Ukraine/Russland/NATO – der Sammler am 25. November 2022

Zum andauernden russischen Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine der Sammler am 25. November 2022:

• Die russischen Luftangriffe auf zivile Einrichtungen in der Ukraine halten an – zum Beispiel in der erst seit kurzem wieder von ukrainischen Truppen kontrollierten Stadt Kherson, aus der die New York Times berichtet:

Hospital patients were being evacuated from Kherson as Russia stepped up its daily bombardment of the southern port city it retreated from two weeks ago.
Russian forces shelled the city and surrounding area 49 times in the past 24 hours, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding dozens more, the head of the Kherson regional military administration, Yaroslav Yanushevych, said on Friday morning.
Attacks on residential neighborhoods are heaping new suffering on the people of Kherson and Thursday was one of the deadliest days since the Kremlin ordered its forces to retreat. Soon after Mr. Yanushevych’s statement, further blasts were reported in the city, which remains without heat and electricity after departing Russian soldiers blew up much of the region’s critical infrastructure.

• Die indirekten Auswirkungen des Ukraine-Kriegs betreffen zunehmend die westlichen Streitkräfte und auch die Bundeswehr: Der mögliche Nachschub an Munition droht ins Stocken zu geraten – nicht nur, weil das Verteidigungsministerium bislang noch nicht mal Ersatz für die Munition bestellt hat, die von der Bundeswehr an die Ukraine abgegeben wurde. Sondern auch, weil die nötigen Grundstoffe für die Produktion von Munition zunehmend schwerer zu beschaffen sind.

Der zweite Punkt wird in der kommenden Woche selbst das Kanzleramt beschäftigen, wie mein Kollege Marco Seliger für den SecurityTable aufgeschrieben hat:

Gravierender Munitionsmangel in der Bundeswehr – Krisentreffen im Kanzleramt

(Offenlegung: wie hier bereits mitgeteilt, bin ich an dieser Publikation auch redaktionell beteiligt.)

Die stellvertretende Regierungssprecherin Christiane Hoffmann bestätigte am Freitag vor der Bundespressekonferenz zwar ein entsprechendes Treffen, war aber sichtlich bemüht, die Bedeutung herunterzuspielen:

Frage (zu den Terminen des Bundeskanzlers): Vielleicht war ich vorhin unaufmerksam, Frau Hoffmann, aber Sie hatten, glaube ich, nicht darüber gesprochen, dass der Kanzler sich am Montag mit Vertretern der Rüstungsindustrie zu einem sogenannten Munitionsgipfel trifft. Den haben Sie der dpa wohl schon bestätigt. Können Sie noch sagen, um wie viel Uhr der stattfinden wird?

Hoffmann: Nein, das haben wir nicht bestätigt. Ich hätte es angekündigt, wenn es so wäre. Ich habe den Bericht über einen sogenannten Munitionsgipfel zur Kenntnis genommen. Ich kann sagen, dass es ein Gespräch im Bundeskanzleramt auf Beamtenebene geben wird; das ist zutreffend, alles andere nicht.

Zusatzfrage: Sie können das nicht bestätigen oder es trifft nicht zu?

Hoffmann: Trifft nicht zu, kann ich nicht bestätigen – das ist ja dasselbe.

Frage: Nur um das noch einmal klar zu verstehen: Das heißt, Sie können uns hier definitiv sagen, dass es nicht zutrifft, dass der Bundeskanzler an entsprechenden Gesprächen teilnehmen wird?

Hoffmann: Es wird ein Gespräch mit ausgewählten Vertretern der Rüstungsindustrie auf Beamtenebene geben. Das ist das, was ich sagen kann.

Ziemlich genau so hatte es mein Kollege auch geschrieben:

Am Montagabend wird es ein hochrangiges Spitzentreffen mit Industrievertretern im Kanzleramt geben. Thema sind die Kapazitäten und Lieferzeiten der Hersteller, „insbesondere bei Munition und Ersatzteilen für die Ukraine und die Bundeswehr“, heißt es in der Einladung, die Security.Table vorliegt.
Die Gespräche führen der außen- und sicherheitspolitische Berater des Kanzlers, Jens Plötner, und der Leiter der Abteilung für Wirtschafts-, Finanz- und Klimapolitik, Steffen Mayer. Zugegen sind außerdem Staatssekretäre aus dem Verteidigungs-, Wirtschafts- und Finanzministerium sowie des Auswärtigen Amts.

