Russia says nearly 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol steel plant have surrendered
The Azovstal plant was the last bastion of resistance in Mariupol. Ukrainian authorities are hoping for a prisoner swap.
www.lemonde.fr
Things are heating up in the Donbass
- Thread starter holdover
- Start date
www.lemonde.fr
Don't believe this for one hot second.
That $40bil is only going to line the pockets of these anti-American asshats who managed to steal our government, and to cover up previous corruption and graft. Not one red cent will be used to prepare for anything.
BerettaGuy
.308 Win
I wonder if the female soldiers in Ukraine act like this?
Don't touch me! Get out of my "air"?
WT actual F!
This looks like a National Guard outfit.
Either way, the commanders obviously don't want to go back and repeat inclusion and sensitivity training.
Toxic Feministulinity.
Don't touch me! Get out of my "air"?
WT actual F!
This looks like a National Guard outfit.
Either way, the commanders obviously don't want to go back and repeat inclusion and sensitivity training.
Toxic Feministulinity.
spat
.950 JDJ
We have the upper hand today.
Delays favor China, not us.
Every year they get stronger and we get weaker.
Right now we could wipe the floor with both of then.
In another decade, maybe not so much.
Blimey
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Western provisioning of Ukraine has had a remarkably positive effect on its protection. Ukraine wants to keep Ukraine Ukraine and so does the West. By all accounts (particularly Russia's!) Ukraine has done a great job. No reason to think it will not continue to do so, as Russia hemorrhages people and equipment it cannot backfill.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Someone in the administration must have done a cost-benefit analysis and decided that these weapons can be used by our proxies (read: Ukrainians) to do more damage to Russia than the weapons are worth.
spat
.950 JDJ
More like the DOD contractors are salivating at the possibility of building the replacement weapons and are pulling every string they have to ship everything and the kitchen sink over there.
This war is the wet dream for people like the board of Raytheon.
Seriously.
Find a way to Keep selling and then replacing high priced weapons systems... Check
Keep the income stream open as long as possible..... Check
Let other people do the dying..... Check
Claim positive PR that you are helping fight the bully.... Check
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1341
.45 acp
She must be doing double duty, because she was trying to sell me a extended car warranty earlier today. The only difference was she told me her name was Teasha and she was in Newark.
Russia's ruble is the strongest currency in the world this year
After its value plunged to less than a U.S. penny, the ruble is now trading 40% higher than before Russia attacked Ukraine. Why?
www.cbsnews.com
Russia’s Oil Revenues Are Soaring
At least one area of Russia's budget has improved from the fallout of its invasion of Ukraine.
www.forbes.com
Russia oil revenue up 50% despite sanctions, IEA says
Despite working on a Russian crude import ban, the EU remained the top market for oil exports in April, the IEA said.
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holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
Yes it did without question.. the support from the west has made all the difference. The experts were shocked, as well as the Russians.
but its not going to last forever.The Russians are stomping the living shit out of them in the Donbass , like I predicted, because they shortened thier own supply lines and extended the Ukrainian supply lines . they then cut the bridges behind them . they launched a 30 day artillery and air campaign to destroy Uki ware house and supply depots , rail yards . The Ukrainians are having a lot of trouble resupplying and moving equipment supplys around the country. A lot of Ukrainian units were forced to surrender in the donbass because they had no supplys.
Contrary to popular belief, the Uki airforce is at 25% or less, thier armor is at 50% or less. The Russians are now able to jam GPS . So anything useing GPS for targeting is useless, like the switchblade drones , or the excaliber artillery rounds . Zelensky said hes losing hundreds of troops per day. Russians says its over a thousand . You can send them more weapons but you cant send them more Ukrainians.
Russia can suck up the losses and still fight. Ukraine cant.
Ukraine just launched an Offensive in the south near Kershon. It going to fail as sure as my name is holdover. They simply dont have the numbers or the replacements to continue forward.
The way I see it, the Russians are going to dig in on the don river swing around to the south and north because Most of your rivers are running that way , not as many river crossings for them and they can punish the ukrainians that try to cross to reinforce the areas .
