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

[bhawk24bob]

When this thing started, we were all concerned about why Russia would seize Chernobyl. Were they trying to make a dirty bomb? Release radiation on Ukrainians?

No, they were just stupid. Why even think you can defeat an enemy when your own troops are stealing radioactive materials and digging trenches in a radioactively-toxic forest?

 

[TC Nole OX]

Ukr attacking in Russia? If true, good for them.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Ukr attacking in Russia? If true, good for them.

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f you Russian oil paddleboat

 

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[noleclone2]

 

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Retired Major General, Australia

 

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"Andriy Yermak noted that today Ukraine is not only defending itself from Russian aggression - it is defending the entire European world. So Europe must help. He said this in an interview with journalists from international publications - The New Yorker, Bild and Le Monde."

 

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[Tenacious E]

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At first blush, one might think big deal, 17,700 versus 17,500. But that’s 200 per day, and war doesn’t have a weekend, so that 1,400 a week and about 6,000 a month, and 72,000 for a year. Quite a staggering rate of loss.

 

[eightno2002]

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just the announcement that the west will provide the necessary weapons would probably help the Russians in their decision making process.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[noleclone2]

At first blush, one might think big deal, 17,700 versus 17,500. But that’s 200 per day, and war doesn’t have a weekend, so that 1,400 a week and about 6,000 a month, and 72,000 for a year. Quite a stagger rate of loss.

Yep. That would surpass our total combat death toll from the last 60 years for context! A type of pain and Putin can’t hide and likely already is not hiding. Yet all signs point ahead for Putin to stubbornly refuse to change his tactic, partially perhaps because he does not know he has lost so so so much and is at a point he may break his entire army, which everyone now knows, is not near the size as projected. For example, I have read speculation their claims of 13-14k tanks have been widely dismissed and folks are thinking they may have as few as 2500-4000 maintained and operable tanks. So when you read numbers as high as 600 and counting dead or captured tanks in Ukraine, it may be over 20 percent of their entire tank force already lost.

 

[noleclone2]

Ukr attacking in Russia? If true, good for them.

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The most surprising thing in all of this is lack of air supremacy Russia has. I would have thought this would have started like our first desert storm over 30 years ago with weeks of attacks on military infrastructure to soften overall military and obtain total air supremacy. Not getting a lot of attention but the 140 downed planes 130 downed helicopters and now possible air attacks into Russia 40 days into war is simply amazing. We all know about the woefullness of the infantry and tanks battalions due to theft and unpreparedness. Sounds like the same is true of their airforce-a complete mirage. On paper they should have been able to have done so so much. But the numbers were complete bullshit. And yes I will say it again, the same applies to their nukes and new subs and hypersonic weapons. North Korea level bs.

 

[cfbfan23]

For example, I have read speculation their claims of 13-14k tanks have been widely dismissed and folks are thinking they may have as few as 2500-4000 maintained and operable tanks. So when you read numbers as high as 600 and counting dead or captured tanks in Ukraine, it may be over 20 percent of their entire tank force already lost.

 

[goldmom]

We (and the Brits) have given Ukraine some good defensive weapons and they’ve fought so well, but if we could just give them more offensively capable stuff, they CAN finish this.
C’mon Mr. President let’s get this done!
🇺🇦 🇺🇸

 

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[BioHawk]

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Clearly these are the magnetic triggered mines and only go off when a vehicle travels over them.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

The most surprising thing in all of this is lack of air supremacy Russia has. I would have thought this would have started like our first desert storm over 30 years ago with weeks of attacks on military infrastructure to soften overall military and obtain total air supremacy. Not getting a lot of attention but the 140 downed planes 130 downed helicopters and now possible air attacks into Russia 40 days into war is simply amazing. We all know about the woefullness of the infantry and tanks battalions due to theft and unpreparedness. Sounds like the same is true of their airforce-a complete mirage. On paper they should have been able to have done so so much. But the numbers were complete bullshit. And yes I will say it again, the same applies to their nukes and new subs and hypersonic weapons. North Korea level bs.

Someone posted many pages back a series of tweets explaining why Russia has failed to obtain air superiority. Part of it was theft but a lot was regarding the way they train and communicate. They don't train in complex formations in conjunction with many tanks, infantry, many planes/helicopters, etc. So they've been mainly going out on missions with one or two units flying together making them easy targets. Also, they are unable to communicate with infantry and carry out complex assignments working with ground troops. Something the U.S. takes for granted.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Someone posted many pages back a series of tweets explaining why Russia has failed to obtain air superiority. Part of it was theft but a lot was regarding the way they train and communicate. They don't train in complex formations in conjunction with many tanks, infantry, many planes/helicopters, etc. So they've been mainly going out on missions with one or two units flying together making them easy targets. Also, they are unable to communicate with infantry and carry out complex assignments working with ground troops. Something the U.S. takes for granted.

