"Ukraine attacks Russian Smolensk region: No casualties reported"
This might be a little tougher than Putin thought...
- Thread starter Nole Lou
- Start date
Video of the oil refinery and storage strikes.
Ukraine war: Kyiv tightens pressure on fighting age men abroad
Ukraine is suspending consular services for male citizens aged 18 to 60 abroad as part of a drive to beef up numbers joining the military.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said protecting the rights of Ukrainians was still key but "the main priority is to protect our homeland from destruction" during Russia's full-scale invasion.
Russia has a big advantage in numbers and weapons on the battlefield.
Kyiv recently lowered the age of mobilisation from 27 to 25.
After "inviting" Ukrainian men abroad to return home last December, it seems the government wants to apply more pressure, by denying them potentially vital services overseas.
With the recent passing of the controversial new mobilisation law, Kyiv seems to be past the point of caring about unpopular decisions.
Mr Kuleba wrote on social media that "fair attitudes" would be restored for Ukrainian men of military age both at home and abroad.
He complained that at the moment it appeared that men of conscription age were leaving their country, then expecting to receive services from the state: "It does not work this way. Our country is at war."
It is not yet clear who Ukraine's new consular restrictions will apply to, with many Ukrainian men abroad having legitimate exemptions from fighting such as being disabled or having three or more children.
A letter signed by a senior foreign affairs official suggested documents would only be issued by consulates to Ukrainian men to enable them to return home. Separately, the state passport service said the issue of biometric passports outside Ukraine had been put on hold "due to technical reasons".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a full-scale Russian offensive is expected in the coming weeks after Ukraine's loss of the city of Avdiivka during the winter.
The military said its forces had been involved in 86 combat engagements on Monday alone.
The US Senate is expected to approve a $60.8bn aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday, bringing to an end a six-month delay in financial support. However, Kyiv is in dire need of new manpower to defend a front line that stretches more than 1,000km (620 miles).
Posters have appeared on the streets of Ukrainian cities portraying soldiers urging their compatriots to sign up to defend their country.
But those who want to volunteer for the military did so long ago and are either dead, wounded or exhausted on the front lines.
Instead of focusing on a rotation model, ministers are saying everyone should do their bit, for as long as it takes.
However, the main criticism of Ukraine's new mobilisation law is the lack of a limit on time served, which some argue takes away what little incentive there was for men who did not want to fight anyway.
A combination of this new law, hostile front lines and a recruitment system riddled with corruption claims has compelled men of fighting age to escape the country in their hundreds of thousands.
The UN's refugee agency estimates that more than 6.4 million Ukrainians have fled their country, many of them to countries in the European Union. The EU's statistics agency estimates that 20.6% of the estimated 4.3 million Ukrainians currently living within its borders are men.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Rating group in Ukraine suggested that 62% of Ukrainians were prepared to fight for their country at a time of war, while a third said they were not. It said that was the highest score among European nations.
Ukraine war: Kyiv tightens pressure on fighting age men abroad
Ukraine suspends consular services for men aged 18 to 60 as it aims to boost numbers in the military.
www.bbc.com
Strange captioning but it is supposed to be Russian stuff burning.
"Horlovka Smoking hill. According to the CIA, the Bolshevik air defense system went down after the capitalist J-DAM hit. But this is not exactly."
Better info.
"Horlovka Smoking hill. According to the CIA, the Bolshevik air defense system went down after the capitalist J-DAM hit. But this is not exactly."
Better info.
They will join the invisible French and American forces already there 
IMO this allows other nations to think, if Ukraine isn't taking this situation that seriously, should we? I don't understand it either. Just because you draft some younger men (and women?) doesn't mean you have to draft all or even most of them.
Ever since control of the House was transferred to the GOP aid has been bottled up, and Russian misinformation has become acceptable. The people celebrating yesterday were the ones who lacked the courage to stand up to the loudest, dumbest voices. The point is for over a year Gershkovich (An employee of Rupert Murdoch, which has been rarely mentioned on Fox), has languished in prison on sham charges. Other Americans are being held prisoner on sham charges. As Western supplied weapons were expended the lack of replenishment allowed Russia to recover on the battlefield. That's the point. Valuable time was lost when we all knew who Russia and Putin were in the immortal words of Denny Green.
This.
Apparently it's a political thing. Zelensky would do it but there's huge opposition in their parliament.
They barely could get the conscription age down to 25.
The average age of the Ukrainian soldiers is 43...that's insane. Those guys are getting worn the F out.
Does the Ukrainian bargaining position strengthen, or weaken by year’s end?
Probably depends on who you vote for in the 2024 election...
If Russia's expected offensive this spring/summer is stonewalled I think it's strengthened.
Depends on what happens this summer basically.
Putin certainly has a reputation for trying to kill people that fail to carry out his orders.Stop trying to cheer me up!
Ones that have been paid and where Vlad didn't get the results he paid for.
Gotta figure Moscow Marge might need a taste tester for her lunches.
Clairvoyant?
"28 April 2023: sighted in a station of #Italia another military railway convoy with at least another 20 self-propelled artillery howitzers M109L Oto-Melara (updated version M109A1) 155mm ita headed for"
And a more normal timeline.
"17 April 2023: sighted in the station of #Brno ( #CzechRepublic ) an Italian military railway convoy (probably the one that left Udine on 15 April) with around 20 M109L Oto-Melara 155mm self-propelled artillery howitzers directed to #Ukraine . Recall that #Italy will donate ~ 70."
"28 April 2023: sighted in a station of #Italia another military railway convoy with at least another 20 self-propelled artillery howitzers M109L Oto-Melara (updated version M109A1) 155mm ita headed for"
And a more normal timeline.
"17 April 2023: sighted in the station of #Brno ( #CzechRepublic ) an Italian military railway convoy (probably the one that left Udine on 15 April) with around 20 M109L Oto-Melara 155mm self-propelled artillery howitzers directed to #Ukraine . Recall that #Italy will donate ~ 70."
One source says the US warned Russia against further attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. When Russia ignored the warning, Biden is said to have approved the ATACMS,
Get the F16s up and running to take out missiles and drones before they enter Ukrainian airspace.
Use NATO airpower as needed. Eliminate Russian supply lines from 50-100 miles inside the Russian border, and this thing is over in 3-6 months. Shouldn't be a single rail line operational 100 miles from Ukraine's border.
Just Do It.
Airfield support equipment… I hope that means stuff that is related to F-16 deployment.
@binsfeldcyhawk2 I assume you are familiar with the Paveway system. The dangly thing on the nose is for guidance, right? Why is it all dangly? That doesn’t seem aerodynamic.
That's a seeker head for lack of as better term...it straightens out with the air flow.
I'm as confused as they were-I only noticed the date was ahead of today's date. I didn't even notice the year
Motorcycles in combat will never top this gem.
Honestly not sure how the academy overlooked the editor for an Oscar.