Any how, Your going to see the Ukraianans get thier asses kicked real soon. lets see where we are next month. the weapons alone arnt going to do it.
spat
.950 JDJ
Even if Putin is having dinner in Kiev this time next week, the damage to Russia is immeasurable.
The economic damage is second only to the damage to their prestige. 6 months ago they had one of the most respected militaries on the planet.
That is no longer remotely the case.
How you typed "re-emerging as a superpower" with a straight face is beyond me.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Does that mean in order to save face and burnish their reputation the Red Army is going to have to get more brutal to prove their effectiveness? Is Russia going to use its bomber forces to go "scorched earth" in Ukraine?
spat
.950 JDJ
Too late for that.
They have been proven to be impotent. Even dragging out some tactical nukes at this point won't get them their respect back. It will just make them look crazier.
In January it was widely believed that they had the 2nd most powerful military on the planet.
Now many people think they have the 2nd most powerful military in Ukraine.
Now, that's not a fair comparison, they are clearly far more powerful than the Ukrainian military, but that is the perception.
They are going to end up the butt of the same jokes as France. Instead of cheese eating surrender monkeys it'll be vodka swilling chumps or something like that.
They went from a contender for heavyweight champion to scrappy doo.
As for the actual military power difference, we'll,
Kiev may or may not fall before the end of the summer, but nobody thinks Moscow is at risk.
spat
.950 JDJ
Don't know about you, but I "feel" safer knowing fUSA.Mil has such quality troops.
Wonder hiw many Article 15s there were in 1:10 min.
holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
They have been damaged somewhat , Ill give you that, but not as bad as you think. A lot of what we are being told is absolute bullshit.
the population of Russia is around 150 million people. the fake news media is making claims that they are drafting 50 year old men to fight. After supposedly loseing around 50,000 men which is also bullshit. but lets say thats correct The pool of fighting age men is in the millions
Their prestige is damaged too Ill give you that, but recoverable. The leadership of the Russian army made a lot of bad mistakes, they really fucked the pooch . But they are turning things around now.
Economically, they are doing fine, hard to believe, but they are. the Russian ruble is the strongest its been in years
Gasoline Prices in Russia increased to 0.88 USD/Liter in May from 0.69 USD/Liter in April of 2022.
Russian Stocks Rebound
Russia Manufacturing Returns to Growth
Russian 10-Year Bond Yield at Over 15-Week Low
Russia Central Bank Cuts Key Rate by 300bps to 11%
Russian Producer Inflation at 11-Month High
Ruble Holds Close to 7-Year High
Russian Economy Expands 3.5% in Q1
Russia April Inflation Rate Highest Since 2002
Russia Economy to Contract Up to 12% in 2022
Russia Services Shrink at Softer Pace
Russia Gasoline Prices
Gasoline Prices in Russia decreased to 0.83 USD/Liter in November from 0.84 USD/Liter in October of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Russia Gasoline Prices - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar...
tradingeconomics.com
The thing some of you guys dont realize is that the media lies terribly about the situation there. If you want a decent situation report You have to look at the numbers , you have to look at the map, and you have to look at the situation on the ground at the moment as best you can.
Look at the Map. and tell me whos winning. Russia has taken over everything in the eastern Ukraine and holding it. Does it sound like they are losing? they have a standing army of over 1 million men Most of which hasnt been used . They out number the Ukrainians in everything.
The Ukrainian military has taken severe losses, their armor is depleted, their air force almost non existent. They are completely dependent on the west for weapons . A lot of units are at exhaustion and under strength.
The offensive in the south near Kershon is going to fail . Why? they simply dont have the numbers , A proper offensive requires at least 3 to 1 advantage, and the fact that Russians are going to be defending not attacking . The artillery advantage of the Russians in the south are going to utterly destroy thier attacks . Mark what Im telling you, you wont hear a thing about by next week .
One way or the other the Ukrainians are going to have to sede the eastern part of Ukraine to Russia whether by choice or by force, but they dont have the means to recover it. Hate to admit it ,but Kissenger was right. If they wait to much longer the Russians may not bother with a cease fire.
