Russia/Ukraine Megathread V6

[Strychnine]

We’ve never seen a country go backwards as quickly as Russia

"Nearly 1,000 companies have already curtailed operations in Russia. Economic and financial sanctions make it costly to do business there for risk of getting caught up in legal problems. There is also the reputational risk. A spokesman for Goldman Sachs said the investment banking company is winding down business operations “in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements.”

As for the Russian economy, even before the war, it wasn’t thriving. “Russia doesn’t make anything,” President Obama stated back in 2014. “Immigrants aren’t rushing to Moscow in search of opportunity. The life expectancy of the Russian male is around 60 years old. The population is shrinking.” A 2019 RAND report explains Russia’s shocking deterioration in detail.

In a recent op-ed in Kommersant, a Russian political and business newspaper, a prominent Russian CEO calls for embracing import substitution. There’s just one problem: To make things domestically, you still need access to the global marketplace. The author asks what kind of autarky Russia needs. Economic logic would lead one to answer “none.”"

We’ve never seen a country go backwards as quickly as Russia (msn.com)

 

[AWilder]

I would have thought that incoming artillery fire would be tracked by radar which would then calculate the position of the fire team, who would then be on the end of some incoming?

Or maybe radar can’t track the shells?

Or maybe the Russians don’t have (enough of) that capability?

i think it's most likely that the russians dont have enough of that capability. not that they lack it entirely.

 

[SandisLL]

Party "United Russia " ordered to do 'referendum' in South Osetia ( Gerogia's seperatist region ) and this is supposed to happen after few months?
Subject: to be incorporated in Russian Federation ( Russia ).

 

[Bald1]

I remember the reports of civilians getting issued AKs to defend the city, then for weeks watching videos of gunfights in the streets as people thought "Russians" or "saboteurs" were in Kiev. After this is over I wonder what the body count will be estimated at for just giving random people rifles and telling them spies were everywhere.

I have absolutely no doubt there were quite a few Russian saboteurs and spies in Kiev. And I also have no doubt that Putin thought the city could be convinced to surrender rather easily. These two things are related.

 

[Rholk]

You said it man, nobody fucks with the Ukraine

 

[San Marino]

US intelligence chiefs believe Putin may use nuclear arms (msn.com)
"US intelligence chiefs warned the Senate on Tuesday that Vladimir Putin may use nuclear weapons as a last resort if he feels that Russia will be defeated in Ukraine."

"We do think that [Putin's perception of an existential threat] could be the case in the event that he perceives that he is losing the war in Ukraine, and that Nato in effect is either intervening or about to intervene in that context, which would obviously contribute to a perception that he is about to lose the war in Ukraine," Haines told the committee hearing."

 

[Ayin]

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on May 13 that the state was boosting the defense sector to provide for potential new recruits. “We are focusing on the need to provide for 1 million people who will be facing the enemy,” he wrote. He also said that 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers are already training or will start mastering Western weapons and return as instructors.

I hope that 1 million is all voluntary

Are you against conscription in times of war in general, and for use to defend the homeland specifically?

 

[San Marino]

That was a good post. My views:

I appreciate your comment but not all wars are the same history has proven that fact.
1. Soldiers have to believe in the mission objectives.

It may come as a surprise to you, but many of us in the US Army were against the invasion of Iraq. We believed in going into Afghanistan because of 9/11. We should have left Afghanistan after about 3 years.

2. The makeup of the civilian population. "Do they support the overthrow of the leadership."

The civilian population of which side? Indeed, the US left Vietnam (lost) because it was an unpopular war back home. Same for Iraq and Afghanistan. The people in your country must support the war 100%.

3. Technology, what level of technology is one using in their war, how well is it being used, and the training to use it on the ground.

Bow-and-arrow, bullets, or artillery. Doesn't really matter. The one who kills the most and 'moves into' the disputed ground wins. Again, the US killed more of the enemy in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, but we never took over the country.
It all revolves around soldiers on the ground. All branches of the US Army are there to support Infantry on the ground. The Navy and Air Force are there to support soldiers on the ground. We usually fight over land, never really water or air.

 

[San Marino]

It seems like people on social media stop giving a fuck.

That usually happens on any topic after 1 week. Telling others about yourself seems to be more interesting.

 

[San Marino]

Israel agrees to equip Ukraine with Blue Spear system through Estonia - report

Israel denies equipping Ukraine with Blue Spear through Estonia - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)
* Typical Israeli response.
Their default answer to almost everything: "We neither confirm or deny that story."
They still do not confirm that they have nuclear missiles.

 

[San Marino]

Stupid move that can drag Israel into a ww3 and also destroy the good relations with Putin.

Cool!
You joined today. Welcome. I gave 1 like. 1 post and 1 like.
Isarel is now denying that story. Israelis

 

[Err]

Losing ther most elite and loyal troops was part of the plan.

The VDV should lose their airborne designation after getting airlifted in by helicopter to Hostomel. Bunch of legs as far as I’m concerned.

 

[San Marino]

Russian Troops Taking Desperate Measures to Escape Putin's War: Ukraine (msn.com)

 

[PEB]

 

[PEB]

 

[PEB]

@idrankyourbeer

 

[AWilder]

You said it man, nobody fucks with the Ukraine

 

[Deleted member 585708]

US intelligence chiefs believe Putin may use nuclear arms (msn.com)
"US intelligence chiefs warned the Senate on Tuesday that Vladimir Putin may use nuclear weapons as a last resort if he feels that Russia will be defeated in Ukraine."

"We do think that [Putin's perception of an existential threat] could be the case in the event that he perceives that he is losing the war in Ukraine, and that Nato in effect is either intervening or about to intervene in that context, which would obviously contribute to a perception that he is about to lose the war in Ukraine," Haines told the committee hearing."

That was from a few days ago, and honestly, I think the rhetoric is changing.

Putin has already told Finland there is no threat to their security.

If he was even considering use nuclear weapons in ANY nation, including the Ukraine, he wouldn't be trying to de-escalate internationally.

I'll be watching his nonsense a bit more closely for the next few days, but he sounds like someone has neutered him in the last day or so.

 

[Anewt]

Going to continue to spread the Airport propaganda? Or is the truth irrelevant to you as well?

 

[Anewt]

Are you against conscription in times of war in general, and for use to defend the homeland specifically?

I'm against conscription...