Russia

[badgerx16]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

More European nations are setting up accounts to buy Russian energy in Roubles. The Russian currency is doing rather well, as Zelensky now calls for diplomacy.

Not going well for anyone is it ?

War rarely does.

Zelensky is right - Ukraine cannot "win" as it cannot overrun and conquer Russia. Even returning to the pre-invasion situation means the problems with Donbas and Crimea are unresolved. Russia cannot "win" as it cannot eliminate Ukraine as long as the West props it up, the cost in terms of "Blood and Treasure" of perpetuating the conflict is crippling, and even if Ukraine was somehow suppressed, we would effectively have a European Afghanistan.

 

Edited 21 May, 2022 by badgerx16

[moonraker]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

More European nations are setting up accounts to buy Russian energy in Roubles. The Russian currency is doing rather well, as Zelensky now calls for diplomacy.

not going well for anyone is it.

Let’s wait and see the outcome, I suspect Russia might not be in the same place as it was.  The Rouble is being artificially maintained and with no Russian global consumer industry aka China they have a serious problem.  

[kyle04]

Zalensky :

“The end will be through diplomacy,” he told a Ukrainian television channel. The war “will be bloody, there will be fighting but will only definitively end through diplomacy”.

“There are things that can only be reached at the negotiating table,” he said.” We want everything to return (to as it was before)” but “Russia does not want that”, he said, without elaborating.

Zalensky has looked a lot more stressed in videos lately, the scorched earth policy Russia is employing is taking it's toll it would seem. Russia want to destroy as much of Ukraine as possible, not because of any military strategy bit out of a vindictive rage, even when they are forced to withdraw from a battle zone. As for the Russian gas . the Germans find themselves in a position where they have few options, and their "aid" to Ukraine frankly has been pitiful (15 anti aircraft units - to be delivered in July for example - really?). The cowardly French are living up to all expectations as well, could NATO rely on these bastards to pull their weight if the shit hit the fan?

[badgerx16]

10 hours ago, kyle04 said:

Zalensky :

“The end will be through diplomacy,” he told a Ukrainian television channel. The war “will be bloody, there will be fighting but will only definitively end through diplomacy”.

“There are things that can only be reached at the negotiating table,” he said.” We want everything to return (to as it was before)” but “Russia does not want that”, he said, without elaborating.

Zalensky has looked a lot more stressed in videos lately, the scorched earth policy Russia is employing is taking it's toll it would seem. Russia want to destroy as much of Ukraine as possible, not because of any military strategy bit out of a vindictive rage, even when they are forced to withdraw from a battle zone. As for the Russian gas . the Germans find themselves in a position where they have few options, and their "aid" to Ukraine frankly has been pitiful (15 anti aircraft units - to be delivered in July for example - really?). The cowardly French are living up to all expectations as well, could NATO rely on these bastards to pull their weight if the shit hit the fan?

Germany has sent hundreds of anti-tank weapons, armoured personnel carriers, and plenty of personal body armour. The issue at the start was that constitutionally their hands were tied; the Budestag had to legislate to change the constitution, as Japan has also had to do, before weapons could be sent. They also had a similar ban on German weapons being sent from allied countries, which delayed the Dutch and Czechs sending German manufactured AFVs.

The Ukraine invasion has thrown a curve ball at NATO, it has had to morph from a purely defensive organisation into one that is capable of effectively fighting a proxy war outside it's territory.

Edited 22 May, 2022 by badgerx16

[kyle04]

Fair comment, although countries are sending aid on an individual basis rather than under the NATO umbrella (the current Russian narrative). It seems Ukraine will have to rely mainly on the US for supply of heavy weapons, although the M777's are being sent without the computer aim adjustment systems apparently due to the US risk assessment of some of these being captured, which is fair enough I suppose. Despite many notable battlefield successes for Ukraine this conflict is drifting towards a WW1 type stalemate at the moment. If the Russian losses were only half of what they are so far it would be deemed to be a failure by most western armies, but they keep throwing in more and more men and equipment, and totting up their list of war crimes on a daily basis. All Putin needs is his gas money, which is still flowing in.

[badgerx16]

Lukashenko reckons that the West, particularly Poland, are intending to "dismember" Ukraine and that eventually the Government in Kyiv will be forced to turn to Russia and Belorus for help in resisting this.

