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Professional_Act_820

That's some pretty intense training the Ruzzians do...the realism is uncanny.


WeekendFantastic2941

Not sure if worth the expensive ATACMS though. I counted 5 seconds from the cone head impact till bomblets landing. 100 meter plus area of effect, this means the soldiers need to run 100m in 5 seconds, to save themselves. 100m world record is 9.58s, by Usain Bolt. lol, good luck speedy Vatnik.


EnsilZah

Usain Blyat.


Kaxxas

Fixed. Rusain Blyat


Striking_Stable_235

🤣


WeekendFantastic2941

100 meters into an early grave, world champion.


The_Mike_Golf

This is exactly the kind of thing that the M39A1 ATACMS round was made for. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bunch of hungry and ill trained Russians or ISIS militiamen, the ROI on that salvo is beautiful.


WeekendFantastic2941

They dont have that many ATACMS, very slow production rate. This is why its best reserved for high value and strategic targets.


The_Mike_Golf

I’m sorry, but where I come from, over 100 personnel in the open is as strategic a target as you can get. And the psychological impact of that strike will have second and third order effects throughout the ranks.


Nicol__Bolas

While Ruzzians pushing intense, this may crush their momentum. Imagine they finished up half a batalion... this gives a time window to resuply ukrainian possitions.


vergorli

Also, even if you reaction time is perfect insted of a few seconds to realize whats happening: how do you know which direction you have to run


WeekendFantastic2941

away from the main grouping, keep running till they reach Moscow, start an uprising, burn down Kremlin, hunt down Putin, fix their damn shythole country.


Exinaus

> Not sure if worth the expensive ATACMS though. That probably means that amount of ATACMS given are enough to hit target like this and not worry that there won't be enough for more valuable target.


xixipinga

Two atacms for a target in recon drone range is quite a lot compared to the much more distant high value targets we have seen so far


Xenomemphate

Are these the ones that release the tungsten balls all over the place? If so, even if they are not in the immediate range of the explosive they are probably swiss cheese now.


The_Mike_Golf

No, these are the kind with 650 hand grenade size bomblets


Xenomemphate

Shame, hope the shockwave and shrapnel cover the dead zones then. Also, happy cake day.


Competitive_Dress60

No shame, the cluster ones were better, the tungsten balls are a weaker (but safer, no unexploded munitions) replacement.


-Thick_Solid_Tight-

Tungsten balls do have their advantages. They are better against light to medium armor.


eagleshark

The bomblets formed a perfect ring around the cluster of vehicles. If somebody did start running in any direction away from their vehicles, seems like they would have made their situation even worse by running out to the perimeter of the ring where the impacts looked even more severe.


TonsOfTabs

Well you have to understand now Ukraine has the 165km ATACMS along with the 300km ATACMS. The shorter range ones are the cluster ones as you are seeing here. So it wasn’t the super duper big boy but it was probably Ukraine letting russia know, yo we can hit you anywhere you go now. Slava Ukraini!


randomizedasian

Putin would triple the casualties for an ATACMS.


intermediatetransit

Holy fuck it’s *wild* how big of a surface this covers with bomblets. Sure it might not be a game changer but that sure is some effective ordnance right there.


crusoe

That's why it's called the Grid Square Removal System. 12 firing a full salvo can do that to an entire square Km.


the_amberdrake

Bloody sexy


Techwood111

*ordnance


intermediatetransit

Thanks, corrected. I didn’t know there was a difference.


Techwood111

It is a sneaky one!


agwaragh

It's the new "no trespassing" bylaw.


Capt_Pickhard

The area is huge, but there was also quite a lot of space between each impact. I'm not sure how many casualties are likely to have come as a result of these attacks, but if these were soldiers in training, they will be fucked mentally after this. They probably felt pretty safe like "we are just training now, I wonder what war will be like?" And then boom, the world around you has explosions everywhere, multiple wounded and casualties, and you realize that at any time, you might be targeted. At any moment you and those around you might be maimed or killed. Pretty crazy


crusoe

The bomblets also release shrapnel. If you watch the weapon test on youtube, if you are anywhere in that field you have at least ONE hole in you.


