Cade Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Serfdom was only abolished in Russia in 1866. The attitudes from that time still linger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 It's getting difficult to keep track of how many planes that Russia has lost in the recent days. Over the last month or so it's up to 10. That's half of their annual production of SU-34s. Meanwhile, on the ground, combat footage has proven that the Russians have resorted to using ancient post-war T-55 and T-62 tanks in frontline combat operations. It had been the case that they had been using them as artillery pieces due to regular artillery having run out of replacement gun barrels, but now they've being actively used on the front line. Needless to say, it's going so well for the crews of those ancient relics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysterion Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 1 hour ago, Cade said: It's getting difficult to keep track of how many planes that Russia has lost in the recent days. Over the last month or so it's up to 10. That's half of their annual production of SU-34s. Meanwhile, on the ground, combat footage has proven that the Russians have resorted to using ancient post-war T-55 and T-62 tanks in frontline combat operations. It had been the case that they had been using them as artillery pieces due to regular artillery having run out of replacement gun barrels, but now they've being actively used on the front line. Needless to say, it's going so well for the crews of those ancient relics. At this stage Ukraine are quite literally grinding things out, conceding land feels negative but if they are taking out planes/tanks/armoured vehicles and reducing the Russian capability to mostly man power then it will hopefully see a positive change later in the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehcaley Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 3 hours ago, Cade said: Serfdom was only abolished in Russia in 1866. The attitudes from that time still linger. Not so long after here in Scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 1 hour ago, Mysterion said: At this stage Ukraine are quite literally grinding things out, conceding land feels negative but if they are taking out planes/tanks/armoured vehicles and reducing the Russian capability to mostly man power then it will hopefully see a positive change later in the year. I hate to be negative but I see very little good news anywhere. - Navalny's murder is as much a message to potential Russian political opponents as it was an opportunity to get rid of one pre-election - A Russian pilot deflector assassinated in Spain, a message to those on their way to the front - The Russian economy is producing new tanks and shells as quickly as they lose them, no mean feet. - The war economy is making low-skilled workers rich in well paid factories churning out new equipment - Post Russian election, expect mass mobilisation of the Russian population but don't expect much opposition to it on the home front - More meat waves of attack taking Ukraine land inch by inch. The losses mean nothing to Putin and he has more human resource than Ukraine - Continued naval gazing across Europe while USA stops it support for Ukraine. Russia will continue to lose men and equipment in huge numbers but they've got the numbers to lose, there's no opposition and it gains them ground. It's thoroughly depressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 14 minutes ago, Dirty Deeds said: I hate to be negative but I see very little good news anywhere. - Navalny's murder is as much a message to potential Russian political opponents as it was an opportunity to get rid of one pre-election - A Russian pilot deflector assassinated in Spain, a message to those on their way to the front - The Russian economy is producing new tanks and shells as quickly as they lose them, no mean feet. - The war economy is making low-skilled workers rich in well paid factories churning out new equipment - Post Russian election, expect mass mobilisation of the Russian population but don't expect much opposition to it on the home front - More meat waves of attack taking Ukraine land inch by inch. The losses mean nothing to Putin and he has more human resource than Ukraine - Continued naval gazing across Europe while USA stops it support for Ukraine. Russia will continue to lose men and equipment in huge numbers but they've got the numbers to lose, there's no opposition and it gains them ground. It's thoroughly depressing. It really isn't. They're fielding ancient relics from deep storage. And having to buy back ancient ammo they sold to the North Koreans in the 1970s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlimOzturk Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 21 minutes ago, Cade said: It really isn't. They're fielding ancient relics from deep storage. And having to buy back ancient ammo they sold to the North Koreans in the 1970s. And they are still able to throw human life at it like never before without any challenges or resilience. This won’t change whilst this regime is in charge. We need Putin to die and for their to be some sort of uprising to change anything. We just have to hope the Ukrainians can hold out until then. We need the west to keep support up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 23 minutes ago, Cade said: It really isn't. They're fielding ancient relics from deep storage. And having to buy back ancient ammo they sold to the North Koreans in the 1970s. