War in Ukraine

[Orangeburst]

Russkie WOPR

 

[landscapingvol]

I hope there is not some autonomous auto launch mechanism.

Russia May Still Have An Automated Nuclear Launch System Aimed Across The Northern Hemisphere

Based off of their continued reliance on 1970’s era military technology I’m guessing it is absolutely still in place so we have that to look forward to until he and his ilk hopefully die of anus cancer

 

[VFL1993]

I think what had been exposed is the myth of Russian military might. Either that or their tactics are terrible

 

[WBO]

So, you're perfectly okay with going after family members and associates because they might "know something"?

How very Stalin of you.

Stalin? Try George W during Iraq war.

And if it saves a single American life, I'm good with it. This ain't cribbage. They're not innocents.

 

[utvolpj]

View attachment 435995

I guess you can only do so much with terrible equipment and logistics. But if you can't knock out air defenses and at least own the skies are you really a superpower?

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

They have auto launch and you don't need to worry. We are not going fire. We will do this the hard way. Take him the **** out. Six different ways and don't miss.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I think what had been exposed is the myth of Russian military might. Either that or their tactics are terrible

True, and now you begin to wonder if Ukraine is now a major player militarily that is on par with Poland or Turkey if given the arms. Huge power swing if this plays out. This would all but assure at this point that Ukraine is given NATO membership.

 

[tvolsfan]

The second he mixes it up with NATO, he's lost. I would like to think there are fail safes that would keep Putin's nuke finger in check.

I suspect those failsafes include a couple oligarchs telling him he's no longer in charge minutes before he's shot in the back of the head.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

True, and now you begin to wonder if Ukraine is now a major player militarily that is on par with Poland or Turkey if given the arms. Huge power swing if this plays out. This would all but assure at this point that Ukraine is given NATO membership.

Ukraine isn't doing this without help. I dont think they're that far along.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

If Turkey and Russia wind up in military conflict this goes sideways quickly since Turkey is NATO. If Putin winds up fighting NATO he will let his nukes fly when it’s clear he’s lost.

Only makes since the frigging Turks would ratchet everything up you can never invite them to any social events no social graces.

Turkey and Erdogan will take advantage, and I'm not so sure China isn't looking at the Far East territories of Russia at this point before they even make a play on Taiwan..

 

[mr.checkerboards]

I suspect those failsafes include a couple oligarchs telling him he's no longer in charge minutes before he's shot in the back of the head.

I like that one. When do we execute it

 

[Septic]

True, and now you begin to wonder if Ukraine is now a major player militarily that is on par with Poland or Turkey if given the arms. Huge power swing if this plays out. This would all but assure at this point that Ukraine is given NATO membership.

Ukraine isn't a military power, but it goes to show what grit and resolve can accomplish when your literal back is against the wall. If anything, the failure of Russia to take the country with overwhelming force after weeks of out in the open preparation is astonishing and makes them look like actual paper tigers. Even if they do go on to "win" and topple Ukraine as I would bet they will - this has to be humiliating for Putin.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Ukraine isn't a military power, but it goes to show what grit and resolve can accomplish when your literal back is against the wall. If anything, the failure of Russia to take the country with overwhelming force after weeks of out in the open preparation is astonishing and makes them look like actual paper tigers. Even if they do go on to "win" and topple Ukraine as I would bet they will - this has to be humiliating for Putin.

I realize this, that why I was clear to say "if given the arms" and offered NATO membership.

 

[happy-go_vol]

If Russia cannot maintain logistics on their own border, they could not push into any NATO nation

Those Ukrainians are tough, they're born in a rough life and they grow up hard. They're not going to give up easily

 

[MontyPython]

Got a theory. It may explain what's happening with Russian troops / planes right now.

(1) Russia has only inserted roughly 50K of their ~190K troops into Ukraine to date. Why? Why would they not put at least the bulk (50%+) of their troops by now to try to take Kyiv and get Ukraine to quickly capitulate?;

(2) Last night, Russia by its own admission, paused its advance towards Kyiv and elsewhere due to the "prospect of peace talks". Complete BS, of course, but why would they pause already? Kyiv is literally like 60 miles from the Estonian border. Was the pause necessary because Russian troops outdistanced their support / fuel, or was it for another reason... like Russia needed to re-evaluate its initial invasion plans?; and

(3) Where are Russian MIG fighters? They should be screaming en masse over Kyiv and throughout the country. Russia has definitely *not* attained air superiority or supremacy, even though Ukraine's air force is a fraction of the size. Why?

Purely hypothetical:

It has been publicly assumed and stated by the US, our allies and all involved that Ukraine lacks any sophisticated air defense systems.

What if this was all a ruse.

Check out this article. Our top military guys were in Ukraine in December to figure out what they needed to defend themselves. On the top of the list: Air defense systems.

