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

[lucas80]

Attempting to create a food crisis, Russia went after grain export facilities at Odessa overnight. It appears the damage was minimal.

Russia targets key Ukraine Black Sea port of Odesa, a day after halting grain export deal

Ukrainian forces have shot down 25 exploding drones and six cruise missiles during a pre-dawn Russian attack on the port of Odesa.

apnews.com

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

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Ukraine goes through 143K 155mm shells a month fwiw

This contract produces 24k a month

US to Sextuple 155mm Production, Improve Arms Factories

Some $1.45 billion will be spent to better produce artillery rounds, over a million of which have been sent to Ukraine.

www.defenseone.com

 

[h-hawk]

The Zuni 5-inch Folding-Fin Aircraft Rocket, or simply Zuni, is a 5.0 in unguided rocket developed by the Hunter-Douglas Division of Bridgeport Brass Company and deployed by the United States armed forces, and the French Air Force. The rocket was developed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. Wikipedia
Diameter: 5 inches (127 mm)
Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
Mass: 79.5 pounds (36.1 kg) (motor only)
Maximum speed: 1,615 miles per hour (2,599 km/h)
Operational range: 5 miles (8.0 km)
Produced: 1957–present

 

[Hawkfan_08]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/17/business/russia-danone-carlsberg-control/index.html

 

[Tenacious E]

Russians appalled at suggested routes out of Crimea

After an apparent Ukrainian attack took out the Crimean Bridge out of commission on July 17, Russian civilians are stunned by the government advice they are getting on how to best leave the occupied peninsula for Russia proper.

www.yahoo.com

Stupid Russians vacationing in Crimea. I hope their exodus via the land bridge clogs up Russia's logistics and capability to wage war.

 

[Rifler]

Russians appalled at suggested routes out of Crimea

After an apparent Ukrainian attack took out the Crimean Bridge out of commission on July 17, Russian civilians are stunned by the government advice they are getting on how to best leave the occupied peninsula for Russia proper.

www.yahoo.com

Stupid Russians vacationing in Crimea. I hope their exodus via the land bridge clogs up Russia's logistics and capability to wage war.

Not sure why that bridge is even still somewhat intact...

 

[Tenacious E]

Ukrainian Bradley IFV obliterates two Russian T-72 tanks in single battle

Ukrainian troops, using an American infantry fighting vehicle M2 Bradley, effectively neutralized two Russian T-72 tanks during an intense battle on July 18.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Tenacious E]

Not sure why that bridge is even still somewhat intact...

Russia is doing everything in their power to protect it, so I imagine they have to pick their spots carefully in attempting to take it out...

 

[h-hawk]

Not sure why that bridge is even still somewhat intact...

Read where the civilian traffic on the bridge now is hindering Russian military movement (though they also have the rail lines) . So I wonder if the Russian suggestion to drive back to Russia through Ukraine is an attempt to do the same to Ukraine

 

[h-hawk]

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Ukrainian helicopter crew say women flash them as they fly overhead to boost their morale fighting Russia

A Ukrainian pilot told The Sunday Times they have saved the GPS locations of places where patriotic Ukrainian women have flashed them.

www.businessinsider.com

Alright pervs, don't go volunteering to fly choppers for Ukraine all at once...

 

[lucas80]

Not sure why that bridge is even still somewhat intact...

Not being snarky, but have you ever closely looked at a major bridge? They are built pretty sturdy. It clearly isn't in pristine condition anymore, but things made of concrete and steal can take a few shots.
The other answer is the West didn't supply appropriate weapons fast enough. The first big attack was with a truck bomb. Only now are munitions capable of damaging the bridge coming on line. And, as mentioned, Russia is protecting it as best as they can with air defenses and radar countermeasures.

 

[lucas80]

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I think they fired about 1000 rounds, and the engine was still running. Give a little credit to Russian engineering, I suppose.

 

[lucas80]

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The Zuni 5-inch Folding-Fin Aircraft Rocket, or simply Zuni, is a 5.0 in unguided rocket developed by the Hunter-Douglas Division of Bridgeport Brass Company and deployed by the United States armed forces, and the French Air Force. The rocket was developed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. Wikipedia
Diameter: 5 inches (127 mm)
Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
Mass: 79.5 pounds (36.1 kg) (motor only)
Maximum speed: 1,615 miles per hour (2,599 km/h)
Operational range: 5 miles (8.0 km)
Produced: 1957–present

I hope some of you actually watched the video. The skill of the pilot is amazing. I have no doubt the Ukrainians will be able to train on F-16s and utilize them when I see skill like that.

 

[lucas80]

Ukrainian Bradley IFV obliterates two Russian T-72 tanks in single battle

Ukrainian troops, using an American infantry fighting vehicle M2 Bradley, effectively neutralized two Russian T-72 tanks during an intense battle on July 18.

www.yahoo.com

Solid PR work by the Ukrainians letting the folks back home know our stuff is working.

 

[Rifler]

Not being snarky, but have you ever closely looked at a major bridge? They are built pretty sturdy. It clearly isn't in pristine condition anymore, but things made of concrete and steal can take a few shots.
The other answer is the West didn't supply appropriate weapons fast enough. The first big attack was with a truck bomb. Only now are munitions capable of damaging the bridge coming on line. And, as mentioned, Russia is protecting it as best as they can with air defenses and radar countermeasures.

Yes, I'm quite familiar with the structural aspects of bridge construction,.. Thing that surprises me about this is that, similar to the NordStream 2 pipeline, this bridge is a very long linear structural element, meaning that it's vulnerable along it's full length,.. Damage it once badly, anywhere along it's length and it's out of commission,.. Damage it on a regular basis, but only moderately, and it's in an unusable constant state of repair,.. It's a very public representation of Russian control in the region, I'd phuck with this bridge non-stop...