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/15/rate-of-russian-military-production-worries-european-war-planners Those relics still fire shells. Ukraine doesn't have that luxury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 4 minutes ago, AlimOzturk said: And they are still able to throw human life at it like never before without any challenges or resilience. This won’t change whilst this regime is in charge. We need Putin to die and for their to be some sort of uprising to change anything. We just have to hope the Ukrainians can hold out until then. We need the west to keep support up. Denmark may be the waterbreak. Many Western nations are rapidly ramping up ammunition production but won't donate their current stocks until the new stuff is made. Denmark has said that's stupid as we're not under attack so we don't need our stockpiles, Ukraine does. So they're giving all of their artillery and all of their ammo straight to Ukraine and will replace it with newly made gear ASAP. I'm not saying everyone should donate everything, but we should all be digging deeper and replacing it from the increased production levels. Even Germany are coming round after a year or so of being sluggish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 4 minutes ago, Cade said: Denmark may be the waterbreak. Many Western nations are rapidly ramping up ammunition production but won't donate their current stocks until the new stuff is made. Denmark has said that's stupid as we're not under attack so we don't need our stockpiles, Ukraine does. So they're giving all of their artillery and all of their ammo straight to Ukraine and will replace it with newly made gear ASAP. I'm not saying everyone should donate everything, but we should all be digging deeper and replacing it from the increased production levels. Even Germany are coming round after a year or so of being sluggish. Agreed, magnificent effort from Denmark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 It's been a very busy few days in Ukraine. Keen to capitalise on the occupation of Avdiivka (after a battle lasting since 2014) the Russians are getting sloppy. With election propaganda at the front of their minds, commanders on the ground are making error after error and losing serious amounts of equipment and many, many men. Up in the north sector, 4 T-90M tanks were destroyed, which is by far the largest number of them taken out in a single engagement so far. The T-90M is the most modern tank the Russians have and before the war it was being touted as a war-winning, unkillable super weapon. Reality has rather tarnished that reputation. They also tried to push towards Vuhledar in the south again, with exactly the same results as all the other times they've attacked in that direction. They run into minefields then artillery, drone drops and ATGMs. A bit further west they're also pushing hard to re-take Robotyne which was liberated in the Ukrainian summer offensive. On the east bank of the river in Kherson region, Russia's top general claimed to have totally eliminated the Ukrainian beachhead but, as usual, this was a lie. Putin himself corrected the general(!) A few Russian solders crept into the outskirts of the contested Krinky village, planted big Russian flags then legged it back to their own lines. This was being used as propaganda. Ukrainian troopers on the ground there then released their own footage proving that the town is still very much contested. A Russian general was sent in to capitalise on the propaganda "victory", so the commanders on the ground lined their men up in preparation for inspection. Unfortunately for them, the only thing inspecting them was a Ukrainian surveillance drone, which placed a call with the local HIMARS crew which resulted in predictably grisly video footage. Several dozen dead Russians in one fell swoop. Yet another SU-34 bomber was shot down, and another Colonel was killed in action too. So the Russians are in a manic phase, blindly feeding men and machines into headlong suicidal rushes all along the line of contact so their commanders can tell Putin that they're winning, hoping to get promotions in an election year. Ukraine's President and Poland's leader are planning to meet on the border between the two countries to combat the absolute nonsense going on down there. A few disgruntled Polish farmers had blockaded the border in protest at cheap Ukrainian produce making its way into the Polish market, harming their business. This is a legitimate concern and is due to widespread Polish corruption since the Ukrainian produce is only supposed to be getting moved over the border then directly onwards to Polish ports for exporting to Africa and other far flung places. But, of course, the protests have been hijacked by pro-Russian far-right bams who have been flying Soviet flags and are now blocking military convoys heading TO Ukraine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 In a strange though perhaps encouraging sort of thing, 2 year anniversary events across Europe are being organised as defiant celebrations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 (edited) Seems that Ukraine has shot down another Russian A-50 command and control plane over the Azov Sea. Worth a cool $300 million each. According to a leak in January, Russia only had two of them left airworthy. And then there was one........... Edited February 24 by Cade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Seems that yet another SU-34 has also been lost. That's an awful lot of Russian planes shot down in the last two weeks. Chances of F-16s being in the air over Ukraine.....?