"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (4 Viewers)

[Glider]

Just a thought. Russia media in particular is starting to get very paranoid about NATO. We have all seen Russian 'Media' shows saying that in reality Russia is fighting the whole of Nato which is why things are taking longer than originally planned. Now we know that this is far from the truth, but the people watching this stuff will believe it.

Now we get conjecture that the SAS are operating in the Ukraine.

'The top investigative body in Russia is looking at whether the SAS is "organising sabotage" in Ukraine.
The Investigative Committee - Moscow's main federal investigating authority - said it would be following up a report from Russia's RIA Novosti news agency.
RIA quoted a Russian security source as saying about 20 members of the SAS had been deployed in the western Lviv region, close to the border with Poland.
The Investigative Committee said it would look at whether - according to the report - the SAS had been sent in to "assist the Ukrainian special services in organising sabotage on the territory of Ukraine".

Now I am sure that this is rubbish after all. If the source Novosti used was a Russian Security source, then it would take 10 seconds for the Investigative Committee to check it out.

The danger as I see it is that this could become pressure for the RA to do something. If the Russian People start kicking up a head of steam it could well be that Putin has to be seen to do something, something he may not want to do.

It also proves of course that they are S--- Scared of the SAS and no doubt other Nato special forces.

 

[GrauGeist]

I'm fairly sure that if the SAS or other special forces were operating in the region, there would be no speculation - they would know immediately by the results.

 

[buffnut453]

There have been other reports, including from Ukraine itself, that the SAS has deployed a team to help train Ukrainian soldiers on some of the new kit they're getting, and probably on asymmetric warfare tactics. I thought it was foolish of the Ukrainian authorities to admit the SAS training….I guess we'll see how Putin and his megaphones portray this.

 

[Glider]

I'm fairly sure that if the SAS or other special forces were operating in the region, there would be no speculation - they would know immediately by the results.

That I don't deny. The point is that true or not, if public pressure grows then he may be 'forced' into doing something which may well escalate things.

 

[GrauGeist]

Training is a different matter - especially if they are there as "volunteers" and not active in combat ops.

Perhaps the Russians are just angry that no one is helping them train their army...

 

[ThomasP]

Interesting bit of info. Turkey just closed its airspace to flights between Russia and Syria, including both military and civil aircraft.

 

[buffnut453]

That I don't deny. The point is that true or not, if public pressure grows then he may be 'forced' into doing something which may well escalate things.

I don't think Putin gives a damn about public pressure. The only public opinion that matters to Putin is the one that he, himself, so generously gives to the people to help enable the State to accomplish its great and glorious mission. Ergo, the real question is how does Putin see the presence of the SAS in western Ukraine?

If you come at the problem from the perspective that every right-thinking Ukrainian must want Russian hegemony, then clearly anyone who fights against such rule must be (a) a nazi, or (b) a tool of NATO which is using those tools to destroy Russia (other bêtes-noires are available). I expect Putin to play the presence of the SAS as an example of the latter, and "inflaming" the conflict to prevent Russia from achieving its "righteous" goals.

 

[ThomasP]

A potential mess that could occur involves the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization). Belarus is already involved, though not due to the treaty. In my opinion it is unlikely the other nations will get involved in Ukraine - maybe Armenia if enough pressure were applied by Russia? But if Russia becomes unstable - or really screws up in the Ukraine? Just a thought.

 

[GTX]

This village thought swamps would protect them from Putin's troops — who arrived on a mission to kill one woman

When Russians arrived in Mokrets, the village leader was being hunted. Through a whisper network, they protected her. Warning: This article contains details readers might find distressing.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MiTasol]

Russian Navy is sending a 110 years old vessel to salvage the Moskva.

A 110 y.o. vessel.

Hopefully the Ukrainians can park the Kommuna next to the Moskva

 

[MiTasol]

Well, he was counting on a few things that didn't pan out. He expected Zelensky to cut and run at the first application of force. He was counting on a rapid disintegration of Ukrainian resistance with his pro-Russia Quislings quickly taking control of the government with Russian support. He was counting on a paralysed or lack lustre response from NATO.

Well he did get it right on one of the four - the response from NATO could have been earlier and faster tho they did disprove that NATO means No Action Talk Only because they have provided a lot of physical and moral support.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Did Zelensky just spill the beans?

MSN

www.msn.com

Sounds like a juicy target.

Challenger IIs (with British crews) going to Poland as trade for T-72s.

The tanks that the UK plans to send to Poland in order to deliver T-72 to Ukraine

www.outono.net

 

[wlewisiii]

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

By amortized I didn't mean that he has had a heart attack, I was meaning that he has been expended was a backup for Uncle Vlad.

Always thought that he was playing the good cop role of the pair.

Sorry -- I thought you were sarcastically referring to being dead.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I am willing to bet that this disaster, which not only backfired in an epic fashion, but also laid bare to the world that the mighty Russian military is a third-rate clown show, is putting immemse amounts of stress on Putin.

If his health was in bad shape before this "special operation", I can only imagine what's like now - stress alone, can be a killer.

We can always hope.

ETA: lol, as usual by now, buffnut453 beat me to it.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Did Zelensky just spill the beans?

MSN

www.msn.com

Sounds like a juicy target.

Pretty sure Russia's got its hands full right now and doesn't want a shooting war with America.

 

[GrauGeist]

Pretty sure Russia's got its hands full right now and doesn't want a shooting war with America.

Aren't we still trembling from Russia's test of their top-secret and completely intimidating new ICBM?

I mean, shouldn't we all be trying to make peace with Russia now, while hiding in our basements?

 

[Admiral Beez]

Pretty sure Russia's got its hands full right now and doesn't want a shooting war with America.

Agreed, but I hope Zelensky asked Biden if he could make this announcement. Usually senior US cabinet officials would just show up in combat zones, like Iraq and Afghanistan, with the news telling us about it the day they arrived or often after the VIPs left.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Agreed, but I hope Zelensky asked Biden if he could make this announcement. Usually senior US cabinet officials would just show up in combat zones, like Iraq and Afghanistan, with the news telling us about it the day they arrived or often after the VIPs left.

I would imagine that there was talking about the announcement ahead of time. If I'm guessing right, and it is indeed only a guess, it may well be a case of messaging "this is how much we care about this war, and if you want to do something have at it."

I'd double-dog dare them to do something just for the sake of trolling. Fly them in, under fighter escort, and perhaps attach a couple of cargo-planes stuffed to the gills with gear. Egg on the face if Russia does nothing, and some serious beat-down if they try anything.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Aren't we still trembling from Russia's test of their top-secret and completely intimidating new ICBM?

I mean, shouldn't we all be trying to make peace with Russia now, while hiding in our basements?

It slightly disturbed my morning coffee.