Drawing from an interview with Lieutenant Colonel Denys Nahornyi, the chief of staff of the Rubizh artillery brigade, conducted by Serhiy Zgurets from Defense Express in collaboration with Espreso channel, there is insights into the ongoing war dynamics. Lieutenant Colonel Denys Nahornyi outlined russia’s active use of artillery, countered by Ukrainian forces’ robust engagement in counter-battery operations. Particularly noteworthy is russia’s utilization of guided munitions such as Krasnopol, featuring laser guidance and coordinated operations with kamikaze drones like the Lancet UAV and its modified variant, Scalpel drone, the latter revealed only in September 2023.
Additionally, the russian military has escalated their deployment of armored vehicles, each carrying 20-30 troops who disembark during operations. To shield their infantry from Ukrainian targeting, the russians are constructing intricate networks of underground passages, akin to subterranean cities. Lieutenant Colonel Denys Nahornyi elucidated on Ukrainian defensive strategies, which include initiating destruction of enemy formations 2-5 kilometers ahead of the frontline through aerial reconnaissance, resulting in substantial losses even before engagement with Ukrainian forces.
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To effectively counter russian drones such as Lancet and Scalpel, Ukrainian artillery units are compelled to deploy multiple anti-drone nets per artillery system. Detecting the laser guidance system of the Krasnopol projectiles may necessitate concealing Ukrainian artillery in subterranean shelters as a precautionary measure.
Interestingly, Ukrainian defenders have adopted a tactic borrowed from the russians themselves to mislead the enemy. They’ve begun igniting tires to mimic enemy strikes on artillery systems, mirroring tactics employed by the occupiers.
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