My guess is the Russians will dig in on the Don river for a while , rest and refit , move in fresh troops , and continue softening with artillery strikes for the next 2-4 weeks . They might try pressing the attack ,if they have the reserves , but crossing that Don is going to be a mother fucker, they most likely look for an easier route around.
holdover
.475 A&M Magnum
I agree with most of it, They are not what they were painted to be . But they are going to win this in the end.
Someone predicted this early in this thread.
With Ukraine being "Corruptions-R-Us" it was almost a given.
Europol Warns Weapons Shipped To Ukraine Could Be Used By "Criminal Groups" For Years | ZeroHedge
Afghanistan stands out as an example - how long before the Taliban begin to flog some of military gear left there by Zhou Bia-Den's "withdrawal".
Hell, I wouldn't wonder if there are still Stinger missiles around we gave to the mujihadeen to fight the USSR.
With Ukraine being "Corruptions-R-Us" it was almost a given.
Europol Warns Weapons Shipped To Ukraine Could Be Used By "Criminal Groups" For Years | ZeroHedge
Afghanistan stands out as an example - how long before the Taliban begin to flog some of military gear left there by Zhou Bia-Den's "withdrawal".
Hell, I wouldn't wonder if there are still Stinger missiles around we gave to the mujihadeen to fight the USSR.
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You mean Donets river, not Don river. They are connected, but Don is in Russian Federation.
Cavalry
.338 Win Mag
Are they bringing up cannibalism from 90 years ago or something current?
They have been damaged somewhat , Ill give you that, but not as bad as you think. A lot of what we are being told is absolute bullshit.
the population of Russia is around 150 million people. the fake news media is making claims that they are drafting 50 year old men to fight. After supposedly loseing around 50,000 men which is also bullshit. but lets say thats correct The pool of fighting age men is in the millions
Their prestige is damaged too Ill give you that, but recoverable. The leadership of the Russian army made a lot of bad mistakes, they really fucked the pooch . But they are turning things around now.
Economically, they are doing fine, hard to believe, but they are. the Russian ruble is the strongest its been in years
Gasoline Prices in Russia increased to 0.88 USD/Liter in May from 0.69 USD/Liter in April of 2022.
Russian Stocks Rebound
Russia Manufacturing Returns to Growth
Russian 10-Year Bond Yield at Over 15-Week Low
Russia Central Bank Cuts Key Rate by 300bps to 11%
Russian Producer Inflation at 11-Month High
Ruble Holds Close to 7-Year High
Russian Economy Expands 3.5% in Q1
Russia April Inflation Rate Highest Since 2002
Russia Economy to Contract Up to 12% in 2022
Russia Services Shrink at Softer Pace
Russia Gasoline Prices
Gasoline Prices in Russia decreased to 0.83 USD/Liter in November from 0.84 USD/Liter in October of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Russia Gasoline Prices - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar...
The thing some of you guys dont realize is that the media lies terribly about the situation there. If you want a decent situation report You have to look at the numbers , you have to look at the map, and you have to look at the situation on the ground at the moment as best you can.
Look at the Map. and tell me whos winning. Russia has taken over everything in the eastern Ukraine and holding it. Does it sound like they are losing? they have a standing army of over 1 million men Most of which hasnt been used . They out number the Ukrainians in everything.
The Ukrainian military has taken severe losses, their armor is depleted, their air force almost non existent. They are completely dependent on the west for weapons . A lot of units are at exhaustion and under strength.
The offensive in the south near Kershon is going to fail . Why? they simply dont have the numbers , A proper offensive requires at least 3 to 1 advantage, and the fact that Russians are going to be defending not attacking . The artillery advantage of the Russians in the south are going to utterly destroy thier attacks . Mark what Im telling you, you wont hear a thing about by next week .
One way or the other the Ukrainians are going to have to sede the eastern part of Ukraine to Russia whether by choice or by force, but they dont have the means to recover it. Hate to admit it ,but Kissenger was right. If they wait to much longer the Russians may not bother with a cease fire.