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawdust Caesar Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 There is some chatter that the plane was downed by friendly fire, faf if true. How lame are this lot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Russia has claimed "friendly fire" by their World Beating Mighty Russian Bear Air Defence Systems for almost every single plane they've lost over the last two years. They're full of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Some very good news... "In five days, Ukrainian forces—likely Patriot crews firing 90-mile-range PAC-2 missiles—have shot down seven Sukhoi glide-bombers: five twin-seat Su-34s and two single-seat Su-35s" https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/21/seven-sukhois-in-five-days-ukraines-patriot-missile-crews-are-shooting-down-russian-jets-faster-than-ever/?sh=6f495c5f4d31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawdust Caesar Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Telling it like it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Another day, another Su-34 ground attack jet shot down....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maple Leaf Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 On 23/02/2024 at 19:16, Cade said: Seems that Ukraine has shot down another Russian A-50 command and control plane over the Azov Sea. Worth a cool $300 million each. According to a leak in January, Russia only had two of them left airworthy. And then there was one........... With a crew of up to 15 highly-trained personnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 Will Ukraine run out of missiles before Russia runs out of planes? https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/27/10-shot-down-jets-in-10-days-russias-aerial-surge-in-ukraine-is-getting-more-of-its-pilots-killed/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 Russia seems to have abandoned any kind of tactical nous or planning anything. It's just suicidal banzai charges of men, machines, aircraft and ships straight into the teeth of the Ukrainian defences. Eventually the Ukrainians run out of ammo and have to pull back. Putin doesn't care how many Russians he gets killed with tactics like that. As long as they're still moving forwards he can claim to be winning the war. A front line Russian military blogger recently revealed that taking Avdiivka cost the Russians 13,000 men. When you take into account the duration of the fight, that's more losses per day than they took attacking Bahkmut with forcibly conscripted prisoner squads. The blogger was strongly criticised by the Russian command and "took his own life" a couple of days later. Presumably shot himself 5 times in the back of the head whilst swallowing some novichok and falling out of a window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyRightPeg Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 21 minutes ago, Cade said: Russia seems to have abandoned any kind of tactical nous or planning anything. It's just suicidal banzai charges of men, machines, aircraft and ships straight into the teeth of the Ukrainian defences. Eventually the Ukrainians run out of ammo and have to pull back. Putin doesn't care how many Russians he gets killed with tactics like that. As long as they're still moving forwards he can claim to be winning the war. A front line Russian military blogger recently revealed that taking Avdiivka cost the Russians 13,000 men. When you take into account the duration of the fight, that's more losses per day than they took attacking Bahkmut with forcibly conscripted prisoner squads. The blogger was strongly criticised by the Russian command and "took his own life" a couple of days later. Presumably shot himself 5 times in the back of the head whilst swallowing some novichok and falling out of a window. It's bat sh*t stuff. It really is. The tide will turn eventually, as more families realize their husbands and sons aren't coming home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 56 minutes ago, Cade said: Russia seems to have abandoned any kind of tactical nous or planning anything. It's just suicidal banzai charges of men, machines, aircraft and ships straight into the teeth of the Ukrainian defences. Eventually the Ukrainians run out of ammo and have to pull back. Putin doesn't care how many Russians he gets killed with tactics like that. As long as they're still moving forwards he can claim to be winning the war. A front line Russian military blogger recently revealed that taking Avdiivka cost the Russians 13,000 men. When you take into account the duration of the fight, that's more losses per day than they took attacking Bahkmut with forcibly conscripted prisoner squads. The blogger was strongly criticised by the Russian command and "took his own life" a couple of days