One could also be sucked out of the cockpit window. Those Russian built windows are crazy
Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion
- Thread starter Wednesday at Stoke
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Exactly because of this Prigozhin won't use them and that's why they will not fail. 4D Chess
Not that I have any good insight into the realities of the battlefield, but just on a theoretical level the issue of timing works both ways. Sure, you can get more equipment and training if you take more time, but the enemy gets to fortify their defenses further. The optimal timing for an offensive might actually be at a moment when you don't feel as ready as you'd like, because the enemy might also not be fully ready.
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Your point is good but he is not complaining to be forced to start the counter offensive too soon or too late, but not given enough tools that the west could give (and doesnt wanna give yet) while the west complains to not go all in sacrificing ukranian lives that could be diminished if for example they would have f-16. If they had started the training 1 year ago, they would be ready now and ukraine would be in much better position. And he is saying that the west is asking what the west would never do, counterattack without air support
Very true, there will always be new equipment in the pipeline that could potentially save lives if they wait for it. They have to weigh up the cost of waiting vs the cost of acting, nobody can make that calculation and choice but the Ukrainians.
Its just another nonsense story though, talking about 'the west' like one collective entity. Of course there will be those opinions being voiced from some people, and every other opinion under the sun.
Quite an image.
" High-quality photo of the impact of the Iskander rocket on the Antonovsky bridge in Kherson. You can see the returning Ukrainian boats. The Ukrainians still maintain a foothold there. The RUS try to destroy it in various ways. "
" High-quality photo of the impact of the Iskander rocket on the Antonovsky bridge in Kherson. You can see the returning Ukrainian boats. The Ukrainians still maintain a foothold there. The RUS try to destroy it in various ways. "
Just to be clear: this is not a real photo it's AI generated art. They do quite a lot of these AI generated pictures on that channel and are also saying that this one is only art.
https://t.me/rybar/49177
Just finished reading Zaluznhy's interview in the WaPo, and that's absolutely that's the tone of what he's saying and I share his frustrations.
Just that the unnamed officer quoted in the Economist made somewhat the same point, but (at least in the tweet or in the publication) one part was written up as "not ready yet", and that struck me as conceptually dubious unless they're confident that the rate at which they acquire new gear and training outpaces the rate at which the Russians rearm and prepare defenses.
I think the Ukrainians are right. I don't know why the West has been so slow in giving them F-16s. Attacking without an air force is obviously much harder, especially since the other side does have an air force. If the Ukrainians had F-16s, the Russians would be even more reluctant to use their own air force, not because of dogfights, but because the F-16 can carry a modern arsenal of air-to-air missiles, plus modern radars that can aim from afar. And the West should give the Ukrainians long range missiles, so they can hit Russian air bases inside Russia. The Russians have been using long-range missiles for a year and a half now, why aren't the Ukrainians allowed to do the same? Forget the bullshit about nuclear weapons. After all, the Russians can use nuclear weapons when they are certain they are losing this war, even if the Ukrainians are only using horses and arrows. The only deterrent for mafia thugs like Putin is a clear show of force.
Of course they're right. You can't give them all this modern technology but then skip on air force, how are they meant to take control if Russia has air superiority.
Russia doesn't have air superiority. It'still contested airspace.
Russia doesn't have air superiority and F-16s will not give Ukraine air superiority, ground based air defenses denies air superiority to both sides in this conflict.
It would give them more superiority though. Strengthening only the ground forces doesn't seem like the best way to NATOify them as if anything NATO would focus on strengthening the air force if they were fighting this war.
UA forces grind their way south, slowly but surely.
That will not change the result on the battlefield if things keep on going as they do.
I feel like I've been hearing about "advances" in the direction of Robotyne for weeks now, yet Robotyne is literally the first settlement you come to on that front and remains above Russia's first defensive line there.
Honestly doesn't feel like much progress is being made at all in that specific area. Here's a tweet from 8th June for instance:
Depends on how you define progress. For some, 100 meters are already much progress against a multi layered line of defense that was prepared for months. Especially without air support.
Ok, but below is a May 3rd map from the BBC depicting Russian lines in the area of Tokmak. I've marked Robotyne on the map. The Ukrainian held town of Orikhiv is just out of shot to the north.
My understanding of the phrase "in the direction of Robotyne" would mean Ukraine has still not entered Robotyne. That would mean that they are still short of Russia's forward defences, let alone approaching its first defensive line. The 6km wide, 1.5km deep advance mentioned in your tweet cannot be too dissimilar to the picture of Ukraine's June 8th advance:
So while 100m progress might feel quite large to whoever has accomplished it under heavy fire and terror of death it doesn't seem to represent much progress if one looks at the big picture.
