting with artillery, trying to hit the Russian armored vehicles approaching the city, reports military correspondent RT Filatov .
▪️Russian assault armored groups attack enemy heights and strongholds under the cover of massive artillery and aviation fire.
▪️At sunset, the tank battalion of the 114th brigade covers the passage of our infantry units. The tankers themselves are in the enemy's sights and every second they risk getting shelled.

Battles on the flank of Artyomovsk: 88th brigade destroys enemy positions
Artillerymen of the 88th brigade of the Southern Group hit militant positions in the Spornoye area with precise strikes.