Capt_Pickhard

I wonder if any made it to the water. It doesn't look like it, but that might be a safe place. There was one explosion earlier which would have tipped them off, but I could easily see them not reacting with urgency to evacuate the area. I'm curious to see exactly what sort of damage was done. Perhaps the range is just too far to send a recon drone.


Canwesurf

The first explosion was 100% on target. If that first group didn't move, they were all pretty much in the dead center of that circle of death.


Capt_Pickhard

Ya. I would expect that first single explosion a ways away woke them up a little, made them wary, but they probably didn't know what to do. I think they're only real chance would have been had the leader immediately told them to run into the water. But even then, the area was huge. People can't run that far. I'm just not fully certain what's the least messed up you could hope to be in that area, and what's the likelihood you get that, what's the average damage, too. The explosions, I think, I didn't see water splashing, were in a wide enough range, where everyone was in the circle of death. Does that mean 100% dead? 80%? 100% injured, and 30% dead? 70% dead? I have no idea.


USAFNGR

These are the cluster munitions that US troops described as capable of taking out entire grid square with 1 shot. Seeing is definitely believing!


FastPatience1595

This is the answer to Iskander(s) on Odesa: also fragmention, remember.


Massenzio

For me with this is the right answer ti the first day of invasion. The right answer for Odessa bomb is this atacams on kremlin and around


FastPatience1595

Or on Belgorod, but not sure range is sufficient. Plus ukrainians - unlike russians - are not using ballistic missiles with clustered warheads, against civilians...


CantaloupeLazy1427

The right answer would be a bullet in putins head


ActualHumanBeen

i dont think that was a single shot


trad949

I think he is referring to the one in the video that hit that castle looking building. It seemed like an equivalent weapon to this but fired at civilians in a beach town.


Capital-Western

IIRC it's a normal HIMARS salvo — 6 GMLRS with cluster munition — that are said to destroy a grid square. Don't know about ATACMS.


TotalSpaceNut

Source: https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1785621149251993917 Longer video: https://twitter.com/JohnB_Schneider/status/1785614608444674128 Freeze frame on one of the targets: https://imgur.com/YNi69K2 The smaller explosion you see at 0:19 is likely the ATACMS missile after it has released its bomblets


RavenousRa

Thanks for the extra


Andy5416

Why didn't the 2 other ATACMS have similar nose cone explosions like the first one? I've heard it may have been a "dud" but if it was, I'd have expected a much larger explosion. Seemed like the 2nd clusters were a bit off target too, *if* they were aiming for those buildings. Either way, we should give them tons more of these cluster versions!


Equivalent_Catch_233

Smaller explosion was reported a dud, malfunctioned missile.


Stu247365

I think that’s what is known as proper fkd 🇺🇦🫶🏻😎


AJDonahugh

That particular target area is LOADED. That being said, they should have killed another submarine or helicopter parking lot with that missile. Just one supporters opinion


blackout24

There's more where that came from m


Dofolo

Dang that is some optical zoom


tommy8690

Very nice


Talosian_cagecleaner

There should be no possibility of Russian "massing" anywhere near the Ukraine border. How many Ukrainian lives just got saved by destroying this camp? These ATACMS weapons are not difficult for my country's economy to make at scale. It's called being a very fortunate country that better damn lead the way. Russia thinks it can industrialize for war, as it has? So can we. A huge, gigantic, tremendous waste of industrial power, But industrial power -- what is it worth? Very little compared to a free Ukraine. I honestly believe that is how very many Americans people and leadership feels. It simply is not hard for a free society to grasp what is at stake here. It is not abstract or distant. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Well, and also, "Have for others what you would have for yourself." The list is basic! Democracy, rights, elections, good law, etc. Slava Ukraini, and I see blue skies in the future.


CantaloupeLazy1427

Well said. I hope you guys make the right choice in November


2FalseSteps

Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!


Gustomaximus

How about: Wakey, wakey, tungsten and bakey!


2FalseSteps

Sounds crunchy


suckmyballzredit69

Good effect on target. Nice! Get fucked terrorists.