Pentagon Team Has Returned From Assessing Ukraine's Air Defense Needs

Dec 20, 2021

Per the article:

A small Department of Defense team recently returned from Ukraine after a trip to that country to discuss and evaluate its air and missile defense needs. This comes as Ukrainian officials continue to warn that Russia could be just weeks away from launching a new major military intervention against their country, which might involve a flurry of air and missile strikes that they currently have relatively limited capabilities to defend against...

...There have been reports for weeks now that President Joe Biden's administration has been actively engaged in discussions with Ukrainian officials about what air and missile defense capabilities the U.S. government might be able to provide in the near term. Media reports have regularly talked about Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, as well as Stinger shoulder-fired heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles, also known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), as potential options....

...With nothing in American inventory air defense-wise between Patriot and Stinger, not counting the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) that the U.S. Army has arrayed around Washington, D.C., the U.S. military just has limited options when it comes to what it might be able to easily transfer or otherwise expedite the export of. Various American allies and partners do operate middle-tier surface-to-air missile systems that might be better suited to Ukraine's current needs, or help them field a more comprehensive air and missile defense network....

With all this in mind, the Pentagon team that recently went to Ukraine is undoubtedly aware of the importance of bolstering Ukraine's air and missile defense capabilities and doing so as quickly as possible.

# # #

So, we know that our allies have already supplied a bunch of stinger missiles to Ukraine. But these are effective really only against helicopters and slow-moving planes, not MIGs.

But, what if the US and our allies secretly provided Ukraine with batteries of mobile anti-aircraft in advance of the war start?

This would explain why Russia doesn't control the air. It would explain how Ukraine has been able to (reportedly) take down 9 fighter jets already. It would explain why Putin isn't committing all his troops across the border, because he knows they'd be vulnerable to the jets, drones and other anti-armor weapons that Ukraine seemingly is still able to operate in the air.

Again, pure speculation on my part. But we know they have Stingers at a minimum.

But if Ukraine does actually have a relatively sophisticated, non-fixed position air defense system, Russia just got ABSOLUTELY TOOLED. This would completely change the dynamics of the whole war. Presuming that we're ALSO providing the Ukrainian military with real-time troop movement intel from our Globalhawks and satellites, Putin has suddenly found himself in a Chinese finger trap.

If true, this would likely guarantee Ukraine ain't gonna be capitulating any time soon.



The British Army’s Got Its Hands On Its New Sky Sabre Air Defense Systems

 

[Velo Vol]

 

[happy-go_vol]

Ukraine isn't a military power, but it goes to show what grit and resolve can accomplish when your literal back is against the wall. If anything, the failure of Russia to take the country with overwhelming force after weeks of out in the open preparation is astonishing and makes them look like actual paper tigers. Even if they do go on to "win" and topple Ukraine as I would bet they will - this has to be humiliating for Putin.

Yeah, those people are not going down easily, putin is going to have to kill alot of people.

 

[Septic]

Chinese banks limit financing for Russian purchases – media

The noose is tightening.

 

[NCFisher]

It's a terrible idea, but it isn't racist. Xenophobic maybe? But not racist. He singled those exchange students out based on their country of origin, not their race or ethnicity.

Biden and Democrats termed the China travel ban racist and xenophobic, and Dems used it to describe three Marxist Hispanics getting tossed off the SF school board; neither are 'races'.

Don't get picky with the scattershot use of "racism!" now, Bub. That happens when you FUBAR language as political weaponry.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

Take him out. He is running. His soldoers do not want to fight for him. His people do not want to fight for him. His police do not want to arrest anyone else. Take him out.

 

[Grand Vol]

If true, Putin has to be seething.

I still can't imagine a scenario where this doesn't end in the next few days.

You forgot human ego.

When, if ever, has a world leader backed off their current trajectory because of world pressure?

 

[EasternVol]

Ukraine isn't a military power, but it goes to show what grit and resolve can accomplish when your literal back is against the wall. If anything, the failure of Russia to take the country with overwhelming force after weeks of out in the open preparation is astonishing and makes them look like actual paper tigers. Even if they do go on to "win" and topple Ukraine as I would bet they will - this has to be humiliating for Putin.

My knee jerk reaction is to say the invasion just started and is far from over. I hope it is a huge failure for Putin but it's too early to say.

 

[Grand Vol]

Stalin? Try George W during Iraq war.

And if it saves a single American life, I'm good with it. This ain't cribbage. They're not innocents.

You know what else saves American lives?

Staying the **** out of it.

 

[MontyPython]

If true, Putin has to be seething.

I still can't imagine a scenario where this doesn't end in the next few days.

*IF* Ukraine has air defense, this war is far from over. In fact, I'd say the Russians are completely F'd.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

This yall?