Azovstal (Mariupol): too many ultimatums?

(To David Rossi)
21/04/22

This two-dimensional photo represents the area occupied by Azovstal, the largest steel mill in Europe. We are talking about a rectangle with an area of ​​over 10 square kilometers (entire complex) inside which there are colossal buildings, a web of rails that does not offer protection to the attackers, very high walls several meters thick from which snipers with weapons can peep out. long range more suitable, sheds and shelters for armored combat vehicles and bunkers built to protect company personnel from a war fought with conventional and thermonuclear weapons (the plant dates back to the Soviet era, ed).

Within a radius of 10 kilometers from here took place the largest death of senior officers in Russian and Soviet history, a masterpiece of tactical and strategic ignorance of President Putin and his planners.

Look at it carefully: for almost two months you have been hearing and reading that it is about to capitulate. Perhaps it is true, sooner or later the defenders perched here will be annihilated or simply run out of ammunition. However, a reflection is called for: are the constant ultimatums and invitations to lay down their arms really serious? Or are they rather signs of the weakness of the Russian forces and leadership?

One of the most powerful conventional bombs supplied to the Moscow forces is the Fab3000, a device with an explosive mass of 1.400 kilograms, a potential destruction radius of 46 meters and a fragment dispersal area of ​​260 meters1.

Photographs that appeared on Telegram on April 6, 2022, show a Soviet-made bomb, the FAB-3000, alongside the Russian Air Force's Tu-22M strategic bomber, ready to strike Azovstal. Well, that "little object", assuming it is sufficient to pierce the perimeter walls and underground bunkers, could at most impact on 0,5-0,6% of the surface of the exceptional facility. In short, either the Russians have a lot of them - and they work - or ...

1https://www.infobae.com/en/2022/04/16/ukraine-fears-putin-will-launch-fa...

Photo: Osint Technical / Telegram