Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqq6J_foU0s

[Jeff-Groves]

I'm amazed that that long convoy has not been hit.
I'd have had Troops all along that line by now doing hit and run attacks!

[Jimbuna]

I'm amazed that that long convoy has not been hit.
I'd have had Troops all along that line by now doing hit and run attacks!

You'd think so wouldn't you? :hmmm:

Perhaps they don't have the weaponry or capability to do so, just sufficient for self defence.

[Skybird]

Technically, we already participate in this war, are war party. We take over parts of the logistics of the ukrainian forces, deliver fuel, weapons, ammo.

Technically, Russia already wages war against the wEst since many years, via cyberattacks. It tries to destabilise our societies by hacks and damages to our infrastructure, and by infiltrating our political processes when iterfering with our elections. In my book - and that I say since years - these are attacks, are hostile acts, are war. We are under attack by Russia since long time. It was just more comfortable so far to make ourselves really believe that it is not so.

[Skybird]

You'd think so wouldn't you? :hmmm:

Perhaps they don't have the weaponry or capability to do so, just sufficient for self defence.
Only one airfield was said in TV news of this evening to still be operational, and the remains of their air defences also is focussed on defending it, its somewhere in the West, I think. The Russians have corrected their mistakes, it seems, and have established air superiority now, the news said. The convoy additionally is protected by strong mobile air defences travelling in it.



They also start to run low on SAMS and ATGMs, it seems.



Its a good time to send them more Javelins. Way more.

[Jeff-Groves]

You'd think so wouldn't you? :hmmm:

Perhaps they don't have the weaponry or capability to do so, just sufficient for self defence.

You'd think maybe. I've seen the approaches in Satellite images.
Would be very easy to use those approaches and toss some Molotov's and run.
Hit them in multiple areas between the long line? Major problems.

[Jimbuna]

Only one airfield was said in TV news of this evening to still be operational, and the remains of their air defences also is focussed on defending it, its somewhere in the West, I think. The Russians have corrected their mistakes, it seems, and have established air superiority now, the news said. The convoy additionally is protected by strong mobile air defences travelling in it.



They also start to run low on SAMS and ATGMs, it seems.



Its a good time to send them more Javelins. Way more.

Can't go on for more than a week or so then :hmmm:

[Skybird]

Interesting is that the breakdown rate of Russian ground vehicles seem to be surprisingly high. Since two days correspondents say they notice quite many broken down vehicles along the main axis of advance, affected not by combat effects, but technical failures.

I find this surprising, because they spent years on modernizing their forces and vehicles and I would have expected that to translate also into higher tehcncial reliability. The Russians I mean, not the correspondents. :D

Anyway, the first attack echelon seems to have been eaten up now, and that huge convoy probably represents the second attack echelon, with rested troops.

[Jeff-Groves]

And those rested Troops hear they are next in line! So not so rested as one may think.

[Catfish]

Some sources I have say there's problems with the Avionics software in Putin's Birds.
Also hearing that the Air to Air Missiles are suffering Software problems.
:hmmm:
I hope this is some active jamming action, and not only bragging.

[Catfish]

I'm amazed that that long convoy has not been hit. I'd have had Troops all along that line by now doing hit and run attacks!
Not enough manpower, not enough hardware, and Ukraine has no longer air supremacy it seems.

re Skybird these mile-long columns are the same as when Hitler attacked France, vehicles breaking down, jams, hindering the deployment for days. If only one french or british aircraft had spotted them at the time they would have been obliterated, and taking France would probably have never happened.

I also think they have not enough drones against those sheer numbers, and drones can be shot down, too.

[Catfish]

Can't go on for more than a week or so then :hmmm:
Russia attacks from Belarus, why not use western nations all around for deployment and arming. The days of diplomacy and holding back should be over, Putin declares he will go on whatever the cost, make him pay.

This is a war of aggression most probably followed by the baltic states and Finnland, what the hell is anyone waiting for? For Ukraine's downfall?

"Let's wait and see if Putin means it"?

[Andreas86]

Word is Ukrainian pilots are going to Poland to fly their donated fighter jets in. Will this be seen as a NATO attack?


Also, there are reports that russian soldiers are punching holes in their own tanks to "run out if gas" before they reach the front.

[Red Devil]

Ref Dardanelles, reports this morning state that Turkey has closed off the Dardanelles and Bosforus

[Catfish]

Does anyone give a Sh!t anymore if Putin sees it as a NATO "attack"?
It was him who attacked because he thought the Ukraine and we were weak. Make him stop whatever the cost.

[Andreas86]

Does anyone give a Sh!t anymore if Putin sees it as a NATO "attack"?
It was him who attacked because he thought the Ukraine and we were weak. Make him stop whatever the cost.


The whole of political Europe obviously.


It needs to stop now.

[Aktungbby]

https://atalayar.com/en/content/turkey-closes-bosphorus-warships-all-countries The Turkish government announced today that it is closing the Bosphorus Strait to the passage of military vessels from all countries, although ships based in the Black Sea, such as those from Russia or Ukraine, will still be allowed to return to their ports, in application of the Montreux Convention.

"We have warned all countries, whether they border the Black Sea or not, that no warships should pass through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu told reporters after a cabinet meeting, reports NTV.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier warned of his government's readiness to implement its prerogative to close the passage between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to prevent the war in Ukraine from "escalating".

NATO members Bulgaria and Romania border the Black Sea, as do Ukraine and Russia, which bases one of its fleets here.

Çavusoglu made clear that warships returning to their Black Sea bases will still be allowed to pass through.

The closure of the Bosporus may particularly affect Russia, which will no longer be able to send naval units from other areas to the Black Sea. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan read my post and quickly decided closing the Bosphorus over Operation Musgrove would be the "lesser of 2 weevils":Kaleun_Thumbs_Up: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2795896&postcount=4https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Istanbul_and_Bosporus_big.jpg/800px-Istanbul_and_Bosporus_big.jpg:Kaleun_Salute:

[Andreas86]

Boris was put on the spot in Poland:

https://www.facebook.com/678864536/videos/493584755665060/

[mapuc]

It's going to be interesting to see what Putin has hidden in his sleves. What he may come up with regarding Turkeys closing the seaway one way.
And what he will do with Poland-The Ukrainian fighter pilot will fly their MIG29 from Poland to Ukraine.

Markus

[Catfish]

Boris was put on the spot in Poland:
https://www.facebook.com/678864536/videos/493584755665060/
I would like to have seen this happening publicly, but in the german Bundestag!

[Skybird]

And what he will do with Poland-The Ukrainian fighter pilot will fly their MIG29 from Poland to Ukraine.

Markus
I just red it will not happen.

[Rockstar]

SWIFT sanctions may be one of two things, the first ring of the bell tolling the death of the dollar’s reign as the worlds reserve currency. Even now more than ever I get this uneasy feeling the U.S. is being dragged in by continental Europe someplace we really don’t need to be. Or the SWIFT sanction bandwagon is just propaganda to make it look like we’re doing something more than just sending arms and logistics to Ukraine.

https://talkmarkets.com/content/economics--politics/the-impact-of-a-swift-ban-on-russia-and-the-world?post=346368

Especially if as the article points out that SWIFT sanctions aren’t really targeting the most key commodities Europe needs namely Russian oil, gas, metals, and wheat exports

[Skybird]

Europe does not drag you anywhere regarding SWIFT. The US took the initiative on SWIFT already some time ago - and tried to drag Europe.

[Catfish]

"Ukrainian military using civilians as shields"?

Fat chance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RhnzTRYiR0


Seems Putin has pi$$ed off the whole world against Russia.

[Andreas86]

Damn! Looks like a small nuke..

https://censor.net/ua/video_news/3320572/viyiska_rf_vdaryly_krylatoyu_raketoyu_kalibr_po_ch uguyivskomu_aerodromu_geraschenko_video

The troops of the Russian Federation struck with the cruise missile "Caliber" on the Chuguyevsky airfield, - Gerashchenko. VIDEO

[mapuc]

Damn! Looks like a small nuke..

https://censor.net/ua/video_news/3320572/viyiska_rf_vdaryly_krylatoyu_raketoyu_kalibr_po_ch uguyivskomu_aerodromu_geraschenko_video

The troops of the Russian Federation struck with the cruise missile "Caliber" on the Chuguyevsky airfield, - Gerashchenko. VIDEO


It's not a nuke-The person who was filming the explosion would not have manage to do so-His electronic would have died before the blast.
(If I remember correctly)

Markus

[Onkel Neal]

French presidential sources: Putin struck Macron 'different' at recent meeting (https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/02/28/putins-state-of-mind-bell-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/russia-ukraine-military-conflict/)

Yeah, not good.

Meanwhile, Kiev is about to get hammered Chechnya style :(

[Skybird]

French presidential sources: Putin struck Macron 'different' at recent meeting (https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/02/28/putins-state-of-mind-bell-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/russia-ukraine-military-conflict/)

Yeah, not good.


Does not play...?!

[mapuc]

Does not play...?!

No problems here. Can see the video with Putin and Macron.

Markus

[Skybird]

No problems here. Can see the video with Putin and Macron.

Markus
Can watch the other videos by CNN, but not this one.

Meanwhile:


"I wish I could share more,but for now I can say it's pretty obvious to many that something is off with #Putin," Rubio wrote. "It would be a mistake to assume this Putin would react the same way he would have 5 years ago."

For some, the boldness of Putin's decision to invade -- as well as his implied threat to use nuclear weapons -- is a break with the carefully calculated and far more limited military campaigns he has launched in the past. Video footage of the Russian President seated dozens of feet away from his senior military advisers during meetings and gleefully dressing down one of his spy chiefs on television have only underscored the image of an isolated leader, acting on his own counsel alone.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/01/politics/us-intelligence-putin-state-of-mind/index.html


I assume Neal's video hits this topic, too. And as I have written twice or three times in the past few days, I have doubts on Putin still being mentally sane. And/or that his isolation is used to manipulate him by carefully selected, filtered intel "information" to make him ordering what he then orders. Both scenarios are equally alarming.


Russia's nuclear doctrine, published in 2020, also includes a first-use nuclear policy. The Kremlin "reserves the right to use nuclear weapons," including "for the prevention of an escalation of military actions and their termination on conditions that are acceptable for the Russian Federation and/or its allies."
Wowh. That means in plain English they claim the right to attack Ukraine with nukes, if conventional warfare does not get them where they want.

Maybe its time to take into account the possibility that we simply cannot afford not to fully intervene in this war, at least with French, American, British troops - which all are under the nuclear umbrella of their nations' nuclear deterrent. If there would be consensus on article 5, then of course just every NATO nation should send troops.



Bloody hell.


Always when I think it cannot get worse - it gets worse.

[Rockstar]

A few years old (2018) a good but brief history lesson on Ukraine and Russia. All the more reason to “Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war” to defend Ukraine IMO.



https://youtu.be/8_SQuLf74n4

[Eisenwurst]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6twDFmyuDo&t=197s

[Aktungbby]

AHEM! Isn't that pißed off?:yep: but at least the 'worm begins turning' toward substantial allegations of war crimes. The primary umbrella charge will be waging aggreßive warfare with subsidiary human shield abuses and murder of non-military citizens. Ideally I'd like to see him not sleeping in his own dacha 'cause he's on the run, or in his cell in the Hague ... as happened to Serbia's Slobodan Milošević.

[nikimcbee]

Just found out that Kherson has been cut off and surrounded. A co-worker is from there, and has lost all contact with his family. I had heard about the blockade of Kherson on the Russian news a few days ago.

[Catfish]

Opposition to Putin's war is alive on Moscow's streets. But no trace of it is covered on Russian TV


https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/01/europe/russia-opposition-putin-media-intl/index.html

[nikimcbee]

French presidential sources: Putin struck Macron 'different' at recent meeting (https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/02/28/putins-state-of-mind-bell-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/russia-ukraine-military-conflict/)

Yeah, not good.

Meanwhile, Kiev is about to get hammered Chechnya style :(


Neal, did you ever get a chance to go to Kiev?

[nikimcbee]

Live feed to Ukrainian news:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSn1Z2rq6E

[nikimcbee]

Opposition to Putin's war is alive on Moscow's streets. But no trace of it is covered on Russian TV


https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/01/europe/russia-opposition-putin-media-intl/index.html


They're focused on the stranded Russian tourists all over the World. oops.

[Catfish]

They're focused on the stranded Russian tourists all over the World. oops.
:haha: I hear there are also some on Ukraine's streets, without gas

"[...] official said a miles-long armoured column bearing down on the capital Kyiv had not made any advances in the past 24 hours, frozen in place by logistics problems, short on fuel and food, and perhaps pausing to reassess tactics."

GFD why are they not attacked

[Catfish]

Russia bombards Ukraine urban areas as armed convoy stalls

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-isolation-intensifies-ukraine-fighting-rages-2022-03-01/

"Thanks to recent advances in technology – including commercial satellite imagery and viral videos circulated on social media – Putin’s brazen assault on Ukraine has become one of the most documented cases of war crimes in history."

[Andreas86]

The way the ukrainian civilians are stopping the russians, by crowding them, taunting, making human roadblocks, and demonstrations is really awe-inspiring.


Old women, men, children.. They show incredible courage in face of sheer terror.

[Andreas86]

Defenders of Ukraine seized in fight near Kharkiv at once 6 new Russian tanks T-80BVM from structure of the 200th motorized infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Джерело: https://censor.net/ua/p3320657




https://censor.net/ua/photo_news/3320657/zahysnyky_ukrayiny_zahopyly_u_boyu_pid_harkovom_od razu_6_novyh_rosiyiskyh_tankiv_t80bvm_zi_skladu_20 0yi

[Aktungbby]

The mechanized battalion of one of the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the battle near Kharkiv captured 6 (six) new Russian T-80BVM tanks from the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces.

About it writes on his page in the social network Facebook editor-in-chief Censor.NET Yuri Butusov.

According to him, the Russian brigade is commanded by Colonel Denis Kurylo.

"But he did not have long to command, on his YouTube channel I will reveal the circumstances of his shameful escape and the defeat of two BTGR of the 200th brigade with one, I emphasize, one battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the BMP-2 and with one Javelin ATGM). The combatant of this battalion, by his skillful actions in the oncoming battle, earned the title of Hero of Ukraine. The combatant took everything from the tanks, and soon a freelance tank company will appear as part of our battalion on new Russian equipment with minimal mileage. The tank is voracious for fuel, but our soldiers also seized a fuel tanker," Butusov wrote.

The tanks are armed with the latest Russian sub-caliber and guided projectiles, it will be very pleasant to use this on the remnants of the same 200th brigade. :yep: :oops::arrgh!:

[Catfish]

^ If ukrainian defense acts now against the stalled convoy they will be able to destroy a lot more of hardware :hmmm:

Ukrainian Citizens Fight Off Russians In the Streets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3HwtrCs9rY



I say it again: Stop Putin with nuclear weapons. This is the only language he and Lavrov understand.
There are reports that Putin and his family have moved to a secret nuclear warhead-proof bunker in Siberia.
I doubt that though, he will of course continue to personally and heroically lead his troops against Kiev. [/sarcasm]

[Reece]

I say it again: Stop Putin with nuclear weapons.
That will just start WW3 Catfish, nice thought though! :yep:
Down with Vladolf Poopin!! :timeout:

[Catfish]

That will just start WW3 Catfish, nice thought though! :yep: [...]
It is just about returning Putin's threat, if the world lets itself blackmail by him this will only be the first defeat in a series of many to come.
Do i think nuclear war is crazy? Of course. Can we stop him by other means? Clearly not.

