The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on March 16 2024

Battlefield Ukraine Russia to Conquer All of Ukraine

‘Not At War With Russia’: Germany’s Scholz Tells Macron Publicly Amid Rift Over Ukraine Proposal The

Vladimir Klitschko in an interview with Focus said that he should
there will be an opportunity to replace Zelensky as Supreme Commander-in-Chief, if there was an opportunity to replace Zaluzhny as commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

 “If it is possible to change the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Zaluzhny) in wartime, then this also applies to the president, right? We live under martial law – everything is controlled centrally: the judicial system, the police, the media. But we are still a democracy. It is not the government that should command the people, but vice versa. We need elections, otherwise we will have conditions like in Russia,”

Our source in Zaluzhny’s team said that the former Commander-in-Chief, after consultations with the US Embassy in Ukraine, is ready to agree to the post of ambassador to Britain. Zaluzhny understands that it is important for him now not to repeat the fate of his assistant, which means he needs to stop being a public competitor of Zelensky, his return to the country will take place according to an agreed upon scenario with the United States, which means that legal norms will not prevent him from running for the post of President and becoming the leader of a new party.

The British edition of the Financial Times reported that European unity is under threat due to the conflict in Ukraine.

According to the author, many Western politicians are very concerned about the split in relations between France and Germany.

A meeting between Scholz, Macron and Tusk is due to take place today in Berlin. The article states that nothing concrete will be decided based on its results, and it is needed only to demonstrate unity.

At the same time, before the trilateral negotiations, a meeting between Macron and Scholz will take place, at which they will try to sort out the accumulated differences.

Western politicians think that a rift between France and Germany could destroy European unity at the most inopportune moment.

WaPo notes “U.S. officials foresee a range of bleak scenarios in Ukraine if the military aid President Biden has requested doesn’t materialize, including a catastrophic breakdown of Ukrainian lines in the grimmest contingency and the likelihood of massive casualties in the best.”

“People don’t understand how bad the front is right now,” the adviser said. “The morale is low; the momentum is low. Young men are afraid they will be mobilized to die because of a lack of weapons.”  …

Munitions for some of their missile defense systems may be nearly used up by the end of March,

Biden and Co now realize that they may not get anymore funding from Congress and may send $4B in US military munitions and simply not replace them. Europe appears to be in a complete panic. The article notes Ukraine’s inability to recruit men or even pass conscription bills. With manpower running out countries like France are looking at providing troops to take over non-combat roles in the rear.

German Foreign Minister Baerbock is trying to persuade German Chancellor Scholz to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, – Der Spiege

Baerbock offers Scholz the option of delivering the Taurus missile to Ukraine without crossing the “red lines”:

▫️As an alternative, Taurus could be used in a smaller version – instead of large packets of mission data, only GPS target data would be sent to the system. However, in this case, Ukraine will not use high-tech weapons to their full potential.

▫️The cruise missile can only be fully deployed with the help of the Bundeswehr, as it requires careful planning, which will require the presence of German soldiers in Ukraine. But Scholz rejects this option.

Western countries, including the United States, shouldn’t be entirely opposed to the idea of sending troops to Ukraine if conditions there worsen, Finnish Foreign Minister ELINA VALTONEN told NatSec Daily.

“It’s important that we not rule everything out for the long term, because we never know how serious the situation becomes,” Valtonen said in an interview this morning. “But the Finnish position is clear: We are not right now sending any troops and not willing to discuss that.”

Valtonen’s remark comes a day after French President EMMANUEL MACRON stood by his refusal to rule out sending troops to Ukraine, which has caused a rift with the U.S. and European leaders who staunchly oppose the potential move. Washington also isn’t so hot about the idea.

Finland appeared closed off to the idea only a few weeks ago. After meeting with Macron during a summit of European leaders in late February, then-Finnish President SAULI NIINISTÖ said “there was a widely shared perception that there would be no military presence” — meaning no deployment of Western soldiers to Kyiv. He added, “this was also Finland’s position.”

Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN has been clear that he’d consider such troops coming to Ukraine’s defense a significant escalation — and could raise the risk of starting nuclear war with the West. But Ukraine’s soldiers have been struggling to fend off invading soldiers in recent weeks, and a lack of troops is among Kiev’s main concerns.

There are villages in Ukraine where there are almost no men left due to mobilization, the Washington Post writes in its report from the village of Makov, Khmelnitsky region.