Edited 23 May, 2022 by badgerx16

[farawaysaint]

On 22/05/2022 at 10:00, kyle04 said:

Fair comment, although countries are sending aid on an individual basis rather than under the NATO umbrella (the current Russian narrative). It seems Ukraine will have to rely mainly on the US for supply of heavy weapons, although the M777's are being sent without the computer aim adjustment systems apparently due to the US risk assessment of some of these being captured, which is fair enough I suppose. Despite many notable battlefield successes for Ukraine this conflict is drifting towards a WW1 type stalemate at the moment. If the Russian losses were only half of what they are so far it would be deemed to be a failure by most western armies, but they keep throwing in more and more men and equipment, and totting up their list of war crimes on a daily basis. All Putin needs is his gas money, which is still flowing in.

Ukraine actually have the most efficient artillery targeting system in the world apparently.

They are famous for their programmers and one has apparently come up with some Uber (the way the press described it not me) like app that means their targeting is insanely quick. The disadvantage is of course I believe the reason the US have slower targeting is to minimise civilian casualties.

[buctootim]

 

Russia is making some territorial gains atm. This vid of more tanks rolling into Ukraine is depressing - but its also an example of deeply thery are scraping the barrel. Those are T62s, first made in 1961 and obsolete by 1975. 

 

[farawaysaint]

It seems the West is slowly losing its desire to aid Ukraine as expected. With more and more dissenting voices coming out of the US and Europe (particularly with regards to the cost of living crisis). 

Understandable really, not everyone can afford the increase in staple costs so it isn't that surprising even though it is a bit depressing. 

[buctootim]

7 minutes ago, farawaysaint said:

It seems the West is slowly losing its desire to aid Ukraine as expected. With more and more dissenting voices coming out of the US and Europe (particularly with regards to the cost of living crisis). 

Understandable really, not everyone can afford the increase in staple costs so it isn't that surprising even though it is a bit depressing. 

YSadly true. Ukraine is also reporting that much of the aid promised never arrives. 

[AlexLaw76]

25 minutes ago, buctootim said:

YSadly true. Ukraine is also reporting that much of the aid promised never arrives. 

Russia are making more and more gains in vast swathes of the country.

all very predictable 

[badgerx16]

11 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Russia are making more and more gains in vast swathes of the country.

all very predictable 

4 miles in a week.

[badgerx16]

57 minutes ago, buctootim said:

 

Russia is making some territorial gains atm. This vid of more tanks rolling into Ukraine is depressing - but its also an example of deeply thery are scraping the barrel. Those are T62s, first made in 1961 and obsolete by 1975. 

 

The first Soviet tank with a maximum height set for crew members because of the cramped interior. Slow, inaccurate gun, and a cartridge ejection system that tends to miss the discard hatch and throws the shell casings around inside the turret.

[kyle04]

It seems true that Russia are creeping forward in the east, particularly around Severodonetsk which thay are continuing to bombard in their usual fashion, although they are still taking quite heavy losses as they do so. If they do manage to occupy the Donbas, which may yet take many weeks, there probably won't be much left of the towns and villages there. The T62's being called up shows how much equipment they've lost already, I don't see these obsolete units as being that effective, and if Badger is right they'll mostly self destruct anyway -  they'll be raiding their musuems next for some restored T34's!

[buctootim]

I follow this anonymous blog, rumoured to be posted by a former FSB Colonel. Yes I'm well aware it could be anyone but the posts are always plausible and logical . Anyhow an interesting contradiction fto conventional wisdom. Western politicians are afraid of confronting Putin in case of provoking use of nukes. This guy is saying Putin wont use them if he is losing anyway, he will only use them to force a result when he has a chance of victory. 

 

GENERALL SVR, [26/05/2022 07:01]
Dear subscribers and guests of the channel! The decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to simplify the issuance of Russian passports to residents of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine is not spontaneous. This decision was in the plans for at least two months and was transformed and postponed based on the objective situation at the front. Moreover, the plans for the annexation of several regions of Ukraine to Russia for Putin have been resolved, and these plans are constantly discussed at closed meetings in various formats with the participation of the president.

Now the main task that Putin has set for the military bloc is access to the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and, if possible, the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine. When implementing the tasks of reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, it is planned to recognize the independence of the occupied territories of Zaporozhye and Kherson regions with subsequent access to their administrative borders.

