Undead Forums of ZS

Quote from: majorhavoc on February 12, 2022, 07:30:44 AM
I was thinking yesterday that the Second World War was preceeded by a large, aggressive country annexing territory in a much weaker country (the Sudeteland in Czechoslovakia).  Followed by the invasion of a large eastern European country, namely Poland. 

Today, we have Russia, having annexed Crimea, looking like it's about to to invade an even larger eastern European country, namely Ukraine.

Land wars in Europe make me very nervous.

Quote from: flybynight on February 18, 2022, 06:28:32 PM
In remarks delivered from the White House on Friday, President Biden said he was certain that Russian President Vladimir Putin would invade Ukraine, thus plunging Europe into war.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-im-convinced-putin-plans-to-invade-ukraine-225250690.html



Within the next few days, this topic will more than likely  have to be moved to DICE. ( If a Russian cyber attack hasn't taken down the electric grid ) I'm reminded of the soup thread on the old boards

Quote from: majorhavoc on February 21, 2022, 10:14:38 PM
https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/russia-ukraine-putin-has-list-of-ukrainians-to-be-killed-or-sent-to-camps-u-s-warns (https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/russia-ukraine-putin-has-list-of-ukrainians-to-be-killed-or-sent-to-camps-u-s-warns)

QuoteIn a fiery speech earlier Monday, Putin blasted Kyiv's growing security ties with the West, and in lengthy remarks about the history of the USSR and the formation of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, appeared to cast doubt on Ukraine's right to self-determination.
"Ukraine has never had traditions of its own statehood," he said, calling the eastern part of the country "ancient Russian lands."

Quote from: aikorob on February 23, 2022, 11:19:57 PM
Reports are spotty....................
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795 (https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795)
airports seem to be taking the most hits
https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/president-vladimir-putin-authorises-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/news-story/b4b8640ef05e2974d2dea98c95755241 (https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/president-vladimir-putin-authorises-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/news-story/b4b8640ef05e2974d2dea98c95755241)

Mrs. hasn't been able to contact her family.................internet and phones are down in Odessa  :headbang:

Quote from: Ever (Zombiepreparation) on February 23, 2022, 11:40:28 PM

Quote from: aikorob on February 23, 2022, 11:19:57 PM
Reports are spotty....................
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795 (https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795)
airports seem to be taking the most hits
https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/president-vladimir-putin-authorises-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/news-story/b4b8640ef05e2974d2dea98c95755241 (https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/president-vladimir-putin-authorises-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/news-story/b4b8640ef05e2974d2dea98c95755241)

Mrs. hasn't been able to contact her family.................internet and phones are down in Odessa  :headbang:

yeah

(my best to you and your family's efforts right now)

Quote from: aikorob on February 23, 2022, 11:19:57 PM
Reports are spotty....................
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795 (https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795)
airports seem to be taking the most hits
https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/president-vladimir-putin-authorises-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/news-story/b4b8640ef05e2974d2dea98c95755241 (https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/president-vladimir-putin-authorises-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/news-story/b4b8640ef05e2974d2dea98c95755241)

Mrs. hasn't been able to contact her family.................internet and phones are down in Odessa  :headbang:

Quote from: majorhavoc on February 23, 2022, 10:32:45 PM
So many people are going to die in the coming hours and days.  Many of them innocents.   :-[

I have no words ...

Quote from: aikorob on February 23, 2022, 11:19:57 PM
Mrs. hasn't been able to contact her family.................internet and phones are down in Odessa  :headbang:

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on February 24, 2022, 08:12:58 AM

Quote from: majorhavoc on February 23, 2022, 10:32:45 PM
So many people are going to die in the coming hours and days.  Many of them innocents.   :-[

I have no words ...

I have words, but I think the admins would smack me if I used any of them.

Quote from: aikorob on February 24, 2022, 09:38:45 AM
she finally was able to skype mom and sister around 1 AM (7 AM Odessa time)
all were OK. Both reported hearing explosions from direction of airport ---none reported on port facilities

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
Just out of curiosity what does the UFOZS hive mind say about these scenarios:

1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan.   
2. Balkan states invaded. 
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.
4. Russia attacks NATO country (other than the Balkan states). 

Quote from: aikorob on February 24, 2022, 09:38:45 AM
she finally was able to skype mom and sister around 1 AM (7 AM Odessa time)
all were OK. Both reported hearing explosions from direction of airport ---none reported on port facilities

3 prongs of attack reported---out of Crimea, from Russia, through Belarus
capture of Odessa would give Putin a large 12 month port with an excellent rail network

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
I am genuinely surprised by the ferocity of the attack. I am not surprised by the response of the rest of the world is basically one of resignation.

Just out of curiosity what does the UFOZS hive mind say about these scenarios:

1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan an does so.
2. Balkan states invaded.
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.
4. Russia attacks NATO country (other than the Balkan states).

BTW the US financial markets are actually up today.  :rolleyes1:

All the markets defecated early on but then staged a rally. Oil is down from the high.

Business as usual... :eek1:

QuoteThe Ukrainian government is giving weapons to any of its citizens who are willing to fight. They need to go guerilla rather than frontal assault. Keep pecking away at the Russian supply chains and infrastructure.

QuoteLETS GET THIS TO THE TOP Dear Ukrainians!

I heard on social media that there is fake news being spread (most likely by Russia backed trolls) that polish border is closed.

It's a lie.

If you seek asylum - go towards polish border. We are ready for your arrival. We have reception points ready at the border where you can find shelter, food, medical and legal aid.

Polish government launched a dedicated site to help you: ua.gov.pl

Please share this information if you know anyone seeking help right now.

EDIT: YOU DON'T NEED VISA TO PASS THROUGH POLISH BORDER. ALL YOU NEED IS PASSPORT. VISAS ARE SUSPENDED! YOU DON'T NEED THEM FOR TIME BEING!!!!!!

EDIT2: as a proof that you no longer need visa:

• ⁠in Ukrainian https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina---ua • ⁠in English https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en


Шановні українці!

У соцмережах я чув, що поширюються фейкові новини (скоріше за все, підтримувані Росією тролі), що польський кордон закритий.

Це брехня.

Якщо ви шукаєте притулку – йдіть до польського кордону. Ми готові до вашого приїзду. На кордоні готові пункти прийому, де ви можете знайти притулок, їжу, медичну та правову допомогу.

Польський уряд запустив спеціальний сайт, щоб допомогти вам: ua.gov.pl

Будь ласка, поділіться цією інформацією, якщо ви знаєте когось, хто зараз шукає допомоги.

РЕДАКТИРОВАТИ: ВАМ НЕ ПОТРІБНА ВІЗА ДЛЯ ПРОЙДЖЕННЯ ПОЛЬСЬКИМ КОРДОНОМ. ВСЕ, що ВАМ ПОТРІБНО, - це ПАСПОРТ. ВІЗИ ПРИСПИНЕНО! ВОНИ ВАМ НЕ ПОТРІБНИ НА ЧАС!!!!!!

EDIT2: як доказ того, що вам більше не потрібна віза:

• ⁠українською https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina---ua • ⁠англійською https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en

Вибачте, якщо це дурниця, я використовував Google Translate

Quote from: flybynight on February 24, 2022, 08:19:47 PM
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.

QuoteThe Ukrainian government is giving weapons to any of its citizens who are willing to fight. They need to go guerilla rather than frontal assault. Keep pecking away at the Russian supply chains and infrastructure.

This . and then none of the others are possible  (at least in the foreseeable future.)
  Ukraine needs to bleed the giant with a thousand tiny cuts

Quote from: EBuff75 on February 24, 2022, 08:38:18 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 24, 2022, 08:19:47 PM
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.

QuoteThe Ukrainian government is giving weapons to any of its citizens who are willing to fight. They need to go guerilla rather than frontal assault. Keep pecking away at the Russian supply chains and infrastructure.

This . and then none of the others are possible  (at least in the foreseeable future.)
  Ukraine needs to bleed the giant with a thousand tiny cuts

I've been thinking they needed to do this for weeks, as it might have shown the resolve of the entire country to fight.  But it seems that many people there really had their heads buried in the ground, so nothing really started to be done along these lines until it was really too late to do much.  If they'd handed out hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of rifles and ammo to go with them all, that might have been enough to really give the Russians some pause. 

But it's been astonishing to hear everyone from President Zelenskyy all the way down to the "man on the street" appearing to be genuinely shocked that Russia actually invaded. Zelenskyy even said just a few days ago that he doubted anything would happen and that there would just be a diplomatic solution.  He didn't seem to change his mind until Putin refused to take his call earlier in the week.  That really seemed to rattle him.  Maybe that was when he finally realized that this was actually going to happen.

Those recruitment centers said that they'd seen a gradual increase in people signing up, but it hadn't really picked up significantly until last week, at which point they said they were getting about 200 people a day.  Still not that many, but better than the 20 per day they were getting in the month prior, or the 2-5 per day they were getting late last year.

Quote from: Anianna on February 24, 2022, 09:09:48 PM

Quote from: EBuff75 on February 24, 2022, 08:38:18 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 24, 2022, 08:19:47 PM
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.

QuoteThe Ukrainian government is giving weapons to any of its citizens who are willing to fight. They need to go guerilla rather than frontal assault. Keep pecking away at the Russian supply chains and infrastructure.

This . and then none of the others are possible  (at least in the foreseeable future.)
  Ukraine needs to bleed the giant with a thousand tiny cuts

I've been thinking they needed to do this for weeks, as it might have shown the resolve of the entire country to fight.  But it seems that many people there really had their heads buried in the ground, so nothing really started to be done along these lines until it was really too late to do much.  If they'd handed out hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of rifles and ammo to go with them all, that might have been enough to really give the Russians some pause. 

But it's been astonishing to hear everyone from President Zelenskyy all the way down to the "man on the street" appearing to be genuinely shocked that Russia actually invaded. Zelenskyy even said just a few days ago that he doubted anything would happen and that there would just be a diplomatic solution.  He didn't seem to change his mind until Putin refused to take his call earlier in the week.  That really seemed to rattle him.  Maybe that was when he finally realized that this was actually going to happen.

Those recruitment centers said that they'd seen a gradual increase in people signing up, but it hadn't really picked up significantly until last week, at which point they said they were getting about 200 people a day.  Still not that many, but better than the 20 per day they were getting in the month prior, or the 2-5 per day they were getting late last year.

Some of the English news outlets had been interviewing Ukrainian citizens for the past couple of weeks and many seemed very dismissive that Russia would actually invade.  Some of them directly said it wouldn't happen and that we were silly to think it would.  I don't know if they were just in denial or legitimately thought Putin didn't have the balls.  News today demonstrated that a lot of them were not prepared as shown by backups at gas stations, crowds at ATMs, and panic shopping.

If some of the reports are accurate, even some of the Russian troops didn't believe it.  One of the Russian platoons is reported to have surrendered to Ukrainian troops stating that they didn't know they would be expected to kill Ukrainians.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/595728-ukrainian-ambassador-says-russian-platoon-surrendered-to-ukrainian (https://thehill.com/policy/international/595728-ukrainian-ambassador-says-russian-platoon-surrendered-to-ukrainian)

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
I am genuinely surprised by the ferocity of the attack. I am not surprised by the response of the rest of the world is basically one of resignation.

Just out of curiosity what does the UFOZS hive mind say about these scenarios:

1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan an does so.

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
I am genuinely surprised by the ferocity of the attack. I am not surprised by the response of the rest of the world is basically one of resignation.

Just out of curiosity what does the UFOZS hive mind say about these scenarios:

1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan an does so.
2. Balkan states invaded.
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.
4. Russia attacks NATO country (other than the Balkan states).

...

Quote from: Ever (Zombiepreparation) on February 24, 2022, 10:28:52 PM

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
I am genuinely surprised by the ferocity of the attack. I am not surprised by the response of the rest of the world is basically one of resignation.

Just out of curiosity what does the UFOZS hive mind say about these scenarios:

1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan an does so.

My money's on this

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan an does so.
2. Balkan states invaded.
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.
4. Russia attacks NATO country (other than the Balkan states).

Quote from: DarkAxel on February 25, 2022, 12:52:15 AM

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
I am genuinely surprised by the ferocity of the attack. I am not surprised by the response of the rest of the world is basically one of resignation.

Just out of curiosity what does the UFOZS hive mind say about these scenarios:

1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan an does so.
2. Balkan states invaded.
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.
4. Russia attacks NATO country (other than the Balkan states).

...

Balkan or Baltic?

If Baltic, like in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, I don't see it happening. If Russia starts shooting at NATO members then treaties kick in right along with WWIII. Anything less would result in the collapse of NATO, and that's Russia's ultimate goal.

Quote from: Raptor on February 25, 2022, 12:48:49 PM
This by its nature must be deemed politics; it is Putin's speech he made to the Russian people on Feb 24, 2022. That said his speech is IMO important for us to read to attempt to understand what he is telling others about the actions in the Ukraine.

I am not going to quote it and ask that no one else quote it and that we stay away from the politics of his statements. This is one of those difficult to present items.

Full disclosure:
I obtained this originally from this site (Kremlin News site) which is now un-accessible (at least to me).
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67843 (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67843)

However I found this site that seemed to have the word for word translation on it.

Note I do not vouch for the 100% accuracy of the translation nor this secondary site beyond what I have stated above.
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2022/02/24/here-is-the-full-text-of-putins-speech-this-morning-feb-24-2022/ (https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2022/02/24/here-is-the-full-text-of-putins-speech-this-morning-feb-24-2022/)

Quote from: Anianna on February 25, 2022, 01:15:58 PM
Unconfirmed, but Russia may have threatened Sweden and Finland if they join NATO:

https://old.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/t17ejn/this_should_interest_you_all_russia_just/ (https://old.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/t17ejn/this_should_interest_you_all_russia_just/)

Quote from: NT2C on February 25, 2022, 02:12:04 PM
How long until he starts referring to Alaska too as "historically Russian land"?

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 25, 2022, 02:15:42 PM

Quote from: NT2C on February 25, 2022, 02:12:04 PM
How long until he starts referring to Alaska too as "historically Russian land"?

I give it a week or two.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on February 25, 2022, 02:17:12 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 25, 2022, 02:15:42 PM

Quote from: NT2C on February 25, 2022, 02:12:04 PM
How long until he starts referring to Alaska too as "historically Russian land"?

I give it a week or two.

Sounds about right.

Quote from: Raptor on February 25, 2022, 12:06:53 PM

Quote from: DarkAxel on February 25, 2022, 12:52:15 AM

Quote from: Raptor on February 24, 2022, 05:50:41 PM
I am genuinely surprised by the ferocity of the attack. I am not surprised by the response of the rest of the world is basically one of resignation.

Just out of curiosity what does the UFOZS hive mind say about these scenarios:

1. PRC sees this as a good time to invade Taiwan an does so.
2. Balkan states invaded.
3. Ukraine fights long enough and hard enough to get to a ceasefire.
4. Russia attacks NATO country (other than the Balkan states).

...

Balkan or Baltic?

If Baltic, like in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, I don't see it happening. If Russia starts shooting at NATO members then treaties kick in right along with WWIII. Anything less would result in the collapse of NATO, and that's Russia's ultimate goal.

I meant the Balkan Countries (not Baltic). IMO I do not think Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia offer any geographic advantage in the Baltics that Russia does not already have with the Kalingrad Oblast (a.k.a. Königsberg) to make that worth a war with a NATO country. Russia can control the Baltic north and South as it is.

However that is a good point since they have been a historical part of Russia (as has Finland) since 1795'ish. The Russian Czars included the Grand Prince and Prince titles in the many titles that the historic (now extinct) Czar of all the Russias claimed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia#Titles_and_styles

Russia's historic support of factions in the Balkan states is what bring them to my attention. A warm water port at Odessa still has to go through the Bosporus  straight. A port on the Mediterranean Sea by pass that inconvenience.

A good article on this matter. (Note contains some politics)
https://exit.al/en/2022/02/25/analysis-war-with-russia-and-what-it-means-for-the-western-balkans/


BTW I consider my self good on the subject of geography but I do have problems keeping track of which countries are in NATO. So I attached the map graphic below to help me with the discussion.

Quote from: Anianna on February 25, 2022, 01:15:58 PM
Unconfirmed, but Russia may have threatened Sweden and Finland if they join NATO:

https://old.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/t17ejn/this_should_interest_you_all_russia_just/

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 25, 2022, 09:07:39 PM
When did we enter the Twilight Zone ?

I never thought I'd see the day where the friggin' Taliban would be calling for peace. :eek1:

Quote from: flybynight on February 26, 2022, 01:37:02 PM
I'm kind of surprised we are not seeing volunteer citizens of other countries going to Ukraine to fight the russians . Ordinary citizens, ex -mil , SOF mercenary types

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 26, 2022, 02:24:41 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 26, 2022, 01:37:02 PM
I'm kind of surprised we are not seeing volunteer citizens of other countries going to Ukraine to fight the russians . Ordinary citizens, ex -mil , SOF mercenary types

Depending on how much longer this invasion goes on for, I'd be surprised if we didn't see that happening.