“Those who remain fear that they will be called up at any moment. Their neighbors are already hundreds of miles to the east in the trenches on the front line. Some have been killed or wounded. Several are missing. Others from this village are about 45 miles away from the borders of Romania and Moldova – fled abroad or found ways to avoid the war, either legally or in hiding,” the publication reports.

These data were confirmed to journalists at a local school, where they keep lists of students whose parents have left the village.

Local residents say that “military recruiters are grabbing everyone they can” and are “roaming the almost empty streets in search of the remaining men.” Some conscripts from Makov are now serving time in prison for refusing to mobilize.

“People are caught like dogs on the street,” said 35-year-old Olga Kametyuk, whose husband stopped for coffee on the highway near the village and was detained by TCC officers. “Despite the diagnosis of osteochondrosis, a joint disease, he underwent a medical examination in 10 minutes and was sent to the front, where he was wounded,” the article says.

Infantryman Sergei, mobilized from Makov, returned home on leave and said that they wanted to take him back from the street to the military registration and enlistment office.

“When the soldiers realized that he was already serving, they asked how he felt about people “who had never seen a day of war.” Sergei replied that he was more indignant at them (military commissars – Ed.), and not at his fellow villagers.” You are a military man and I am a civilian, but I fight and you don’t,” he said.

30-year-old Makov resident Alexey was mobilized from the street while he was repairing his car. Returning from the front after several wounds and shell shocks, he said that out of a dozen of his soldiers, only two remained alive.

16-year-old Polina says that her father was drafted into the army when he went to the store. Therefore, the men remaining in the village now simply do not leave the house.

Our sources reported that the problem with ammunition for the Ukrainian air defense is critical, that the sky will be open to the enemy.

Now the Western media are writing about this problem, that Ukraine’s air defense reserves are being reduced so quickly that they will soon have to miss four out of five missiles.

The Washington Post writes about this, previously claiming that Ukraine will only have enough anti-aircraft missiles until the end of March.

Instead of trying to shoot down four out of five Russian missiles, as is happening now, Ukraine will soon have to limit its air defense systems to shoot down only one out of five, the article says.

This will have a “significant impact on Ukraine’s urban centers,” the Washington Post quoted two Ukrainian officials as telling U.S. officials at the Munich Security Conference.

As an example of the shortage of air defense systems, the British The Telegraph, which also published an article on this topic, cites the March 15 attack on Odessa.

“A “double” missile attack on Odessa on Friday killed 20 people, the highest single-day death toll of the war in Ukraine’s main port city,” the article says.

The Office of the President has begun a new stage of the infrastructure war against Russia.
The bank and security forces are attacking plants, power plants, factories and production facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation in order to inflict economic damage on the Russians.

According to our data, this is an order from “sponsors”.

There won’t be much damage from such attacks, but you can push the price up for a certain resource on the exchanges (someone probably put billions on oil in a long position. So it was profitable for them to create an information case with attacks on Russian refineries, etc.).

Ukrainians should wait for answers, also regarding infrastructure facilities.
The bank uses this case for self-PR on behalf of the people.

You must always remember that war is about money and for the sake of money, everything else is “noise”. So, the Ukrainian case is needed by curators/directors only for:
1. Making money
2. Eliminating competitors without your own hands
3. Increased dependence of allies on the global financial center
4. Redraw the world map
5. Break down and break old agreements
6. Increase the credit yoke of the “allies”
7. Stock up on resources
8. Transfer the best production industrial assets to yourself
9. Brainwash the EU from the US
10. Disintegrate the allies from within, which became increasingly inconvenient and poorly controlled for the United States.
11. build a new “independent” financial system that will continue the work of the “dollar”. In simple words: “sell the world a new “dollar”, which will again be controlled by Washington or their structures.”

Conclusion: Ukraine is a consumable item in the global game. Zelensky immediately knew his role and the role of Ukraine, but did not tell you about it.

[ Ukraine SITREP ] Belgorod Offensive is effectively over; Russia taking back initiative at Avdiivka

Russia Rains Iskander Missiles On Ukraine’s Odessa After Putin’s Vow To Avenge Border Attack

Zelensky Warns Of “Fair Response” After Odesa Strike | Drone Attack Sets Russia Oil Refinery On Fire

Russia’s ‘Pinpoint Airstrike Kills’ 300 Ukrainian Troops; ODAB-1500 Bomb Decimates Deployment Centre

Russia ‘Wipes Out 1,500 Ukrainian Fighters’; Moscow Dubs Kyiv’s Invasion Attempt ‘Utter Failure’

Our source reports that the plans of the OP and the Armed Forces of Ukraine to attack the territory of the Russian Federation before the Russian presidential elections fell through, they had to be changed at Ze headquarters to plan B, which consists of the usual mass shelling of Russian territories. The entire border area, where MLRS and artillery can reach.