later. Presumably shot himself 5 times in the back of the head whilst swallowing some novichok and falling out of a window. Their strategy has been the same for nearly 2 years. Take the whole of Donetsk and Luhansk. Even if the US stop supplying weapons on current progress even with the best of Iranian and North Korean weapons that will take years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott herbertson Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 The March elections are looming - hence the Russian orders to achieve teritorial success, presumabley at any cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 47 minutes ago, scott herbertson said: The March elections are looming - hence the Russian orders to achieve teritorial success, presumabley at any cost. Correct. But he'd win the election no matter what anyways, so it's all very stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 I wonder if Ukraine might have launched a major event like properly destroying the Kerch bridge at Crimèa for the 2 year anniversary. But probably waiting for the election. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjambo Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Another three SU-34s reportedly shot down today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Putin annual address. "Got nukes bud u". Ok, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hagar the Horrible Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 He would be taken out by his own people before he press the button. I think at some point like operation Valkyrie he will be taken out by his own people, and if he doesn't should he just die naturally, I think Russia will split up further, a US nightmare, but a safer place never the less. He will have a state funeral but the power vacuum would have his closest allies taken out, and after lots of in-fighting that state funeral will be an embarrassment as people will feel safer to protest. Him using the WAR word is a change for him rather than Special Needs Operation, but once again he fears western involvement by either Boots or Planes, hence the threats of Nukes, but creating a no fly zone would be enough, for his troops to get out of dodge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 4 hours ago, Hagar the Horrible said: He would be taken out by his own people before he press the button. I think at some point like operation Valkyrie he will be taken out by his own people, and if he doesn't should he just die naturally, I think Russia will split up further, a US nightmare, but a safer place never the less. He will have a state funeral but the power vacuum would have his closest allies taken out, and after lots of in-fighting that state funeral will be an embarrassment as people will feel safer to protest. Him using the WAR word is a change for him rather than Special Needs Operation, but once again he fears western involvement by either Boots or Planes, hence the threats of Nukes, but creating a no fly zone would be enough, for his troops to get out of dodge What? He’s got troops heading to Ulan Baator, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 That's now 13 Russian planes downed in the last 12 days. It's getting hard to keep track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 36 minutes ago, Cade said: That's now 13 Russian planes downed in the last 12 days. It's getting hard to keep track. Not for the Ukrainian Air Defence folk it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Ah Jaysus, Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 I've certainly been guilty of pessimism in this thread, this article explains why Ukraine is optimistic of victory. https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thehill.com/international/4489674-why-ukrainians-are-still-so-optimistic/amp/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 43 minutes ago, Dirty Deeds said: I've certainly been guilty of pessimism in this thread, this article explains why Ukraine is optimistic of victory. https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thehill.com/international/4489674-why-ukrainians-are-still-so-optimistic/amp/ I don't think it explains 'why', to be honest. It seems to be blind faith. Good luck to them, and hope they're right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 13 hours ago, Ulysses said: Ah Jaysus, Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 22 minutes ago, Jim_Duncan said: I don't think it explains 'why', to be honest. It seems to be blind faith. Good luck to them, and hope they're right. "They know that Russia can’t win a war that is costing it 1,000 deaths a day. They know that Putin’s regime is far weaker than it seems. Finally, Ukrainians also know that, to win, they need only to outlast the Russians — which they know they can, not because of some magical belief in resilience and victory, but because the alternative to outlasting the Russians is being exterminated by the Russians." