Things are heating up in the Donbass

[tirwin1]

Satellite images show how 'Russian cemeteries' have 'expanded'

The snaps, taken by private satellite company Maxar Technologies, show the final resting places for many of Russia's elite military units, including the Wagner Mercenary group, have multiplied in size.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Robin]

As long a Putin gets what Putin wants, damn the people and full speed ahead. Besides, they have a lot of new real estate for planting stones.
Robin

 

[MothMan]

Is there a compare and contrast to Ukrainian military grave yards?

 

[Vinson57]

https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/atp7-100-1.pdf

 

[MothMan]

Putin secures 5th term as Russian president in election with no real opposition, addresses Navalny death

Russian President Vladimir Putin secured his sixth term in an election with no real opposition on Monday, also commenting on Alexei Navalny's death.

www.foxnews.com

 

[holdover]

After having lost city after city, and retreating, Low on weapons, ammo, and soldiers Ukraine is kicking the living shit out of the Russians they claim .



KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its invasion.

31,000 Ukrainian troops killed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

apnews.com

As of March 1, 2024, Russian combat losses amount to 414,680 troops, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

General Staff: Russia has lost 414,680 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

This number includes 920 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

www.yahoo.com

Desperate for soldiers, Ukraine weighs unpopular plan to expand the draft

As the war enters its third year, the most urgent and politically sensitive challenge is whether Ukraine can muster enough new soldiers to repel an enemy with far more fighters.

apnews.com

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Reinforcements are on the way. The next group of people they rounded up and threw into vans will receive their 2 weeks of training and be ready for the front

 

[Mosinitis]

Putin secures 5th term as Russian president in election with no real opposition, addresses Navalny death

Russian President Vladimir Putin secured his sixth term in an election with no real opposition on Monday, also commenting on Alexei Navalny's death.

www.foxnews.com

As if Novalny was a threat to defeat Putin, he polled just a few percentage points. Putin's popularity was demonstrated in every poll. The whole idea that Washington will get to pick Russian leaders is laughable.

 

[holdover]

Looks like Putin has no intent on taking all of Ukraine. https://twitter.com/sentdefender
https://twitter.com/sentdefender
https://twitter.com/sentdefender
https://twitter.com/sentdefender


OSINTdefender

@sentdefender

Following yesterday’s Victory Speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he stated a “Sanitary Zone” would need to be Established between Russia and Ukraine before the End of the War; the Kremlin has now announced that due to recent Ukrainian Drone Attacks and the Shelling of Russian Territory, the only way to provide Protection to the Russia Population would be the Construction of a “Buffer and/or Sanitary Zone” on the Ukrainian Border that would place Russian Regions beyond the Range of Ukrainian Fire.

Putin planning buffer zone around border with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was considering a plan to create a buffer zone between Ukrainian land and Russian border regions and Russian-held territory in Ukraine as the war settles in…

thehill.com

 

[Mosinitis]

A little antidote for Russophobic propaganda.

 

[spat]

After having lost city after city, and retreating, Low on weapons, ammo, and soldiers Ukraine is kicking the living shit out of the Russians they claim .



KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its invasion.

31,000 Ukrainian troops killed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in action in the two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

apnews.com

As of March 1, 2024, Russian combat losses amount to 414,680 troops, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

General Staff: Russia has lost 414,680 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

This number includes 920 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

www.yahoo.com

Desperate for soldiers, Ukraine weighs unpopular plan to expand the draft

As the war enters its third year, the most urgent and politically sensitive challenge is whether Ukraine can muster enough new soldiers to repel an enemy with far more fighters.

apnews.com

Well, they've held off the "unstoppable Russian juggernaut" for 2 years.

It was supposed to be a 2 week cake walk.

So, every day Putin isn't having dinner in Kiev, they're winning.

Bet you would have been a ray of sunshine during the battle of Britain too.

 

[Mosinitis]

Well, they've held off the "unstoppable Russian juggernaut" for 2 years.

It was supposed to be a 2 week cake walk.

So, every day Putin isn't having dinner in Kiev, they're winning.

Bet you would have been a ray of sunshine during the battle of Britain too.

When did Putin or any high ranking Russian official said it's going to take 2 weeks?

 

[spat]

When did Putin or any high ranking Russian official said it's going to take 2 weeks?

Well, right after rolling tanks into Ukraine he posted this.

It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force

I'm not sure he ever set a specific time frame. He certainly set an expectation that it would be quick.

