Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion



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.


Apparently this bullshit provokes fear and envy with some idiots in the west. As usual, Beau has a good take on it.
 
Once this invasion is over, will Russia be able to launch any major offensives for like several decades?

They've lost a lof men, but they always have unfortunate people to be thrown into the grinder, but the amount of losses in terms tanks, armored vehicles, aircrafts and so on is actually insane, and it won't be easily replaced anytime soon.
 
It looks like Russia ran out of steam again around Bakhmut. They couldn't gain anything worth mentioning in the last days, while losing around 1000 men and a double digit of tanks and acvs daily, but on the contrary the situation seems to stabilize for Ukraine a bit. Seems like Russia/Wagner ran out of prisoners to throw into the meat grinder. The same in Avdiivka.
It would be crazy if Ukraine counter attacks in Bakhmut. But on the second thought, if they surprise Russia, they can break through there. I'd imagine Russia's defensive lines in and around Bakhmut are the weakest ones, because they constantly push forward there while in other regions the front stands still for months.

 
Hugely advertised Russian offensive have failed on every level from strategic to barely any tactical gains. After burning through all the freshly mobilized meat, the momentum has been lost. Preparations are starting over the upcoming Ukrainian offensive:

People in Kremlin know how unpopular another round of mobilization would be, they’re especially fearful in the light of upcoming predetermined Putin’s reelection that should happen in 2024 when he will officially become a dictator in the eyes of everyone. For them image of their tsar in the eyes of peasants is everything.
 
Last edited:
I think Putin thinks we give a shit.

He just makes sure Belarus will never turn away from him.
Those nukes give him the necessary excuse to station thousands of soldiers inside that country. So in the unlikely event that Lukashenko might be overthrown, he could react fast and hard. It's also a message to Belarus people "we will never let you choose. You belong to us".
 
He just makes sure Belarus will never turn away from him.
Those nukes give him the necessary excuse to station thousands of soldiers inside that country. So in the unlikely event that Lukashenko might be overthrown, he could react fast and hard. It's also a message to Belarus people "we will never let you choose. You belong to us".
It's a dangerous play. Belarus so far acted quite smart to not be directly involved in the war. It's a thin line Lukashenko walks and it might fail at some point, but so far I don't get the impression that Russia can truly control Belarus, despite them trying very hard to. I'm not sure nukes will get this result either.
 
That was one of the most morbidly fascinating things I have ever seen.
I'm not sure what to feel when seeing videos like this one. On one hand I'm happy that the Ukrainians are fighting such a incompetent force but on the other hand I also feel sorry for those Russians because those are not soldiers, they lack even the most basic of training for an infantry soldier.
Attacking in the open when there is decent cover just meters away and no coordination in the attack, everyone just seems to be doing their own thing. Not even when the indirect fire starts comming in they seem to understand that they need to get in cover.
 


Drone operators became extremly skilled in dropping grenades after one year of practice. I remember those videos during the first months of the war when many grenades landed a few meters away from the target on average. Now they hit tank hatches, narrow trenches and small dugouts without problems.
Can't imagine what it's like down there in the trenches, not only to worry about an enemy assault or artillery, but also the knowledge that anytime, even at night, a drone might end your life and you don't see it coming.
Most of the time they also don't die instantly, but slowly bleed to death because of horrific shrapnel wounds. I saw videos where russian soldiers shot themselves after being hit with a shrapnel granade.
I don't want to know how many soldiers will have PTSD just from this alone, waking up at night in your own bed expecting a drone over your head.
 
Good thread by Ryan.
The comming offensive will set the tone for the future of this war. If it's a succes we could start seeing an end to the war soon but if it's a failure we will have years of the same grinding and very destructive type of warfare we have seen for the past 10 months.
 
How many Ukrainians in total have been trained abroad?
I haven't seen any exact numbers but around 40,000 would be my guess. I believe UK have trained 20,000 infantry troops so far in their program and the EU program that started in November should have the first 15,000 finishing their training about now. Add in all the types of specialized troops that are being trained by various nations on more advanced weapons and 40,000 would seem pretty close.
 
Drone operators became extremly skilled in dropping grenades after one year of practice. I remember those videos during the first months of the war when many grenades landed a few meters away from the target on average. Now they hit tank hatches, narrow trenches and small dugouts without problems.
Can't imagine what it's like down there in the trenches, not only to worry about an enemy assault or artillery, but also the knowledge that anytime, even at night, a drone might end your life and you don't see it coming.
Most of the time they also don't die instantly, but slowly bleed to death because of horrific shrapnel wounds. I saw videos where russian soldiers shot themselves after being hit with a shrapnel granade.
I don't want to know how many soldiers will have PTSD just from this alone, waking up at night in your own bed expecting a drone over your head.