Ergänzung: Das Munitionsproblem scheint es auf vielen verschiedenen Ebenen zu geben – neue 35mm-Munition für die Gepard-Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer in der Ukraine, sagt eine norwegische Firma, werde deshalb nicht produziert, weil aus Deutschland nicht die dafür nötigen technischen Informationen übermittelt würden:

Produktion Gepard-Munition: Norweger warten auf Daten aus Deutschland

• Die deutsch-polnischen Irritationen (um es zurückhaltend auszudrücken) über eine mögliche Stationierung von Patriot-Flugabwehrsystemen der Bundeswehr in Polen halten an. Nach dem ursprünglichen deutschen Angebot, die Systeme in Polen zu stationieren, hatte die polnische Regierung die Verlegung in die Ukraine selbst vorgeschlagen – ohne Abstimmung mit Deutschland und, wie es bislang aussieht, innenpolitisch motiviert.

Das Thema beschäftigte auch NATO-Generalsekretär Jens Stoltenberg, zumal Verteidigungsministerin Christine Lambrecht als erste Reaktion auf den polnischen Vorschlag auf eine nötige Abstimmung in der Allianz verwiesen hatte. Stoltenberg dazu recht ausweichend am Freitag bei einer Pressekonferenz in Brüssel (zum bevorstehenden Außenministertreffen der Allianz):

Question: If I could clarify one of your statements earlier, you said that sending a patriot system into Ukraine would be a national decision for Germany. But obviously, this would have huge implications for NATO. I mean, isn’t that a no go for an ally? To send a patriot system into Ukraine would involve all of NATO wouldn’t it? It would risk an Article Five declaration if such a system were attacked. Sorry, because Germany insists that its technicians would have to be there. I mean, I know this is very hypothetical, but..

Stoltenberg: NATO Allies have been able to deliver different types of advanced air defence systems and also other advanced systems like the HIMARS to Ukraine already. And the way this has been done is that when there is a need for specialists to operate these systems, be it air defence systems or other advanced artillery systems, the Ukrainians have received training in a NATO country. So for instance, on the NASAMS, which is also an advanced defence systems, the training has been conducted in Allied countries by NATO personnel, but NATO personnel has not conducted any work inside Ukraine. And again, this highlights that NATO is not party to the conflict. We don’t have forces or troops on the ground, but NATO Allies support Ukraine’s right for self-defence, and we have that right to help them to uphold that right and we do that by providing different types of advanced systems, but also by training them. Just a couple of weeks ago, I went to the United Kingdom. I visited one of the training facilities there, where the United Kingdom but also Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Lithuania, and also actually partners like Australia and New Zealand are providing training to Ukrainian soldiers and personnel in different ways. So, there are ways for us to ensure that they can operate also modern advanced systems without deploying NATO personnel inside Ukraine. But again, the specific decisions on the specific systems are national decisions. Sometimes there are end-users agreements and other things so they need to consult with other allies. But at the end of the day, it has to be taken by the national governments. (…)

Question: Last week after the missile hit Eastern Poland, Germany offered its Patriot system to the Poland. But Poland came up with a different idea to position the system in Ukraine. So I’d like to ask you were there any consultations before? Because according to Germany, it’s not possible to position the Patriot system in Ukraine at all, without consultations with NATO allies. Were there any consultations before? Is it possible to place the Patriot system in Ukraine? And what’s your opinion where’s the best place to locate the system? Thank you.

Stoltenberg: I welcome the German offer to strengthen the air defences of Poland by offering to deploy Patriot batteries to Poland after the tragic incident in Poland last week, where two people lost their lives. Over the years, NATO has increased its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance. And in particular since the invasion in February, we have stepped up our presence with increasing the number of battle groups, increasing the number of troops on the ground, but also backed by significant air and naval capabilities. And this includes also significant air defence systems with fighter aircrafts, ground based air defence systems like the Patriots and of course, also Naval Air Defence Systems, so naval based air defence systems. So in total, we have increased our presence including with air defence systems significantly in the eastern part of the Alliance. In addition, our Supreme Allied Commander SACEUR, General Cavoli, has the authorities to quickly reinforce and to further strengthen our presence and augment further our air defences in the eastern part of the Alliance. In parallel with that, we have also provided significant air defence systems to Ukraine, including with modern systems. Germany has provided modern air defence systems to Ukraine. And at the Foreign Ministerial meeting next week, I will urge allies to further step up the support, not least with air defence to Ukraine, but decisions on specific capabilities, that remains national decisions.

• Das britische Intel Update:

Two months after President Putin announced a ‘partial mobilisation’, common themes are emerging in the experience of mobilised Russian reservists.
Their deployment is often characterised by confusion over eligibility for service, inadequate training and personal equipment, and commitment to highly attritional combat missions.
Most – though not all – mobilised reservists have previously served and numerous examples suggest that reservists are highly likely not having their medical status adequately reviewed and many are being compelled to serve with serious, chronic health conditions.
Mobilised reservists have highly likely experienced particularly heavy casualties after being committed to dig ambitious trench systems while under artillery fire around the Luhansk Oblast town of Svatove.
In Donetsk Oblast, reservists have been killed in large numbers in frontal assaults into well-established Ukrainian defensive zones around the town of Bakhmut.
The Kremlin will likely be concerned that an increasing number of reservists’ families are prepared to risk arrest by protesting against the conditions their relatives are serving under.