Stop it now or there will be an all-out war. If he really is insane it will happen anyway.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g06TFnp5jg

[Aktungbby]

A sudden thought: Putin has attempted to use Nazi tactics such as a false-flag attack, some blitzkrieg tactics etc; Indubitably, many wish him gone as in 'Kaput':yep: In WW II such a scheme to aßaßinate Adolf Hitler by sniper at his mountain Berghof was Operation Foxley. However it was never carried out: The proposal for the operation was submitted in November 1944, but was never authorised due to a division within the British government as to whether Hitler's removal was a sound way to expedite victory. By then, he was considered by the British to be such a poor strategist that it was thought possible that candidates who would be in line to succeed him might present more of a challenge to the Allied war effort. Poor Vlad the Bastard has been pictured looking puffy faced in what could be signs he is seriously ill, it has been claimed. The Russian president has appeared more bloated around the face and neck recently, leading to suggestions from one expert that he may be undergoing treatment for an unknown condition with steroids.
Side effects of steroids include increased risk of infection, like coughs and colds, and "mood and behavioural changes."
According to Macmillan Cancer Support: "Sometimes, when taken in higher doses, steroids can cause confusion or changes in thinking. This can include having strange or frightening thoughts."
According to Fiona Hill, the British former senior White House expert on Russia, Mr Putin is "not looking so great" at the moment...Vladimir Putin has been pictured looking puffy faced in what could be signs he is seriously ill, it has been claimed.
The Russian president has appeared more bloated around the face and neck recently, leading to suggestions from one expert that he may be undergoing treatment for an unknown condition with steroids.
Side effects of steroids include increased risk of infection, like coughs and colds, and "mood and behavioural changes."
According to Macmillan Cancer Support: "Sometimes, when taken in higher doses, steroids can cause confusion or changes in thinking. This can include having strange or frightening thoughts."
According to Fiona Hill, the British former senior White House expert on Russia, Mr Putin is "not looking so great" at the moment. She said: "He’s been rather puffy-faced. We know that he has complained about having back issues. Even if it’s not something worse than that, it could be that he’s taking high doses of steroids, or there may be something else.
"There seems to be an urgency for this that may be also driven by personal factors."
According to one of the Russian President’s former close colleagues, Putin is “increasingly going mad”. Bottom Line: His [I]Krieg has lost its Blitz and his shock and awe is certainly no longer awesome. He should not be immediately bumped off imho; his poor strategy is a helping unify the West and Ukraine's defense; if not an outright embaraßment to the Russian state as evidenced by mass arrests of protesters! I would hate the Russians to have an excuse to place a competent commander in charge of this unlawful conflict. :hmmm:

[ET2SN]

:haha: I hear there are also some on Ukraine's streets, without gas

GFD why are they not attacked

They have got to be kidding. :doh:
Near the end of Desert Storm, there was The Highway Of Death between Kuwait and Baghdad. Today, there is The Highway Of Declined Credit Cards north of Kiev. :up:

Either someone's intelligence agency is buying cases of champaign or Pres. Zelensky needs to buy a lottery ticket.

Meanwhile, why attack a perfectly good road block? :03: Those vehicles might come in handy for Ukraine once the fighting is over.

[Skybird]

I have started to lose my grim sense of black humour over all this, and Putin. I really think he now is kind of insane. Which means: things are out of control already.

He had the dream to bring back the Sovjet Union. He is old. His time is running out, he feels death crawling nearer to him every day. He may take medicine, or may suffer brain fog. But it is not uncommon that older people also start to change their personality, sometimes they become softer and more confused, sometimes paranoia and getting locked in in their inner worlds takes over. He made calculation errors and big undsiciplined moves and claims that are untypical for him. He always was a beast and a killer, a tyrant and oppressor, but he was extremely smart, disciplined, clever: without scruples, without remorse, too, yes, but he played all world leaders against the wall since very long time. And now? Mistake follows mistake, misassessment follows misassessment.

HE BLEW IT.

And he knows it. Its all lost, he can destroy the Ukraine, but he will not get from the world what he wanted. All the past twenty years - ruined in the present time'S events and actions.

I think he has gone nutter. My official diagnosis would be: age-related cognitive and intellectual degeneration of brain functions, accompanied by severe personality changes, paranoia and delusions.

In other words he is a ticking nuclear time bomb, instabile, unpredictable, and utmost dangerous. Its said that he has brought his family into a nuclear bomb shelter somewhere in Siberia.

There may be people in the Western military, intel community, governmental services, who maintain contacts to their functional pendants in Russia. I think these contacts are needed now to someho get the second line officials in Russia putting bullets through some heads before it is too late. I start to think this might be indeed our only chance to escape a big inferno.

Telling the Ukrainians to sacrifice themselves for the higher wellbeing of the remaining world, is something I will never suggest and will never accept to be done in my name. We are all in this together. We do not draw lots. In the end, it also would be be appeasement that will not work, because Putin is insane. He next will do the same again (Russia still is encircled by enemies, isn'T it, and the Sovjet Union still in not reinstated, yes?) , accuse for example Finland of something and of being not submissive enough anymore and attack it, or strike Europe directly for being too Russia-hostile. He lives in his own world now. The hot wire to reality seems to have broken.

We also must win the media war. The control over the news is no more as total in Russia as it once has been, many people have returned from travels outside Russia, or have alternative media access. The news may make the round at slower pace, but it will make the round. And it must. We must make sure it does. Russians must relaise the brutal truth. The ordinary military must realise the truth. For the moment, however, my impression is that still a majority of Russians is behind Putin. That must be a major concern of ours. You do not break with your beoleives you held for a lfieitme from ione day to the nwext, you do not like to be told that you live not in the country of the light and the good, but the dark and the demons.

I now think Russian use of nukes in Ukraine, if it does not go as they want, is an absolutely realistic possibility. Not a certainty, but a realistic possibility. We must take it into account.

Markus, you warned of such an escalation already weeks ago, and I sat here and smiled for myself about that, did not take it serious. But I had to change my mind in past 2, 3 days, reading about their nuclear doctrine from 2020 really flipped some switches in my brain. You were right with your worries. Things are worrying.

I also noticed in past days that the attempts by real or self-declared experts on TV rejecting the nuclear risk, have intensified. If there is a thing in the world that rings my alarms in no time, then officials and experts pressing harder and harder telling me that everything is alright: nothing is more suspicous than this.

Beware the old men, they have nothing to lose and may have lost their senses already. History books are full of such bastards.


P.S. And just watch at his facial expression the lack of any, that is! This strange expression, his always desinterested, avoiding eyes. Its alienating to look him into the face. He always practiced a pokerface, and was very unmoved, always, but now - I don'T know, I have seen such facial expressions before. In mental hospital during my second practical. The diagnosis mostly was schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder. It may have been pokerface only in the past, but today - I dont know, I dont like what I see in his face. Something has changed for the worse. It rings general quarters on my ship.


He is a secret service man. It is sometimes said secret services have preferred certain personality structures they look for in candidates, attributes that make these people preferrably for the type of business they are beign asked for. Human kindness and honesty hardly are part of those wanted traits.

[Catfish]

^ I fear you are right.. if his invasion continues to fail he Putin may be tempted to use nuclear weapons. He uses them first, but .. retaliation? I have changed my opinion due to this article:


Sorry for the text wall, this is long, but you should read it –



"The danger is not that Russia thinks it can use a nuclear weapon against NATO and survive. Putin and his generals know they cannot.
But Putin may believe, or at least wants to create the perception in Washington that he believes, that he could use a relatively small nuclear weapon in Ukraine and not provoke a nuclear response. Why, he appears to ask, would America or NATO risk wholesale nuclear war when no NATO territory has been attacked with a nuclear weapon?

And he might just be right. It has often been questioned whether Washington would risk global nuclear war to respond to a nuclear strike by Russia on, say, a German or Baltic base. That scenario would immediately involve NATO allies. Yet the need, and indeed the resolve, of America to resort to a nuclear response that could lead to Russian nuclear strikes on American soil has always been questioned. The doubt about a nuclear response to an attack on a nonallied state, such as Ukraine, is even greater.

Ukraine may in fact be vulnerable to a Russian nuclear threat, and the West may be vulnerable to Russian nuclear coercion. While it is always hard to make policy on the fly, we are now, officially, off the map. There are no clear or fresh precedents on which to rely.

As such, there are two steps that must be taken and soon.

The first is that President Biden and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark A. Milley must communicate directly (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/27/pentagon-moscow-backchannel-escalation-00012107) to their counterparts—Putin and Russian Chief of Defense Gen. Valery Gerasimov—that the United States and NATO will continue to provide conventional military assistance to Ukraine, but that they have no need or intention to rely on any nuclear capabilities as long as the conflict is limited to conventional weapons and the territory of Ukraine.

It is a bad situation, one that Putin created, but America has no intention of making it worse, even as we have no intention of making it easy on Russia."

[...]

Putting Putin’s power on the block could increase his desperation, and up the risk that he might miscalculate. Anything that might push him to consider the unimaginable, a suicidal nuclear first strike against the United States, can only be taken under the most sober of circumstances.
But if a nuclear attack against a non-nuclear state does not cross that line, then what could?



By declaring that it would neither use nuclear weapons first, nor in response to a nuclear attack against Ukraine, NATO could demonstrate that it believes nuclear use to be a crime from which no leader could be redeemed.


Doing so would reduce the risk of Russia believing a nuclear attack was imminent. But by making clear that there are steps Putin should not even consider without putting the power he values so deeply at risk, America and NATO can present him with a stark choice that may help protect Ukraine and keep aid to the brave people there flowing."


Full article is here, and it is a very good one:
https://www.barrons.com/articles/russias-threats-have-taken-the-world-off-the-nuclear-map-51646063692?mod=read_next

[Skybird]

Various news reports:

Time and again Russian crews damage their own vehicles to let them break down and not continue to advance into the fighting. Moral seems to be not really high amongst Russians.

Wide-spread shortages in fuel severly slow down the Russian advance, locally causing full stops. The nice thing in that is that I would expect fuel trucks approaching their positions are easier to attack than the tanks themselves.

Finland sends 1500 missiles, Norway 2700, Sweden even 5000. Yeah! Now we talk business! :yeah:

The biggest Russian bank, Sperbank, is not affected by the blocking from SWIFT. Häh...????????

Germany orders liquid gas worth 1.5 bn.

Ukraine claims over 6000 Russian soldiers have been killed.

Turkish drone TB-2 proves to be highly effective again. Its probably the combat drone with the best bang-for-the-buck ratio on the market, insiders say. Cheap, autonomous in parts, long legs of 24 hours, carrying 650 kg of weapons.

German a## and former chancellor Gerhard Schröder insists on not breaking ties with Russia. Left wings in the SPD and the Green party mull a revolt against the plan to give the Bundeswehr a special 100bn budget additional to its defence budget. They demand to cut the existing defence budgets. Dear God, let it rain brains from heaven - or lightnign to free us from the hopeless cases once and forever.

[Jimbuna]

Russia intensifies its attacks on key Ukrainian cities - with fighting raging for a seventh day in the north, east and south.

Russian paratroopers have landed in Kharkiv in the north-east, Ukraine says, with heavy fighting reported.

In the south, Russia says it has taken control of the port of Kherson but its mayor says it's still held by Ukrainian forces.

A 40 mile-long convoy of Russian armoured vehicles is about 15 miles north of the capital Kyiv.

The United Nations says more than 800,000 people have now fled Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the US says it will ban Russian airlines from its airspace - following the lead of the European Union and Canada.

Major companies such as Apple, Google, Ford and Exxon Mobil have taken steps against Russia over the invasion.

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfrmcoglQFU

[Onkel Neal]

I have started to lose my grim sense of black humour over all this, and Putin. I really think he now is kind of insane. Which means: things are out of control already.

He had the dream to bring back the Sovjet Union. He is old. His time is running out, he feels death crawling nearer to him every day. He may take medicine, or may suffer brain fog. But it is not uncommon that older people also start to change their personality, sometimes they become softer and more confused, sometimes paranoia and getting locked in in their inner worlds takes over. He made calculation errors and big undisciplined moves and claims that are untypical for him. He always was a beast and a killer, a tyrant and oppressor, but he was extremely smart, disciplined, clever: without scruples, without remorse, too, yes, but he played all world leaders against the wall since very long time. And now? Mistake follows mistake, misasessment follows misassessment.

HE BLEW IT.

And he knows it. Its all lost, he can destroy the Ukraine, but he will not get from the world what he wanted. All the past twenty years - ruined in the present time'S events and actions.

I think he has gone nutter. My official diagnosis would be: age-related cognitive and intellectual degeneration of brain functions, accompanied by severe personality changes, paranoia and delusions.

In other words he is a ticking nuclear time bomb, unstable, unpredictable, and utmost dangerous. Its said that he has brought his family into a nuclear bomb shelter somewhere in Siberia.


Yeah, not sure if he is clinically insane but he is really displaying some serious signs of mentality illness, paranoia, detachment and delusion. I mean, what's up with these crazy table talks??

https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/newGettyImages-1238272145-1230x780.jpg

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/T3cSRnRp6IOhtMPOcEdmFQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MA--/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2022-02/417de5d0-98c2-11ec-bf3f-aa47d35384f3

If his invasion of Ukraine stalls or blows up in his face, which I do not think it will, I worry if the West doesn't give him some kind of offramp, he could call our bluff and escalate to the point of no return. He's nearly 70, he's been in command of Russia for decades, and it's possible he's thinking of his legacy, and wouldn't mind being portrayed as the Russian who went all in. Kinda like Hitler. Does anyone think Hitler would not have used ICBMs in 1945 if he had them?

[Skybird]

The table thing: Putin is afraid of Corona, and I think I red he rejects vaccination. The French and German presidents refused to get tested by the Russian due to not wanting to hand them over their genetical fingerprints, and so they were kept at long distance to reduce the risk of infecting little AdolfVladimir.

[mapuc]

An interesting view on this huge column of tanks and other military vehicle-

It's a Danish article translated

Several media, including Swedish Aftonbladet and American NPR , write that the giant convoy consisting of soldiers, armored vehicles, tanks, self-propelled artillery and other vehicles has simply run out of food and petrol.

But there may also be tactical considerations behind the sudden stop, says Kristian Lindhardt, who is a major and military analyst at the Defense Academy.

- There are two reasons. Either it can not move on, or it will not move on. If it can not move forward, it suggests that the Ukrainians are successful. If it does not want to move on, it indicates that the Russians are in the process of thinking about it, he says to Ekstra Bladet.

https://ekstrabladet-dk.translate.goog/nyheder/krigogkatastrofer/gigantisk-militaerkonvoj-holder-stille-det-poenser-putin-paa-nu/9154608?_x_tr_sl=da&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=da&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Markus

[Skybird]

Does anyone think Hitler would not have used ICBMs in 1945 if he had them?Hitler said at the end if the Germans are not strong enough to give him the victory he wan ted, then they are evolutionary failures and do not even deserve to surivve him as a people or country. Htiler wanted Germany to fall at the end, and he wanted to take as many Germans with him as he could.

Well. Now look at Russia. Not really reassuring.

I think we must change a major political principle of ours, that is that NATO only defends its own members. We should not get involved with own troops and forces, but we should put Ukraine under protection of our nuclear umbrella and find a way to convince Russia that we indeed mean it serious.

And if the Russians strike by nuclear means then, then we must indeed strike back.

Not nice. But still, I stick to it.

[Catfish]

^ Please read this post

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2796555&postcount=1550

and the link at the end, it's worth it.

[Skybird]

I have red it, Kai, and the things you quoted in bold. But I find the logic flawed. As I see it, if we do it, it does not teach the Russian Hitler any moral, but he would see it as a sign of weakness that encouragse him to press on. NATO then just would have said it would not retaliate, hasn't it? So then why not pressing it harder?

We need to use the lesson from Kennedy and the Cuba crisis here. Stay unmoved and determined on the core issue - missiles in Cuba: no way - but offer a secondary hidden tit for tat to break the deadlock. I have no clue what that could be.



Because the final problem is: that needs a sane and rationally calculating mind, and Putin seems to have lost his. He makes mistake after mistake. He seems to be delusional. He cannot be the one we adress. We must adress the circle around him and hope they are not as braindead as their master, so that they rebel against him.


And another complicaiton: The Russians have three nuclear suitcases, media say. One has Putin, one has the defence minister Shoigu, a close friend (if Putin has that), and if these two activate theirs, then the third suitcase in hands of chief of staff Gerasimov acitvates and gives access to the codes. The complication is that apparently this system may have been changed and only one instead of two suitcases is needed to launch the sequence. We must take into account that Putin can press the button all alone, without a second man as safety. If Gerasimov obeys.



Putin must be taken out, and that can only happen from within his circle.

[Skybird]

Too early to rejoice: in earlier news it was said that the Ukrainians had eliminated Kadyrov's announced Chechen special forces, days ago. They were probably reconnaissance or pre-commandos only. A main force of these criminals, known for their brutality and contempt for human life, is now said to be 50 km from Kiev, equipped with death lists of Ukainian leaders whom the Russian Hitler wants to see dead at any cost.

He is also said to be planning to set up a puppet regime led by a vasall and former Ukrainian president loyal to Russia, I suspect Yanukovich, who was sentenced to prison in absentia for treason.
As expected.

[mapuc]

I somehow remember what Platapus told me about the American nuclear doctrine-How much power the President really have when it comes to order a nuke strike.

How is it in Russia ?

Markus

[Andreas86]

Media has been hyping up this 40 mile column for 3 days now. Yet little happens, for all its expected firepower. This whole campaign is a disaster for Russia. They are completely bogged down, and obviously very averse to battle. Report keep pouring in about captured russian equipment and destroyed columns. I hope the Ukrainians kick them well out.


Also, it is time for the worlds biggest enforcer of "freedom and democracy" around the world to get off its ass and help. Instead of laying the middle east in rubble you could perhaps do something useful and send a carrier strike group or two up in the Black Sea to keep the russian air force tied up.

[Jeff-Groves]

Turkey has closed off the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to warships from any country

I'm pretty sure We couldn't sent Aircraft carriers camouflaged as party cruise line ships with the Crew dressed as pirates through.

