This might be a little tougher than Putin thought...

[h-hawk]

This is a new story. Bad news is that this batch of the modern version will not arrive until next year.



"COPENHAGEN, April 20 (Reuters) - Denmark and the Netherlands will jointly donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the two countries said on Thursday.

The Leopard 2A4 tanks, which will be bought from a third party and refurbished, are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024, they said in a joint statement.

"It is absolutely crucial for the hope of a peaceful and secure Europe that we do not let the Ukrainians fight the battle alone," Denmark's acting Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

In February, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands also announced they will pool resources to restore at least 100 old Leopard 1 tanks from industry stocks and supply them to Ukraine this year and next."

 

[h-hawk]

About the 50 second mark, the vehicle appears to blow a smoke ring-very talented!

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

 

[SA_Hawk]

US urges NATO vigilance for signs Russia could use nuclear weapon in Ukraine​

WASHINGTON, April 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. and its NATO allies must remain alert for signs Russian President Vladimir Putin could use a tactical nuclear weapon in a "managed" escalation of his war in Ukraine, the second-highest U.S. diplomat said on Tuesday.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman issued the warning during the opening session of an annual NATO arms control conference that was being held in North America for the first time since its inception in 2004.

"We have all watched and worried that Vladimir Putin would use what he considers a non-strategic tactical nuclear weapon or use some demonstration effect to escalate, but in an managed risk escalation," Sherman said. "It is very critical to remain watchful of this."

Putin's March 25 announcement that Russia is preparing to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus "is his effort to use this threat in a managed way," Sherman said.

Tactical nuclear weapons are designed for battlefield gains or for use against limited military targets.

US urges NATO vigilance for signs Russia could use nuclear weapon in Ukraine

The U.S. and its NATO allies must remain alert for signs Russian President Vladimir Putin could use a tactical nuclear weapon in a "managed" escalation of his war in Ukraine, the second-highest U.S. diplomat said on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com

 

[Tenacious E]

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

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Here's the thing I sometimes think about on this subject.

We've basically lived for the last 70 years with this "Nuclear Armageddon" threat. In the cold war we took it very seriously...Nuclear drills at schools etc...

Now it's just in the background...a very vague threat.

Here we are with a despot running a corrupt government in Russia sitting on top of enough nukes to basically annihilate humanity...China expanding their Nuclear capabilities exponentially...we're starting to upgrade our Nuclear arsenal...Iran very close to obtaining Nukes...crazy lil Kim with Nukes...

I'd say the threat of stumbling into annihilating the world with Nukes is probably greater now than during the cold war. Yet it's basically a non issue....

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

​

​

Biden’s ‘escalation’ paralysis on winning the Ukraine war​

Escalation paralysis continues to inhibit the Biden administration’s willingness to squarely get behind Ukraine and help it to win the war against Russia. It is as though the Pentagon’s Russian military capabilities intelligence assessment has not changed since Feb. 24, 2022, despite 14 months of devastating Russian setbacks on the battlefield, including substantial losses in personnel and equipment, dismal battlefield performances, and most significantly, loss of experience. Inexplicably, the Kremlin’s conventional military, in the eyes of Washington, is still the towering Cold War bogeyman that must be contained but not dared to be defeated.

One possible explanation for not green-lighting Ukraine to win would be concern for a post-Vladimir Putin Russia — the likelihood that a civil war potentially could tear the Russian Federation apart and destabilize global markets, as competing factions fight to secure Russian natural resources and their nuclear arsenal.

Biden’s ‘escalation’ paralysis on winning the Ukraine war

Escalation paralysis continues to inhibit the Biden administration’s willingness to squarely get behind Ukraine and help it to win the war against Russia. It is as though the Pentagon’s Russian mil…

thehill.com

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

Amazing coincidence it was recorded from both viewpoints....

 

[Joes Place]

"The Kirovsky Plant/ #Кировскийзавод engineering and metallurgical plant in St. Petersburg, one of the largest in Russia, is on fire."

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NOW hit that bridge again.

Good luck getting the steel to fix it again, Ivan.

 

[noleclone2]

Here's the thing I sometimes think about on this subject.

We've basically lived for the last 70 years with this "Nuclear Armageddon" threat. In the cold war we took it very seriously...Nuclear drills at schools etc...

Now it's just in the background...a very vague threat.

Here we are with a despot running a corrupt government in Russia sitting on top of enough nukes to basically annihilate humanity...China expanding their Nuclear capabilities exponentially...we're starting to upgrade our Nuclear arsenal...Iran very close to obtaining Nukes...crazy lil Kim with Nukes...

I'd say the threat of stumbling into annihilating the world with Nukes is probably greater now than during the cold war. Yet it's basically a non issue....

The doomsday clock is very high. And for the record since the beginning I have been most worried about Russia using nukes on Ukraine when it becomes clear the war is going to be lost. A sort of "if I can't have it, nobody else will" move of a petulant child like Putin I have a feeling large part of China's visit was a behind the scenes, "don't do that or we will have to walk away from you"

 

[lucas80]

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Sink it.

 

[lucas80]

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Port and harbor security. Nice.
We've done so much, but, either the US, or another country needs to start supplying longer range rockets. HIMARs are fantastic, but we need to give the Ukrainians weapons that can 100-150 miles behind the lines.

