Kinophile

Now this would be an interesting development... 
 

"Using incomplete Soviet-era drawings, specimen track links from Ukraine, then the inspection of vehicles, manuals and the loan of track specimens from the Tank Museum, Cook reverse-engineered the tracks and drive sprockets for MTLB, BMP, and T72 vehicles... "

Now this would be an interesting development... 
 

Now this would be an interesting development... 
 

I think the broader point is that Ukraine is not a teenager - all the tragedy but no accountability or responsibility.  There were a lot of strategic failures in the run up to this war and they do not all lay at the feet of Europe or the US.  The global arms industry is incredibly large and Ukraine could have leveraged that to be much better prepared for what was a pretty obvious threat on its eastern border. (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/its-time-to-stop-us-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia/#:~:text=A total of 73% of,averaging %2410.7 billion per year.)
Of course hindsight being 20/20 it is also fair to admit that no one really thought Russia would go this far.  We pretty much expected another nibble in the Donbas, maybe consolidate that strategic corridor.  A full on grab was not the assessed most likely COA. Further Ukraine did move mountains within its military in those 8 years, the most important of which was to set themselves up for integration into western C4ISR.
As has been noted, we are where we are, which is here.  And all that really matters is what we do now.

"Using incomplete Soviet-era drawings, specimen track links from Ukraine, then the inspection of vehicles, manuals and the loan of track specimens from the Tank Museum, Cook reverse-engineered the tracks and drive sprockets for MTLB, BMP, and T72 vehicles... "

"Using incomplete Soviet-era drawings, specimen track links from Ukraine, then the inspection of vehicles, manuals and the loan of track specimens from the Tank Museum, Cook reverse-engineered the tracks and drive sprockets for MTLB, BMP, and T72 vehicles... "

"Using incomplete Soviet-era drawings, specimen track links from Ukraine, then the inspection of vehicles, manuals and the loan of track specimens from the Tank Museum, Cook reverse-engineered the tracks and drive sprockets for MTLB, BMP, and T72 vehicles... "

"Using incomplete Soviet-era drawings, specimen track links from Ukraine, then the inspection of vehicles, manuals and the loan of track specimens from the Tank Museum, Cook reverse-engineered the tracks and drive sprockets for MTLB, BMP, and T72 vehicles... "

"Using incomplete Soviet-era drawings, specimen track links from Ukraine, then the inspection of vehicles, manuals and the loan of track specimens from the Tank Museum, Cook reverse-engineered the tracks and drive sprockets for MTLB, BMP, and T72 vehicles... "

"Using incomplete Soviet-era drawings, specimen track links from Ukraine, then the inspection of vehicles, manuals and the loan of track specimens from the Tank Museum, Cook reverse-engineered the tracks and drive sprockets for MTLB, BMP, and T72 vehicles... "

Ukraine isn't the only place where drone warfare is making advances. 
Not intended to derail, but we should stay aware of developments elsewhere, as we'll probably see them in some shape or form in Ukraine. 

Ukraine isn't the only place where drone warfare is making advances. 
Not intended to derail, but we should stay aware of developments elsewhere, as we'll probably see them in some shape or form in Ukraine. 

do you recall at all what happened in Bucha?  I mean FFS what exactly do you think is gonna happen with negotiations with Russia?  JFC people have such poor memories or just don't give a rat's a55 for reality when they have an agenda.

I like to think that the CO of a NATO/Western unit wouldn't have put his men in that situation in the first place.  Still, with so many variables, things go sideways all the time.  The UKR SOF raid the other day that was wiped out on the beach is another example.  Training and experience can mitigate some of the risk but there is still some risk and sometimes fate is cruel.

I get the impression Putin's standing order is to 'Attack' every day, no matter how futile or suicidal or pointless. The whole point is to be seen to be attacking. Every day, somewhere along the line there's an attack of some sort.

Pretty awful place to get hit, very little cover from ground fire and presence of drones means completely vulnerable to overhead attack and observation. 
I'm not convinced a top grade NATO squad could have done much more. Run across the road across from the vehicles? Sure, better chance v Brads - but Drones overhead. There was one guy rolled out right, kept down the entire time - until naded by a drone. 
I suspect they lost their leadership in the first few minutes and after that, well... 
The entire mission was a death ride. No squad could have come out of that in a functional state, then somehow cross 1km of open terrain. 

Pretty awful place to get hit, very little cover from ground fire and presence of drones means completely vulnerable to overhead attack and observation. 
I'm not convinced a top grade NATO squad could have done much more. Run across the road across from the vehicles? Sure, better chance v Brads - but Drones overhead. There was one guy rolled out right, kept down the entire time - until naded by a drone. 
I suspect they lost their leadership in the first few minutes and after that, well... 
The entire mission was a death ride. No squad could have come out of that in a functional state, then somehow cross 1km of open terrain. 

Hoping it's true. 
 
Syrsky is very encouraging in his attitude. He seems very focussed on the conditions, training and leadership of his forces.