Victory Chronicles-DAY 540

On the morning of August 17, Ukrainian defenders shot down two modern Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters at once. The first helicopter was shot down by an anti-aircraft unit of the Ukrainian Air Force at about 6 a.m. in the Bakhmut sector. The second helicopter was shot down by fighters of the 47th separate mechanized brigade near Robotyno (Zaporizhzhya Oblast) at around 7:40 a.m. The Ka-52 Alligator is a Russian combat helicopter and command and control aircraft of the army aviation. It is capable of engaging armored and unarmored vehicles, manpower and air targets on the battlefield. It is a continuation of the Ka-50 Black Shark model. One such helicopter costs about $16,000,000.

Russian invaders killed 502 children in Ukraine and injured 1,099. “More than 1,601 children have been injured in Ukraine due to Russia’s full-scale armed aggression. As of the morning of August 17, 2023, according to official information from juvenile prosecutors, 502 children were killed and more than 1,099 were injured of varying severity,” the Office of the Prosecutor General reports.

“The war waged by the Viking and Shaman UAV operators seems not scary and even a bit like Star Wars. But in reality, the guys are working under constant fire and in tense combat conditions demonstrate not only the accuracy and efficiency of their shots, but also manage to improve their weapons all the time, testing new features and ways of using them! Iron nerves, supernatural ingenuity and high technology – this is a recipe for success from aerial reconnaissance men,” the 56th separate motorized infantry brigade of Mariupol reported.

Canadian instructors train Ukrainian recruits to attack and clear trenches of the enemy at one of the training grounds in Great Britain; assault exercises are practiced during the multinational training operation “INERFLEX.” At the commander’s signal, three riflemen advance into the trench at intervals. One of the group carries a Javelin with him. Suddenly, the enemy “technique” starts moving towards the trench. The “Javelin” operator takes a firing position and shoots at the fake vehicle with anti-tank weapons. After that, he quickly changes his position – moves to another section of the trench. The group begins to move along the trench, covering himself with fire before each turn. When a conditional enemy is detected, the command “contact!” is given; when the enemy is eliminated, the command “clean!” sounds.

Russian ultranationalists are increasingly criticizing Russian military command for failing to recruit and train effective middle-level military officers to lead Russian forces on the frontlines in Ukraine. Some Russian milbloggers recently expressed their frustrations with middle-level military officers and accused them of introducing unnecessary bureaucratic measures, mistreating wounded and deceased Russian military personnel, issuing commands that lead to military losses, and misinforming the Russian higher military command.

One Russian milblogger claimed that a middle-level military officer ordered his unit to introduce additional bureaucratic measures following a visit from the head of the Russian Air and Missile Defense Troops — likely Lieutenant General Andrey Demin — who originally advised against such bureaucratic practices. Some milbloggers claimed that anger in the Russian information space directed at mid-level military officers should instead target the senior officials who appointed poor commanders.

Some milbloggers noted that the senior military leadership is supporting a system that fails to recruit and train a new generation of middle-level officers, instead appointing old and ineffective commanders to the frontlines. One milblogger noted that the Russian military command and Russian leadership, in general, prefer officers that are loyal rather than competent and are incapable of training new officers, while another milblogger claimed that Russia will not eliminate this detrimental culture within its military without making significant changes to the Russian military leadership.

• White House: There are no discussions about NATO membership possibly being granted to Ukraine if it gives up part of its territories in Russia’s favor
• Ukraine’s Foreign Minister: F-16s to be delivered as soon as pilot training is over
• Ukrainian regional administration: Invaders shell Kherson Oblast again, kill a person in Lvove village
• General Staff: Ukrainian defenders advance south of liberated Urozhaine
• Ukraine’s National Resistance Center: More than 20,000 Horlivka residents, mobilized to the Russian army, were killed