(…continued from Part 1…) Avdiivka Near Stepove, we’ve discussed how defensive positions are destroyed over time primarily by artillery and tank fire. If you look at the October 19 video (below) you’ll see that a lot of trenches are still intact nine days after the offensive began. That is no longer the case. Because of that, the lack of defensive positions makes the ground too dangerous to hold after Ukraine clears it with a counterattack. Since the Russians are constantly attacking, there isn’t enough time to dig new defensive positions. Any partially dug positions would just be used by Russians who are willing to risk higher casualties to hold ground.
The Bradleys were a game changer this year this year for UA, just like they were for US forces when initially deployed in the 80s. Up to that point, mechanized infantry just rode armored taxis into battle. With the Brad, it was a true fighting vehicle. Wish we could give the entire US inventory to Ukraine.
Great update. The 47th mech has now gotten used to operating the Bradleys in a way that works for Ukraine and the war. Lessons to be learned there for both Ukrainian army and some of the Western advisors. In hindsight Zaluzhnyi was right to stop the large armoured assualts in the Robotyne sector. Too many drones, not enough CUAS systems, no modern Western aircraft, etc. This way of using them is much smarter.
The video compilation from the 47th brigade was amazing. It clearly shows that the Bradley is a very useful tool in the battlefield. If Ukraine got some more hundreds of these, that would make operations for the infantry easier (I think).
Of course, such a complex war needs alot of equipment and ammunition in many sectors (air superiority, EW systems, artillery rounds, etc.). The current "transparent battlefield" and FPV drones preclude large scale operations, it seems, so a different approach may be needed compared to "orthodox" NATO doctrines.
"150 billion dollars was provided in the form of aid"... Where did you get these figures from? The official figure is much lower. If we're talking about military aid, short-term military aid is $19.4 billion, long-term military aid is $20.5 billion (that's the one that's supposed to come through 2027), and next year it will be cut even if Congress approves this $60 billion bill.
$19.5 billion in short term military aid (Presidential Drawdown Authority)
less than $4 billion in long term military aid (USAI and FMF).
In total $23 billion of military aid over 22 months and $35 billion humanitarian aid.
That includes what was SHIPPED to Ukraine only. It excludes what was COMMITTED, but not shipped. There are $10 billions contracted (obligated) USAI , there are $8.5 billion USAI that was not even contracted over 2 years.
There are $4.5 billion PDA allowance that Biden is sitting on and not shipping to Ukraine because all the replenishment cost were already spent. Basically the cost of what's shipped to Ukraine is calculated as price of new when it was manufactured. Replenishment cost is in today's prices. That difference came from how the previous Supplemental Bills were structured and Biden decided should be not sent to Ukraine for free.
Nevertheless we are scrapping Bradleys, HMMWVs, F-16s and many more is getting ready to be retired, decommissioned, scrapped, or be sold as surplus. But not shipped to Ukraine.
Morocco allegedly received 500 M2 Bradleys as a gift (no replenishment). Congress website now shows broken link to the doc gifting Bradleys.
From Europe military aid for about the same $1 billion per month is shipped.
Unlike the US where mostly ammunition and consumables are sent, Europe often ships old weapons.
Also Europe champions financial and humanitarian aid. They shipped much more to Ukraine then we did.
----------------------------------------------
About $1-1.5 billions Ukraine spend on the war from own budget monthly. Mostly salaries, food, cloth, body armor, some limited munition manufacturing, payments to WIA and KIA.
We can say Ukraine is fighting on about $3-3.5 billion per month where munitions are $2 billion per month.
Russia spends more than $10 billion per month and raises military spending in the next year mostly on more munitions manufacturing.
Plus another several billions $ are spent from storage. Russian has enormous reserves in storage and takes everything from storage. That's not $ money, but we cannot ignore that too. Without these reserves the war would be very different for Russia.
------------------------------------------
Here are some data.
Search for Fact Sheet for pretty much all individual weapons shipped to Ukraine that we could find in public media
Thank you again and again.
The Bradleys were a game changer this year this year for UA, just like they were for US forces when initially deployed in the 80s. Up to that point, mechanized infantry just rode armored taxis into battle. With the Brad, it was a true fighting vehicle. Wish we could give the entire US inventory to Ukraine.
Great update. The 47th mech has now gotten used to operating the Bradleys in a way that works for Ukraine and the war. Lessons to be learned there for both Ukrainian army and some of the Western advisors. In hindsight Zaluzhnyi was right to stop the large armoured assualts in the Robotyne sector. Too many drones, not enough CUAS systems, no modern Western aircraft, etc. This way of using them is much smarter.
The video compilation from the 47th brigade was amazing. It clearly shows that the Bradley is a very useful tool in the battlefield. If Ukraine got some more hundreds of these, that would make operations for the infantry easier (I think).
Of course, such a complex war needs alot of equipment and ammunition in many sectors (air superiority, EW systems, artillery rounds, etc.). The current "transparent battlefield" and FPV drones preclude large scale operations, it seems, so a different approach may be needed compared to "orthodox" NATO doctrines.
"150 billion dollars was provided in the form of aid"... Where did you get these figures from? The official figure is much lower. If we're talking about military aid, short-term military aid is $19.4 billion, long-term military aid is $20.5 billion (that's the one that's supposed to come through 2027), and next year it will be cut even if Congress approves this $60 billion bill.
Tom, Ukraine received not $150 billion.
Not sure how you count.
From the US Ukraine received since February 2022
$35 billion in financial and humanitarian aid
$19.5 billion in short term military aid (Presidential Drawdown Authority)
less than $4 billion in long term military aid (USAI and FMF).
In total $23 billion of military aid over 22 months and $35 billion humanitarian aid.
That includes what was SHIPPED to Ukraine only. It excludes what was COMMITTED, but not shipped. There are $10 billions contracted (obligated) USAI , there are $8.5 billion USAI that was not even contracted over 2 years.
There are $4.5 billion PDA allowance that Biden is sitting on and not shipping to Ukraine because all the replenishment cost were already spent. Basically the cost of what's shipped to Ukraine is calculated as price of new when it was manufactured. Replenishment cost is in today's prices. That difference came from how the previous Supplemental Bills were structured and Biden decided should be not sent to Ukraine for free.
Nevertheless we are scrapping Bradleys, HMMWVs, F-16s and many more is getting ready to be retired, decommissioned, scrapped, or be sold as surplus. But not shipped to Ukraine.
Morocco allegedly received 500 M2 Bradleys as a gift (no replenishment). Congress website now shows broken link to the doc gifting Bradleys.
------------------------------------------------------
From Europe military aid for about the same $1 billion per month is shipped.
Unlike the US where mostly ammunition and consumables are sent, Europe often ships old weapons.
Also Europe champions financial and humanitarian aid. They shipped much more to Ukraine then we did.
----------------------------------------------
About $1-1.5 billions Ukraine spend on the war from own budget monthly. Mostly salaries, food, cloth, body armor, some limited munition manufacturing, payments to WIA and KIA.
We can say Ukraine is fighting on about $3-3.5 billion per month where munitions are $2 billion per month.
Russia spends more than $10 billion per month and raises military spending in the next year mostly on more munitions manufacturing.
Plus another several billions $ are spent from storage. Russian has enormous reserves in storage and takes everything from storage. That's not $ money, but we cannot ignore that too. Without these reserves the war would be very different for Russia.
------------------------------------------
Here are some data.
Search for Fact Sheet for pretty much all individual weapons shipped to Ukraine that we could find in public media
https://protectukrainenow.org/en/report