Russian military strikes in Western Ukraine during the past week have shocked and alarmed NATO officials. The first blow came on Sunday, March 13 at Yavoriv, Ukraine. Russia hit the base with several missiles, some reportedly hypersonic. Over 200 personnel were killed, which included American and British military and intelligence personnel, and hundreds more wounded. Many suffered catastrophic wounds, such as amputations, and are in hospital. Yet, NATO and the western media have shown little interest in reporting on this disaster.
Yavoriv was an important forward base for NATO (see here). Until February (prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), the U.S. 7th Army Training Command was operating from Yavoriv:
Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine is the name given to the mission of training, equipping, training center development and doctrinal assistance to the Ukrainian armed forces. 7th Army Training Command oversees the JMTG-U mission at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center, most recently manned by Task Force Gator, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Florida Army National Guard.
The following is from a NATO briefing on the facility.
As you can see, this military base literally sits on the border of Poland. It was (is?) a major logistics center for receiving and distributing the weapons and ammunition sent by the United States and other NATO members. It also was the place where foreign trainers (e.g., U.S. and British principally) instructed the Ukrainians on how to use the new weapons.
The base could accommodate 1790 military and civilian personnel:
The training capabilities for the site are robust according to the NATO briefing:
Russia sent NATO an unmistakable message–“We will not allow NATO to arm or train Ukrainians in Ukraine. Anyone providing such assistance is considered a combatant and will be treated accordingly.”
But Russia has not stopped there. ASB Military news reports Russia hit another site, Delyatyn, which is 60 miles southeast of Yavoriv.
In a warning to NATO, Russia fired the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ‘Dagger’ hypersonic missile in combat for the first time to engage targets in Western Ukraine, neutralising a large underground warehouse in the village of Delyatyn in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region near the country’s border with NATO’s Poland — over which it has a been receiving the bulk of military supplies, and reportedly destroyed a huge quantities of munitions. This is the first and only known use of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile. This footage is unconfirmed — there’s no known confirmed footage of the missile at the moment. — However, the use of the missile has been officially confirmed.
These strikes are a deadly reminder to NATO that Russia is serious about destroying NATO military supplies and, if present in Ukraine, military and intelligence personnel providing training to Ukrainian military and paramilitary groups.
What is shocking to U.S. military leaders in EUCOM is that the Russians hit both sites and Ukraine was unable to raise an alarm warning of an impending attack and was unable to shoot down the missiles. This may explain NATO’s renewed hesitancy to sending MIG-29s to Ukraine.
Russian capabilities are really impressive. I think they haven’t wanted to show them all because Ukraine is a light weight opponent -and probably stiull considered a country to save by the Russians. I doubt Moscow will have the same self-control when dealing with NATO and/or the US. Your knowledge and the quality of the information is first class too. Thank you.
Hi Larry, I just signed up here, I enjoy your insights. It’s a shame you and Patrick Armstrong were banned from SST. No room for dissenting views when it comes to things military it appears. Keep up the good fight!
Wow, I’m aware there were differences of opinion about the Ukraine-Russian war but didn’t know Larry and Patrick were actually banned from Turcopolier. Their essays were always very popular and elicited lots of comments.
Yes. My piece on an Alternative Scenario in Ukraine got over 85,000 hits. Unheard of on Pat’s blog. He’s lost his mojo.
SST is becoming infested with neocon npc’s and it looks like TTG is moving in to take over.
Meanwhile, PL is using obvious msm propaganda as his sources and seems to be getting testier by the day.
I think he is suffering a serious cognitive decline. This is not the man I once called friend and mentor.
Yes, recent topics have been reports generated by ISW (founded by Victoria Nuland/Robert Kagan sister-in-law Kimberly Kagan). Bill Kristol is on the board of ISW, along with David Petraeus and Jack Keane.
I’ve read references to the Russian use of hypersonic missiles but as you’re aware, detailed reporting by the MSM can be sketchy and unreliable. Your report adds a lot of perspective to the situation, especially since the focus has heretofore been in eastern Ukraine. Thanks.
Hypersonic attacks on Mykolaiv and Zhytomyr yesterday.
Larry, I’m glad I found your blog. I apprecuate your writing.
On thing I find depressing is the numerous examples of people who said they saw through the propaganda and lies coming from the corporate msm over covid now enthusiastically and unquestionably believing what they are hearing about Russia and Ukraine.
You nailed it. I find it frightening that so many are so easily deceived.
Considering that the Russian Federation is on record that a roll-back of NATO membership to the 1997 list is required, the present dust-up seems preparatory for further long-term actions to accomplish this geopolitical objective. (That is, the dust-up is only a present step.)
Should you address this [longer-term] objective, your opinion will be valued.
Best regards,
Harry
100 years ago the US commissioned the USS Langley, their very first aircraft carrier.
Ever since, they have been able to enforce their will on stubborn adversaries by parking a carrier or two nearby, bombing the crap out of them for a month or more, then deploying occupying troops to mop up all the while providing complete air cover support.
It’s worked every time, and without a doubt that violence based racket has been very lucrative.
With so much invested, why change a good thing?
Indeed.
However, that’s clearly an expensive and very old technology for the 21st century, and possibly over ripe for disruption.
It seems we may have just witnessed the existential game changer to that business model, when on multiple occasions incoming missiles traveled further than 1000km, for more than 10 minutes, and EUCOM failed to detect them or sound the alarm.
Please consider the USS Harry S Truman is currently on a Russian deterrence mission in the Mediterranean. It’s location is given as Split, Croatia, where it’s apparently not moved very far for weeks.
Under the circumstances, I think the decision to avoid proximity to the Russian base at Tartus, Syria, and play safe, is entirely rational.
However, that action indicates awareness the power projection model is only as good as their ability to prevent just one, un-detectable missile, sinking a carrier and permanently ruining their good thing.
I do wonder if they’ll get a letter from the Queen of England for achieving a century.