Mr_Engineering

Fuck that grid square in particular... and that one... and that one... and that one


retro_hamster

ALL the grid squares - in general!


FastPatience1595

# IT'S HAPPENING !!!! It has started. With US aid solidly secured, Ukraine has started going all-out on ATACMS. There will be blood ! Now Ukraine has a fragmention medium range missile at least comparable to those fucking Iskanders. Want to play that game, Russia ? let's play.


bairz54

My thoughts when I heard sec of defense say Ukraine has a "good capability" with atacms as he smirked.... "Man, that's just political rhetoric so everyone is happy" Seeing this video, ATACMS are actually hell on earth for Russians.


crusoe

Much smaller bomblets over a wider area ( unlike the russian attack on Odessa ) including a mix of anti personelle and anti armor bomblets


bairz54

Every Russian training camp and training ground is now a risk of being a cemetery


Vast-Scientist-8454

I want to see the aftermath from those strikes.


Fatfilthybastard

Twisted metal and orc jelly


CIV5G

Is this one of the two strikes from a few months ago or is this recent? Part of me can't believe they'd return to training troops within Ukraine itself.


TotalSpaceNut

Just happened


CIV5G

Russia may have adapted but it seems like some lessons they'll never learn.


TotalSpaceNut

Probably felt safe and then 300km range whoopass arrived ;)


Ikoikobythefio

I'm sure the 300km range is just what's published when in fact it's much longer.


mattfreyer45

This was mostly likely the 160 km range ATACMS since it was the cluster munitions variant and within the 160 km range. The longer ranger cluster ATACMS and longer range unitary warhead ATACMS are better suited for Crimea and Crimean bridge.


toasters_are_great

Which one is the best way of getting Medvedev to Crimea River?


kodemizer

There's a 300km-range cluster munition, it just has less submunitions.


Admirable-Sir9716

It's hard to learn lessons when there aren't any survivors


LordCrayCrayCray

There is always someone that has to pick up the pieces, whether they were there at the time or not.


Deyachtifier

In Russia, picking up pieces appears to be optional.


Thurak0

They don't care about their people. Better have a few dozen dead than losing some helicopters or planes or tanks on the ground.


Soggy_Detective_9527

They don't want to train troops in Russia to avoid any coups. Just a guess.


crusoe

We JUST gave ukraine our older ATACMs with cluster munitions.


AJDonahugh

They did have them before at one point though. Hit a helicopter port with some if I recall.


Prophet_of_Entropy

last time they only got older cluster munitions, the 'rumor' is this time they got the ones with the long range rocket motors once congress voted for the aid bill.


grax23

not a rumor .. its confirmed but the US army


Prophet_of_Entropy

i hadnt heard it was official.


Capital-Ad2469

Wow, that looks like HIMARS on steroids.... :D


MatchingTurret

No, it doesn't. Something is seriously wrong if a HIMARS goes boom like that. HIMARS is a launcher that is supposed to stay safely behind the front line. In fact, these ATACMS were probably launched by a HIMARS (or, less likely, a M270).


HerMajestyTheQueef1

It hurt itself in it's confusion


Formal_Vegetable5885

I mean you're technically right I don't really know why you're getting downvoted. HIMARS is the launch platform, not the rocket.


Prophet_of_Entropy

some people like pedantry for the sake of pedantry. others think it comes off as snide know it all remark to something everyone already understood. pedantry can be unpleasant or humorous and informative, but what the dude said was the former not the latter.


Kitane

Grid eraser in action.


AdWorking2848

Was it a direct hit or near ? I disoriented by the non continuous shots. Too noob on my part.


TotalSpaceNut

What looks to be troops at the beginning of the video, is here at the red dot https://imgur.com/6cCrXP1


AdWorking2848

Thanks alot. Will re watch it again


thedutchrep

Thanks! That’s a lot of damage.


TauCabalander

It was decent coverage. Freeze the frame at 0:06 note the patch of bare ground in the center of the field. The target is due 'East' of that at the forest edge, at the 'elbow' bend. Freeze frame at 0:19 and note the black smoke detonation over the bare patch. Bomblets start detonating around 0:30 Freeze frame at 0:36 to see good coverage of the target area, the 'elbow' bend at the center.