After the capture and annexation of these four regions of Ukraine to Russia, Putin plans to start a "peace negotiation process." The "peace process" itself should become a screen for preparing for the annexation of the Kharkov, Nikolaev and Odessa regions of Ukraine, as well as Moldova. After the failure of the "peace talks", the Kremlin plans further aggression in order to seize the above territories AND PARALLELLY A SERIES OF HYBRID OPERATIONS IN EUROPE, with a direct threat of the use of nuclear weapons, which will come directly from the leadership of the Kremlin. To create a split in the European Union and NATO is the fixed idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The beginning of the war showed that the implementation of Putin's plans was failing in the very first days. Not a clear understanding of the actual events and situation, but the promises of the leadership of the military and power blocs, gives Putin confidence that these and other plans will be implemented. I must say that after the failure of the start of the war, Putin has almost completely recovered and, having replaced part of the initial military leadership of the operation, including Gerasimov and Shoigu, who only nominally remain in their posts, he hopes for the success promised by the new leadership. Putin is still confident that he can outplay and win everyone, and he does not care about objective reality. Yes, and so, for a general understanding, the threat of a nuclear strike is the higher, the closer Putin is to the implementation of his plans, when he will be able to put a winning point with this, and vice versa, the closer the failure of his plans, the more unpromising and senseless is the use of nuclear weapons as for Putin himself, and for his entourage, which will play a significant role in the adoption and implementation of this decision. Not to understand this means not to know Putin at all. Let's turn to some Western politicians: sometimes you should trust your intelligence, and not your fears, which are easy to confuse with rationality.

GENERALL SVR, [26/05/2022 08:18]
Dear subscribers and guests of the channel! We know and affirm that yesterday Russian President Vladimir Putin did NOT visit the Mandryk Central Military Clinical Hospital in Moscow and did NOT communicate with Russian servicemen who were injured during a special military operation. We have already said that "canned food" was prepared, an imitation of the movements of the president and the passage of an understudy in front of the public. Putin and the FSO, of course, are master illusionists, but they are still far from the glory of David Copperfield.

   

[kyle04]

That's an interesting read. I think in summary Russia has pushed Ukraine into a position where it simply cannot surrender, things have gone way too far for that. Russia do not have the military strength to control vast parts of the country that they are looking to occupy. While Russia have made incremental gains in the last couple of weeks, their conventional ground forces are still being routinely destroyed (re the T62 tanks being called up), this applies to most of their other armoured vehicles, supply trucks etc. If the author of the above post is right, Putin cannot be given a sniff of "victory", although the nuke threat mentioned would contravene Russia's nuclear doctrine, but when a single mad bastard controls every aspect of a country who knows. If some countries in NATO start wavering now, what good is the organization going to be when Moldova is invaded and Poland/ Baltic states threatened for example.

[Johnny Bognor]

On 25/05/2022 at 10:33, buctootim said:

 

Russia is making some territorial gains atm. This vid of more tanks rolling into Ukraine is depressing - but its also an example of deeply thery are scraping the barrel. Those are T62s, first made in 1961 and obsolete by 1975. 

 

The thing about calling up 1960s T62 tanks could either be a sense of desperation or actually a common sense move. Use the old tanks to maintain occupied territory, so better modern tanks can be moved up to the front lines

If we start seeing T62s on the front line, I'd expect to see the Russian Calvary starting to warm up

[farawaysaint]

14 minutes ago, Johnny Bognor said:

The thing about calling up 1960s T62 tanks could either be a sense of desperation or actually a common sense move. Use the old tanks to maintain occupied territory, so better modern tanks can be moved up to the front lines

If we start seeing T62s on the front line, I'd expect to see the Russian Calvary starting to warm up

Edited 27 May, 2022 by farawaysaint
The US apparently used technicals in Afghanistan proving once again I am an idiot.

[buctootim]

55 minutes ago, Johnny Bognor said:

The thing about calling up 1960s T62 tanks could either be a sense of desperation or actually a common sense move. Use the old tanks to maintain occupied territory, so better modern tanks can be moved up to the front lines

If we start seeing T62s on the front line, I'd expect to see the Russian Calvary starting to warm up

Tbf its not as though their newer tanks are  resistent to modern missiles. To some extent you might as well use the really old ones as they still have a gun and protect crews against bullets etc. It does show Russia is running low on inventory though, and if tanks are geting low what else is also running out....   

Edited 27 May, 2022 by buctootim

[badgerx16]

27 minutes ago, buctootim said:

Tbf its not as though their newer tanks are  resistent to modern missiles. To some extent you might as well use the really old ones as they still have a gun and protect crews against bullets etc. It does show Russia is running low on inventory though, and if tanks are geting low what else is also running out....   

I read somewhere that they were running out of cruise missiles.