When those accounts speak of serious success for example, we need to manage our expectations. They don't mean they are about to make a big breakthrough, not yet. It's just still grinding southwards through miles deep fortifications until when the real hammer hits.
Most of the time, those informations come from Russian telegram channels and if a day or two later Ukraine officials confirm them, then you know they are true. It's not like Russia lets UA forces approach their defensive lines in peace. The fighting starts already some kilometres before that of course, so they need to grind their way to those defences in the first place. Also, those defenses are miles deep with all kinds of fortifications, mine fields and covered with artillery, tanks, anti armor weapons, jets and attack helicopters. We can only guess what kind of hell UA forces need to go through and we don't really know what kind of defenses they are currently penetrating, only their commanders do.
Having said that, Ukraine still didn't commit their main counterattack forces. I know we already saw some destroyed Leopards and Bradleys, but most of the new western equipped and trained brigades are still waiting according to reports. We're still in the "poking" phase and it can drag on for months, before UA command finally decides to try a real breakthrough. They will only do that when they are absolutely sure it will succeed. Zelensky just said it. They will not send their soldiers to their deaths because of western pressure or false expectations. They need to exhaust Russian forces first, destroy their logistics and have perfect intelligence about their defenses. This can take the whole year.
Ok, but below is a May 3rd map from the BBC depicting Russian lines in the area of Tokmak. I've marked Robotyne on the map. The Ukrainian held town of Orikhiv is just out of shot to the north.
My understanding of the phrase "in the direction of Robotyne" would mean Ukraine has still not entered Robotyne. That would mean that they are still short of Russia's forward defences, let alone approaching its first defensive line. The 6km wide, 1.5km deep advance mentioned in your tweet cannot be too dissimilar to the picture of Ukraine's June 8th advance:
So while 100m progress might feel quite large to whoever has accomplished it under heavy fire and terror of death it doesn't seem to represent much progress if one looks at the big picture.
I suppose it depends to some degree on what damage they've inflicted on their enemies during the advance Vs what they've lost to do it. It's all well and good having 3 lines of defence as long as you've got men to defend them but presumably if you're advancing in several different places along the line then it takes a lot of men to defend that for weeks and months at a time. Minefields and obstacles are only a major problem if you're under fire while breaking through them you would think. Seems like the Ukrainians have lost a fair bit of kit but what we don't know is how many men they've lost, and likewise for the Russians. Hopefully the ratios are not too unfavourable to Ukraine.
Sounds like Ukraine is increasing the pressure around Bakhmut.
The UA troops have still a way to go to get to "multiple layered" defense yet.
That doesn't mean they are failing though but the progress they have had so far right now has been minimal in everywhere but Bakhmut.
The UA general having the interview ranting about the West's expectations can be seen as trying to manage the expectations because they themselves are feeling that it had been slow.
Hopefully, those multiple layers of defense are just for shows.
And there are plenty of helpful idiot western “journalists” peddling the idea that the embarrassing event was all a grandmaster plot by Putin.
If they want to **** , plenty of twitch or OF.
Stunning 40min footage of an Ukrainian soldier. He filmed his 8 hours march to the frontline trenches, a talk with a Russian wounded prisoner along the way, the preparation of storming Russian trenches, the storming itself (although he cut the fighting part) and the aftermath. I'll put it in a spoiler, because you can see some Russian corpses briefly, but they are blurred and there is no gore, at least I saw none.
What's stunning is his professionalism towards the Russian and his own guys, you'll probably never see from the Russian side.
The calm, non threatening interrogation of the Russian prisoner, the talk to his mates later how to attack Russian trenches. He makes the plan of attack and asks who will come willingly with him. No one is forced to storm, if there are no volunteers, they'll simply abandon this position and go home. Then the calm and perfectly coordinated silent clearing of those trenches. His experience on how to spent a night in those trenches lying on Russian corpses and last the loot and trophies from the Russian trench.
(Don't forget to put the subtitles on)
What's stunning is his professionalism towards the Russian and his own guys, you'll probably never see from the Russian side.
The calm, non threatening interrogation of the Russian prisoner, the talk to his mates later how to attack Russian trenches. He makes the plan of attack and asks who will come willingly with him. No one is forced to storm, if there are no volunteers, they'll simply abandon this position and go home. Then the calm and perfectly coordinated silent clearing of those trenches. His experience on how to spent a night in those trenches lying on Russian corpses and last the loot and trophies from the Russian trench.
(Don't forget to put the subtitles on)
What assault rifles are standard equipment of UA, if anyone knows?
This feckin guy led Russian forces into the Donbas.
Why the feck would he say this?