Russian assault near Bilohorivka leads to heavy losses
Russian military bloggers are heavily criticizing the commander of the 123rd Brigade, known by the nickname "Chestnut," whose assault near Bilohorivka resulted in the depletion of four Russian battalions. This article presents the details of the attack and the subsequent Russian losses.
4:14 PM EST, November 6, 2024
The criticized assault occurred on November 2, 2024, near the Sieversk direction. While the Russians did capture some territory, bloggers acknowledge that the losses inflicted by the Ukrainian 10th Mountain Assault Brigade were significant.
The Russians reportedly lost numerous armored vehicles, tanks, and soldiers, most of whom were wounded. It is admitted that the attack proceeded without artillery support, and the wounded were not evacuated even five days after the assault.
How and what the Russians lost
Footage reveals several hits on BTR-80/82A wheeled armored personnel carriers, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and T-72/90 tanks, some in the "armored barn" version. The Ukrainians used artillery, FPV drones, and "Baba Yaga" bombing drones to target Russian forces.
There are also a few scenes showcasing the use of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Based on the distinctive sight and thermal camera view, these appear to be the well-known Stugna-P ATGMs.
Drones: A key aspect of the war
The nature of the war in Ukraine, where drones are prevalent on both sides, has essentially eliminated the classic "fog of war" as described by Carl von Clausewitz. In practice, both sides have real-time visibility of the front line and several miles beyond. This capability means that every major strike is detected early and can be targeted by artillery from distances up to 12 miles away.
Drones play a crucial role. FPV drones function as flying bombs, often equipped with PG-7VL grenades capable of penetrating 20 inches of steel. Meanwhile, "Baba Yaga" drones are typically agricultural drones adapted to drop mortar shells or modified grenades. These drones are highly effective against infantry and towed artillery positions but can also destroy armored equipment with cumulative grenades.
Stugna-P ATGMs: The hallmark of Ukrainian anti-tank weapons still in action
ATGMs are classic anti-tank weapons, and the Stugna-P is Ukraine's standard solution adopted for service in 2011. Initially a Ukrainian-Belarusian project, it evolved into a version based solely on Ukrainian components.
Structurally, it is an older-generation system compared to the Javelin or Akron-MP. It requires the operator to guide the missile until it hits, using a laser beam for guidance. With a missile speed of about 656 ft/s, a target at a distance of 3 miles has roughly 20 seconds to react. This time is sufficient for a gunner to fire at the ATGM launcher's location.
To ensure operator safety, the Stugna-P allows for remote missile firing, achieved through a 164-foot cable connecting the launcher to a portable control panel equipped with a screen.
The warhead uses 5.12-inch caliber rockets, or less commonly, 6-inch caliber ones. Both are equipped with a tandem cumulative warhead capable of penetrating reactive armor. The smaller caliber can burn through at least 31.5 inches of steel armor, posing a threat to even T-90 series tanks, not to mention older models.