On another note, this is an interesting story

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61599932

[Johnny Bognor]

2 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

I read somewhere that they were running out of cruise missiles.

On another note, this is an interesting story

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61599932

Yes I heard that. Something like 70% of their stockpile had been used by 24th April. Roll on a month and there cant be many left

[AlexLaw76]

On 26/05/2022 at 16:01, buctootim said:

I follow this anonymous blog, rumoured to be posted by a former FSB Colonel. Yes I'm well aware it could be anyone but the posts are always plausible and logical . Anyhow an interesting contradiction fto conventional wisdom. Western politicians are afraid of confronting Putin in case of provoking use of nukes. This guy is saying Putin wont use them if he is losing anyway, he will only use them to force a result when he has a chance of victory. 

 

GENERALL SVR, [26/05/2022 07:01]
Dear subscribers and guests of the channel! The decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to simplify the issuance of Russian passports to residents of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine is not spontaneous. This decision was in the plans for at least two months and was transformed and postponed based on the objective situation at the front. Moreover, the plans for the annexation of several regions of Ukraine to Russia for Putin have been resolved, and these plans are constantly discussed at closed meetings in various formats with the participation of the president.

Now the main task that Putin has set for the military bloc is access to the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and, if possible, the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine. When implementing the tasks of reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, it is planned to recognize the independence of the occupied territories of Zaporozhye and Kherson regions with subsequent access to their administrative borders.

After the capture and annexation of these four regions of Ukraine to Russia, Putin plans to start a "peace negotiation process." The "peace process" itself should become a screen for preparing for the annexation of the Kharkov, Nikolaev and Odessa regions of Ukraine, as well as Moldova. After the failure of the "peace talks", the Kremlin plans further aggression in order to seize the above territories AND PARALLELLY A SERIES OF HYBRID OPERATIONS IN EUROPE, with a direct threat of the use of nuclear weapons, which will come directly from the leadership of the Kremlin. To create a split in the European Union and NATO is the fixed idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The beginning of the war showed that the implementation of Putin's plans was failing in the very first days. Not a clear understanding of the actual events and situation, but the promises of the leadership of the military and power blocs, gives Putin confidence that these and other plans will be implemented. I must say that after the failure of the start of the war, Putin has almost completely recovered and, having replaced part of the initial military leadership of the operation, including Gerasimov and Shoigu, who only nominally remain in their posts, he hopes for the success promised by the new leadership. Putin is still confident that he can outplay and win everyone, and he does not care about objective reality. Yes, and so, for a general understanding, the threat of a nuclear strike is the higher, the closer Putin is to the implementation of his plans, when he will be able to put a winning point with this, and vice versa, the closer the failure of his plans, the more unpromising and senseless is the use of nuclear weapons as for Putin himself, and for his entourage, which will play a significant role in the adoption and implementation of this decision. Not to understand this means not to know Putin at all. Let's turn to some Western politicians: sometimes you should trust your intelligence, and not your fears, which are easy to confuse with rationality.

GENERALL SVR, [26/05/2022 08:18]
Dear subscribers and guests of the channel! We know and affirm that yesterday Russian President Vladimir Putin did NOT visit the Mandryk Central Military Clinical Hospital in Moscow and did NOT communicate with Russian servicemen who were injured during a special military operation. We have already said that "canned food" was prepared, an imitation of the movements of the president and the passage of an understudy in front of the public. Putin and the FSO, of course, are master illusionists, but they are still far from the glory of David Copperfield.

   

 

[moonraker]

45 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

 

As the Ukraine is not one of the USAs pseudo colonies, it is not for them to decide.  I am sure, if you were around in 1982, you would have had apoplectic fits when some prominent figures suggested that we give the FI to Argentina.

[farawaysaint]

Worth noting that Kiev’s response was to declare Kissinger an enemy of Ukraine.

https://thepressunited.com/updates/kissinger-added-to-ukraines-list-of-enemies-on-his-99th-birthday/

Worth noting as well that he is the Westerner to have met the most with Putin in his career next to Segal. Any friend of Putin’s is probably best ignored.

[AlexLaw76]

25 minutes ago, moonraker said:

As the Ukraine is not one of the USAs pseudo colonies, it is not for them to decide.  I am sure, if you were around in 1982, you would have had apoplectic fits when some prominent figures suggested that we give the FI to Argentina.

Just pointing out the narrative is shifting.  Russia will soon claim a victory (we will of course claim their defeat).  But ploughing billions into Ukraine to fight wont last for too long.

