#russianforces

[reforger1985]

Some truly interesting photos which were made mid of the 1990s at the McConnell Air Force Base, located deep inside the American heartland in the state of Kansas. Scenes which are nowadays difficult to imagine and even few years ago as these photos were made, it was like impossible to imagine Russian/Soviet cargo planes and military troops at US soil and that not as part of a "Red Dawn" like invasion scenario. The photo series, which was made during the joint US-Russian exercise "Peacekeeper 95`", was part of a decade of close, friendly and supportive relations between the two nations. If we are recapturing the 1990s today, it is truly difficult to imagine that both nations, which were both bitter "enemies" during the Cold War period, cooperated on dozens of topics, no matter if on economic, military or cultural levels.

"Peacekeeper 95", was the second of such joint US-Russian military exercises, with "Peacekeeper 94" held in Russia and saw the visit of a contingent of around 250 US soldiers deployed to Germany in 1994. "Peacekeeper 95`" was then the return visit of Russian soldiers of the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division to the US. (Also around 250 men) The exercises also prepared both Armed Forces for a joint mission on the Balkans, as part of the IFOR mission to protect the peace efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

But it was surely still a strange scene for the US military personel at McConnell Air Base to see dozens of large IL-76 cargo planes and especially Russian soldiers, armed and equipped at US soil. Just a decade earlier, both sides would had faced each other in Central Europe in a case of a war between the two Alliances. (NATO and Warsaw Pact).

The 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division had a rich history which reached back to the days of World War 2, where the unit fought under the designation 27th Rifle Division in the area in and around Stalingrad in 1942 and 1943. Interestingly it trained during "Peacekeeper 95`" together with the US 1st Infantry Division, which also spearheaded Allied efforts against the Axis powers in Europe during World War 2.

As we know today, this "warm" relations between the US and Russia lasted not for long and changed in a major way already during the early 2000s. The major cut came then with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Interestingly the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division, which was renamed during the early 2000s to 21st Guards Motor Rifle (In 2024 renamed back to 27th) became from 2024 part of the war in Ukraine and fought mainly in Eastern Ukraine.

So much can happen and change during just three decades. From peace to war.

[alivewithclive]

“Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported damage “in every district of the city,” as missile and drone strikes hit across the capital — including central areas that tend to see fewer strikes during Russian attacks.” ~ @kyivindependent_official 🇺🇦❤️‍🩹😢💙💛😢❤️‍🩹🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost_ . . . Russian forces launched a large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight on May 24, killing two and injuring over 80 others.

Ukraine’s Air Force said that Russia launched 90 missiles and 600 drones, making the attack one of the largest in the last year.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported damage “in every district of the city,” as missile and drone strikes hit across the capital — including central areas that tend to see fewer strikes during Russian attacks.

The National Art Museum, one of the oldest and most important museums in Ukraine, was damaged by a blast wave, according to the Culture Ministry. The collection, which ranges from classic to contemporary art, was not damaged.

The windows to the entrance of the Ukrainian House, a major cultural institution on Kyiv’s central Khreshchatyk Street, were also damaged in the attack. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that for the first time since World War II, the Foreign Ministry building sustained damage from an attack, albeit not severely.

Civilian homes and infrastructure were also targeted in the attack.

Photo: Vladyslav Musienko; Danylo Antoniuk; Arif Murat Kayacan; Roman Pilipey / Getty Images.

20h

[alivewithclive]

“Gains have consistently declined since the beginning of winter, with the Russian army seizing 401 square kilometers in December, 321 in January, and 189 in February.” ~ @kyivindependent_official 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost_ . . . Russian forces’ advance into Ukraine has slowed significantly in the past few months, with Moscow seizing just 133 square kilometers in March, the lowest monthly total since June 2024, battlefield monitoring group DeepState reported on April 1.

The pace of Russia’s offensive had steadily increased since July, peaking in November when Russian troops captured 725 square kilometers, overrunning a badly overstretched Ukrainian defense in several areas, especially in the south of Donetsk Oblast.

Gains have consistently declined since the beginning of winter, with the Russian army seizing 401 square kilometers in December, 321 in January, and 189 in February.

This relative stabilization of the front line was achieved thanks to the winter conditions, effective work of Ukrainian drone units, and a temporary exhaustion of Russian offensive potential.

Russian forces continue offensive operations, particularly around the city of Pokrovsk in in Donetsk Oblast, where fighting intensified at the end of March.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 31 that Russian forces are “stalling” and failing to advance in the area. Pokrovsk, located about 70 kilometers northwest of Donetsk, remains a major flashpoint.

While Russia's advances in Ukraine have slowed, its forces have nearly reversed Ukraine's territorial gains in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Ukraine controlled 407 square kilometers there in early March but held just 70 square kilometers by month's end, DeepState reported.

Ukraine had initially seized 1,300 square kilometers of Russian territory before Moscow, reinforced by North Korean units, launched a counteroffensive. Since launching operations in Kursk Oblast, Russian forces have suffered over 55,000 casualties, Syrskyi said on March 27.

DeepState warned that Russian forces previously engaged in Kursk may now be redeployed elsewhere, posing additional threats along the front line.

