sburke

the problem with this whole argument is the west does have an escalation response if Russia uses a tactical nuke that isn't WW3 but a clear message to Russia that it can't get away with it. Take out a boomer... or two. Russia then has to decide how to respond and risk a further escalation.

yeah I just saw that headline from your post and damn near had an orgasm. Visions of Belarus falling apart and the Russian army being cutoff. You spoiled my wet dream... I'd say you owe me but .. well.. let's just not go there.

huh this article is dated march 6th..? Belarus Major General Resigns Instead Of Following Putin Orders (bipartisanreport.com)

Russia just doesn't seem to understand what they have created. sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

Or just pallbearers.

While I admire Zelensky's balls of steel I think it goes a lot deeper than this. Ukraine's military knew it would have to fight Russia. that sense of urgency I think has motivated the army deeply. I am sure there are still issues, but overall the military has geared up for this fight. Even in the worst case, the withdrawal from Kherson- though disordered and retreating, the Ukrainians did not surrender. I think Zelensky has added to that in the political spectrum and helped forge a level of unity between the nation and the army that Putin couldn't even dream of. I think you are spot on in terms of the opportunity here to take that moment and will power to build a Ukraine too strong for Russia to ever threaten again.

already on it - apparently the conversion means that is equivalent rank to Col. Captain of 1st rank (=colonel) Andrei Paliy Deputy of Black Sea Fleet commander,

thanks, corrected

dang that would skew the scales a bit more. Current list: MG Andrey Kolesnikov, Russia’s 29th Combined Arms Army commander Andrei Sukhovetsky, Deputy Commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, First Deputy Commander Of The 41st Army Major-general Oleg Mitiayev, commander of 150th motor-rifle division General-Lieutenant Andrey Mordvichev commander 8th CAA Guards Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky commander of the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment Colonel Yuryi Agarkov, the commander of 33rd motor-rifle regiment (Kamyshyn, Volgograd oblast) of 20th Guard motor-rifle division Colonel Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharov, 6th tank regiment commander Colonel Sergei Porokhnya commander of the 12th separate guards engineering brigade Colonel Sergey Sukharev, commander of 331st Guards Airborne Regiment (of the 98th VDV Division) Colonel Igor Nikolaev Commander of 252nd Motor Rifle Regiment, the 3rd Motor Rifle Division. Colonel Sergey Savvateeyev, Deputy commander of Rosgvardia SOBR Colonel Nikolay Ovcharenko, the chief of engineer troops of Western Miliatary District. Captain of 1st rank (=colonel) Andrei Paliy Deputy of Black Sea Fleet commander, Lt Colonel Denis Glebov, Deputy Commander of the 11th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade Lt Colonel Dmitry Safronov, Commander of the 61st Separate Marine Brigade Lt.colonel Alexei Khasanov, deputy commander of 31st Fighter aviation regiment Lt Colonel Mikhail Orchikov was deputy commander of a motor-rifle brigade 19th motor-rifle division Lt.colonel Alexandr Pazynich, the regimental commander deputy for human resources of 14th Guard Fighter Aviation Regiment Lt.colonel Renat Gaisin Lt.colonel Ilya Piatkin, 38 years SOBR Lt.colonel Roman Ryabov, 50 years SOBR Lt.colonel (likely) Mikhail Rodionov, 46 years SOBR Guards Major Burlakov Andrei Petrovich, Deputy Chief of Intelligence Staff - Chief of Intelligence Regiment Major Sergey Krylov deputy battalion commander from the VDV's 331st Airborne Regiment Deputy mayor Alexandr Fiodorov 103 missile brigade (Iskander-M) that Russian Iskander unit met with our SOF... Captured Lieutenant Colonel Maxim Kryshtop: Deputy Commander of the 47th Aviation Regiment Lt. Colonel Astrakhov Dmitry Mikhailovich: SOBR

I had Colonel Igor Nikolayev. Added the other two.

Kind of old news Russian spy chief arrested, officials split over Ukraine invasion (msn.com) Colonel-General Sergei Beseda, the head of the Fifth Service of the FSB intelligence service, and Beseda's deputy were being held under house arrest, according to a report by the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) non-partisan think tank. The Fifth Service was responsible for providing Russian President Vladimir Putin with intelligence about Ukraine leading up to the war. "It looks like two weeks into the war, it finally dawned on Putin that he was completely misled. The department, fearful of his responses, seems to have told Putin what he wanted to hear," Russian investigative journalists Irina Borogan and Andrei Soldatov wrote in the CEPA report. On Saturday, a US official told The Wall Street Journal that the reports about Beseda being placed under house arrest were "credible," adding that bickering had broken out between the FSB and Russian Defense Ministry concerning the invasion of Ukraine. When asked for comment Putin said "it is all going to plan"

Russian Priest Defends Calling Ukraine Conflict a 'War' After $330 Fine (msn.com)

I was expecting Chickens

good lord if true the degree of folly only gets worse. As to Putin's threat. WTF is he gonna do? Lukashenko is the one holding the cards now. Putin tries anything and the whole Kiev offensive is done. Russia will have a hostile rear to contend with and no supplies whatsoever... but then that would fit with the game plan so far.

should I post the Hound with his famous chicken quote again?

you have to suppress the chickens before renewing the assault.

Interesting comparison of Russian losses in previous campaigns - from an AP article on Marketwatch Estimates of Russian deaths vary widely. Yet even conservative figures are in the low thousands. That’s a much faster pace than in previous Russian offensives, threatening support for the war among ordinary Russians. Russia had 64 deaths in five days of fighting during its 2008 war with Georgia. It lost about 15,000 in Afghanistan over 10 years, and more than 11,000 over years of fighting in Chechnya.

yeah really. Imagine the next guy in line. "hey hear you are up for a promotion' yeah no thanks. Going for a Covid shot Doctor "Do you have a pre existing condition" Russian Officer "well I am fairly high ranking and being sent to Ukraine" Doctor sets syringe down and says "no need for this then."

field practice

sorry, didn't see that.. so how did they hit a Black Sea fleet officer. he go with Marines?

who is the second guy?

so far most of them seem to be either being killed in arty strikes or some UKR counteroffensives. That officer from the 45th is the only indication we have so far of Russia removing people for failure. That and that Putin's inner circle is supposedly no longer appearing in media with him. if Putin wanted to eliminate them, I think it'd be more in the style of making them scapegoats publicly to shift blame for this thing bogging down. There has been a little of that, I am guessing we'll see more as this drags on.

Nothing says we are just fighting a limited 'special operation" against a few Nazis like launching the most advanced expensive weapon you have. I wonder how they spin the deaths of so many generals when they are saying they have lost less than 500 men so far.

yes, but at that time unit was unknown

gawd these guys need to do stand up comedy after the war. Russia sets up no-fly zone over Ukraine's Donbass -Interfax (msn.com)