In the mean time, Sanctions have barely made a scratch, the Rouble is sky-high and Russia have all the energy (and new buyers) in the world, whilst creeping further into Ukraine across multiple fronts.

Fair play to our own country though,  we bloody did our bit (and some) and probably played a significant role in safeguarding the western-half of the country.

[badgerx16]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

...., the Rouble is sky-high .....

https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-economy-is-tankingbut-the-ruble-is-soaring-11653559916

"Sanctions against Russia have pushed its economy into what could be the biggest decline in decades, but the country’s currency has gone the other way."

 

https://www.ft.com/content/22bd612b-c5d9-4f8f-98b8-5f5b69a1da37

"The rouble’s strength not only belies a struggling domestic economy, which is expected to slump into a severe recession this year, but it puts pressure on government finances by lowering the local currency value of dollar-denominated oil and gas revenues, they argue."

Edited 27 May, 2022 by badgerx16

[buctootim]

 

I couldnt stay calm like these guys do....

 

 

[Lighthouse]

5 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-economy-is-tankingbut-the-ruble-is-soaring-11653559916

 

"Sanctions against Russia have pushed its economy into what could be the biggest decline in decades, but the country’s currency has gone the other way."

He’s been told this numerous times but continues to ignore it, insists Russia’s economy is thriving and that had we been involved militarily we’d be sent packing after one weekend.

[badgerx16]

56 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

He’s been told this numerous times but continues to ignore it, insists Russia’s economy is thriving and that had we been involved militarily we’d be sent packing after one weekend.

He is such a good little Putin-bot.

[whelk]

2 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

He is such a good little Putin-bot.

Can anyone post up a Batman prediction that came to light? 

Weird he has such a hard on for Putin and Russia though. Although must respect he doesn’t care how much he comes across as a thick cowardly cunt.  100% collaborator material.

[Baird of the land]

Russia decisively lost the first phase but seems to be clearly winning the Donbas phase. Wonder where it’ll go from there, some serious attempt at negotiation from both sides or Ukraine trying to get back Donbas.

[AlexLaw76]

7 hours ago, whelk said:

Can anyone post up a Batman prediction that came to light? 

Weird he has such a hard on for Putin and Russia though. Although must respect he doesn’t care how much he comes across as a thick cowardly cunt.  100% collaborator material.

Very angry young man.

 

[AlexLaw76]

10 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

He is such a good little Putin-bot.

😂 

if you are not on message, you must be a Putin-bot.

look at the reality, they are destroying/controlling more and more of the country, despite being told they will fail. 

billions $$$ of western aid and bucket loads of kit (albeit not the shiney best kit) ain’t stopping them.  Of course, this is really Russia losing etc. that is what we all need to believe.

 

[AlexLaw76]

11 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

He’s been told this numerous times but continues to ignore it, insists Russia’s economy is thriving and that had we been involved militarily we’d be sent packing after one weekend.

My point is that our Armed services have become so small and hollowed out that over a bad weekend, we would be screwed.

we have what 75 front line tanks ready to go. Less front line fighter A/C, about 7 active major warships (+1 carrier)? About 18k front line troops?
 

anyway, all pointless as we would never have scrap with Russia alone (probably for the reason above)

Edited 28 May, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[Weston Super Saint]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

😂

if you are not on message, you must be a Putin-bot.

look at the reality, they are destroying/controlling more and more of the country, despite being told they will fail. 

billions $$$ of western aid and bucket loads of kit (albeit not the shiney best kit) ain’t stopping them.  Of course, this is really Russia losing etc. that is what we all need to believe.

 

Their stated aim for the 'special military operation' was to take control of Kiev within the first couple of weeks, thus effectively controlling the entire country.

You believed they would achieve that and then roll through Europe and up the Mall before the Jubilee celebrations could begin.

They failed miserably with their previous goal. The current 'victories' are about as blatant examples of pyrrhic victories as you are ever going to witness.  Their econmomy is shot to pieces and their citizens are slowly but surely beginnig to recognise the 'truth'.  If the Chinese don't completely fuck them over, they may have a chance of rebuilding in the next couple of decades.

[AlexLaw76]

15 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Their stated aim for the 'special military operation' was to take control of Kiev within the first couple of weeks, thus effectively controlling the entire country.

You believed they would achieve that and then roll through Europe and up the Mall before the Jubilee celebrations could begin.

