panzermartin

I agree It doesn't have a made in USA stamp. But that doesn't mean that some 3rd party couldn't have done this under their guidance. If a single country expressed publicly their annoyance with the nord stream that was US through very official voices, Biden, Nuland etc... Is Russia that irrational? Maybe. Until now they hesitated to admit they are blackmailing EU with the gas by referring to technical issues. Now they blow up everything like an angry madman. There must have been some very important motive to do this. Blackmail Europe further through the ukrainian pipeline? It didn't work so far. Divide Europe and USA? An internal matter between energy companies in Russia and the deep state? Doesn't make much sense to destroy a valuable asset for ever, a negotiating card and a symbol of their prosperity and bridge with Europe. What is next, they will blow up their Kerch bridge

I read everything, from ISW to pro UKR Twitter, this forum and russian sources. Why US is never to be blamed, they are very much benefiting from all this,while Germany, Europe and Russia are committing suicide. Is this russian propaganda?

Hmmm, why should Russia blow up their own gas lines. They indeed lose their last card of changing the minds of EU. And destroying decades of prosperous collaboration with Germany. And that thank you from Poland official... We underestimate how ruthless US is as well when they are after their interests. Beyond Russia, target is Germany I think for not obeying the masters orders and being reluctant to be involved in this war. Now they don't have other choice. And we are here discussing the high ethics of the war with lord of the rings metaphors.

Germany is like France in WW2. Pourquoi mourir pour Danzig(Ukraine) ? And France was actually invaded. The truth is that cynically they suffered the least from all the nations involved. Maybe Germany hopes for the same....

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I find it incredible that people are so hard on Germany on the war thing. "Common, sell more Leopards Fritz, can't you see the opportunity !" It's like those people haven't studied WW2 all their lives and the scariest wound that war left to this country. A country that was painstakingly rebuilt brick by brick by the people left behind. And chose instead of planning to avenge the former rival to build a new relation that seemed like the logical bond.

Easy on the blaming game because in a few years you will also be protesting against your new masters that will blame all on your government for corruption and spending too much on the war effort. A friendly advice. Italy has sadly elected a neo fascist government and this says something about how bad things are going in Europe now. What will happen of Lepen gets elected finally in France The end of the dream? I'm all for a united Europe but a lot of things went wrong with the economic strategy and that gave a push to nationalists and fascists to rise again unfortunately.

Hmm after this lengthy war is over Ukraine will probably be in debt for the rest of its existance. That means no sovereignity at all in contrast with Israel. West are no just friendly helpful pals but people that count their money. The economic flow towards Ukraine is insane at the moment. Expect IMF and the banks to hold Ukrainian national assets hostages for a century or so. But a small price to pay to bring Russia to its knees I guess.

This looks and sounds like a flying Honda moto cub. But seems suicide drones like that don't need to be particularly sophisticated to be effective.

Kraze has been posting stuff like this since the beginning of the thread. He hasn't received any warning, although in the written official rules here, it is cleary stated as hate speech and a reason to ban someone. On the contrary his posts often get multiple upvotes. Yes, the best war forum on the net...

Huh? Sounds more like a flat Tyre https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11212515/Putins-limousine-hit-loud-bang-possible-attack.html

The pro russian sources are talking about a UA waterloo with half the polish m1 fleet gone (60 tanks ko) and around 1. 200 Kia. There are quite a few videos to reinforce their claims and a rather silence from pro UKR accounts that makes this all more suspicious. Both sides sources are far from objective (understandable) but RU are lying a little more so I don't know what to believe.

Not sure how effective these are. Do they raise the temperature to the point you need to get out of the area affected or just set fires? Because their impact doesn't seem significant in the videos, especialy in urban areas like this. Probably much more effective against dug in infantry in the countryside. Impressive sight nonetheless.

According to UA sources, many missiles have been intercepted, among them even hypersonic Iskanders https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3424781-ukrainian-armed-forces-shoot-down-iskander-missile-near-kramatorsk.html

Yes, it's more like similar correct, I read that wrong.

You could be right but there are some really big booms as well up there, not something an AA missile would produce. They have claimed to have shot down quite a few, but they are probably exaggerating. But we are also exaggerating that HIMARS is invincible to AD systems that have proved to intercept similar RU missiles when in UKR service. HIMARS is actually slower than a WW2 V2 (but a smaller target )

When the bridge was hit for the first time, I remember no active AD. Now I see a lot intercepts (not sure if every boom though is a kill). Seems RU are more aware now of the threat and probably a little more capable to shoot down HIMARS?

Impressive strike. Could the simultaneous detonations indicate some behind the lines job taking advantage of the looser summer vibe in the peninsula? I have seen the HIMARS strikes and they are always sequential, unless you can program two or more missiles to hit the same time. Russians continue to deny to take this war as seriously as it is and I'm not talking only about the crimean tourists. Even those people in swimming suits might have guessed this is not a special operation anymore.

Yes, that must have been stressful for RU wondering what new western toy will land on their heads each different week. I don't know if Ukraine has a time limit as well, as there are domestic and international conditions in play that are not very clear yet but certainly Russia is the one in more hurry.

My guess is that RU are not there to forever stand still and defend until UKR has tank divisions and a pile of HIMARS. They will probably move first. At the same time any major offensive against a presumably big UA force could spin into a disaster that could cost them Kherson sooner. A tricky situation.

Kherson offensive won't happen any time soon I think . If at all. They are indeed keeping RU forces pinned there with the eternal threat of a counter hoping to relieve other sectors or baiting them to attack first . Some signs were too obvious like the mailed instructions to citizens there...seriously? Ukraine can't materialize a counterattack plan with at least local arty superiority or enough mechanized forces. In fact RU forces there are more likely to start moving towards Mikolayev either to put an end to the continuous threat, or just by resuming the initial plan towards Odessa. And maybe that's Ukraine best chance, repel the attack and then hopefully counterattack in a more favorable fluid situation.

What is a tankie? Mistreating or killing POWS in times of wars like this, is absolutely no surprise sadly. Its a reality but even the good guys commit such crimes on and off the record. But treating your own helpless people like s*** in everyday life hits a different chord.

I made an observation. That the timing is not right. We have been skeptical here about the possibility of China entering this "challenge US dominance" battle in a more drastic way. And we agree we are not fans of this prospect for various reasons, mainly economic. China still sees US as the daughter of the British Empire. In a sense they are right. Like the British, they also have a big Navy that is constantly on World tour. Taiwan is a very sensitive case and not an arena for personal political gains.

Pelosi might have pushed China more decisively to the side of Russia. The visit was an unnecessary move and not that smart amidst Ukraine war. China hasn't assisted openly Russia so far but now the mood is changing rapidly and I'm not seeing it reversing. Unless I'm not aware US has decided now is the best chance for them to confront both of their rivals ala WW2. Militarily China is not ready yet to challenge them , so there is a window of opportunity.

The bottom picture is from March I think and according to a comment the plant got hit by kalibrs 24h after this post?