Originally Posted By Illegible_Signature:
As an old-timer with a low post count, I apologize for all the other similar old accounts that have apparently been hacked, or if not, the original user is showing early signs of dementia.

The accordion and 'machine spirit' post was hilarious and probably not understood by the majority of posters here.

Carry on.

Originally Posted By dewoitine:
Posting again after a few months/year but I don't want to see my inactive account claimed by a Russian Troll

French Caesars (155mm arty on a truck) are now in Ukrainian hands.

#Ukraine: HQ Video of the French CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzer in the hands of the Ukrainian Army. 12 of these systems should now be in use. pic.twitter.com/t92u7rUBbl

— \uD83C\uDDFA\uD83C\uDDE6 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 25, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UrmxmzBgpc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76PQpCAc_ZU

Originally Posted By oswald01:


Excellent analysis. As well, the long game needs to be factored in. Putin is hoping through the process of de-natzification after hostlities end, whatever is left of Ukraine will seek to become a free standing nation, neutral (not a NATO member) with a minimal military that does not threaten Russia and seeks economic growth.

As Putin himself pointed out, Ukraine's living standard as part of the USSR was something like 3 times than that under the Western imposed oligarchs which only got worse after the 2014 coup. The huge impact of the 2014 coup was to bring the Nazis to the forefront both in political power and military power. At the start of the Russian SMO, about one half of Ukraine's military strength, 100,000 men, were in Nazi units who did not report to the Ukraine Military high command. These Nazi units were deployed in the East bordering the Donbas.

A primary Russian goal was to destroy the Ukraine Nazi units facing the Donbas with Mariupol being their headquarters. The primary military goal of the feint aspect of the initial movement toward Kiev was to draw away or at least minimize support for the Nazi units in the East and South. The political goal was to make an effort to present support for the regular Ukraine military to stage a coup. In addition, Putin could use this domestically to garner support. The Russian people see Ukrainians more as cousins so to speak rather than foreign enemies. That is, too heavy a hand initially would have played to foreign propaganda. Nevertheless, throughout the SMO Russia has sought to minimize civilian casualties not least because so far in the territory of the SMO the bulk of civilians are pro-Russian as opposed to the pro-West Kiev regime.

Finally, Putin can always point to this feint on Kiev as proof that the initial approach of the SMO was for it to be carried out with as little blood as possible. In the years ahead this could pay great dividends. The Russians are no "pikers" when it comes to expanding their empire.

Originally Posted By oswald01:


Excellent analysis. As well, the long game needs to be factored in. Putin is hoping through the process of de-natzification after hostlities end, whatever is left of Ukraine will seek to become a free standing nation, neutral (not a NATO member) with a minimal military that does not threaten Russia and seeks economic growth.

As Putin himself pointed out, Ukraine's living standard as part of the USSR was something like 3 times than that under the Western imposed oligarchs which only got worse after the 2014 coup. The huge impact of the 2014 coup was to bring the Nazis to the forefront both in political power and military power. At the start of the Russian SMO, about one half of Ukraine's military strength, 100,000 men, were in Nazi units who did not report to the Ukraine Military high command. These Nazi units were deployed in the East bordering the Donbas.

A primary Russian goal was to destroy the Ukraine Nazi units facing the Donbas with Mariupol being their headquarters. The primary military goal of the feint aspect of the initial movement toward Kiev was to draw away or at least minimize support for the Nazi units in the East and South. The political goal was to make an effort to present support for the regular Ukraine military to stage a coup. In addition, Putin could use this domestically to garner support. The Russian people see Ukrainians more as cousins so to speak rather than foreign enemies. That is, too heavy a hand initially would have played to foreign propaganda. Nevertheless, throughout the SMO Russia has sought to minimize civilian casualties not least because so far in the territory of the SMO the bulk of civilians are pro-Russian as opposed to the pro-West Kiev regime.

Finally, Putin can always point to this feint on Kiev as proof that the initial approach of the SMO was for it to be carried out with as little blood as possible. In the years ahead this could pay great dividends. The Russians are no "pikers" when it comes to expanding their empire.

Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
Ukrainian troops breaking out of Russian encirclement at Lyman.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/uybulm/armed_forces_of_ukraine_break_out_of_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Originally Posted By burnka871:



Pounding Mariopul to fucking rubble is saving civilians? Are you fucking kidding me?

Originally Posted By Dracster:
"Spouses from Kharkov saved from the war several dozen animals

During the evacuation in mid-April, Kharkiv residents Tatiana and Andrei removed more than 70 cats from their own private shelter.
In addition to them, they caught several other dogs and a guinea pig Pulka, which they came across in the basement of Kharkiv.
All animals were taken out in one minibus. It is said that there was no question of leaving anyone.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/48680/photo_2022-05-26_11-21-14_jpg-2397734.JPG

Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
Ukrainian troops breaking out of Russian encirclement at Lyman.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/uybulm/armed_forces_of_ukraine_break_out_of_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Originally Posted By Zhukov:
I'm finally reading the book "Sliding on the Snow Stone" by Andy Szpuk. It's his biography of growing up and hits you right in the gut at the start with the Holodomor, then goes into the German occupation. Whenever you think you had it bad, think about growing up with those two events defining your childhood.

https://imgv2-1-f.scribdassets.com/img/word_document/245400473/original/216x287/863b6fa522/1651544599?v=1

The reason I bring it up is because the author makes it CRYSTAL clear that they do not consider themselves Russian in any way, shape, or form. He calls them "Soviets" instead of Russians. He says of the Soviets and the Germans: "Why won't they leave us Ukrainians alone". Fierce Ukrainian loyalty is on display throughout. A very small selection of quotes:

"The Soviets showed no sense of justice. If anyone dared speak out against them, it was one of two things. The salt mines in Siberia, or a bullet to the back of the head."