Quote from: NT2C on February 26, 2022, 03:38:27 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 26, 2022, 02:24:41 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 26, 2022, 01:37:02 PM
I'm kind of surprised we are not seeing volunteer citizens of other countries going to Ukraine to fight the russians . Ordinary citizens, ex -mil , SOF mercenary types

Depending on how much longer this invasion goes on for, I'd be surprised if we didn't see that happening.

I'm hearing whispers that it already is.

Quote from: NT2C on February 25, 2022, 02:12:04 PM
How long until he starts referring to Alaska too as "historically Russian land"?

Quote from: NT2C on February 26, 2022, 03:38:27 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 26, 2022, 02:24:41 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 26, 2022, 01:37:02 PM
I'm kind of surprised we are not seeing volunteer citizens of other countries going to Ukraine to fight the russians . Ordinary citizens, ex -mil , SOF mercenary types

Depending on how much longer this invasion goes on for, I'd be surprised if we didn't see that happening.

I'm hearing whispers that it already is.

QuoteWhat we need from your country is three things,'' he said. ''First, a hospital; second, something to stop the helicopters, and third, something to stop the tanks. Without them we will lose. We will fight our own war. We are not afraid of the Russians, but we are afraid of their helicopters.

Quote from: aikorob on February 26, 2022, 10:21:04 PM
just saw this   :smiley_clap:

Quote from: Lambykins on February 27, 2022, 08:35:48 AM
Well, shit.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-troops-enter-second-largest-080130265.html (https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-troops-enter-second-largest-080130265.html)

"USA TODAY
Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert; Ukrainians, Russians agree to talks - live updates
Jordan Culver and Caren Bohan, USA TODAY
Sun, February 27, 2022, 9:26 AM
In a significant escalation of East-West tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces put on high alert Sunday. He said the move was a response to "aggressive statements" by leading NATO powers and economic sanctions by the West. "

Quote from: mzmc on February 27, 2022, 03:39:42 PM
It's legitimate salvage.

Quote from: EBuff75 on February 27, 2022, 04:03:56 PM

Quote from: mzmc on February 27, 2022, 03:39:42 PM
It's legitimate salvage.

It might be better described as a "battle(field) pick-up".  Just make sure to put some updated markings on it!   :smiley_clap:

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 27, 2022, 07:13:47 PM
Amazon has seen an uptick in sales of Ukrainian morale patches and t-shirts. Pretty much anything with "Ukraine" on it is selling really fast.

I need to pick up a couple new morale patches anyway, so I might snag a couple Ukraine flag ones while I'm at it.

Quote from: mzmc on February 27, 2022, 03:39:42 PM
It's legitimate salvage.

Quote from: Anianna on February 27, 2022, 07:17:56 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 27, 2022, 07:13:47 PM
Amazon has seen an uptick in sales of Ukrainian morale patches and t-shirts. Pretty much anything with "Ukraine" on it is selling really fast.

I need to pick up a couple new morale patches anyway, so I might snag a couple Ukraine flag ones while I'm at it.

Try to buy from a company supporting Ukraine if you can.  Nothing bought from Amazon is supporting them.

Quotehttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/neutral-swiss-adopt-sanctions-against-russia-2022-02-28/

Quote from: NT2C on February 27, 2022, 08:43:44 PM
Translated:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/t2wq63/georgian_ship_refused_to_give_fuel_to_a_russian/?ref=share&ref_source=link

Quote from: wee drop o bush on February 28, 2022, 10:24:39 AM
Switzerland has announced that it has adopted EU sanctions against Russia.

Quotehttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/neutral-swiss-adopt-sanctions-against-russia-2022-02-28/

Quote from: mzmc on February 28, 2022, 10:27:26 AM
I'm honestly not sure if I'm too hot about Civilian vessels denying each other services over politics. Not unless their flag states are actively at war.

I hope that was in coastal waters, not on the high seas. Or the next thing you know, someone is declaring an emergeny that could have been prevented.

I mean, forget international law, there are hundreds of years of marine tradition and conventions, that all exist for a reason.


On the other hand, totally, fuck them. So there's that.

Quote from: RickOShea on February 28, 2022, 12:38:07 PM
The truth is fluid....




https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1498266613002424325?cxt=HHwWisCy7fvi9MopAAAA

Quote from: Crosscut on February 28, 2022, 03:21:20 PM

Quote from: RickOShea on February 28, 2022, 12:38:07 PM
The truth is fluid....




https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1498266613002424325?cxt=HHwWisCy7fvi9MopAAAA

Question everything, especially those things you really want to believe.

Quote from: mzmc on February 28, 2022, 10:27:26 AM

Quote from: NT2C on February 27, 2022, 08:43:44 PM
Translated:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/t2wq63/georgian_ship_refused_to_give_fuel_to_a_russian/?ref=share&ref_source=link

I'm honestly not sure if I'm too hot about Civilian vessels denying each other services over politics. Not unless their flag states are actively at war.
----- snip -----
On the other hand, totally, fuck them. So there's that.

Quote from: flybynight on February 28, 2022, 07:36:11 PM
Are we dealing with an unbalanced madman ?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/photos-putin-keeps-his-distance-during-meetings-194633383.html

Quote from: NT2C on February 26, 2022, 03:38:27 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 26, 2022, 02:24:41 PM

Quote from: flybynight on February 26, 2022, 01:37:02 PM
I'm kind of surprised we are not seeing volunteer citizens of other countries going to Ukraine to fight the russians . Ordinary citizens, ex -mil , SOF mercenary types

Depending on how much longer this invasion goes on for, I'd be surprised if we didn't see that happening.

I'm hearing whispers that it already is.

Quote from: wee drop o bush on March 01, 2022, 01:42:44 PM
Dopaminergic medication for Parkinson's can cause psychosis, I know this as my good friends Mum had Parkinson's and medicating her effectively was a balancing act between lessening her shakes and still keeping her sane. Maybe this is what's rattling Putins sabers

Quote from: NT2C on March 01, 2022, 06:16:15 PM
Dee Snider approves Ukrainians' use of 'We're Not Gonna Take It' amid Russian invasion (https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/dee-snider-ukrainian-were-not-gonna-take-it-russian-invasion?fbclid=IwAR1QCoJIv7oeu8gWyXgLFoWB5kcCYfLHBVXnlY-PQy_ATDC18GlB0UUgtlY)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9AbeALNVkk

Quote from: Johan on March 01, 2022, 05:25:09 AM
Now they seem to make it official.  :smiley_clap:

https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-creates-foreign-legion-volunteers-abroad-join-fight-russia-1683024

Quote from: Anianna on March 01, 2022, 09:26:21 PM
I'm just going to drop this here:

Russell Bonner Bentley
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/son-wealthy-businessman-foot-soldier-vladimir-putin-russia-hacking/


2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cA9cGUGr00


Current
https://www.reddit.com/r/yourmomshousepodcast/comments/t3yk92/super_cool_guy_from_texas_fighting_along_side/

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 03:04:29 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 01, 2022, 09:26:21 PM
I'm just going to drop this here:

Russell Bonner Bentley
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/son-wealthy-businessman-foot-soldier-vladimir-putin-russia-hacking/


2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cA9cGUGr00


Current
https://www.reddit.com/r/yourmomshousepodcast/comments/t3yk92/super_cool_guy_from_texas_fighting_along_side/

The info I've been able to find on this guy suggests he's been embedded with the Russians since 2014 when fighting began in the Donbass region of Ukraine.

Makes me wonder how many others there are like him there.

Quote from: Optimist on March 02, 2022, 04:12:14 AM

Quote from: Johan on March 01, 2022, 05:25:09 AM
Now they seem to make it official.  :smiley_clap:

https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-creates-foreign-legion-volunteers-abroad-join-fight-russia-1683024

I totally understand why people would want to go fight for Ukraine against the Russian invaders. It strikes me as a pretty bad idea unless a person speaks the language and has a good understanding of the local geography and politics, or at least is part of a group that has members with that knowledge that the person has good reason to trust. I don't mean this just in reference to the current war in Ukraine, but conflicts more broadly. It seems like it would be pretty easy to end up in "Wait, are we the baddies?" situations.

Quote from: Anianna on March 02, 2022, 03:48:03 PM
I saw this claim today: Ukrainian authorities have informed citizens that you don't need to declare captured Russian tanks or any equipment they pick up as personal income

Quote from: mzmc on March 02, 2022, 04:00:58 PM
Yeah... you remember those Western volunteers who joined the YPG to fight ISIS, many of them without prior military experience?

Do you know the first thing the Kurds did? Teach them how to field strip an AK blindfolded? Training in small unit combat tactics?

Nope. Crash courses in Kurdish, basic Arabic, and the religious, political and historical background of the conflict.

Because, really, anything else just spells disaster.


EDIT: spelling

Quote from: Anianna on March 02, 2022, 03:47:34 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 03:04:29 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 01, 2022, 09:26:21 PM
I'm just going to drop this here:

Russell Bonner Bentley
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/son-wealthy-businessman-foot-soldier-vladimir-putin-russia-hacking/


2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cA9cGUGr00


Current
https://www.reddit.com/r/yourmomshousepodcast/comments/t3yk92/super_cool_guy_from_texas_fighting_along_side/

The info I've been able to find on this guy suggests he's been embedded with the Russians since 2014 when fighting began in the Donbass region of Ukraine.

Makes me wonder how many others there are like him there.

Yea, the Vice Interview was from 2015.  He seems to have put on a little weight between then and now, so not sure how actively he's been fighting, but he's definitely been over there for years.

Quote from: flybynight on March 02, 2022, 04:18:44 PM
https://news.yahoo.com/photos-russia-targets-ukraine-civilians-183123295.html (https://news.yahoo.com/photos-russia-targets-ukraine-civilians-183123295.html)

Quote from: aikorob on March 02, 2022, 07:04:58 PM

Quote from: flybynight on March 02, 2022, 04:18:44 PM
https://news.yahoo.com/photos-russia-targets-ukraine-civilians-183123295.html (https://news.yahoo.com/photos-russia-targets-ukraine-civilians-183123295.html)

Mrs. is seeing reports of thermobaric shells\bombs being used in Kyiv and Kharkiv

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 07:39:10 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

I could be wrong and I likely am, but it looks like a few of those tubes on that launcher aren't empty.

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:40:06 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 07:39:10 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

I could be wrong and I likely am, but it looks like a few of those tubes on that launcher aren't empty.

Yet.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 08:14:55 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:40:06 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 07:39:10 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

I could be wrong and I likely am, but it looks like a few of those tubes on that launcher aren't empty.

Yet.

I wonder how much Russian equipment is getting turned against the Russians.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 02, 2022, 08:28:33 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 08:14:55 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:40:06 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 07:39:10 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

I could be wrong and I likely am, but it looks like a few of those tubes on that launcher aren't empty.

Yet.

I wonder how much Russian equipment is getting turned against the Russians.

I keep thinking of that 40 mile long convoy of Russian military vehicles north of Kyiv that the Pentagon says has made "no appreciable progress" for two days now.  Just strung out along that highway.  Wish the Ukranians had something to hit it with.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 02, 2022, 08:28:33 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 08:14:55 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:40:06 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 07:39:10 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

I could be wrong and I likely am, but it looks like a few of those tubes on that launcher aren't empty.

Yet.

I wonder how much Russian equipment is getting turned against the Russians.

I keep thinking of that 40 mile long convoy of Russian military vehicles north of Kyiv that the Pentagon says has made "no appreciable progress" for two days now.  Just strung out along that highway.  Wish the Ukranians had something to hit it with.

Quote from: Anianna on March 02, 2022, 08:45:44 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 02, 2022, 08:28:33 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 08:14:55 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:40:06 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 07:39:10 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

I could be wrong and I likely am, but it looks like a few of those tubes on that launcher aren't empty.

Yet.

I wonder how much Russian equipment is getting turned against the Russians.

I keep thinking of that 40 mile long convoy of Russian military vehicles north of Kyiv that the Pentagon says has made "no appreciable progress" for two days now.  Just strung out along that highway.  Wish the Ukranians had something to hit it with.

They have weapons.  I wonder why they aren't just decimating the whole line.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 08:46:15 PMIf only the Ukrainians had a bunch of A-10s.

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 02, 2022, 09:28:55 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 02, 2022, 08:45:44 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 02, 2022, 08:28:33 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 08:14:55 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:40:06 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 02, 2022, 07:39:10 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 02, 2022, 07:37:40 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link (https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/t4cbu7/the_ukrainian_army_has_captured_an_abandoned/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

I could be wrong and I likely am, but it looks like a few of those tubes on that launcher aren't empty.

Yet.

I wonder how much Russian equipment is getting turned against the Russians.

I keep thinking of that 40 mile long convoy of Russian military vehicles north of Kyiv that the Pentagon says has made "no appreciable progress" for two days now.  Just strung out along that highway.  Wish the Ukranians had something to hit it with.

They have weapons.  I wonder why they aren't just decimating the whole line.

From quite a few of the pictures it looks like much of it is open farmland.  Not a lot of places to hide for an ambush.

QuoteBERLIN, March 2 (Reuters) - German authorities have seized a nearly $600 million luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who has faced European Union sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Forbes reported, citing sources in the yacht industry.

The more-than-500-foot (150 meter) Dilbar superyacht, which boasts a 25-meter swimming pool, was taken in the northern port of Hamburg, the Forbes website reported. Separately on Thursday, French authorites took control of a yacht they said belonged to Rosneft boss Igor Sechin

Quote from: NT2C on March 03, 2022, 02:49:53 PM
"They were like monkeys with the last banana on Earth."

Quote from: NT2C on March 03, 2022, 02:49:53 PM
"They were like monkeys with the last banana on Earth."

Quote from: NT2C on March 03, 2022, 02:49:53 PM
"They were like monkeys with the last banana on Earth."

Quote from: aikorob on March 03, 2022, 06:33:13 PM
:panic: :panic: :panic:

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/disaster-pmn/ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-zaporizhzhia-on-fire-town-mayor-says (https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/disaster-pmn/ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-zaporizhzhia-on-fire-town-mayor-says)
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3419555-zaporizhzhia-npp-declares-nuclear-threat-due-to-shelling-by-russias-heavy-weapons.html (https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3419555-zaporizhzhia-npp-declares-nuclear-threat-due-to-shelling-by-russias-heavy-weapons.html)

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 05, 2022, 07:40:42 PM
Video appears to show Russian-backed forces firing on protesters.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/03/05/world/russia-ukraine/videos-show-what-appear-to-be-russian-backed-forces-firing-at-protesters (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/03/05/world/russia-ukraine/videos-show-what-appear-to-be-russian-backed-forces-firing-at-protesters)

Quote from: CG on March 06, 2022, 01:35:41 PM
So...what skills do you have?

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 06, 2022, 01:37:51 PM

Quote from: CG on March 06, 2022, 01:35:41 PM
So...what skills do you have?

Other than taking up space and having a brain filled with useless trivia, I got nothing.

Quote from: NT2C on March 06, 2022, 02:27:18 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 06, 2022, 01:37:51 PM

Quote from: CG on March 06, 2022, 01:35:41 PM
So...what skills do you have?

Other than taking up space and having a brain filled with useless trivia, I got nothing.

So, you and I get to lead the charge?  I've got the flag... you the guy banging the drum or the one playing the fife?

Quote from: DarkAxel on March 06, 2022, 03:55:44 PM
Foundations of Geopolitics by Aleksandr Dugin.

If you want to know what's been driving Russian foreign policy, I'd suggest familiarizing yourself with it. I'm not going to link it here for obvious reasons, but it's worth checking into. Keep in mind this book was published in 1997.

Quote from: DarkAxel on March 06, 2022, 03:55:44 PM
Foundations of Geopolitics by Aleksandr Dugin.

If you want to know what's been driving Russian foreign policy, I'd suggest familiarizing yourself with it. I'm not going to link it here for obvious reasons, but it's worth checking into. Keep in mind this book was published in 1997.

QuoteUkraine should be annexed by Russia because "Ukraine as a state has no geopolitical meaning, no particular cultural import or universal significance, no geographic uniqueness, no ethnic exclusiveness, its certain territorial ambitions represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia and, without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics". Ukraine should not be allowed to remain independent, unless it is cordon sanitaire, which would be inadmissible.

Quote from: Anianna on March 06, 2022, 06:10:11 PM

QuoteUkraine should be annexed by Russia because "Ukraine as a state has no geopolitical meaning, no particular cultural import or universal significance, no geographic uniqueness, no ethnic exclusiveness, its certain territorial ambitions represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia and, without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics". Ukraine should not be allowed to remain independent, unless it is cordon sanitaire, which would be inadmissible.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 06, 2022, 06:24:20 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 06, 2022, 06:10:11 PM

QuoteUkraine should be annexed by Russia because "Ukraine as a state has no geopolitical meaning, no particular cultural import or universal significance, no geographic uniqueness, no ethnic exclusiveness, its certain territorial ambitions represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia and, without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics". Ukraine should not be allowed to remain independent, unless it is cordon sanitaire, which would be inadmissible.

