"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (5 Viewers)

[MiTasol]

Did Russia consider using its SSNs to attack cargo ships bringing arms to Ukraine?

Ukraine updates: Russia threatens to attack western arms shipments

Action would risk direct conflict with NATO

nationalpost.com

Just imagine a Russian nuclear attack sub torpedoes and sinks a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship in international waters purported to be carrying equipment for Ukraine via Poland. Or, perhaps a Russian warship intercepts and boards the cargo ship in the Atlantic.

I would expect that minutes after the Russians made that threat China and Iran said that means all ships carrying our cargo to Russia become legitimate targets for the Ukrainians so if you do that we will instantly stop all shipments to Russia.

 

[gumbyk]

I guess the word "ergonomics" does not translate to Russian?

I don't think they even have the concept. The Mil 8 helicopter has the left engine gauges on the right hand side, and vice-versa.

 

[WARSPITER]

Ergonomics in Russian - we haven't got intercoms working in our tanks due to parts unavailable
because of sanctions - most is there - even headphones - but the other bit is missing.

Ergo no mics.

 

[Denniss]

Another Twitter guy who opened a Mastodon alternative NOELREPORTS (@[email protected])

 

[Mike Williams]

Another Twitter guy who opened a Mastodon alternative NOELREPORTS (@[email protected])

Thanks, good to know. I found him over on Telegram too: NOELREPORTS

There is another enthusiastic youngster that also migrated to Mastodon from Twitter that posts frequently: MAKS 23 (@[email protected])

 

[buffnut453]

Ok...this is really weird. Lukashenko says Prigozhin is in St.Petersburg, not in Belarus...meanwhile, the Kremlin says it's not tracking Prigozhin's movements (yeah...right!).

Wagner boss Prigozhin is in Russia, Belarus ruler Lukashenko says

Alexander Lukashenko says Prigozhin, who led a short-lived mutiny in Russia, is in St Petersburg.

www.bbc.com

Coming soon to a news stream near you,."Prigozhin dies in mystery fall from window"....perhaps?

 

[Denniss]

or he falls into the harbor and can't swim .......

 

[GrauGeist]

Or: while committing suicide, stops to reload his handgun.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Ok...this is really weird. Lukashenko says Prigozhin is in St.Petersburg, not in Belarus...meanwhile, the Kremlin says it's not tracking Prigozhin's movements (yeah...right!).

Wagner boss Prigozhin is in Russia, Belarus ruler Lukashenko says

Alexander Lukashenko says Prigozhin, who led a short-lived mutiny in Russia, is in St Petersburg.

www.bbc.com

Coming soon to a news stream near you,."Prigozhin dies in mystery fall from window"....perhaps?

I wouldn't be surprised if he's already dead. Russia's a big country, plenty of room to torture him to death and no one's the wiser.

 

[GrauGeist]

The question I have, is if/when Prigozhin is "silenced", what will be the reaction from Wagner.
Will they just accept his demise or will they react with violence?

Either way, I seriously doubt Russia will want them around, as they've already proven to be dangerous to Putler's Reich.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

The question I have, is if/when Prigozhin is "silenced", what will be the reaction from Wagner.
Will they just accept his demise or will they react with violence?

Either way, I seriously doubt Russia will want them around, as they've already proven to be dangerous to Putler's Reich.

That's the reason why I think he will be disappeared.

 

[GrauGeist]

If Wagner goes rogue in the wake of Prigozhin's demise, I doubt Russian armed forces could put them down quickly, especially at a time where Ukraine is putting pressure across key lines.

 

[Admiral Beez]

It will be interesting to see where the war is in July 2024.

Regarding the Ukrainian air force, by July 2024 the AFU should have several dozen F-16s while most of their surviving Soviet-era MiGs and Sukhois will be close to worn out. Beyond F-16s what other NATO aircraft types do we expect Ukraine to be operating by July 2024? Perhaps Apaches? Gripens or Eurofighters? By July 2024, the Ukrainian army should have some Abrams MBTs alongside a growing fleet of Leopard 2s and Leopard 1s. I expect by July 2024 Ukrainian has developed and produced their own ATACAMs or long range precision rocket artillery. Vehicles and equipment for breaching minefields and crossing rivers and defences will be well sorted. Other tech in widespread use will be further advances in night fighting and drones. The Ukrainian navy will have a growing force of fast attack craft as well as (though this may be wishful thinking) the beginnings of an amphibious capability to land in Crimea.

Meanwhile, by July 2024, the Russians have to be on the ropes in materials, tanks, manpower, money and public support. Presumably Europe will survive another winter without Russian natural gas, and public support for Ukraine across the West will remain strong. Where do we think the front lines will be in a year's time?

 

[Admiral Beez]

Here are the first-ever Leopard 2A4 tanks with a factory-fitted ERA

The German Leopard 2A4 tank finally got a full-time set of ERA This happened in Greece. The Greek Army remains one of the largest operators of Leopard 2A4 tanks

bulgarianmilitary.com

If there's any tank that will need ERA it's the Leopard 1s. The Leo1 was made in an era where it was assumed no armour was capable of stopping anti-tank rounds so the emphasis was instead on mobility and firepower. I wouldn't put the even the frontal armour of a Leo1 up against a BMP-3's 100mm gun, and the Russian 30mm autocannon on the earlier BMPs and BTRs should slice through the Leo1's side armour.

That's why the Canadians added applique armour to theirs, shown below.

So, I'd be packing on extra armour and protection onto the Leo1 before sending it to the front.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

You weren't lying, that side armor's so thin you can see through it.

 

[fubar57]

Ok...this is really weird. Lukashenko says Prigozhin is in St.Petersburg, not in Belarus.,,,

Maybe parts of him are in St. Pete, like his head

 

[Denniss]

In a Leo 1 I'd be more worried about mines than about enemy vehicles coming close.
In an Offensive I see them more as mobile artillery firing from a bit back then moving in the front

 

[SaparotRob]

I just watched a YT video by Joe Blogs. He's an economist. He just did another video on the Rouble v other currencies. I skip to the summary. My take away from his video is Russia has been strengthening the Yuan and Rupiah. The Rouble, not so much.

 

[Admiral Beez]

In a Leo 1 I'd be more worried about mines

Good point. For Afghanistan Canada added increased armour plate to the bottom to protect the crew in case of IEDs and mines. Apparently our guys survived this hit, for example.

Here's a good article about Ukraine's upcoming use of the Leopard 1s from a Canadian perspective.

Presumably, Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 will need additional bottom protection and mine attachments, apart from Contact-1 reactive armor and slat armor.

Canadian Leopard 1C2 MBTs in Afghanistan, how Ukraine Can Avoid Problems with Them | Defense Express

The failure of Canadian Leopard 1C2 main battle tanks in Afghanistan. The indicators that Ukraine can prevent

en.defence-ua.com

 

[Snowman]

I just watched a YT video by Joe Blogs. He's an economist. He just did another video on the Rouble v other currencies. I skip to the summary. My take away from his video is Russia has been strengthening the Yuan and Rupiah. The Rouble, not so much.

Yuan, rupees, rials, piastres, colored stones, glass beads, shells... anything, even money to play Monopoly, now Putin will receive everything except real money. And all this, of course, strictly according to plan.