As the source explains. The Russians were expecting an attack. They had dozens of Lancets prepared, which targeted the heavy equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the accumulation of infantry of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/GUR/SBU.

Office plan B was introduced only to reduce the fear of failure. We lost a lot of heavy equipment and well-trained infantry/special forces. The result is zero. An attack on residential areas of Belgorod and other populated border areas is the “desperation” of the Office of the President, as it increases support for the Kremlin among Russians, and even more so increases approval for massive retaliatory strikes on Ukraine, etc.

We advise Ukrainians to be careful. There will be many tragedies. Don’t become a “good information source” for PR for the Zee authorities. Take care of yourself.

“Who are they trying to scare, Russians?” Putin sends warning to neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine amid presidential election buzz 🇷🇺

“The enemy is attempting to divert attention from the real situation on the line of contact by carrying out provocations,” Putin told the Security Council on Friday, as Russian citizens are heading to the polling stations on the 1st day of the presidential elections in the county.

“The presidential election started. In order to disrupt the voting process, to intimidate people at least in the border regions, the Kiev regime has conceived and is trying to carry out a number of criminal actions — namely attacking peaceful populated areas in Russia,” Putin said.

“The adversary was unsuccessful in any of the directions and retreated with heavy losses,” he concluded.

geo_gaganauts

More statements by Vladimir Putin at the Russian Security Council:

▪️The Russian president announced four attempts at sabotage attacks in the Belgorod region and one in Kursk that looked to gain a foothold in Russian territory;

▪️Putin called Kiev’s attempts to attack regions of the Russian Federation senseless from a military point of view and criminal from a humanitarian point of view;

▪️About 95% of Ukrainian missiles and shells were destroyed by Russian air defenses;

▪️The forces and means used by the enemy amounted to over 2,500 personnel, 35 tanks and about 40 armored vehicles;

▪️The Russian military confidently holds the initiative on the line of contact and achieves solutions to combat missions;

▪️The Kiev regime is trying to shamelessly beg for money and handouts from other countries.

Key points from Vladimir Putin’s speech at the Russian Security Council:

▪️The enemy had no success in any direction and fled with heavy losses;

▪️The enemy is trying to distract attention from the real state of affairs on the contact line by committing provocations;

▪️Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory do not and will not remain unpunished;

▪️All victims of enemy actions will be provided with assistance and support;

▪️The people of Russia will respond with even greater unity when faced with attempts at provocation, I am sure of this.

geopolitics_live

Ukrainian militants again shelled Belgorod – Defense Ministry

 - The Nazis fired from Czech RM-70 “Vampire” MLRS.
 - Eight rockets were destroyed in the air over the Belgorod region by air defense forces on duty.
 - In addition, two Ukrainian UAVs were shot down.
 - Residents of Belgorod publish a video of the consequences of the missile attack. One of the shells hit a car and the other hit the courtyard of an apartment building.
 - Earlier Gladkov announced the missile danger and urged people not to leave the house or go down to shelter

RVvoenkor

 

Dimitriy Medvedev writes:

I present to my Western friends an alternative photo version
of the peace formula for the Kiev Nazi mob (based on the proceedings in Kharkov in 1943). And there will also hang out the bastards shelling civilians in our cities, and with them a lowlife named Rinkevics, pretending to be the president of the non-existent country of Latvia, who wished Russia’s death. Memento mori!

Russian Armed Forces foiled attempts by Ukrainian saboteurs to infiltrate into the territory of the Belgorod Region – Defense Ministry

 - A group of Ukrainian saboteurs moved from the direction of Popovka, Sumy Region, towards Spodariushino and Kozinka, Belgorod Region.
 - The Russian Armed Forces’ artillery and aviation destroyed up to 30 militants, 3 tanks, Vampire (Czech Republic) and Grad MLRSs.
 

RVvoenkor

 

Throughout the day, Ukrainian forces carried out intense shelling in the Belgorod region, including the use of the Czech RM-70 Vampire MLRS. Additionally, several enemy drones were intercepted in the area.

The morning shelling in Belgorod resulted in the deaths of two civilians and injuries of varying degrees to three others, all of whom are receiving necessary medical treatment.

Extensive damage was reported across the city: 22 apartment buildings, one private residence, and two social facilities were all affected. Furthermore, over 60 cars sustained damage.

