Honestly, I don't know. I'd like to believe it's real though given the inspiration to them of Snake Island.
"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (2 Viewers)
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SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Wars have been a time tested distraction.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
I just read an interesting article that said most of the Russian soldiers actually fighting are conscripts. It ties into a platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade surrendering to the Ukraine military because they did not know they were supposed o actually be fighting.
www.foxnews.com
Ukraine-Russia War: Russian troops underfunded, equipment sub-par, according to reports
The military has not been able to make significant advances at night due to a lack of training and proper equipment.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Unless Putin sent in second rate troops/equipment as a ruse, while holding the modern equipment and professional troops back in the hopes that NATO becomes involved...
Thumpalumpacus
Major
Defense Department says Russia frustrated by Ukrainian resistance
Russia is growing frustrated by the level of Ukrainian resistance its military has encountered during the invasion, according to a senior U.S. Defense Department official who briefed reporters on S…
thehill.com
I'm trying to find the source I read this morning indicating that Putin is ordering a second wave with the reserves in the region. Remember, as of yesterday, only 60,000 troops were committed to the offensive out of 180,000 that had been marshalled. Once I re-find that source I'll link it.
Because a man fighting for his county fights harder than an 18 year old conscript questioning why in the hell he is fighting at all.
Admiral Beez
Captain
IDK, the Afghans rolled pretty quickly when the Taliban approached. I wonder if that influenced Putin's thinking.
Apples to oranges. The Taliban are largely Afghans. They were not foreign invaders. The Ukranians are not Russians.
It appears Turkey has agreed to cut off the Black Sea to new Russian Warships.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
Aside from the points above, the Afghan government, as corrupt as it was, inspired no buy-in at all from its people or its military.
Admiral Beez
Captain
I think Zelinisky spoke too soon or more likely in order to nudge the issue. Turkey has not announced this.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Russian troops have captured the city of Melitopol in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhya region, Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday, the first significant population centre to be taken over since Moscow launched an invasion.
The ministry also said Russia had used air- and ship-based cruise missiles to carry out overnight strikes on military targets in Ukraine.
It said Russian troops had hit hundreds of military infrastructure targets and destroyed several aircraft and dozens of tanks and armoured and artillery vehicles.
Ukrainian officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the matter.
www.reuters.com
And for a moment of levity in a grim thread, I just noticed the byline on this linked article:
lol
The ministry also said Russia had used air- and ship-based cruise missiles to carry out overnight strikes on military targets in Ukraine.
It said Russian troops had hit hundreds of military infrastructure targets and destroyed several aircraft and dozens of tanks and armoured and artillery vehicles.
Ukrainian officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the matter.
Russia says it has captured Ukraine's Melitopol
Russian troops have captured the city of Melitopol in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhya region, Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday, the first significant population centre to be taken over since Moscow launched an invasion.
And for a moment of levity in a grim thread, I just noticed the byline on this linked article:
lol
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Turkey will be restricting access.
They had deliberated it, but have since decided to go ahead.
Moscow is objecting, saying it violates the international treaty - which is somewhat amusing, considering that they are knee-deep in quite a few international treaty violations, currently.
Also, if Moscow were to read that treaty, they would know that Turkey has the right to do so in the event of war.
Turkey to block passage of Russian warships in Black Sea; Moscow disputes access claims
Turkey issued the first official clarification since Zelenskyy appeal, stating that Turkey has agreed to cut off the waterways to Moscow’s warships.
www.republicworld.com
Turkey will be restricting access.
They had deliberated it, but have since decided to go ahead.
Moscow is objecting, saying it violates the international treaty - which is somewhat amusing, considering that they are knee-deep in quite a few international treaty violations, currently.
Also, if Moscow were to read that treaty, they would know that Turkey has the right to do so in the event of war.
Turkey to block passage of Russian warships in Black Sea; Moscow disputes access claims
Turkey issued the first official clarification since Zelenskyy appeal, stating that Turkey has agreed to cut off the waterways to Moscow’s warships.
Except per the treaty they cannot restrict it to ships that are home based in the Black Sea.
Not that I care though. Fuck Putin. Close it off!
buffnut453
Captain
A couple of interesting new developments. Germany has decided to send SAMs and AT missiles to Ukraine. For those who track modern German attitudes to war, this is a BIG deal.
Also, the BBC is reporting that the relatively slow progress by Russian forces (due to stiffer than expected Ukrainian resistance) is starting to strain Russian logistics. They report some Russian units are running out of fuel and other supplies. Really, REALLY hope that's accurate.
