Casus Belli | 🔱⚒️🌅
@doctoradmiral.bsky.social
Ukrainian from Donetsk.
Educational content on the early history of the Russian invasion
Casus Belli: https://donbasposting.substack.com/
YT Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@CasusBelli-r2y
Support me: www.buymeacoffee.com/desiderius
Educational content on the early history of the Russian invasion
Casus Belli: https://donbasposting.substack.com/
YT Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@CasusBelli-r2y
Support me: www.buymeacoffee.com/desiderius
Stragglers from the routed units reach the Ilovaisk grouping, which holds the flanks. Within Ilovaisk itself, the militants begin a counterattack against Ukrainian troops from the army and the National Guard's Donbas Battalion. One of the assault units is led by a certain someone going by Motorola.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Stragglers from the routed units reach the Ilovaisk grouping, which holds the flanks. Within Ilovaisk itself, the militants begin a counterattack against Ukrainian troops from the army and the National Guard's Donbas Battalion. One of the assault units is led by a certain someone going by Motorola.
It wasn't just the Ilovaisk sector either. Russian regulars entered the fray south-east of Luhansk, fighting over the single remaining road into the city, the airport, and the nearby Heorhiivka. Russian units near the Azov coast manage to spend several next days undetected.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
It wasn't just the Ilovaisk sector either. Russian regulars entered the fray south-east of Luhansk, fighting over the single remaining road into the city, the airport, and the nearby Heorhiivka. Russian units near the Azov coast manage to spend several next days undetected.
Word of a Russian column getting smashed on arrival spread around, somewhat lifting the soldiers' spirits. But fighting was now heavier than ever, all across the front. Russian paramilitary formations throw what they have left to support the Russian assault actions.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Word of a Russian column getting smashed on arrival spread around, somewhat lifting the soldiers' spirits. But fighting was now heavier than ever, all across the front. Russian paramilitary formations throw what they have left to support the Russian assault actions.
Captain Koval and his crew then proceed to take out two Russian BMDs, damaging the 3rd. 11 survived crewmen run into a forest, get lost, and then taken prisoner by a UA patrol. Cpt. Koval thinks fast and decides to retreat to the main force at Ilovaisk, abandoning two of his guns.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Captain Koval and his crew then proceed to take out two Russian BMDs, damaging the 3rd. 11 survived crewmen run into a forest, get lost, and then taken prisoner by a UA patrol. Cpt. Koval thinks fast and decides to retreat to the main force at Ilovaisk, abandoning two of his guns.
"Many of my guys were nervous, it was our first battle. The retreat of those units from the 28th Brigade left us alone [...] There were no Ukrainian troops in the area. It could only be the enemy. The distance was 1100-1200m. As soon as they approached I ordered to fire. [...]"
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
"Many of my guys were nervous, it was our first battle. The retreat of those units from the 28th Brigade left us alone [...] There were no Ukrainian troops in the area. It could only be the enemy. The distance was 1100-1200m. As soon as they approached I ordered to fire. [...]"
A "Rapira" anti-tank gun captain recounts: "Infantry left and now we had no cover. It was very strange. I had a bad feeling about it. A jeep of the "Donbas" Battalion drove by at high speed, warning us that an unmarked armored convoy with Russian flags was heading our way..."
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
A "Rapira" anti-tank gun captain recounts: "Infantry left and now we had no cover. It was very strange. I had a bad feeling about it. A jeep of the "Donbas" Battalion drove by at high speed, warning us that an unmarked armored convoy with Russian flags was heading our way..."
Colonel Mykhailo Kovalskyi recounts: "At 13:00 the information was confirmed. The road to Starobesheve was indeed cut off, and we were now in a tactical encirclement. It occured to me that we have to set up circular defense right now or they'll grind us into dust from the flanks"
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Colonel Mykhailo Kovalskyi recounts: "At 13:00 the information was confirmed. The road to Starobesheve was indeed cut off, and we were now in a tactical encirclement. It occured to me that we have to set up circular defense right now or they'll grind us into dust from the flanks"
At the time he was the army chief and headed the Anti-Terrorist Operation in the East. He called the shots. He is known as an archetypal "Soviet" commander - brash and stern, but cool and steady.
At 12:00 he was informed of the situation. His response? "Don't be a pussy!"
At 12:00 he was informed of the situation. His response? "Don't be a pussy!"
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
At the time he was the army chief and headed the Anti-Terrorist Operation in the East. He called the shots. He is known as an archetypal "Soviet" commander - brash and stern, but cool and steady.
At 12:00 he was informed of the situation. His response? "Don't be a pussy!"
At 12:00 he was informed of the situation. His response? "Don't be a pussy!"
In Kyiv, the parade continues on as if nothing's wrong. At the end the President will hand out awards and promotions personally, and Muzhenko knew he was in line for quite a few of those.
Gen. Muzhenko is a divisive figure in Ukrainian military history, and now you'll have some idea why:
Gen. Muzhenko is a divisive figure in Ukrainian military history, and now you'll have some idea why:
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
In Kyiv, the parade continues on as if nothing's wrong. At the end the President will hand out awards and promotions personally, and Muzhenko knew he was in line for quite a few of those.
