This might be a little tougher than Putin thought...
- Thread starter Nole Lou
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Can Ukraine face another year of war?
Ukraine is losing the battle on the ground. Many of its soldiers are tired and exhausted after three years of fighting. The question – can the country endure another year of war?
Their forces are still resisting Russian advances in the east. But they're almost surrounded near the town of Kurakhove – scene to some of the most intense fighting in recent weeks.
The Black Pack, a mortar unit, is trying to prevent their encirclement around Kurakhove. The Russian are closing in on three sides.
We meet the team at a safe house, getting a rest from the fighting. They're not your average soldiers. They include a vegan chef, a mechanic, a web developer and an artist. A group of friends with non-conformist views. Some call themselves anarchists. They all volunteered to fight.
Surt, their 31-year-old commander, joined the army soon after Russia's full scale invasion. He tells me at the start he thought the war would last three years. Now, he says, he's mentally preparing himself for another ten years of fighting.
They all know that Donald Trump wants to bring an end to the war. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's president have indicated they're prepared for talks too, but the idea of workable deal seems hard to imagine.
So far, it is just talk about talks.
Surt is not dismissive of Trump's goal.
"He is quite an ambitious person and I think he will try to do it," he says. But he worries about the outcome of any negotiations.
"We are realists, we understand there will be no justice for Ukraine – many will have to swallow the fact that their homes are destroyed by rockets and shells, that their loved ones were killed, and this will be hard."
When I ask him whether he'd prefer to negotiate or to keep on fighting – Surt replies emphatically: "Keep fighting."
It's a view reflected by most of the unit. Serhiy, the vegan chef, believes negotiations would just temporarily freeze the war – "and the conflict will return in a year or two."
He admits the current situation is "not good" for Ukraine. But he too is ready to carry on fighting. Being killed, he says, "is just an occupational hazard."
Davyd, the artist, thinks Trump is worryingly unpredictable. "He could be either very good or very bad for Ukraine," he says.
The unit spends a week on the front and the next resting. But even when they're resting they continue to train, because, they say, it keeps them motivated.
In a freezing field they go through the drills for firing their mortars. The team have recently been joined by Denys, who voluntarily left the safety of his home in Germany.
"I asked myself the question - could I live in a world where Ukraine doesn't exist?" he says. He reluctantly admits it now appears to be losing, but adds: "If you don't try then you will most certainly lose. At least I'll die trying to win instead of just lying down and taking it".
But, unlike the others, Denys says he thinks Ukraine should at least consider a ceasefire. He thinks Ukraine's casualties are higher than those officially admitted – more than 400,000 killed and injured. Mobilising more of the population, he believes, wouldn't solve the problem.
"I just think a lot of the motivated soldiers are either lost or they're pretty damn exhausted – and so for me it's not that we want a ceasefire, but we can't go on for many more years" he says.
Dnipro, Ukraine's third largest city, reflects that sense of war weariness too. It's regularly targeted by Russian missiles and drones. The air-raid sirens wail intermittently, day and night. When they're silent, Ukrainians try to find some sense of normality in these abnormal times – including by going to the theatre.
At an afternoon performance of a humorous play, called The Kaidash Family, there are still reminders of the war – a minute's silence to remember the fallen, followed by Ukraine's national anthem.
But some in the audience admit they're also hoping for a longer-lasting release. Ludmyla tells me "unfortunately there are fewer of us. We're getting some help, but it's not enough - that's why we have to sit down and negotiate."
Kseniia says: "There's no easy answer. A lot of our soldiers have been killed. They fought for something - for our territories. But I want the war to end".
Opinion polls too suggest there's increasing support for negotiations.
Some of the strongest calls for a ceasefire come from those who've been forced to flee the fighting. In a shelter near the theatre, in former student accommodation, a group of four elderly women reminisce about the homes they've left behind.
Eighty-seven-year-old Valentyna says they arrived with nothing, but have been provided with shoes, clothes and food. She says they've been treated well. "It's good to be a guest, but its better to be at home."