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pap Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Another SU-35 apparently shot down. Why are so many getting shot down recently? @Cade They've had Patriots for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class of 75 Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Just seen the stats. Russia has lost 84% of pre war military personnel. They have lost 315,000 in Ukraine. Unbelievable, yet still this clown is in power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlandjambo3 Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 1 minute ago, Pap said: Another SU-35 apparently shot down. Why are so many getting shot down recently? @Cade They've had Patriots for ages. Might be those jet thingamabobbys they were getting they’ve now got them with decent air to air missiles. I mean it’s is (was) all over the news about Ukrainian getting a handful of these……the jets issue has gone quiet now, why would you shout it from the rooftops. Not itk, just a guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 14 minutes ago, Pap said: Another SU-35 apparently shot down. Why are so many getting shot down recently? @Cade They've had Patriots for ages. The Ukrainians bulk ordered some corkscrews and kebab pies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 25 minutes ago, Pap said: Another SU-35 apparently shot down. Why are so many getting shot down recently? They've had Patriots for ages. Ukraine are getting better equipment basically air defence not all publicised and maybe getting better at using it and better intelligence. But Russia is mounting more air attacks to support its ground attacks. So there is another side to this story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Duncan Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 41 minutes ago, Dirty Deeds said: "They know that Russia can’t win a war that is costing it 1,000 deaths a day. They know that Putin’s regime is far weaker than it seems. Finally, Ukrainians also know that, to win, they need only to outlast the Russians — which they know they can, not because of some magical belief in resilience and victory, but because the alternative to outlasting the Russians is being exterminated by the Russians." That feels like wishful thinking and hope rather than anything concrete. Hopefully it translates into victory, in some shape or form. This isn't going to end like anyone hopes, I'd predict. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Deeds Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 12 minutes ago, Jim_Duncan said: That feels like wishful thinking and hope rather than anything concrete. Hopefully it translates into victory, in some shape or form. This isn't going to end like anyone hopes, I'd predict. The point is that those who are living through the war are more optimistic than us watching on the sidelines. Many Ukrainians lived through the Soviet era and know Russia well. They are better placed to judge than us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 1 hour ago, Pap said: Another SU-35 apparently shot down. Why are so many getting shot down recently? @Cade They've had Patriots for ages. It's very hard to say. Officially they only have 3 Patriot systems. 1 is protecting Kyiv. The other 2 are somewhere else. Germany has said it'll send a more mobile version of Patriot, so this could be an answer. Or it could be that without the AWACs support, the Russian air force is lacking early warning of incoming anti-air missiles. Or it could be F-16s already in the air in Ukraine, but this is the least likely reason. It could be that the Russians are running out of artillery pieces (due to lack of barrels) and having to use air support in the artillery role, exposing them to more anti aircraft fire. Or just that they're flying more missions right now in order to give Putin's election chances a boost (as if he needs that). Or it could be that Ukraine have come up with another clever tactic to bring the Russian jets into a kill zone. Pick yer poison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pap Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 1 minute ago, Cade said: It's very hard to say. Officially they only have 3 Patriot systems. 1 is protecting Kyiv. The other 2 are somewhere else. Germany has said it'll send a more mobile version of Patriot, so this could be an answer. Or it could be that without the AWACs support, the Russian air force is lacking early warning of incoming anti-air missiles. Or it could be F-16s already in the air in Ukraine, but this is the least likely reason. It could be that the Russians are running out of artillery pieces (due to lack of barrels) and having to use air support in the artillery role, exposing them to more anti aircraft fire. Or just that they're flying more missions right now in order to give Putin's election chances a boost (as if he needs that). Or it could be that Ukraine have come up with another clever tactic to bring the Russian jets into a kill zone. Pick yer poison. Cheers. A lot of nice food for thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hagar the Horrible Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 2 hours ago, Pap said: Another SU-35 apparently shot down. Why are so many getting shot down recently? @Cade They've had Patriots for ages. Putin is furious, that plane was carrying next years election results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pap Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 The Terminator 2 theme tune played as Navalny's coffin was lowered into the ground. Pretty cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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