So the OSINT folks believe Ukraine is through the first major anti-tank defensive lines and have entered Verbove where fighting is hot. Telegram videos of orcish FPV drones attacking Ukrainian infantry in the village.
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Russia/Ukraine conflict
- Thread starter amolina
- Start date
So the OSINT folks believe Ukraine is through the first major anti-tank defensive lines and have entered Verbove where fighting is hot. Telegram videos of orcish FPV drones attacking Ukrainian infantry in the village.
An interesting note on Gazprom. If the Ukrainians did indeed blow up the NS II than I wonder if that precipitated the loss of all the gazprom executives last year. I mean the terrible string of window accidents.
petit_bateau
Active Member
ZNPP water well
world-nuclear-news.org
Groundwater extraction begins at Zaporizhzhia : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has started pumping water from a new groundwater well and plans to build more at the site as part of efforts to ensure sufficient cooling for its six reactors after the destruction of Ukraine's Kakhovka dam in early June.
Further signs emerge that the Russian economy is deteriorating. Last week Putin ordered that restrictions on employing teenagers as young as 14 should be removed.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/30/russia-ruble-drop-prices-rising/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/30/russia-ruble-drop-prices-rising/
Great idea copy Arkansas. Or did Governor Sanders copy Putin?
Ruzzia has a presidential election in 2024 as well. 
A pick of straw men When vetting a list of Putin’s ‘sparring partners’ for the 2024 presidential election, the Kremlin insisted on keeping younger candidates out of the race
A pick of straw men When vetting a list of Putin’s ‘sparring partners’ for the 2024 presidential election, the Kremlin insisted on keeping younger candidates out of the race
Sounds familiar.Ruzzia has a presidential election in 2024 as well.
A pick of straw men When vetting a list of Putin’s ‘sparring partners’ for the 2024 presidential election, the Kremlin insisted on keeping younger candidates out of the race
From the daily war report on understandingwar.org (Institute for the Study of War):
The US State Department announced a new military aid package for Ukraine on August 29. The $250 million package includes AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, mine clearing equipment, HIMARS rockets, and Javelin anti-armor systems.[32]
The US State Department announced a new military aid package for Ukraine on August 29. The $250 million package includes AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, mine clearing equipment, HIMARS rockets, and Javelin anti-armor systems.[32]
Armchair pencil pushing here: that $250 million won’t buy much of the listed items, will it?
They are having a clearance sale. 90% off on last year's items.
That was my reaction as well, but I don't know pricing of these things.
One AIM-9X goes for $3-400K at Costco.
ZNPP water well
Groundwater extraction begins at Zaporizhzhia : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has started pumping water from a new groundwater well and plans to build more at the site as part of efforts to ensure sufficient cooling for its six reactors after the destruction of Ukraine's Kakhovka dam in early June.
The aquifer near the power plant has a lot of water in it. The water from the reservoir has been making its way into the ground water for something like 60 years.
Early in the war the US valued everything at its replacement cost (building a new one), but now values everything based on the used cost on the arms market. $259 million goes father when you're shopping for second hand weapons.
Many of the items given to Ukraine were basically stuff we would never use (surplus Stryker, M1A1 tanks)
They were in storage and not needed.
When sent to Ukraine, the dollar figure used is what it cost to buy in the first place.
Who only buys one AIM-9X at Costco. You have to buy the family value pack case of 12 for $3 million.
I only pickup Aim-9x when they are giving out free samples.
Artful Dodger
"Neko no me"
There's a coupon code for that in Southern Zaporizhia right now: You just need to enter the code into the search radar on your SU-27. You get free home delivery on those Sidewinders, too. /s
BitJam
Active Member
These two videos about the new problems Putin is facing after the death of Prigozhin came out within a few minutes of each other.
Fear is the new normal in Russian politics
The high profile assassination of Prigozhin sends a clear warning to others in Russia who may want to depose Putin. But this puts Putin in a more fragile position. He has enemies to his left and to his right. My take is the assassination was good for him short term but bad for him long term.
Let's talk about Putin's possible positions...
Putin appears to be purging Russia of his rivals in the military. This is bad for the military and bad for Russians on the front line. The Russian legislature is considering enacting a massive new mobilization. Putin is not at the top of his game and he's losing his grip. Beau expects less effective command and control in Russia and a rise of discontent.
Overall, despite the hand wringing of some Western naysayers, I think the war is going very well for Ukraine right now.
And, of course, Putin is politically weakened. While losing the Wagner Group has deprived him of his most effective fighting force. It seems to me Ukraine is brewing up a perfect storm for Putin. This is exactly what I was hoping for when we were all waiting for the start of Ukraine's counter-offensive. I may have mentioned I was hoping for five surprising things from Ukraine. I think they delivered.
They are creating more fires than Putin's Russia is able to put out. This strikes at Russia's greatest weakness: the rigidity of their command and control structure. Thank goodness Ukraine didn't follow the advice of their Western allies who were saying Ukraine needs to concentrate their forces and their efforts in a single spot. Russia would be at its best fighting off one big attack but all these different creatively created problems spread out over hundreds and hundreds of miles are very difficult for Russia to deal with and they make the best use of Ukraine's resources which include many technically trained and highly motivated civilians. It's almost like the unrealistic movie trope where a bunch of plucky kids outwit and make fools of an organized military.
Fear is the new normal in Russian politics
The high profile assassination of Prigozhin sends a clear warning to others in Russia who may want to depose Putin. But this puts Putin in a more fragile position. He has enemies to his left and to his right. My take is the assassination was good for him short term but bad for him long term.
Let's talk about Putin's possible positions...
Putin appears to be purging Russia of his rivals in the military. This is bad for the military and bad for Russians on the front line. The Russian legislature is considering enacting a massive new mobilization. Putin is not at the top of his game and he's losing his grip. Beau expects less effective command and control in Russia and a rise of discontent.
Overall, despite the hand wringing of some Western naysayers, I think the war is going very well for Ukraine right now.
- There are many effective drone strikes inside of Russia taking out significant military assets.
- Ukraine has created several footholds on the left bank of the Dnieper in Kherson.
- There have been successful commando raids in Crimea.
- Ukraine's fleet of naval drones has been effective well beyond my wildest expectations.
- They have been using long range precision missiles to whittle away at Russia's logistics and military supplies.
- Ukraine is slowly encircling Bakhmut.
- And they recently breached Russia's main defense line protecting the city of Tokmak.
And, of course, Putin is politically weakened. While losing the Wagner Group has deprived him of his most effective fighting force. It seems to me Ukraine is brewing up a perfect storm for Putin. This is exactly what I was hoping for when we were all waiting for the start of Ukraine's counter-offensive. I may have mentioned I was hoping for five surprising things from Ukraine. I think they delivered.
They are creating more fires than Putin's Russia is able to put out. This strikes at Russia's greatest weakness: the rigidity of their command and control structure. Thank goodness Ukraine didn't follow the advice of their Western allies who were saying Ukraine needs to concentrate their forces and their efforts in a single spot. Russia would be at its best fighting off one big attack but all these different creatively created problems spread out over hundreds and hundreds of miles are very difficult for Russia to deal with and they make the best use of Ukraine's resources which include many technically trained and highly motivated civilians. It's almost like the unrealistic movie trope where a bunch of plucky kids outwit and make fools of an organized military.