Photo: Ozge Elif Kizil / Anadolu via Getty Images

12h

[alivewithclive]

“As in November, the Russian military is using a record number of its men in December in battles and assaults.” ~ Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost_ . . . Russian forces have incurred record-high casualties in manpower during hostilities in both November and December, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 11 after hearing a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Moscow’s troops are advancing at a rapid pace in Ukraine’s east, pushing back outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian defenders at the cost of staggering losses.

“As in November, the Russian military is using a record number of its men in December in battles and assaults,” Zelensky said on Telegram.

“These months — November and December — saw record Russian losses,” the president noted, adding that the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast remain the active parts of the front.

Read the full report at the link in bio.

Photo: Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

8h

[alivewithclive]

"According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Moscow's troops lost 1,950 men over the preceding day. This surpasses the previous record of 1,770 set just the day before. The total figure stands at 712,610." ~ @kyivindependent_official

Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost_

. . . Russian forces suffered their deadliest day since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine for the second day in a row, according to figures released by Kyiv on Nov. 12

According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Moscow's troops lost 1,950 men over the preceding day.

This surpasses the previous record of 1,770 set just the day before. The total figure stands at 712,610.

The figures do not specify killed or wounded, though the overall consensus is that it includes dead, wounded, missing, and captured. They are broadly in line with estimates from Western nations.

The surge in losses comes as Russian forces step up pressure across the front lines.

Over autumn, large chunks of Ukrainian territory, sometimes including entire cities, have been lost on a near-daily basis in southern Donetsk Oblast, while Russian forces have also made operationally significant gains near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, Kupiansk, as well as on their own soil in Kursk Oblast.

Russia's increasing pressure on Ukrainian positions is coming at a huge cost — the number of Russian troops injured and killed last month averaged 1,500 "every single day," U.K. Defence Staff Chief Admiral Anthony Radakin told the BBC on Nov. 10.

This is higher than the previous figure presented by the U.K. Defense Minister John Healey, who told The Telegraph on Nov. 8 that Russia suffered 41,980 killed and wounded during October- a daily average of 1,354.

Russia is sacrificing high numbers of troops for “tiny increments of land,” Radakin told the BBC.

However, he added that Russia is making “tactical, territorial gains,” and “putting pressure on Ukraine" amid a heavy offensive.

Photo: Taras Ibragimov/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

19h

[alivewithclive]

Russian soldiers continue to represent cannon fodder — not considered important by their officers and sent into war without their leaders worrying if they die — in Putin’s futile attempt to satisfy his archaic imperialistic ambition. 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost . . . Russian forces on Oct. 17 suffered their second deadliest day since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to figures released by Kyiv.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported 1,530 Russian casualties over the past day, a figure only surpassed once in more than two-and-a-half years of fighting.

The bloodiest day for Moscow’s forces was on May 13, when they suffered a reported 1,740 casualties.

The figures do not specify killed or wounded, though the overall consensus is that it includes dead, wounded, missing, and captured.

Facing a shortage of manpower and a pressing need to maintain the grinding advances in eastern Ukraine, Russia has reportedly been throwing some of its most skilled troops into mass infantry attacks, and at very high costs.

Russian casualty figures have surged in recent months.

According to an analysis of the Ukrainian figures by analyst Ragnar Gudmundsson, two of the top ten bloodiest days for Moscow’s forces since the launch of the full-scale invasion occurred this month — 1,530 on Oct. 17, and 1,450 on Oct. 16.

Three others all occurred last month – Sept. 22, with 1,500 casualties, Sept. 28, with 1,470, and Sept. 21, with 1,440.

"The past four months have proved the costliest for Russian forces since the war began in 2022," according to a U.K. military intelligence report on Sept. 23.

The report said Russian casualties, both killed and wounded, were averaging over 1,000 a day, and were 1,262 in May, 1,163 in June, 1,140 in July, and 1,187 in August, adding the total number since the start of the full-scale invasion was "likely over 610,000."

Photo: Oleksii Chumachenko/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

15h

[alivewithclive]

“Russia has transferred around 50,000 soldiers from other sectors of the front to Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Oct. 10.” ~ @kyivindependent_official 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost . . . Russian forces launched a new counterattack against Ukraine’s left flank in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, several Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels claimed on Oct. 10.

A Ukrainian official commented that the “Russian plan in Kursk Oblast has been thwarted so far” as Russian forces suffered losses.

Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in early August, claiming to initially seize some 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) but recently facing mounting pressure from growing Russian reinforcements.

“No details yet, but the Russian military suffered significant losses in equipment,” said Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation department at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

Read today’s full report at the link in bio.

Photo: Ed Ram/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

5h

[alivewithclive]

When evil and terror are given free rein, they produce nothing but death, destruction, anguish and pain. 🇺🇦💔😢💙💛😢❤️‍🩹🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost . . . Russian forces launched two ballistic missiles against the city of Poltava on Sept. 3, killing at least 51 and injuring 271 people, according to the latest information shared by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Military Institute of Communications and a neighboring medical facility were hit in the attack. The building of the educational institution was partially destroyed, Zelensky said.

“The time interval between the alarm and the arrival of the deadly missiles was so short that it caught people during an evacuation to the bomb shelter,” the Defense Ministry said.

Many people remain trapped under the rubble, while rescuers and medics continue to work at the scene.

Read the full report at the link in bio.

Photo: Bohdan Kazyrid/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

7h