Russia Invades Ukraine. Volume 5

[Rumblestripe]

sisu said:

Russia changing the tax laws that effect over 2 million people, increasing tax on companies who are not military and the wealthy. In his speech to the nation he explained that everyone should be working to help the special military operation.
We are almost at the Bingo card slots of 1917/1989 Russian state failure.
The idea that Europe is losing interest is a surprising one, I would say given the rhetoric of the countries supporting strikes on Russian territory, Sweden's heavy aid package. The momentum is not slowing. Britain will take a pause with the General election, but everyone else is quite happy to keep up the pressure.

As for the troops on the ground, well I don't think this will be the taboo that the Kremlin would hope for. As stated, there will be mine clearing and other logistical and structural troops there. The service hub for the European F-16s are based in Poland, I don't see Russia striking this any time soon.
From what I understand here in Finland, we would want to send our professional level troops at some point on rotation to improve our response when Russia makes a move in the North of Europe.
As our General pointed out "we have sent our troops to Iraq/Afghanistan with less political steam for Finnish interests, this is quite simple". So no I don't see any Eastern European country shrugging at this point.

I agree, the only fading of European interest is around the general public with the map being largely static.

Russia is taking truly appalling loses in manpower and equipment. The stubbornness of Putin and the way he has effectively removed any and all opposition means that they will continue to bleed out in failed attacks. At some point in the not too distant future they will have to switch to a defensive posture. I don't think Ukraine is in a position to mount a major offensive any time soon so they will be striking logistics and degrading Russian command structures. I expect a concerted attempt to drop the Kerch bridge permanently shortly.

[BikeBikeBIke]

sisu said:

Russia changing the tax laws that effect over 2 million people, increasing tax on companies who are not military and the wealthy. In his speech to the nation he explained that everyone should be working to help the special military operation.
We are almost at the Bingo card slots of 1917/1989 Russian state failure.
The idea that Europe is losing interest is a surprising one, I would say given the rhetoric of the countries supporting strikes on Russian territory, Sweden's heavy aid package. The momentum is not slowing. Britain will take a pause with the General election, but everyone else is quite happy to keep up the pressure.

As for the troops on the ground, well I don't think this will be the taboo that the Kremlin would hope for. As stated, there will be mine clearing and other logistical and structural troops there. The service hub for the European F-16s are based in Poland, I don't see Russia striking this any time soon.
From what I understand here in Finland, we would want to send our professional level troops at some point on rotation to improve our response when Russia makes a move in the North of Europe.
As our General pointed out "we have sent our troops to Iraq/Afghanistan with less political steam for Finnish interests, this is quite simple". So no I don't see any Eastern European country shrugging at this point.

Some really good points.

Of course there will be more war fatigue in Russia than in Europe or America. Literally only Putin wants this war.

[king arthur]

Sounds like Ukraine will be allowed to strike military targets in Russia with US weapons soon.

https://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/179588641488...

[Spare tyre]

king arthur said:

Sounds like Ukraine will be allowed to strike military targets in Russia with US weapons soon.

https://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/179588641488...

I really hope so, every xyz destroyed before it gets to the front will save a lot of Ukrainians

[Hugo Stiglitz]

That's not going to be a good thing ultimately though. Say the French were using Russian supplied missiles to hit targets in Kent that the Russians were actively selling..

[BikeBikeBIke]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

That's not going to be a good thing ultimately though. Say the French were using Russian supplied missiles to hit targets in Kent that the Russians were actively selling..

What?

If we were invading France and France were fighting back with Rusian sourced weapons we'd think "Hey wouldn't it be great to bring Russia into this war against us."

Really?

Do you think Iran and NK are at risk? Why not?

[AlexIT]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

That's not going to be a good thing ultimately though. Say the French were using Russian supplied missiles to hit targets in Kent that the Russians were actively selling..

Why the hell would be the russians actively selling Kent?

[trickywoo]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

That's not going to be a good thing ultimately though. Say the French were using Russian supplied missiles to hit targets in Kent that the Russians were actively selling..

