Thus, journalists analyzed dozens of radio transmissions from the battlefield in the area at the very beginning of the war.
“We focused on radio intercepts from the first 24 hours of the assault by Russian forces on Makarov, a city west of Kyiv located along the strategic E-40 highway. The intercepts provide a rare candid picture of the operations of the invading army,” the publication says.
To confirm that we are talking about the negotiations of the Russian troops in the Kiev region, we compared the data of the Ukrainian side, reports of Russian units, geolocation data, videos and photos about the equipment of the invaders and the battles in Motyzhin and Makarov.
Soon, we hear Russian troops on the radio giving battlefield updates — and openly disclosing attack plans for anyone to hear. Here, they’re claiming they shot down an Ukrainian helicopter with “two Strela [missiles].” pic.twitter.com/5jAnO8oRRw
— Christian Triebert (@trbrtc) March 23, 2022
In this series of exchanges, we hear how comms failures delay urgent requests for Russian air support amid mounting casualties. Thirty minutes after the unit requested help: “You forgot about air support, [expletive] air support! You forgot!” pic.twitter.com/GkGjgFqLne
— Christian Triebert (@trbrtc) March 23, 2022
As follows from the intercepts, the Russian military is experiencing communication failures and delays in urgent requests for fire support from the air against the backdrop of significant losses of ground forces, a critical shortage of fuel, food and water, warnings that “equipment will melt on the road.”
The language is often raw. In this transmission, an intention to strike is disclosed. “Give me all the coordinates, let’s make strikes. We’ll [expletive] blow them apart into pieces, these [expletive] [expletive]. Over.” pic.twitter.com/2ub6nj9MGe
— Christian Triebert (@trbrtc) March 23, 2022
This transmission is about a battle in Motyzhyn, a village southeast of Makariv, in which call sign YUG-95 reports his unit pulled out of the battle and lost an armored tracked vehicle called an MT-LB. pic.twitter.com/UmJ0sOBcVk
— Christian Triebert (@trbrtc) March 23, 2022
In addition, in the broadcast, an order sounds from artillery to hit the entire residential quarter of Makarov as soon as the Russian rashists take their “farm” away from there – obviously, military equipment is meant.
“This could be a war crime,” the publication notes.
In another transmission, we hear the repeated order to cover the entire residential neighbourhood with artillery after the “property” (хозяйство) has been removed — a likely codeword for Russian personnel or equipment. This could be a war crime. pic.twitter.com/PFrEiF1irV
— Christian Triebert (@trbrtc) March 23, 2022
Russian troops in Makariv were met with fierce resistance and took significant losses. This transmission captures a frantic dispatch of a unit under attack. The voice is in clear distress. pic.twitter.com/Tio2TUQxOw
— Christian Triebert (@trbrtc) March 23, 2022
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