Bilohorivka is one of the few places in the Donbass that has held out in Ukrainian hands for more than a year, even though it is directly on the front line, on googlemaps you can see an infinity of square kilometres with craters as little as 20/30m apart.
What makes the defences so formidable? There are no particular mountainous reliefs to be seen, a real village does not exist, at most a few dozen houses along a road, there are a few industrial buildings, but the presence of some water basins suggests that there are foundations with more than one basement floor that can be used as a shelter.
There is very little information about the whole area on Google.
"Russia has been attacking Bilohorivka with infantry but the area has good defensive terrain for Ukraine. The place was a village with 800 inhabitants before 2022. To the east are open fields, and Russian troops can be engaged as they advance. To the north are woods, small hills and a river. And to the south is a large slagheap from a chalk quarry that is called the “White Mountain”."
The slag heap can provide observation but it's too exposed to be a defensive position. On the other hand, vehicles can't attack over it, so they are funneled between the slag heap and the river to Bilohorivka. To get there, they have to cross open fields and their forces are attrited along the way.
There aren't many ground views available in that location. This is from the southern end of the slag heap. Facing north, you can see Bilohorivka and the open fields beyond. Ukraine turned the town into a strong point and supports it with artillery, auto-grenade launchers and drones. The 81st Airmobile Brigade with supporting units is pretty good and they just tear the Russians up.
Interesting comment aboutChasiv Yar as my friend there says that his and adjacent units are losing dead to their too weak, unsupported and poorly planned infantry attacks. Truth will appear in time I guess.
Must admit I was a little concerned from the news reports, but still couldn't see how Kyiv could have neglected this part of the front, given its criticality.
Puts things in much better perspective.
Question, though.
Saw a Russian claim about a thermal poncho to hide human heat signatures. Is that feasible? If so, why aren't they used more?
Thank you so much.
‘Russia is advancing all along the entire frontline’.
400sq km over a 1200 km front in eight months, with over 200000 losses.
Sure, sure, a victorious advantage...
That was advance, not advantage, you dumb automatic corrector!
Bilohorivka is one of the few places in the Donbass that has held out in Ukrainian hands for more than a year, even though it is directly on the front line, on googlemaps you can see an infinity of square kilometres with craters as little as 20/30m apart.
What makes the defences so formidable? There are no particular mountainous reliefs to be seen, a real village does not exist, at most a few dozen houses along a road, there are a few industrial buildings, but the presence of some water basins suggests that there are foundations with more than one basement floor that can be used as a shelter.
There is very little information about the whole area on Google.
is there perhaps something 'hidden'?
former mine shafts?
Soviet-era bunkers or underground storerooms?
THK a lot
https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/dons-weekly-15-april-2024-part-1
"Russia has been attacking Bilohorivka with infantry but the area has good defensive terrain for Ukraine. The place was a village with 800 inhabitants before 2022. To the east are open fields, and Russian troops can be engaged as they advance. To the north are woods, small hills and a river. And to the south is a large slagheap from a chalk quarry that is called the “White Mountain”."
"White large slagheap" can provide protection from what the Russians boms/ammunitions for over a year?
I'm not a technician but it seems a bit low.
The slag heap can provide observation but it's too exposed to be a defensive position. On the other hand, vehicles can't attack over it, so they are funneled between the slag heap and the river to Bilohorivka. To get there, they have to cross open fields and their forces are attrited along the way.
There aren't many ground views available in that location. This is from the southern end of the slag heap. Facing north, you can see Bilohorivka and the open fields beyond. Ukraine turned the town into a strong point and supports it with artillery, auto-grenade launchers and drones. The 81st Airmobile Brigade with supporting units is pretty good and they just tear the Russians up.
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.9094563,38.2611798,3a,15y,325.59h,92.03t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipOcYnbYMD17VQEL1Q0A34KIoEM89mk6hP1_AKYG!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOcYnbYMD17VQEL1Q0A34KIoEM89mk6hP1_AKYG%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi0-ya292.755-ro-0-fo100!7i10000!8i5000?coh=205409&entry=ttu
Interesting comment aboutChasiv Yar as my friend there says that his and adjacent units are losing dead to their too weak, unsupported and poorly planned infantry attacks. Truth will appear in time I guess.
Great work!
Must admit I was a little concerned from the news reports, but still couldn't see how Kyiv could have neglected this part of the front, given its criticality.
Puts things in much better perspective.
Question, though.
Saw a Russian claim about a thermal poncho to hide human heat signatures. Is that feasible? If so, why aren't they used more?
Ukrainians are developing that, too. It is possible, there are materials infrared invisible. I don't know the costs though. https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukraine-develops-anti-thermal-poncho/
Thanks Don on to #3