Moreover, residential areas in Belgorod and Krasnoyaruzhsky districts, as well as the Shebekinsky and Grayvoronsky urban districts, were targeted. While buildings and infrastructure were damaged, there were no casualties.

🔻In the midst of the attack, pro-Ukrainian media began circulating footage (https://t.me/oblizbirkom_31/2645) allegedly showing explosions at polling stations in Belgorod. It is important to note that all the videos shared are false.

Nonetheless, this once again highlights the Ukrainian authorities’ aim to sow panic in Russia during the ongoing elections and create a specific media impact for the Ukrainian audience.

It appears that as the final day of voting approaches, we can anticipate new attacks by the AFU, with potential attempts to breach border settlements in the Kursk and Belgorod regions.

rybar

Ukrainian troops, alongside the Russians, are once again firing MLRS at Belgorod. Currently, the air defense system is repelling the attack.

Some missiles managed to evade interception, causing damage in residential areas, with debris landing on a local industrial facility.

Reports suggest that the AFU positions in Liptsy, the origin of the shelling, were targeted by a missile from the Iskander OTRK. 

Ukrainian troops are continuing to destabilize the situation during the elections and on the left bank of the Kherson region.

A Ukrainian kamikaze drone targeted a group of people gathered at the monument to victims of fascism in Kakhovka: one person was killed and four others were injured.

This morning, civilian infrastructure in Kardashinka, Podstepnoye, Aleshek, Kakhovka, and Peschanivka was also attacked; fortunately, there were no casualties.

rybar

 

Avdiivka direction: battles on the Berdychi – Tonenkoe line situation by 10:00 March 16, 2024

For the last few days, intense fighting has been taking place in the Avdeevka sector in Berdychi and Tonenkoye, where the Russian Armed Forces managed to “outflank” the retreating AFU units from Avdeevka.

However, the enemy quickly regrouped and swiftly brought reinforcements to the area, establishing numerical superiority in the entire sector and amassing over 15 brigades by March 6.

As a result, the AFU were able to halt the rapid advance of the Russian Armed Forces, despite initially having to use artillery to block their own personnel from the evacuation routes.

▪️ Despite the enemy’s numerical advantage, the battles have turned into a stalemate. The Russian Armed Forces maintain control over Tonenkoye and Orlovka, as well as the eastern outskirts of Berdychi. The enemy launches armored counterattacks from Semenovka, but fails to dislodge the Russian forces.

▪️ The most challenging and crucial area for the Russian Armed Forces, the northern flank in Berdychi, is anchored at Petrovskoye, supported by the AKHZ and ash dump.

▪️ Concerns arise from the establishment of an evacuation point in the village of Progress, west of Ocheretino. The enemy might attempt to launch attacks on the flank of advancing Russian units, leveraging Novobakhmutovka and Solovyevo, where dense foliage provides cover for a relatively discreet advance.

▪️ South of Berdychi, in Orlovka and Tonenkoe, the situation is somewhat more favorable for Russian forces, as only two roads lead to Orlovka from Semenovka, and there are 4-6 kilometers of fields and plantations to the west of Tonenkoe leading to Umanskoye and Yasnobrodovka, adding complexity to enemy counterattack efforts.

▪️ Engineering work is also ongoing in the same area along the route S-051801 Orlovka – Umanskoye – Netailovo, with the heights west of Umanskoye and Yasnobrodovka on the eastern bank of the Karlovskoye reservoir forming a highly advantageous natural defense line.

▪️ However, despite the current circumstances, the Russian Armed Forces are launching offensive operations. West of Tonenkoye,, an armored group with infantry has taken control of the ruins of a dairy farm. In the Berdychi region, a breakthrough was achieved towards the outskirts of Semenovka, though without further consolidation.

❗️Furthermore, the “pockets” that emerged in the initial days of the offensive to the north and south of Orlovka have been at least partially cleared. The remaining enemy infantry faced heavy attacks from “Sunlighters,” resulting in them being effectively neutralized.

🔻The situation is significantly complicated by the prevalence of drones among the enemy forces. Not only vehicles and armored units, but even individual soldiers are vulnerable to drops and strikes from FPV drones, indicating an abundance of offensive capabilities. This, in turn, not only hinders advancement but also poses challenges for maintaining previously captured positions.

rybar

 

Chronicle of a special military operation for March 16, 2024

At night, Ukrainian formations attacked oil refineries in the Samara region . These raids are beginning to acquire a systematic character, which indicates the serious intentions of the Ukrainian command to continue such attacks in the future.