[Skybird]

https://img.nzz.ch/2022/03/01/9f719ebe-1de6-401c-8b95-dd649bb87f5e.jpeg?width=1348&height=899&fit=crop&quality=75&auto=webp

[Skybird]

I somehow remember what Platapus told me about the American nuclear doctrine-How much power the President really have when it comes to order a nuke strike.

How is it in Russia ?

Markus
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2796587&postcount=1559

[mapuc]

^Thank you. Must have missed it when I read it first time.

Markus

[Rockstar]

Media has been hyping up this 40 mile column for 3 days now. Yet little happens, for all its expected firepower. This whole campaign is a disaster for Russia. They are completely bogged down, and obviously very averse to battle. Report keep pouring in about captured russian equipment and destroyed columns. I hope the Ukrainians kick them well out.


Also, it is time for the worlds biggest enforcer of "freedom and democracy" around the world to get off its ass and help. Instead of laying the middle east in rubble you could perhaps do something useful and send a carrier strike group or two up in the Black Sea to keep the russian air force tied up.

There is only so much anyone can do without starting world war three. Even with all his supposed superior wiz bang super duper gadgetry everyone has been chirping like hens about. Putin knows he’d have is ass handed to him in the blink of an eye if we got involved militarily. Like I said before it would take less time to knock out those columns than it takes to fly A10’s to target. That’s why he keeps bringing up the nuclear option.

We send in the arms and logistics but Ukraine needs to be the ones to pull the trigger. It will be much better in the long run for Ukraine on the world stage if Ukraine puts in the work and can pull this off. They would have well deserved “bragging rights”

[Aktungbby]

AHEM! Isn't that pißed off?:yep: but at least the 'worm begins turning' toward substantial allegations of war crimes. The primary umbrella charge will be waging aggreßive warfare with subsidiary human shield abuses and murder of non-military citizens. Ideally I'd like to see him not sleeping in his own dacha 'cause he's on the run, or in his cell in the Hague ... as happened to Serbia's Slobodan Milošević.UPDATE AS OF THIS AM:The
International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine, a first step in a process that potentially could lead to Russian president Putin and other Kremlin leaders being charged at the Hague. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, a British attorney, said this week that he'd start an investigation "as rapidly as possible" encompassing violations already compiled as well as any new alleged crimes falling with in the jurisdiction of his office that are committed by any party on any part of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said Russia categorically rejects the investigation, noting that Russia isn't part of the ICC....:Kaleun_Salute::o Ukraine has been seeking an ICC investigation since the 2014 Crimea annexation. The prosecutor office, strapped by othe cases and the Pandemic has put that request on hold. Both the US and Russia have had erratic relation with the ICC. Neither country wants the ICC prosecuting its citizens...over violations in Afghanistan. :timeout: Both nations were signatories to the Rome Statute, signed by Presdent Clinton, giving The ICC jurisdiction: George W. Bush later withdrew over prosecution issues involving American personnel in Iran; and Russia withdrew after the Crimean annexation in 2016 after the ICC classified the annexation as 'an occupation':hmmm: Bottom line: this hairsplitting will take years; but it's all we got as tribunals go.

[Jeff-Groves]

They don't have all the Super Duper gizmo's they've claimed to have for years.
A few Stealth Planes they obviously DON'T have could have done a lot of damage right off the bat! As to detecting OUR Stealth AirCraft? Doubt they can do what they say and have claimed for years now.
If one could detect them as easily as some believe? Why fall back to a hint of Nuclear Weaponry?
:hmmm:

[Catfish]

The quintessence of the article i posted is that Putin will not accept this proposal, giving the West time to support Kyev.
They did not listen properly, "if the west gets in my way there will be a war like never seen before".

What i fear is he might drop an atomic bomb on Kyev. Which would explain the halting military in appropriate distance.

The rest of the world should think about how to answer this. Ukraine is not a Nato member.

[Jeff-Groves]

"What i fear is he might drop an atomic bomb on Kyev. The rest of the world should think about how to answer this."

B2 Stealth Bombers escorted by F-117's.

Those going in along with a massive wave of Cruise Missiles.

[Andreas86]

Seeing as Steven Seagal is a friend of Putins, couldn't the US persuade him to pay Putin a visit and "Steven Seagal" his ass?


Could perhaps be the plot for a $200 budget movie later.

[Jeff-Groves]

Send in Chuck Norris!
:o

[Andreas86]

"What i fear is he might drop an atomic bomb on Kyev. The rest of the world should think about how to answer this."

B2 Stealth Bombers escorted by F-117's.

Those going in along with a massive wave of Cruise Missiles.


Seeing as the B-2s radar cross-section is smaller than that of a F-117, a B-2 would stand a better chance on its own. Rather than dragging a tail of noise behind.

[Andreas86]

Send in Chuck Norris!
:o

And Lee Marvin! :up: That might of course be difficult..

[Jeff-Groves]

Seeing as the B-2s radar cross-section is smaller than that of a F-117, a B-2 would stand a better chance on its own. Rather than dragging a tail of noise behind.

Ah! But that's the trick! The 117's provide cover targets that distract from the B2's!

[Catfish]

"What i fear is he might drop an atomic bomb on Kyev. The rest of the world should think about how to answer this."
B2 Stealth Bombers escorted by F-117's.
Those going in along with a massive wave of Cruise Missiles.
First i doubt Biden will do this. 2nd, to where exactly?

[Jimbuna]

WARNING:ADULT CONTENT

'Hungry' Russian Soldiers Loot Ukrainian Shops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoM5yx1IVFY

[mapuc]

Media has been hyping up this 40 mile column for 3 days now. Yet little happens, for all its expected firepower. This whole campaign is a disaster for Russia. They are completely bogged down, and obviously very averse to battle. Report keep pouring in about captured russian equipment and destroyed columns. I hope the Ukrainians kick them well out.


Also, it is time for the worlds biggest enforcer of "freedom and democracy" around the world to get off its ass and help. Instead of laying the middle east in rubble you could perhaps do something useful and send a carrier strike group or two up in the Black Sea to keep the russian air force tied up.

I posted an article translated from Danish on page 104.

Here it is again

Several media, including Swedish Aftonbladet and American NPR , write that the giant convoy consisting of soldiers, armored vehicles, tanks, self-propelled artillery and other vehicles has simply run out of food and petrol.

But there may also be tactical considerations behind the sudden stop, says Kristian Lindhardt, who is a major and military analyst at the Defense Academy.

- There are two reasons. Either it can not move on, or it will not move on. If it can not move forward, it suggests that the Ukrainians are successful. If it does not want to move on, it indicates that the Russians are in the process of thinking about it, he says to Ekstra Bladet.

https://ekstrabladet-dk.translate.goog/nyheder/krigogkatastrofer/gigantisk-militaerkonvoj-holder-stille-det-poenser-putin-paa-nu/9154608?_x_tr_sl=da&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=da&_x_tr_pto=wapp

So there's more to it than we know.

Markus

[Jeff-Groves]

IF! and again I say IF such a strike was carried out?
I'd picture strikes on Military targets as Primary Targets.
Any strike would have Secondary Targets in case the Primary is destroyed by 1st wave or obscured. Same thing as in WWII and any other War.

The goal is to remove the ability to fight a War and break any resistance to discontinue fighting said War.
If the goal was to remove the Leaders? Why did the USA not just Nuke the Emperor of Japan?

Doing that would have increased the willingness of the Japanese people to continue the War.

[Commander Wallace]

Media has been hyping up this 40 mile column for 3 days now. Yet little happens, for all its expected firepower. This whole campaign is a disaster for Russia. They are completely bogged down, and obviously very averse to battle. Report keep pouring in about captured russian equipment and destroyed columns. I hope the Ukrainians kick them well out.


Also, it is time for the worlds biggest enforcer of "freedom and democracy" around the world to get off its ass and help. Instead of laying the middle east in rubble you could perhaps do something useful and send a carrier strike group or two up in the Black Sea to keep the russian air force tied up.

While I agree I wish the U.S would do " something " sending a carrier strike group is ridiculous. The force would be subject to swarms of drone and cruise missile attacks, non stop. The U.S would never risk a strategic asset like a carrier group or two in a confined space like the Black Sea. Taking a tip from Jeff, cruise missile and drone attacks would be just as deadly for the Russian forces as well. This is just my opinion, though.

I will say this, a 40 mile column of tanks and infantry carriers would have had a bad day if a few squadrons of A-10 thunderbolts set up for tank busting strikes had come through. armed with a 30 millimeter rotary cannon and set up to deliver hell fire anti tank missiles and maverick missiles, it's a formidable opponent. The A-10's would have gone through the columns like an international harvester goes through a stand of wheat.

[Jeff-Groves]

I find it kind of crazy forces have NOT deployed from the cities to attack this Convoy!
You don't wait for them to arrive! You hit them where they sit!
Strung out along that big of an area? Any damages done along that route stop them from having a way to launch a massive counter attack!
Dash in and throw the Molotov's and disappear! Classic.

And someone needs to teach them about 'Sticky Bombs!'

[Rockstar]

https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine/

The United States has $595.9 million in active government-to-government sales cases with Ukraine under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system. FMS sales notified to Congress are listed , and recent significant prior sales include: the 2018 sale of 210 Javelin anti-armor missiles, which has provided Ukraine with a critical anti-armor capability; the 2019 sale of 150 additional Javelins; and the 2020 Mark VI patrol boats sale. The Javelin sales were funded by a mixture of State Department FMF and Ukrainian national funds.

From 2015 through 2019, the United States also authorized the permanent export of over $287 million in defense articles to Ukraine via the Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) process. The top categories of DCS to Ukraine during that period were Ammunition and Ordnance ($129 million); Fire Control, Laser, Imaging, and Guidance Equipment ($56 million); and Firearms and Related Articles ($54 million).

In addition, since 2017, the Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation has provided over $17 million in Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs support to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine’s Maritime Border Guard Detachment through the Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program.

I’ve also read the Brits sent 2,000 Javelins. I could be wrong but seems it might be enough to wipe out the reported 1,200 tanks Putin staged for the attack. It also might be part of the reason Russian tanks are parked along the road instead of advancing.

“DARPA Space Magic”

https://youtu.be/VVRhbfi_65o

[mapuc]

While I agree I wish the U.S would do " something " sending a carrier strike group is ridiculous. The force would be subject to swarms of drone and cruise missile attacks, non stop. The U.S would never risk a strategic asset like a carrier group or two in a confined space like the Black Sea. Taking a tip from Jeff, cruise missile and drone attacks would be just as deadly for the Russian forces as well. This is just my opinion, though.

I will say this, a 40 mile column of tanks and infantry carriers would have had a bad day if a few squadrons of A-10 thunderbolts set up for tank busting strikes had come through. armed with a 30 millimeter rotary cannon and set up to deliver hell fire anti tank missiles and maverick missiles, it's a formidable opponent. The A-10's would have gone through the columns like an international harvester goes through a stand of wheat.

From the article

Attacks from the air?
One possibility could then be to attack or bomb the stagnant Russian combat unit , but it is not as easy as it might sound.

- When you have such a column, you will do everything to protect it, it sounded on Tuesday from Karsten Marrup, major and head of air operations at the Defense Academy, to Ekstra Bladet.

He also assessed that the Russians make sure to protect the convoy very well so that it is not exposed to attack.

Markus

[Andreas86]

While I agree I wish the U.S would do " something " sending a carrier strike group is ridiculous. The force would be subject to swarms of drone and cruise missile attacks, non stop. The U.S would never risk a strategic asset like a carrier group or two in a confined space like the Black Sea. Taking a tip from Jeff, cruise missile and drone attacks would be just as deadly for the Russian forces as well. This is just my opinion, though.

1. Then why don't they use this wealth of drones and cruise missiles to attack Ukrainian assets?
2. Not a valid argument. The U.S. has had several carrier battlegroups in the Persian Gulf which is much smaller.

Anyway, I hope you understand that it was not a serious suggestion. It was just to exemplify a wish for the U.S. to stand up for the freedom in the world, that it speak so warmly of.

On a side note, how do you guys think this would have played out under the Bush Jr. administration?

[Jeff-Groves]

1. Then why don't they use this wealth of drones and cruise missiles to attack Ukrainian assets?


I believe you mean Russian Assets in the Ukraine?

Why not send in the USA Stealth Drones? Well that would be DIRECT involvement. And then Crazy Ivan may just push the button to activate WWIII.

[Andreas86]

I believe you mean Russian Assets in the Ukraine?

No, I meant that if Russia still has a trove of missiles and drones which they could attack a US battlegroup with, why don't the Russians use those on Ukraine.. As many have pointed out, it makes no sense that Ukraines air force is still operating. The Russians should have taken it out long ago, if they had the capability.

[Aktungbby]

WARNING:ADULT CONTENT

'Hungry' Russian Soldiers Loot Ukrainian Shops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoM5yx1IVFY "three days rations" generally puts 'paid' to any blitzkrieg on day four...:hmmm: Well that's pillage now will there also be rape as alleged to the ICC in the Crimean Annexation as well?? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_war_crimes Speaking to Metro.co.uk from Kyiv, she said: ‘A Russian invasion would bring negative impacts including torture and tyranny.
‘Since the annexation of Crimea and the rebellion in the east of Ukraine my organisation has been documenting political persecution and war crimes.
‘These include abduction, torture, rape and murder.
‘I have spoken with several hundred people who were illegally detained and they have told me about different forms of torture in the Donbass regions, where those involved included Russians in a systematic chain of interrogation and torture that goes to a high level of the Russian Federation.
‘In some cases, the victims were able to tell me their ranks.
‘If an invasion takes place, such incidents will become widespread across Ukrainian territory. Russia uses war crimes and technology as a tool of conducting war, controlling the population and liquidating the opposition.’ https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/27/ukrainian-human-rights-lawyer-vows-to-stay-as-long-as-i-can-survive-16000811/

[Jeff-Groves]

THAT is a good question my Friend!
They have said for YEARS how great the systems they have are.
I'm seeing no proof of advanced weapons systems!
I'm seeing the exact opposite!

I'm seeing breakdowns of equipment, lack of supplies, unwillingness to move forward, unwillingness to prove advanced weaponry.
Come on! How long must Putin try this bluff?

I was a ParaTrooper in the 82nd Airborne. WE were trained that if 1000 of us were sent to do a mission?
20% were expected to die in the Airborne drop.
That's 200 out of 1000. 799 more die in the assault? You did everything you could to COMPLETE that Mission!

[mapuc]

THAT is a good question my Friend!
They have said for YEARS how great the systems they have are.
I'm seeing no proof of advanced weapons systems!
I'm seeing the exact opposite!

I'm seeing breakdowns of equipment, lack of supplies, unwillingness to move forward, unwillingness to prove advanced weaponry.
Come on! How long must Putin try this bluff?

A thought

Could it be that he see the Ukrainian as Russian and thereby holding back not going all in. Like they did in Chechnya

Markus

[Catfish]

Up to now at least 4000 CIVILIANS killed by Russia.

[Jeff-Groves]

A thought

Could it be that he see the Ukrainian as Russian and thereby holding back not going all in. Like they did in Chechnya

Markus

I think he never had that thought. He will escalate the attacks.
I'd bet he's just watching the Wests response and trying to save his arse knowing full well he screwed up!
Probably waiting for the Cruise Missiles and such to come rolling in.

[Armistead]

No, I meant that if Russia still has a trove of missiles and drones which they could attack a US battlegroup with, why don't the Russians use those on Ukraine.. As many have pointed out, it makes no sense that Ukraines air force is still operating. The Russians should have taken it out long ago, if they had the capability.

It's also possible Russia sees no need to use such advanced systems and would be saving those for NATO. It seems to be the typical approach of now laying waste to cities using less advanced conventional weapons as he's done before. I can't imagine him using the high tech stuff unless NATO becomes involved directly. It seems Ukraine is just being used as a pawn in a new Cold War. We won the last one being able to break them economically, so can we break them again in another long drawn out cold war. I don't know since China is gonna be the key player and ultimate winner in this.

[mapuc]

I imagine following

Almost the entire world goes against Putin-China feel sorry for this and join forces with Russia-Sending 25 million soldier to NATO's border to Russia

(I know-will never happen I shouldn't be daydreaming)

Markus

[Jimbuna]

UATV is funded in whole or in part by the Ukrainian government.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8MajqG-ZSg

[Susexx]

UATV is funded in whole or in part by the Ukrainian government.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8MajqG-ZSg

This is not the uniform of the Russian army. And there are no bright elements and bright chevrons on the field uniform.

[mapuc]

^ Thank you Susexx if it hadn't been for your denial of this video I would have believed it was a Russian POW in the video.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

This is not the uniform of the Russian army. And there are no bright elements and bright chevrons on the field uniform.

Hence my comment above the video.

[Commander Wallace]

1. Then why don't they use this wealth of drones and cruise missiles to attack Ukrainian assets?
2. Not a valid argument. The U.S. has had several carrier battlegroups in the Persian Gulf which is much smaller.

