Russia/Ukraine conflict

[Tiger]

Looks like some of the chickens have come home to roost.

Putin's 'zombie soldiers' are returning with thirst for violence

Large numbers are now alcoholics or drug addicts embracing the violence and cruelty they have seen on the frontline, according to a shocking new report.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Wonder if this is just the "encouragement" the "apolitical masses" need, to take action? History shows revolutions 1917 and in 1979 in Russia typically occur when the chicken return home to roost. The only reason Russia would cave in to peace would be if they see this coming.

 

[petit_bateau]

Those are some very sketchy looking links to donate. How do we know where the money really goes?

That link I gave was specifically because folk are/were discussing 4WD etc vehicles.

That particular twitter user has a long history of reporting (correctly, imho) news from the front lines and over the last 18-months or so I have seen footage of various vehicles/etc delivered to units. It could all just be a big scam (they do exist, and be careful of people phishing that individual's userID - he is clear in the donation instructions what to be aware of) but if so they have been keeping it going a long time in a fairly close-knit community. Hence my digging out that user's most recent call for donations in respect of 4WD utes. There are of course many other paths to such things, but that is one I judged had a reasonable track record in this specific area.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1684970434444369934

However there are other more formal ways.

Here is the official Ukraine gov website for humanitarian aid donations, though really that is for large volumes of in-kind aid I think.

Humanitarian aid website

This is an official portal for those who want to provide humanitarian or financial assistance to people of Ukraine, businesses or the government at the times of resistance against the Russian aggression. Anyone willing to support Ukraine can access here the information on how to do it. The...

help.gov.ua

This is government and suited more for financial aid, and I think you can choose which sector to contribute to including direct to military aid, not just humanitarian.

https://war.ukraine.ua/donate/

UNITED24 - The initiative of the President of Ukraine

UNITED24 was launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most pressing needs

u24.gov.ua

Here is a Ukraine-UK expats website that gives a wide variety of links so that you can select and cross reference at leisure. I'm sure there are US ones, but this may be a starting point.

What can you do to support Ukraine & Ukrainians? ‣ Ukrainian Institute London

We have set up a separate page with useful links, information and guidance for UK hosts looking to support Ukrainians and for Ukrainians arriving in the UK. Support for Displaced Ukrainians Humanitarian DonationsDefence DonationsSupport Ukrainian Reporting VolunteeringDemonstrate Your...

ukrainianinstitute.org.uk

 

[nativewolf]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1685573885029138432

drone in moscow

 

[SO16]

If UKR needs old used pickups, then why doesn't the Democratic West just buy X% of used trucks on the European market and send them to UKR?

I know there is allegedly at least one ex-Swedish Special Forces Operator that buys stuff incl. old pickups and delivers them to the Ukrainains. And I think there is some other Swedish org. that also does this. But I haven't vetted them myself. I am unfortunately not in a position were I feel financially comfortable with giving some of my own personal money away...

If anyone is interested I'm guessing orgs like these can be found...

Would be a good way to incentivize The west to sell their SUV and replace with an EV as well.

 

[SO16]

Looks like the US military will buy Starlink terminals that can be used in newly Ukraine occupied areas without the concern of SpaceX disabling access.

Pentagon will buy Starlink terminals for Ukraine that Elon Musk won't be able to disconnect – the NYT

The Pentagon has approved an agreement with SpaceX to purchase Starlink for Ukraine, which the company's founder, Elon Musk, will not be able to disconnect. Source: The New York Times citing sources Details: In June 2023, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin approved a Pentagon deal to buy 400 to 500...

www.yahoo.com

 

[petit_bateau]

possible Robotdyne area progress

https://twitter.com/x/status/1685301645716946944

 

[Bobfitz1]

Considering the density of the mine fields, dragging chains behind a truck isn't going to work. In almost every case the truck will hit mines before the chains do anything. Another thing is the chains just dragged on the ground probably won't create enough ground pressure to set off most of the mines.

Chains have been used to set off mines. Flail tanks were used in WW II.
Mine flail - Wikipedia

There are some flail vehicles in service now, though I haven't seen anything about any being sent to Ukraine.

Wouldn't thermobaric bombs create an over pressure over a large area that would detonate any mine in that area? Couldn't you instantly clear football field size sections of mined zones?

 

[wdolson]

Wouldn't thermobaric bombs create an over pressure over a large area that would detonate any mine in that area? Couldn't you instantly clear football field size sections of mined zones?

I hadn't thought about that, but it might. I'm not completely up to date on exactly how those weapons work, it may or may not create the ground pressure needed.

 

[DarkandStormy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1685608160097107968

 

[Tiger]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1685608160097107968

Probably he play's ball with who ever is in control of the region, yes? And starlink probably doesn't work in Russia anwyays? Seems consistent and risk averse.

 

[nativewolf]

I hadn't thought about that, but it might. I'm not completely up to date on exactly how those weapons work, it may or may not create the ground pressure needed.

They work, they are often used like this but it is a small amount of forward progress and high risk of exposing equipment to fire. The heat triggers the explosives, for this reason Ukraine often sets wildfires to clear mines.

 

[DayTrippin]

This could definitely have an impact (literally and figuratively).

Ukrainian volunteers develop inexpensive missiles to 'overwhelm' Russian air defences

Inventors in Ukraine have developed an inexpensive cruise missile they hope can “overwhelm” Russian air defences so that rockets equipped with warheads are more likely to reach their targets. The inventors…

www.france24.com

 

[navguy12]

“…What actually saves a relationship during a war?
Sincere conversation, mutual friendship, children’s laughter, warm hugs and a good air defence system…”

Toronto Star ePaper

Toronto Star ePaper

torontostarreplica.pressreader.com

 

[Skipdd]

Looks like the US military will buy Starlink terminals that can be used in newly Ukraine occupied areas without the concern of SpaceX disabling access.

