Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion

While it's ok to poke fun at them about the T-50s, it's still better to be in an old tank than to be doing frontal infantry assaults against machine gun equipped trenches. All while there's mortar and artillery shells, or grenade-dropping drones, flying over head. And 100 T-50s can still overwhelm a defensive front line consisting mostly of light infantry (if they can find enough tankers to man them that is).

We need to make sure Ukraine has as many ATGMs as possible. Their trenches need to be overflowing with NLAWs, Javelins and their domestically produced Stugnas. And we should make sure their artillery has as many remotely deployed anti tank mines as we can get our hands on.
 
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How much of a failure is the Russian army at this point ?

I can't believe they still fail to take Bakhmut, after all this time.
 
dove said:
Lots of talk about Nova Kakhovka being liberated.

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Sounds more like no man's land as opposed to Ukrainian forces being there.

If they have indeed succeeded in taking control of it and establishing a bridgehead there, it is huge news. But I doubt that from the nature of the announcement.
 
RedDevilQuebecois said:
I understand if the Ukrainians are cautious before they go in, but this could well be a Remagen moment in the war.
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Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised if the Russians are thinning out in various front line locations throughout the winter, which the Ukrainians are happily prepared to exploit once vacated.
 
Russia's main defensive line is a few km away from the Dnipro river outside artillery range. Both sides do reconnaissance missions near and across the river, so it's more or less no man's land there. I wouldn't interpret too much into the Nova Kakhovka news.
I also read a couple of days ago of some Ukrainian offensive moves in the Zaporizhzhia region. Overall it looks like Ukraine is poking the hornet's nest in some places now to get information on their defenses before their counter offensive later.
 
Russia has spent so much time, manpower and resources on Bakhmut, and yet, in the end, they may not even be able to take it.

This assault on that area looks like an act of desperation to me, they know they are screwed and just tried to gain some ground before it all goes to shit.
 
Ragnar123 said:
Russia's main defensive line is a few km away from the Dnipro river outside artillery range. Both sides do reconnaissance missions near and across the river, so it's more or less no man's land there. I wouldn't interpret too much into the Nova Kakhovka news.
I also read a couple of days ago of some Ukrainian offensive moves in the Zaporizhzhia region. Overall it looks like Ukraine is poking the hornet's nest in some places now to get information on their defenses before their counter offensive later.
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How do they anchor their left flank if they have to withdraw several Km from the Dniporo?
 
Morty_ said:
Russia has spent so much time, manpower and resources on Bakhmut, and yet, in the end, they may not even be able to take it.

This assault on that area looks like an act of desperation to me, they know they are screwed and just tried to gain some ground before it all goes to shit.
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Yep. Putin was so desperate for a win that he allowed Prygozyn to fixate on it and in the process deplete some of the better Russian fighters and their weapons in fruitless effort.
 
I know NATO is supposed to have an united front against Russia, so this is not exactly in the spirit of unity, but like, is it possible to kick Hungary out somehow?

We would almost be doing them a favor, "set them free", so to speak, as they clearly don't value this alliance much anyway.
If they really want to ally with Russia, i say let them.
 
Morty_ said:
I know NATO is supposed to have an united front against Russia, so this is not exactly in the spirit of unity, but like, is it possible to kick Hungary out somehow?

We would almost be doing them a favor, "set them free", so to speak, as they clearly don't value this alliance much anyway.
If they really want to ally with Russia, i say let them.
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Why would NATO simultaneously weaken itself, hand Russia a valuable ally and give them a talking point in order to gain more allies?
 
Krakenzero said:
Why would NATO simultaneously weaken itself, hand Russia a valuable ally and give them a talking point in order to gain more allies?
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Weakens itself how? Hungary barely contributes to Ukraine as it is, not just in total, but adjusted for GDP they are below even non-NATO countries.
Then you have things like Orban being a Putin-fanboy and Hungary, a NATO country, saying outright they wouldn't arrest Putin if he visits them.

They are not actually an ally.
 
Morty_ said:
Weakens itself how? Hungary barely contributes to Ukraine as it is, not just in total, but adjusted for GDP they are below even non-NATO countries.
Then you have things like Orban being a Putin-fanboy and Hungary, a NATO country, saying outright they wouldn't arrest Putin if he visits them.

