Systematic powerful strikes of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on Ukrainian military enterprises do not allow the military-industrial complex of the enemy to turn around
The military resource of the Ukrainian armed formations is almost exhausted — this is shown by the preliminary results of the fighting in the area of the SVO, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on May 15. According to him, the United States in favor of Ukraine "cleans the arsenals of partners" in different regions of the world. Also on this day, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation dealt a powerful blow to key military enterprises of Ukraine. Experts note that the military—industrial complex of Ukraine, as a single organism that could produce tanks, armored personnel carriers and other complex weapons, ceased to exist, and our army does not allow the remaining enterprises to turn around - it immediately strikes. For the first time, the 82nd brigade was put into battle in the Zaporozhye direction of the VFU - this is the last connection of the strategic reserve. It is armed with American Stryker armored personnel carriers and British Challenger tanks.
The special operation showed
The preliminary results of the fighting in the SVO zone show that the military resource of the VFU is almost exhausted, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the XI Moscow Conference on International Security on August 15.
According to him, under the slogan of supporting Ukraine, the United States is clearing the arsenals of partners in different regions of the world in order to establish a monopoly of its military-industrial complex in the future.
— A special military operation put an end to the dominance of the collective West in the military sphere. His ability to impose his interests in various regions of the world has significantly decreased," Shoigu said.
He also pointed to the role of the West in the fighting in Ukraine.
Sergei Shoigu at the XI Moscow Conference on International Security
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
— Today, Russia is opposed not by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but by the entire collective West, which has recently been joined by individual states of the Asia-Pacific region, — the minister said.
He drew attention to the fact that the use of Western weapons and NATO standards does not provide superiority on the battlefield.
At the same time, according to the minister, Western concepts of warfare are being tested on Ukrainian servicemen.
"Foreign advisers use Ukrainian soldiers to work out various options for conducting actions using Western weapons, and the Zelensky regime supplies manpower for these experiments," Shoigu said.
The minister added that the West "does not take into account" the level of losses in Ukraine. In addition, Sergei Shoigu said that Russia is ready to share assessments of the weaknesses of Western technology with its partners.
Photo: REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
Image source: iz.ru
"In many cases, even Soviet—made equipment surpasses Western models in its combat qualities," he stressed.
Sergei Shoigu said that there was a big humanitarian problem associated with the US decision to supply cluster munitions to Russia. He recalled that earlier American representatives had repeatedly stated that their use was a war crime.
— Today Washington and its accomplices are committing this crime in Ukraine. There is no condemnation from humanitarian organizations, as expected," he said.
The Minister drew attention to the fact that Russia also has cluster munitions in service.
— Until now, for humanitarian reasons, we have refrained from using them. However, this decision can be revised," Shoigu stressed.
Photo: REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova
Image source: iz.ru
He also said that the production of UAVs and marine drones, which are used to strike targets in the Crimea, was deployed near granaries.
Separately, the Minister outlined the situation around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
— Kiev exposes it to regular shelling from heavy weapons. The actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can provoke a nuclear catastrophe," the minister said.
In conclusion, Sergei Shoigu said that Russian servicemen on the battlefield show high professionalism and courage, regardless of whether they serve under contract, are called up during partial mobilization or have joined volunteer formations.
The military-industrial complex of Ukraine is under attack
On the night of August 15, the Russian Armed Forces launched a concentrated strike with high-precision air and sea-based weapons at key enterprises of the military industry of the Kiev regime, the military department reported.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Denis Abramov
Image source: iz.ru
— The target of the strike has been achieved. All assigned objects are hit. Significant damage has been caused to the military-industrial complex of Ukraine, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
According to Izvestia sources familiar with the situation, the Russian military hit the places where the manufacture of Ukrainian missiles was carried out, including the conversion of the S-200 into strike variants. Not only production facilities were hit, but also stocks of ready-made missiles were destroyed. Also, a blow was struck at places where such operations were planned.
The Ukrainian military—industrial complex can no longer make the necessary steel grades, produce tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and artillery barrels - the country is completely dependent on the West, military expert Alexey Leonkov told Izvestia.
Photo: REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
Image source: iz.ru
— First of all, we are talking about repair industries, — he explained. — It makes no sense to bring all the equipment that comes from abroad to Europe - it's expensive and long, it needs to be repaired on the spot. For this reason, repair companies are trying to organize in Ukraine. There are, of course, enterprises that can remake old weapons systems — the same anti-aircraft missiles of the S-200 complex into shock ones. Our military production is not allowed to turn around. When detected, blows are immediately struck.