Hmm.  By that reasoning, half the countries in Europe have no right to exist ...

Quote from: Anianna on March 06, 2022, 06:10:11 PM

Quote from: DarkAxel on March 06, 2022, 03:55:44 PM
Foundations of Geopolitics by Aleksandr Dugin.

If you want to know what's been driving Russian foreign policy, I'd suggest familiarizing yourself with it. I'm not going to link it here for obvious reasons, but it's worth checking into. Keep in mind this book was published in 1997.

For those unaware it is essentially the roadmap for the acquisition and/or control of Europe by Russia and countries seen as not pandering to the US (the UK to be removed from Europe entirely as it is seen as pandering to the US) and has this to say about Ukraine (according to the Wikipedia article):

QuoteUkraine should be annexed by Russia because "Ukraine as a state has no geopolitical meaning, no particular cultural import or universal significance, no geographic uniqueness, no ethnic exclusiveness, its certain territorial ambitions represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia and, without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics". Ukraine should not be allowed to remain independent, unless it is cordon sanitaire, which would be inadmissible.

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 03, 2022, 03:15:55 PM

Quote from: NT2C on March 03, 2022, 02:49:53 PM
"They were like monkeys with the last banana on Earth."

I've been seeing "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt!!" comments for days now regarding that convoy!   :smiley_clap:

Quote from: Blast on March 03, 2022, 04:49:18 PM
Russia is actually following their standard practice of throwing lots of "low" soldiers at their opponent and slowly grinding their enemy down via shear numbers. Unlike us, the Russian government doesn't care about their own solider casualty numbers.  :(
A lot of hurt is going to happen.
-Blast

QuoteOn March 7, 2022, 13:30pm, a large truck came over to the gates of the Embassy, pulled back and torn down the gates of the Embassy.  The incident took place in the presence of Garda officers, who stood idle. 

The Embassy strongly condemns this criminal act of insanity directed against peaceful diplomatic mission.  The embassy views this incident as a clear and blatant violation of the Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations of 1961.  The Embassy is in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, demand that the Irish authorities take comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of it's staff and their family members. 

The incident is cause of extreme concern.  We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions.

QuoteOn February 24, 2022, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including the blatant targeting of innocent civilians and residential areas, and being the largest conventional military attack on a sovereign state in Europe since World War II.  The incident took place under the command of Russian authority. 

Ireland strongly condemns this criminal act of insanity directed against peaceful civilians.  Ireland views this incident as a clear and blatant violation of a multitude of international laws and treaties to which Russia is party.  If you feel your Embassy staff and their families are at risk here and wish to ensure their safety, perhaps you should remove them from the Embassy posthaste and send them to the front lines of your Ukraine offensive instead. 

The incident is cause of extreme concern.  We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 07, 2022, 02:48:57 PM
"We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions."

Oh, that is RICH.

Quote from: wee drop o bush on March 07, 2022, 03:08:20 PM

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 07, 2022, 02:48:57 PM
"We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions."

Oh, that is RICH.

I know right! ::)

QuoteRussian jets destroyed include at least four Su-34 fighter/bomber aircraft, four Su-25 ground attack fighters, two Su-30 fighter jets and nine attack helicopters. The economic cost is huge, estimated at almost a quarter of a billion pounds for warplanes alone.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QHq7SJ40dPI/mqdefault.jpg)


Each day the war is prolonged costs the Kremlin (https://12ft.io/proxy?ref=&q=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/03/05/russia-ukraine-war-economy-vladimir-putin-invasion-sanctions-cost/) about £1 billion a day – catastrophic given how hard sanctions are hitting Russia (https://12ft.io/proxy?ref=&q=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/03/04/sanctions-crippling-russias-economy/).

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 07, 2022, 03:39:57 PM

Quote from: wee drop o bush on March 07, 2022, 03:08:20 PM

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 07, 2022, 02:48:57 PM
"We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions."

Oh, that is RICH.

I know right! ::)

I wonder what the Russian equivalent of the old saying "The pot calling the kettle black" is.

Which, in this case, seems to be pretty fitting. The Ruskies invade Ukraine and then have the gall to complain about someone backing a truck into the gate of the Russian embassy in Ireland.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 07, 2022, 02:48:57 PM
"We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions."

Oh, that is RICH.

Quote from: Anianna on March 07, 2022, 06:03:06 PM
Just watched a video on TV of civilians walking down a sidewalk with luggage to escape one of the cities and the fucking Russians fire a mortar at them from behind.  Just straight up shooting fleeing civilians in the back. 

Fuck Putin sideways, straight up, upside down, and any other way possible.  Fuck his little cronies willing to just straight up fire on unarmed civilians, as well.

Quote from: wee drop o bush on March 07, 2022, 10:25:46 AM
So a Communion supply lorry has been reversed through the gates of the Russian embassy in Dublin, the man was arrested by Gardaí https://youtu.be/sb745qAe7gM

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/man-arrested-after-truck-driven-into-gates-of-russian-embassy-1.4820488
Obviously Russia isn't happy about this, they're the only unhappy ones tbh.
(//)

Quote from: NT2C on March 07, 2022, 06:14:35 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 07, 2022, 06:03:06 PM
Just watched a video on TV of civilians walking down a sidewalk with luggage to escape one of the cities and the fucking Russians fire a mortar at them from behind.  Just straight up shooting fleeing civilians in the back. 

Fuck Putin sideways, straight up, upside down, and any other way possible.  Fuck his little cronies willing to just straight up fire on unarmed civilians, as well.

I saw the same video and felt the same outrage, then I stopped for a second when I realized who was taking the video... Ukrainian troops that were right on the other side of the street.  Yes, I can rage at the killing of civilians, but were they actually the intended target?  I have a feeling the Ukrainian troops were the target and the civilians were hit by accident.  Mortar fire takes time to reach the target because of the high arc.  Even a bullet has a time of flight that can be measured in seconds at longer ranges.  The shell that hit the civilian group may have been launched just as they were leaving the building and making a break for it.  No way to control it or call it back at that point.  Then you have to question why a Ukranian squad would be so close to the civilians.  Did they not realize the kind of danger their presence was bringing to those people?

Yes, I hate the violence, hate what Putin is trying to do and the broken lives it's costing, but my hate for the person who fired that shell is tempered by the hope that they did not intend that particular result.

Quote from: NT2C on March 07, 2022, 04:05:48 PM

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 07, 2022, 02:48:57 PM
"We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions."

Oh, that is RICH.

Well... we are talking about the Irish after all.   :shades:

(Did I mention my grandfather came from the area of Cork?)  :greenguy:

Quote from: Blast on March 07, 2022, 09:05:36 PM
Another good video to possibly explain Russia's logistics problems.
https://youtu.be/b4wRdoWpw0w (https://youtu.be/b4wRdoWpw0w)
-Blast

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 08, 2022, 09:01:39 AM

Quote from: Blast on March 07, 2022, 09:05:36 PM
Another good video to possibly explain Russia's logistics problems.
https://youtu.be/b4wRdoWpw0w (https://youtu.be/b4wRdoWpw0w)
-Blast

That was a solid explanation.  It really shows the problems that come in a top-down push based logistics system, particularly when the top is full of yes-men.  :eek1:

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 08, 2022, 12:30:13 PM
Interesting analysis of how western countries are reassessing the supposedly vaunted Russian military in light of its struggles in Ukraine.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/us/politics/russia-ukraine-military.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/us/politics/russia-ukraine-military.html)

Quote from: Anianna on March 08, 2022, 04:04:30 PM

Putin and his cronies are certainly making a laughing stock of Russia, but I wonder if he's holding back.  Could it be a trap? 

Anyway, I had a dream that Ukraine won and then invaded Russia and won that, too, and Russia was broken up into several sovereign states.  It was a nice dream.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 08, 2022, 06:02:57 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 08, 2022, 04:04:30 PM

Putin and his cronies are certainly making a laughing stock of Russia, but I wonder if he's holding back.  Could it be a trap? 

Anyway, I had a dream that Ukraine won and then invaded Russia and won that, too, and Russia was broken up into several sovereign states.  It was a nice dream.

Not that my own geopolitical analysis really counts for anything, but I don't think it's a trap.  Putin has far more to lose right now demonstrating his military's incompetence than he stands to gain lulling the west into underestimating it.  For all its destructive power, a strong military's greatest strategic value comes from NOT using it, but selectively reminding your adversaries that you might.  Think "gunboat diplomacy".

But I do think he's been holding back, hoping for a quick collapse of Ukrainian resistance and a relatively sanitized operation with minimal collateral damage.  That would help him minimize international outrage and repair his standing internationally relatively quickly as the west forgets/loses interest.  As it so often does.  But that hasn't happened has it?  Holding back hasn't yielded the results Putin was hoping for.  I fear he's decided to do this the hard way.     

https://youtube.com/watch?v=pnEMkqteC6w?t=155 (https://youtube.com/watch?v=pnEMkqteC6w?t=155)

Quote from: Anianna on March 08, 2022, 10:11:12 AM
Yes men who don't value the lives of anybody socially below them, to boot.  If lives are an expendable resource, who cares if they get the supplies they need.

Quote from: Anianna on March 08, 2022, 04:04:30 PM
Putin and his cronies are certainly making a laughing stock of Russia, but I wonder if he's holding back.  Could it be a trap? 

   
• If the vehicles had been inspected properly, it's likely that at least some of that dry rot could have been identified prior to war special military operations.
• If they had enough new tires for these vehicles, they could have been replaced, ideally before they blew out.
• If they had enough manpower, they could have inspected these tires and could have seen the problem.  Also,
• If they had enough manpower, they could have been using these vehicles, and would probably have been able to prevent a lot of that dry rot.

QuoteAnyway, I had a dream that Ukraine won and then invaded Russia and won that, too, and Russia was broken up into several sovereign states.  It was a nice dream.

Quote from: Anianna on March 09, 2022, 11:03:18 AM
It's just really hard for me to even fathom the Russian military being in this state of disrepair and neglect.  I grew up being taught that Russia was the only real military power that could stand toe to toe with the U.S. on its own and only in part due to its nuclear prowess.  If you're bluffing that hard, showing your cards is a pretty daggum big gamble. 

Now I'm questioning if they even have viable nuclear capabilities.  Not that I want to find out first hand.

Quote from: Anianna on March 09, 2022, 05:59:44 PM
They bombed a children's and maternity hospital.   :headbang:

Quote from: mzmc on March 09, 2022, 12:41:53 PM
The issue with that notion, is that if you've got the largest nuclear arsenal in the world (both deployed and in reserve), the percentage that are functional can be pretty damn low. 

That also extends to delivery systems.

:-[

Quote from: Anianna on March 09, 2022, 05:59:44 PM
They bombed a children's and maternity hospital.   :headbang:

QuoteUN atomic watchdog loses contact with second nuclear plant in Ukraine

Both the Zaporizhzhia and the Chernobyl plants are now no longer transmitting data.

Quote from: Anianna on March 10, 2022, 07:55:45 PM
A potentially interesting development:

QuoteUN atomic watchdog loses contact with second nuclear plant in Ukraine

Both the Zaporizhzhia and the Chernobyl plants are now no longer transmitting data.

https://www.livescience.com/zaphorizhzhia-comms-cut

The nuclear material and activity in these facilities is no longer being monitored.  Of note, Chernobyl has been removed from the power grid and, while that means there is no active cooling, there should be sufficient heat dispersion without active cooling, but also the security system is offline.  Ukraine's power authority says there is no way to restore power to the facility, but Belarus claims it is sending a team to restore power.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 10, 2022, 09:13:28 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 10, 2022, 07:55:45 PM
A potentially interesting development:

QuoteUN atomic watchdog loses contact with second nuclear plant in Ukraine

Both the Zaporizhzhia and the Chernobyl plants are now no longer transmitting data.

https://www.livescience.com/zaphorizhzhia-comms-cut

The nuclear material and activity in these facilities is no longer being monitored.  Of note, Chernobyl has been removed from the power grid and, while that means there is no active cooling, there should be sufficient heat dispersion without active cooling, but also the security system is offline.  Ukraine's power authority says there is no way to restore power to the facility, but Belarus claims it is sending a team to restore power.

I've been wondering why the Russians made securing Chernobyl an early priority.  If their back up plan involves extorting the Ukrainian government into surrendering or they'll turn the country into an uninhabitable wasteland, that would redefine "dick move".  Or possibly, their plan could be even simpler: forget the extortion.  Just turn a significant portion of Ukraine into said uninhabitable wasteland and there's Putin's land buffer from the NATO member states. 

I really want to believe that neither option is being seriously considered by Putin.  But at this point in this horrendous conflict, nothing would surprise me.   :'(

every reactor has a "fingerprint"  ---they can identify the reactor from the spent fuel

desperate Ukrainians-afraid of losing the war-contaminate a city in Mother Russia with a dirty bomb....................and Russian citizens are galvanized to action, and now Russia won't be the one to use atomic first

Quote from: DarkAxel on March 11, 2022, 09:57:54 PM
Anywho, Russia is now claiming it can nationalize assets of companies that have left Russia (http://"https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/10/business/russia-nationalization-western-companies/index.html"). Anybody for a McPutin burger?

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 11, 2022, 08:13:53 PM
Struggling to decide whether this should go here or in Firearms Chat.  Ian McCollum (aka Gun Jesus) has some very interesting thoughts on a lesson learned from the Ukraine conflict.  Specifically the value of an armed citizenry, trained in rifle marksmanship, as a deterrent to invasion from a more powerful neighbor.  Ian used Finland as an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWdn6_ayqD8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWdn6_ayqD8)

Quote from: Anianna on March 13, 2022, 10:19:55 AM
This may be too political for discussion, but the U.S. has been sending weapons and money to Ukraine, but the decision was made not to help Poland send their migs over because that would be "WWIII".  Why is that the line?  Why are anti-tank weapons okay to send, but not fighter jets?  Can somebody explain this to me?

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 13, 2022, 10:48:09 AM

Quote from: Anianna on March 13, 2022, 10:19:55 AM
This may be too political for discussion, but the U.S. has been sending weapons and money to Ukraine, but the decision was made not to help Poland send their migs over because that would be "WWIII".  Why is that the line?  Why are anti-tank weapons okay to send, but not fighter jets?  Can somebody explain this to me?

The popular but flimsy distinction is that portable anti-tank and anti-missle weapons are strictly defensive in nature.  Whereas fighter aircraft can fulfill certain offensive roles.  But the distinction in Ukraine is meanless.  That country is fighting for its life; its right to exist.  Any weapons Ukraine might employ - aircraft, artillery, armored vehicles - they're all defensive at this point.     

But I've written my congressional rep and both of my senators pushing this exact point; facilitating the delivery of a couple dozen Soviet era fighter jets is hardly more provoactive that the latest shipment of Javelin, Stinger and NLAWs coming directly from NATO inventories.  On one level at least, WWIII has already started.  Because 21st century warfare isn't restricted to direct physical involvement anymore.  It's also fought with social media, cyber attacks and material support.  Western leaders just haven't caught up with that reality yet. 

And I continue to see historical parallels on top of that.  Russia declaring western supply convoys "legitimate targets" and this morning's strike on a western Ukrainian base used as a staging area for western arms shipments?  This the the U-boat menace all over again.  Where US merchant ships were sinking and burning right off the US eastern seaboard more than a year before the US's "official" entry into WWII.

Quote from: NT2C on March 14, 2022, 01:16:51 AM
A new stamp honors the Ukrainian soldiers who profanely told off a Russian warship (https://www.npr.org/2022/03/13/1086371078/ukraine-russian-warship-postage-stamp)

Quote from: NT2C on March 14, 2022, 01:16:51 AM
A new stamp honors the Ukrainian soldiers who profanely told off a Russian warship (https://www.npr.org/2022/03/13/1086371078/ukraine-russian-warship-postage-stamp)

Quote from: flybynight on March 13, 2022, 02:13:41 PM

John Titor was right

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 14, 2022, 07:30:04 AM

Quote from: NT2C on March 14, 2022, 01:16:51 AM
A new stamp honors the Ukrainian soldiers who profanely told off a Russian warship (https://www.npr.org/2022/03/13/1086371078/ukraine-russian-warship-postage-stamp)

It's getting harder and harder for me to understand how anyone outside of Russia and maybe Belarus can not be seriously rooting for these people.

There's a real fundraising opportunity here because I bet there's millions worldwide who would give their left nut for an authentic piece of Ukrainian mail sent with that stamp. Maybe a letter writing campaign to Ukrainian soldiers accompanied with a minimum contribution of $10 towards body armor or something. Who could object to body armor? And in return you get a reply from a Ukrainian with that stamp. I've already given to United Help Ukraine (and got my employer to do a 1 to 1 match!). But I'd sure as hell pony up another $10 to get a postcard with that stamp.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 14, 2022, 03:31:56 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 14, 2022, 07:30:04 AM

Quote from: NT2C on March 14, 2022, 01:16:51 AM
A new stamp honors the Ukrainian soldiers who profanely told off a Russian warship (https://www.npr.org/2022/03/13/1086371078/ukraine-russian-warship-postage-stamp)

It's getting harder and harder for me to understand how anyone outside of Russia and maybe Belarus can not be seriously rooting for these people.