In the Slobozhansky direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to lose personnel in the border area of   the Belgorod region , but they were unable to achieve any significant result. In addition, Ukrainian formations are carrying out terrorist attacks on Belgorod and surrounding settlements, thus trying to sow panic and disrupt the presidential elections.

In the Bakhmut direction, oncoming battles continue at the Bogdanovka – Krasnoe line. Aviation of the Russian Armed Forces carries out concentrated attacks on enemy targets in Chasovy Yar and its environs, preventing Ukrainian formations from rotating.

In the Avdeevsky direction, the RF Armed Forces are consolidated on the western outskirts of Tonenkoye . There are still unconfirmed reports of Orlovka being taken under full control, however, given the operational situation in the area, the information is premature.

In the Ugledar direction, Russian units stormed an enemy stronghold in the south of Novomikhailovka , fighting is taking place on the approaches to the western outskirts of Timiryazev Street .

rybar

Map of military operations and the situation on the fronts on the evening of March 16

⚔️The situation on the fronts over the past 24 hours:

⚫️Bakhmutskoe (Artemovskoe) direction

The Russian army continues its assault on Bogdanovka . There are positional battles in Krasnoe and near Kleshcheevka .

⚫️Donetsk direction

In the Avdeevsky sector, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to counterattack in Berdychi . There are fierce battles in Tonenkoye and Orlovka . No change in Pervomaisky .

⚫️Zaporozhye direction

In the Orekhovsky sector, our fighters advanced to the central part of Rabotino . Verbovoy has counter-fights. There are no changes on the Vremevsky ledge .

💥Where the Armed Forces of Ukraine is, there is a crime, where the Russian army is punishment. This happened with the Ukrainian DRGs, who were trying to break into the Belgorod region again. Our fighters quickly responded with fire to the attempts of the saboteurs to advance to Kozinka and Sporadyushino. As a result, Russian aviation and artillery destroyed up to 30 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, three tanks, the Vampire MLRS and the Grad MLRS.

Major Russian Victory | RUAF Launch Armored Assault Near Verbove

Russian Breakthrough On Robotyne Front l New Russian Offensive Coming

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation  (16 March 2024)

Part I

▫️In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 68th mechanised brigades, and 25th Airborne Brigade near Kotlyarovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region), and Nadiya (Lugansk People’s Republic).

Two attacks launched by enemy assault detachments were repelled near Sinkova (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 50 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and five D-30 howitzers.

▫️Russian units inflicted losses on enemy manpower and hardware clusters in the border areas of Ukraine and Belgorod and Kursk region.

▫️Attacks were repelled and attempts by sabotage and reconnaissance groups of Ukrainian militants to infiltrate the territory of the Russian Federation were foiled on the side of Popovka (Sumy region) and in the direction of Spodoryushino and Kozinka (Belgorod region).

As a result of aviation and artillery strikes, the AFU losses amounted to up to 30 servicemen, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS, and one Grad MLRS.

▫️In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 93rd Mechanised Brigade, 46th, 81st airmobile brigades, 79th Air Assault Brigade near Belogorovka (Lugansk People’s Republic), Novomikhailovka, Georgiyevka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). 

One attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 81st Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Belogorovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 260 servicemen, 11 motor vehicles, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer.

Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

▫️In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation in the areas of responsibility and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 47th, 110th mechanised brigades, and 71st Jaeger Brigade near Semenovka, Berdichi, and Novokalinovo (Donetsk People’s Republic).

Three attacks launched by units of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade, 3rd Assault Brigade, and 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment were repelled near Novokalinovo, Tonenkoye, and Semenovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 400 servicemen, two armoured personnel carriers, 15 motor vehicles, one UK-made AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, and two D-30 howitzers.

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation  (16 March 2024)

Part II

▫️In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade and 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Ravnopol (Donetsk People’s Republic).

One attack launched by units of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Vladimirovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 servicemen, four motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

▫️In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 121st Territorial Defence Brigade, 2nd, 15th, and 23rd Ukrainian national guard brigades near Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region), Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk region), and Zolotaya Balka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 40 servicemen and two motor vehicles.

▫️Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle assembly workshop near Konotop (Sumy region), temporary deployment areas of Luth and Tsunami nationalist formations near Odessa, four AFU unmanned aerial vehicles command posts, as well as engaged AFU manpower and military hardware in 149 areas.

▫️Air defence units shot down 108 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 17 MLRS projectiles, including 15 Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and one Grad MLRS projectile.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on-march_16.html