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How do you take a city with a million inhabitants and 2,200 streets using “pole-by-pole” tactics?
With wolfish glints in their eyes, Kiev junta politicians enigmatically say, “The separatists (sic) are in for an unpleasant surprise”. They follow this with another inexplicable statement, “We’ll take the city ‘pole-by-pole’”. Such tactics dictate that the attackers probe for a weak point, subdue it, then, move down the street to launch an offensive on the next street {Baranets implies that the attackers will leapfrog strongpoints… much as in the American island-hopping tactics of WW II: editor}. In such circumstances, to advance tanks, APCs, and self-propelled artillery down the streets is suicidal folly. The opolchenietsy will use their RPGs to send ‘em to hell. Inevitably, the Ukrainian commanders would have to throw in their infantry to clear each street. However, to clear positions in houses in built-up areas you need to use heavy weapons and flamethrowers to clear the way. This means that any artillery fire would turn concrete buildings into rubble, but the opolchenie could turn such rubble into strongpoints.
If we consider that there are 2,200 streets in Donetsk, such tactics would take a very long time. However, Poroshenko is acting hastily… he’s ordered the taking of Donetsk by 24 August… Ukrainian Independence Day. There’s only 12 days left before that… is it a realistic goal? The present perimeter around Donetsk is about 200 kilometres (@120 miles) in length. To besiege the city, the 40,000 troops of the junta force deployed isn’t sufficient… it leaves gaps in their lines. That’s a given, as Poroshenko’s generals will form two or three strike forces to get through to Donetsk using different avenues of advance. They have an almost threefold advantage over the defenders of the city in manpower, and absolute superiority in armour, artillery, and aviation. Yet, in such a situation, the defenders have an advantage over the attackers.
What Can You Expect?
Clearly, American advisers have told the junta commanders presently deployed in Slavyansk how to minimise casualties… use massive artillery and rocket fire, along with intensive airstrikes, and use banned weapons such as Willie Pete ordnance. Thus, the American advice isn’t to take Donetsk, but to destroy it. This is nothing new. As for the “surprise” promised by Andrei Lysenko, the press secretary of the SNBOU… according to opolchenie intelligence reports, the junta forces attempted to infiltrate hundreds of diversionary troops in the Donetsk area in the last week. That is, the intent was that when the junta main-force attack took place, the diversionists would attack from the rear, clearing the streets for the advancing troops. However, if the defenders are on to it, where’s the “surprise” in it? Donetsk is ready to defend itself. The opolchenietsy say, “They can destroy us… but to beg on our knees… NEVER!” The miners are hardworking and gutsy guys… they stand behind their words.
11 August 2014
V N Baranets
Komsomolskaya Pravda
http://msk.kp.ru/daily/26267.5/3145061/
Editor:
This is the meatiest article that I’ve read so far. V N Baranets was an officer in the Soviet Army from 1965 to 1990 (he’s an Afganets… a vet of the Soviet Afghan War). That is, he’s NOT an empty-headed and ignorant Bill O’Reilly, Willy Romney, Sean Hannity, Ted Cruz, Rush Limbaugh, Marco Rubio, Glenn Beck, or Rod Dreher (all of whom were cowardly gutless punks who REFUSED to serve in the forces). He’s been shot at… he’s not a loudmouthed yellow cretin like the people that I named (after all, they did REFUSE to serve, even in a reserve formation… Pat Buchanan, Antonin Scalia, and Wayne LaPierre were part of the Chicken Hawk Brigade, as well).
Firstly, general military rule of thumb dictates that the attacker have a three-to-one effectual superiority over the defence for the attack to succeed. The junta forces do NOT have this. You see, fighting in a built-up area gives a force multiplier to the defence… usually gauged as a three-fold advantage. This means that the opolchenie and the junta forces are even in effectual strength. You see, the junta forces can’t follow the American advice… they simply lack the heavy weapons and aircraft to do so (due to “free market” oligarch theft over the years, there’s a lack of ordnance and spares, too). They have to dig out the opolchenie… for that, they need well-trained and motivated infantry, and they don’t have that. Reflect on the fact that draft-dodging is endemic and morale amongst the deployed forces is in the shitter. The junta needs to send its forces provisions and munitions… it’s sending “commissars” instead. This means that the morale of the junta footslogger is near nil… it means that the junta is desperate.
If this weren’t bad enough, the junta doesn’t have enough forces deployed. 40,000 troops translate to three full-strength or four understrength division-equivalents. This means that the junta has 27 to 36 infantry manoeuvre battalions to cover 200 kilometres of frontage… and that doesn’t even begin to cover minimal defensive requirements, let alone an offensive. L D Trotsky said, “It’s impossible for a little army of 15,000 ex-officers to master a working-class capital of 700,000 inhabitants”. We see the same situation here. Don’t forget… the junta didn’t TAKE Slavyansk and Kramatorsk by assault… I I Strelkov withdrew (in good order with all equipment). The junta hasn’t had a victory in a built-up area. All previous battles were open terrain affairs, OUTSIDE given urban areas.
To use diversionary units was standard Sov doctrine, so, the opolchenie was “aware” of it even before their intel detected the junta infiltrators (who’d mostly be left alone to observe junta movements and intentions… they’d only attack them if they were threatening strategic assets). Strategic withdrawal was also standard Sov doctrine… the Sov/Russian forces trained for it, unlike the American forces, who don’t (they always “win”, dontcha know). I should also mention the Order of Kutuzov, awarded for successful withdrawal operations. Ergo, Strelkov’s brilliant strategic withdrawal buffaloed the junta’s asinine Anglo American advisors, who attributed it to their “superior” abilities and “exceptional” status as Anglo Americans. Of course, that led to their crank advice on Donetsk. The only way to take Donetsk with a minimum of casualties is to besiege the city… but the junta lacks the time, the motivated manpower, and the matériel to do so. Don’t forget… the junta shitcanned its only competent military man, Admiral I I Tenyukh. He told the junta point-blank what the problems were… profanely, without regard for which pol he offended, and with no gloss. Note well that the kleptocratic junta shits got rid of him. Hacks and criminals lead the junta forces.
Lastly, the Anglo Americans don’t know their history. In both the Battles of Moscow and Stalingrad, G K Zhukov waited to counterattack until his forces were built-up, supplied, and ready. He allowed the fascists to move forward… he didn’t let their advance force his hand. Georgi Konstantinovich said, “The Russian army has two great generals, General January and General February”… I I Strelkov is ordering winter uniforms for his army now… are you seeing what I’m seeing (don’t forget to add in that there won’t be enough gas for proper heating in junta rear areas)? The junta is in the deep shit… one last thing… Russian reportage on sites frequented by English-speakers tends to repeat some Western patterns (not completely, but they don’t give the whole truth). On sites frequented by Russians, the story’s different. I’d remind everyone of dezinformatsiya… Russians are past masters of it. Reflect on the fact that Russia is calling land forces reservists to the colours (starting with company and platoon commanders)… something that’s never done… Russia has a “mobilisation army”… connect the dots, kids.
BMD
Voices from Russia 
Junta Forces Fleeing Kramatorsk in Panic
Tags: civil unrest, DNR, Donetsk People's Republic, Kramatorsk, Novorossiya, political commentary, politics, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian Civil War, war and conflict
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Report from the front:
4 September 2014
Novorusinform
http://www.novorosinform.org/news/id/7701