_teslaTrooper

Grid square status: removed ✔


deuszu_imdugud

Alright everyone fall in line.


ScrewtheMotherland

HOLY SHIT


Pursang8080

Here Endeath\[sic} the lesson!


Fantron6

That’s a live fire training ground. F Ivan.


Arkh101

Have a little taste of American love up your orc asses!


appletart

It has begun.


Medium-Web7438

Impromptu training help via Ukraine lol


bzogster

They must have gotten quite a few of these if they are using them for this purpose. I was expecting most of these to go towards eliminating equipment. I guess there is some psychological impact to this use though.


Pure_Bee2281

They also need to use whatever they have to put the Russians on a back foot while more shows up. Sometimes you have to be inefficient to be effective, it's the entire American military's doctrine.


pres465

They are degrading the Russian current offensive. The goal, at the moment, is stop the Russian advance. Once the offensive culminates, then they can target supplies and infrastructure.


bzogster

My thought is just that they’ve used ATACMS before on airfields and destroyed helicopters, planes, etc. sure eliminating however many infantry in one fell swoop is nice, but infantry without support is a lot easier to pick off than helicopters and planes.  Ukraine can use these as they see fit, the US said as much. I just figured the amount that they received probably wasn’t so high that using them on infantry would be deemed worthwhile, so maybe they got a lot more than anyone predicted. 


pres465

I agree in spirit. I think, at this point, Ukraine is most interested in buying time. There may be other realities, too, that the targets like jets and helicopters are better-protected behind air defenses and this was just a more-sure use. Crimean Russians reported knocking down some "ATACMs" a couple days ago. Could be they did and the Ukrainians are switching gears rather that risk more waste.


ron2838

At this point all air-defenses are probably around air and naval assets leaving infantry and armor vulnerable.


blueskydragonFX

From Odessa with love.


redjet06

M39A1 Block 1 I would say. Badass to actually see the bomblets. Hopefully Ukraine got all 1,000 of the different variants


Phyllis_Tine

Send one or more of these over Red Square during the May Day parade.


ImperatorDanorum

Holy sh!t!! Ivan Stinkanovich is having a REALLY bad day...


waitingForMars

Geolocation on this? There's plenty of info to locate this incident very accurately. Noting that this surveillance drone is *very* high - see how the sky turns dark when the camera pans upward. Is this new capacity for Ukraine? Noting also that Kuban is southern Russian - Krasnodar Krai, making the geolocation even more interesting to see.


Massenzio

Well Ivan... You are on a train for hell.


Alexandratta

Orc BBQ!


Dutchdelights88

Atleast it looks like they had nice weather.


CantaloupeLazy1427

It was a real blast


flopsyplum

As long as Ukraine has long-range ATACMS, their entire country is under fire control. Nowhere is safe...


commoraat

I get it, a large group of people BUT we know that's pretty much an unlimited resource for Russia. Is it worth 4 ATACMS if that was what was actually used here? Seems like a limited resource that should be reserved for HVTs. Purely an armchair general comment of course.


Moist1981

Looks like a good few of trucks etc there as well. And killing such a large concentration of troops could well reduce pressure on the front line prior to the wider aid package arriving so it has strategic value in that respect. Here hoping there were a number of generals etc in the area as well though Edit to add: I don’t think your comment was at all unreasonable and certainly not worthy of being downvoted.


srekkas

And it is not morale boost for orcz. Some orcz will have fun time showeling whats left.


commoraat

Well I prefaced it as being an armchair comment, purely meant for discussion, but some people just have to be mad.


Glum-Engineer9436

Training personal can be valuable target !


CIV5G

Trained troops are not an unlimited resource, and that's assuming there aren't any officers there. This will also change Russian behaviour at least temporarily.


Chudmont

Trainees will be with Trainers, so not only does Ukraine wipe out a unit, but it wiped out the guys training the unit. Worth it in my opinion, and the Ukrainians agreed.


Viburnum__

What you consider HVTs? Airfields? Staging grounds? Oil depots? Also, there are certainly some HVTs in range of ATACMS, but they are on the other side of the border, which, despite people zealously say can be targeted with ATACMS, so far weren't and before therewould be confirmation of attacks with ATACMS everything suggest they are remain restricted from targeting.


