Southfront.org: https://southfront.org/battle-for-popasnaya-result-in-russias-victory-videos/
Note the proper handling of this Izhmash AN-94 (Abakan) (successive to the AK-47). The safety and the fire selector are two separate controls. The safety is mounted inside the triggerguard, and the fire selector is a small switch above the triggerguard at the left side of the receiver. The fire selector has 3 positions, for single shots, 2-round bursts and for full-auto. Safety has 2 positions – Safe and Fire.
On May 7, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) units reportedly retreated from the town of Popasnaya in the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), where violent clashes continued for several weeks. Russian troops together with the LPR People’s Militia continue the offensive.
According to the reports from the area, the 24th Mechanized Brigade of the AFU was defeated and withdrew from the city towards the town of Bakhmut. The mop-up operation continues on the north-western outskirts of Popasnaya.
Chechens inside the town (see map above for the location).
According to the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, Popasnaya is 80% controlled by Russian forces. Chechen units are also deployed in the area.
Russian-led forces mopped-up the industrial zone and destroyed the Ukrainian strongholds around Popasnaya.
“Almost all strongholds around the city have been destroyed, Popasnaya is blocked, and is 90% in the ring, only one road needs to be closed. Popasnaya was a very fortified village, it was impossible to go there, but our specialists found the key, opened the door, went in and destroyed…” – Ramzan Kadyrov claimed
At the same time, units of the LPR PM are advancing from the south towards Lisichansk. An important road junction of the settlement of Svetlichnoye has been taken under the Russian control. Earlier, clashes were reported in the villages of Nizhny and Orekhovo.
According to Ramzan Kadyrov, Russian forces took control of the town of Nizhny on May 7. The report is yet to be confirmed by the LPR military officials.
The breakthrough around Popasnaya marks the collapse of the northern flank of the grouping of Kyiv’s forces in the sector. This will likely lead to the collapse of Kyiv’s defense in Severodonetsk and Seversk and will open route towards Bahmut.
The advance from Nizhny and Orekhovo will let LPR forces cut off another road leading to the Severodonetsk-Lisichansk area.
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As reported above by Southfront, the AFU’s 24th Mechanized Brigade was defeated and pushed north-northwest as the cauldron continues to close.
~20 miles away to the rear of the 24th Mech are southbound forces of the Russian Federation’s 1st Guards Tank Army.
Here’s a little history regarding the 1st Guards Tank Army. 1st Guards was formed twice: once in July 1942 and reformed in January 1943. It was subsequently upgraded to an elite “Guards” unit in January 1944.
1st Guards fought in the early defense during the Battle of Stalingrad, and Operation Uranus. 1st Guards also participated in the historic Battle of Kursk, as well as the Proskurov-Chernovtsy Operation, Lvov-Sandomierz Operation, Vistula-Oder Offensive and the Battle of Berlin.
During the Cold War, 1st Guards was designated to race to the Fulda Gap outside Frankfurt and seize the Rhine crossings.
Notably, in light of its history and after the 2014 Maidan coup in Kiev, 1st Guards Tank Army was reassembled as a unit in 2015 by President Vladimir Putin.
Over the past few days, 1st Guards made some progress towards clearing the north bank of Siverskyi Donets and appears to be preparing to seize a bridgehead south of Kreminna to envelop Ukraine’s defense in Sievierodonetsk.
In some respects, 1st Guards is a replay of the Battle of 73 Easting during the Gulf War. fought on February 26, . 1991, during the Gulf War.
In the Gulf War, Coalition armored forces (US VII Corps and UK 1st Armoured Division) engaged the Iraqi armored forces (Republican Guard and Tawakalna Division) in the final battle of that war. The lead unit was 2nd US Armored Cavalry Regiment.
2nd ACR faced the 1st Guards Tank during the Cold War.
In the way of 1st Guards on the road to Siversk and playing the role of the Republican Guard is the AFU’s 95th Air Assault Brigade.
Here is fighting outside Lyman on the road to Siversk involving Russian Spetsnaz (special forces). Under Russian Combined Arms theory, Spetsnaz work ahead of main units and operate as light infantry. Their role is to locate, engage, and fix the positions of enemy units for destruction by artillery, helicopter gunships, tactical aviation:
Currently inside the envelopment east of Siversk are 4 AFU brigades:
- 17th Separate Tank Brigade
- 79th Air Assault Brigade (positioned east of Siversk, possibly as a combat reserve in case of a breakthrough)
- 111th Territorial Defense Brigade (light infantry, comparable to a US Army Reserve unit)
- 4th National Guard Brigade (also light infantry)
When Siversk is taken, the last supply road will be cut.
Ukrainian Luhansk governor stated that he expect a significant Russian offensive to begin in the three days at either Sievierodonets or outside Popasna.
Three days will be May 9 — Victory Day of the Great Patriot War against Germany.
Econophysics2020 