Ukraine War Update EXTRA: Makiivka HIMARS, Lucky Man, Gazprom, & Racing Drone
Table of Contents 📖
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"The reality is those rockets are going to be flying off and killing people - that's their intention, taking out equipment, but either taking out people as an intended target or it's collateral damage that you don't mind at all about."
Hello Team!
Jonathan introduces this Ukraine War Update Extra video, which provides additional nuggets and tidbits of information to give viewers a greater understanding and appreciation of the current state of the war.
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Lucky Ukrainian soldier
A Ukrainian soldier had a very close call with a bullet that went through his helmet but missed his head. The helmet did its job, but even without it, the bullet would have just grazed him. Still, he was a very lucky guy.
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Putin's staged meetings
In Putin's recent meetings and speeches, the same actors appear to be playing different roles, especially those positioned close to him. This staging was particularly evident when he supposedly spoke to the mothers of a unit that had been wiped out, but most of the people at the table were plants. It's clear that Putin is no stranger to these staged interactions.
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Gazprom's worst year
Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy company, has had its worst year in the last 22 years. Russian gas exports outside the ex-Soviet states have fallen by 46%. While Gazprom is trying to increase exports to China to compensate, it's not an easy task due to the need for lengthy pipelines. In the short term, Russia may find it easier to increase oil exports to fill the gap left by reduced gas exports to traditional markets.
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Challenges of urban warfare
Jonathan shares a thread discussing the challenges and necessities of urban warfare, such as the use of aerial surveillance, mortars, hiding armored vehicles, indirect fire support, and the difficulties of breaking in and gaining lodgment. Other factors include collateral damage, the presence of subterranean parts in buildings, communication challenges, and the need for casualty triage and evacuation training. The thread also mentions the asymmetry between Ukrainian and Russian troops in terms of urban warfare training.
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Christmas-themed weapons
Jonathan reflects on the discomfort of seeing Ukrainian forces using weapons decorated with Christmas themes, such as a fighter jet with a Santa hat and a HIMARS rocket launcher adorned with holiday decorations. While meant to be quirky and different, the reality is that these weapons are intended to kill people, either as direct targets or as collateral damage.
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Makiivka HIMARS attack
A Ukrainian HIMARS attack on a Russian temporary deployment facility in Makiivka killed scores of Russian soldiers. The Russian Defence Ministry admitted to 63 deaths, while Ukraine claimed up to 400 were killed. This rare admission by Russia sparked criticism among pro-invasion bloggers and officials over the decision to house soldiers in civilian infrastructure. The attack also highlighted issues with relying on mobilized soldiers due to a lack of small unit leadership, making it difficult to disperse them properly. Sources suggest that between 100-600 soldiers were killed or wounded in the attack.
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Russian opinions on Makiivka losses
Some Russians downplayed the significance of the losses in Makiivka, with one stating that 600 deaths are nothing when Russia has a mobilization reserve of 25 million. However, this opinion was met with criticism, as it's easy to say such things when one doesn't expect to be called up for mobilization themselves.
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Explosive-equipped racing drone
Ukrainian Omega Special Forces used an explosive-equipped FPV (First-Person View) racing drone to target a Russian trench position. The drone was equipped with a PG-7 VL anti-tank warhead and caused considerable damage upon impact.
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Upcoming video on acronyms
Jonathan plans to create a separate video explaining the various acronyms frequently used in the context of the Ukraine war, such as BMP, ATGM, and HEAT. This resource will help viewers better understand the terminology used in reports and tweets about the conflict.
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Wrap up
Jonathan hopes these extra nuggets of information have satisfied viewers' appetite for more knowledge about the Ukraine war. He reminds everyone to like, subscribe, and share the video, and thanks them for their support. He will be back with another update tomorrow.
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