They failed miserably with their previous goal. The current 'victories' are about as blatant examples of pyrrhic victories as you are ever going to witness.  Their econmomy is shot to pieces and their citizens are slowly but surely beginnig to recognise the 'truth'.  If the Chinese don't completely fuck them over, they may have a chance of rebuilding in the next couple of decades.

Their stated aim. Where was this published?

a well known and often referenced phrase - No good plan survives first contact

Edited 28 May, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[Weston Super Saint]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Their stated aim. Where was this published?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589

What was Putin's original goal?

The Russian leader's initial aim was to overrun Ukraine and depose its government, ending for good its desire to join the Western defensive alliance Nato

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Weston Super Saint said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589

What was Putin's original goal?

The Russian leader's initial aim was to overrun Ukraine and depose its government, ending for good its desire to join the Western defensive alliance Nato

Righto

[Weston Super Saint]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Righto

Jesus wept.

You asked where it was published. I show you where it was published, you deny it.

Are you MLG?

[AlexLaw76]

14 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Jesus wept.

You asked where it was published. I show you where it was published, you deny it.

Are you MLG?

That was a BBC article.  That is all.  

[badgerx16]

28 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Their stated aim. Where was this published?

a well known and often referenced phrase - No good plan survives first contact

Somewhere earlier on this thread a link was published to an essay written by Putin himself. In it he outlines the reasons why Ukraine is not a country, how it owes everything to Russia, and how history demands that it be reunited with the Motherland. He sees it as the birthplace and cradle of the Russian Orthodox Church and as such holy territory that he has a duty to protect.

Many Western military analysts have studied the first 3 weeks of the war, and even most "armchair generals" have worked out what their initial intent was; drive directly for Kyiv to 'cut the head off the snake", using airborne troops to capture Hostomel airport and use it as a forward supply base and staging post for the motorised forces. They made 3 key mistakes: they set a timetable that ended with the Victory Day celebrations, meaning they had to set off in February, completely forgetting the key lesson of Russian history - the impact of General Winter; they underestimated the Ukrainians, especially Zelensky, and never captured Hostomel - the first objective missed was the first objective; and they overestimated their own abilities- they needed a quick win because logistics has always been the Achilles heel of Russian land forces.

[badgerx16]

2 hours ago, Baird of the land said:

Russia decisively lost the first phase but seems to be clearly winning the Donbas phase.

Stalin said "Quantity has a quality all of it's own". The most effective weapon the Russians have had during and since WW2 has been artillery. What is happening in Donbas is that they have abandoned a "war of movement" for a slow grinding attritional "war of annihilation", an advance across scorched earth. They are liberating Ukraine by blasting everything to atoms, like a petulant child throwing a destructive tantrum because it hasn't got it's way.

[Whitey Grandad]

[Lighthouse]

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-the-russia-media-thinks-britain-is-on-the-verge-of-cannibalism
 

Okay, which of you lot wants to be first? Not whelk, I reckon he’s a bit tough and gristly.

[Weston Super Saint]

4 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

That was a BBC article.  That is all.  

The Conversation

The Economist

There are many, many others that all say the same thing and pretty much everyone in the world understood what Vlad's master plan was, except, it seems, for you.  Maybe because you were too busy shitting yourself about the T62s rolling across our green and pleasant lands 

[badgerx16]

19 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-the-russia-media-thinks-britain-is-on-the-verge-of-cannibalism
 

Okay, which of you lot wants to be first? Not whelk, I reckon he’s a bit tough and gristly.

Too much fat on Boris - maybe save electric by rendering him down for candles.

[badgerx16]

2 snippets for Alexei;

Russia has removed the upper age limit for joining the army, over 40's can now sign up.

 

Ukraine is reported to be advancing in a counter attack to separate Kherson from Zaporizhye.

[Weston Super Saint]

4 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

2 snippets for Alexei;

Russia has removed the upper age limit for joining the army, over 40's can now sign up.

 

Ukraine is reported to be advancing in a counter attack to separate Kherson from Zaporizhye.

Meh.  Unless you've got that in an official memo signed by Vlad the Glorious, he's not going to believe you.

[buctootim]

This is bleak, white hot metal raining on you. Thermite is what they use to weld railway tracks - and supposedly (by nuts) used to cut through the steel beams of buildings during 9/11 

 

 

[Tamesaint]

2 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Meh.  Unless you've got that in an official memo signed by Vlad the Glorious, he's not going to believe you.

,,,, and preferably written on Twitter forwarded by a spotty 14 year old.