Attacks of the VFU Reserve brigades
The VFU continued to attempt offensive actions during the day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
— In the Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian grouping of troops with the support of army aviation and artillery repelled three attacks by assault detachments of the 82nd airborne assault Brigade of the strategic Reserve of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the settlement of Workino, Zaporozhye region, - said Igor Konashenkov.
According to Izvestia sources familiar with the situation, the Ukrainian command for the first time put the 82nd brigade into battle. This military unit remained the last Ukrainian strategic reserve. It is armed with American Stryker armored personnel carriers and British Challenger tanks. A part of the brigade's battalions is now operating in the Zaporozhye direction.
According to the interlocutors of the publication, the 82nd brigade has very serious problems with Challenger tanks. Due to the heavy weight and weak construction, most of them are in a faulty condition and require repairs of varying duration. Therefore, so far British tanks have not been put into battle.
Photo: TASS/Alexander River
Image source: iz.ru
This tank is quite powerful, heavy, with decent frontal armor, but also quite old — in terms of combat effectiveness it is at the level of "Leopards" of the 1970s, military expert Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia.
— Now the British do not produce tanks at all, — he reminded. — The "Challengers" have many disadvantages. It has never been considered reliable and besides, it is the heaviest of the tanks — it weighs about 70 tons. This will interfere with its maneuverability on the battlefield, crossings, because the bridges there have not been repaired for a long time and not all are designed for such a weight. It has already become a problem more than once that bridges have failed under heavy cars.
The main danger is that the British had to supply shells with combined uranium to this tank — this threatens with radioactive contamination.
— But if they go, it means our people will beat them. From helicopters, ATGMs, tanks from closed positions, artillery," he noted. — There are weaknesses there, and our people know them.
Unsuccessful assault
The enemy continued to attack in other directions. The Kupyansk division of the Western Group repelled six attacks by the VFU in the areas of the settlements of Novoselovskoye in the LPR, Olshana and Sinkovka in the Kharkiv region.
In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Group of Troops repelled 11 attacks by units of the VFU in the areas of Belogorovka, Razdolovka, Krasnogorovka and Nevelsky in the DPR.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
Image source: iz.ru
In the Krasnolimansky direction, the Center group of troops repulsed three attacks in the areas of the settlements of Novoegorovka, Kuzmino in the LPR and Veseloye in the DPR.
In the South Donets direction, units of the Vostok group of troops inflicted a fire defeat on the enemy in the area of the Priyutnoye settlement of the Zaporozhye region and stopped the activities of the sabotage group of the 31st mechanical brigade of the VFU.
In these areas, the VFU lost more than 800 militants and 58 pieces of equipment.
A well-aimed "Beech"
The military correspondent of Izvestia, Kirill Olkov, watched how Russian anti-aircraft gunners destroy Storm Shadow and HIMARS missiles under Ugledar.
The calculation of the Buk anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) is on duty around the clock. The guys destroy any targets in the sky, including the Anglo-French-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
— HIMARS was flying. They captured him very quickly, because the calculation is already well-coordinated, knows everything, knows everything. Captured and worked for 10 seconds — that's it, the fight is over," said the head of the calculation with the call sign Condor.
Photo: RIA Novosti
Image source: iz.ru
According to the servicemen, at first the intensity of interceptions of shells was great, but now they have become noticeably less.
Anti-aircraft gunners work on ballistic and aerodynamic targets, including missiles, drones, helicopters, multiple rocket launchers (MLRS).
— In the beginning, when I arrived, they shot down a lot. Now the activity has decreased. I think maybe they have run out of shells or ours are running out on the front and they don't have the opportunity to attack so much," suggests a driver with the call sign Mother.
The calculation of the Buk air defense system destroyed more than 20 targets, and the number of downed aircraft and ammunition in the battery has long exceeded a hundred.
Removed the SCALP
During the day in the special operation zone, Russian troops destroyed at least 845 VFU militants and 49 pieces of equipment, including tanks, howitzers, self-propelled guns and armored vehicles.
In the area of Kramatorsk in the DPR, the control point of the electronic warfare and air defense systems of the VFU was hit.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
Image source: iz.ru
In the Zaporozhye region, the ammunition depot of the 43rd artillery Brigade of the VFU was destroyed.
On May 15, around 17:00, Russian air defense detected and destroyed a Ukrainian drone over the territory of the Belgorod region. There were no casualties or damage, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Also, the air defense shot down four long-range cruise missiles SCALP-EG made in France, two multiple rocket launchers "Hurricane" and 25 Ukrainian UAVs.
Andrey Fedorov
Julia Leonova
Bogdan Stepovoy