Anyway, I hope you understand that it was not a serious suggestion. It was just to exemplify a wish for the U.S. to stand up for the freedom in the world, that it speak so warmly of.

On a side note, how do you guys think this would have played out under the Bush Jr. administration?


It's all good, really. I understand you are frustrated as many are and it may be getting the better of you. That's not a crime or an issue. In the Persian Gulf, you are talking regimes armed with speed boats and out dated aircraft. This is a whole different ball game. I completely agree with you on the somewhat soft stance the U.S is taking but I assume the administration has it's reasons. Everyone is agitated right now and it's understandable.


From the article


Attacks from the air?
One possibility could then be to attack or bomb the stagnant Russian combat unit , but it is not as easy as it might sound.

- When you have such a column, you will do everything to protect it, it sounded on Tuesday from Karsten Marrup, major and head of air operations at the Defense Academy, to Ekstra Bladet.

He also assessed that the Russians make sure to protect the convoy very well so that it is not exposed to attack.


Markus

I agree Markus that an attack by air would not be easy or without risks. That's what makes war ugly and something to be avoided. However, I believe that if an attack like that were made, delivery of fragmentation and cluster munitions would be used on the advancing formations long before A-10's arrived to " soften " them up. The planners would certainly understand the Russians would also field anti aircraft batteries and shoulder fired weapons and try to take the necessary precautions for the strike aircraft.

Those fragmentation and cluster munitions are incredibly deadly against " soft targets " and would also have a demoralizing effect on the Russian formations only to have A-10's swoop in and finish the job. It's all in how you use your assets. I'm not an expert but i believe this would have been one possible scenario.

[Rockstar]

I know a lot of the media has been focused in the north around Kyiv. But just an FYI, sometime ago Ukraine blocked the water supply to the Crimea. Which left the area dryer than a popcorn fart. That dam has been broken.

IMO everything in the north is a diversion while Russia works to occupy the Donbass and establish a land corridor to Crimea as the Ukraine Army Chief of Staff reported some days ago.

[Susexx]

Officially, the Russian army has losses: 498 killed, 1597 wounded. This is an official statement of the Ministry of Defense

[Jimbuna]

Officially, the Russian army has losses: 498 killed, 1597 wounded. This is an official statement of the Ministry of Defense

I'd have thought the true figure will be a lot higher but wouldn't know by what multiple.

[Susexx]

If you wish, I can sometimes post what European propaganda does not show, let's call it alternative. I try to approach the matter without lies and falsehoods. If you have questions, ask them, but not about politics, I won't answer here, I'm not a politician and I don't like it.

[Jimbuna]

I tend to take claims made by Russia regarding the Ukraine with a fair amount of skepticism because of the number of lies and untruths they have made.

But each to our own I suppose.

[Armistead]

I'd have thought the true figure will be a lot higher but wouldn't know by what multiple.

US and UK sources are saying at least 4 times higher.

[Andreas86]

It's all good, really. I understand you are frustrated as many are and it may be getting the better of you. That's not a crime or an issue.


Please..

[Catfish]

If you wish, I can sometimes post what European propaganda does not show, let's call it alternative. I try to approach the matter without lies and falsehoods. If you have questions, ask them, but not about politics, I won't answer here, I'm not a politician and I don't like it.
Like alternative facts? :03:
We can see all russian propaganda videos here, so what should i ask for?
All i can advise is not to become the lightning rod here, we are a bit concerned about Putin you know.

[Susexx]

I tend to take claims made by Russia regarding the Ukraine with a fair amount of skepticism because of the number of lies and untruths they have made.

But each to our own I suppose.

I can't disagree with you, lies are always there and everywhere. But for this we have logical thinking.

[Jimbuna]

US and UK sources are saying at least 4 times higher.

I wouldn't be in the least surprised but I'd also be interested in knowing the true number of Ukraine deaths in terms of military and civilian.

[Rockstar]

North is a diversion. The real story is south.

For Russia, the Black Sea is of particular importance for economic and geostrategic reasons. Throughout history, Russia’s Black Sea ports, as the country’s only warm water ports, have always served its economic interests. For example, on the eve of World War I, 50 percent of all Russian exports, and 90 percent of its agriculture exports, passed through the Bosphorus out of the Black Sea. Today, every 15 minutes an oil tanker makes the same trip carrying Russian or Kazakh oil (the latter, of course, transits through Russia so Moscow receives transit fees).

The Black Sea, and specifically Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea, serves as a springboard to project military power in places like Georgia, Ukraine and even as far away as Syria. The control of the Black Sea also means total control over the Sea of Azov (a small body of water surrounded by Russia and Ukraine connected to the Black Sea by the Kerch Strait).

[Susexx]

Like alternative facts? :03:
We can see all russian propaganda videos here, so what should i ask for?
All i can advise is not to become the lightning rod here, we are a bit concerned about Putin you know.

Irony is already good. I wanted to ask you, did you participate in combat operations or served in the army? It's just a question, without humor, mockery and ridicule.

[Commander Wallace]

Please..


Please ? Then stop spouting nonsense of driving an aircraft carrier or two strike units and their escorts up onto an enemy country doorstep's to wave your flag in their faces. :doh: This isn't a video game. If you are in such a tizzy, I will give you a rifle and directions to the Ukraine. Be my guest.

Give me a break. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt.

[Jimbuna]

The key Ukrainian port city of Mariupol was "near to a humanitarian catastrophe" on Wednesday after more than 15 hours of continuous bombardment by Russian forces, the city's deputy mayor told the BBC.

"The Russian army is working through all their weapons here - artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, airplanes, tactical rockets. They are trying to destroy the city," Serhiy Orlov said.

Mr Orlov said Russian forces were several kilometres from the city on all sides and had launched strikes on key infrastructure, cutting water and power supplies to parts of the city. One densely populated residential district on the city's left bank had been "nearly totally destroyed", he said.

"We cannot count the number of victims there, but we believe at least hundreds of people are dead. We cannot go in to retrieve the bodies. My father lives there, I cannot reach him, I don't know if he is alive or dead."

Russian forces had targeted strikes against pump stations and electrical transformers, Mr Orlov said, and there were food shortages in parts of the city - raising fears of an approaching humanitarian crisis.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60585603

[Andreas86]

Please ? Then stop spouting nonsense of driving an aircraft carrier or two strike units and their escorts up onto an enemy country doorstep's to wave your flag in their faces. :doh: This isn't a video game. If you are in such a tizzy, I will give you a rifle and directions to the Ukraine. Be my guest.

Give me a break. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt.


What the hell is your problem dude?

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMvKC24RMyA

[Jeff-Groves]

Don't be starting a War between Subsim members Guys!
There's enough War going on as it is.

Everyone has the right to express their opinion and thoughts.
Not a one among us is in a position to do a damned thing but speculate.

I have made many friends in both the Ukraine and Russia over the years.
I don't always agree with them but they are still my friends as I view it.

[Commander Wallace]

Don't be starting a War between Subsim members Guys!
There's enough War going on as it is.

Everyone has the right to express their opinion and thoughts.
Not a one among us is in a position to do a damned thing but speculate.

I have made many friends in both the Ukraine and Russia over the years.
I don't always agree with them but they are still my friends as I view it.


All good points Jeff and you're right. I gave my two cents worth, for what it's worth. :yep:


Well said. :yep:

[mapuc]

Don't be starting a War between Subsim members Guys!
There's enough War going on as it is.

Everyone has the right to express their opinion and thoughts.
Not a one among us is in a position to do a damned thing but speculate.

I have made many friends in both the Ukraine and Russia over the years.
I don't always agree with them but they are still my friends as I view it.

:salute:

Markus

[Jeff-Groves]

Thank You. I'll also hope Neal does not stop postings from our Russian Friends.
May not be what We WANT to hear. BUT Maybe We need to hear from them.

Consider it a Neutral place to discuss issues.
Lord knows We need something like that some where!

[Commander Wallace]

Thank You. I'll also hope Neal does not stop postings from our Russian Friends.
May not be what We WANT to hear. BUT Maybe We need to hear from them.

Consider it a Neutral place to discuss issues.
Lord knows We need something like that some where!

I hope so as well and again, I agree. It's been reported that many Russians are not happy with their current assignment and in that way, they are victims of a sort as well. That tells me many of these soldiers are of a decent sort but given orders that are hard to reconcile with their personal feelings. I think we would all do well to know and understand that. In that way, hearing what our Russian friends in Subsim have to say may help our understanding as well. They probably don't like how things are going anymore than we do.

[Catfish]

Ukrainian Civilians Take On Russian Invaders With Words And Deeds

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-civil-resistance-russian-aggression/31728966.html

[Skybird]

For whatever its worth, the Ukrainian numbers given until yesterday for losses on both sides and civilians were assessed by journalists by several countries to be more or less quite reaosonable and in line with more detailed and confirmed reports in local regions that serve as a verification basis for modelling total nubmers nationwide. The Ukrainians do a much better job on the media, both Selensky, and the Ukrainian side in general, they know they do not serve themselves well if the set up lies that then get shown to be lies and thus discredit themselves. The Kremlin on the other hand still lives by the mindset of wanting to control the media, shutting down non-conformal media (practically all non-conformal media outlets now are being shut down in Russia), and spilling out censored and bombastically processed "entertaining" pictures that show a clinical war where all runs according to plan and nothing goes wrong, not mentioning the criminal intentions of the war. So again, the numbers given by the Ukraine by many international correspondents are said to reflect quite well their own assessments and impressison from various places in the Ukraine when extrapolating their personal perceptions in place to a nation-wide level.

The Ukraine had also set up - in Russian - a wbesite where families in Russia could look and find their sons and fathers and brothers that were caught and are prisoners, offering families to pick them up and take them home back to Russia. Problem was there were too many prisoners shown for the Kremlin's taste - they shut down access to thewebsite in Russia, TV news said an hour ago.

The Ukraine says until yesterday the killed over 5300 Russian soldiers, several hundreds are taken as prisoners, and the Russian attacks have killed more than 2000 civilans. The numbers for Ukrianian losses vary widely. Naturally the Ukrainians are more heistent to reveal these. Numericla,y they are m uch lower tha the Russian losses, however. This may chnage now that the Russians are to pack out the big clubs. OIn the other hand, thousands of additonal ATGMs from European nations are being in transit to the Ukraine. The urban fighting ahead will be hell. For both sides. The Russians will loose many, many, many vehicles if they move into the cities, many of these Panzerfaust-type weapons are made right for these combat situations: to be fired from inside buildings and enclosed compartments. Bigger, longer-range ATMS olfteh cannot be used from inside rooms and buildings, the backblast would injure or kill the shooting crew.

Russian prisoners also said alraedy days ago that the Russian artillery back then was randomly shooting civilian places to make it look as if it were just unwanted unintentional hits where in fact the random hits were wanted to make the population panic and leave the place so that they could not fight and resist later on. Its no random collateral damage, its intentional and targetted tactics. And if you remember Georgia and Chechnya you know the Russian are anything but shy of shooting at civilian places deliberately. In the Ukraine they tried to avoid that, since it spoils the impession of one Slavic brother coming to the rescue of the other slavic brother, but it did not work. They now take off the gloves, obviously. TOS-1 Buratino tanks are confirmed to have been spotted in the Ukraine, and are being brought forward. The huge night explosion somebody showed in a cellphone video one or two day ago, and where some commented it looked like a small nuke and I said it looked so much bigger than a Tomahawk with its heavier warhead ( already suspected that it was not a normal cruise msisile, but a vaccum warhead), was not the Kalibr missile hit as was claimed, but it was a single round from such a TOS-1 missile "flame thrower" that hit an ammo storage site. A TOS-1 has 16-24 barrels, usually the missiles are armed with thermobaric warheads. This was just 1 missile. Its the biggest conventional callibre weapon known of. The Russians move some of these towards the big cities.

What Putin has announced is by definition of the anti-genocide convention de facto genocide: the systematic attempt to delete an ethnic and cultural independent identity by means of massacring people, destroying culturlal heritage, hisotircvlaly grown tarditons and history, habits, forbidding language and stopping the affected target population from being what it is, or existing at all. This is de facto what Putin wants when he denied the Ukrianians the right to exist as an independent sovereign people and state. Its genocide, period.

If they use TOS-1 weapons now in cities where there is still civilian population, maybe even intentionally target districts with civilian population like they did in Grozny and the Georgia war, this borders crimes as obsence and monstrous as the death camps of the Nazis were. Its the attempt to systematically wipe out a people with industrial means and precision.

To call the ratpack around Putin fascists and war cirmnnals therefor is fully jutsified. They are this, and nothing else.

And they do it to a claimed Slavic brother people. This shows the utmost contempt for human life, and murderous cycnism.

If Europe wants to help the Ukrainian fighter, we must deliver them ammo in general and Panzerfaust-type weapons in special. It will turn life into living hell for the Russian attackers.

Yes, I am not neutral in this. :arrgh!:

[Catfish]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RiaCgwAh04

It does not take long to learn how to fire a rifle. Putin will be able to conquer Ukraine with genocide and chechen bullies, but after this the real fun starts.

[Catfish]

Irony is already good. I wanted to ask you, did you participate in combat operations or served in the army? It's just a question, without humor, mockery and ridicule.
Quid pro quo.
Yes.
Why do you think did the russian convoy on the way to Kyev stop?

[Jeff-Groves]

I saw images of the apartments hit. I have one question about those images.
Why were there destroyed military equipment in those images?

I doubt they were Russian being that close to those buildings so could have been Ukrainian destroyed Units.
If that is the case? I can accept that it was a justifiable attack since War Units were parked near civilian structures.

[Catfish]

"Our Streets, Our Town"

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-civilians-resistance/31730569.html

[Andreas86]

All good points Jeff and you're right. I gave my two cents worth, for what it's worth. :yep:


Well said. :yep:


Indeed.. For what its worth, please refrain from the condescending tone in the future. It was uncalled for.

[Catfish]

Russian troops slowed by Ukrainian resistance | WNT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyZ4PeesjU

[Commander Wallace]

Indeed.. For what its worth, please refrain from the condescending tone in the future. It was uncalled for.


Back off pal. I gave you about as much quarter as I going to. In the future, please refrain from making stupid, and foolish comments and you won't have issues. That's not a condescending or patronizing tone, just reality.

[Jeff-Groves]

Andreas86

I stepped in to try to calm an issue. Please don't push it.
That will be non-productive.

I'll cry about both your Egos at a later date. Both seem to want to be the one with the last word.
Get over it! Last I checked? Not a one of you are getting bombed!
So sit back and have a beer and post something constructive.

Your petty exchanges are just that. "You hurt my feelins" Get over it and show a better Man not a hidden Keyboard Warrior.

My true name and location are easily seen here at Subsim. Can you Guys say the same?

[Susexx]

I saw images of the apartments hit. I have one question about those images.
Why were there destroyed military equipment in those images?

I doubt they were Russian being that close to those buildings so could have been Ukrainian destroyed Units.
If that is the case? I can accept that it was a justifiable attack since War Units were parked near civilian structures.

You're observant, it's immediately obvious that the 82nd Airborne has strong guys. Glad to meet you, sorry to discuss sad news. I served in the 76th Guards Airborne Division. You asked the very right questions, the right questions of a military man.

[Rockstar]

This is not the uniform of the Russian army. And there are no bright elements and bright chevrons on the field uniform.

Those badges may not be part of a field uniform, but one only need watch a Russian victory day parade on YouTube to see they are indeed part of some kind of a Russian uniform. Considering his own description how he was ‘recruited’. I suspect he is just a conscript. Nothing more than fodder, a consumable inferior resource in abundant supply. The paid professional soldier would know why he was in theatre and wear a proper uniform. Just a guess. :)

[Andreas86]

I gave you about as much quarter as I going to.


Well, I'm indeed honored. My humblest apologies mylord.

I cannot remember attacking you, so get your patronizing butt off your high horse.

[Catfish]

Russian forces pound Ukraine’s cities as the resistance holds the line in Kyiv

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/russian-forces-pound-ukraines-cities-as-the-resistance-holds-the-line-in-kyiv

This is old news, civilian urban apartment buildings have been targeted before. Not indiscriminate, but specific.

[Catfish]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QXmFNiMOZA

[Rockstar]

I saw images of the apartments hit. I have one question about those images.
Why were there destroyed military equipment in those images?

I doubt they were Russian being that close to those buildings so could have been Ukrainian destroyed Units.
If that is the case? I can accept that it was a justifiable attack since War Units were parked near civilian structures.

I’d wager certain apartments are targeted because such high ground make great forward observation posts. Russians don’t seem interested in a scorched earth policy but more inclined to make surgical strikes against military targets.

[Jeff-Groves]

You're observant, it's immediately obvious that the 82nd Airborne has strong guys. Glad to meet you, sorry to discuss sad news. I served in the 76th Guards Airborne Division. You asked the very right questions, the right questions of a military man.
It's my Honor to meet another ParaTrooper! I have had the Honor to meet
many over the years. We share a common bond. That of jumping out of air craft to engage in Combat with no promise of going home!