Pentagon will buy Starlink terminals for Ukraine that Elon Musk won't be able to disconnect – the NYT

The Pentagon has approved an agreement with SpaceX to purchase Starlink for Ukraine, which the company's founder, Elon Musk, will not be able to disconnect. Source: The New York Times citing sources Details: In June 2023, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin approved a Pentagon deal to buy 400 to 500...

www.yahoo.com

There was an article in the New York Times yesterday which included similar information in it. That article was about Starlink in general and the fear of some countries around the world in having all of the Starlink capability under the control of one person. The article referenced the decision made by Starlink to not allow the use of the terminals on maritime drones, and then mentioned that there had been discussions between the US Military and Starlink resulting in what you cited.

Here is the link to the NYT article - it may be paywalled.

Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars

The tech billionaire has become the dominant power in satellite internet technology. The ways he is wielding that influence are raising global alarms.

www.nytimes.com

Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars

 

[EVCollies]

Looks like the US military will buy Starlink terminals that can be used in newly Ukraine occupied areas without the concern of SpaceX disabling access.

Pentagon will buy Starlink terminals for Ukraine that Elon Musk won't be able to disconnect – the NYT

The Pentagon has approved an agreement with SpaceX to purchase Starlink for Ukraine, which the company's founder, Elon Musk, will not be able to disconnect. Source: The New York Times citing sources Details: In June 2023, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin approved a Pentagon deal to buy 400 to 500...

www.yahoo.com

There was an article in the New York Times yesterday which included similar information in it. That article was about Starlink in general and the fear of some countries around the world in having all of the Starlink capability under the control of one person. The article referenced the decision made by Starlink to not allow the use of the terminals on maritime drones, and then mentioned that there had been discussions between the US Military and Starlink resulting in what you cited.

Here is the link to the NYT article - it may be paywalled.

Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars

The tech billionaire has become the dominant power in satellite internet technology. The ways he is wielding that influence are raising global alarms.

www.nytimes.com

Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars

Per NYT, SpaceX stopped free service to terminals in Unkraine.

"SpaceX told the U.S. Defense Department that it could not continue the arrangement and asked the Pentagon to take over funding. The company estimated the cost at nearly $400 million over 12 months, according to a SpaceX letter reported by CNN, which was verified by The New York Times."

I am unaware of any other private company who has provided such a large amount and do not understand why folks believe they should continue to fund UKR's war effort.

 

[AudubonB]

It seems to me that funding and reliability of continuity should be treated differently. I certainly agree that Pentagon should bear the cost; I also think that in a war footing, it should be not SpaceX but the Ukrainian military who should be able to cancel service for any devices abandoned in Russia-held/recaptured territory.

 

[RobStark]

This could definitely have an impact (literally and figuratively).

Ukrainian volunteers develop inexpensive missiles to 'overwhelm' Russian air defences

Inventors in Ukraine have developed an inexpensive cruise missile they hope can “overwhelm” Russian air defences so that rockets equipped with warheads are more likely to reach their targets. The inventors…

www.france24.com

At the beginning of the Russian Invasion many Western military experts said it was pointless to give Ukraine advanced Western military equipment because the Ukrainian country bumpkins did not have the technical skills to use them.

 

[mongo]

Per NYT, SpaceX stopped free service to terminals in Unkraine.

"SpaceX told the U.S. Defense Department that it could not continue the arrangement and asked the Pentagon to take over funding. The company estimated the cost at nearly $400 million over 12 months, according to a SpaceX letter reported by CNN, which was verified by The New York Times."

I am unaware of any other private company who has provided such a large amount and do not understand why folks believe they should continue to fund UKR's war effort.

Isn't that letter a year old at this point?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1581345747777179651

 

[stopcrazypp]

Per NYT, SpaceX stopped free service to terminals in Unkraine.

"SpaceX told the U.S. Defense Department that it could not continue the arrangement and asked the Pentagon to take over funding. The company estimated the cost at nearly $400 million over 12 months, according to a SpaceX letter reported by CNN, which was verified by The New York Times."

I am unaware of any other private company who has provided such a large amount and do not understand why folks believe they should continue to fund UKR's war effort.

This was discussed at length a long time ago. The service was very much not "free", nor were the terminals! While SpaceX did donate some terminals, a lot of terminals were donated by private donations (not SpaceX but other orgs) or by government funding. The dispute over the subscription was SpaceX trying to request an upgrade in service to $4500 per month instead of the $500 per month tier Ukraine was using.
Elon & Twitter

Also, the service that Elon stopped didn't have to do with the cost either. It was that he stopped service in Crimea outright. Official justification is risk to SpaceX equipment, but when he did it, he also did his controversial "peace plan," which made everyone question his motives.

 

[DayTrippin]

At the beginning of the Russian Invasion many Western military experts said it was pointless to give Ukraine advanced Western military equipment because the Ukrainian country bumpkins did not have the technical skills to use them.

I never understood that. Ukraine had one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world and was also a major arms and aircraft producer. Not to mention they built the Mriya (AN-225), one of the largest aircraft in the world to ever fly. They had their own homegrown cruise missile (Neptun) which took out the Russian cruiser Moskva. They have done a good job of converting older anti-aircraft missiles into ground attack weapons.