I'm obviously not sharing the videos here but god damn, Mariupol is an absolute meat grinder. Piles of dead fighters from the Russian side, presumably separatists.
Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion
- Thread starter Wednesday at Stoke
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This is such a weird take. You’re in a thread dedicated to following the Ukraine war and a warship (even ignoring its status in the fleet) sinking is hardly difficult to comprehend even for civilians.
The Russian ship is meant to float, Ukraine sank it…
This all started because I agreed with a post that said something in the lines "all that matters is that it's sunk, how doesn't matter." Now some people can't take that I honestly don't care how it sank as long as it's gone. I don't give a shit how the Russians lose this war as long as they do.
Putin has rewarded the brigade accused of the joys of Bucha.
Rewarding warcrimes. It is attempted genocide and those that downplay this are complict.
Rewarding warcrimes. It is attempted genocide and those that downplay this are complict.
This interaction reminds me of the ‘too high’ scene in ‘Major League.’
I guess most hope it was the Ukrainians because it would show they have the capability and it seems a much more likely way to inflict further loses than crossing our fingers for more ammunition ‘accidents’ on many more ships. Agree we all just want the war over and Russia out of Ukraine but the context is important, one scenario is just a random act of incompetence from the Russians and pretty meaningless, the other is Ukraine successfully defending itself.
Russians at War: Putin’s Aggression Has Turned a Nation Against Itself:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russian-federation/2022-04-18/russians-war
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russian-federation/2022-04-18/russians-war
Love that movie! Going to watch it now! thanks for the reminder!
Russians seem to be learning from their mistakes.
Possible 2nd push for Kiev at some point still on the cards?
Like me playing golf
I am not sure which one is better:
Option 1. Ukrainian missiles sank the Russian flagship.
Option 2. The Russians themselves sank the Russian flagship.
In my opinion, Option 2 is even better for the Ukrainians: they can still win without doing anything! It takes a special kind of idiot to sink his own *flagship*.
Not in Ukraine, but cool…
Assuming these units would be functional, it's possible they try to use them against Kyiv if their push in the Donbas gets stopped or repulsed. It may keep Ukraine from moving all of its troops east if they think this group could make another push.
I remember reading that the USSR extensively used fake equipment to fool US satellite and spy plane photography into thinking their armed forces were more formidable. So this would be expected.
When you would spend as much time in the woods looking for your slice as I used to, you're gonna find more balls than you left with! One round I actually had to stop taking them my bag was full.
Malcolm Nance went to Ukraine? 
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/w...f-territorial-defense-of-ukraine-137997381811
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/w...f-territorial-defense-of-ukraine-137997381811
Malcolm Nance went to Ukraine?
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/w...f-territorial-defense-of-ukraine-137997381811
Yep, he did and he has been there for around a month now. He posted this photo on his Twitter account too.
He is a former United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer with 20 years of service (1981-2001) with a specialization in naval cryptology, which means that he was involved in numerous counter-terrorism, intelligence, and combat operations. That's the kind of special set of skills that would help the Ukrainian forces a lot.
Is there a danger of a “straw that broke the camel’s back” narrative here?
One American/UK/French/German soldier feels the call to take up arms and go join the Ukrainian armed forces defending Ukraine. Then another. And another. They’re using western imported/donated weapons and acting on western intelligence.
From a Russian POV, at what point are these people individuals helping Ukraine and at what point are they NATO forces? Is it 1? Is it when a Ukrainian regiment has 10% western troops helping it? 50%?
Nothing more than a thought exercise really but it would be interesting to know what Russia would do if they found 10/15 western troops among the dead when they’re clearing out a city.
Russia’s messaging to the people at home is already that they are fighting NATO and that’s why it’s taking so long. They can’t really up the ante from that in terms of propaganda regarding troops on the ground.
We already know they’ll just create narratives when they need to so I don’t actually think it would make a difference now to be honest. I believe they’ve also had two British POWs on state television to ‘prove’ it’s not just Ukraine they are fighting.