I question many photos I see. But that image of the apartment with destroyed equipment near it?

Something is just not right!

[Skybird]

Several reports and video footages showing Russian artillery fires cluster ammunition into civilian areas. Another war crime.

[Catfish]

Ukraine and Crimea in 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzO7gIT5GYU

[Susexx]

Quid pro quo.
Yes.
Why do you think did the russian convoy on the way to Kyev stop?

In addition to fighting on the outskirts of the city, the task is to save the civilian population, open passages on the roads, a working train station in Kiev, communications and the Internet also work in the city. The military expects to enter the city in small groups, so the second echelon of troops is waiting. I hope so. As a military man, you do not need to explain that almost any modern army has the means to destroy the defense of the city, I am sure that this will not be used in cities with a million people. Look at the webcam, there is no blackout from the bombing, the streets are lit. No, I can assure you there will be no heavy equipment storming the city. Therefore, the column has stopped and is waiting. Then he will bypass the city and move on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bF1z-P1FRU

[Catfish]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C66mAkS1ZfM


So LinC Putin has been true to his legacy of lying.

[Jeff-Groves]

I'd not be parking a convoy that big like that.
I highly suspect other causes for the hold up. They are wide open for attacks.
As a ParaTrooper? You know what WE would be doing! We'd be causing so much havoc!

[Susexx]

It's my Honor to meet another ParaTrooper! I have had the Honor to meet
many over the years. We share a common bond. That of jumping out of air craft to engage in Combat with no promise of going home!

I question many photos I see. But that image of the apartment with destroyed equipment near it?

Something is just not right!

Many Russians have friends and relatives in Ukraine, family ties are very close. Shooting at your potential friends and relatives is unrealistic and criminal. Many commanders of the Ukrainian army know about this and use it, simply equipping positions in the courtyards of residential buildings. This is a "Human Shield". Therefore, the advance of the Russian army is very slow, the areas are occupied by small groups and only large objects are destroyed by tactical missiles and aircraft. The United States also faced this in Afghanistan, where large militant bases were located right in the center of small towns.

[Catfish]

I'd not be parking a convoy that big like that.
I highly suspect other causes for the hold up. They are wide open for attacks.
As a ParaTrooper? You know what WE would be doing! We'd be causing so much havoc!
You already could with drones if they are any left, don't know what is happening there. Or they wait for the tank trucks to hit.
Why they stopped? Imho
a) ran out of fuel and rations
b) intentional stop to not get the fallout of Putin's nuclear bomb over Kyev

[Rockstar]

Ya know I went to the local ABC liquor store early this morning looking for a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka. I was told in a stern manner they took it off the shelves in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine!

I was like WTF over? The stuff is made in Latvia who happens to be a fine upstanding member of NATO! Anyway, it was an emergency I really like pineapple juice and vodka with my Rocky Patel candela in the morning. So I grabbed a bottle of Tito’s instead.

[Susexx]

Let's be clear:
1. Tactical nuclear weapons are used to destroy enemy infrastructure DEEP behind enemy lines, not 15-40 miles away.
2. There are no problems with provisions and ammunition, the army eats better than many civilians.
3. If I were European citizens, I would rather be afraid of retreating Ukrainian troops, who, in order to stop the offensive of Russian troops, could blow up several more nuclear power plants and the Dnieper hydroelectric dam on the Dnieper River. That's the real danger. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been taken under protection, I think the Southern nuclear power plant will be safe in a day, troops are already going there. I am very afraid for these objects and I pray that the soldiers have time to take them under guard.

[Jeff-Groves]

Many Russians have friends and relatives in Ukraine, family ties are very close. Shooting at your potential friends and relatives is unrealistic and criminal. Many commanders of the Ukrainian army know about this and use it, simply equipping positions in the courtyards of residential buildings. This is a "Human Shield". Therefore, the advance of the Russian army is very slow, the areas are occupied by small groups and only large objects are destroyed by tactical missiles and aircraft. The United States also faced this in Afghanistan, where large militant bases were located right in the center of small towns.
That is a VERY valid point.
One has to show me proof that Ukraine is NOT putting Combat Units near Civil areas.
Being it's in a City? Yes they are doing that. So not so crazy to get a bad hit as maybe the Russian systems are not as exact as suspected.

[Catfish]

re Rockstar there are two, one Stolychnaya is russian :()1:


Elena Osipova has been arrested for protesting against Putin's war.
She is an 80 year old artist and survivor of the WW2 siege of Leningrad.

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5248506

https://twitter.com/olliecarroll/status/1499105530442301450

[Susexx]

That is a VERY valid point.
One has to show me proof that Ukraine is NOT putting Combat Units near Civil areas.
Being it's in a City? Yes they are doing that. So not so crazy to get a bad hit as maybe the Russian systems are not as exact as suspected.

Accuracy is always relative to 10-15 feet to the side or just fragments from equipment, an explosion of ammunition inside the tank. All this damages buildings. many houses are made of brick, it itself is shrapnel. How to hide civilians from injuries ?

[mapuc]

Around 80000 men and women have left their new home to fight the Russian in Ukraine.

How many thousands foreigners who have done the same no one knows-but it's thousands and here lay the problem-Many have no military background and thous a danger for them self and others.

I hope the Ukrainian military say to these-We thank you for thinking about helping us, but no military training or background-you can't be placed in a combat unit....But we need help behind the lines with nurses and so on.

Markus

[Jeff-Groves]

Valid Point.
However. That was more then 15 feet to hit the apartment building.
Given the destruction of the equipment shown? I'd say some hit within 15 feet.
That gives me doubt about a true accuracy rating for expendable munitions directed to said target area.

Now if you say a forward spotter may have been in there? I can buy that.
I was trained and did fight in Urban War areas. It's never nice.

[mapuc]

I would say it is true what it says in this article

Several civilian Danes have been taken to Ukraine to fight. But according to one organization, there are six things in particular to consider before doing so

https://nyheder-tv2-dk.translate.goog/samfund/2022-03-02-organisation-stil-dig-selv-disse-6-spoergsmaal-inden-du-melder-dig-til-krig-i?_x_tr_sl=da&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=da&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Markus

[Catfish]

That is a VERY valid point. [...].
Is it?
As i read already a few days ago Kyev has already been shelled and bombed, amongst others with cluster bombs? :hmmm:
How would YOU advise to defend a city, if you were ukrainian, other than from within? I have heard this russian propganda human shield sh!t a bit too often.
They will not get Kyev other than with house-to-house fighting, this will be ugly.

[Skybird]

Ukraine officially confirms that Cherson has fallen to the invaders.



Mariupol reports a very severe intensification of the bombardement after it already got shelled for 15 continueing hours. A complete city district that was home to 130 thousand people should have been "nearly totally destroyed". Uncounted hundreds of civilians are dead, says the dputy mayor, and further: "The Russian army is working through all their weapons here - artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, airplanes, tactical rockets." He further said that civilian buildings of communal interest have been deliberately targetted and destroyed in a bid to destroy moral of the civil population.



The Russian army was and is an artillery army. It now shows what that means. We have seen it in Grozny and Georgia before. Grozny looked like a German city at the end of WW2.



The Russian Hitler will do this to all of Ukraine, if the defenders do not break early. Its either his Ukraine, or there shall be no Ukraine at all.

[Susexx]

Valid Point.
However. That was more then 15 feet to hit the apartment building.
Given the destruction of the equipment shown? I'd say some hit within 15 feet.
That gives me doubt about a true accuracy rating for expendable munitions directed to said target area.

Now if you say a forward spotter may have been in there? I can buy that.
I was trained and did fight in Urban War areas. It's never nice.

You know, I wouldn't want it to be true, but it seems to me that their own shoot at civilians to cause fear of the Russians. In the city it is difficult to understand who is shooting and from where. There was an episode in my life when the enemy imitated our activity in residential areas. It is difficult to describe what kind of hatred this caused for the troops, although they did not even have such weapons in that sector. They dragged mortars (we didn't even have such ones and don't have them now, because they are outdated) and fired at neighborhoods.

[Skybird]

Jeff, its really time you finally realise whom you are snuggling up to. He leads you around by your nose and you do not notice it.

[Jeff-Groves]

I would say it is true what it says in this article



https://nyheder-tv2-dk.translate.goog/samfund/2022-03-02-organisation-stil-dig-selv-disse-6-spoergsmaal-inden-du-melder-dig-til-krig-i?_x_tr_sl=da&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=da&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Markus
Markus,
Yes. One would prefer fully trained War Fighters.
Could I train young Guys in several days? No!
There's a reason one does several weeks to become Combat ready!
I did 12 weeks and THEN did Jump School!
That made me a Raw recruit, or as I was called? A Cherry.

It took years of schooling in the Art of Exterminating other Human beings to be a Trooper.
I am a product the Army trained to kill. When I left the Army? Those skills were not taken from me. I may have been out of service for 30 some years.
But I'm probably more deadly then I was even back then!

[ET2SN]

Thank you. I'll also hope Neal does not stop postings from our Russian friends.
May not be what we WANT to hear. BUT Maybe we NEED to hear from them.

Consider it a neutral place to discuss issues.
Lord knows We need something like that some where!

I fixed your emphasis because it was wrong. :yep:









:O: Kidding, excellent points. :up:

[Jeff-Groves]

Jeff, its really time you finally realise whom you are snuggling up to. He leads you around by your nose and you do not notice it.
Sky,
I take what he posts just like I take your posts.

I am not so easily lead around as you may think.
Do I Respect his service? Hell yes! He is a Brother ParaTrooper.
Just like We respect the German Submariners, Pilots, and others who fought in WWII? We respect the service they did. Maybe not Who they did it for.

To just say "He's a Russian! Don't trust him!" Is so ludicrous on the very face of it!

Let me make this PERFECTLY CLEAR! No one here can lead me by the nose!
Consider you have no clue about the fact I maybe doing something sneaky!

[Catfish]

You know, I wouldn't want it to be true, but it seems to me that their own shoot at civilians to cause fear of the Russians. [...]
The trolling is strong with this one :haha:

[Skybird]

Sky,
I take what he posts just like I take your posts.

I am not so easily lead around as you may think.
Do I Respect his service? Hell yes! He is a Brother ParaTrooper.
Just like We respect the German Submariners, Pilots, and others who fought in WWII? We respect the service they did. Maybe not Who they did it for.

To just say "He's a Russian! Don't trust him!" Is so ludicrous on the very face of it!

Let me make this PERFECTLY CLEAR! No one here can lead me by the nose!
Consider you have no clue about the fact I maybe doing something sneaky!
I do not judge a man by his uniform or nationality, but by what he defends and for what he stands up for.


The role of the aggressor and the role of the victim is crystal clear in this unprovoked war of attack. And he relativises it, sometimes subtle, sometimes obviously. Thats tells me all I need to know.

I have no problem with Russians. I knew Russians, I was befriended with Russians at university, I dealt with Russians at work. But with Russian nationalists believing and spreading Putler's propaganda, helping his cause, I sure as hell have a problem. And I do not want it any different.



I gave him the benefit of the doubt when this began some days ago. Since then, he removed my doubts.

[Jeff-Groves]

Tell me why US Special Forces dropped Israeli equipment on the beaches near
Libya before We bombed the hell out of that place?

We are not innocent!

[Susexx]

I'm not going to lead anyone by the nose. I will reveal a "terrible" secret - there is no truth in the fighting at all. There is only one truth here, neither Putin nor Zelensky wanted to give in.Both knew that a war would begin. They knew and did nothing, no one gave in. Sending weapons to Ukraine and the desire for peace are two different things. Why Javelins, and not medicines and food? In order for a person to stop shooting, it is necessary to take away his weapon, and not put another one in his second hand? Tell me I'm wrong?
All wars happen like this. People are mixing each other with blood, dirt and pus, and everyone is standing around and throwing more weapons at them with the words "I want peace on Earth!" And it's always been that way. People were and will be hypocrites.
I will make you happy, I will no longer, as they wrote here, "lead by the nose" and I will keep silent. Time will tell who is right and to blame. Let 's meet in peacetime !

[Skybird]

From the Frankfurter Rundschau'S newsticker:



The Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed two Russian Su-35C jets during a fierce air battle in the sky around midnight on March 1. The dogfight took place against two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters in combination "with anti-aircraft fire," the air force said on its Facebook page. As a result, Ukraine lost one aircraft, and the search for the MiG pilot is now underway.

"Yes, today the enemy prevails in quantity and quality of aircraft and weapons, but the Air Force is doing everything to rid the Ukrainian skies of the enemy's presence," the social media post reads.

According to a report by the Kyiv Independent news portal, Russia has lost an entire brigade in the Ukraine war. Specifically, this is said to have happened during fighting around the city of Chernihiv. According to the report, the 35th Motorized Rifle Brigade was almost completely destroyed. According to a voice message obtained by the Kyiv Independent, only "18 out of 150 soldiers" survived the failed attack attempt.

According to the Ukrainian news portal, the information from the text message coincides with other facts known about the fate of the said brigade. Thus, the disbandment of the military unit is confirmed, although the military leadership of Russia has not yet provided any information about the fate of the soldiers.

[Jeff-Groves]

You have not lead me by the nose! I figure out what is right and wrong as I see it by evidence.
You already know what I as a ParaTrooper would have done.
I'd have attacked as my training taught me to do!
As you well know it would be the battle to the death! That's what ParaTroopers do! Somehow that is drilled into us and We can never get rid of that.

What many don't want to hear is the other side. So they attack.
Us older Veterans? We saw death up close. Arm chair Warriors?
Got their arses shot off in a damned Game!

They don't want to hear from you? Send me a PM.

[Rockstar]

Germans just took the gloves off! :har:

Germans Seize Russian Billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s Mega-Yacht

https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2022/03/02/germans-seize-russian-billionaire-alisher-usmanovs-mega-yacht/?sh=386a0e1552dd

Usmanov headed Gazprom Investholding, a subsidiary of state-run conglomerate Gazprom, from 2000 to 2014.

I wonder if that German Weasel Gerard Schroeder has had anything seized yet? You know, the guy nominated to the supervisory board of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom? Especially if you consider that just a year ago colluding with Putin was the worst thing anyone could be accused of. F’in back stabbing weasels. It seems nothing has changed since 45’

https://static.dw.com/image/56248454_403.jpg

Meanwhile the orange man presided over the 2018 sale of 210 Javelin anti-armor missiles, and the 2019 sale of 150 additional Javelins to Ukraine. After Poland and Baltic states warn of an increasing closeness between Germany and Russia that brings eerie reminders of 1939

[Aktungbby]

He didn't make it to the Maldives in time:oops:https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-billionaires-superyachts-maldives-no-extradition-ukraine-war-sanctions-2022-3 The megayacht Cliohttps://www.superyachtfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/yacht-Clio-Chris-Wright.jpgDeripaska was one of two Russian billionaires who spoke out on Sunday against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying in a Telegram post, "Peace is very important."

[Jeff-Groves]

Cyber Warfare is on going from both sides.
One tactic is to have several 'Ghost' sites to divert inbound attacks.
5 of my 'Ghost' sites were attacked and dropped.
:har:
Find the rest!

[Skybird]

I'm not going to lead anyone by the nose. I will reveal a "terrible" secret - there is no truth in the fighting at all. There is only one truth here, neither Putin nor Zelensky wanted to give in.Both knew that a war would begin. They knew and did nothing, no one gave in. Sending weapons to Ukraine and the desire for peace are two different things. Why Javelins, and not medicines and food? In order for a person to stop shooting, it is necessary to take away his weapon, and not put another one in his second hand? Tell me I'm wrong?
All wars happen like this. People are mixing each other with blood, dirt and pus, and everyone is standing around and throwing more weapons at them with the words "I want peace on Earth!" And it's always been that way. People were and will be hypocrites.
I will make you happy, I will no longer, as they wrote here, "lead by the nose" and I will keep silent. Time will tell who is right and to blame. Let 's meet in peacetime !
Oh you innocent lamb, you wellmeaning peace dove!

The Ukraine did not attack Russia, but Russia attacks the Ukraine. The Ukraine posed no military threat at all to the Russian people, and still tried to avoid any provocations while Russia needlessly already mounted columns over columns of troops at its borders. There are no drug addicts in the government of the Ukraine, but a psychpathic barbaric massmurdering powermonger in the Kremlin. The Ukrainian leadership is not Nazi: the president is a Jew. The Ukrainian government still shows enormous reasonability and sense of human kindness, even offering to let prisoners be led home by their families from Russia - the Russian government arrested several thousand protesters against the war, brought down the last remaining uncensored media in Moscow and shut down the internet link to the Russian prisoners. The Ukrainians do not shell russian cities and obliterate whole city districts and shoot cluster bombs into them with delayed time fuses, biut the russians do. Nor do they have nor fire thermobaric bombs, while the Russians are confirmed to have used them already at least once. The Ukranians did not threaten the world with global nuclear war or ominous mysterious threats designed to intimidate the whole world. The Russian Führer does it all the time.