Also, the BBC is reporting that the relatively slow progress by Russian forces (due to stiffer than expected Ukrainian resistance) is starting to strain Russian logistics. They report some Russian units are running out of fuel and other supplies. Really, REALLY hope that's accurate.
Please allow me to caveat what is written below by the statement that I do not support or condone Putin/Russia's attack here and strongly believe that they should be forced out of the Ukraine.
That said, I would also argue against any implying that Putin is mad or is a new Hitler (or anything akin to). To do so risks belittling the situation into a "me good, you bad" style analysis that doesn't actually help understand the conflict and/or work towards resolving (or dare I say preventing the next). The real world isn't black/white but rather many shades of grey.
As I have previously mentioned, I believe that from Putin's POV, he is simply working to return the Russian Empire or at least sense of national pride. This is seemingly his underlying goal and one that helps define many of his actions over the last 20yrs or so - he is playing the long game one might say. This is aided by the fact that the West, especially the USA, appear weak and impotent and inward looking. As such, Putin saw an opportunity and took it. I suspect that if the West had been willing to admit Ukraine to NATO and/or put their own forces in the Ukraine rather than simply sending lots of, often old, weapons he may have backed off. The fact is that this did not happen though so we now have this tragedy unfolding.
I have previously (at Reply #64) posted an article by the Australian Journalist/Author/Analyst Stan Grant that addresses some of what I am talking about. Below is another, somewhat more pointed one. I apologise if anyone takes offence but please note that I do it not to start arguments but rather to help point out what I believe is one of the things that has helped contribute to this situation. It is also not trying to place blame for things such as the Russian aggression on Ukraine on others than Putin/Russia but rather to help explain one aspect of the journey that has seen the world reach this point.
Putin has sensed his moment, and we are left with one question: Where did America's power go?
In 1991, after the end of the Cold War, the United States stood unchallenged in the global order. But the last 30 years have seen a persistent erosion of American power and prestige, writes Stan Grant.
www.abc.net.au
Please allow me to caveat what is written below by the statement that I do not support or condone Putin/Russia's attack here and strongly believe that they should be forced out of the Ukraine.
That said, I would also argue against any implying that Putin is mad or is a new Hitler (or anything akin to). To do so risks belittling the situation into a "me good, you bad" style analysis that doesn't actually help understand the conflict and/or work towards resolving (or dare I say preventing the next). The real world isn't black/white but rather many shades of grey.
As I have previously mentioned, I believe that from Putin's POV, he is simply working to return the Russian Empire or at least sense of national pride. This is seemingly his underlying goal and one that helps define many of his actions over the last 20yrs or so - he is playing the long game one might say. This is aided by the fact that the West, especially the USA, appear weak and impotent and inward looking. As such, Putin saw an opportunity and took it. I suspect that if the West had been willing to admit Ukraine to NATO and/or put their own forces in the Ukraine rather than simply sending lots of, often old, weapons he may have backed off. The fact is that this did not happen though so we now have this tragedy unfolding.
I have previously (at Reply #64) posted an article by the Australian Journalist/Author/Analyst Stan Grant that addresses some of what I am talking about. Below is another, somewhat more pointed one. I apologise if anyone takes offence but please note that I do it not to start arguments but rather to help point out what I believe is one of the things that has helped contribute to this situation. It is also not trying to place blame for things such as the Russian aggression on Ukraine on others than Putin/Russia but rather to help explain one aspect of the journey that has seen the world reach this point.
Putin has sensed his moment, and we are left with one question: Where did America's power go?
In 1991, after the end of the Cold War, the United States stood unchallenged in the global order. But the last 30 years have seen a persistent erosion of American power and prestige, writes Stan Grant.
I don't think he is mad because of the invasion. I think he is mad because of his actions since the invasion.
Admiral Beez
Captain
I remember wondering in 2014 had the US sent a warship (briefly) and some long term troops to Crimea (upon the invite of Kiev) in advance of the Russians if that would have made a difference.
In Kyiv, defiant Ukrainians hold off Russian army: 'We know we will win'
“Good morning, Ukrainians!” Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video posted Saturday on Twitter at 6:57 am. “I am here, we are not laying down our weapons, we will protect our land!”
Some useful analysis here that can help explain the Russian side (again, in no way attempting to legitimise):
www.understandingwar.org
Institute for the Study of War
Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently sought a set of objectives since his rise to power in 2000: the preservation of his regime, the end of American hegemony, and the reinstatement of Russia as a global power. The West must understand