There's a real fundraising opportunity here because I bet there's millions worldwide who would give their left nut for an authentic piece of Ukrainian mail sent with that stamp. Maybe a letter writing campaign to Ukrainian soldiers accompanied with a minimum contribution of $10 towards body armor or something. Who could object to body armor? And in return you get a reply from a Ukrainian with that stamp. I've already given to United Help Ukraine (and got my employer to do a 1 to 1 match!). But I'd sure as hell pony up another $10 to get a postcard with that stamp.

Heck yeah.  Body armor, medical supplies, lots they could do with a campaign like that.

Quote from: Anianna on March 18, 2022, 12:01:19 PM
  It's so frustrating not to get the whole picture.  Is our shoddy, biased journalism really all that much better than Russian propaganda?

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 21, 2022, 12:58:36 PM
What's the opposite of winning hearts and minds?

Quote from: Raptor on March 21, 2022, 01:48:12 PMFor what it is worth I am very surprised (pleasantly so) by the level of Ukrainian resistance and I suspect Russia is also even more surprised.

Quote from: Raptor on March 21, 2022, 01:48:12 PM
But if his true goal was security (i.e. a buffer between Russia and NATO) that goal does not make sense. Even with a vasal Ukraine that move puts the borders closer to NATO and not further away. Anyone can see that actions like that just make everyone else nervous and in reality more at risk.

Quote from: Anianna on March 21, 2022, 05:02:10 PM

Quote from: Raptor on March 21, 2022, 01:48:12 PM
But if his true goal was security (i.e. a buffer between Russia and NATO) that goal does not make sense. Even with a vasal Ukraine that move puts the borders closer to NATO and not further away. Anyone can see that actions like that just make everyone else nervous and in reality more at risk.

It was my understanding that's why NATO didn't readily accept Ukraine in the first place.  They were the buffer between NATO and Russia.  On top of Putin just having a hard on for Ukraine anyway, I think he's always been concerned that either Russia or NATO would eventually get Ukraine and he decided it was going to be him (I say him because I don't think this is so much about Russia as it is Putin and his followers).

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 21, 2022, 09:14:45 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 21, 2022, 05:02:10 PM

Quote from: Raptor on March 21, 2022, 01:48:12 PM
But if his true goal was security (i.e. a buffer between Russia and NATO) that goal does not make sense. Even with a vasal Ukraine that move puts the borders closer to NATO and not further away. Anyone can see that actions like that just make everyone else nervous and in reality more at risk.

It was my understanding that's why NATO didn't readily accept Ukraine in the first place.  They were the buffer between NATO and Russia.  On top of Putin just having a hard on for Ukraine anyway, I think he's always been concerned that either Russia or NATO would eventually get Ukraine and he decided it was going to be him (I say him because I don't think this is so much about Russia as it is Putin and his followers).

I believe there were additional reasons beyond that,although I'm sure that it was a consideration.  NATO has economic, political, and military requirements that countries have to meet before they'll be considered and IIRC, there were a number of areas which Ukraine needed to improve in order to become eligible.  For example, one thing that we tend to forget about right now is that Ukraine is the 2nd most corrupt country in Europe, being beaten out only by Russia:   https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020  That issue alone might be enough to disqualify them.

Quote from: Raptor on March 21, 2022, 01:48:12 PM

...
But if his true goal was security (i.e. a buffer between Russia and NATO) that goal does not make sense. Even with a vasal Ukraine that move puts the borders closer to NATO and not further away. Anyone can see that actions like that just make everyone else nervous and in reality more at risk.

QuoteLast night's figures said 9,861 soldiers had died in Ukraine, with 16,153 injured. About 15,000 Soviet troops died in Afghanistan after the 1979 invasion – but that was over ten years.

Ukraine has put the Russian dead at 15,000 – but the latest figures are higher than US estimate of 7,000.

The death toll was part of an update from Moscow's defence ministry – and, while they were quickly removed from the website of Komsomolskaya Pravda, a pro-government tabloid, they remained on the archive last night.

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 22, 2022, 09:44:16 PM
Saw this pop up in a few places, but I can't speak to the authenticity of the report, so take the claims with a grain of salt.  If it is true, then Russia has had a staggering number of deaths/injuries thus far in the war:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10637425/Russia-loses-10-000-men-just-four-weeks-toll-Ukraine-invasion-revealed.html   :eek1:

QuoteLast night's figures said 9,861 soldiers had died in Ukraine, with 16,153 injured. About 15,000 Soviet troops died in Afghanistan after the 1979 invasion – but that was over ten years.

Ukraine has put the Russian dead at 15,000 – but the latest figures are higher than US estimate of 7,000.

The death toll was part of an update from Moscow's defence ministry – and, while they were quickly removed from the website of Komsomolskaya Pravda, a pro-government tabloid, they remained on the archive last night.

Quote from: NT2C on March 22, 2022, 10:29:34 PM
The last number that I saw regarding KIAs claimed 14,500.

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 22, 2022, 10:50:26 PM
And now Russia is claiming that the figures of 10k killed and 16k injured were fake and were due to a hack:  https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-newspaper-blames-army-death-toll-report-hackers-2022-03-22/

QuoteAlexander Gamov, a Kremlin correspondent for the paper, said on the same call that its website had been hacked and fake information had appeared there for several minutes.A search using the non-profit Internet Archive's Wayback Machine (archive.org) showed the figures had been visible on the Komsomolskaya Pravda website for six hours and 35 minutes between 1213 GMT and 1848 GMT on Monday.
The records show the article was then briefly inaccessible before reappearing at 1939 GMT without the casualty numbers.

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 23, 2022, 02:29:41 PM
An acquaintance of mine is currently in Kyiv (dual citizen) and has been posting videos almost daily on FB regarding what is going on there and how he's trying to help people out.  I hadn't realized until today that he also has a TikTok account where the videos are publicly viewable.  Anton has been taking donations and is buying supplies to hand out (yes, I've sent some money to him).  He just posted a video on FB (doesn't look like it's up on TT yet) where he explains that running a business in Detroit prepared him for living in a war zone!  (I remember when this happened a few years ago) 

Some of what he's been posting are compilation videos of various local events and he does a pretty good job of differentiating between things which he can confirm and those which are just rumors.  Here's his TikTok page for anyone who is interested:  https://www.tiktok.com/@antonkirichenko1 

He's a good guy and I hope that he stays safe!

Quote from: NT2C on March 23, 2022, 03:00:49 PM

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 23, 2022, 02:29:41 PM
An acquaintance of mine is currently in Kyiv (dual citizen) and has been posting videos almost daily on FB regarding what is going on there and how he's trying to help people out.  I hadn't realized until today that he also has a TikTok account where the videos are publicly viewable.  Anton has been taking donations and is buying supplies to hand out (yes, I've sent some money to him).  He just posted a video on FB (doesn't look like it's up on TT yet) where he explains that running a business in Detroit prepared him for living in a war zone!  (I remember when this happened a few years ago) 

Some of what he's been posting are compilation videos of various local events and he does a pretty good job of differentiating between things which he can confirm and those which are just rumors.  Here's his TikTok page for anyone who is interested:  https://www.tiktok.com/@antonkirichenko1 (https://www.tiktok.com/@antonkirichenko1) 

He's a good guy and I hope that he stays safe!

Please post info on how to donate to him for those of us who don't use FB or TikTok.  Does he have anything on YouTube or other platform?

(also, you should be able to post links to his stuff on FB or TT and they will auto-embed and display)

QuoteUkrainian army says Russian general has been killed in Kherson fighting
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Lviv

The Ukrainian army says its forces have killed Russian Lt. Gen. Yakov Rezantsev during fighting in Chornobaiivka, in the Kherson region in Ukraine's south. The army said Rezantsez was commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation.

Russia's defense ministry has not commented on the Ukrainian claim.

So far, some six Russian generals are believed to have been killed since the start of Russia's assault on Ukraine, as well as a deputy commander of the Black Sea fleet.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 25, 2022, 02:51:53 PM
Whatever the true reason Russian generals are dying in droves, I'm certainly not losing any sleep over it.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 25, 2022, 02:51:53 PM
I read somewhere that the reason so many Russian generals are at or near the front lines may have something to do with extraordinarily low troop morale and the need for high ranking officers to be there to gin up (or threaten) the rank and file.

Whatever the true reason Russian generals are dying in droves, I'm certainly not losing any sleep over it.

Quote from: Moab on March 26, 2022, 05:46:20 AM
BBC has resurrected their Shortwave broadcasts (which tjey havent done since WWII.) to circumvent Russia censoring news of the Ukraine war.


https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961286/bbc-news-blocked-in-russia-ukraine-invasion-shortwave-radio (https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961286/bbc-news-blocked-in-russia-ukraine-invasion-shortwave-radio)

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan (https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/c0868f95954a-russia-starts-military-drill-on-disputed-islands-off-japan.html)

Quote from: aikorob on March 26, 2022, 08:48:41 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan (https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/c0868f95954a-russia-starts-military-drill-on-disputed-islands-off-japan.html)

more "while the big kids aren't looking"
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html (https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html)

there was a poster on r/Ukraine a week or so back urging any other country that ever had a territorial dispute with Russia or USSR.................now might be a good time to make some moves

Quote from: Moab on March 26, 2022, 05:46:20 AM
BBC has resurrected their Shortwave broadcasts (which tjey havent done since WWII.) to circumvent Russia censoring news of the Ukraine war.


https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961286/bbc-news-blocked-in-russia-ukraine-invasion-shortwave-radio (https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961286/bbc-news-blocked-in-russia-ukraine-invasion-shortwave-radio)

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 09:30:12 PM

Quote from: aikorob on March 26, 2022, 08:48:41 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan (https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/c0868f95954a-russia-starts-military-drill-on-disputed-islands-off-japan.html)

more "while the big kids aren't looking"
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html (https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html)

there was a poster on r/Ukraine a week or so back urging any other country that ever had a territorial dispute with Russia or USSR.................now might be a good time to make some moves

I just want to clarify that if you are dyslexic or just really tired, that article says Armenians, not Americans.  I was initially pretty confused and had to read it again.


It definitely looks like they are positioning.  Not good.

Quote from: Moab on March 27, 2022, 04:20:11 PM
Interesting. Boobytrapped AK mag. Used in Afghanistan, Bosnia and now Ukraine. Wth?!!!

Code Select Expand


https://www.instagram.com/p/CbnRIFqlz2s/?utm_medium=copy_link

Quote from: aikorob on March 27, 2022, 07:30:01 AM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 09:30:12 PM

Quote from: aikorob on March 26, 2022, 08:48:41 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan (https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/c0868f95954a-russia-starts-military-drill-on-disputed-islands-off-japan.html)

more "while the big kids aren't looking"
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html (https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html)

there was a poster on r/Ukraine a week or so back urging any other country that ever had a territorial dispute with Russia or USSR.................now might be a good time to make some moves

I just want to clarify that if you are dyslexic or just really tired, that article says Armenians, not Americans.  I was initially pretty confused and had to read it again.


It definitely looks like they are positioning.  Not good.

no.............just pointing out that other hotspots may flare up while the world is distracted---and given the heavy hand of the USSR keeping internal tensions in check is gone; and there is new leadership in various countries .......
I wouldn't be surprised if Georgia starting making moves against Russian "peacekeepers" in South Ossetia

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 25, 2022, 09:54:14 PMThe Russian military doesn't really trust the grunts to make any type of decisions, which means they require more guidance from higher-ups.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 28, 2022, 08:47:42 AM

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 25, 2022, 09:54:14 PMThe Russian military doesn't really trust the grunts to make any type of decisions, which means they require more guidance from higher-ups.

I mean, yeah, if you let the guys at the bottom take initiative and make decisions themselves, they're going to want to keep making decisions when they're out of the military, but they're supposed to shut up and just be good little cogs in the state apparatus.

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 10:55:09 AMThe Admirals insisted on overloading the plane and loading a heavy roll of news print without proper restraints. The restraints broke, the roll of paper rolled and changed the plane's CG aft to point beyond it's designed capability to fly.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 28, 2022, 12:19:05 PM

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 10:55:09 AMThe Admirals insisted on overloading the plane and loading a heavy roll of news print without proper restraints. The restraints broke, the roll of paper rolled and changed the plane's CG aft to point beyond it's designed capability to fly.

8 seconds into their flight.  Wow.  I mean, it makes sense, that's when the plane is trying to gain altitude the quickest, the angle is steep, the shift in the center of gravity would be rapid and drastic, and that's all she wrote.   :(




Also, I think there's something to be said there about putting all your eggs in one basket.  Especially when you tell the guys whose expertise is in carrying the basket how you want them to shut up and carry the basket the way you tell them to.

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 28, 2022, 12:56:07 PM
I'll have to watch this video when I get home from work but I have to ask: what was so !$&#+@ important about a giant roll of newsprint?

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 01:01:36 PM
It is the stereotypical command mentality of "I am in charge! Make it happen!". We have all dealt with that mentality. It is one thing when you are in a shooting war situation to issue such commands/decisions for mission needs and another in a less than critical situation.

That mentality is likely to some extent still present today.

QuoteLets see get 16 admirals and aides who are intoxicated and throw in ego and an airplane...what could possibly go wrong?

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on March 28, 2022, 02:20:21 PM
I wonder if the Russians have a saying similar to "Don't put all your eggs in one basket", but it's more along the lines of "Don't put all your Admirals in one airplane."

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 10:55:09 AM

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 28, 2022, 08:47:42 AM

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 25, 2022, 09:54:14 PMThe Russian military doesn't really trust the grunts to make any type of decisions, which means they require more guidance from higher-ups.

I mean, yeah, if you let the guys at the bottom take initiative and make decisions themselves, they're going to want to keep making decisions when they're out of the military, but they're supposed to shut up and just be good little cogs in the state apparatus.

I offer this video as some insight into the command mentality of the Soviet and likely carries forward to the current Russian Army to some extent.

This is a link to a video discussing a Soviet VIP transport crash that wiped out 16 Soviet Admirals and the entire Pacific Fleet command structure save one admiral who missed the flight.

The plane was piloted by two very competent & experienced flight crew. To make it a short story (see @ 20:25): The Admirals insisted on overloading the plane and loading a heavy roll of news print without proper restraints. The restraints broke, the roll of paper rolled and changed the plane's CG aft to point beyond it's designed capability to fly. This is a pilots nightmare since the plane cannot be recovered. It is generally a death sentence for all aboard.

Before the crash the pilots objected to the overload and were told that they were just drivers, to STFU and do as ordered. They did and everyone died. The pilots had no recourse but still pleasing the boss is stupid way to die.   


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU1f47SC_A8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU1f47SC_A8)

Quote from: flybynight on March 29, 2022, 08:20:40 AM

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia's military said Tuesday it would "fundamentally" cut back operations near Ukraine's capital and a northern city, potentially a significant concession by Moscow amid talks aimed at ending the war that began more than a month ago.

Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the move was meant "to increase trust" in talks aimed at ending fighting, as negotiators met face-to-face after several rounds of failed negotiations. But Russia's troops have been bogged down and struggling to make major advances recently.


https://news.yahoo.com/round-talks-aims-stop-fighting-040330623.html (https://news.yahoo.com/round-talks-aims-stop-fighting-040330623.html)

QuoteChemical weapons experts said the symptoms seemed to suggest that the officials were targeted with porphyrin, organophosphates, or bicyclic substances. The experts believe that the dosage used in the attack was deliberately low and that the intent was merely to frighten the targets rather than to cause permanent, irreversible damage, Bellingcat has reported.

Asked about the alleged poisoning, Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak denied the report, saying "there is a lot of speculation, various conspiracy theories."

Quote from: NT2C on April 01, 2022, 08:04:17 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ1PDP28iHI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66XrGQcKnJc

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 10:55:09 AM
I offer this video as some insight into the command mentality of the Soviet and likely carries forward to the current Russian Army to some extent.

This is a link to a video discussing a Soviet VIP transport crash that wiped out 16 Soviet Admirals and the entire Pacific Fleet command structure save one admiral who missed the flight.

The plane was piloted by two very competent & experienced flight crew. To make it a short story (see @ 20:25): The Admirals insisted on overloading the plane and loading a heavy roll of news print without proper restraints. The restraints broke, the roll of paper rolled and changed the plane's CG aft to point beyond it's designed capability to fly. This is a pilots nightmare since the plane cannot be recovered. It is generally a death sentence for all aboard.

Before the crash the pilots objected to the overload and were told that they were just drivers, to STFU and do as ordered. They did and everyone died. The pilots had no recourse but still pleasing the boss is stupid way to die.   