His "special military operation" shares a lot with "2 weeks to flatten the curve".

 

[Mosinitis]

This 2 weeks taunt is being repeated over and over in the West. It was made up, Putin never said it.
If NATO didn't get progressively involved in the conflict as it promised, it would have been over long time ago.
This involvement ends up with Russia reclaiming more and more of its territory.

 

[holdover]

Well, right after rolling tanks into Ukraine he posted this.



I'm not sure he ever set a specific time frame. He certainly set an expectation that it would be quick.

His "special military operation" shares a lot with "2 weeks to flatten the curve".

It was actually western generals that expected it. they were ones on CNN saying if they attack it could be over in 2 weeks . Which I kinda thought too. I never dreamed it would take this long .

 

[Mosinitis]

Ukraine presents a medal to now famous Waffen SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka.

https://www.rt.com/russia/594520-ukraine-hunka-ternopol-medal/

 

[spat]

It was actually western generals that expected it. they were ones on CNN saying if they attack it could be over in 2 weeks . Which I kinda thought too. I never dreamed it would take this long .

I am sure if Putin knew what he was getting into he would have found something else to do.

 

[holdover]

Well, they've held off the "unstoppable Russian juggernaut" for 2 years.



Bet you would have been a ray of sunshine during the battle of Britain too.

They did well agaisnt the Russians, you cant take that from them .But they would have fell a long time ago if it wasnt for the west paying for thier entire goverment . Plus pensions, plus hundreds of billions of dollars in weapons training and aid .

And for a brief history lesson , the ""unstoppable Russian juggernaut" invaded Ukraine with only 190,000 troops vs a standing army in Ukraine of 700,000. The Russians planned on decapitating the government in Kiev in a short period of time. they anticipated ( wrongly)large parts of the Ukrainian military would welcome them and switch sides making for a short war. Obviously that didnt happen and they ran into a hornets nest . They became over extended against a Superior force .and were forced to give up a lot of gains. They needed a breather to recover and build an army and the war stagnated despite Ukraines attempts at counter offensives. Since that time Russia went on a(partial)war footing building new factorys and doubling the number of tanks it produced from 200 a month to 400 a month, they have produced a staggering number of drones and missiles, and they out produce the west in artillery and shells 150,000 a month vs 20,000 a month. They have triple the man power.

The writeing has been on the wall since the start. Ukraine will lose. and is loosing. When the next Russian offensive begins , Ukraine wont have the means to stop them . simple as that. I think it was karl Von Clauswitz who said you need to destroy the enemys ability to fight. Russia has achieved that with Ukraine.The Ukrainians have no ability to stop Russian production. It is now 100% dependent upon the west to fund and supply the war effort . they have massive shortages of weapons and ammo. The production rates are heavily in the favor of Russia now.Ukraine cannot strike at Russias ability to make weapons, and train troops.

the situation right now is that Ukraine has been falling back along the entire front , Russia has been capturing town after town.Ukraine is struggling to defend and is in no position to attack.

 

[holdover]

I am sure if Putin knew what he was getting into he would have found something else to do.

He had no choice. He went with the army he had.

 

[holdover]

Bet you would have been a ray of sunshine during the battle of Britain too.

I call em like I see em.

the battle of Britain was already lost , fighter command had only one weeks worth of fighters left . it was over.

The Germans had been bombing British airfields and factories , niether London nor Berlin was being bombed at this point . Sort of a gentlemans agreement . Call it an act of God or what you will , During a night bombing run against British airfields during a storm, German bombers mistakenly dropped thier bombs on London. The British , assuming it done on purpose, returned the favor the next night in a surprise bombing against Berlin. Hitler was furious and demanded that the Luftwaffe cease bombing air fields and radar stations and foucus on London, ( the blitz)

If it werent for a navigational mistake of the lead bomber , the Germans would have won the Battle of Britian.

 

[spat]

He had no choice. He went with the army he had.

Whether to go in at all or not was the choice he had, he chose poorly.

 

[holdover]

Whether to go in at all or not was the choice he had, he chose poorly.

Well history will judge that. I think he did the right thing.

 

[holdover]

Whether to go in at all or not was the choice he had, he chose poorly.

Do you think Russia loses this war?

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I am sure if Putin knew what he was getting into he would have found something else to do.

Disagree, he would have planned better for a decisive early victory. He put too much faith on Ukrainians laying down arms and not fighting.

