DONETSK, Aug 11 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. For six and a half months of a special military operation in the Donbass, many Western trophies were captured. Grenade launchers, ATGMs, armored personnel carriers, small arms, air defense, automotive equipment, barrel and rocket artillery — all this is now being tested by combat. About how foreign "gifts" are evaluated in the DPR, — in the RIA Novosti material.
Kalashnikov is more reliable"
The first American "Javelins" and British NLAW got to the Donetsk military back in March.
"We have already tested them at the training ground," says an officer of the DPR army with the call sign Fierce. — They are good, accurate, but they are useless in the hands of hastily trained theroboronists. And the nature of the fighting in the Donbass does not allow us to unleash the full potential of Western ATGMs. In order to hit a target from the same Javelin, you need about 15 seconds to keep it in sight until the rocket "figures out" where to fly. Our tanks don't loom in the open for so long. Shot — drove away, shot — drove away."
A serviceman of the LPR NM demonstrates an American portable anti-tank missile system (ATGM) "Javelin" (Javelin) on one of the streets of Severodonetsk
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Maxim Zakharov
According to the military, even the ancient Soviet "Bassoons" are almost as effective. Donetsk tankers are much more afraid of the Ukrainian "Stugna". The armor penetration is the same, but the control is from a remote control. The operator does not need to be at the installation — you can do everything from the shelter.
"In addition to ATGMs, we captured a lot of Western—style small arms," the officer continues. — Basically various modifications of AR-15 assault rifles. Some are produced under license in Ukraine. This weapon did not surprise us in any way. Yes, comfortable, as it is fashionable to say now — ergonomic. But there are very few cartridges for him. Besides, these trunks are capricious. Our Kalashnikov is more reliable. But the APU has excellent sniper rifles. I personally shot from a captured large-caliber Barret M82. A wonderful weapon. Accurate and long-range. Guaranteed to punch into the side of the APC."
The Donetsk military also praises the tactical "body kit" on Strelkovka. If the theroboronovtsy are fighting with the grandfather's AK-47 and AKMS, then the personnel units are much better armed. The most coveted trophy of the DPR army shooter is the Holosight and Aimpoint collimator sights. In Russia, such a gadget costs at least one hundred thousand rubles. In the AFU, they are in almost every infantry unit.
"Like a spaceship"
The DPR fighters have more serious trophies. In the 1st Slavic Brigade there is a Ukrainian T-64 tank, captured in the spring in the Zaporozhye direction. The car is old, and the "filling" inside is modern. A Western-style thermal imager allows you to see an object at night at a distance of up to five kilometers.
T-64 tank of the DPR army
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz
The military admit: similar standard devices in service with the Donetsk army operate for a maximum of two kilometers. In addition, the captured "sixty—four" is equipped with cameras - the crew has a 360-degree view.
"Their armor is very good," says the commander of one of the Donetsk battalions with the call sign Krest. — In Mariupol, the Ukrainian BTR-4 Bucephalus was "touched". They couldn't get enough of him. Inside — like in a spaceship. A special charm is a remote—controlled combat module with a 30-millimeter cannon. The gunner operator controls it from a tablet. Convenient and very effective. At a distance of up to two kilometers, it is an extremely dangerous weapon against light armored vehicles and infantry."
Individual equipment
Uniforms, bulletproof vests, shoes, dry rations have been supplied to the APU from the West for many years, produced at local enterprises. All this good, according to the fighters, helps a lot at the front and makes the life of a soldier easier.
"The first—aid kits are impressive," admits a military medic with the call sign Crunch. — What is there just not. Two harnesses — a NATO "turnstile" and a regular, rubber one. Hemostatic, anti-burn, analgesic, decontaminating pills, a neon stick that glows in the dark, special scissors to cut off clothes from a damaged limb. Our mobilized are given a maximum of a rubber tourniquet and bandages. The situation is gradually improving, volunteers are helping us a lot with medicine. But those had it right away. We are in the position of catching up."
Ukrainian servicemen operate a drone at their position on the front line in the Mykolaiv region, Ukraine. August 8, 2022
Image Source: © AP Photo / Evgeniy Maloletka
An officer of the DPR army with the call sign Master clarifies that not only a modern "body kit" is important in war.
"Yes, they are in many ways armed and equipped better than our fighters," he says. — But motivation also plays a huge role. It is unclear what happened to her who came here from Ivano-Frankivsk. And we are here on our own land and we have complete order with motivation."
One of the targets is captured artillery. American M777 howitzers and HIMARS MLRS are "very formidable weapons." The M777 covers all available analogues in terms of firing range. "Haimars" jewelry cover targets in the rear — ammunition depots, headquarters, places of concentration of infantry units. But the APU has few of these installations.