Well the French sold the Argentinians hardware to fight us after they invaded the Falklands.

[Digga]

Spare tyre said:

king arthur said:

Sounds like Ukraine will be allowed to strike military targets in Russia with US weapons soon.

https://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/179588641488...

I really hope so, every xyz destroyed before it gets to the front will save a lot of Ukrainians

Whilst donkey Lavrov gives his weekly nuclear threats, the USAF B52's have been reminding Russia exactly where they are on the FAFO matrix.



Been out a few times over Baltic like this.

Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.

[coetzeeh]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

That's not going to be a good thing ultimately though. Say the French were using Russian supplied missiles to hit targets in Kent that the Russians were actively selling..

started early on the claret?

[hidetheelephants]

Digga said:

Whilst donkey Lavrov gives his weekly nuclear threats, the USAF B52's have been reminding Russia exactly where they are on the FAFO matrix.



Been out a few times over Baltic like this.

Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.

That flightpath is a bit more than that; they're orbiting the Kaliningrad enclave, the USAF dragging their coat and saying come and play.

[Digga]

hidetheelephants said:

Digga said:

Whilst donkey Lavrov gives his weekly nuclear threats, the USAF B52's have been reminding Russia exactly where they are on the FAFO matrix.



Been out a few times over Baltic like this.

Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.

That flightpath is a bit more than that; they're orbiting the Kaliningrad enclave, the USAF dragging their coat and saying come and play.

It's definitely a message, delivered in sufficiently simplistic terms that Pootin cannot spin it to anyone.

[J4CKO]

Digga said:

Spare tyre said:

king arthur said:

Sounds like Ukraine will be allowed to strike military targets in Russia with US weapons soon.

https://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/179588641488...

I really hope so, every xyz destroyed before it gets to the front will save a lot of Ukrainians

Whilst donkey Lavrov gives his weekly nuclear threats, the USAF B52's have been reminding Russia exactly where they are on the FAFO matrix.



Been out a few times over Baltic like this.

Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.

Should draw a cock with the flightpath pointing right at the Kremiln

[cliffords]

What is in that big old aeroplane, and surely it would be really easy to shoot down if Russia wanted too. Just read up about them they are really really old and slow. What is the big deal I don't get.

[isaldiri]

trickywoo said:

Well the French sold the Argentinians hardware to fight us after they invaded the Falklands.

are you sure about that? from memory, france had already agreed to pause any shipments of exocets to other latin american countries to avoid any risk they might transfer it to Argentina after the war broke out . Providing them directly to argentina would seem rather unlikely given that.

[Lotobear]

cliffords said:

What is in that big old aeroplane, and surely it would be really easy to shoot down if Russia wanted too. Just read up about them they are really really old and slow. What is the big deal I don't get.

...just like a TU 95 then

[jshell]

cliffords said:

What is in that big old aeroplane, and surely it would be really easy to shoot down if Russia wanted too. Just read up about them they are really really old and slow. What is the big deal I don't get.

It's just posturing. They're probably empty of serious munitions.

[SlimJim16v]

bmwmike said:

Also ”Americans are still not worried enough about the risk of world war".

https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/americans-are-still-...

It's all starting to sound rather grim and risky

America falling behind on defence, China increasing military spending. If/when China thinks the west is suitably distracted and goes for Taiwan, it's going to be very difficult if not impossible to stop them.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

jshell said:

cliffords said:

What is in that big old aeroplane, and surely it would be really easy to shoot down if Russia wanted too. Just read up about them they are really really old and slow. What is the big deal I don't get.

It's just posturing. They're probably empty of serious munitions.

Russia knows if it shot down a B52 in International airspace it would pretty quickly have no Airforce or Air defences left intact.

But as said probably empty,
or take your pick from this lot.

[trickywoo]

isaldiri said:

are you sure about that? from memory, france had already agreed to pause any shipments of exocets to other latin american countries to avoid any risk they might transfer it to Argentina after the war broke out . Providing them directly to argentina would seem rather unlikely given that.

At the time it was easier to buy a croissant in Buenos Aires than Paris, make of that what you will.