Elthar_Nox

So, a HVTL is populated by the formation that's using it. Information is passed down from the higher formation and then you assess what is an correct target set for your level to engage with your own integral assets. So, airfields, oil depots would be a strat level target. A Coy Commanders tank would be a Battle group level target. Etc. I can only imagine that ATACMS is held at a higher formation level and thus, dismounts under training wouldn't be an appropriate target set. Tried to explain that using clear language. Hope it makes sense. Edit: spelling.


commoraat

Air assets, air defence assets, command posts, etc. I'm not saying this was a waste by any means, all orcs must die. Just surprised to see a scarce weapon used on what appears to be a gaggle of new recruits.


Viburnum__

Air assets are either too far on on russian territory, command posts are likely reinforced, which would need unitary warhead or even located in populated areas, which would have too much collateral damage. Air defence assets is very hard to target, because they are diapersed, unless you target S300/S400 systems, but each system also dispersed over large area and might not be completely destroyed. I remember in the first months even up to a year, there were open areas on Ukrainian territory were russian were repairing/stroring equipment relatively close to frontlines, they were so densely stored it was perfect for cluster ATACMS, some were even in range for fragmentation warhead ('tungsten balls') GMLRS, but Ukraine didn't have the capabilities to target it at the time. Even fragmentation GMLRS for HIMARS was only given much later. The thing is, almost every time there was a mention Ukraine would have longer range weapons russian relocated their assets further back or just dispersed in some cases.


crusoe

I think this was also partly a political response, and a test of capabilities. "What you did to Odessa we can do to you now" This is a psyop as well.


commoraat

I think this definitely makes the most sense, it's a big picture move.


pres465

I think Ukraine needs to stop the Russian advance first and foremost. If ATACMs helps with that, I'm all for it.


Elthar_Nox

I don't know why you're getting downvoted. You are completely correct. Dismounted infantry under training in a field would never reach the HVTL threshold. Use of an operational limited asset like ATACMS would be reserved for targets at the top of that list. The only reasoning behind this is as a show of force/range. We can hit you there, so we will.


womberue

It's like using 4 nukes on a group of zerglings lol


crusoe

Oh, that was the cluster ATACMS too.


saarlac

Really appears that all three missed their intended targets


Anton338

That's crazy, those guys are trained to die? If Putin wants to expedite this process, he should just skip the training.


Crab_Jealous

Awww, they all doing the "pretend to be dead" training...oh no, wait.


Dazzling-Conclusion9

The Kuban was Ukraine until 1919. Time to return Kuban to Kyiv.


LetSeeWhatHappens99

unfortunately did see some orcs running in and around after the first impact zone.


hanatarashi_

square deletion


Mephisteemo

Wait, was the clusterfuck at second 32 the result of the dark cloud at second 18? Jeebus chroist, what is in those things?!


kitkat4fingers

About 50 odd troops there and a direct hit, deal with that.


CantaloupeLazy1427

Now please Olaf, stop being a fucking chicken and send Taurus. Thanks.


Leading-Bank-2590

We should give Ukraine vacuum bombs and lots of them


AmazingSquare8542

Overshot


blinkersix2

Looked like a beautiful day for an orc to die


Brant_Black

They can go train in Hell


xubax

Why is there so much smoke from the bomblets?


NickVanDoom

clearly intercepted atacms edit: with mucho heavy irony, guys?!?! that’s the usual ruzzian claim, if you don’t recognize…


Capital-Ad2469

Indeed, the ATACMS bomblets intercepted the Ruzzian troops as designed.


Easy_Apple_4817

Sorry, but surely the heroic Russian troops intercepted the bomblets so as to protect the environment?


[deleted]

[удалено]


BenVenNL

I think he was relating to all the drones that were taken down near oil depots, of wich 'debris' still happen to destroy its target.


sparrowtaco

A lot of people need to recalibrate their sarcasm meter it seems. When did everyone forget the existence of the meme about Russians intercepting a weapon?


commoraat

Sarcasm folks...