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU1f47SC_A8

Quote from: NT2C on April 01, 2022, 11:55:26 PM
April Fools! Russia admits it may have gone too far in 'friendly prank' on Ukraine (https://www.duffelblog.com/p/april-fools-russia-admits-it-may?r=1cwqn&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email)

Quote from: Johan on April 03, 2022, 02:00:17 PM
The massaker in Bucha with both mass graves and bodies in the streets, makes me wonder what has been/is happening in other towns/cities controlled by the Russians... :gonk:
This wasn't just a reaction to being driven  back, some  of those bodies had been laying in the street and other places for a long time...
Also there are some  credible reports of rapes in various locations...

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-retreat-leaves-trail-slain-civilians-town-near-kyiv-2022-04-02/ (https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-retreat-leaves-trail-slain-civilians-town-near-kyiv-2022-04-02/)

Quote from: Johan on April 04, 2022, 04:56:22 PM
I just found this translation of the rambling Official Kremlin propaganda of  "De-Nazification" and "De-Ukainification" spiel from the state newspaper RIA Novosti that they are using to indoctrinate the Russian public and motivate the war, and war-crimes (like what took place in Bucha) with..

It shows the methods and techniques of the Kremlin (as a bad actor with close to 100% media control) so I think it's important to see how they operate. 

Although to us it might seem a bit farcical, and hard to believe that people fall for this, the really scary part is that a lot of them do..

Remember before opening the link that this is Kremlin's propaganda for domestic consumption, by a populace that has been fed similar lies for a while so its not exactly subtle..


https://cryptodrftng.substack.com/p/day-40-what-russia-should-do-with?s=r

QuoteDenazification is necessary when a significant part of the people - most likely its majority - is mastered and dragged by the Nazi regime into its politics. That is, when the hypothesis "the people are good - the government is bad" does not work.

Quote from: NT2C on April 04, 2022, 06:48:05 PM
I know it's hard not to get deep into the politics of this, and that we'd have to ban any discussion of the war at all if we want a total blackout of all the political stuff.  We're not doing that here and we are relaxing the rules a lot for this but we do ask that raw politics be kept to a minimum.

Quote from: majorhavoc on April 04, 2022, 07:06:33 PMI don't really understand people's shock and surprise that atrocities were committed.  War is a brutal, punishing, profoundly violent human contrivance where the innocents always suffer.  It's been that way from the dawn of time and will continue for as long as human beings believe killing each other is a viable means to an end.  I see no reason to expect that warfare, especially urban warfare, will somehow have become sanitized in this day and age.  Atrocities occur in any kind of armed conflict and civilians are always the ones who suffer the most.   I'm in no way justifying or explaining away what is happening in Ukraine.  It's just then whenever and where ever the bullets start flying, when the bombs begin falling; it's always, ALWAYS the innocent who bear the brunt of it.  We shouldn't be surprised this is happening.

To bring this around to the prepping perspective: in a sustained WROL/SHTF scenario, things will get horrific for those who are the most vulnerable. We are human beings, after all.  We're very good at finding excuses to hate each other.  And even better at acting on that hatred.

Quote from: Moab on April 05, 2022, 01:26:52 AM
This is bordering on genocide. If nothing else the purposefull killing of civilians. That is not just a part of war. Yes, collateral damage exists. Bombs and morters and bullets dont always find their intended target. But in this instance the target is not just military personnel or just military locations. Its the eradication of complete civilian population centers.

Quote from: majorhavoc on April 04, 2022, 07:06:33 PM
To bring this around to the prepping perspective: in a sustained WROL/SHTF scenario, things will get horrific for those who are the most vulnerable. We are human beings, after all.  We're very good at finding excuses to hate each other.  And even better at acting on that hatred. 

QuoteLady, people aren't chocolates. Do you know what they are mostly? Bastards. Bastard coated bastards with bastard filling.

Quote from: majorhavoc on April 04, 2022, 07:06:33 PM

Quote from: NT2C on April 04, 2022, 06:48:05 PM
I know it's hard not to get deep into the politics of this, and that we'd have to ban any discussion of the war at all if we want a total blackout of all the political stuff.  We're not doing that here and we are relaxing the rules a lot for this but we do ask that raw politics be kept to a minimum.

Thank you; that's a good and timely reminder.  I will say this about the latest revelations/discoveries coming out of Bucha and other communities from which the Russians have withdrawn: I don't really understand people's shock and surprise that atrocities were committed.  War is a brutal, punishing, profoundly violent human contrivance where the innocents always suffer.  It's been that way from the dawn of time and will continue for as long as human beings believe killing each other is a viable means to an end.  I see no reason to expect that warfare, especially urban warfare, will somehow have become sanitized in this day and age.  Atrocities occur in any kind of armed conflict and civilians are always the ones who suffer the most.   I'm in no way justifying or explaining away what is happening in Ukraine.  It's just then whenever and where ever the bullets start flying, when the bombs begin falling; it's always, ALWAYS the innocent who bear the brunt of it.  We shouldn't be surprised this is happening.

To bring this around to the prepping perspective: in a sustained WROL/SHTF scenario, things will get horrific for those who are the most vulnerable. We are human beings, after all.  We're very good at finding excuses to hate each other.  And even better at acting on that hatred. 

Quote from: Moab on April 05, 2022, 03:49:49 PM

If true. The thing i am surpised about is putins use of these tactics. He must know how much the world hates this war to begin with. But to tarnish your incursion further with the use of atrocities(?). Just seems foolish. It doesnt seem like its helping him tactically. Or any other way. And hes a smart dude. If you follow his career he grew up as a hungry child whos family lived in an apartment with several other families. He cunningly worked his way up from the bottom. So it surpises me that he would not be more suffisticated. But then again his tactics coming up were very brutal indeed.

Quote from: Raptor on April 05, 2022, 05:11:19 PM

Quote from: Moab on April 05, 2022, 03:49:49 PM

If true. The thing i am surpised about is putins use of these tactics. He must know how much the world hates this war to begin with. But to tarnish your incursion further with the use of atrocities(?). Just seems foolish. It doesnt seem like its helping him tactically. Or any other way. And hes a smart dude. If you follow his career he grew up as a hungry child whos family lived in an apartment with several other families. He cunningly worked his way up from the bottom. So it surpises me that he would not be more suffisticated. But then again his tactics coming up were very brutal indeed.

I agree with this. I have yet to understand the logic employed by Putin here. I can only guess that he underestimated the resistance that Ukraine would mount and over estimated the capability of his troops. Most likely he did both.

Honestly I assumed that Putin had a quick path to victory all lined up. He chose the time, date and places of the battle; he did not face any need to rush the attack.

If Ukraine surrendered within 48 hours he likely would not have faced the furry from all parties (they clearly expected sanctions) but not to the extent that Russia now suffers. He clearly counted on Russian gas as a lever and to that extent he is correct but I suspect that asset seizure was not something that was factored into the equation.

But again the logic behind this is not clear to me.

Russia really did not have much to gain by this and the risk of embarrassment is great.
If Russia is defeated (think the Russo-Japanese War) or even fails in the attempt; they will look very weak to the chicoms and the west. While at the same time drive a wedge between their border neighbors. 

The logic eludes me. Kinda like Russia going to war in WW-1.

Quote from: Moab on April 05, 2022, 09:10:22 PM
I wonder how many mercenaries from places like Syria/Chechnya are in the region?

QuoteAt the moment, Ukrainian farmers should be sowing the seeds now for the harvest in October and November.
"Clearly that's not going to happen... we're probably going to miss the season so we could be impacted for 12-18 months."

Quote from: Moab on April 05, 2022, 11:01:05 PMApparently there is another town that is worse than Bucha.

Quote from: wee drop o bush on April 06, 2022, 09:08:41 AM
A BBC News article about how the war in Ukraine is affecting production of sunflower oil which is used in so many familiar foodstuffs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60941091 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60941091)

QuoteAt the moment, Ukrainian farmers should be sowing the seeds now for the harvest in October and November.
"Clearly that's not going to happen... we're probably going to miss the season so we could be impacted for 12-18 months."

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on April 06, 2022, 09:30:30 AM

Quote from: wee drop o bush on April 06, 2022, 09:08:41 AM
A BBC News article about how the war in Ukraine is affecting production of sunflower oil which is used in so many familiar foodstuffs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60941091 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60941091)

QuoteAt the moment, Ukrainian farmers should be sowing the seeds now for the harvest in October and November.
"Clearly that's not going to happen... we're probably going to miss the season so we could be impacted for 12-18 months."

They should have a good crop next year, though. (https://youtu.be/GE9pyovR70M)

Quote from: wee drop o bush on April 06, 2022, 09:08:41 AM
A BBC News article about how the war in Ukraine is affecting production of sunflower oil which is used in so many familiar foodstuffs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60941091

QuoteAt the moment, Ukrainian farmers should be sowing the seeds now for the harvest in October and November.
"Clearly that's not going to happen... we're probably going to miss the season so we could be impacted for 12-18 months."

QuoteRapeseed is used far more in the food supply chain, according to the National Edible Oil Distributors' Association.

British farmers grow rapeseed but there won't be enough to go round.

"Prices for rapeseed oil have risen 50-70% since the attack," said NEODA's President Gary Lewis. "But there's a limited supply to cover all this demand so some shortfall will be expected."

QuoteOne immediate headache he and other food manufacturers don't have to worry about is labelling. They're being allowed to switch ingredients without having to print new packaging, which can take up to 12 weeks.

Emily Miles, chief executive at the Food Standards Agency, said allergic reactions to rapeseed oil were "very rare and if they do occur are mild", and advised anyone with allergies to look out for extra information.

Quote from: aikorob on April 11, 2022, 05:05:21 PM
Russian spokesman said let's turn it up a notch:
https://t.me/rian_ru/158246 (https://t.me/rian_ru/158246)
Google translate:
Pushilin said that at least 1.5 thousand Ukrainian militants were blocked in the Azovstal area
Basurin said that it makes no sense to storm the underground fortifications of Azovstal in Mariupol, you need to 'turn to the chemical troops'

'There are underground floors, so it makes no sense to take this object by storm. Because you can put a large number of your soldiers, and the enemy will not suffer losses as such'

"Therefore, at the moment it is necessary to deal with the blocking of this plant, find all the exits and entrances - in principle, this can be done.

and boom---
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/u1f0v7/the_azov_regiment_claim_that_a_chemical_weapon/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/u1f0v7/the_azov_regiment_claim_that_a_chemical_weapon/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/u1hiqs/azov_leader_biletsky_confirms_chemical_attack_in/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/u1hiqs/azov_leader_biletsky_confirms_chemical_attack_in/)

Quote from: Moab on April 14, 2022, 05:57:44 PM

The flagship vessel of Russias Black Sea fleet has sunk. After being hit by missiles. But Russia says it sank while being towed to port.



https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-kyiv-black-sea-estonia-8ccaa918f813a844321187ed116ff091 (https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-kyiv-black-sea-estonia-8ccaa918f813a844321187ed116ff091)

Quote from: majorhavoc on April 14, 2022, 06:29:53 PM

Quote from: Moab on April 14, 2022, 05:57:44 PM

The flagship vessel of Russias Black Sea fleet has sunk. After being hit by missiles. But Russia says it sank while being towed to port.



https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-kyiv-black-sea-estonia-8ccaa918f813a844321187ed116ff091 (https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-kyiv-black-sea-estonia-8ccaa918f813a844321187ed116ff091)

Hmmm.  I'll take Russian Military Incompetence for $400, Alex.  What?  The Daily Double!  Russian Military Incompetence and Neptune's Revenge?  Why, that would be "What is the Moskva an example of?" 

I believe that was the very ship that Ukranian border guards on Snake Island famously told to go f*ck off.  Poetic justice?  :smiley_chinrub:

(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aac739d62447f8bc987098444e6c1b02771e0212/0_292_1080_648/master/1080.jpg?width=1200&height=900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&s=0a778d14092b668a1a5eecaf9d7197e4)

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 14, 2022, 10:37:58 PM
I thought the Snake Island ship already got sunk by the Ukrainians?

Or was that a different one that got sunk a couple weeks back ?

Quote from: Raptor on April 15, 2022, 08:39:18 AM
The reports that I read said the Moscow was steaming offshore in a very predictable an repetitive race track pattern. That would indicate that was operational and therefore should have had a full crew at action or at least standby status. In other words this flagship would have operating its surface and air search radars and had their CIWS operational  and ready.
The missile(s) were shore launched Ukrainian made copies of an older Russian missile albeit likely  updated version of the  "Harpoonski". Since the launchers operate in a group it is likely that more than 1 was launched.
It is also likely if they were operating a race track pattern that it would have been detected by the on watch crew.

What happened is anyone's guess since each side is likely to be less than candid.

It may been something like the Stark with other gear interfering with sensors or simple a major malfunction of crew or gear. Either way the result was clear; a relatively low tech missile cost Russia millions in a lost vessel an prestige in the humiliation of a flag ship sunk.

Russia keeps digging the humiliation hole deeper and deeper. While this wad not the scale of its humiliation in the Russo-Japanese War, it is getting close to it.

QuoteAnd Soviet-era warships like the Moskva have been typically "known for their offensive punch, not for their defensive systems or their damage control," Shugart said.

Quote from: majorhavoc on April 15, 2022, 09:25:27 AM
US intelligence sources are reporting that other ships in that naval group have relocated further south, putting more distance between them and the Ukrainian coastline. Something that wouldn't be necessary if it were an accidental fire. Relocating other ships in the area bolsters the anti-ship missile theory.

QuoteI've read several reports suggesting that while a demoralizing blow to Russian national pride, the loss isn't expected to have a significant impact on the war. But I have to wonder. In addition to a potent missile launch platform, wouldn't a capital surface asset be a significant communications and control hub for the southern portion of the war effort?  Much as logistical support has proven to be a major limitation on Russia's plans, I'd think command and control would also be an important factor.

So sayeth this armchair general who never even served.

Quote from: majorhavoc on April 15, 2022, 12:38:58 PM
Ukrainian Defense Minister publicly declares Moskva a 'worthy diving site' for recreational scuba enthusiasts.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsweek.com/worthy-diving-site-ukraines-defense-minister-mocks-sunken-russian-ship-1698258%3famp=1 (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsweek.com/worthy-diving-site-ukraines-defense-minister-mocks-sunken-russian-ship-1698258%3famp=1)

Gotta love those plucky Ukrainians.

Quote from: EBuff75 on April 21, 2022, 10:16:57 PMForgotten Weapons (aka "Gun Jesus") has posted a video comparing what is happening in Ukraine to Finland's Winter War. Worth a watch as he compares the similarities and differences. 

Quote from: EBuff75 on April 21, 2022, 10:16:57 PMForgotten Weapons (aka "Gun Jesus") has posted a video comparing what is happening in Ukraine to Finland's Winter War. Worth a watch as he compares the similarities and differences. 

Quote from: majorhavoc on April 28, 2022, 06:36:58 PMSerious question.

So, I'm having trouble understanding Putin's moral indignation that Ukraine is now striking targets within Russia's territorial borders.  I mean, the man is positively livid and screaming to the international community about how unfair it is that a sovereign country that just happens to be one that he is currently invading, bombing indiscriminantly, slaughtering its civilians by the thousands, displacing millions more and which he has publically stated has no historical, cultural or ethical right to even exist has the unmitigated temerity to actually defend itself.  I mean, he's trying so hard to make the world just understand how outrageous it is that this pesky little country that he's trying to destroy is hitting strategic targets like his country's fuel depots and military staging areas.  I mean, these are the very fuel depots and staging areas that he, gosh darn it, really, really needs to annihalite his neighbor. 

I get it that world leaders have to chose their words very carefully, really I do.  But can there must be some diplomatic way to say:

Shut the fuck up, you duplicitous, hypocritical murderous war criminal, you.  You are fucking morally disqualified from complaining about the entirely predictable consequence that when you fucking wage war against a sovereign nation, then that may well mean that war shall be visited upon you and not just the other way around like your generals told you it would. 

I mean, during WW2, I'm sure Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito didn't exactly appreciate it when the Allies you know, struck back against their homelands.  But I think maybe on some basic level they sorta, kinda understood the risk of that goes with the territory.

Quote from: Anianna on May 02, 2022, 07:39:40 PMRussia is using military-trained dolphins in the Black Sea, according to satellite images (https://www.livescience.com/russians-using-military-dolphins-satellite?utm_source=SmartBrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_content=DFD68437-88CF-4184-B1C8-886D0B312F4B&utm_term=61c33ae2-2800-403f-a156-2fb2dc357549)

Quote from: Moab on May 17, 2022, 12:00:51 AMHas anyone else heard of any help from the chinese to the russians?

Quote from: mzmc on May 22, 2022, 10:46:30 AMI honestly would have thought the Chinese would be getting up to more seedy and/or sneaky crap while the world is distracted.

Guess Xi still has, *ahem*, matters or internal security to settle and isn't really keen on rocking the boat on an international scale.

Quote from: NT2C on May 22, 2022, 01:36:02 PM

Quote from: mzmc on May 22, 2022, 10:46:30 AMI honestly would have thought the Chinese would be getting up to more seedy and/or sneaky crap while the world is distracted.

Guess Xi still has, *ahem*, matters or internal security to settle and isn't really keen on rocking the boat on an international scale.

