Russian troops violated ‘military operations 101’ and were hit by a deadly Ukrainian HIMARS strike.

Russian troops violated 'military operations 101' and were hit by a deadly Ukrainian HIMARS strike.

Ukrainian HIMARS Attack Exposes Russian Vulnerabilities

In a surprising turn of events, Ukraine has revealed that it launched a deadly HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) attack on five Russian units gathered on a beach. The attack resulted in an estimated 200 casualties and destroyed equipment. Ukraine’s National Resistance Center, overseen by the Ukrainian Army, even posted drone footage of the strike on Facebook, showing Russian soldiers standing in plain sight on the shore moments before being hit by the HIMARS munitions.

The Russian military seriously misjudged the distance between their troops and the Ukrainian weapon, highlighting a key lesson: never gather in large, open spaces. According to experts, it seems that Russia may have believed their soldiers were far enough away to be safe. However, this assumption proved deadly wrong.

The strike took place on Dzharylhach island, a 26-mile sandbank in the Black Sea, located in the Russian-occupied Kherson region. This island served as a training ground for Russian military units, providing them with a location to recover and hone their skills. It appears that the Russian military neglected a fundamental security measure by allowing their troops to mass within striking range of the Ukrainians.

Dzharylhach island is approximately 40 miles from the nearest frontline, making it seem relatively safe for Russian troops. However, the HIMARS missile launcher proved to have a much greater range. HIMARS is an advanced American-made missile launcher mounted on a truck and has the ability to fire missiles up to 50 miles. This system is typically positioned behind the front line, providing support from a safe distance. But in this case, the Ukrainians managed to move their HIMARS launcher close enough to put the Russian units in range.

It is worth noting that the Russian training grounds on Dzharylhach island were established relatively recently, which means that establishing perimeters and ensuring security would have been a challenge. Adding to this challenge is the fact that in today’s era, where anyone with a smartphone can quickly disseminate information, operational security becomes increasingly difficult.

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While the Ukrainian National Resistance Center claims that the strike was aided by intelligence provided by local sources, there is an unmistakable element of complacency on the part of the Russians. Ukraine has been successfully using HIMARS for months to destroy high-value targets beyond the frontlines. Russia, being aware of the range of the weapon system, should have reasonably predicted their units were within striking distance. The lesson here is clear: never cut range calculations too closely.

This recent attack follows reports of a similar strike executed by Ukraine just a few weeks ago. In that instance, Russian soldiers were hit by Ukrainian HIMARS while standing still for two hours during a commander’s speech. These recurring incidents highlight a significant communication problem within Russia’s military. Experts attribute these mistakes to the country’s top-down approach to disseminating information, where logistical decisions are made far from the frontlines and without timely, accurate information about what’s happening on the ground.

One consequence of these miscalculations is likely to be worsened morale among Russian soldiers. Many soldiers thought they were enjoying a period of relative respite on Dzharylhach island, but Ukraine has effectively denied them the sanctuary to train, rest, and refit. This strategic move by Ukraine is expected to have profound macro effects in the long-term.

The Ukrainian HIMARS attack has exposed significant vulnerabilities in the Russian military’s understanding of the battlefield and the effectiveness of their communication channels. To avoid future disastrous miscalculations, the Russian military must adapt and learn from their mistakes on a tactical level. It is essential for them to disseminate this knowledge effectively across their geographically dispersed forces. The battle in Ukraine serves as a potent reminder that complacency in warfare can lead to fatal consequences.

• HIMARS
• Russia
• Ukraine