And its not the first time in history that Russia, the Sovjet Union acts this barbarically against other nations and people. Or its own people.

Thats why we no longer leave it to sending medical supplies , but send weapons to the ukrainians. So that they can give your army a hell of a lifetime and kill your soldiers for as long as is needed to make you go away and leave the Ukrainiansalone, who did nothing to you, and never threatened you, and are claimed to be your precious Slavic brothers and sister. And thats why we in the West turned determined and now crack down on your economy even while ti will cost us dearly, and do as much damage to you as possible and affect your people and your rich and your elites and your sick leaders short before using military means.

As long as your nation is a rabid dog that runs around balking at everbyody and threatens to blow up the whole world if it does not get the bone it wants, and then the next one, and another one, and more, as long you simply do not deserve neither our respect nor our friendship anymore, and certainly no trust. For you are the monster in the house, not the gallant hero, and the only danger people need to be protectedf against, is you, and you alone, and nobody else than you

Have I ruined your sugar-sweet ear-nectar by which you try to enchant people to win them for your cause to tolerate the Russian invasion of the oh so malicous dangeorus Ukraine and to relativise the malice of your leaders? Oh, I'm so sorry. Lets be friends and hold hands again and have another honeymoon. But first your damn war machine leaves the Ukraine and your people start to pay reparations for the material obliterations you have caused, your leaders are replaced by more integer minds - the human tragedies you have caused remain to be unforgivable. Its up to the ukrainians to forgive you your crimes in a generation or two - or not. Its not the first time that your country abuses, kills them. Its just the newest genocidal event in a chain of such genocidal events. Be proud of your uniform.

And you, Jeff -

you really should sit and think a while and rememeber the values and ideals your country claims to stand for and that maybe made you joining your country's army and/or consider yourself a patriot, once or still now. And then, hopefully you see that you must not want to have much in common with him, for if these American ideals are still valid for you, and I share many of them by idea although not being American, then you hopefully see again that

there is something btween you too that makes your cause very different to his.

Its strange that a foreigner must tell you this. But in the times of the Trump I maybe should not be surprised.

And now I'm done with this.

[Jeff-Groves]

And you, Jeff -

you really should sit and think a while and rememeber the values and ideals your country claims to stand for and that maybe made you joining your country's army and/or consider yourself a patriot, once or still now. And then, hopefully you see that you must not want to have much in common with him, for if these American ideals are still valid for you, and I share many of them by idea although not being American, then you hopefully see again that

there is something btween you too that makes your cause very different to his.


You know Sky? I really did think you could see things others couldn't.
You almost, ALMOST had me fooled!
You act so almighty knowing and wise and yet? You can't see the window before your face without the fog of your breath.
Do I respect the sacrifices of what a Fellow ParaTrooper endured?
Your damned right Skippy I do! You sitting comfortably in a German Country side while Troopers like us jumped into combat without your expert advise to guide us?
Excuse me while I throw up!
I've taken any exchanges with him private to spare you a lot of worthless postings.
Last I checked? You weren't around to guide my life as I grew up.
I doubt you were around to guide his also.

You want to be judge, jury, and executioner? Fine!
All I need is the FU smily here at Subsim.

Not a single person here at Subsim knows what I have been involved in over the last few weeks.
How many Servers have you lost to Cyber attacks Sky? I've lost 10 so far! All designed to side track attacks.
I'm getting more set up to continue My contribution. Will that make my friend happy? Probably not.
But I think any interactions are more valuable then no interactions.

[August]

https://i.imgur.com/mn5sohl.png


Fake news for those without a sense of humor.

[Jeff-Groves]

Oh. Skybird!
Did you know that when I enlisted the Army tried like hell to get me to go into the Intelligence Units?

Seemed my tests scores were extremely high and my ability to analyze Combat situations were WAY above normal.
:hmmm:

I should have went Intelligence instead of Infantry.
I'd be in the damned White House today!

[Rockstar]

Never underestimate the tenacity of Florida Man. Hell they even brewed an IPA in honor of him. :har:

https://youtu.be/s062H1xEvuw

[les green01]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/swedish-defense-minister-calls-russian-violation-of-airspace-unacceptable/vi-AAUwmE9?ocid=msedgntp guess 4 Russian jets went into Sweeden airspace

[Catfish]

https://i.imgur.com/mn5sohl.png


Fake news for those without a sense of humor.


Not funny, holding them back is TORTURE ! :haha:



https://i.imgur.com/1kNH4UMl.jpg

But wait for the tank trucks to show up.. won't need warthogs.

[Catfish]

:rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/03/ukraine-authorities-say-seized-russian-tanks-dont-need-to-be-declared-on-tax-form

[Catfish]

Urban warfare in Mariupol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICvAtOYLTwg


So Mariupol once was russian?
Greece might have some say then, they founded it.
Or maybe back to the borders of 1942?
This is simply an invasion, no way to whitewash this with russian propaganda.

[Skybird]

Russian troops loot banks, private homes, local stores, looking for money and wealth as well as food and entertainment electronics. Many videos from automatic security cameras on youtube now. Yesterday, a visibly enraged retired US Ltn. Col. or Ltn. Gen. sharply attacked these scenes on CNN television, saying something like "this army is no soldiers, these are no professional soldiers, this army is criminal scum."

They also loot private homes, and electronics stores.

Where they plunder food, this tells something about their formidable logistics situation.

A marauding, murderous mob. Not an army.

Reminds me of the foreign gangs of robbers we have in Germany who cross borders at night, detonate bank automats and plunder then, and then flee over the border again.

[Catfish]

Browder on Putin

»When You Believe Your Time Is Almost Up, You Start a War«


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y7XBQG5TzM

[Skybird]

Browder on Putin

»When You Believe Your Time Is Almost Up, You Start a War«


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y7XBQG5TzMSuperb find.

[Skybird]

DW writes:


According to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the [German] Ministry of Economics has approved the transfer of 2700 "Strela" anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. These are weapons of Soviet production from former stocks of the National People's Army (NVA) of the GDR.

[Jimbuna]

Russian forces have taken control of Kherson in the south - the first major city to fall.

If they capture more southern cities, Ukrainian forces could be cut off from the sea.

In Mariupol, a strategic port near the Russian border, residents are trapped by intense shelling.

Kyiv remains in government control and a large Russian armoured convoy remains some distance away.

More than one million people have already fled the country and hundreds of civilians are believed to have been killed.

Vladimir Putin's foreign minister warns a third world war would be nuclear but says Russians are not thinking about this.

[Jimbuna]

A second round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations is due to begin in Belarus in the next hour or so.

Kyiv's minimum goal is to set up humanitarian corridors - routes for civilians to escape conflict-hit areas.

This is according to Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arakhamia, who posted a short update on Facebook alongside a photo of him and a colleague in front of a helicopter.

It comes as the number of people fleeing Ukraine hits one million, while Moscow continues to lay siege to multiple cities in the south.

Russia's negotiating position - according to the country's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov - is that:

Ukraine must "demilitarise" and "deNazify"
Crimea - Ukraine's southern peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014 - is recognised by Kyiv as part of Russia.
Two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine - self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic - are formally recognised.

[Jimbuna]

Athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to compete at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing after the International Paralympic Committee reversed its original decision.

The IPC was heavily criticised when, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it initially said it would allow the athletes to compete as neutrals.

A statement said the "situation in the athlete villages" was "untenable".

The Games' opening ceremony takes place on Friday.

[mapuc]

Beware of fake videos.

Not so long ago I saw a 2 minutes video which should show two Russian fighter jet shot down over Ukraine.

While I saw one of them crash into the ground in fire-My brain said...HEY wait a minute I've seen this before.

It didn't take long before I remembered where-It's from the day when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter Jet.

I'm pretty sure the video clip is from then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrfyKRxk0sA

Edit
Now I am not so certain anymore have seen some video clip from this incident where Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet.
End edit

Markus

[Red Devil]

Isnt that plane a Tupolev TU95 'Bear' long range recon/bomber.

It wont let me load an image

[Catfish]

The plane on the 'cover' of the video is not a SU 35C, no idea why they put this 'Bear' there.
The new video footage of the planes going down seems(!) authentic or at least new, the interval with the low-flying ukrainian fighter is older.
We cannot know what is real in such videos anyway.


But I guess we can here:

(Unarmed Ukrainians stop Russian tank from entering village)
There was a longer video where they show how they made the tank reverse, but did not find it now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwbGAuS_KwM


I have to say that at least some of the russian invaders keep their cool ..

[Jimbuna]

I'm not sure how effective those 'Hedgehogs will be against MBT's. They're not anchored down or dug-in, simply placed on top of a smooth surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQk1UTLgcW4

[Skybird]

Beware of fake videos.

Not so long ago I saw a 2 minutes video which should show two Russian fighter jet shot down over Ukraine.

While I saw one of them crash into the ground in fire-My brain said...HEY wait a minute I've seen this before.

It didn't take long before I remembered where-It's from the day when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter Jet.

I'm pretty sure the video clip is from then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrfyKRxk0sA

Edit
Now I am not so certain anymore have seen some video clip from this incident where Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet.
End edit

Markus
I do not trust these obscure videos that are scattered all across the net, but I red about the dogfight before and in several other news sources, so I think the event seems to have taken place, at least has been confirmed by several news sources.



Total, absolute, penultimate verification you hardly ever get in war.

[mapuc]

The last week there have been some rumours here in Denmark

First rumour was that the Danish government had called in the military Reserve due to the situation in Ukraine-The MoD had to reject this.

Second rumour was that Denmark would send F-16 fighter jets with pilot to Ukraine to fight the Russian-Again the MoD had to reject this.

Markus

[mapuc]

I do not trust these obscure videos that are scattered all across the net, but I red about the dogfight before and in several other news sources, so I think the event seems to have taken place, at least has been confirmed by several news sources.



Total, absolute, penultimate verification you hardly ever get in war.

It's war going on with modern weapons on both side. So fighter jet and helicopter get shut down, stuff get blown to pieces and men get killed all the time 24/7.

It's the video from the war we should take with a ton of salt.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Ukraine: How might the war end? Five scenarios

Short war

Long war

European war

Diplomatic solution

Putin ousted

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60602936

[Skybird]

Putin expected to win a Blitz in three, four days. He didn't , the plan is a smoking ruin. Sicne then, his great miloiutary operaiton must improvise form day to day. Their obvious logistical problems I assume come formt his: they did not plan for a war lasting this long. They planned for a funny walk, and being back home in time for dinner.

Putin will not give ground, nor giv ein to any demands, thats against his biograpohy and character. He will always seek to escalate when being confronted or challenged.

I assume his time is coming to an end, even if he takes Kyiv. The war will go on and on and cost Russia dearly, and many people of wealth, influence and power will not like it - and do not fall for Lawrow'S grotesque fairy tale narrations, but will make Putin resp0insible for their losses and declines. And he is old.

I think what we see is the final act of Putins agonized farewelling to power. Not this day or the next, coudl take another couple of months, even a small number of years. But I think his fall has already been decided internally. I cannot prove it, I have no hints for this. But what i do, is this: I take the risk and place this bet: what we see currently, is the beginning of the end of Vladimir Putin.

That does not mean that he will not bring a horryfying amount of pain and loss and suffering over many people before he has been removed.

That will not mean Russia hasd hcnaged. And I cna only hope that a new Russian govenrment will nto mean the West will, by reflex, instantly automatically forget and forgive and play soft again. Russia will remain to stay our enemy, its political structure, that had bred Putin (and before him a Crushtchow, a Stalin...), can bring up another monster any time. Russia is Russia. It cannot be our trustworthy ally or friend. Never was. Is not. Never will be.

This dream we had must be considered dead, buried and over.


For mthe forseeable futuire of the ukriane I only see pitchblack, however. The Ukrainians will not stop fighting, and Putin thus will destroy it step by step.


We mjst end EVERY relation to Russia dfn every grade ocntact and business. everythign must eb shiut down. No mor epayments for anything. Absolutely nothing. It wioll realyl hrt us, but it will hurt Russia even more. We shall not engage in a military war, but we must wage unlimited economic war, and press other trade partners of ours to also stop traiding with Russia, else facing a boycott from us. I mean, economics is the one single power where the EU is indeed strong, it has no other powers than this, and it is amongst the three big players in this: EU, USA, China. We should even blackmail China and take them by their response.

[Jimbuna]

Does this mean you've taken him off your christmas card list then? :)



:03:

[Skybird]

Does this mean you've taken him off your christmas card list then? :)
:03:
Yes but he is invited for BBQ. As main course.

[Jimbuna]

Yes but he is invited for BBQ. As main course.

:haha:

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlHgXmnuknE

[Red Devil]

The plane on the 'cover' of the video is not a SU 35C, no idea why they put this 'Bear' there..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVnPwejsjNo

It IS a Bear (NATO classification) its a TU(polev)95 not an SU95 (Sukhoi)

[Jimbuna]

Vladolf Putrid less than an hour ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LgDYFu_5fU

[Red Devil]

Beware of fake videos.

Not so long ago I saw a 2 minutes video which should show two Russian fighter jet shot down over Ukraine.

While I saw one of them crash into the ground in fire-My brain said...HEY wait a minute I've seen this before.

It didn't take long before I remembered where-It's from the day when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter Jet.

I'm pretty sure the video clip is from then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrfyKRxk0sA

Edit
Now I am not so certain anymore have seen some video clip from this incident where Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet.
End edit

Markus

Fake news whoever made that video does not know their aircraft, my post has a video of this, a TU95

[mapuc]

Saw a little of the video clip Jim posted ^^

Here I read what it said in this scrolling text messages-An Estonian cargo ship sunk after an explosion.

My first thought was

Torpedo or ASM ?

Markus

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne-7nciJ5sg

[UglyMowgli]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM8LWdiXEAE0eor?format=png&name=900x900

[UglyMowgli]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM7rOrtUYAkBSB_?format=jpg&name=900x900
Estonian-owned general cargo vessel Helt has been sunk in the Black Sea off the coast of Ukraine following an explosion, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported.


The Panama-flagged ship is believed to have hit a mine some 20 nautical miles off Odessa. “The ship received a hole below the waterline,” the ports authority said.

Two crewmembers were in a life raft at sea while four others were unaccounted for, Igor Ilves, managing director of ship manager Vista Shipping Agency, said. According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the 2,100 dwt Helt was taken hostage by the Russian Navy yesterday to “use it as a shield in order to hide behind it from the Ukrainian anti-ship weapons.”

The news comes just a day after the Bangladeshi-owned bulker Banglar Samriddhi was struck by a missile in Ukrainian waters, killing one of its crew members. The ship has been stranded at Olvia port in the Black Sea since Russia invaded Ukraine eight days ago.


https://splash247.com/cargo-vessel-sinks-off-ukraine-after-explosion-multiple-crewmembers-missing/

[Andreas86]

Happened to catch Putins whole speech live as well. This is a complete nightmare, for Ukraine, for Europe, the world. The whole mankind. He is holding everyone hostage. Can only hope that sane minds intervene in Moscow.

[UglyMowgli]

Some Tunguska waiting for a BBQ


https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1499439187111694337?s=20&t=OEzd8UXE21I25lb2BXyCAQ

[Jimbuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EGCRkI2R-k

[Jimbuna]

Nuclear war fears as Putin's 'doomsday plane' scrambled above Moscow

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1575245/nuclear-war-russia-putin-doomsday-plane-russian-air-force-moscow

[mapuc]

Nuclear war fears as Putin's 'doomsday plane' scrambled above Moscow

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1575245/nuclear-war-russia-putin-doomsday-plane-russian-air-force-moscow


Let's hope it was a test flight to see if everything worked ok on and in the plane.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Aye, hope so.

[Aktungbby]

Nuclear war fears as Putin's 'doomsday plane' scrambled above Moscow

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1575245/nuclear-war-russia-putin-doomsday-plane-russian-air-force-moscow https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10569671/Americas-200m-doomsday-plane-sent-four-hour-training-flight-Putins-threats.html :k_confused: Air Force One's little-known sister aircraft the 'Doomsday Plane' - designed to protect high-ranking government officials from a nuclear attack - was sent on a four-hour training flight after Vladimir Putin placed Russia's nuclear forces on high alert.
Military flight tracking sites showed the modified Boeing 747 had departed from the US Air Force base in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Monday evening.
The E-4B carried out a training flight with other specialist military aircraft, reports the i newspaper.
The planes are outfitted as complete command centers for the president and his top officials including the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the case of nuclear war or national emergency.
These aircraft have unique capabilities that cannot be duplicated by any other aircraft that the Air Force uses.
That's It!:o the big boys R playin rough;I'm outta here! 'till WWIII is over and the Dystopian age begins! :shifty::hmph::dead: Moderator pleeze https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=815&pictureid=12426this thread so we don't ALL end up on Putin's death list! https://c.tenor.com/IexT1-_aEjgAAAAd/boooooooooooooooom-wow.gif

[Skybird]

And with unerring instinct, Germany shames itself yet again. Focus Magazine writes:

Some of the German weapons intended for delivery to Ukraine have considerable defects, as "Der Spiegel" now reports. According to the report, some of the 2700 GDR anti-aircraft missiles of the "Strela" type are obsolete and no longer usable. A maximum of 2000 of the missiles are still usable, the report continues.

