sburke

well Russia is certainly helping those who want to give more. It is almost like Russia thinks its own foot is the enemy the way it keeps shooting at it. Ramstein in 6 days. Will be curious how much the taps are opened.

not to mention the original force was a considerable portion of their logistical base which was particularly savaged to the point they had to start commandeering civilian vehicles en masse.

Primacy wouldn't mean much in the world that would be left. Think China wouldn't suffer from a catastrophe in the west? Assuming they wouldn't feel direct environmental impact, the economic fallout would be disastrous.

yeah but what will the women wear once they start drafting them?!

if proven it would certainly be a game changer. I think the threshold for proof is going to be quite high though as the response from NATO would likely have to be oriented towards giving Ukraine more. ATACMS and more air defense would likely be boxed up and sent via Amazon prime for free overnight delivery.

Another country Putin thought was his friend has snubbed Russia by refusing to host its military for routine exercises (msn.com)

‘Putin’s Chef’ Humiliated by His Own Side After Bragging of Wagner Victory (yahoo.com) In an announcement late Tuesday, Prigozhin gleefully claimed his men had taken control of a salt mine town that Russian forces are hoping to use as a stepping stone to gain control of the highly coveted city of Bakhmut, a Ukrainian stronghold for months. “Wagner units have taken control of all the territory of Soledar,” Prigozhin said through his press service. “I want to emphasize that no units other than the Wagner fighters took part in the assault on Soledar,” he said. While Ukrainian authorities denied Prigozhin’s claim and said battles were still underway in the town—and that the selfie the Wagner boss posted supposedly from Soledar was not even in Soledar—Russia’s two dueling armies devolved into their own war within a war. Russia’s Defense Ministry shot down Prigozhin’s boast that his own men had single-handedly brought Putin a win, instead confirming Ukraine’s announcement that fighting was still underway in the town. Moreover, defense officials suggested Russian airborne units and assault teams are leading the charge. The Defense Ministry made no mention of Wagner whatsoever. The rebuff comes as praise for Prigozhin’s outfit hit a fever pitch among pro-Kremlin figures, and the notorious mercenary group threatened to outshine Putin’s regular soldiers on the battlefield.

I do kind of miss playing buzz word bingo during leadership conference calls. Best one was when Graham Wallace, head of Cable and Wireless was speaking during a video call and counting off points. As he got to the last one he was literally giving us all the finger. Everyone wanted a copy of that video.

about time. Zelenskiy strips Putin ally Medvedchuk, three others of Ukrainian citizenship (yahoo.com)

I can't help but think of Miles Bron (Edwrd Norton) in the glass onion and Benoit Blanc's (Daniel Craig) appraisal. Blanc admits that he mistakenly "assumed Miles Bron [to be] a complicated genius" when the truth was so much simpler: "Miles Bron is an idiot."

damn you. Now I can't sleep wondering if my yard gnome is actually Kadyrov...

I was thinking more the timing of the mobilizations. Beyond that Russia isn't exactly awash with options. Maybe move their carrier into ... oh wait yeah that isn't capable of leaving dock either... Russians brought their only aircraft carrier to critical condition and looking for those responsible (yahoo.com)

Camp for mobilised Russians burns down in Orenburg Oblast (yahoo.com) Russia's main oil product is trading way below the $60 price cap as just a handful of buyers keep up trade with the heavily sanctioned nation (yahoo.com)

Russia Could Become a Failed State in 10 Years As Sanctions Bite: Survey (businessinsider.com)

The unsaid part is how much of that info is Russia getting in advance through its sources. Assuming it has at least some knowledge is this part of why Russia is doubling down knowing it needs to act before things get worse?

Japanese position is changing. The threat from China and Putin's fiasco are shifting thinking in some fundamental ways. Pacifist Japan unveils biggest military build-up since World War Two | Reuters

situation is bad but I think that is a bit of an overstatement.

point taken but let's do a worst case scenario for the US experience- My Lai. Not unique but one of the worst documented atrocities committed by US forces. In the midst of that horror you have the above. At the point we see some aspect of the Russian side opposing the wanton brutality rather than calling for even more then maybe I'll change my perspective.

we have seen T62s going in, old equipment from ww2 being distributed and arty ammo that is so old it is questionable as to how effective it will be. Arty gun barrels wearing out etc. Is this all the great new equipment you are referring to? The lousy soldiers from Feb had at least been in uniform for a bit, the mobiks just maybe a few weeks. As to training, the trainers were all thrown into combat last year so what makes you think they are training in anything other than how to put their pants on? The Russian soldiers are employing Darwinian concepts of training. If they survive their first battles they are sufficiently trained. No need to work on that ahead of time. We've seen reports that guys being trained on arty are instead thrown in as infantry. To suggest they are much more combat ready to me is a big stretch. As to why if UKR volunteers can supply their troops, why can't Russians... 1. Sanctions mean there is far less available. What online stores are going to be available to Russians? 2. Corruption means it likely gets confiscated (we have heard enough reports of that already) That isn't to say there won't be difficult battles ahead, but the Russian army is down to relying on masses of barely trained mobiks to hold the line. There will come a point where that line will crack.

yeah as long as Ukraine adheres to humanitarian treatment of POWs etc I could really care less about how they portray smashing the Russian army. Those murderous a-holes have another choice to not be in Ukraine and they should have opted to stay home.

forces even less well trained, led, equipped than the previous units. And with fewer opportunities to steal washing machines and toilets, less motivated.

wait. You misinterpreted. "RUS strategic strike infrastructure campaign is one of the most effective and dangerous things RUS has done." This is true simply because the bar is so low. Name something you think Russia has done that is effective and dangerous.

Wagner’s Desensitized Prison Fighters Keep Staggering Into Bakhmut Like This Is a Zombie Apocalypse (yahoo.com)

was that "when the saints come marching in"?

Ukraine will be rebuilding on a bedrock of national sacrifice and victory. I expect it will be a couple decades before folks stop discussing the "greatest generation" similar as you noted to post war America. Hell, we still call them the greatest generation. There will be movies, books etc of individual and unit histories, war memorials. Folks will I am sure move into politics on their credentials of having fought and wanting to oust all the corruption that hindered the war effort etc. In addition, Ukraine will take a very special place in the family of nations in their efforts. As @The_Captnoted earlier, the power dynamics in Europe are going to change heavily with Eastern Europe playing a much stronger role. All this does not bode well for Russia. Poland and Ukraine will be the hardliners for Western Democracy right on their frontier.