I think people should move away from thinking in such arbitrary rules. Putin certainly doesn't care for them. If - in general - they want to "find" provocation/justification for something they will, if they don't want to they won't. The West is already hugely involved via sanctions and by supplying arms and intelligence to Ukraine and it's not like this is a secret ot Moscow.
Malcolm Nance went to Ukraine?
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/w...f-territorial-defense-of-ukraine-137997381811
Lot of respect for stuff like this. He has actual experience that can be useful, and has a good idea of what he is getting into. Also, the guy is in his 60's and is probably living a comfy life.
If I recall correctly from the FT, WaPo and Guardian, the Ukrainians have 40,000 professional soldiers present in and near the Donbas. So that's excluding volunteers, national guard etc.
I'm not sure what exactly the Russians are expecting but you don't just roll in and wipe out 40,000 men. The Russians will take huge casualties.
I'm not sure what exactly the Russians are expecting but you don't just roll in and wipe out 40,000 men. The Russians will take huge casualties.
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No I don’t think there is a problem with it. These are individuals who wanted to join the fight and have nothing to do with NATO.
It will be a problem the moment Russia decides it want to see it as NATO involvement.
But it doesn't matter, they can see any of the help NATO gives as an act of war and decide to act about it. And definitely weapon deliveries are much more crucial involvements than a few fighters.
They still won’t be able to do anything about it since they can’t respond in kind. Putin has also been using mercenaries and other countries like Belarus and Syria to help him, and knows he will have little grounds to complain. His best option will be to capture one or two US or UK third party fighters for a propaganda win.
Exactly, the moment Russia acknowledges they are in a hot war with NATO they are expected to fight this war, and they simply can't (except by nuclear escalation)
or he's a 60 year old who was a non commissioned naval officer more than two decades ago who is trying to sell his book
from his wiki page
so yeah im not sure what to make of him but I have by doubts that he is going to be that useful to the ukranian forces
Russia will not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says.
Asked about the issue in an interview with TV channel India Today, Lavrov says: "Conventional weapons only."
Early on in the war, Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's nuclear forces be placed on high alert, and a number of Russian government figures have signalled the country would be willing to use them in certain circumstances.
Lavrov also says, with Russia's offensive now focused on Ukraine's east, the war is entering a new phase, echoing similar comments from the Ukrainian military.
"The operation in the east of Ukraine is aimed, as was announced from the very beginning, to fully liberate the [self-proclaimed] Donetsk and Luhansk republics. And this operation will continue," he says.
"Another stage of this operation is beginning, and I am sure this will be a very important moment of this entire special operation."
Source : BBC
Asked about the issue in an interview with TV channel India Today, Lavrov says: "Conventional weapons only."
Early on in the war, Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's nuclear forces be placed on high alert, and a number of Russian government figures have signalled the country would be willing to use them in certain circumstances.
Lavrov also says, with Russia's offensive now focused on Ukraine's east, the war is entering a new phase, echoing similar comments from the Ukrainian military.
"The operation in the east of Ukraine is aimed, as was announced from the very beginning, to fully liberate the [self-proclaimed] Donetsk and Luhansk republics. And this operation will continue," he says.
"Another stage of this operation is beginning, and I am sure this will be a very important moment of this entire special operation."
Source : BBC
Anyone who feels the need to advertise that they're helping Ukrainian forces are never going to be great. They're the billy bullshitters of the group's, just there for attention and likes.
The real deals are the guys who just go and do it, no need for all the attention.
It's not quite cos play though, they are entering a hot war zone. I mean, if you're willing to take a cruise missile on the forehead, you must really want to sell your book.
He is a bit of grandstander. His previous role in the military won't be of any help to the Ukrainians given that he left in 2001 and the way the military functions today in terms of technology and methods is very different. Fair play for him putting his neck on the line though.
Now I’m really worried.