What tactics have the Russian Armed Forces developed to combat these weapons
From July 5 to July 20, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed four launchers and one transport-loading vehicle of HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems in Ukraine. The equipment managed to hit with the help of high-precision ground- and air-based weapons, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced on July 22. Experts note that the effect of surprise from the use of HIMARS has already passed and Russian forces have developed effective tactics to combat them. On the same day, the head of the military department, Sergei Shoigu, met with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar. They discussed the situation in the Black Sea region and Ukraine, as well as in the Middle East, in particular, in Syria.
Hunting for HIMARS
On July 22, the Russian Defense Ministry reported the destruction of the American multiple launch rocket systems HIMARS in Ukraine.
— In the period from July 5 to July 20, four launchers and one transport-loading vehicle were destroyed by high—precision ground- and air-based weapons from the US-made Haimars multiple launch rocket systems transferred to Ukraine, - said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
According to him, two of them were liquidated in the area of Malotaranovka, another HIMARS and a transport-loading vehicle in the area of Krasnoarmeysk, and the fourth — on the eastern outskirts of Konstantinovka (DPR).
Military expert Dmitry Boltenkov says that the effect of surprise from the use of HIMARS has already passed and Russian forces have developed effective tactics to combat these weapons systems.
— Of course, the American MLRS with adjustable missiles is a difficult target, — he told Izvestia. — And at first the effect of surprise worked. But now the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have already accumulated experience. And Russian specialists today understand how to detect HIMARS, as well as how to organize air defense of objects. And they successfully implement this knowledge.
The expert noted that the Ukrainian military take care of American systems, use them only against particularly important targets and try to minimize the risk of a retaliatory strike by Russian forces.
— Simply put, they act on the principle of "hit-run". They strike quickly, and immediately the MLRS calculation is curtailed, they leave. Usually only one installation strikes. Thus, the Ukrainian military tried to be as inconspicuous as possible for Russian surveillance means. It is clear that six rockets, even with GPS correction, are unlikely to be able to inflict heavy losses on parts and units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Therefore, the command of the VFU tried to hit only important infrastructure facilities or warehouses.
The "Black Hundred" bears losses
On July 22, the Russian armed Forces continued to strike at the military infrastructure of Ukraine.
— The temporary deployment point of the nationalist formation "Black Hundred", deployed in the building of school No. 23 in the city of Kramatorsk of the Donetsk People's Republic, was destroyed. Up to 300 nationalists and over 40 units of special equipment have been liquidated," said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
The Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons of the 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the VFU, equipped in a production hangar on the territory of an industrial zone in the east of Nikolaev. Enemy losses amounted to up to 30 personnel, six units of armored and automotive equipment, over 2 thousand shells for MLRS "Grad" and about 1 thousand shells for self-propelled howitzers "Acacia".
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery hit six control points, including the 92nd mechanized brigade, the command and observation post of the battalion of the 72nd mechanized brigade, as well as five warehouses with rocket and artillery weapons and ammunition, the military department said.
During the counter-battery struggle, four platoons of Grad multiple launch rocket systems, 24 artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers and 13 artillery platoons of D-30 guns were hit.
The Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed the launcher of the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system.
The Russian air defense system shot down 12 unmanned aerial vehicles and two projectiles of the multiple launch rocket system "Hurricane" during the day.
— In total, 260 aircraft, 144 helicopters, 1589 unmanned aerial vehicles, 357 anti—aircraft missile systems, 4141 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 762 multiple rocket launchers, 3176 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 4453 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation, - Igor listed Konashenkov.
The Syrian issue
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar in Istanbul on July 22 and discussed with him the situation in the Black Sea region and Ukraine, as well as in the Middle East, in particular, in Syria.
The head of the Russian military department drew Akar's attention to the fact that the US military has been on the territory of the sovereign state of Syria for a long time. Sergei Shoigu called this a violation of international norms and stressed that terrorist groups are being trained at bases deployed by the United States, such as At-Tanf.
In a conversation with his Turkish counterpart, the Russian minister noted the illegality of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against the official government of the Syrian Republic. These restrictions, according to Shoigu, aggravate the difficult humanitarian situation in the country.