"The Soviet Soldiers came back the next day and it was always the same routine. First of all, they searched all the houses and dwellings for food. They turned everything upside down. Any possible hiding place was invaded by prying Soviet fingers."

"To take food away from millions of people so that they starve to death is a crime of such a proportions that it cannot be seen as anything other than evil.

"Of course, the man broke down and it soon became clear. It was human meat. People were killing their own children and eating them."

"Whatever the Soviets did to us we had to keep our faith, and our identity as Ukrainians"

I think that should put the whole "But Ukraine has been part of Russia historically!" argument to rest once an for all.

Originally Posted By RolandofGilead:
What a babe.

#Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin arrived in #Irpin. pic.twitter.com/xGyCoq9CLp

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 26, 2022

Originally Posted By oswald01:


Excellent analysis. As well, the long game needs to be factored in. Putin is hoping through the process of de-natzification after hostlities end, whatever is left of Ukraine will seek to become a free standing nation, neutral (not a NATO member) with a minimal military that does not threaten Russia and seeks economic growth.

As Putin himself pointed out, Ukraine's living standard as part of the USSR was something like 3 times than that under the Western imposed oligarchs which only got worse after the 2014 coup. The huge impact of the 2014 coup was to bring the Nazis to the forefront both in political power and military power. At the start of the Russian SMO, about one half of Ukraine's military strength, 100,000 men, were in Nazi units who did not report to the Ukraine Military high command. These Nazi units were deployed in the East bordering the Donbas.

A primary Russian goal was to destroy the Ukraine Nazi units facing the Donbas with Mariupol being their headquarters. The primary military goal of the feint aspect of the initial movement toward Kiev was to draw away or at least minimize support for the Nazi units in the East and South. The political goal was to make an effort to present support for the regular Ukraine military to stage a coup. In addition, Putin could use this domestically to garner support. The Russian people see Ukrainians more as cousins so to speak rather than foreign enemies. That is, too heavy a hand initially would have played to foreign propaganda. Nevertheless, throughout the SMO Russia has sought to minimize civilian casualties not least because so far in the territory of the SMO the bulk of civilians are pro-Russian as opposed to the pro-West Kiev regime.

Finally, Putin can always point to this feint on Kiev as proof that the initial approach of the SMO was for it to be carried out with as little blood as possible. In the years ahead this could pay great dividends. The Russians are no "pikers" when it comes to expanding their empire.

Originally Posted By 1stID:



None that I've seen, even from pro-Ruskie Telegraph posters.

The Kiev front was one of 3 things:

1. A terrible miscalculation by Russia on how easy it was going to be to invade and take over Ukraine, compounded by bad equipment and tactics.

2. A feint, done merely to tie up Ukrainian forces who would be focused on protecting the capitol at all costs, while the other Russian forces moved into the east and south.

3. A gamble of a "Thunder Run", where a relatively small and not well supplied attack force makes a move on a capitol city, hoping the enemy will just fold up and run away (as happened in Baghdad in 2003), leaving the city to surrender.

Or maybe 3, with the benefit of causing 2.  I don't think anyone except the Russians know at this point, and please don't post some Smug Satisfaction! photo of a burned out Russian tank to try to prove it was scenario 1.  If amateurs talk strategy while professionals talk logistics, then novices post random pictures of destroyed equipment and try to say who's winning based on that.  

And it could be a mixture of all three - thinking the Thunder Run was going to be all that was needed, and then not even doing a very good job supporting a slimmed down attack force, while consoling themselves on it tying up forces elsewhere.  Note in the Winter War with Finland, it was unclear if Russia ever really wanted to try to take Helsinki and was stopped, or if they had no plans to go that far.  

In any case, it's unlikely that Russia will try another move on Kiev.  Odessa would be a more achievable target at this point, and one that Russia could feel they could take without upping the stakes with NATO, as with as much political investment as NATO countries have put into Ukraine, they can't allow Kiev to be taken over at this point.  Odessa would be more in line with the long game that Putin has shown elsewhere, such as in Syria, where Russia slowly and gradually helped Assad destroy his enemies.  

Taking Odessa would cut off Ukraine from the sea, leaving it to rely on antiquated rail and road systems from what I've read, for trade.  It would cripple the countries economy, leaving it a vassal, beggar state relying on NATO and the EU (which might not be a bad thing in the eyes of Ukraine's ruling elite - more foreign money to steal).  

But Russia has made no serious move on Odessa yet.  They seem to be concentrating their forces in the east, and will probably grind Ukraine down there.  If Ukraine is sufficiently weakened from a loss in the east, then maybe Russia make a move on Odessa.  We shall see how things progress in the next month.

Originally Posted By GTLandser:


JFC people, fucking relax. How far was the Russian advance to seize Severodonetsk? 10-15km?

It's 250km to Dnipro. So at their present rate of advance, they'll get there in...18 months?

It is foolish to fight for every km of ground. The Ukrainians will do what any military would do when faced with a numerical disadvantage avoid encirclement and withdraw to the next defensible piece of terrain, and/or shorten and consolidate their lines until any numerical advantage is mitigated. The Russians have proven completely incapable of sustaining deep advances into Ukrainian territory, and every advance creates a vulnerable flank.

This has been done in warfare since the time of sharp sticks. The Ukrainians will be fine.

Originally Posted By lorazepam:

They run their mouths a lot. Nobody gives a shit what they say now.

Originally Posted By Illegible_Signature:
As an old-timer with a low post count, I apologize for all the other similar old accounts that have apparently been hacked, or if not, the original user is showing early signs of dementia.

The accordion and 'machine spirit' post was hilarious and probably not understood by the majority of posters here.

Carry on.