They are not actually an ally.
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International alliances power is measured by number and size of its members. Losing them makes them actually less effective/impactful. That's why for example the UE didn't get stronger after Brexit.

If NATO had only 8-10 members it may be better coordinated to operate, but it would also be less impactful and perceived as weaker/less attractive to join.
 
Krakenzero said:
International alliances power is measured by number and size of its members. Losing them makes them actually less effective/impactful. That's why for example the UE didn't get stronger after Brexit.

If NATO had only 8-10 members it may be better coordinated to operate, but it would also be less impactful and perceived as weaker/less attractive to join.
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You don't need to exaggerate, i'm not advocating for anything like that, as the vast majority of them brings something to the table, unlike Hungary, which is just a parasite on this alliance at this point.
 
Morty_ said:
You don't need to exaggerate, i'm not advocating for anything like that, as the vast majority of them brings something to the table, unlike Hungary, which is just a parasite on this alliance at this point.
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Precisely because hungary is in Nato, orban is under control. You kick them now and you might create rapidly a bielorusian like country in the heart of europe puting at risk and thinning resources of the neighbouring countries. Meaning less tanks, no slovakian migs to ukraine and many less arms as they would keep it just in case

Ukraine would have their western border under thread, etc...

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer fits perfectly the relationship with orban
 
4bars said:
Precisely because hungary is in Nato, orban is under control. You kick them now and you might create rapidly a bielorusian like country in the heart of europe puting at risk and thinning resources of the neighbouring countries. Meaning less tanks, no slovakian migs to ukraine and many less arms as they would keep it just in case

Ukraine would have their western border under thread, etc...

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer fits perfectly the relationship with orban
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Plus, Orban could be in trouble if Putin goes down since he wouldn’t have any authoritarian support.
 
Raoul said:
Plus, Orban could be in trouble if Putin goes down since he wouldn’t have any authoritarian support.
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I think he gets on well well enough with poland and also, with the growing global political clima. Orban is playing with 2 decks and is working for him
 
Don't Kill Bill said:
How do they anchor their left flank if they have to withdraw several Km from the Dniporo?
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With their own artillery of course. Ukraine showed last summer how a river crossing works if the enemy knows when and where you cross. Russia lost over a hundred armor vehicles if I remember correctly in a couple of hours in that failed crossing. Drones and reconnaissance gives you a clear picture around the clock. They only wait for Ukraine to cross so they can pound them to dust. Also Ukraine would have the same problem Russia had when they were still in Kherson. Supplies. All bridges are destroyed and pontoon bridges are easily spotted by drones.
The crossing is far more difficult than people think even without an enemy in eyesight. If the crossing happens in the future, it should be strong enough to break through those defensive lines a couple of km away. Otherwise they'd be just sitting ducks on the left bank.
 
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RedDevilQuebecois said:
There are no details that I can gather, but I believe it could be anything ranging from flashbang grenades and body armor to anti-drone hardware or mobile radar. In any case, the largest chunk of Japan's aid is the new envelope worth $470 million as non-repayable aid for power generation and other sectors.
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Red_toad said:
Could be troop transport, air defence missiles, body armour etc.
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Fair enough I'd thought most of that stuff was usually described as military hardware, protective gear etc. as opposed to weapons.
 
Morty_ said:
I know NATO is supposed to have an united front against Russia, so this is not exactly in the spirit of unity, but like, is it possible to kick Hungary out somehow?

We would almost be doing them a favor, "set them free", so to speak, as they clearly don't value this alliance much anyway.
If they really want to ally with Russia, i say let them.
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Better to have them inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.
 
I really hope we see them one day all in The Hague....disgusting war criminals. There are still thousands of children abducted.
 
Ragnar123 said:
I really hope we see them one day all in The Hague....disgusting war criminals. There are still thousands of children abducted.
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Pretty grim stuff. Imagine being the parent of one of these kids and having to wonder if they would ever be reunited.
 


So sad on so many levels. Very unfortunate and grotesque that a country still sings BS about the "glory of war" in 2023 when a British poet once titled a poem "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country) as an irony to decry the great lie about war over a century ago.
 
RedDevilQuebecois said:


So sad on so many levels. Very unfortunate and grotesque that a country still sings BS about the "glory of war" in 2023 when a British poet once titled a poem "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country) as an irony to decry the great lie about war over a century ago.
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That one made quite an impression on me back in English class in high school. Wilfred Owen, right?
 
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