The Bundeswehr has not been using the GDR system in current operations since 2014, as the first "Strela" missiles had already been disabled "for safety reasons," "Der Spiegel" reported, citing a confidential memo. The wooden boxes containing the missiles, had since become so moldy that soldiers are now only allowed to enter the storage facilities wearing protective clothing.

Reason for the storage: One could not agree on appropriate contracts with special enterprises. Blasting on Bundeswehr premises would also have taken a long time and caused severe environmental pollution.

The Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the issue. A spokesman for Defense Minister Lambrecht told "Der Spiegel" that there has been no decision yet by the Federal Security Council on the delivery to Ukraine. In addition, the Bundeswehr would re-examine the weapons before delivering them to Ukraine. "Everything that the Bundeswehr hands over is checked," the spokesman said.

In addition, the Bundeswehr is said to no longer have the necessary handpieces to fire the obsolete missiles and is hoping that Ukraine has them in stock.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (http://www.DeepL.com/Translator) (free version)


Ulkrainian soldier exposes himself to shot at a Russian gunship or SU-25. He pulls the trigger. Nothing happens, the missiles stays in the launcher. A Russian sniper spotted the Strela shoote rnevertheless, and kills him.



Great going, Germany. You never fail to justify my mockery.

[Commander Wallace]

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly asking for the equipment and tools to fight the Russians, specifically, 3 squadrons of the A-10 Thunderbolt. A squadron is typically anywhere between 12 to 24 aircraft.


Quote:
This aircraft and its gun system were designed to counter an armored assault in Europe. They proved effective in Desert Storm’s target-rich environment, quite similar to the current advancing Russian force (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/ukraine/2022/03/02/ukraine-jets-hit-russian-column-russia-has-used-thermobarics-ukraine-military-says/). They also became the infantry’s friend in close-air support missions.
The United States Air Force has deployment packages ready to go. The whole transfer to the Ukrainian Air Force could be completed in days after congressional authorization.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/transfer-three-10-aircraft-squadrons-143353128.html


The Ukrainians have proved their bravery. Under lend-lease, similar to the U.S and U.K agreements of WW2, this aircraft would be a great help to the Ukraine. If this deal is done, I hope the appropriate armament is included in the packages.

[Armistead]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10569671/Americas-200m-doomsday-plane-sent-four-hour-training-flight-Putins-threats.html :k_confused: That's It!:o the big boys R playin rough;I'm outta here! 'till WWIII is over and the Dystopian age begins! :shifty::hmph::dead: Moderator pleeze https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=815&pictureid=12426this thread so we don't ALL end up on Putin's death list! https://c.tenor.com/IexT1-_aEjgAAAAd/boooooooooooooooom-wow.gif

I could use another strong back on the farm. Best info I have I'm at least 60 miles as the crow flies from any city to get bombed and I'm between 2 mountain ranges. I am talking to the old lady about cleaning her stuff out of the tornado bunker that will now double as a nuclear bunker. Ole Mammy our mountain spiritualist and doctor says she got potion that protect you from radiation poison and also good on steak.

[Skybird]

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly asking for the equipment and tools to fight the Russians, specifically, 3 squadrons of the A-10 Thunderbolt. A squadron is typically anywhere between 12 to 24 aircraft.


Quote:
This aircraft and its gun system were designed to counter an armored assault in Europe. They proved effective in Desert Storm’s target-rich environment, quite similar to the current advancing Russian force (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/ukraine/2022/03/02/ukraine-jets-hit-russian-column-russia-has-used-thermobarics-ukraine-military-says/). They also became the infantry’s friend in close-air support missions.
The United States Air Force has deployment packages ready to go. The whole transfer to the Ukrainian Air Force could be completed in days after congressional authorization.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/transfer-three-10-aircraft-squadrons-143353128.html


The Ukrainians have proved the bravery. Under lend-lease, similar to the U.S and U.K agreements of WW2, this aircraft would be great help to the Ukraine. If this deal is done, I hope the appropriate armament is included in the packages.


That makes the US a war party, in Russia's eyes.


If you want a full war between NATO and Russia, and in the consequence a nuclear war, lend those A-10 to Ukraine and say goodbye to Ney York, Washington, Boston, Chicago, L.A., Frisco, Detroit, Houston... Not to mention the metropoles in Europe. Becasue that is what in the long run will happen.

Biden will not do it, so much is certain. And say thankyou to him for not doing it.

[mapuc]

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly asking for the equipment and tools to fight the Russians, specifically, 3 squadrons of the A-10 Thunderbolt. A squadron is typically anywhere between 12 to 24 aircraft.


Quote:
This aircraft and its gun system were designed to counter an armored assault in Europe. They proved effective in Desert Storm’s target-rich environment, quite similar to the current advancing Russian force (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/ukraine/2022/03/02/ukraine-jets-hit-russian-column-russia-has-used-thermobarics-ukraine-military-says/). They also became the infantry’s friend in close-air support missions.
The United States Air Force has deployment packages ready to go. The whole transfer to the Ukrainian Air Force could be completed in days after congressional authorization.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/transfer-three-10-aircraft-squadrons-143353128.html


The Ukrainians have proved their bravery. Under lend-lease, similar to the U.S and U.K agreements of WW2, this aircraft would be a great help to the Ukraine. If this deal is done, I hope the appropriate armament is included in the packages.

How long will it take to train Ukrainian pilot to fly these A-10 ?
It's not the Russian similar SU25.

Markus

[mapuc]

That makes the US a war party, in Russia's eyes.


If you want a full war between NATO and Russia, and in the consequence a nuclear war, lend those A-10 to Ukraine and say goodbye to Ney York, Washington, Boston, Chicago, L.A., Frisco, Detroit, Houston... Not to mention the metropoles in Europe. Becasue that is what in the long run will happen.

Biden will not do it, so much is certain. And say thankyou to him for not doing it.


Aren't we already a part of the war ? We send weapon (system) to the Ukrainian to fight the Russians.

Markus

[Skybird]

How long will it take to train Ukrainian pilot to fly these A-10 ?
It's not the Russian similar SU25.

Markus
It will not happen.

[mapuc]

It will not happen.

You are correct will NOT happen-Only weapon we send is defensive weapon(system)

Markus

[Commander Wallace]

How long will it take to train Ukrainian pilot to fly these A-10 ?
It's not the Russian similar SU25.

Markus


The flight control systems of the A-10 are pretty simple and the A-10 is relatively simple to fly in relation to other supersonic fighter aircraft. The A-10 is a subsonic aircraft and can be utilized as a tactical bomber and close in air support weapon system. Since the Ukrainians had squadrons of the MiG-29 Fulcrum Fighters, flying the A-10 shouldn't be hard as it is a forgiving aircraft. The difficulty may be in understanding and perfecting the low level tactics of the A-10 and the utilization of it's unique weaponry since time is of the essence and not on the side of the Ukrainians . The SU-25 " frogfoot " you mentioned is similar in it's mission profile but they are not the same aircraft.


That makes the US a war party, in Russia's eyes.

If you want a full war between NATO and Russia, and in the consequence a nuclear war, lend those A-10 to Ukraine and say goodbye to Ney York, Washington, Boston, Chicago, L.A., Frisco, Detroit, Houston... Not to mention the metropoles in Europe. Becasue that is what in the long run will happen.

Biden will not do it, so much is certain. And say thankyou to him for not doing it.


I think at this point, we hardly care. If you understand history, in the Vietnam war, North Vietnamese aircraft were being piloted by Soviet pilots and they were fighting American servicemen and aircraft. We know this as Mig-21's were downed which were flown by Soviet pilots. When Russia Invaded Afghanistan, The Afghan freedom fighters were armed with Stinger Anti Aircraft weapons to bring down the Mi-24 Soviet helicopters that were hunting them.


This is hardly a new game or wrinkle.


https://getwallpapers.com/wallpaper/full/9/0/6/337159.jpg

[Skybird]

Aren't we already a part of the war ? We send weapon (system) to the Ukrainian to fight the Russians.

Markus
Yes, but at a level below the Russian'S military reaction treshhold. The A-10s would be somethign they would not just let happen, their damage potential would be way too high as if they would ignore it.

And btw, you do not learn the A-10 just during a weekend course. It wa snot even certain that their Mig pilots knowoing th ekurioanian Migs and Sukhpios would be able to fly the Polish and Slovenian Sukhois and migs that were thight aboiut to deloiver them, since there always are some technical changes and different syetms mounted.

What Selenski really wants, desperately, is that NATO intervenes on Ukraine's behalf and declares war on Russia. But that would mean a world war.

Declaring it a world war we better leave to the man eater in the Kremlin.

[Commander Wallace]

Yes, but at a level below the Russian'S military reaction treshhold. The A-10s would be somethign they would not just let happen, their damage potential would be way too high as if they would ignore it.

And btw, you do not learn the A-10 just during a weekend course. It wa snot even certain that their Mig pilots knowoing th ekurioanian Migs and Sukhpios would be able to fly the Polish and Slovenian Sukhois and migs that were thight aboiut to deloiver them, since there always are some technical changes and different syetms mounted.

What Selenski really wants, desperately, is that NATO intervenes on Ukraine's behalf and declares war on Russia. But that would mean a world war.

Declaring it a world war we better leave to the man eater in the Kremlin.


I believe the Ukrainian pilots are better than you think. I have confidence that if those American pilots that flew the A-10 and have accumulated 1000's of hours " saddle time " teach the Ukrainians, they could be up and running in short order. Such is my confidence in the American Pilots.

[Skybird]

The US then is a n active war party in Putin'S eye. And he will react like he always does: he will escalate.

And that you tolerate Sovjets flying Vietnamese Mig-21 does nto mean the Russian would tolerate it when Us pilots do fly air attacks for the ukrainians. The US also was avoiding to attack supply depots in and around Hanoi, fearing it could kill Chinese personnel.

Biden put it in one sentence and he is right: when Americans and Russians start shooting at each other, thats world war 3.


Maybe we should instead use some A-10s to strafe targets in political Berlin, namely Tante Käthe in the kitchen of the defence ministry. That thing with the Strelas really irks me. Shame! Somebody has to tell the Grandma that her home-made biscuits so far all tasted terrible. First the helmet thing, and now this. Enbarassing, embarassing, Germany.

[mapuc]

Let's stick with what we send today-Defensive weapon (system)

Markus

[Andreas86]

Without top cover by friendly fighters, a sqadron or 3 of A-10s would be a turkey shoot for russian fighter jets. The A-10 is also very slow and would probably struggle if the russians has any decent anti air capability in its convoys. The US was able to utilize the A-10 successfully in Desert Storm against armor, because not only was most of Iraqi IADS and general AA capability completely devastated by endless sorties by F-117s, F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16s, F-18s (to name a few,), the Iraqi air force had fled (what was left), and the skies were completely saturated with F-15Cs, F-16s, F-14s, F-4Gs, and so on, flying top cover. Not counting the rest of the coalitions air power.

Total air superiority. Would it have fared as well against the Soviet Union in the 80s, we will never know. But as you all conclude, we will hardly find out now either.

[Commander Wallace]

Without top cover by friendly fighters, a sqadron or 3 of A-10s would be a turkey shoot for russian fighter jets. The A-10 is also very slow and would probably struggle if the russians has any decent anti air capability in its convoys. The US was able to utilize the A-10 successfully in Desert Storm against armor, because not only was most of Iraqi IADS and general AA capability completely devastated by endless sorties by F-117s, F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16s, F-18s (to name a few,), the Iraqi air force had fled (what was left), and the skies were completely saturated with F-15Cs, F-16s, F-14s, F-4Gs, and so on, flying top cover. Not counting the rest of the coalitions air power.

Total air superiority. Would it have fared as well against the Soviet Union in the 80s, we will never know. But as you all conclude, we will hardly find out now either.


Hardly.

However, I believe that if an attack like that were made, delivery of fragmentation and cluster munitions would be used on the advancing formations long before A-10's arrived to " soften " them up. The planners would certainly understand the Russians would also field anti aircraft batteries and shoulder fired weapons and try to take the necessary precautions for the strike aircraft.

Those fragmentation and cluster munitions are incredibly deadly against " soft targets " and would also have a demoralizing effect on the Russian formations only to have A-10's swoop in and finish the job. It's all in how you use your assets. I'm not an expert but i believe this would have been one possible scenario.


Munitions like those can be delivered through cruise missiles and it's variants. The A-10's would have supporting aircraft including attack helicoptors armed with Aim-9 sidewinders and supporting anti aircraft batteries along with other fighters. The Russians would have their own aircraft as well. Who knows but it would be entertaining.



#1599 (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2796648&postcount=1599)of this thread.

[mapuc]

Am I afraid for what may come ? Well even though I fear that Putin may drop one or two tactical nukes in Ukraine I'm not exactly afraid for what may happen thereafter...maybe it could be because I personally are convinced NATO will not response with same type of weapon.

Even if they should and it develop into a world wide nuclear holocaust I'm still not really afraid.

It may come the day I'm getting the news or I find out in the morning.

I also hope it happens after my birthday.

Markus

[Skybird]

Focus writes about the Ukrainian leader:


Selensky has long since become a hero, but will he survive this war?

This war can also be read as a battle between two men, and the question is how they will get out of it. Both of them - because the question of survival does not only arise for Volodymyr Selenskyj.

The question whether Volodymyr Selenskyj will survive Vladimir Putin's hunt for him can be answered simply: Yes, he can survive. If he wants to. He can call Joe Biden, he can call Emmanuel Macron, he can call Boris Johnson - and maybe he could even call Olaf Scholz.

If he wants to get out of this hell, he can get out of there. But he doesn't want to. The reason is obvious: Selenskyj is no longer the citizen, the popular ex-satirist who went into politics to be elected president in free elections.

The citizen Selenskyj has become the hero Selenskyj, who every day wears a green T-shirt and stands before his people and the world as fearlessly as he is vulnerable, to give courage, to campaign for help, to ask for weapons and to fight for accession to the European Union. In short, history has placed Selenskyj in a place that leaves him only one choice - to make history now.

It is, by the way, may I be forgiven for this know-it-allism, once again the refutation of all materialistic theory, according to which the "conditions", "make" history. According to which the "having" determines the "being".

Not much remains of this whole leftist, essentially Marxist narrative. What remains is the nearly 150-year-old phrase of the Prussian historian Heinrich von Treitschke: "Men make history." That it can also be women is, of course, clear to everyone today. In the current situation, however, it applies either way to Selenskyj's adversary.

The fact that a Marxist system of all things produced a macho man like Putin may be understood as a special punch line. But it was the same with Stalin - to whom Putin refers - and against Lenin, because he gave too much freedom to the "Russian" republics, first and foremost to Ukraine.

Putin can be imagined as a strong man. At least, that's the image he projects to the world. With a naked upper body on a horse, or apparently death-defyingly descending into an icy lake. These images unleashed a tremendous power, not only at home, but also in the West.

Putin still draws on this power today. But the secret service man, like all good secret service men, is an illusionist. The picture he has painted of himself over the years shows not himself, but how he wants to be seen by the world:

As a revenant of Ivan the Terrible or one of the other Russian imperialists who have been walking over corpses for centuries. (The one exception, Mikhail Gorbachev, portrays Putin as a traitor to the people).

In any case, this painted picture prevents a different perception of Putin: what if those biographers are right who paint Putin not as a daredevil, but as a cautious person? From which the existential question arises:

How dangerous is a scaredy-cat on nuclear weapons?

Or as historian Valery Slovoley, for years employed at a Moscow cadre school and dismissed a year and a half ago, put it in the "taz": "He is incredibly afraid of ending up like Gaddafi in Libya or in the dock."

In extreme situations, people need heroic symbols of identification. In England, this was Winston Churchill, perhaps not Hitler's strongest rival, but his fiercest. What Churchill was for Hitler, Selenskyj is now for Putin: a ridiculous figure, an actor. That is how Putin perceives him.

Which also just shows what a bad historian Putin is. The last ex-actor who then made it to statesman is partly responsible for the end of the Soviet empire: US President Ronald Reagan.

Selensky grew into a role that he did not choose: That of the intrepid fighter for good against evil. This may be too black and white for the finicky, but what other conclusion can be drawn from the current situation?

Evil is the unscrupulous, the nefarious, the devious. Putin, the liar. In one sentence: Nothing is good about Putin.

