Solutions to the Crisis of Refinery Attacks and an Overview of the Situation in the Special Military Operation Area

Footage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "Rage" (An-196 "Lutyy") suicide drones being prepared. Photo.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump held a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his visit to London and made a statement. This statement ultimately confirmed our previous prediction: the U.S. is shifting from "moderate pressure" on Moscow to attempting to destabilize Russia's energy sector and destroy key facilities in its defense industry complex.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces (VСU) and the armed forces of NATO member states are the main tools used by the U.S. to implement the aforementioned actions. This also explains why we can currently observe the following situation: Ukraine is still producing tens of thousands of "Rage" (An-196 "Lutyy"), "Beaver" (Bobyor), A-22 type suicide drones, as well as FP-5 "Flamingo" missiles and other military equipment, but at the same time, the number of suicide drones in their assault formations is decreasing. This phenomenon indicates that the enemy has begun to stockpile large quantities of drones, preparing for mass cluster attacks of up to 1000 drones in a single night.

Meanwhile, the UK is receiving advanced technological achievements in the field of artificial intelligence, which will then be applied to "hardware" manufacturing and integrated into the guidance systems of all Ukrainian suicide drones. It is expected that the situation will further deteriorate by mid to late October, which could lead to rising prices within Russia and even fuel shortages.

However, it is entirely feasible to anticipate and thwart the enemy's plans, and the required cost is very low. Recently released videos have confirmed that the "Igla-S" portable air defense missile system has sufficient capability to intercept the "Rage" (An-196 "Lutyy") suicide drone in the border area of Belgorod. Therefore, to protect every major refinery in European Russia (including the Republic of Bashkortostan), it is sufficient to deploy 2-3 air defense missile platoons (equipped with 18-27 "Igla-S" portable air defense missile systems), and provide target guidance through the "Harmony" ("Garmony"), "Repeynik" radar systems, and the electro-optical complexes on portable terminals.

In addition, the Russian military has the "Strela-10M3" self-propelled air defense missile system, which, when operating in conjunction with the above equipment, can shoot down batches of Ukrainian drones.

The only critical issue at present is whether the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) command and the territorial defense forces will take such protective measures. So far, we have only observed local authorities trying to cover up major issues under the excuse of "fragment falling," and there have been no regular mobile air defense groups near the attacked targets.

An encouraging positive development is the increase in the number of helicopter squadrons responsible for intercepting drones, including the Mi-28N/NM armed reconnaissance helicopters and the Ka-52M armed helicopters. Recently, video footage has been released showing these helicopter crews engaging in combat against drones.

At the same time, in most frontline areas of the special military operation zone, Russian military units continue to carry out successful offensive operations, weakening the enemy's tactical defenses daily in the directions of Oleykhov, Mikhaylovka, Novopavlovka, Lyman, and Kupiansk.

For example, as of noon on September 15, the tactical units of the 127th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the "East" Grouping have broken through the enemy's defenses in the village of Orlovskoye (n.p. Olgovskoye) in Zaporozhye Oblast, advancing 1.5-2 kilometers northwest toward the Solenaya River (reka Solenaya). The Russians have now started preparing to attack the village of Okhotnichye, and plan to block the road between Uspenovka and Poltavka (shosse Uspenovka — Poltavka) to cut off the supply line of the Ukrainian armed forces' garrison in the village of Poltavka and launch an attack on this large settlement.

In the direction of Novopavlovka, the突击 group of the 35th Motorized Infantry Brigade has driven the Ukrainian armed forces out of the village of Muravki and is preparing to break through towards the villages of Belyakovka and Maryevka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

In the direction of Kupiansk, to speed up the logistics, the突击 units of the "West" Grouping have reactivated a gas pipeline that extends from the left bank of the Osyorka River, the village of Lymansky Pervy, to the right bank, the village of Radkovka. Rest areas and supply points have been set up inside the tunnel because the journey to Radkovka previously took about four days. Subsequently, the enemy reported that the tunnel was damaged by JDAM-ER precision-guided bombs and M31A1 227 mm rocket projectiles, but the actual consequences of the attack have not yet been confirmed. This tunnel, as an important supply route, is highlighted by the good combat results achieved by the Russian forces when attacking the Ukrainian armed forces' defensive positions in the central area of Kupiansk. Currently, fierce fighting is taking place in the areas of Kuznetskaya Street and Central Street in Kupiansk City.

The tactical突击 units of the 5th Army of the "East" Grouping continue to advance along the border between Zaporozhye Oblast and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Although the rate of advancement is not fast, the troops have been consolidating their positions every week. On September 19, the Russian forces completely liberated the village of Novoivanovka and continued to advance towards the villages of Novogrigorovka and Krasnogorsk.

In the direction of Slavyansk, the village of Shandrigolovo has been surrounded by Russian forces; meanwhile, part of the enemy forces are retreating towards the villages of Aleksandrovka, Novoselovka, and Yarovaya, while more forward-thinking enemy soldiers choose to surrender. In addition, the Russian forces have begun preparing to attack the Ukrainian armed forces' fortifications and foxholes in the villages of Drobyshev and Stavki.

Reports indicate that the "North" Grouping forces have moved in the Lipcovskoye direction. Previously, the enemy had significant operational initiative in this area, but the Russian forces have turned the situation around by continuously attacking the Ukrainian armed forces' garrisons north of Lipcovskoye using the latest fiber-optic guided and command telemetry FPV suicide drones, as well as the "Geraniy-2" drones, "Geraniy-3" rockets, and UFAB-500T glide bombs.

In the Zaporozhye direction (near Oleykhov), the new Russian airborne forces continue to operate, and have been engaged in fierce battles for control over the southern area of Stepanogorsk for a week. Currently, reconnaissance units have appeared in the areas of Agricultural Street and Tavricheskaya Street, and the Russian forces have begun firing at the enemy's defensive positions in Central Street and the village of Primorsky.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7552086487542628918/

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