How Russian intelligence finds areas of deployment of American MLRS
The Russian armed forces have already destroyed half — six out of twelve — of the American HIMARS MLRS delivered to Ukraine, it follows from the reports of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. On August 1, two installations of this system were hit in Kharkiv, along with 53 Ukrainian nationalists and foreign mercenaries, the department reported. Earlier in July, four more MLRS were liquidated, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated. The systematic destruction of HIMARS may indicate the creation of a special group that is engaged in hunting for American MLRS and long-range artillery systems, experts say.
HIMARS at gunpoint
Two HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems were hit by the Russian military as a result of a precision strike in the city of Kharkiv, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on August 1.
— Two American HIMARS MLRS launchers were destroyed on the territory of the Ukrainian Energy Machines plant. 53 Ukrainian nationalists and foreign mercenaries were also killed," said Igor Konashenkov, an official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that from July 5 to July 20, four HIMARS installations were eliminated by ground- and air-based precision weapons in Ukraine. Two — in the area of the settlement of Malotaranovka, one more — in the area of Krasnoarmeysk and on the eastern outskirts of Konstantinovka in the DPR.
Shortly before that, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, Mark Milley, reported that 12 HIMARS were delivered to Ukraine from the United States, as well as a stock of high-precision ammunition for them. Thus, to date, only six such systems remain in service with the VFU — half of those transferred by the Americans.
Operation of the American multiple launch rocket systems M142 HIMARS
Image source: Photo: TASS/Armed Forces of Ukraine/ZUMA Press
In addition, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are constantly attacking ammunition depots for American MLRS. The Ministry of Defense reported that on July 24, in the village of Bogdanovtsy, Khmelnytsky region, a transshipment base with HIMARS ammunition supplied by the United States and shells for American M777 howitzers was destroyed.
Also on July 25, more than 100 missiles, up to 120 people guarding the facility, foreign mercenaries and technical specialists were destroyed in Lyubimovka, Dnipropetrovsk region.
The systematic destruction of HIMARS may indicate that a group has been created that is engaged in hunting for particularly important objects, which include American MLRS and long-range artillery systems, military expert Vladislav Shurygin believes.
— Part of our forces is re—focused on the search and destruction of long-range artillery and MLRS, - the expert explained. — We see the fruits of complex combat work. Our intelligence plays a big role in it. I believe that an intelligence network, radio-electronic and aviation intelligence are involved in this work. Moreover, drones play an important role in detecting such targets from the air. And these are not commercial quadrocopters, but regular equipment created in recent years for the Russian army. For example, the same Orion UAV and a number of other domestic models.
Deserters are fleeing to the west
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on August 1 told about other strikes, as a result of which the enemy suffered significant losses. In particular, the Russian Aerospace Forces hit the temporary deployment point of the 92nd mechanized Brigade, where they destroyed up to 200 nationalists and seven armored vehicles.
— Due to the large irretrievable losses in the 93rd mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv direction and in the 128th mountain assault brigade in the Zaporozhye direction, mass abandonment of combat positions and desertion of personnel of these formations to the central and western regions of Ukraine are noted, - Igor Konashenkov said.
Ka-52 attack helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Kirill Norton
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery destroyed two ammunition depots, the center for providing fuel and lubricants for military equipment of the VFU, the launcher of the American anti-ship missile complex Harpoon and 239 areas of concentration of troops.
During the counter-battery struggle, an artillery battery, eight Ukrainian MLRS "Grad" platoons and six artillery and mortar platoons in firing positions were destroyed.
Russian air defenses shot down ten unmanned aerial vehicles during the day.
— In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 261 aircraft, 145 helicopters, 1659 unmanned aerial vehicles, 361 anti—aircraft missile systems, 4215 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 778 multiple rocket launchers, 3234 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 4621 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, - he listed Igor Konashenkov.
Theater of one MANPADS
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 August 1.
In Seversk (DPR), on the territory of the kindergarten "Goldfish", units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have placed artillery pieces and MLRS, from which they systematically shell the positions of the Russian Armed Forces, provoking return fire.
In Odessa, calculations of MANPADS were placed on the roof of the VFU Musical Comedy Theater, and heavy weapons and armored vehicles were placed on the territory of the dormitory of the Ecological University on Lvovskaya Street.
In Cherkasy, in private households on Pushkin Street, firing positions of heavy artillery and MLRS are equipped, while local residents have not been evacuated from their homes.
VFU Gunner
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
In addition, Mikhail Mizintsev said that in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the VFU mined the railway and automobile bridges over the Volchya River between the settlements of Chernenkovo and Novoskelevatoye. They are planned to be blown up in order to accuse the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the People's Militia of the DPR of indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Mikhail Mizintsev also said that on August 1, as part of the implementation of the "Initiative on Mutual Understanding on the Safe Transportation of grain from the Ports of Ukraine", the first grain ship, the Razoni cargo ship (flag — Sierra Leone, cargo — corn), left the port of Odessa to the port of Tripoli (Lebanon).
— The Russian Federation is taking a set of necessary measures to ensure the safety of civil navigation and prevent provocations on the transit route, — said the head of the NCSO.
Operations under fire
The Ministry of Defense told about the soldiers and officers of the Armed Forces of Russia and the 2nd Army Corps of the People's Militia of the LPR and DPR, who showed courage and dedication during the special operation.
Sergeant Irina Yushkova has been providing medical assistance to servicemen since the first days of the special military operation. She was in the rear column when the medical support vehicle came under fire and lost its course. Irina quickly got her bearings, provided emergency medical care to nine wounded servicemen, and then loaded them into an armored personnel carrier following them and escorted them to a field hospital.
In addition, Yushkova repeatedly, in conditions of continuous enemy fire, as part of the surgical brigade of the field airmobile medical detachment, was an assistant during operations of seriously wounded servicemen.
The commander of the howitzer artillery battery of the 2nd Army Corps of the People's Militia of the LPR Guard, Senior Lieutenant Alexander Proshin, has been serving since 2015. At first he was in a mortar unit, and then moved to the artillery. Consistently passed all positions from the loader to the commander of the battery. Alexander's subordinates are waging a counter-battery war with the enemy, destroying fortified areas and military equipment of the VFU.
Serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Viktor Antonyuk
During the battle in the area of the Uglegorsk thermal power plant, the gunners supported the infantry with fire, acting at the limit of human capabilities. As a result, four VFU tanks were destroyed.
The platoon commander of the howitzer artillery brigade of the 2nd Army Corps of the People's Militia of the DPR, Alexander Radchenya, participated in the battles for Popasnaya and Troitskoye. In addition, Alexander's unit distinguished itself in the battle for the Uglegorsk thermal power plant. Acting skillfully, the gunners smashed the enemy's fortified area in a few hours and destroyed up to ten units of heavy equipment of the VFU.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