 

[Tenacious E]

The doomsday clock is very high. And for the record since the beginning I have been most worried about Russia using nukes on Ukraine when it becomes clear the war is going to be lost. A sort of "if I can't have it, nobody else will" move of a petulant child like Putin I have a feeling large part of China's visit was a behind the scenes, "don't do that or we will have to walk away from you"

Frankly, I think the nuke risk was higher during the late fall when Ukraine was routing Russia in the counteroffensive. Now that things have settled into more of a stalemate situation, I don't think Russia would use nukes unless Ukraine once again starts routing them.

 

[noleclone2]

Frankly, I think the nuke risk was higher during the late fall when Ukraine was routing Russia in the counteroffensive. Now that things have settled into more of a stalemate situation, I don't think Russia would use nukes unless Ukraine once again starts routing them.

I agree but I think at that point Putler still did not think losing was possible. They did not take back all that much territory. The moment where true losing of the territory and Ukraine begins is what I am worried about. Lot of chatter and confidence from Ukraine and apprehension from Russia about what is going to happen. The confidence expressed by some very high ups in Ukraine’s military to me suggest behind the scenes they are privy to some info we are not. I think it is combination of just how depleted the Russians are and more importantly, there is a ton of behind scenes work going coordinating some big surrenders along front.

If that happens, you are going to see an historic collapse and video coming out that looks like France being liberated. And that will be the moment Putin lashes out.

 

[h-hawk]

Frankly, I think the nuke risk was higher during the late fall when Ukraine was routing Russia in the counteroffensive. Now that things have settled into more of a stalemate situation, I don't think Russia would use nukes unless Ukraine once again starts routing them.

You mean as in the next several weeks (I'm still drinking the kool-aid.)

 

[h-hawk]

FWIW
"Interesting.... To the east of the Kuzmyne settlement in the Kreminna Forest, the Armed Forces have liberated a considerable amount of land...."

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

The doomsday clock is very high. And for the record since the beginning I have been most worried about Russia using nukes on Ukraine when it becomes clear the war is going to be lost. A sort of "if I can't have it, nobody else will" move of a petulant child like Putin I have a feeling large part of China's visit was a behind the scenes, "don't do that or we will have to walk away from you"

Agree...

If the Russians seriously start getting their asses whooped and the Ukrainian Offensive turns into a rout that's the time to worry about tactical nukes being brought out. Hopefully Putin doesn't go batshit crazy in that scenario...

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

From thread-

 

[h-hawk]

This better be spectacular

 

[h-hawk]

 

[MitchLL]

I know it's really kind of morbid, but I love watching orcs getting killed on those vids.

 

[TC Nole OX]

Thread

 

[tarheelbybirth]

If the Russians seriously start getting their asses whooped and the Ukrainian Offensive turns into a rout that's the time to worry about tactical nukes being brought out. Hopefully Putin doesn't go batshit crazy in that scenario...

Putin IS batshit crazy. The bigger question is whether his lackeys are as crazy as he is.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Putin IS batshit crazy. The bigger question is whether his lackeys are as crazy as he is.

Yep...rather not have to rely on cooler Russian heads down the chain of command to step up and stop this scenario.

It all depends on Putin's state of mind....does he see the repercussions of using tactical nukes as unacceptable or does see a total rout of his army as the worse scenario.

Lets just hope it doesn't happen because the repercussions of the Nuclear genie getting out of the bottle would go far beyond this war.

 

[Tenacious E]

Yep...rather not have to rely on cooler Russian heads down the chain of command to step up and stop this scenario.

It all depends on Putin's state of mind....does he see the repercussions of using tactical nukes as unacceptable or does see a total rout of his army as the worse scenario.

Lets just hope it doesn't happen because the repercussions of the Nuclear genie getting out of the bottle would go far beyond this war.

This whole situation is insane. It was a land grab, and I guess children grab, by Russia. Shit went sideways. Instead of licking wounds, there is a possibility of Russia ending the world as we know it.

 

[h-hawk]

Be a real man, die for Putin!

 

[h-hawk]

Looks like good guys (no translation).

 

[h-hawk]

I know it's really kind of morbid, but I love watching orcs getting killed on those vids.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

Looks like good guys (no translation).

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Great job by the 1st Battalion of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. A Russian BMP is shot with a #ATGM while unloading infantry

 

[h-hawk]

1,000,000 shells-hope they get there in time.

Edit -from March 23rd - AP News
"European Union leaders endorsed a plan Thursday for sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition within the next 12 months to help the country counter Russia’s invasion forces.

EU foreign and defense ministers approved the plan for a fast-track purchasing procedure earlier this week, and the leaders of the bloc’s 27 member nations gave it their political blessing at a summit in Brussels Thursday.

“Taking into account the security and defense interests of all member states, the European Council welcomes the agreement ... to deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine and, if requested, missiles,” the meeting’s conclusions on Ukraine read.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked leaders for the initiative earlier during a video call.

Zelenskyy, who spoke from a moving train as he visited front-line areas, said: “Not only months and weeks, but also days are important. The faster we act together, the more lives we save.” according to video posted on the presidential website."

 

[h-hawk]

Posting in case there is some truth to it.



'BREAKING Russians report that Ukrainians have crossed the Dnipro River near Nova Kakhovka and have managed to establish supply lines"