Her home is now in Russian-occupied territory. All four women want negotiations for peace. But Mariia, 89, says she doesn't know how either side will be able to "look into the eyes of each other after the sheer hell they've committed".
She adds: "It's already clear no one will win militarily, that is why we need negotiations."
If there are negotiations these women could end up having to sacrifice the most - as Ukraine may have to sacrifice land for peace.
Can Ukraine face another year of war?
Many of its soldiers are tired and exhausted after three years of fighting. The question – can the country endure another year of war?
www.bbc.com
North Korean soldiers kill themselves to avoid capture in Ukraine, U.S. says
Russia is deploying “human waves” of North Korean soldiers, the U.S. said, and one soldier captured by Ukraine died of his injuries. Others died by suicide.
Important stuff but am hoping we will finally send more Abrams and Bradleys. Seeing the huge transport ship posted earlier gives me hope.
"Russia:Ukrainian Army launched a missile attack on Lgov and Kursk regions.- Allegedly:The area where the 810th division of the Russian army was located was hit.North Korean soldiers were present."
Bring forth the Bradley in numbers, Abrams as well, but the Bradley is a game changer.Important stuff but am hoping we will finally send more Abrams and Bradleys. Seeing the huge transport ship posted earlier gives me hope.
It takes out the Orc tanks as well as set positions or moving targets.
When Trump cuts his deal to pull out the rug from underneath Ukraine it would be nice if he got a few wins for Ukraine like Putin surrendering a few war criminals.
I've been reading what I can on the NK units, and it seems like the South Koreans are providing some good intel. They must have some effective ways of getting information out of NK.
North Korean soldiers kill themselves to avoid capture in Ukraine, U.S. says
Russia is deploying “human waves” of North Korean soldiers, the U.S. said, and one soldier captured by Ukraine died of his injuries. Others died by suicide.www.yahoo.com
"Historic success: For the first time, a Ukrainian naval drone destroyed an air target. The Magura V5 hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter near Crimea"
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"Greece will provide Ukraine with 24 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft and anti-missile munitions to help it fend off Russian air attacks.
The missiles are from the Greek naval and airforce stocks and have been deemed of no operational use for the Greek armed forces, according to Greek outlet Kathimerini.
Ukraine could reportedly use the missiles from the Soviet-era Buk air defense systems, which have been modified to fire the missile under the Pentagon’s FrankenSAM program.
The munition could reportedly also be modified to be fitted with attack drones.
The 40-year-old missiles are part of a broader defense package for Ukraine, including artillery shells, weaponry, and ammunition, Kathimerini added.
The reported decision comes amid repeated requests for more sophisticated air defense platforms for Ukraine, such as the S-300 and the Patriot.
Athens has declined the requests, citing security concerns and the lack of a similar replacement.
The ship-borne missile is primarily employed for point-defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles and can also be used from ground-based launchers.
The short-range missile has a range of 19 kilometers (12 miles) and carries a 90-pound (41-kilogram) blast fragmentation warhead.
Ukraine received the first batch of Sea Sparrows from the US in January 2023. Belgium sent a batch of eight missiles to Ukraine last year."
thedefensepost.com
The missiles are from the Greek naval and airforce stocks and have been deemed of no operational use for the Greek armed forces, according to Greek outlet Kathimerini.
Ukraine could reportedly use the missiles from the Soviet-era Buk air defense systems, which have been modified to fire the missile under the Pentagon’s FrankenSAM program.
The munition could reportedly also be modified to be fitted with attack drones.
The 40-year-old missiles are part of a broader defense package for Ukraine, including artillery shells, weaponry, and ammunition, Kathimerini added.
The reported decision comes amid repeated requests for more sophisticated air defense platforms for Ukraine, such as the S-300 and the Patriot.
Athens has declined the requests, citing security concerns and the lack of a similar replacement.
