Russia/Ukraine conflict

[Artful Dodger]

Any Russian commander with an IQ over 80 would know to use those munitions on military targets

Any Russian politian knows that the way to seize and maintain power is by terrorizing the civilian population. They just can't understand why the unwashed mob in UA won't submit.

CLEARLY (in the minds of Russians) the Ukrainians just need more terror. /s

That's what we're dealing with here, folks. There is no easy way to fix this w/o regime change, and THAT will have to be somewhat organic if this is not to spread into a wider conflict. It's a delicate chess-game, but Russians are known for their strategic skill.

 

[nativewolf]

I think rather they are forcing Ukraine to use air defense assets to protect civilians, knowing Ukraine has a limited supply. Once out the Russian Air Force can once again be effective on the battlefield

 

[Tiger]

Any Russian politians knows that the way to seize and maintian power is by terrorizing the civilian population. They just can't understand why the unwashed mob in UA won't submit.

CLEARLY (in the minds of Russians) the Ukrainians just need more terror. /s

That's what we're dealing with here, folks. There is no way to fix this w/o regime change, and THAT will have to be somewhat organic if this is not to spread to a wider conflict. It's a delicate chess-game, but Russians are known for their strategic skill.

What incentive could the people have to reciprocally make examples of the corrupt officials, like in a tv series I cannot remember?

 

[nativewolf]

Chriso_wiki had another funny set of stories about all the vehicles that ran out of fuel in the first few days of the conflict- Russians had sold the fuel to Belarusians.

Things should be drying out now. Maybe 2 more weeks

 

[iPlug]

The United States is wiring Ukraine with sensors that can detect‌‌ bursts of radiation from a nuclear weapon or a dirty bomb and can confirm the identity of the attacker.​

If Russia detonates a radioactive weapon on Ukrainian soil under any guise, its atomic signature would be rapidly discerned. This would deter Russia from a false flag operation, denying them the use nuclear weapons in Ukraine without attribution.

U.S. Wires Ukraine With Radiation Sensors to Detect Nuclear Blasts

 

[madodel]

Sudan: questions about Wagner Group involvement as another African country falls prey to Russian mercenaries

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, this week confirmed Washington’s belief that the group of mercenaries is involved in the conflict, stating:

We do have deep concern about the engagement of the Prigozhin group (the Wagner Group) in Sudan … Its engagement simply brings more death and destruction with it.

 

[nativewolf]

Rob lee had a bit about that, surprisingly not to blame according to rob.

 

[wdolson]

The missile attacks are horrible, absolutely, so no one take my next line as anything such. Missiles used on civilians like this are plain stupid on Russia's part, they have limited long-range munitions and are using them on non-military targets, only cementing the resolve of the citizens, politicians, western allies, and pretty much everyone else. Any Russian commander with an IQ over 80 would know to use those munitions on military targets . . . you know, the guys shooting back at you.

Politicians and some military strategists keep thinking that strategic bombing of civilian populations will make the civilians surrender. It did work when things looked hopeless such as the Germans bombing Warsaw or Rotterdam. But most of the time it was usually counterproductive.

If the civilian population feels like their army can at least hold off the enemy, strategic bombing of cities just makes the population more resolved than ever to resist. The physical damage usually isn't worth turning the civilian population against you. Especially since Russia's goal was to permanently occupy the country and absorb the Ukrainian population into Russia.

These missile attacks is a political thing on the part of Russia. Strategically it's stupid.

In other news, Ukraine has been busy

https://twitter.com/x/status/1652153119650770944

This could be a big deal for the Black Sea Fleet. If Russia doesn't have the tank farm to keep their ships fueled at Sevastapol, they might have to pull back to Russia.

 

[SmokyPeat]

That's quite a blaze. I don't think that tank farm will be operating anytime soon. Just about time for round 2 on the Kerch bridge.

 

[BitJam]

More video of the cozy little fire in Sevastopol.

In the temporarily occupied Crimea in Sevastopol a tank with fuel from the occupants is on fire

 

[nativewolf]

Amazing how hard it is to get a storage tank to ignite , several were damaged but many did not fail even though scorched.