There was a clip of 30+ Russians lying dead or close to death in a small part of a trench, and that was just what was in view on this drone footage. First time I've felt sympathy for these guys. That and the fact we only see small snippets of the reality of this war. feck Putin.
 
Episode 2 is out... They stated they would release footage covering a 7 day battle for this area.

Viewer discretion advised! Death & some close ups...


Translated description from the video:
Six meters wide. 30 meters along. Seven days of continuous fighting for this small piece of Ukrainian land.
Today we publish a continuation of the battle for one of the positions of our battalion.

The battle for the "T-pattern". PART TWO. Rebuff

We will remind that more than 30 Russian attack aircraft attacked the "T-pattern" position. Eight of our brothers in the trenches faced an unequal battle. Most of the enemy group was destroyed. However, the invaders came close to the trenches.

The reserve of our battalion, which is already rushing to support, has the power to turn the tide of the battle.
 
Last edited:
Episode 2 is out... They stated they would release footage covering a 7 day battle for this area.

Viewer discretion advised! Death & some close ups...


Translated discription from the video:
Six meters wide. 30 meters along. Seven days of continuous fighting for this small piece of Ukrainian land.
Today we publish a continuation of the battle for one of the positions of our battalion.

The battle for the "T-pattern". PART TWO. Rebuff

We will remind that more than 30 Russian attack aircraft attacked the "T-pattern" position. Eight of our brothers in the trenches faced an unequal battle. Most of the enemy group was destroyed. However, the invaders came close to the trenches.

The reserve of our battalion, which is already rushing to support, has the power to turn the tide of the battle.


This has basically devolved into WW1 style trench warfare for the Russians, which is why I think the Ukrainians have a good chance of winning this.
 
Episode 2 is out... They stated they would release footage covering a 7 day battle for this area.

Viewer discretion advised! Death & some close ups...


Translated discription from the video:
Six meters wide. 30 meters along. Seven days of continuous fighting for this small piece of Ukrainian land.
Today we publish a continuation of the battle for one of the positions of our battalion.

The battle for the "T-pattern". PART TWO. Rebuff

We will remind that more than 30 Russian attack aircraft attacked the "T-pattern" position. Eight of our brothers in the trenches faced an unequal battle. Most of the enemy group was destroyed. However, the invaders came close to the trenches.

The reserve of our battalion, which is already rushing to support, has the power to turn the tide of the battle.


Own impatience killed the guy at 1:10...The first war with this kind of footage. Insane.

edit: A new Kraken video got released. Those guys have the best and most impressive videos out there. They also have a Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@KRAKEN_GUR/videos



edit2: Here is a video from Bakhmut city. Definitely worth to watch.

 
Last edited:
Man, imagine actually siding with Russia on this one just because you don't like the US.

Fascists are a scourge, but so are tankies.
 
Man, imagine actually siding with Russia on this one just because you don't like the US.

Fascists are a scourge, but so are tankies.

Authoritarians are bound to side with one another, which is why Putin has cozied up to China and received military help from Iran. The sooner all these dictatorships collapse, the better.
 
Authoritarians are bound to side with one another, which is why Putin has cozied up to China and received military help from Iran. The sooner all these dictatorships collapse, the better.
Amen.

No one ever said that democracy is an easy thing, but authoritarianism is always a recipe for disaster. Wish more people understand it.
 
I'm not sure what to feel when seeing videos like this one. On one hand I'm happy that the Ukrainians are fighting such a incompetent force but on the other hand I also feel sorry for those Russians because those are not soldiers, they lack even the most basic of training for an infantry soldier.
Attacking in the open when there is decent cover just meters away and no coordination in the attack, everyone just seems to be doing their own thing. Not even when the indirect fire starts comming in they seem to understand that they need to get in cover.
Of course you feel sorry. They're sent there to die senselessly just cause a mad man has his own obsessions and fascinations. Incredibly sad and depressing. Of course its depressing for Ukrainian soldiers who are dying en masse cause they need to defend their country from that same mad man. So many lifes lost for nothing and the half of country or more destroyed.
 
This list is worth a read as there are legitimate questions about the seriousness and the longevity of the deal between Russia and China. The history of mistrust between those 2 countries goes FAR back.