At the same time, the US military has seized and is holding control over areas of Syria where hydrocarbons are being illegally extracted and minerals are actually being stolen from a sovereign state, he said.
In addition, Shoigu, in a conversation with Akar, noted the need to maintain a ceasefire in Syria. The departments of the two countries are constantly in contact on this issue at various levels.
Apartment - by - apartment rounds
The armed formations of Ukraine continue to use the civilian infrastructure for military purposes, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation, said on July 22.
In the Zaporozhye region, the VFU mined a bridge over the Ploska Osokorovka River in the village of Pridolinovka and a bridge over the Konka River in Kamyshevakh. They plan to blow them up, and then, according to an already worked-out scenario, cover it in the Ukrainian and Western media. The Russian Armed Forces are going to blame the destruction of civilian infrastructure, as it has been done more than once.
In Dmitrovka (DPR), on the territory of an agricultural enterprise, units of the VFU have placed artillery and MLRS, from which they systematically shell the positions of the Russian Armed Forces, provoking return fire.
In addition, the Kiev authorities have prepared another provocation at a radiation-hazardous facility, Mikhail Mizintsev said. In Konstantinovka (DPR), Ukrainian nationalists have mined the storage facilities of radioactive and chemical waste of a metallurgical enterprise for the production of lead, which they plan to blow up when retreating from the city.
Mikhail Mizintsev also reported that in the Middle of the Sumy region, militants of territorial defense battalions, together with SBU officers, are apartment-by-apartment bypassing residential buildings and private households in order to identify local residents expressing pro-Russian views.
— Citizens whose phones contain correspondence in messengers or calls to the numbers of Russian subscribers are subjected to physical violence, and then taken away in an unknown direction. Nothing is known about the fate of these people to date," said the head of the NCSO.
Suvorov Medal
On July 22, the Ministry of Defense told about the soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication during the special operation.
The tactical group of Senior Lieutenant Vladimir Kyalunzyg, liberating the settlement from the Ukrainian nationalists, knocked out the enemy on the outskirts of the village, where they forced him to capitulate. At the same time, there were no losses in Vladimir Kyalunzig's platoon.
Combing the liberated settlement, Vladimir and his subordinates found nationalists hiding in abandoned buildings and haystacks. Realizing the futility of resistance, the Ukrainian militants surrendered.
A few days later, while on the head patrol, Vladimir discovered a hidden enemy checkpoint. Motorized skirmishers engaged in a battle with nationalists on duty, during which Vladimir's combat vehicle was shot down, and he himself was seriously wounded. Nevertheless, he continued to fight until the checkpoint was destroyed.
For the courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty, Vladimir Kyalunziga was awarded the Suvorov Medal, the military department noted.
The battalion-tactical group of Junior Lieutenant Yevgeny Bylkov was liberating the settlement. Having received the command to help his comrades who had entered into an unequal battle with the militants, Yevgeny, along with his subordinates, promptly moved to the front line. Russian servicemen launched a counteroffensive and destroyed a unit of Ukrainian nationalists.
A few days later, patrolling positions at night, Bylkov noticed that an armed group was heading to the location of our military. He instantly assessed the situation, called for reinforcements and attacked the enemy together with a comrade. During the battle, Yevgeny was seriously wounded, but continued to fight.
Together with a friend, he waited for reinforcements, preventing the militants from breaking through. As a result, the group of Ukrainian neo-Nazis was completely eliminated.
— For the courage and heroism shown in the performance of military duty, Junior Lieutenant Yevgeny Bylkov was awarded the Order of Courage, — the Defense Ministry said.
The tank battalion of Major Eldar Zainulin covered the advance of Russian motorized infantry. Acting as part of the crew of a combat vehicle on the spot of the gunner-operator, Eldar destroyed two enemy tanks, two BMP-2 units and more than 15 nationalists.
The actions of Major Eldar Zainulin and the professionalism of his subordinates ensured the rapid advance of motorized infantry into the settlement and its subsequent liberation from the armed formations of Ukrainian radicals, the Defense Ministry noted.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
