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

[Thumpalumpacus]

KYIV, June 18 (Reuters) - Russia is sending a large number of reserve troops to Sievierodonetsk from other battle zones to try to gain full control of the frontline eastern city, the governor of Ukraine's Luhansk region said on Saturday.

"Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, they will throw in all the reserves they have ... because there are so many of them there already, they're at critical mass," Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said on national television.


He said Russian forces already controlled most but not all of Sievierodonetsk.

Russia sending large number of reserve troops to Sievierodonetsk, Ukrainian governor says

Russia is sending a large number of reserve troops to Sievierodonetsk from other battle zones to try to gain full control of the frontline eastern city, the governor of Ukraine's Luhansk region said on Saturday.

www.reuters.com

 

[GTX]

Quite a lot of them in Vietnam towing L5 Howitzers - fuel tanks and e.g. KW45 generators also in Germany in the 60'ies till 80's on the way to maneuvers areas.
Why in the first place they send these obsolete APC's to Ukraine I wouldn't know - instead of e.g. Bradley's. For medivac an M113 is certainly useful.

One can also transport e.g. a L5 howitzer INSIDE an M113

A clearer photo, also showing the hitch point:

 

[GTX]

Putin claims New World Order and blasts the West for 'insane' sanctions

In a combative 73-minute speech, the Russian President accuses the West of denying Russia its sovereign rights and claims Moscow is entering a new era of dominance.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SaparotRob]

Putin claims New World Order and blasts the West for 'insane' sanctions

In a combative 73-minute speech, the Russian President accuses the West of denying Russia its sovereign rights and claims Moscow is entering a new era of dominance.

www.abc.net.au

I hope Macron read this.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Putin claims New World Order and blasts the West for 'insane' sanctions

In a combative 73-minute speech, the Russian President accuses the West of denying Russia its sovereign rights and claims Moscow is entering a new era of dominance.

www.abc.net.au

The Tsar has spoken. All hail!
....Pfthttttt!

 

[Dimlee]

Not arguing the facts, just thinking that with dire circumstances in the Donbas, trade interdiction might have a lesser seat at the table.

No weapons for such interdiction so far. But if there is one, cruise missiles carrying ships will have a higher priority in the targets list.

 

[GrauGeist]

Saw a commentary about Russia stealing grain from Ukraine, and how they can boost their economy without having to pay for it.

I don't think they realize that it cost thousands of Russian lives to get that grain (and anything else they steal from Ukraine).

 

[SaparotRob]

Saw a commentary about Russia stealing grain from Ukraine, and how they can boost their economy without having to pay for it.

I don't think they realize that it cost thousands of Russian lives to get that grain (and anything else they steal from Ukraine).

Russian lives don't figure in Putler's computations for the restoration of the Russian Empire.

 

[Dimlee]

Interesting points as Australia was affected as well. In 1900 we federated to become a nation. One of the crown princes ? of Russia was at the reading of the
proclamation and is in the (in Australia) well known picture of said event.

He came to Oz in a warship and it was a state visit. All good so far.

Then, and this couldn't possibly happen today..... some political person/s and the media of the time started a scare campaign saying he was here because
Russia had designs on Australia.

A bit far fetched at the least but by the time the hype died down the new Australian government had built forts around our coast because the 'Russians were coming'.

Whether it was a quick way to install national identity or to increase newspaper sales I don't know but there you have it. The forts in Albany have been fixed up
as a tourist attraction so historically it's quite useful to be able to view.

There are interesting connections between Australia and "old Russia". So many names from my native Crimea on the map: Inkerman, Balaklava, Alma, Sebastopol.
Some stories about "Russian fear": Elena Govor. Australia and the Crimean War
When I started my maritime career, Soviet tanker vessels were involved in animal fat exports from Australia. I can't remember the name of that small port on the east coast... There was a small community of white Russian emigre. We could not contact them, it was prohibited and our political officer would report anyone who dared. But there was always a small crowd on the jetty upon arrival and departure. We played Russian songs through the loudspeakers and they waived. Sometimes, souvenirs were exchanged through the ship's agent.

Edit:
Port Alma was the name! How could I forget. There is Balaclava island and probably more Crimean names in the area.

 

[Glider]

I find it slightly bemusing when Putin talks of restoring the greatness of old mother Russia.

Lets look at why Imperial Russia collapsed.