 

[madodel]

Amazing how hard it is to get a storage tank to ignite , several were damaged but many did not fail even though scorched.

If it at first you don't succeed try, try again.

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

"Two Patriot systems are currently on duty, but this is not enough, Yuriy Ignat said.

"We need much more to work on ballistics, because both Patriot and Samp-T can work in a radius of up to 40 kilometers, and not up to 150 kilometers, as in the case of the aircraft version. Therefore, we need many of such systems, but even they will not be able to close all of Ukraine. That's why we talk about the F-16 every day," the Air Force spokesman said. [My underline.]"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1652340511552811008

https://twitter.com/x/status/1652336730933010434

 

[Tiger]

What prevents Wagner from simply hording the munitions to be used later in Balkanization?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1652338039098621953

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

These Democrats are leading the call for Biden to send jets to Ukraine

President Biden is facing pressure from within his own party to send fighter jets and longer range missiles to Ukraine, as Russia continues to inflict daily death and destruction through aerial att…

thehill.com

 

[Surfer of Life]

These Democrats are leading the call for Biden to send jets to Ukraine

President Biden is facing pressure from within his own party to send fighter jets and longer range missiles to Ukraine, as Russia continues to inflict daily death and destruction through aerial att…

thehill.com

This speaks poorly of the character against everyone who won’t help those being raped, tortured and murdered by Russians. It’s a clear cut case that this is happening to innocent children and adults.

 

[Surfer of Life]

"Two Patriot systems are currently on duty, but this is not enough, Yuriy Ignat said.

"We need much more to work on ballistics, because both Patriot and Samp-T can work in a radius of up to 40 kilometers, and not up to 150 kilometers, as in the case of the aircraft version. Therefore, we need many of such systems, but even they will not be able to close all of Ukraine. That's why we talk about the F-16 every day," the Air Force spokesman said. [My underline.]"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1652340511552811008

https://twitter.com/x/status/1652336730933010434

Who are the American congressmen and others that US citizens could most effectively lobby (e-mail) to increase our aid to Ukraine in the most effectively?

 

[wdolson]

These Democrats are leading the call for Biden to send jets to Ukraine

President Biden is facing pressure from within his own party to send fighter jets and longer range missiles to Ukraine, as Russia continues to inflict daily death and destruction through aerial att…

thehill.com

I think the reason Biden is hesitating on the F-16s is China. China may be threatening to do something if Ukraine gets them.

China has already threatened that they will start supplying Russia with any military equipment they want if Ukraine doesn't come to the negotiating table and basically give up territory. They may have made the same threat privately if the west provides aircraft.

 

[stopcrazypp]

I think the reason Biden is hesitating on the F-16s is China. China may be threatening to do something if Ukraine gets them.

China has already threatened that they will start supplying Russia with any military equipment they want if Ukraine doesn't come to the negotiating table and basically give up territory. They may have made the same threat privately if the west provides aircraft.

I haven't seen that suggestion at all. The initial reasoning given is they simply aren't ready for them, but the counterargument is that the US should have prepared them for that and would have at least started the process if the decision was made earlier. The other argument is that they could be used to strike deep into Russian territory, which so far remains the most concrete reason for US restrictions on multiple weapon types. The other reasoning is doubt they would necessarily change much in the war, given there haven't really been much of an air war, plus they still have migs getting delivered to them.

This article seems to cover most of the possible reasons:
Why Biden Doesn’t Want to Give Ukraine the Fighter Planes Zelensky Is Asking For

 

[Surfer of Life]

I think the reason Biden is hesitating on the F-16s is China. China may be threatening to do something if Ukraine gets them.

China has already threatened that they will start supplying Russia with any military equipment they want if Ukraine doesn't come to the negotiating table and basically give up territory. They may have made the same threat privately if the west provides aircraft.

Wanted to rate this “!!”, but there was no such option, hence the “Disagree”.

Coddling Russia or China(?) like that should be out of the question IM(naive)HO, but please post a link to that Chinese threat, (I’m probably wrong) but I haven’t seen that threat anywhere.

Thanks.