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

[eightno2002]

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

putin says these actions don’t lend well to peace talks. No mention of the invasion, rape, and murder of Ukrainians.

 

[seminole97]

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Finally.
Too bad the Russians had already started to pull back and avoid encirclement here.
I’m dubious the combat effectiveness of whatever formations the Russians managed to extract here and what will genuinely be available to re-commit in the south without major refit.

 

[hydro2.0]

Did Putin really ever intend to take Kyiv or was it to show force and occupy another part of the country while the primary targets of eastern Ukraine were taken?

It seems like that is going to be the real battle and as much as I want Ukraine to win I’m just not sure

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[ericram]

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Need to get them jets and support.

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

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.

I don't think this attack on an oil depot would raise the needle on escalation, such as bringing in China or getting people riled up on defending the motherland from an pending Ukrainian invasion. It's pretty clearly a military target. Also probably rules out a false flag in that case as well. If you're going to do it, you're going to bomb your own civilian population (school, apartments, etc) to stir up thirst for war. Russia, specifically, Putin has this in his playbook, which is how he got into power anyway.

Pretty smart by Ukraine on taking down a fuel depot close to the border, which is likely going to make a withdrawal/relocate/redeployment even more difficult from a logistical standpoint.

 

[SalAunese]

How Flynn reached his positions, I will not ever understand

I’m guessing the military is no different than the corporate world when it comes to politics and getting ahead

 

[Joes Place]

 

[Joes Place]

 

[Joes Place]

 

[Joes Place]

 

[DogBoyRy]

Did Putin really ever intend to take Kyiv or was it to show force and occupy another part of the country while the primary targets of eastern Ukraine were taken?

It seems like that is going to be the real battle and as much as I want Ukraine to win I’m just not sure

Yes. It was close to the border and c&c for most of the country. He could then assume control of the country.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[Tenacious E]

Did Putin really ever intend to take Kyiv or was it to show force and occupy another part of the country while the primary targets of eastern Ukraine were taken?

It seems like that is going to be the real battle and as much as I want Ukraine to win I’m just not sure

I think the answer is a definite yes. He wanted regime change.

 

[Joes Place]

 

[Tenacious E]

Yes. It was close to the border and c&c for most of the country. He could then assume control of the country.

I am giving DogBoyRy a like - what strange bedfellows a war makes.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[Tenacious E]

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Given the retreating forces around Kiev, seems like a suicide mission.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[Tenacious E]

SIAP, but this has footage of the helicopters attacking the Russian fuel depot.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[DogBoyRy]

I am giving DogBoyRy a like - what strange bedfellows a war makes.

Go away homo.

 

[Tenacious E]

Here is an interesting video on kamikaze drones being used - I didn't realize these were the Switchblades. This says about 30% of kills for armor is thanks to these.

 

[86Hawkeye]

Former SACEUR Breedlove fairly critical of US results in getting Ukraine military what they need in a timely fashion. Also believes the Polish MiGs should be sent to Ukraine. Any excuses about logistics are just for fear of not pissing off Putin.

 

[Tenacious E]

Go away homo.

Aaaand, we are back to normal.

 

[TigerHawk33]

I apologize if this has been discussed. Russia’s major export is natural gas and oil and other minerals, and that is the life blood of their country. Is it possible that maybe their reserves are much more depleted than what anyone knows(except the Russians) and that is what is driving Russia to invade Ukraine and basically try to capture all the Black Sea and newly found shale deposits. Obviously they do not want Ukraine being a leader in energy sales, and a major competitor of Russia, but is it possible that Putin is panicked by knowing they don’t have as much gas and oil as what they broadcast? He is terrified of losing the most significant income that Russia has and that is why he is acting irrationally.

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[BioHawk]

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.

As long as they stick to military targets they have every right to go into Russia and blow shit up. They certainly won't lose any moral authority. As poorly as the Russians have performed in this operation I wouldn't be surprised if it were Russians who got lost and started blowing up the wrong things.

 

[desihawk]

Aaaand, we are back to normal.

without will smiths and chris rocks this world would be a boring place indeed

 

[mnole03]

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

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Well that's great.

 

[Tenacious E]

The thing that strikes me with the attack is that it is by helicopter. Not some short range missile, artillery, or even jet. But slow moving helicopters and they weren't shot down. Either they caught the Russians with their pants down, or there must be some advanced jamming of radars and such going on.

 

[mnole03]

 

[mnole03]

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Well that's great.

If you look at the comments the experience outside the big cities is different. That’s where the collapse would come from.

 

[torbee]

Aaaand, we are back to normal.

I think you aroused him a little and he got scared. BAU.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

The thing that strikes me with the attack is that it is by helicopter. Not some short range missile, artillery, or even jet. But slow moving helicopters and they weren't shot down. Either they caught the Russians with their pants down, or there must be some advanced jamming of radars and such going on.

I'd bet on pants down....

 

[seminole97]

How Flynn reached his positions, I will not ever understand

I hadn't heard of him until seeing this episode of Declassified on CNN:



He was in charge of the effort to find and kill Zarqawi and leveraged that success into the furtherance of his career.

I think he became radicalized fighting AQ.
He's off the deep end now, but if you can catch that episode somewhere it was really interesting.

 

[tumorboy]

If you look at the comments the experience outside the big cities is different. That’s where the collapse would come from.

It's where the conscripts are coming from.

 

[Tenacious E]

I think you aroused him a little and he got scared. BAU.

Definitely secretly plays catcher when the balldo is brought out...

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Can the U.S. and NATO provide Ukraine with enough weapons?

It’s not clear the U.S. and other NATO members can sustain even the current level of weapons deliveries.

www.nbcnews.com