• Das Morgenbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

Operational update of General Staff of UAF regarding russian invasion as of 06.00, November 25, 2022
The two hundred seventy-fifth (275) day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian military large-scale invasion continues.
Over the past 24 hours, units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine repelled the attacks of the occupiers in the areas of the settlements of Stelmakhivka and Dibrova in the Luhansk oblast and Bilohorivka, Yakovlivka, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Opytne, Pervomaiske, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk oblast.
At the same time, the enemy carried out 6 missile and 14 air strikes, carried out 59 MLRS attacks from rocket salvo systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas.
In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the situation has not changed significantly, and no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups have been detected.
In the Siverskyi direction, the occupiers shelled the Vovkivka settlement of the Sumy oblast with barrel artillery.
In the Slobozhanskyi direction, the enemy fired artillery of various types in the areas of the settlements of Strilecha, Krasne, Zelene, Starytsa, Ohirtseve, Vovchansk, and Dvorichna of the Kharkiv oblast. An attack UAV was deployed near Zelene.
The enemy is defending in the Kupyansk and Lyman directions. Areas of the settlements of Berestove, Kharkiv oblast, were damaged by fire; Makiivka, Novoselivske, Stelmakhivka and Ploshchanka in the Luhansk oblast and Torske, Donetsk oblast. In the Novoselyvske area, the occupiers used an unmanned aerial vehicle.
In the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions, the enemy is concentrating its main efforts on conducting offensive operations. Areas of Andriivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Nevelske and Pervomaiske settlements of Donetsk oblast were subjected to shelling from tanks and artillery of various calibers.
The enemy continues to defend itself in the Novopavlivsk and Zaporizhzhia directions. It fired from tanks, mortars, barrel and rocket artillery at the positions of the Defence Forces and areas of the settlements of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Neskuchne, Vremivka, Zelene Pole of the Donetsk oblast and Olhivske, Hulyaipilske and Charivne in Zaporizhzhia oblast. russian occupiers launched an air strike in the Vuhledar area.
In the Kryvyy Rih and Kherson directions, the enemy does not stop artillery shelling of the positions of our troops and settlements on the right bank of the Dnipro River. It used tanks, mortars, barrel and jet artillery to shell the settlements of Antonivka, Zmiivka, Beryslav, Tokarivka, Mykilske, Chornobayivka, Bilozerka and Veletenske of the Kherson oblast and the city of Kherson.
On November 23, it was confirmed that the units of the Defence Forces fired at the areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment of the invaders in the village of Zelenyi Yar, Zaporizhzhia oblast. The enemy lost 2 trucks, more than 15 wounded and 20 dead servicemen.
In the village of Mostove, Zaporizhzhia oblast, the russian occupiers are forcing the local population to redraw real estate and land documents in accordance with the legislation of the russian federation. In case of refusal, they threaten to „nationalize“, that is, simply take away this real estate.
Ukrainian aviation continues to destroy the invaders. During the past 24 hours, 12 strikes were carried out on areas where the enemy’s personnel, weapons and military equipment are concentrated and on 2 positions of its anti-aircraft missile systems.
At the same time, units of missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces hit 4 control points, 2 areas of concentration of personnel, armament and military equipment, a station for unloading weapons and military equipment, an ammunition depot and an enemy relay station.

• Das Briefing des russischen Verteidigungsministeriums:

