As the much awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive begins, the Ukrainian army’s 33rd Mechanized Brigade and 47th Assault Brigade massed their Leopard tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles for a brazzen frontal assault on Russian positions two miles south of Mala Tokmachka in southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast on or before Thursday morning.
However, Russian sappers had earlier laid a dense minefield between the Ukrainians and their objective. The Ukrainians deployed at least one IMR-2 engineering vehicle and a Leopard 2R breaching vehicle to clear a path for at least a company of 47th Brigade M-2A2 Bradleys and some attached Leopard 2A6s from the 33rd Brigade.
But the engineers failed, either because the minefield was too dense or Russian helicopters or artillery interrupted their efforts to clear the mines.
This resulted in a Ukrainian Leopard 2A6 (A4) tank and a T-64BV tank destroyed by the Russian army in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
A Ukrainian Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP, at least nine M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA IFV and another Leopard 2A6 were also damaged and abandoned nearby.
Meanwhile in Nigeria, Iswap terror group recently posted images from the Agere SVBIED attack last week, the suicide bomber appears to be a young teenager and the terror group caused heavy damages to National forces’ armoured vehicles.
ISWAP (ISIS – West Africa Province) militants carried out an attack on Nigerian Army convoy near Arege in Borno two days ago.
Nigerian-based terror watch media outlet Zagazola reported that atleast two soldiers were killed and many others injured in the attack by the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
ISWAP carried out an attack on the troops with a Vehicle Improvised Explossive Device (VBIED), on their way to the outpost at Arege in Malam Fatori ito reinforce troops of MNJTF the North East of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
The terror group destroyed at least a Vickers (locally known as Eagle) Mark 3 main Battle tank, a CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAP and Vickers ARRV Mk3.
Additionally, they captured two W85 heavy machine guns, Type 56 rifle, AKMS rifle.
For the Ukrainians, if conditions improve, they should be able to tow away and repair the Leopard 2 tank and some of the Bradleys. They’ve already managed to repair at least one battle-damaged Leopard 2A4.
But for Nigeria, all the captured armor were destroyed by ISWAP on the spot.
One thing is clear however, both forces needs to switch up their tactics.
For the Ukrainians, inasmuch as Russian attack helicopters and artillery are a factor in Thursday’s failed attack, closer air-defense support—perhaps from Gepard mobile guns—also would benefit the Ukrainian brigades, while Ukrainian artillery gunners should target Russia’s own.
For Nigeria, close air support, enhanced drone usage, and integration of infantry fighting vehicles armed with either a 20mm or 30mm rapid firing autocannon will definitely improve the lethality and survivability of the battle-group. In addition, a theatre-wide integrated, encrypted multi-domain communications and datalink system will greatly improve not just command and control, but also battlefield cohesion.
Although, as warfare goes, these major defeat, won’t likely be the last. In any event, tactical losses don’t necessarily translate into strategic defeat.
It is essential not to equate the losses of any military equipment, particularly in penetration battles against prepared defensive positions as an indicator of the direction of the war.