More likely, he's watching and taking notes of what not to do when China eventually goes after Taiwan.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on May 22, 2022, 01:51:11 PM

Quote from: NT2C on May 22, 2022, 01:36:02 PM

Quote from: mzmc on May 22, 2022, 10:46:30 AMI honestly would have thought the Chinese would be getting up to more seedy and/or sneaky crap while the world is distracted.

Guess Xi still has, *ahem*, matters or internal security to settle and isn't really keen on rocking the boat on an international scale.

More likely, he's watching and taking notes of what not to do when China eventually goes after Taiwan.

Didn't he supposedly have a brain hemorrhage or something ?

I seem to recall reading something recently about Xi having a medical emergency, but the article was kind of vague and only mentioned something pertaining to a possible brain issue.

Quote from: majorhavoc on May 22, 2022, 02:10:18 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on May 22, 2022, 01:51:11 PM

Quote from: NT2C on May 22, 2022, 01:36:02 PM

Quote from: mzmc on May 22, 2022, 10:46:30 AMI honestly would have thought the Chinese would be getting up to more seedy and/or sneaky crap while the world is distracted.

Guess Xi still has, *ahem*, matters or internal security to settle and isn't really keen on rocking the boat on an international scale.

More likely, he's watching and taking notes of what not to do when China eventually goes after Taiwan.

Didn't he supposedly have a brain hemorrhage or something ?

I seem to recall reading something recently about Xi having a medical emergency, but the article was kind of vague and only mentioned something pertaining to a possible brain issue.

If that is true, it would be a seismic event. I'm not seeing anything on my news feeds.

Quote from: tirls on June 19, 2022, 06:28:13 AMLithuania has stopped the import of sanctioned goods via its train routes to the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. The Russian state television has been calling for clearing a route to enable direct access to Kaliningrad for some time now. Kaliningrad is surrounded by Poland and Lithuania, both NATO states.

QuoteAmong them are crude oil and oil products, coal, metals, construction materials, advanced technology, glassware, some foods and fertilizers,

Quote from: Raptor on June 20, 2022, 04:21:57 PMBy international law they have a right to access to their home country. That right is not absolute and unlimited but there is precedent for demanding and even forcing such a right of access.

Quote from: Raptor on June 20, 2022, 04:21:57 PMBut then what the hell do I know. I am pretty sure Putin could have negotiated and acquired everything he has gotten to date from Ukraine at a much lower cost in rubles and lives.

QuoteThat morning, the general director of Azovstal, an industrial behemoth with more than 11,000 workers, convened his board. The director, Enver Tskitishvili, went on a war footing, deciding to power down the blast furnaces and cease operations for the first time since World War II.  Then the board made a decision that would shape the battle for eastern Ukraine.  Deep beneath the steel plant were 36 bomb shelters, a legacy of the Cold War.  The shelters, some more than 20 feet underground, had enough food to feed thousands of people for several weeks. Believing the fighting would not last long, Mr. Tskitishvili and the other executives saw the plant as a sanctuary and invited employees to come there with their families.

What Mr. Tskitishvili did not know was that Ukraine's military was also arriving at Azovstal. To the Ukrainian soldiers, the plant was a stronghold, surrounded on three sides by water, ringed by high walls, as seemingly impregnable as a medieval keep. It was the perfect place to make a last stand.

"The military never told us, and we never supposed that they would deploy with us," Mr. Tskitishvili said in an interview. "We planned only for the civilian population, and only as refuge from attack. We did not consider ourselves to be participants in the war."

Quote"After a direct hit from those shells, nothing remains," said Elina Tsybulchenko, who fled on foot to Azovstal with her family and two dogs. "Everything inside burns and explodes into small pieces, flying in all directions, and disintegrates as if there was nothing ever there, not people, furniture, not appliances or walls or plumbing. It all just disappears."

QuoteA native of Mariupol, Private Zherdev already knew the troops at Azovstal, but the men he found were withered specters of those soldiers, hungry and exhausted and covered in blood and gun oil after weeks of constant fighting. They were shocked to see him.

"You see what's happening," he recalled one soldier telling him. "Why do you want to die here with us?"

QuoteThe city many of them saw now was an incomprehensible horror. Several fighters described streets littered with corpses that were being devoured by starving cats and dogs.

"I love cats," said Ruslan, a fighter who arrived on a helicopter in April. "I didn't know that a cat, when it's hungry, could eat a person."

QuoteThe civilians were starving.

By late April, Ms. Babeush and other adults in her bunker were rationed to a single meal a day, mostly a gruel of canned meat mixed with water. The 14 children got two meals a day, if they were lucky, starting with a breakfast of oatmeal that she mixed with a little flour and water and fried like a pancake. She recalled waking up one morning to find that a child had placed a drawing of a pizza on her bed.

Quote"I can see flying toward me this sparking, whistling thing on a wire and suddenly it just cuts through my leg like a sausage," he said. "I'm screaming, 'I'm bleeding out, I'm bleeding out. Give me a tourniquet. Shoot me, shoot me.'

"And some guy runs up to me and says, 'Not today.'"

Quote from: majorhavoc on February 23, 2022, 10:32:45 PMSo many people are going to die in the coming hours and days.  Many of them innocents.  :-[

I have no words ...

Quote from: Raptor on July 25, 2022, 02:35:58 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on February 23, 2022, 10:32:45 PMSo many people are going to die in the coming hours and days.  Many of them innocents.  :-[

I have no words ...

A very sobering account and one worth reading. It shows exactly what can be expected. The surprising thing to me was that prisoners were taken and while not exactly treated well many were released quickly. That said there is no way to tell how many the ruskies retained.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on July 25, 2022, 06:32:05 PMI wonder if gulags are still a thing in Russia.

Quote from: tirls on July 26, 2022, 09:55:59 AMThat is if they don´t coincidentally die. :o

Quote from: mzmc on July 26, 2022, 12:13:46 PM

Quote from: tirls on July 26, 2022, 09:55:59 AMThat is if they don´t coincidentally die. :o

Yeah I mean Russia has this weird viral trend of seasoning seafood with radioactive elements. Allegedly.

Quote from: sheddi on August 23, 2022, 03:41:01 PMI don't know if anyone is following Oryx's site (I shared a link in this thread back in March):
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/

With a couple of helpers he's maintaining a list of all the OSINT-recorded major equipment losses (aircraft, armored and soft-skinned vehicles, air defence systems and artillery pieces) for both sides.

Russia:
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html

Ukraine:
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-ukrainian.html

In raw numbers, to date there are open-access photos of 5333 Russian losses vs. 1517 Ukrainian.

Quote from: sheddi on August 23, 2022, 03:45:15 PMOh, and there have also been a *lot* of mysterious explosions in Russia's rear areas recently. Including in occupied Crimea, which has (believe it or not) become a popular tourist destination for Russians.

These folk got some interesting holiday photos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll5nGeUcuUI

Unsurprisingly. some decided to cut their vacations short:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt1SQrWafOE

Quoteto the astonishment of weapons experts, Ukraine has continued to destroy Russian targets with slow-moving Turkish-made Bayraktar attack drones and inexpensive, plastic aircraft modified to drop grenades and other munitions.

Quotethe engineering ingenuity of the Ukrainians lies in stark contrast to the slow, plodding, doctrinal nature of the Russian advance.

Quote"With the Moskva, they MacGyvered a very effective anti-ship system that they put on the back of a truck to make it mobile and move it around," General Frederick B. Hodges, a former top U.S. Army commander in Europe.  The striking of the Moskva was, in essence, the Neptune's proof of concept; it was the first time the new Ukrainian weapon was used in an actual war, and it took down Russia's flagship in the Black Sea.

QuoteA senior Pentagon official said Ukrainian forces had put American-supplied HARM anti-radiation missiles on Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets — something that no air force had ever done.  Ukraine managed to rejigger targeting sensors to allow pilots to fire the American missile from their Soviet-era aircraft. "They have actually successfully integrated it," the senior official told reporters during a Pentagon briefing. He spoke on the condition of anonymity per Biden administration rules.

QuoteI really hate that it's coming from something so awful, but the ingenuity is truly incredible

Quote from: EBuff75 on September 11, 2022, 03:47:16 PMThe guy I know in Kyiv has started up an animal rescue organization and I sent him some money to help out.  As a thank you, he sent all the donors some of the collectible stamps that were issued to commemorate the soldiers on Snake Island.  Here's what I got from him:

Ukraine Thank You.jpg

Nice timing, given the recent successes by the Ukraine military!  :D  I'm thinking about getting the whole thing framed!

Quote from: majorhavoc on September 11, 2022, 04:32:11 PM

Quote from: EBuff75 on September 11, 2022, 03:47:16 PMThe guy I know in Kyiv has started up an animal rescue organization and I sent him some money to help out.  As a thank you, he sent all the donors some of the collectible stamps that were issued to commemorate the soldiers on Snake Island.  Here's what I got from him:

Nice timing, given the recent successes by the Ukraine military!  :D  I'm thinking about getting the whole thing framed!

You absolutely should get it framed.  I'm so envious that you have that stamp.  I really wanted one when it came out and had begun researching how to do that, but the entire printing sold out in a matter of days. 

I too am delirously happy the Ukrainians are kicking some serious Ruskie ass.

Quote from: EBuff75 on September 15, 2022, 02:39:10 PMI'm sure that it's not intentional, but I couldn't help but chuckle at the centerpiece (https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/220915084530-01-putin-xi-uzbekistan-meeting-0915-exlarge-169.jpg) in the room where they're holding the summit between Russia and China.  Looks a lot like a flower-covered coffin, doesn't it?  Almost like they're mourning Russia's chances at winning this thing!  :D

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/asia/xi-putin-meeting-main-bar-intl-hnk/index.html

Quote from: majorhavoc on September 15, 2022, 05:05:03 PMhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/09/15/world/ukraine-russia-war/a-mass-grave-site-with-440-bodies-was-found-in-izium-a-police-official-said?smid=url-share (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/09/15/world/ukraine-russia-war/a-mass-grave-site-with-440-bodies-was-found-in-izium-a-police-official-said?smid=url-share)

It's things like this that morally disqualify Putin from making any kind of justification for this war. The US made some mistakes and had a few bad apples during our 20 years in Afghanistan.  But nothing even approaching the scale of what Russia has done in 6 months.

Quote[color=var(--color-content-secondary,#363636)]Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs who [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]traveled to Izium with Mr. Zelensky[/color] on Wednesday, told [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]the BBC on Thursday[/color] that about 1,000 dead bodies had been found in the city since it was liberated last week.[/color]
[color=var(--color-content-secondary,#363636)]"We were shocked to see the destruction of the city," he said, speaking through a translator. "We have found already, for now, around 1,000 dead bodies, so we must say that this tragedy is even worse than the tragedy in Bucha," where retreating Russian forces [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]left at least 458 bodies[/color] on the streets and in buildings, gardens and makeshift graves at the end of March. [color=var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891)]The New York Times documented[/color] the torture, rape and execution of civilians by Russian soldiers in Bucha, a town a few miles west of Kyiv, after Moscow abandoned its push to take the capital.[/color]
[color=var(--color-content-secondary,#363636)]Mr. Bolvinov told Sky News that the grave site in Izium was "one of the biggest burials in one liberated city." The Ukrainian authorities, he added, were aware of other burial sites in areas of the Kharkiv region that had been under Russian control.[/color]

QuoteRussia says it has "evacuated" over a million people to its territory, including 183,000 children, "from dangerous areas of Ukraine" and CADLR (certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions) since the beginning of the war.

QuoteGenocide is an internationally recognized crime where acts are committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. These acts fall into five categories:

• Killing members of the group
• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
• Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
• Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

QuoteRussian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia on Wednesday, risking a deeply unpopular step that follows a string of humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after invading Ukraine.

It's the first call-up in Russia since World War II and is sure to further fuel tensions with the Western backers of Ukraine, who derided the move as an act of weakness. The move also sent Russians scrambling to buy plane tickets out of the country.

It comes after Russian authorities tried to recruit more fighters into volunteer battalions and amid reports of widespread recruitment in prisons, as the Kremlin has struggled to replenish its troops.

The Russian leader, in a seven-minute televised address to the nation aired Wednesday morning, also warned the West that he isn't bluffing over using all the means at his disposal to protect Russia's territory, in what appeared to be a veiled reference to Russia's nuclear capability. Putin has previously warned the West not to back Russia against the wall and has rebuked NATO countries for supplying weapons to help Ukraine.

The total number of reservists to be called up could be as high as 300,000, officials said.

Even a partial mobilization is likely to increase dismay, or sow doubt, among Russians about the war in Ukraine. Shortly after Putin's address, Russian media reported a sharp spike in demand for plane tickets abroad amid an apparent scramble to leave despite exorbitant prices for flights.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who was asked what had changed since he and others previously said no mobilization was planned, argued that Russia is effectively fighting against NATO because the alliance's members have been supplying weapons to Kyiv.

The partial mobilization order came a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia — a move that could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war. The referendums will start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

The ballots are all but certain to go Moscow's way. Foreign leaders have described the ballots as illegitimate and nonbinding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they were a "sham" and "noise" to distract public attention.

Putin's speech is "definitely a sign that he's struggling, and we know that," U.S. national security council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Putin has suffered tens of thousands of casualties, has command and control issues, terrible troop morale, desertion problems and is "forcing the wounded back (into) the fight," Kirby said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Only those with relevant combat and service experience will be mobilized, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. He added about 25 million people fit this criteria but only around 1% of them will be mobilized.

Another key clause in the decree prevents most professional soldiers from terminating their contracts and leaving service until the partial mobilization is no longer in place.

Putin's announcement came as the U.N. General Assembly was taking place in New York. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has been the target of broad international criticism at the assembly that has kept up intense diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

Zelenskky is due to address the gathering in a prerecorded address on Wednesday. Putin didn't travel to New York.

Putin's gambit has a strong element of risk — it could backfire by making the Ukraine war unpopular at home and hurting his own standing. It also concedes that Russia has underlying military shortcomings.

A spokesman for Zelenskyy called the mobilization a "big tragedy" for the Russian people.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Sergii Nikiforov said conscripts sent to the front line in Ukraine would face a similar fate as ill-prepared Russian forces who were repelled in an attack on Kyiv in the first days of the war.

"This is a recognition of the incapacity of the Russian professional army, which has failed in all its tasks," Nikiforov said.

The Russian mobilization is unlikely to produce any consequences on the battlefield for months because of a lack of training facilities and equipment.

The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, tweeted that the mobilization is a sign "of weakness, of Russian failure." British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace echoed that assessment, describing Putin's move as "an admission that his invasion is failing."

Russian political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin said Putin's announcement smacked of "an act of desperation." He predicted that Russians will resist the mobilization through "passive sabotage."

"People will evade this mobilization in every possible way, bribe their way out of this mobilization, leave the country," Oreshkin told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The announcement won't go down well with the general public, Oreshkin said, describing it as "a huge personal blow to Russian citizens, who until recently (took part in the hostilities) with pleasure, sitting on their couches, (watching) TV. And now the war has come into their home."

The war in Ukraine, which has killed thousands of people, has driven up food prices worldwide and caused energy costs to soar. It has also brought fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe at Europe's largest nuclear plant in Ukraine's now Russia-occupied southeast. Investigations are also underway into possible war crimes atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

In his address, which was far shorter than previous speeches about the Ukraine war, Putin accused the West of engaging in "nuclear blackmail" and noted "statements of some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia."

He didn't identify who had made such comments.

"To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction ... and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal," Putin said.

He added: "It's not a bluff."

Putin said he has already signed the decree for partial mobilization, which starts immediately, and stressed its limited scale.

"We are talking about partial mobilization, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces who have a certain military specialty and relevant experience," Putin said.

Shoigu also said Wednesday that 5,937 Russian soldiers have died in the Ukraine conflict, far lower than Western estimates that Russia has lost tens of thousands.

The Vesna opposition movement called for nationwide protests on Wednesday.

"Thousands of Russian men -- our fathers, brothers and husbands -- will be thrown into the meat grinder of the war. What will they be dying for? What will mothers and children be crying for?" the group said.

Yet it was unclear how many would protest given Russia's harsh laws against criticizing the military.

• Russia bit off more than it could chew.  I think most of us have realized that already, but declaring even a partial mobilization is a tacit admission that Russia has lost a substantial chunk of its combat forces in this "special military operation," and that they are losing ground in Ukraine.  More importantly, I believe Russian leadership is afraid that they won't be able to hide it from their people.
• Given the amount of time it takes to train, equip, and deploy even troops that basically amount to little more than cannon fodder, this partial mobilization likely won't have any immediate, direct impacts on the battlefield.  Particularly when you consider Russia's logistical failings to this point.  I suspect this mobilization provides a means to neuter any potential unrest (which also indicates that they are concerned about potential unrest), by mobilizing protestors.
• The claimed reason for the mobilization is a pretty big deal, particularly in combination with the referendums in Russian-held territory.  By claiming that Russia is in a fight against NATO, and not just Ukraine, they can try to explain away the losses and lack of progress.  More importantly, though, that claim will be of greater significance when the sham referendums come back with 105% of votes in favor of Russia.  Now that mobilization is necessary, see, not because Ukraine is kicking their asses, but because they are "fighting against NATO" on integral Russian territory, it's a defensive war against annihilation from the West, and now Putin is justified in carrying out the threats he's made about using nukes.
• That's why this referendum is so critical now.  Putin's previous threats about "not backing Russia up against a wall" are pretty ridiculous when all he has to do is stop invading.  But now, if he can point to a vote to back his claim that those are Russian territories, well, now he just can't leave Russian territory to be invaded by NATO.  Fighting a defensive war against NATO would justify using non-conventional weapons, so that's the story he has to sell if he wants to hold on to power.
• Basically, this is a "Hail Mary" pass late in the 4th quarter.  Putin has backed himself into a corner, and this is his only way out, at least, the only way that doesn't involve a 6th floor window.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on September 21, 2022, 09:50:08 AMOh boy.