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (25 November 2022)
Russian Federation Armed Forces continue the special military operation.
As a result of high-precision weaponry strikes by the Russian Air Force against three temporary Polish mercenary units near Velikiye Hutora (Kharkov region), up to 200 militants have been destroyed.
In addition, over a hundred mercenaries of the so-called Foreign Legion, as well as 1 tank, 2 armoured combat vehicles and 8 motor vehicles have been eliminated by Russian air force high-precision weapons near Seversk and Slovyansk (Donetsk People’s Republic).
In Kupyansk direction, 2 unsuccessful attacks have been launched by the AFU near Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic). The enemy has been halted and pushed back to its initial positions by artillery fire and active action by Russian troops. Up to 30 Ukrainian personnel, 3 armoured combat vehicles, and 4 armoured vehicles have been eliminated.
In Krasniy Liman direction, the AFU company tactical group concentrated for an offensive near Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People’s Republic) has been hit by Russian troops as a result of pre-emptive actions. In addition, the enemy attack has been thwarted by artillery fire and army air strikes towards Chernopopovka (Lugansk People’s Republic). The AFU suffered up to 70 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, 1 tank, 4 armoured combat vehicles and 2 pickup trucks.
In Donetsk direction, the AFU counterattack by company tactical group forces has been repulsed near Bakhmutskoye. Over 60 Ukrainian personnel, 2 tanks and 3 infantry combat vehicles have been eliminated.
In South Donetsk direction, the enemy attempted to counterattack the positions of Russian units near Novomikhaylovka, Novodonetskoye and Novodarovka (Zaporozhye region). The enemy has been dispersed and pushed back to its initial positions by the active action of the defending troops and artillery fire. More than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 armoured vehicles and 2 pick-up trucks have been eliminated.
Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery have neutralised 6 enemy strongpoints near Petropavlovka (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People’s Republic), Yampolovka, Torskoye, Ivano-Daryevka and Pobeda (Donetsk People’s Republic), as well as 67 artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 168 areas.
1 U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Vesyoloye (Donetsk People’s Republic). The AFU artillery weapons depot has been destroyed near Kamyshevakha (Zaporozhye region).
Air defence facilities have shot down four unmanned aerial vehicles near Mirnaya Dolina, Vershina, Novoandreyevka (Donetsk People’s Republic) and Zaliman (Lugansk People’s Republic).
In addition, five rockets of the HIMARS and Olha multiple-launch rocket systems have been intercepted near Kremennaya and Popasnaya (Lugansk People’s Republic).
In total, 333 airplanes and 177 helicopters, 2,562 unmanned aerial vehicles, 390 air defence missile systems, 6,813 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 902 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,620 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 7,352 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

• Das Abendbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

Operational update regarding russian invasion as of 18.00, November 25, 2022
The two hundred seventy-fifth (275) day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian military large-scale invasion continues.
During the day, the occupiers launched 4 missile strikes on Komyshuvacha, Zaporizhzhia oblast, and fired 7 MLRS at the positions of our troops and populated areas.
In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the situation has not changed significantly, and no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups have been detected.
The republic of belarus continues to support the armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, providing it with infrastructure, territory and airspace.
In the Siverskyi region, in the border areas of the Bryansk and Kursk regions, the enemy continues to carry out the task of covering the section of the russian-Ukrainian border, conducting demonstration and provocative actions.
In the Slobozhanskyi direction, the enemy inflicted fire damage from mortars, barrel and rocket artillery in the areas of Vysoka Yaruga, Strilecha, Starytsa, Ohirtseve, Vovchansk, Ambarne, Fiholivka and Dvorichna settlements of the Kharkiv oblast.
In the Kupyansk and Lyman directions, the enemy conducts an active defense on previously captured lines, carries out shelling from tanks and barrel artillery, in particular, in the areas of the settlements of Berestove, Kislivka, Tabaivka, and Vyshneve in the Kharkiv oblast; Novoselivske, Stelmakhivka, Makiivka and Ploschanka in the Luhansk oblast and Torske in the Donetsk oblast.
In the Bakhmut and Avdiivka areas, the enemy is concentrating its main efforts on conducting offensive operations. The areas of Verkhnokamianske, Soledar, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Andriivka, Krasnohorivka, Berdychi, Avdiyivka, Pervomaiske, Nevelske and Maryinka settlements of the Donetsk oblast were shelled from tanks and the entire range of artillery.
The enemy is actively defending in the Novopavlovsk and Zaporizhzhia directions. It fired from tanks and various caliber artillery on positions of the Defense Forces and areas of the settlements of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Neskuchne, Vremivka, Novopil and Zelene Pole in the Donetsk oblast and Olhivske, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipilske and Charivne in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
In the Kryvyy Rih and Kherson directions, the occupiers do not stop shelling the areas of Zmiivka, Beryslav, Tokarivka, Mykilske, Antonivka, Chornobayivka, Bilozerka, Veletenske settlements of the Kherson oblast and the city of Kherson.
The enemy continues to suffer losses, in particular in training centers before being sent to the area of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. So, in particular, in the village of Derevnaya, Brest region of the republic of belarus, on November 22, as a result of violations of security measures at night, one occupant died and one was injured.
In the village of Chaplinka, Kherson oblast, the invaders are looking for relatives of servicemen who participated in the anti-terrorist operation/anti-terrorist operation and security forces. In addition, the search for abandoned residential buildings for housing the personnel of units of the russian occupation forces continues.
The enemy continues to put pressure on Zaporizhzhia NPP workers. According to available information, individual workers who refuse to cooperate with the occupation authorities are not allowed to work.
In Simferopol, the occupation authorities are conducting measures to inform the population about actions in the event of an air alert, as well as chemical and bacteriological danger.
During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces made 9 strikes on the areas where the enemy’s personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated, as well as 3 strikes on the positions of the enemy’s anti-aircraft missile systems.
During the current day, soldiers of missile troops and artillery hit the control post and 5 areas of concentration of personnel and anti-aircraft defenses of the enemy.