 

[GOHOX69]

I hope some of you actually watched the video. The skill of the pilot is amazing. I have no doubt the Ukrainians will be able to train on F-16s and utilize them when I see skill like that.

The skill is wonderful but the ammo is vietnam vintage and woefully inaccurate. They need better, more directed ammo. Even dumb bombs would have higher accuracy (and killing power).

 

[mnole03]

 

[Joes Place]

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IOC:

 

[Hawkfan_08]

IOC:

Per usual.

 

[Tenacious E]

I find this almost impossible to believe but seems like legit source.

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This makes it seem like no biggie

Russia’s deployment of 100,000 troops in Lyman-Kupyansk is not a threat, says senior officer

Russia’s deployment of more than 100,000 troops in the Lyman-Kupyansk area is not a threat to the Ukrainian military, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Radio Svoboda on July 18

www.yahoo.com

 

[MitchLL]

Read where the civilian traffic on the bridge now is hindering Russian military movement (though they also have the rail lines) . So I wonder if the Russian suggestion to drive back to Russia through Ukraine is an attempt to do the same to Ukraine

Wonder what Crimean residents being urged to use a bridge under unannounced, periodic bombing think about that suggestion?

Igor says to Vlad..."Fvck no"!

 

[h-hawk]

This makes it seem like no biggie

Russia’s deployment of 100,000 troops in Lyman-Kupyansk is not a threat, says senior officer

Russia’s deployment of more than 100,000 troops in the Lyman-Kupyansk area is not a threat to the Ukrainian military, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Radio Svoboda on July 18

www.yahoo.com

Thanks for finding this. I was worried that Russia could suddenly field this many men and tanks while defending against Ukraine's offensive. Whew!
(And it was pointed out earlier that these would not all be combat troops.)

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

Fingers crossed.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[h-hawk]

SIAP

 

[lucas80]

Yes, I'm quite familiar with the structural aspects of bridge construction,.. Thing that surprises me about this is that, similar to the NordStream 2 pipeline, this bridge is a very long linear structural element, meaning that it's vulnerable along it's full length,.. Damage it once badly, anywhere along it's length and it's out of commission,.. Damage it on a regular basis, but only moderately, and it's in an unusable constant state of repair,.. It's a very public representation of Russian control in the region, I'd phuck with this bridge non-stop...

Again, what have the Ukrainians had available to them to hit the bridge? They simply do not have long range weaponry. To bring down a concrete and steel structure requires a big warhead. They don't really have them. A mission by some of their pilots would have been a suicide mission, and at best that would have been to try and deliver a dumb bomb. There has been some reporting about how the Russians have utilized all kinds of countermeasures in the area, and to get at the bridge you have to pass over 100+ miles of Russian controlled territory.
I give the Ukrainians a lot of credit for hitting it twice. They've bided their time, and planned well.

 

[WadeLookingbill]

Hey Russia/Putin, it's pretty simple at this point:

 

[lucas80]

This makes it seem like no biggie

Russia’s deployment of 100,000 troops in Lyman-Kupyansk is not a threat, says senior officer

Russia’s deployment of more than 100,000 troops in the Lyman-Kupyansk area is not a threat to the Ukrainian military, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Radio Svoboda on July 18

www.yahoo.com

100,000 poorly fed soldiers armed with WW2 era rifles, and backed by T-54 tanks isn't a credible threat. At least the Chinese in Korea, and the Japanese in WW2 knew how to put on a decent human wave attack.

 

[Joes Place]

This makes it seem like no biggie

Russia’s deployment of 100,000 troops in Lyman-Kupyansk is not a threat, says senior officer

Russia’s deployment of more than 100,000 troops in the Lyman-Kupyansk area is not a threat to the Ukrainian military, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Radio Svoboda on July 18

www.yahoo.com

 

[mnole03]

Wonder what Crimean residents being urged to use a bridge under unannounced, periodic bombing think about that suggestion?

Igor says to Vlad..."Fvck no"!

They’re not. They’re advised to drive through a war-zone in occupied Ukraine. The “travel tips” are hilarious: It’s perfectly safe, but insurance won’t cover you.

 

[h-hawk]

 

[lucas80]

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@RecepErdogan

 

[lucas80]

The President and First Lady of South Korea visited Kyiv today. South Korea has a long standing policy that prohibits them from sending weapons to a combatant, but they appear to be ramping up humanitarian and non lethal military aid. They have also done a bit of a work around by sending the US 155 mm shells to replace ones we've sent to Ukraine. Which means we probably just acted as a middleman and sent them on to Ukraine.
https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-f374233eb81618298720c35083ac8e81

 

[mnole03]

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I get why Trump likes Russia. These are all ideas he’d have, like painting F-22s with the Chinese flag. Or launching missiles at Mexico and blaming someone else.

Trump's Wild Scheme: 'Bomb the Shit out of Russia' With U.S. F-22s Disguised as Chinese Planes

Trump told Republican donors that he wants to send American F-22 fighter jets painted with China's flag to bomb Russia.

www.rollingstone.com

“No One Would Know It Was Us”: Trump Thought He Could Fire Missiles Into Mexico and Blame It on Another Country

According to former defense secretary Mark Esper, Trump insisted such an operation could be done “quietly” and no one would be the wiser.

www.vanityfair.com

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[iavagabond]

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There is just something wrong with Russians.

 

[h-hawk]

And more on that drone attack. I can't believe Russia had anywhere near the success they claimed against such a large number of drones. At least I hope not!