QuoteRussian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia on Wednesday, risking a deeply unpopular step that follows a string of humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after invading Ukraine.


[snip]

The Russian leader, in a seven-minute televised address to the nation on Wednesday morning, also warned the West that he isn't bluffing about using all the means at his disposal to protect Russia's territory, in what appeared to be a veiled reference to Russia's nuclear capability.

[snip]

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov [...] argued that Russia is effectively fighting against NATO because the alliance's members have been supplying weapons to Kyiv.

The partial mobilization order came a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia — a move that could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war. The referendums will start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

The ballots are all but certain to go Moscow's way. Foreign leaders have described the ballots as illegitimate and nonbinding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they were a "sham" and "noise" to distract public attention.

[snip]

[Putin:] "To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction ... and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal," Putin said.

He added: "It's not a bluff."

A few takeaways from this:

[snip]

• The claimed reason for the mobilization is a pretty big deal, particularly in combination with the referendums in Russian-held territory.  By claiming that Russia is in a fight against NATO, and not just Ukraine, they can try to explain away the losses and lack of progress.  [...] Now that mobilization is necessary, see, not because Ukraine is kicking their asses, but because they are "fighting against NATO" on integral Russian territory, it's a defensive war against annihilation from the West, and now Putin is justified in carrying out the threats he's made about using nukes.
• That's why this referendum is so critical now.  Putin's previous threats about "not backing Russia up against a wall" are pretty ridiculous when all he has to do is stop invading.  But now, if he can point to a vote to back his claim that those are Russian territories, well, now he just can't leave Russian territory to be invaded by NATO.  [...]
• Basically, this is a "Hail Mary" pass late in the 4th quarter.  Putin has backed himself into a corner, and this is his only way out, at least, the only way that doesn't involve a 6th floor window.

QuotePutin knows damn well the West will never consider these referenda as anything other than a sham. So the only possible reason to proceed with them now is to establish a narrative that Russia is in an existential fight with the West. And therefore justification to use any means necessary to defend the motherland. Up to and including, if necessary, chemical and/or nuclear weapons.

QuoteFor their part, Russian analysts and officials see the specter of nuclear conflict as giving a distinct advantage to their side. Because the outcome of the war in Ukraine is of existential significance to the Kremlin, but not to the White House, they say, Russian officials seem to believe they would have the advantage in the test of wills that nuclear brinkmanship represents.

Dmitri A. Medvedev, a former Russian president and the hawkish vice chairman of Mr. Putin's Security Council, laid out that thesis this past week in a post on the Telegram social network. If Russia were forced to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, he argued, it was unlikely that NATO would intervene militarily because of the risk that a direct attack on Russia could lead to all-out nuclear war."Overseas and European demagogues are not going to perish in a nuclear apocalypse," he wrote.  "Therefore, they will swallow the use of any weapon in the current conflict."

As the full extent of Ukraine's gains in its September counteroffensive became apparent, the Biden administration intensified its study of the steps that Mr. Putin might take to reverse the perception that the Russian Army was losing the war. Administration officials quickly saw some of their predictions come true, as Mr. Putin announced a mobilization of military reserves despite the dissent it provoked.

Now, with the annexation of Ukrainian territory, worry is rising in Washington. Should Ukraine be able to build on its success, and Mr. Putin face humiliating defeat, U.S. officials are concerned he might quickly push through the remaining steps and consider the use of a nuclear weapon.

Quote from: majorhavoc on October 01, 2022, 05:01:26 PMIn Washington, Putin's Nuclear Threats Stir Growing Alarm (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/world/europe/washington-putin-nuclear-threats.html?unlocked_article_code=OndPH0Kv9IfmvqrTz6aVMRBgwCl6qIpgi_LwF23k9kyMM4odpXMJHrfF9p-P3DNWqg9eUWSl6MO-ROkFktnihYLkj5pDEl3Y_G7PiplM33yDiNWtijFxYDrHYaFVmnl_skDfncD4NKE1AMTklisvCzCq038g1vnonDJRmP58aNuEtX2qnGmTd1pulJfy7MvX8MYYYEewWQj067cTm8mTUC1WY8LJt5aGpgLCMJ27Nh-0AKHFZm1kxn_dAfUZj-FPy_q4AINb9mvmwdi6QoKhdDV3W6IgYwMu9dI9-PYhJ4Ru-X22gsf2mWlkdxUiXLHb_RNbSl5XVa4ifa8wv7YiUr6lVK_lzuntDblKpy5ifA&smid=share-url)

OK, all "Rah-rah! Go Ukraine Go!" aside, how worried should we be?  I'm a child of the Cold War; I came of age literally having nuclear nightmares.  (Literally, not: haha, lol! I totally mean figuratively ROFLMAO! :)) )

.....snip....I really, really thought this shit was behind us.


(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ16929rRTTRRme8eoTg_TBZe6cVePXc4ru03eoyxfhrpZhmOTUcXTA_4YNJRJIKjSl2RY&usqp=CAU)[/font]

QuoteOK, all "Rah-rah! Go Ukraine Go!" aside, how worried should we be?  I'm a child of the Cold War; I came of age literally having nuclear nightmares.  (Literally, not: haha, lol! I totally mean figuratively ROFLMAO! (https://ufozs.com/smf/Smileys/hyves/laugh.gif) )

No judgement towards anyone else, but I've always thought potassium iodine tablets were a ridiculous prep.  I really, really thought this shit was behind us.

Quote from: NT2C on October 02, 2022, 01:07:54 PMI'm 45 miles (straight line) from the White House so I figure prepping for a nuke strike here is like trying to prep to hold back a tsunami.

Quote from: tirls on October 02, 2022, 01:15:18 PM

Quote from: NT2C on October 02, 2022, 01:07:54 PMI'm 45 miles (straight line) from the White House so I figure prepping for a nuke strike here is like trying to prep to hold back a tsunami.

For as little as $7900 you can get yourself a tsunami pod
(https://media4.s-nbcnews.com/i/MSNBC/Components/Video/201611/nc_tsunami_capsule_161102.jpg)

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on October 02, 2022, 04:36:02 PMI know it's advertised as a tsunami pod, but all I see is a giant orange Magic 8 ball.  :smiley_crocodile:

Quote from: majorhavoc on October 02, 2022, 05:24:38 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on October 02, 2022, 04:36:02 PMI know it's advertised as a tsunami pod, but all I see is a giant orange Magic 8 ball.  :smiley_crocodile:

Q: Will Russia use nuclear weapons?

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GkceCU2oZcI/WYHTqvrbdfI/AAAAAAAAJL0/4RH0MGQkTYwn6Ms1oPuRrIKhs4hGe3hugCLcBGAs/s1600/8%2Bball%2B-%2Boutlook%2Bnot%2Bso%2Bgood.jpg)

Quote from: RoneKiln on October 02, 2022, 11:09:38 PMAs scary as nukes can be, I am more concerned of a precedent being set that threatening with nukes lets a bully conquer their neighbors.

If that precedent gets set, things will get much worse in a lot of the world.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on October 03, 2022, 11:40:59 AM

Quote from: majorhavoc on October 02, 2022, 05:24:38 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on October 02, 2022, 04:36:02 PMI know it's advertised as a tsunami pod, but all I see is a giant orange Magic 8 ball.  :smiley_crocodile:

Q: Will Russia use nuclear weapons?

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GkceCU2oZcI/WYHTqvrbdfI/AAAAAAAAJL0/4RH0MGQkTYwn6Ms1oPuRrIKhs4hGe3hugCLcBGAs/s1600/8%2Bball%2B-%2Boutlook%2Bnot%2Bso%2Bgood.jpg)

Uhh....does that mean the outlook of using nuclear weapons, or that our outlook isn't good because of using nuclear weapons?   :eek1:

Quote from: tirls on October 02, 2022, 09:46:47 AMRussia does have more nuclear warheads than the combined NATO so theoretically they could do a lot of harm.

QuoteIn fact, total U.S. nuclear weapons spending in 1997 will exceed $34 billion, about 13 percent of the defense budget. Of that amount, nearly $26 billion goes toward operating, maintaining, modernizing, and controlling our existing arsenal of nearly 10,400 warheads and bombs, 575 ICBMs, 408 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, 102 bombers and 17 ballistic missile submarines. These costs alone consume 10 percent of all military spending, 2½ times more than Messrs. Scowcroft and Kanter's figure. The remaining 3 percent? more than $8 billion? includes nuclear waste management and environmental remediation, nuclear weapons safeguard and security measures, a portion of the naval nuclear propulsion program, nuclear weapons dismantlement, arms control verification, non-proliferation programs and ballistic missile defense research.

Quote from: RoneKiln on October 02, 2022, 11:09:38 PMAs scary as nukes can be, I am more concerned of a precedent being set that threatening with nukes lets a bully conquer their neighbors.

If that precedent gets set, things will get much worse in a lot of the world.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on October 03, 2022, 12:46:28 PMGiven the poor condition Russia's tanks and other equipment has been shown to be in, I kind of wonder now if their nukes all say "ACME" on the side.

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on October 03, 2022, 04:21:39 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on October 03, 2022, 12:46:28 PMGiven the poor condition Russia's tanks and other equipment has been shown to be in, I kind of wonder now if their nukes all say "ACME" on the side.

They have all been routinely examined by a professional.

(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.7112b8345f77cc438c5aad40bb6c6025?rik=QzP81ZFWzt1L7g&riu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cartoonbucket.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2015%2f08%2fWile.E-Coyote-With-Dynamite.jpg&ehk=XLPlVxFe3ZqclSPQS8fX6ImwilmS57vslZdtQNilma8%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0)

Quote from: Anianna on October 03, 2022, 11:20:36 PMWhy is using nuclear weapons the line?  They've rained phosphorus on residential areas and used internationally banned incendiaries already (also on residential areas).  They have committed literal war crimes.  We're going to let all that slide.  But nuclear weapons?  Oh no you don't, that's the line. 

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on October 03, 2022, 12:09:25 PM

Quote from: tirls on October 02, 2022, 09:46:47 AMRussia does have more nuclear warheads than the combined NATO so theoretically they could do a lot of harm.

In theory, yes.

In reality, those warheads are expensive to maintain, and fortunately, Russia has demonstrated that they have an abysmal record of maintaining their equipment or their budget. 


An older op-ed from Brookings.edu (https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/maintaining-our-nuclear-arsenal-is-expensive/) (1997) provided the following info:

QuoteIn fact, total U.S. nuclear weapons spending in 1997 will exceed $34 billion, about 13 percent of the defense budget. Of that amount, nearly $26 billion goes toward operating, maintaining, modernizing, and controlling our existing arsenal of nearly 10,400 warheads and bombs, 575 ICBMs, 408 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, 102 bombers and 17 ballistic missile submarines. These costs alone consume 10 percent of all military spending, 2½ times more than Messrs. Scowcroft and Kanter's figure. The remaining 3 percent? more than $8 billion? includes nuclear waste management and environmental remediation, nuclear weapons safeguard and security measures, a portion of the naval nuclear propulsion program, nuclear weapons dismantlement, arms control verification, non-proliferation programs and ballistic missile defense research.

Russia's defense budget in 2013 (https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=b1e628729b0fa172JmltdHM9MTY2NDc1NTIwMCZpZ3VpZD0xYmNmYmQ0Ni1mNTlmLTZhNTMtMTE0NC1hZDE5ZjQ2MjZiMTImaW5zaWQ9NTQ2MQ&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=1bcfbd46-f59f-6a53-1144-ad19f4626b12&psq=russia's+defense+budget&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWFjcm90cmVuZHMubmV0L2NvdW50cmllcy9SVVMvcnVzc2lhL21pbGl0YXJ5LXNwZW5kaW5nLWRlZmVuc2UtYnVkZ2V0Izp-OnRleHQ9UnVzc2lhJTIwTWlsaXRhcnklMjBTcGVuZGluZyUyRkRlZmVuc2UlMjBCdWRnZXQlMjAtJTIwSGlzdG9yaWNhbCUyMERhdGElMjAsJTIwJTIwMy42OSUyNSUyMCUyMDI1JTIwbW9yZSUyMHJvd3MlMjA&ntb=1) was $88.35B, and has been trending downward ever since, to $61.71B in 2020.


Likely around half of their total military budget would need to go into maintaining their nuclear arsenal, but from what we've seen of their military in Ukraine so far, much of it seems to have padded pockets, rather than maintaining equipment.  And that's the stuff that they might reasonably expect to actually need to use.

I expect that their functioning nuclear arsenal is a tiny fraction of what they have on paper, but I still hope we never have to find out!

Quote from: RoneKiln on October 04, 2022, 09:01:59 AMShould the prospect of hundreds, maybe thousands of improperly stored and maintained nuclear devices scare us more than the prospect of a few of them being used intentionally?

Quote from: RoneKiln on October 04, 2022, 12:34:52 AM

Quote from: Anianna on October 03, 2022, 11:20:36 PMWhy is using nuclear weapons the line?  They've rained phosphorus on residential areas and used internationally banned incendiaries already (also on residential areas).  They have committed literal war crimes.  We're going to let all that slide.  But nuclear weapons?  Oh no you don't, that's the line. 

Has the world really let it slide? Haven't we pumped billions into Ukraine, enacted severe economic sanctions on Russia, and invested incredible amounts of manpower training Ukrainians and providing Intel and logistical support?

I know arguments can be made over whether enough support has been given to Ukraine, but what's been done isn't small.

I think the use of nukes is more like a cliff at the end of a steep slope. You can take a heck of a beating tumbling down that slope, but launch nukes and there's the cliff.

Quote from: Anianna on October 04, 2022, 11:17:18 PM

Quote from: RoneKiln on October 04, 2022, 12:34:52 AM

Quote from: Anianna on October 03, 2022, 11:20:36 PMWhy is using nuclear weapons the line?  They've rained phosphorus on residential areas and used internationally banned incendiaries already (also on residential areas).  They have committed literal war crimes.  We're going to let all that slide.  But nuclear weapons?  Oh no you don't, that's the line. 

Has the world really let it slide? Haven't we pumped billions into Ukraine, enacted severe economic sanctions on Russia, and invested incredible amounts of manpower training Ukrainians and providing Intel and logistical support?

I know arguments can be made over whether enough support has been given to Ukraine, but what's been done isn't small.

I think the use of nukes is more like a cliff at the end of a steep slope. You can take a heck of a beating tumbling down that slope, but launch nukes and there's the cliff.

In relation to "we can kick Russia's butt if they use nukes", yea, we are letting everything else slide.  Why is nukes, in particular, the cliff?  Why couldn't we kick Russia's butt directly when they bombed residential neighborhoods, or hospitals,  or a freaking shelter where civilians went to huddle in fear?  Why couldn't we kick their butts when they used internationally banned weapons (again, on civilians)?  Why couldn't we kick their butts when they rained down phosphorus (yet again, on residential areas)?

What makes nuclear weapons, in particular,  the line that must not be crossed?  We'll wag our collective finger at all other atrocities,  but for that one and only that one, we pull out the ass-kicking boots. 

Quote from: Anianna on October 04, 2022, 11:17:18 PM

Quote from: RoneKiln on October 04, 2022, 12:34:52 AM

Quote from: Anianna on October 03, 2022, 11:20:36 PMWhy is using nuclear weapons the line?  They've rained phosphorus on residential areas and used internationally banned incendiaries already (also on residential areas).  They have committed literal war crimes.  We're going to let all that slide.  But nuclear weapons?  Oh no you don't, that's the line. 

Has the world really let it slide? Haven't we pumped billions into Ukraine, enacted severe economic sanctions on Russia, and invested incredible amounts of manpower training Ukrainians and providing Intel and logistical support?

I know arguments can be made over whether enough support has been given to Ukraine, but what's been done isn't small.

I think the use of nukes is more like a cliff at the end of a steep slope. You can take a heck of a beating tumbling down that slope, but launch nukes and there's the cliff.

In relation to "we can kick Russia's butt if they use nukes", yea, we are letting everything else slide.  Why is nukes, in particular, the cliff?  Why couldn't we kick Russia's butt directly when they bombed residential neighborhoods, or hospitals,  or a freaking shelter where civilians went to huddle in fear?  Why couldn't we kick their butts when they used internationally banned weapons (again, on civilians)?  Why couldn't we kick their butts when they rained down phosphorus (yet again, on residential areas)?