Gen. Muzhenko is a divisive figure in Ukrainian military history, and now you'll have some idea why:
Gen. Muzhenko is a divisive figure in Ukrainian military history, and now you'll have some idea why:
Ukrainian journalist Yehor Vorobiov was on an assignment to interview Ukrainian soldiers in Ilovaisk. On the night of the 24th he was going to sleep at an army checkpoint south of the city. When he woke up, the local CO informed them - they were now cut off.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Ukrainian journalist Yehor Vorobiov was on an assignment to interview Ukrainian soldiers in Ilovaisk. On the night of the 24th he was going to sleep at an army checkpoint south of the city. When he woke up, the local CO informed them - they were now cut off.
August 24th. Independence Day. Kyiv sees a giant military parade in honor of the Armed Forces. Russian armor is already streaming past the border posts, and most of the soldiers in danger have no idea. Nobody does. Not until they see them for themselves.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
August 24th. Independence Day. Kyiv sees a giant military parade in honor of the Armed Forces. Russian armor is already streaming past the border posts, and most of the soldiers in danger have no idea. Nobody does. Not until they see them for themselves.
Interviews with the "deserters" reveal more than meets the eye: the soldiers not only felt abandoned by their command, in large part because striking back at Russian artillery was strictly forbidden, but the collapse in comms meant many thought they're following ordered retreats!
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Interviews with the "deserters" reveal more than meets the eye: the soldiers not only felt abandoned by their command, in large part because striking back at Russian artillery was strictly forbidden, but the collapse in comms meant many thought they're following ordered retreats!
As night falls and the Russian offensive gets going, another unit is routed - a company group from the 28th Brigade. This time not in entirety - while most of the mobilized drive straight home, a group of 17 officers and volunteers chooses to stay and fight to the end.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
As night falls and the Russian offensive gets going, another unit is routed - a company group from the 28th Brigade. This time not in entirety - while most of the mobilized drive straight home, a group of 17 officers and volunteers chooses to stay and fight to the end.
The border town of Amvrosiivka was guarded by the very green, lightly armed 5th Territorial Defence Battalion. At noon, most of the unit packs up and drive off, abandoning the 5 checkpoints they manned. Of course, the command has no idea. A catastrophe is already unfolding.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
The border town of Amvrosiivka was guarded by the very green, lightly armed 5th Territorial Defence Battalion. At noon, most of the unit packs up and drive off, abandoning the 5 checkpoints they manned. Of course, the command has no idea. A catastrophe is already unfolding.
An already battered company from the 93rd Brigade is unable to capture the village of Petrivske south of Snizhne due to the barrage and falls back with casualties. During their retreat they are once again struck by precise fire. Their comrades in Amvrosiivka watch in terror.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
An already battered company from the 93rd Brigade is unable to capture the village of Petrivske south of Snizhne due to the barrage and falls back with casualties. During their retreat they are once again struck by precise fire. Their comrades in Amvrosiivka watch in terror.
On August 23rd, all Ukrainian forces on the border from Amvrosiivka to Savur-Mohyla come under fire. Since early July, the Russian army conducted a campaign of systematic artillery bombardment of Ukrainian troops across the border. Most infamous case occurred in Zelenopillia on July 12th:
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
On August 23rd, all Ukrainian forces on the border from Amvrosiivka to Savur-Mohyla come under fire. Since early July, the Russian army conducted a campaign of systematic artillery bombardment of Ukrainian troops across the border. Most infamous case occurred in Zelenopillia on July 12th:
The armed forces doing the brunt of the fighting consisted largely of mobilized men, who half a year back had been living their normal lives. Now, even though exhausted physically and mentally, they keep pushing forward.
But such conditions make a force very, very brittle.
But such conditions make a force very, very brittle.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
The armed forces doing the brunt of the fighting consisted largely of mobilized men, who half a year back had been living their normal lives. Now, even though exhausted physically and mentally, they keep pushing forward.
But such conditions make a force very, very brittle.
But such conditions make a force very, very brittle.
The Ukrainian summer offensive had so far been mostly successful, liberating nearly entire Donbas. There was a heavy toll for every liberated town. Children traumatized by artillery fire. Grandmothers decrying the soldiers as Banderites. Summer heat that makes holding a rifle painful.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
The Ukrainian summer offensive had so far been mostly successful, liberating nearly entire Donbas. There was a heavy toll for every liberated town. Children traumatized by artillery fire. Grandmothers decrying the soldiers as Banderites. Summer heat that makes holding a rifle painful.
Ukrainian forces had been in heavy fighting for months, most of the units were heavily battered, what fresh reserves there were were lightly armed and hardly trained. The best troops were not on the border, but fighting to encircle Donetsk and Luhansk.
August 25, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Ukrainian forces had been in heavy fighting for months, most of the units were heavily battered, what fresh reserves there were were lightly armed and hardly trained. The best troops were not on the border, but fighting to encircle Donetsk and Luhansk.