13 May: Genius. Ukrainians Conduct Aerial Ambush - Reporting from Ukraine

[TexasTowelie]

Day 444: May 13

Today there are a lot of updates from the northeast.

The day started with several massive explosions in Luhansk, which is a city located around 100 km behind the front line. This was actually the second consecutive day of precision strikes on targets inside this city, which magnified panic and speculations about the usage of Storm Shadow missiles because previously, Ukrainians could not reach so deep in the rear.

The first and second targets of the Ukrainian strike became machine-building factories. These factories were used as some of the most important and reliable repair facilities for the Russian tanks, armored fighting vehicles, and other equipment. Russian sources reported that Ukrainians used at least two rockets and successfully hit the Poli-pak factory and the Milan factory.

The third target became the former building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Such buildings are usually used as high-level military headquarters for the commanders of brigades and divisions.

The fourth and fifth targets became facilities belonging to food and chemical processing plants. Such factories usually have huge warehouses and storage facilities, which were likely used for storing ammunition and equipment.

At first, Russian sources reported that Ukrainians used ballistic missiles Hrim-2, however, today, as more information became available, this theory was dispelled. Today Russians found remnants of a British Storm Shadow missile and an American ADM-160B rocket. On top of that, Russians noted that Ukrainians scrambled one Su-24 and one MiG-29, which gave an insight into the Ukrainian tactic.

In order to make sure that a Storm Shadow missile reached its target, Ukrainians first launched ADM-160 missiles as decoys for the Russian air defense. And while the Russian air defense was focused on the decoy, the Storm Shadow missiles had a clear sky. And all of that happened under the cover of MiG-29.

Russian Air Force also conducted a missile strike today. Ukrainian General Staff reported that they recorded a total of 21 launches of various drones. Ukrainian air defense managed to shoot down 17, while 4 managed to hit objects in various parts of Ukraine.

The biggest explosion happened in Khmelnytskyi. Judging by the explosion, it is clear that Russians managed to blow up an ammunition depot on a Ukrainian military base located around 1 km away from the city. Russian sources reported that this base has huge storage of aircraft ammunition.

Another successful strike happened in Ternopil. The target became a railway machinery and repair plant, which Ukrainians are possibly using for repairing their equipment.

But the biggest news by far comes from the northern front. Today Russians lost here 4 aircraft within minutes. Russian officials reported that the incidents happened due to an engine malfunction. Unofficial sources challenged the official narrative and stated that even though the fire indeed broke out near the engine, it looked like an explosion from a missile. The photos of the remnants dispelled all doubts as the damage is characteristic of a missile explosion.

The most credible version of what happened suggests that Ukrainians ambushed Russian aviation with their own aviation. Ukrainians reportedly used fighter jets from their airfield in Poltava that were equipped with the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, which have a range of up to 70 km, so Ukrainian jets would not even need to get close to the border. In this case, all puzzles fit together, and some Russian military-affiliated bloggers reported that they are already trying to find the clerks that instructed the pilots to operate at an unsafe altitude. Given that Ukrainians are closely monitoring Russian airfields, it would not be hard to make such a trap, especially knowing the general patterns in which Russians like to approach the targets and also knowing their regulations for altitude.

[Warpy]

1. How embarrassed were the Russians?

Embarrassed enough to claim the incidents were friendly fire accidents until the number of downed aircraft over a 6 hour time span was known.

They'd rather blame their own people than admit Ukraine caught them out.

Way to improve morale, assholes. No wonder it's in the toilet.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

2. War death destruction. Gloating. Much like Gunner talk.

Not loving any war. Most liberals are like that, anti-war and death and destruction and glaring over it all…even if it’s accurate, which is debatable.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. Well,

maybe if Putin's Russia had stayed on their side of the border in 2014 and 2022, there wouldn't have been all the death and destruction in Ukraine.

This liberal Dem, along with vast majority of liberals world wide are for supporting Ukraine in their struggle in ejecting the Russian invaders from their country.

[BigOleDummy]

4. Most liberals...

... know that sometimes you run out of cheeks to turn. By your logic we should have stayed out of WW2, is that what you are saying? No, we don't "love" any war but sometimes it's necessary. Evil must be addressed lest we all fall victim to it. Putin brought all this "War death destruction". Ask any Ukrainian and you'll hear longing for and hopes for peace. Peace under a bootheel is no peace.

I salute the brave men and women of Ukraine in their striving for justice.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

6. Of course. Now it's a stalemate...time for the peace.

[thucythucy]

7. The American Civil War was a stalemate

in the summer of 1863, then again in the summer of 1864. Was Lincoln wrong in choosing to continue until the Confederacy surrendered?

World War II was pretty much a stalemate in 1943, certainly in Italy and in the Pacific. Were FDR and Churchill wrong in not negotiating for a seperate peace with Germany?

Then again I'm not sure we can call what's happening in Ukraine now a stalemate. It appears that the Ukrainians have taken the initiative, and that the Russians are being forced back, albeit at a terrible cost to both sides.

But if by peace you mean the Russians agree to withdraw from the territories they've seized by violence, return the children they've kidnapped, offer to pay reparations for the damage they've caused, and agree to surrender identified war criminals for trials in the Hague, then of course, I think we would all agree peace now is absolutely what needs to happen.

Until then it looks like the bloodshed, sad to say, will continue.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

8. If those are all the absolute demands...yes, the bloodshed will continue long time yet.

[thucythucy]

9. Anything less rewards Putin for his aggression.

It communicates the message that no matter how brutal and unjustified an action is, it will be rewarded if only you make it long and bloody enough. Which would seem to encourage more violence and bloodshed at the expense of whomever it is the powerful wish to victimize.

Which leads me back to my questions about the American Civil War and WWII. Should Lincoln have come to terms with Jefferson Davis? Should FDR and Churchill have negotiated with Hitler? In both instances many lives might have been saved, at least in the short term.

This war would end immediately if Putin decided to end it. Ending the violence on his part would not further harm the Russian people, quite the contrary. The same cannot be said of Ukraine and its people, should they end their resistance.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. Too afraid to answer huh?

That's ok, we've got your number.