We're seeing that being a competent military force takes a whole lot more than just weapons/equipment.

 

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[Jimmy McGill]

Just as a reminder as we get to 440 pages, this thread has united left and right.

 

[kc78]

Just as a reminder as we get to 440 pages, this thread has united left and right.

Putin's war has created the exact opposite result to that which he's been working for at least the past decade. He's spent ten years trying to unravel Democracies of the West, create descension within NATO, within the EU, etc... And to some extent they got some results. Brexit, Trump, QAnon... Our country is weaker for it.

However, after only 30 days of his war, the EU and NATO are strengthened and the left and right in America have found areas that we're in common with again. His war has made Europe stronger and diminished Russia's place in the world. Thank you Putin.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Putin's war has created the exact opposite result to that which he's been working for at least the past decade. He's spent ten years trying to unravel Democracies of the West, create descension within NATO, within the EU, etc... And to some extent they got some results. Brexit, Trump, QAnon... Our country is weaker for it.

However, after only 30 days of his war, the EU and NATO are strengthened and the left and right in America have found areas that we're in common with again. His war has made Europe stronger and diminished Russia's place in the world. Thank you Putin.

Totally agree...but.

If this war doesn't come to a conclusion in the next couple months it'll be difficult to keep that unity. Especially if energy costs spike next winter in Europe. There's also the hit worldwide Wheat shortages and price hikes an extended war would cause...

Putin's not above dragging this thing out and hoping the "West" cracks.

Apologize for being the board pessimist...

 

[torbee]

The most surprising thing in all of this is lack of air supremacy Russia has. I would have thought this would have started like our first desert storm over 30 years ago with weeks of attacks on military infrastructure to soften overall military and obtain total air supremacy. Not getting a lot of attention but the 140 downed planes 130 downed helicopters and now possible air attacks into Russia 40 days into war is simply amazing. We all know about the woefullness of the infantry and tanks battalions due to theft and unpreparedness. Sounds like the same is true of their airforce-a complete mirage. On paper they should have been able to have done so so much. But the numbers were complete bullshit. And yes I will say it again, the same applies to their nukes and new subs and hypersonic weapons. North Korea level bs.

Which is why the West needs to get more aircraft into the hands of the Ukrainians ASAP. Give them another 25 or so fighters and THEY likely can achieve air dominance, if not total superiority.

On NPR yesterday, they said the Russian AF is so afraid of Ukrainian air defense, most of their sorties just dip into UKR territory momentarily to fire, then they scurry back to Russian air space. Time to kick them while they're down.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Totally agree...but.

If this war doesn't come to a conclusion in the next couple months it'll be difficult to keep that unity. Especially if energy costs spike next winter in Europe. There's also the hit worldwide Wheat shortages and price hikes an extended war would cause...

Putin's not above dragging this thing out and hoping the "West" cracks.

Apologize for being the board pessimist...

You are officially board pessimist

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

 

[cfbfan23]

There are a ton of open spots in their army. I think it's finally time for Michael Flynn to take his dream job as a Russian general. It's obviously a very dangerous job, but I think he should give it a go.

I'm sick of seeing all of these "Z"s on the russian equipment.......it's time for some "Q"s instead.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

siap

War in Ukraine: Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking oil depot

Russia claims a Ukrainian helicopter raid set fuel tanks ablaze in Belgorod, a Russian city.

www.bbc.com

 

[Jimmy McGill]

There are a ton of open spots in their army. I think it's finally time for Michael Flynn to take his dream job as a Russian general. It's obviously a very dangerous job, but I think he should give it a go.

I'm sick of seeing all of these "Z"s on the russian equipment.......it's time for some "Q"s instead.

How Flynn reached his positions, I will not ever understand

 

[hawkeyetraveler]

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I wonder about those attacks. Has Ukraine claimed responsibility? Azov gone wild? Or could it be a false flag?

I don’t think it is in Ukraine’s strategic interest to bring the fight into Russian territory. At some point they could lose moral authority on the world stage (say for instance a civilian gets killed) and that may complicate a path to peace and the unified outrage the world has at Russia.

It IS in Russia’s interest to give China and India a plausible reason to provide economic and military support. Showing this as a war on both territories could do just that.