The ship-borne missile is primarily employed for point-defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles and can also be used from ground-based launchers.
The short-range missile has a range of 19 kilometers (12 miles) and carries a 90-pound (41-kilogram) blast fragmentation warhead.
Ukraine received the first batch of Sea Sparrows from the US in January 2023. Belgium sent a batch of eight missiles to Ukraine last year."
Ukraine to Receive 24 Sea Sparrow Missiles From Greece
Greece will provide Ukraine with 24 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft and anti-missile munitions to help it fend off Russian air attacks.
thedefensepost.com
VOA Russian: Kremlin could force Belarus to enter war in Ukraine or lose independence
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally, Alexander Lukashenko, prepares to stage another presidential election in Belarus in January, the country continues to face a serious threat of being dragged by the Kremlin into full participation in the war in Ukraine or even losing independence.
VOA Russian spoke to U.S. experts who painted a dim picture for Belarus for 2025, where Russia is continuing with a de facto annexation of Belarus, bringing the two authoritarian regimes ever closer together, while Lukashenko is risking his country's independence just to keep himself in power.
VOA Russian: Kremlin could force Belarus to enter war in Ukraine or lose independence
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally, Alexander Lukashenko, prepares to stage another presidential election in Belarus in January, the country continues to face a serious threat of being dragged by the Kremlin into full participation in the war in Ukraine or even losing independence. VOA...
www.voanews.com
Very good battle map of Russian positions with updates live. Does not give Ukrainian positions, but does report gains/losses etc.
deepstatemap.live
DeepStateMAP | Map of the war in Ukraine
News of russia's war against Ukraine on the map
Fingers crossed. Belarus will come apart like a cheap suit if Putin drags them into the war, and he will have to expend more resources propping up Lukashenko. And, that attempt will fail.VOA Russian: Kremlin could force Belarus to enter war in Ukraine or lose independence
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally, Alexander Lukashenko, prepares to stage another presidential election in Belarus in January, the country continues to face a serious threat of being dragged by the Kremlin into full participation in the war in Ukraine or even losing independence.
VOA Russian spoke to U.S. experts who painted a dim picture for Belarus for 2025, where Russia is continuing with a de facto annexation of Belarus, bringing the two authoritarian regimes ever closer together, while Lukashenko is risking his country's independence just to keep himself in power.
VOA Russian: Kremlin could force Belarus to enter war in Ukraine or lose independence
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally, Alexander Lukashenko, prepares to stage another presidential election in Belarus in January, the country continues to face a serious threat of being dragged by the Kremlin into full participation in the war in Ukraine or even losing independence. VOA...
True. I don’t think another couple hundred miles of border to defend would be optimal for the Ukrainians though.
Isn't that title an oxymoron? 🤣VOA Russian: Kremlin could force Belarus to enter war in Ukraine or lose independence
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally, Alexander Lukashenko, prepares to stage another presidential election in Belarus in January, the country continues to face a serious threat of being dragged by the Kremlin into full participation in the war in Ukraine or even losing independence.
VOA Russian spoke to U.S. experts who painted a dim picture for Belarus for 2025, where Russia is continuing with a de facto annexation of Belarus, bringing the two authoritarian regimes ever closer together, while Lukashenko is risking his country's independence just to keep himself in power.
VOA Russian: Kremlin could force Belarus to enter war in Ukraine or lose independence
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally, Alexander Lukashenko, prepares to stage another presidential election in Belarus in January, the country continues to face a serious threat of being dragged by the Kremlin into full participation in the war in Ukraine or even losing independence. VOA...
The Belarusian army will sit it out. Keep in mind Putin had to send in his own soldiers a few years ago to keep Lukashenko from falling. There is no will in Belarus to invade Ukraine, Lukashenko will fall from power within days if he gets directly involved.
Totally agree but anything that takes Ukrainian troops away from the main front isn’t good. They’re already stretched.
Poland will take care of Belarus; it'll come apart like a cheap suit