There was nothing good about Stalin either, who subjugated Russia for a quarter of a century, had people murdered in camps, and is responsible for millions of deaths from starvation. And to this day is revered by far too many Russians, Putin leading the way.

In the Eastern West, Russian leaders have long been perceived as Putin is today - from bitter experience. Russian leaders put down the uprising in East Germany (1953), Hungary (1956), and Czechoslovakia (1968).

That is why these countries fled from Russia's threatening grip to the free West the first moment they could. They were united by the lesson that they had better not trust Russian potentates.

This is now Selensky's drive. Western leaders are now learning this lesson, long internalized by the Ukrainian, within days, after years of illusion about what Eastern European historian Karl Schlögel brutally debunkingly calls "Russian kitsch."

Life now holds the following options for Selenskyj: He becomes the hero who stops the Russians. This is the only positive option. Which is opposed by two negative options:

The Russians kill him, which Selenskyj says he expects. Or they force him to sign the surrender. In the first case, at least, Selensky would become a martyr for his people.

The fourth variant: Selenskyj goes into hiding at the last moment and wages a guerrilla war against the Russian occupiers. The history of the struggle of democrats against autocrats also has an example of this.

France's General Charles de Gaulle led the resistance against Hitler and after his downfall became first the president of the French transitional government and then the founder of the Fifth Republic - France as we know it today.

In any case, Selenskyj has already achieved one thing, beyond his personal success, which has since been recognized internationally: In the West, Ukraine is no longer perceived as an appendage of Russia. Instead, it is seen as a country in its own right, with its own history and a brave population.

Selensky has won the war of images. But more than that, as an individual he has managed to positively change the world's perception of his entire country.

A national hero.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[mapuc]

Former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, who knows Putin, have said to a Danish politician, (which I'm friend with)

"Macron must stop calling Putin. It makes no difference and is perceived as appeasement. You get nothing from Putin at the negotiating table. Putin only understands the language of power. And Macron makes fun of himself. ”
I very much agree. Macron's egoism is the West's weakest link.

My opinion
Macron is trying to win at home-There's an election in France soon.

Markus

[fithah4]

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-03-22/h_9c2cb9a142d4fd370e15ee470d36ed4f

“Two days ago, Russian forces said they controlled the territory around the town of Enerhodar, but on Wednesday a large crowd of workers from the power plant and civilians blocked access to the town, building makeshift barricades of trucks and tires. ”

Just reported at 7:50 EST
Fire reported at Nuclear Power Plant at the town of Enerhodar on CCTV from close shelling of the area.

Scorched earth policy unfolding

[Armistead]

News says radiation is leaking from the on fire nuclear plant. Let's hope the wind blows south into Crimea. Got to be terrible for Ukraine in the dead of winter when so much power will be lost.

[Gorpet]

Yes, but at a level below the Russian'S military reaction treshhold. The A-10s would be somethign they would not just let happen, their damage potential would be way too high as if they would ignore it.

And btw, you do not learn the A-10 just during a weekend course. It wa snot even certain that their Mig pilots knowoing th ekurioanian Migs and Sukhpios would be able to fly the Polish and Slovenian Sukhois and migs that were thight aboiut to deloiver them, since there always are some technical changes and different syetms mounted.

What Selenski really wants, desperately, is that NATO intervenes on Ukraine's behalf and declares war on Russia. But that would mean a world war.

Declaring it a world war we better leave to the man eater in the Kremlin.

Well Skybird,America will react after your country is smoking it's in the American plan.You know your country would not get out of another war alive. You let America cover your butt. And that will depend on the politician and party.

[Gorpet]

Yes, but at a level below the Russian'S military reaction treshhold. The A-10s would be somethign they would not just let happen, their damage potential would be way too high as if they would ignore it.

And btw, you do not learn the A-10 just during a weekend course. It wa snot even certain that their Mig pilots knowoing th ekurioanian Migs and Sukhpios would be able to fly the Polish and Slovenian Sukhois and migs that were thight aboiut to deloiver them, since there always are some technical changes and different syetms mounted.

What Selenski really wants, desperately, is that NATO intervenes on Ukraine's behalf and declares war on Russia. But that would mean a world war.

Declaring it a world war we better leave to the man eater in the Kremlin.

What Selenski wants is German Nato boots to back Ukraine as you have a history.Look Joey and the Democrat's promised that country at the right time they could join NATO as long as Hunter was bringing the money back, And Hillary won, holy **** a business man won and now we have Joey and the Democrats stabbing Selenski in the back he's really killing his people, thank you for the millions and you should take our offer and leave it's over.

[Catfish]

The China-founded (located in Beijing) Investment Bank for Infrastructure (AIIB) has suspended all of its engagement in Russia and Belarus.
The management has decided, due to the background of an unfolding war "to stop all activities in Russia and Belarus, and revise them".

Meanwhile Macron calls Putin a liar, in a telephone call asked for by Putin.
(In Putin's narrative Ukraina has always been russian, he wrote some historical piece on this in 2021, which is full of (probably intended) errors and wrong theses. Faint possibility that Putin believes that, but this may just be pre-war disinformation.)

[Skybird]

According to the Times, three plots to assassinate Zelensky have been spoilt due to information provided by the FSB. The Russians have a leak. An anti war fraction in their intel. The Wagner group and Chechnyan slayers are called out as the assaulting force.

The Ukraine sinks its flagship to not let the Russian attackers get their hands on it.

[Catfish]

What Selenski wants is German Nato boots to back Ukraine as you have a history.
After what everyone sees Putin doing everywhere on information sites the world over (sans Russia), I'd totally agree with boots in Ukraine. A shame it will not happen. Something to obliterate the convoys should still be done, from above, or sideways.

When i hear of Putin hiring his "Wagner" mercenary gang to kill Zelensky, or sends in his chechen slayers to subdue any resistance, or him saying and broadcasting that he Putin had no intention to invade Ukraine? All believe him eh?

"The Chechens are part of a Russian national guard unit and are well known for fighting insurgencies, using brutal tactics that even jolted Russia during its two brutal wars in the '90s against them. The Chechens have been employed to hunt down terrorists in Syria and used by Russia to fight elsewhere, including in Georgia. They also fought the Ukrainians in Donbas when hostilities began there in 2014.”
Must be new for some russians, i heard they were there to help lmao.
A few chechens are already dead however, including Kadyrovs "general":
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ukrainian-forces-destroy-convoy-of-56-chechen-tanks-kill-general-near-kyiv-report/
https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-wipes-out-bloodthirsty-chechen-special-forces-sent-to-zelensky-457107

After what the world saw of this invasion even the Azov battallion becomes acceptable.
An extremely prejudiced cruise missile headed in Vladolf's general direction would be a good idea.

B.t.w. with all the blunder "Joey" did a few things right, as long as you do not only believe in conspiracy theories, or Putin. Also Kazakhstan refused to send armies to help Putin against Ukraine, and Georgia even asked for a NATO membership. Georgia! Unbelievable.


re Zelensky he should leave and continue from abroad like Charles deGaulle did. No one but Putin and his hired mercenary "Wagner" state terrorist group thugs want him dead, and it is clear that most of the resistance will collapse with him.
Still his "I need ammo, not a ride" will find its way into the history books, if he leaves or not.

[tmccarthy]

https://youtu.be/_Zypt4gmOX0

The 64km Convoy: Maybe? That's what it looks like, maybe that's what it is.

However, after 8 or so days it took this story to finally compel me to revisit another possibility that should have been at the forefront from day 1...but I was gonna check this war out now that it's real and see what I can figure out. :Kaleun_Binocular:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_military_deception

"Maskirovka" - Russian military deception: a military doctrine developed from the start of the twentieth century. The doctrine covers a broad range of measures for military deception, from camouflage to denial and deception. Deceptive measures include concealment, imitation with decoys and dummies, maneuvers intended to deceive, denial, and disinformation. The 1944 Soviet Military Encyclopedia refers to "means of securing combat operations and the daily activities of forces; a complexity of measures, directed to mislead the enemy regarding the presence and disposition of forces..."[2] Later versions of the doctrine also include strategic, political, and diplomatic means including manipulation of "the facts", situation, and perceptions to affect the media and opinion around the world, so as to achieve or facilitate tactical, strategic, national and international goals

Best known for: The almost complete destruction of Army Group Centre, 500,000+ strong, in just over 2 weeks, summer 1944

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/2560/ZUvFFK.png

[Skybird]

After what everyone sees Putin doing everywhere on information sites the world over (sans Russia), I'd totally agree with boots in Ukraine.


Strip the Russians off their nukes and then count me in, too.



The quesiton is with what would the West want to fight? America first, again? No, thjis is our European mess, and elst face it, European armies right now are in a lousy state, not adequate for sending a huge expeditionary force into the ukraine. Last but not least, its about of numbers of boots.



Our armies in past two decades got transformed into lightly equipped intervention corps to send them into some foreign villages andherding goats and paint schools and repair bridges.



We now rebuold some fo the heav equipment we so carelessly have given up. We also must buod new wepaosn for the new times and the kiond fo wars it will bring. Drones. AI. Cyber. Genetic weapons, even pandemics. Corona is a formdiable dispruptive weapon to shake the enemy's logistical supply chain, isnt it, and it destabilises his nation'S communal integrity. And the target may not even shoot back! :yeah:


Somethign tells me Putin'S days are counted, however. I think they will take him out all by themsleves sooner or later. Not th epeople on the street, but the intel guys, the military, in parts the oloigarchs. He has become an uncalculatable risk to their own intersts, and that was the baddest mistake he could have made.


I hope Lavrov and some others also cut short by a head'S lentgh. We want to see them dead, not endlessly at court or laying int he sun in house arrest in their super-luxurious refugiums.



And Baerbock. Well, the war did her well, so to speak , she could not afford to continue with her stupid babbling about value-driven feminist foreign policy. Some say the unexpectedly clear vote at the UN was due to her speech alone, and her very open, frank words. Lets see what the future brings, for the moment I am willing to stop mocking her and igve it a chance to see how she continues after the war. Possible that then she will fall back into her former stupid patterns. Maybe she proves me wrong and shows that here is a woman that indeed has what it takes to indeed grow with her office and repsnsibility when confronted with reality. We will see. I declare a seize fire. But not yet a peace deal. I still cant stand her, but that does not matter, is just something personal.

[Red Devil]

Last night I watched a recording of Cherobyl - The Lost Tapes. It was 2 hours of film taken by the Soviets at the time of the disaster and the aftermath. The Lies spouted by the Soviets you could not believe. The offical death toll still being spouted by the Russians is 31. THe actual figure is over 2000. Not to mention the abnormal births on animals and humans (images seen).

Today this is so bad that Putin will be believing his own lies. The russians are incapable of speaking fact, everything has to be someone elses fault. His war mongering communist generals are looking for something to do instead of awarding themselves even more medals.

'NATO is being aggressive'. Not so - NATO is a DEFENSIVE Pact and there are totally zero plans to invade the country of lies.

A monetary expert was on GN News this morning. He said 'western leaders' are scared of Putin and that the current monetary restrictions will have ZERO effect on Russia. Like thrown dandelion seeds in the wind, there is no effect on the economy of Russia. He said western leaders are just talk, trying to make it look like they are actually doing something. Its called Bluff. Putin is doing it militarily, China sneaking money into the west, buying up properties, and now own Barbados.

[Skybird]

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports:



CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz no longer rules out direct NATO involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. "The attacks and the way this war is being waged are taking on forms that force us to think," Merz told broadcaster NDR Info on Friday.

"There may be a situation in which NATO will then also have to make decisions to stop Putin," Merz continued. The CDU leader strongly condemned the attack by Russian troops on the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhya. "If something like this were to happen again, if possibly even the reactor blocks were to be hit, then we are directly threatened by the effects of this war."

"That would then be a new level of escalation, in which NATO would then have to think about whether this is not an attack also on its own territory," Merz said. "But thank goodness we are not there yet." However, he said, he assumes that the European Union and NATO staffs are also thinking about this very situation.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Skybird]

Sperbank is still fully operational, so is the Inernaqtion Investement Bank'S involvment with Russia. Only every fourth Russian bank actually is exlcuded from SWIFT.


I wonder also where all the money from the püraised military modenruaztion of the Russian forces went to? Has realyl mthis much moeny gone amiss in cporruption and dark channels as it seems, becasue certainbyl cannot say we see a huge improvmeent in their tatcics, logiostics, combat leadership, communicaiton networks, technical reliability of gera and platforms. So much invetsment wa scliamed to be done, and then we see no huige diference to how they perfomred 30, 40 years ago? That is weired. Comnpeltely unexpected for me, I expected them to perform much more efficient and modern. Possible that the greed and corruption of their leaders and militaries have weakened these reforms to a degree where all te modernisation programs were rendered almost non-efficient.


In germany meanwhile some govenrment politcians still struggle with a realistic assessment of the fallout of this war. The Green economy and climate minister Habeck:


Consumers should save energy so that it will hurt Putin a little bit, says Economics Minister Habeck. That will not be enough. The question is when he will admit that he has to abandon his own plans.

Times of crisis are times of astonishing insights - especially in politics. Old certainties are abandoned more quickly under the impact of war and threats than anyone could have imagined before.

The ban on supplying weapons to war zones is one example. The willingness to better equip the Bundeswehr with 100 billion euros is another.

Today's Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) would have opposed such plans during his time as Federal Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor. Some insight - regrettable as it is - requires a certain urgency. The war that Russian President Vladimir Putin has instigated in Ukraine has led the chancellor to rethink his position.

Robert Habeck (Greens), on the other hand, has not yet reached that point: "If you want to hurt Putin a little bit, then save energy," the German Economics Minister announced on Thursday.

A sentence that sounds as if the minister wants to shift responsibility for his policy area onto consumers. More correct would be the statement as follows: If you want to hurt Putin, then the entire national economy must become independent of Russian natural gas.

This means that the early exit from coal can no longer be maintained - at least not if security of supply has to be guaranteed at the same time.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows us how much our energy supply is dependent on a despot who cannot be trusted. A little saving is not enough; other energy sources are needed.

"Freedom energy" at any price - that is a brute planned economy.

And sure: wind turbines and solar panels are part of it. That's why German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) even pathetically calls them "freedom energies." But they will not be enough to compensate for the renunciation of coal and Russian gas within a relatively short period of time.

Habeck should come to the realization: In the end, coalition agreements are often worth no more than the paper they are written on, as long as crises dictate political events as strongly as they do now.



Die Welt.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Red Devil]

People like Merz spouting off remionds me of the generals in WW1. They sat in comfortable top class hotels in Paris issueing orders to the front after looking at a map. Some did not even leave London. All too familiar.

[Skybird]

But he has a point with those nuclear clouds moving westwards.

[Skybird]

Russia makes it an offence to spread "fake news" and cracks down on Russian broadcaster broadcasting BBC World.

I wonder whether Trump considers to sue Putin for copyright infringement over using "fake news(tm)" as a label.

[sh3rules]

I hope that Ukraine will at least give Putin a black eye.

[mapuc]

It will get a lot worse the next three days says NATO leader Stoltenberg to the press.

When I read this I came to think what some of you have written in this thread-Putin use mass destruction weapons like Thermobaric weapons and God forgive nukes.

Markus

[Catfish]

[...] The 64km Convoy: Maybe? That's what it looks like, maybe that's what it is.
However, after 8 or so days it took this story to finally compel me to revisit another possibility [...] "Maskirovka" -
Possible. But even then, why not obliterate the convoy, i do not think they are made of deceptive rubber material. Some drones would suffice.


re Skybird "©Putin fake news", the new hip brand :03:

[mapuc]

Possible. But even then, why not obliterate the convoy, i do not think they are made of deceptive rubber material. Some drones would suffice.


re Skybird "©Putin fake news", the new hip brand :03:

I've read and heard a lot of different causes to why this huge column of tanks and other military vehicle is not moving.

I myself don't know why..
Doesn't Ukraine have these SU25 ??
Why haven't they tried to attack this column ?
Maybe they have who knows.

Markus

[Armistead]

For those knowledgeable, when or should Ukraine pull its forces to the west? It seems Russia's goal is to split the nation and encircle Kiev. If Putin is able to get the convoy moving up north and troops coming from the south, the danger it seems is a bulk of Ukraine's professional army getting trapped in the east. If they wait too long to leave their dug in positions they will be so exposed if they plan to retreat. If they get caught in a siege in major cities God help the civilians. Seems feasible to get west closer to NATO supply support and leave Kiev.

[mapuc]

Which country is next after Ukraine.

Read a comment on twitter, where this person wrote:

No doubt Putin want the old Soviet back it is therefore he has invaded Ukraine and Moldova will be next...then it will be the Baltic states or is Putin mad enough to invade these three smaller NATO countries ?

I say he will invade or try to invade those countries who aren't a NATO member.

Like Finland-They have an NATO-option if the heat goes op they can become a member directly...but if they are attacked while not being a member...I doubt NATO would agree on Finland becoming a member.
Same with Sweden-Gotland.

Markus