What makes nuclear weapons, in particular,  the line that must not be crossed?  We'll wag our collective finger at all other atrocities,  but for that one and only that one, we pull out the ass-kicking boots. 

Quote from: flybynight on October 05, 2022, 09:58:31 PMAnybody have verification of this? Is ww3 about to start?



https://youtu.be/SqPMgBreBn8

Quote from: fáwë on October 11, 2022, 02:07:50 PMThis happened yesterday. I live in one of the mentioned areas but I didn't see the phenomenon

https://yle.fi/news/3-12654458

Quote from: NT2C on October 08, 2022, 11:38:29 AMI'm seeing reports of arrests of high-ranking military officers in Moscow.  I had previously seen reports and speculation that Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons might trigger a military coup.  Looks like Putin is worried about that too.  This could very well trigger action by others though so there may be some interesting changes in Russian leadership happening.

Quote from: Lambykins on October 12, 2022, 07:56:20 PM

Quote from: NT2C on October 08, 2022, 11:38:29 AMI'm seeing reports of arrests of high-ranking military officers in Moscow.  I had previously seen reports and speculation that Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons might trigger a military coup.  Looks like Putin is worried about that too.  This could very well trigger action by others though so there may be some interesting changes in Russian leadership happening.

Any more news on this? The one story I saw said that an elite team was in charge of arresting the high-ranking officers.
Then....silence. Can't really find anything more.
Think Putin is culling those in the military bureaucracy that question his decisions in Ukraine?
"Night of the long knives" 2.0?

Quote from: Lambykins on October 12, 2022, 07:56:20 PM

Quote from: NT2C on October 08, 2022, 11:38:29 AMI'm seeing reports of arrests of high-ranking military officers in Moscow.  I had previously seen reports and speculation that Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons might trigger a military coup.  Looks like Putin is worried about that too.  This could very well trigger action by others though so there may be some interesting changes in Russian leadership happening.

Any more news on this? The one story I saw said that an elite team was in charge of arresting the high-ranking officers.
Then....silence. Can't really find anything more.
Think Putin is culling those in the military bureaucracy that question his decisions in Ukraine?
"Night of the long knives" 2.0?

Quote from: RoneKiln on October 16, 2022, 10:39:04 PMToday a YouTuber in Ukraine that has consistently given very good quality updates on the war expressed the belief UA is using Western weapons to hit targets around Belgorod and the West is OK with it. I tried to Google for something to corroborate his belief and didn't find anything.

I'm strongly leaning towards it not being true, but am open to being wrong and thought someone here might have seen something I'm missing.

Quote from: RickOShea on October 01, 2022, 11:02:17 PMWelp, this certainly wasn't on my 2022 Bingo card....
https://signmyrocket.com/ (https://signmyrocket.com/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/jjC5xGHQ/VOG17.jpg)

Quote from: fáwë on November 15, 2022, 01:40:23 PMRussian missiles hit Poland near Ukrainian border

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1697080/russia-poland-missle-dead-NATO-state-Ukraine-war-pictures-world-war-3


Edited typos

Quote from: NT2C on November 15, 2022, 04:40:49 PM

Quote from: fáwë on November 15, 2022, 01:40:23 PMRussian missiles hit Poland near Ukrainian border

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1697080/russia-poland-missle-dead-NATO-state-Ukraine-war-pictures-world-war-3


Edited typos

This has the potential to go very askew, very quickly.  NATO will respond to this, they have to.  How much they respond will depend on if it is judged a deliberate act by Russia.  If it is, hold onto your hats folks.

Quote from: Anianna on November 15, 2022, 05:45:19 PMIf the nightly news is any indication, we're leaning towards "Russia is notoriously inaccurate and didn't mean it".  My preference would be "Putin is a freaking reprobate seeing what he can get away with and needs a reprimand of some sort stronger than 'try to aim better'" but that, too, could have ramifications. 

Quote from: fáwë on November 16, 2022, 05:11:48 AMApparently the missiles were Ukrainian anti air missiles. If that is the case it is reassuring news. As a European it is terrifying to think the escalation of the war  :(

Quote from: RoneKiln on November 17, 2022, 02:05:49 AMEverything I'm seeing has me strongly leaning towards it being a Russian missile but publicly calling it a Ukrainean S-300 missile helps dodge a quagmire.

QuoteWith Ukraine's energy grid suffering "colossal" damage after waves of Russian missile attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a national drive to prepare thousands of makeshift centers to provide basic services in the event of prolonged blackouts.
"If massive Russian strikes take place again and if there is an understanding that the electricity supply cannot be restored within hours, the work of 'Points of Invincibility' will be activated," he told the nation in his nightly address on Tuesday.
"All basic services will be there," he said, including electricity, mobile communications, internet access, heat, water, and first-aid supplies.

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 23, 2022, 07:52:15 AM"All basic services will be there," he said, including electricity, mobile communications, internet access, heat, water, and first-aid supplies.

Beyond a really questionable name (why not just call them "Hey Putin, we dare ya to send a missile this way. We dare ya!"), these centers of micro-infrastructure are a really interesting concept. I hope to learn some of the technical details because there's probably some learnings here for preppers interested in building resiliency in their local communities.

Quote from: SCBrian on November 24, 2022, 07:06:00 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 23, 2022, 07:52:15 AM"All basic services will be there," he said, including electricity, mobile communications, internet access, heat, water, and first-aid supplies.

Beyond a really questionable name (why not just call them "Hey Putin, we dare ya to send a missile this way. We dare ya!"), these centers of micro-infrastructure are a really interesting concept. I hope to learn some of the technical details because there's probably some learnings here for preppers interested in building resiliency in their local communities.

Suspect, it'll be an heavy truck with water, a good genny, and a mobile cell tower/sat uplink...  I think look at what NT2C did for his communications truck, and upscale it.
They may be better served by scattering the pieces to mesh networks (I.e, "Arab Spring") than making one central hard point... Though if you build it as a red cross shelter, Putin would have some 'splaining to do for hitting it...

• Military Winter: tourist life hacks to avoid freezing and starving in your apartment.
• Firewood from the state: how to get firewood for free
• Power Outage Schedule: where to check for upcoming outages in your region
• Insulation of houses and strategic stocks: how to properly prepare for winter

QuoteRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Ukraine must fulfil Moscow's proposals regarding their "new territories" — or the Russian military would take action, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Quote from: EBuff75 on December 27, 2022, 08:30:19 AMI'm confused as to what has been going on since February, if the military hasn't "taken action" yet?...  :crazy:

QuoteRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Ukraine must fulfil Moscow's proposals regarding their "new territories" — or the Russian military would take action, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-12-27-22/h_daa3cdc8a1f32be7040ace152628afdf

Quote from: EBuff75 on January 02, 2023, 01:22:30 PMIt appears that the Russian military hasn't seen 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier', otherwise they'd have known not to put the ammo cache next to the barracks:  https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-1-2-23/h_5c2179bae75b6e96b0a655a557fe9c97

This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL8qzs2P58o) is from last summer, but it's a good visual for how big of a kaboom an ammo dump makes when you hit it.  So far I haven't been able to find any footage of this latest strike, but I imagine it was a similar explosion.

Quote"War is an economy. It's money," said Graf, a stout, bearded Ukrainian soldier in charge of his unit's drone team. "And if you have a drone for $3,000 and a grenade for $200, and you destroy a tank that costs $3 million, it's very interesting."

Quote from: majorhavoc on January 07, 2023, 11:53:53 AMYet another example of Ukrainian ingenuity, which never ceases to amaze me.  I just can't see how Russia, with it's pondering, Soviet-era military bureaucracy, is ever going to beat this resourceful country.

If it has to, Ukraine will jury rig its way to victory.

In a Ukraine Workshop, the Quest to Build the Perfect Grenade (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-grenade.html?unlocked_article_code=39mpDmiUzMBYrgrECmhmoIi3E_CkwNYJuIea9lWo8052pNoS03vnIxrjvOr_qAjd-3mLOX4ZVGTDg9ga4eiygrOUlDUqcAX-v7jsRV0FQEulIcOpOse9v6HMX8apvNDrqlvt0_0gmqQ6KlDvwwsK2E2o66f6Cxv0Mt_37LRFBRPSj_lmkUdZzwI9iVH45_2KXE10yY3JF_J7MeffNsmHH93pedKMF381pEmnBkn_EMejFiAFF6t9w-HcnDDCBdV8inooDhvCLwDfiOQ6WtBKyJlkdzKDn9-jPA8ac3ZsRpp1NeYVAcBjjLRJp_5FgfkCWrd8K42CvjC5KQ-JVDot7ww6AV195ZiAHA&smid=share-url)

Quote"War is an economy. It's money," said Graf, a stout, bearded Ukrainian soldier in charge of his unit's drone team. "And if you have a drone for $3,000 and a grenade for $200, and you destroy a tank that costs $3 million, it's very interesting."

(https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/01/06/multimedia/06ukraine-grenade-3-2347/06ukraine-grenade-3-2347-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp)

QuoteAt first, some of these homemade flak jackets had the metal plates uncovered, with nothing to absorb the shock; a few soldiers wearing them were injured. Quickly, a solution was found: When cut into pieces, transmission belts for grain loaders in the Odesa port turned out to be just the right rubber damper. The metal plate and rubber damper were held together by duct tape, but the ensemble looked surprisingly tidy.

Quote from: EBuff75 on January 15, 2023, 10:03:43 AMAnother article about how the war in Ukraine has become a testing ground for Western military equipment and the battlefield ingenuity that Ukraine is displaying.  The bit at the start of the article about the targeting app is a really good example of the sort of things that they're coming up with.  https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/15/politics/ukraine-russia-war-weapons-lab/index.html

QuoteMeanwhile, multiple intelligence and military officials told CNN they hoped that creating what the US military terms "attritable" drones – cheap, single-use weapons – has become a top priority for defense contractors.

"I wish we could make a $10,000 one-way attack drone," one of these officials said, wistfully.

Quote from: tirls on January 15, 2023, 01:47:34 PMDumb question: Couldn't you just hook up an electronic detonator to a cell or satellite phone and put the entire thing under a commercial drone?
A dji drone costs around 2000 and can automatically follow a target once selected. Wait until the drone is close enough and call the phone.
I watch too many cheap action movies...

Quote from: tirls on January 15, 2023, 01:47:34 PMDumb question: Couldn't you just hook up an electronic detonator to a cell or satellite phone and put the entire thing under a commercial drone?
A dji drone costs around 2000 and can automatically follow a target once selected. Wait until the drone is close enough and call the phone.
I watch too many cheap action movies...

Quote from: EBuff75 on January 15, 2023, 03:07:51 PM

Quote from: tirls on January 15, 2023, 01:47:34 PMDumb question: Couldn't you just hook up an electronic detonator to a cell or satellite phone and put the entire thing under a commercial drone?
A dji drone costs around 2000 and can automatically follow a target once selected. Wait until the drone is close enough and call the phone.
I watch too many cheap action movies...

Gotta have a reliable cell signal for that, which can be a bit of an issue in war zones.  This is actually used for IEDs, car bombs, etc., in areas with good coverage.  For an IED, the person setting it up could adjust the position as needed to make sure that there is a signal.  Not really an option when trying to actively maneuver a drone into position.

Quote from: Halfapint on January 15, 2023, 08:57:12 PMA slapped together repurposed lawnmower engine? Shit get Briggs and Stratton to make them. We could field thousands if the drones a couple weeks.

Quote from: SCBrian on January 16, 2023, 09:56:27 AM

Quote from: Halfapint on January 15, 2023, 08:57:12 PMA slapped together repurposed lawnmower engine? Shit get Briggs and Stratton to make them. We could field thousands if the drones a couple weeks.

Can you imagine the grass roots effort if this was crowdsourced from the southern US or Midwest?
"Want to help the war in Ukraine?  Got a spare mower laying around?  Read this how-to article... "

QuoteUkraine's tanks "are going to hinder our troops," Sergei told CNN in Russia's capital.

Quote from: Halfapint on January 15, 2023, 08:57:12 PMI think the biggest problem with a suicide drone is payload and speed. A DJI can hold a couple grenades the bigger the payload the slower they are.

The shahed 136 weighs 200kg wirh a 2.5m wing span and can carry up
To a 50kg warhead. You're not gonna get that with a DJI.

The problem with getting something that size flying is that they are not fast and are not quiet. So the tech to use better/quieter motors that are faster. Bur that means a more complicated build process and ups the cost.

Iran has it right, build something cheap with a hundred pounds of TNT in it and send them flying in flocks. You lose a few on no. We'll have them replaced tomorrow.

Electric drones are great in this war but electric motors and batteries are going to be hard to replace.  A slapped together repurposed lawnmower engine? Shit get Briggs and Stratton to make them. We could field thousands if the drones a couple weeks.

Quote"We were fighting for about 10 hours in a row. And it wasn't like just waves, it was uninterrupted. So it was just like they didn't stop coming."

Their AK-47 rifles became so hot from constant firing, that they had to keep changing them.
...
"Our machine gunner was almost getting crazy, because he was shooting at them. And he said, I know I shot him, but he doesn't fall. And then after some time, when he maybe bleeds out, so he just falls down.  They're climbing above the corpse of their friends, stepping on them."
...
"It looks like it's very, very likely that they are getting some drugs before attack."

QuoteAs they have done throughout the war, the Russian commanders made some basic mistakes, in this case failing to take into account the terrain — open fields littered with antitank mines — or the strength of the Ukrainian forces, Colonel Dmytrashkivskyi said. Two of Russia's most elite brigades — the 155th and 40th Naval Infantry Brigades — were decimated in Vuhledar.

A Russian marine who fought in Vuhledar told the Russian media outlet 7x7, which is based in the Komi region of Russia, that those who survived the battle were considered deserters. The marine, whose identity the news outlet did not disclose, citing the need to protect his safety, said he was part of the third company of the 155th brigade. After the failed assault, he said, only eight soldiers from his company were left alive.

"It would have been better if I had been captured and never returned," he said.

Quote from: Halfapint on February 18, 2023, 01:49:39 AMI love Russian people, honestly I had a plan to move to Russia and get like 200-500 acres of land. And just go away. The wife was even down for it.

Bur how fucking stupid are they? It's not difficult to find videos if thousands if theirs killed. And for what? I mean I suppose Putin is doing this because he wants to kill an entire generation... why? Because younger Russians are/were sick of him. Best way to stay in power and not hav an uprising kill the younger generation or run them out if the country.

I watched clips that totaled probably 5 hours if 5000ish Russian troops, armor, APC, etc get wiped out a week ago. Imagine if 5k US, British, German, etc troops were killed in a couple days. Just imagine.

Quote from: majorhavoc on February 18, 2023, 07:32:52 AM

Quote from: Halfapint on February 18, 2023, 01:49:39 AMI love Russian people, honestly I had a plan to move to Russia and get like 200-500 acres of land. And just go away. The wife was even down for it.

Bur how fucking stupid are they? It's not difficult to find videos if thousands if theirs killed. And for what? I mean I suppose Putin is doing this because he wants to kill an entire generation... why? Because younger Russians are/were sick of him. Best way to stay in power and not hav an uprising kill the younger generation or run them out if the country.

I watched clips that totaled probably 5 hours if 5000ish Russian troops, armor, APC, etc get wiped out a week ago. Imagine if 5k US, British, German, etc troops were killed in a couple days. Just imagine.

Yeah, I guess I was a bit flippant in my last post.  It's just that after a year of this damn war, I'm so angry and frustrated.  You're right Halfpint: a whole generation of Russia's best and brightest is being sacrificed for the foolish pride of an arrogant old man.  In the end Ukraine will stand, Putin will be gone and millions of Russians will weep over those who were lost.  As you say ... why?

I hate the idea of Russians dying.  But it's even more heartbreaking to me that that good, promising Ukrainians, young and old, have to put their lives on hold, deny society the very best use of their best talents, and risk their lives defending their country.  This woman's story  (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/18/world/europe/ukraine-teacher-combat.html?unlocked_article_code=YCZUWLXPcAdcRwyClsVGlD3_HVJM1NMeKhMq6whkacpT35f4uAjLfa3RzyWsbcmR_zL9wkA12kB9N5wYFNzPqkIdfWQiQgc3QQ_kTL0hIhIATGMQ-2vW9_0N3FFm1CDHXYq5tnyuApY3Fizra1hYs6EUJdHImE0PRD69paZ6bPpZ54QwYOmbKswCXgDSI1z8wZ7DrGUnP6wgoC7zN7sKuHXUQFFqWHyK2nmJMY0fNwCYu8XIsEv4iywYLH6ZBFn9az0mbB7qFxaF6-6-Z9nGtk3w49KI4roSrPslGNDei36Csa8NfBa0VeLBbBLtCpiM23cMLXq6DG8ziYFCp6aw2v7WNs7S&smid=url-share)is playing out a thousand, thousand times across Ukraine every single day.  It's a damn waste of human potential.