I think he had shitty intelligence which ultimately doomed his strategy in the first 2 weeks. He probably was basing strategic decisions expecting some level of popular support that never occurred. The US was giving real time Intel to Ukraine to allow shootdowns of IL76s loaded with paratroopers etc.

It's not a clear cut story, there are a lot of layers to the onion to peel back. It will be a job for historians to sort out all the evidence and what happened.

If he actually committed the resources needed to take Kiev in the first week the war would be over And another half million people would still be alive. Remember all the running gun battles in the streets of Kiev between spetsnaz and Ukrainians? They almost took the city but didn't dedicate enough resources to it and initial NATO support was probably more effective than anticipated along with less local support.

That was the biggest blunder.

 

[spat]

Do you think Russia loses this war?

I think they lost it a year and a half ago.

*at best* they could eke out a Phyrric victory at this point.

A Phyrric victory is *not* a win.

What was Putin hoping to gain with this little adventure ?

If you said "stopping NATO expansion", then he's already failed miserably. All he managed to do was convince previously independent nations like Finland and Sweden to join.

 

[spat]

Disagree, he would have planned better for a decisive early victory. He put too much faith on Ukrainians laying down arms and not fighting.

I think he had shitty intelligence which ultimately doomed his strategy in the first 2 weeks. He probably was basing strategic decisions expecting some level of popular support that never occurred. The US was giving real time Intel to Ukraine to allow shootdowns of IL76s loaded with paratroopers etc.

It's not a clear cut story, there are a lot of layers to the onion to peel back. It will be a job for historians to sort out all the evidence and what happened.

If he actually committed the resources needed to take Kiev in the first week the war would be over And another half million people would still be alive. Remember all the running gun battles in the streets of Kiev between spetsnaz and Ukrainians? They almost took the city but didn't dedicate enough resources to it and initial NATO support was probably more effective than anticipated along with less local support.

That was the biggest blunder.

Oh, his intelligence failed him spectacularly, no doubt.

I think if he knew what he was getting into he wouldn't have gone in at all.

 

[holdover]

I think they lost it a year and a half ago.

*at best* they could eke out a Phyrric victory at this point.

A Phyrric victory is *not* a win.

Oh Wow. you think they already Lost and Ukraine is wining? Ok.

A Phyrric victory is still a victory. If everyone in Ukraine is killed and every structure leveled to the ground The Russians still gain all of ukraine territory all of its natural resources,all of its rivers , all of its ports , all of its strategic potential and locations , all of its farm lands. creates a 700 mile buffer zone between itself and NATO.

Russia invaded Ukraine for national security purposes, Not for territorial gains , the elimination of the NATO threat is itself a victory , that was the goal all along

Call it what you will, they won.

 

[holdover]

Oh, his intelligence failed him spectacularly, no doubt.

I think if he knew what he was getting into he wouldn't have gone in at all.

I feel like he had no choice, His army wasnt ready to invade but he had to move before Ukraine was part of NATO. which they were going to vote on in a few months . It was now or never. Once Ukraine joined NATO he could never get NATO troops and missiles out ever. If he was going to stop them he had to do it now. Ready or not.

 

[spat]

I feel like he had no choice, His army wasnt ready to invade but he had to move before Ukraine was part of NATO. which they were going to vote on in a few months . It was now or never. Once Ukraine joined NATO he could never get NATO troops and missiles out ever. If he was going to stop them he had to do it now. Ready or not.

Or, just let them join NATO.

The only thing he had to lose was his ability to invade eventually.

I understand he has visions of reforming the Soviet Union, and Ukranian NATO membership would put an end to that, but his choice was to face reality that that's never going to happen, or do what he did and get half a million people killed over some muddy farmland.

 

[spat]

Oh Wow. you think they already Lost and Ukraine is wining? Ok.

A Phyrric victory is still a victory. If everyone in Ukraine is killed and every structure leveled to the ground The Russians still gain all of ukraine territory all of its natural resources,all of its rivers , all of its ports , all of its strategic potential and locations , all of its farm lands. creates a 700 mile buffer zone between itself and NATO.

Russia invaded Ukraine for national security purposes, Not for territorial gains , the elimination of the NATO threat is itself a victory , that was the goal all along

Call it what you will, they won.

That's not what a Phyrric victory is.

If the *Russian* Military is destroyed in the process, *that's* a Phyrric victory.

What Russia has undoubtedly lost already is respect on the world stage. They used to be considered the second most powerful military on the planet.

Now most countries consider them a paper tiger. Even countries that hate the west have certainly lost respect for the Russian military.