Holien

The Trump Effect? Europe is upping its game... Long may it last... I truly hope Ukraine can hold on and the aid truly arrives in time.

Thanks for keeping us grounded. It will be interesting to see if can get confirmation of accurate numbers. I guess without pilots ejecting we can't rely on COSPAS and if they go into the sea no satellite proof possible. Just maybe in months time obituaries of the pilots if they pop up on social media.

Hmmm Any scale of operation? Would you like to take a crack at explaining how Ukraine has managed to maintain such a bridgehead which has been in existence for months?

Fixed it for you... It would be like me saying that about America at the moment..

I just checked AWACs to see what crew would be needed just to get an idea... So your right seems like they were a 3rd down on crew and the crew they had 50% were Majors, sure seems like they might have problems getting trained folk as crew...

Hmmm I think he was fairly clear off camera about his views and he was interviewing folk with guns so he was never going to challenge them strongly, especially as he got quite a bit of hostility towards him. I found it interesting that Wagner were operating ahead of the Russian forces in Kyiv and his assertion that there was no killing blatantly untrue. So from my POV it was worth watching. The details I picked up just watching the images we're worth it. YMMV

Talking as we have been about real journalism I managed to watch this available in UK on ITV. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/19/uk-documentary-listens-to-both-sides-on-ukraines-frontline-with-russia YouTube promo above. He got access to the Russian side and it isn't Russian BS propaganda but does interview those fighting for Russia and the separatist. He even gets into "Sherwood Forest" just after it was taken by Russian forces. He sees the aftermath of the rout of one of the Russian collapses. The interviews with a couple of the civilians are worth watching, especially the crazy / lovable large lady who nearly kidnapped him. No stunning information but it kinda of backs up (I hate to say) the Capt pov that it might be better for Ukraine to cut Donbass loose. An interviewed Russian doctor sums it up war destroys everything. - Russian medical care not great but interesting to see a "field hospital". Not sure of distribution outside of the UK, but if you do get a chance to watch it, I think it's worth it.

Please don't feed the troll...

As others already noted yesterday, now the BBC reporting in the murder of the Russian pilot. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68337794 Another Russian killed by the Mafia running Russia.

Is that now 5 aircraft in recent days?

I hope so, the Glide Bombs seemed to be the key in breaking the Ukraine defences. The loss / reduction of artillery to break up attacks didn't help.

@Grigb A post from Panzer Martin a year ago after Bakhmut. He has form... Just FYI Hey maybe he will be right one day...

Really? Would you like to expound on this nugget a tad further. I am genuinely interested in how in 2022, 2023 to 2024 the Russians are learning from their mistakes.

Nope and they won't have to with the right support (ammo, equipment, ISR and airsupport) and training, but alas this year will not be the year when all the stars will be aligned. Ukraine needs to survive this turbulent year and if the American situation improves then maybe next year. The continued damage to Russian control of Crimea and their rear areas (manufacturing, petrol, gas) production will cause Russia serious issues that might bring down the house of cards...

Ahhh the beauty of hindsight... Do you realise how difficult it is to do stuff in government and you are blaming them for not doing it all in one year.... What a joke....

Ukraine has recognized it needs a reorganization and perhaps it could have been started earlier but hindsight is always a wonderful thing.... We have seen they are looking at changing things let's see how it pans out....

Hmm that's a fact huh? What about Europe, Australia we've cut them off? Ahhh Russia recruitment from Africa and Nepal is running rings around Ukraine, nice to know...

Yep, the RN with it's two new white elephants have arrived just in time. Mind you easier to defend them when they are sat in dry dock being repaired as they can't even be trusted to sail to Norway.

I think it is more likely one of these or a mixture of sea state and currents / wind which makes it hard to handle, that and command delays with the controls so not perfect handling as we might expect. We need a naval grog who plays with remote control replicas on boating ponds.

I appreciated the diversion as it was useful to understand the possible risks. Thanks for letting it divert a tad... Lots can happen from now to November so it is not certain the Orange liar can win. The good out of this is that Europe seems to still be engaged and supporting Ukraine and will realise that they might have to go it alone. Ukraine now needs to cut it's cloth to what they have on hand and if we can keep on supplying enough long range missiles and perhaps new airframes the corrosive warfare can continue to hurt Russia even if the possibility of regaining terrority is less likely.

Hmmm you think that battlefield commanders have a fully illuminated battlefield? Even with today's battles with modern ISR it is hard to bring all that information accurately together in a way that is easily understandable. It certainly was not possible before now, so by your statement every commander was reckless?

You rarely have all the information to hand as a leader to know if you are being bold or reckless. That's what Historians determine

Do you not think there might be a bit of fallout for Russia from other countries which might put in doubt the "win"... Anyway enough of that rabbit hole, thanks for explaining it....

Winning - really?

Yep all starts at the top of any organisation. Let's hope it's the right decision. In WW2 the early years there were numerous military leadership changes made.