1. The vast majority of the wealth of the country was held by a very, very small few
2. The people were more pretty well ignored
3. Technically they fell behind the rest of the world
4. The people were used as cannon fodder during any conflict
5. Leadership in those conflicts was based on how close you were to the leader, and not on your ability
6. The military suffered huge losses
7. Result - The revolution

Now a Question for you all -

Does any of this sound at all familiar ?

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Putin claims New World Order and blasts the West for 'insane' sanctions

In a combative 73-minute speech, the Russian President accuses the West of denying Russia its sovereign rights and claims Moscow is entering a new era of dominance.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GrauGeist]

Funny how Putler only sticks to recent history to make his case.

Now if he were to state that the Golden Horde were historically Russian, he can go and claim Mongolia...

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Saw a commentary about Russia stealing grain from Ukraine, and how they can boost their economy without having to pay for it.

I don't think they realize that it cost thousands of Russian lives to get that grain (and anything else they steal from Ukraine).

Servile
Expendable
Repressed
Foot
Soldiers

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Now if he were to state that the Golden Horde were historically Russian, he can go and claim Mongolia...

Gee, you think maybe he's been listening to his buddy She Jing Pee? "Wherever people of Chinese (Russian) origin live, or have lived, is Chinese (Russian) land and is rightfully part of China (Russia)"! (Substitute empire of choice)
Let's see, can anybody spell,
A R M A G E D D O N ?

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

KYIV, June 19 (Reuters) - The head of NATO said on Sunday the war in Ukraine could last years and Ukrainian forces faced intensified Russian assaults after the EU executive recommended that Kyiv should be granted the status of a candidate to join the bloc.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was cited by Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper as saying the supply of state-of-the-art weaponry to Ukrainian troops would increase the chance of liberating the eastern Donbas region from Russian control.

Russia advances in battle for eastern Ukraine city as NATO warns of long war

Russia said on Sunday it seized a village near Ukraine's industrial city of Sievierodonetsk, a prime target in Moscow's campaign to control the country's east, as the head of NATO predicted the war could last for years.

www.reuters.com

Dear lord, I sure hope he's wrong.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

"The offensive in the Sievierodonetsk direction is developing successfully," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a video statement. He said the settlement of Metyolkine, on the eastern outskirts of the city, had been taken.


"The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to strike military targets on the territory of Ukraine," he said.

Konashenkov said long-range Kalibr cruise missiles struck a command centre in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing Ukrainian generals and officers, including from the general staff.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the details or toll of Russia's strikes on Ukraine.

Russia says eastern attack is going well, strikes Ukraine with missiles

Russia said on Sunday that its offensive against Sievierodonetsk in eastern Ukraine was proceeding successfully after it took control of a district in the outskirts of the city.

www.reuters.com

 

[GTX]

Russia's war in Ukraine is risking global famine, warns EU specialist

Despite it's reputation as the "breadbasket of the world", the war in Ukraine has stymied grain exports, which experts fear will have global consequences.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

M113 Armored Personnel Carriers donated by Australia are on the way to

According to pictures released by the Australian Ministry of Defense, the first Australian Army M113 tracked armored vehicles donated to Ukraine are on the

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Dimlee]

I find it slightly bemusing when Putin talks of restoring the greatness of old mother Russia.

Lets look at why Imperial Russia collapsed.

1. The vast majority of the wealth of the country was held by a very, very small few
2. The people were more pretty well ignored
3. Technically they fell behind the rest of the world
4. The people were used as cannon fodder during any conflict
5. Leadership in those conflicts was based on how close you were to the leader, and not on your ability
6. The military suffered huge losses
7. Result - The revolution

Now a Question for you all -

Does any of this sound at all familiar ?

There were many reasons for the end of the Russian Empire, including some of the listed.
The fall of the Empire which happened in February 1917 could have become "the end of the beginning" in the long chain of reforms that could transform the country into something more modern. And for the country itself, it was not a collapse but rather a difficult transition. Unfortunately, Republic was short-lived and weak and after the Bolshevist coup, the actual collapse happened.
As for the current situation in Russian Federation, I wouldn't hope for any "revolution". The state is stable, military losses are hardly noticed by the population which is brainwashed and apathetic and enjoys material comfort unimaginable for the earlier generations, and export revenues are satisfactory. GDP contraction is expected to be not worse than in 2008-2009. Opposition is silenced and pushed out of the country.

 

[Dimlee]

Funny how Putler only sticks to recent history to make his case.

Now if he were to state that the Golden Horde were historically Russian, he can go and claim Mongolia...

Vikings were among the founders of Kievan Rus', so... Ah, and there is Alaska.