My guess is the Russians will dig in on the Don river for a while , rest and refit , move in fresh troops , and continue softening with artillery strikes for the next 2-4 weeks . They might try pressing the attack ,if they have the reserves , but crossing that Don is going to be a mother fucker, they most likely look for an easier route around.
One thing I think is that both sides are chronically under reporting their losses.
I believe it's entirely possible or likely Russia has well over 50,000 casualties to this point. Just ball parking how much equipment they have lost, how many units are rumored to be destroyed, how many generals dead, cruisers sunk, paratroopers shot down, helicopters lost, armored infantry units etc...
Russia lost a crap ton while they were "learning" how to fight a modern battlefield against a combat experienced enemy with advanced western weapons.
However any advantage the ukies had in the initial weeks is slipping away. They are now being pounded and are being ground down in a war of attrition. As Ukraine loses more of their better experienced units their roles will be replaced by "national guard" which largely consists of dudes off the street of various physical abilities given rifles and a week of training now going up against a combat experienced and hardened Russian army. The losses will become increasingly lopsided against Ukraine.
Ukraines air force is now combat ineffective and has been degraded.
Ukraine may well lose 1000+ casualties a day going forward.
Ukraine is going to be in pain the longer this drags on. Even with advanced western weapons they will need competent trained units capable of employing them.
Russia is getting stronger now as Ukraine gets weaker.
Blimey
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Russia is not stomping the shit out of them, though. They are slowly making ground in donbas and suffering severe losses. There is a good reason to believe Russia will run out of juice with this before Ukraine. The former has no ability to replenish its combat machinery and the latter does.
Ukraine may fail in Kherson but it already kicked the barbarians out of kyiv and kharkiv as well. There can be no doubt russia's scope in this invasion has been substantially curtailed.
Long story short Russia is a terror state perpetrating a genocide. I am more than happy for my tax dollars to continue--and at an increasing pace--contribute to the death of russians invading ukraine. This is a very simple moral issue for me. They are a force of evil, obliterating towns and letting their army of monsters rape and pillage along the way. If Ukraine wants weapons to defend against the orc horde I am pleased to see us help.
IMO this is strictly my .02 cents.
I think Russia failed in kyiv and Kharkiv because they were expecting to largely be welcomed and face only minor resistance.
Once their initial recon/paratrooper/spetsnaz forces were unable to attain their objectives it became clear that initial strategy wasn't going to work. And they weren't going to get kyiv or karkiv at that time.
IMO they then claimed that was all just a ruse/feint anyway and it wasn't their strategy (even though it really was) so their generals regrouped, learned and then shifted their focus to the south.
(Not to get off topic but I have a problem watching our country's economy go to crap while politicians sending billions upon billions of dollars that would help here to Ukraine instead)
Blimey
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Ukraine is up for debate but russia is getting weaker. Remember back in february people thought russia was holding some reserve of crack units? Instead they are now sending in T62s and giving conscripts century-old rifles. Their economy is proper fucked and with sanctions across the board they cannot replenish their machinery as quickly as it is depleted.
Their energy economy will be just fine. They will always have buyers for their natural resources.
Unfortunately they are never coming back into the fold and cooperating with Europe again. That's over. Europes energy needs are "kaput".
Im awaiting to see what happens in the next 3 months before I really know what Russia is going to do. I can't figure them out for the life of me. Who knows what will happen. Poland is rumored to be going to get ready to send peacekeepers into western Ukraine. Who knows what happens with Finland and Sweden. I don't think this is over by a long shot and I don't want to under estimate Russia just yet. (who knows with Xi is going to do either).
We may be looking at a scenario where ww3 has started we just don't realize it yet. It's reminiscent of poland 1939 again
ManualF150
.308 Win
I can't figure them out for the life of me.
^^
That is the point. All of this is a game plan for confusion. That is exactly how games are played and wars are fought. Hence wargames. (I know there is a '83 movie on it... heck maybe 2023 will be the frontier of it all...)
Russia, China, and North Korea combined have a great arsenal, and leaders that are frankly waiting for the right moment to escalate the situation on their behalf to "justify" using more lethal force. Do you really think Putin or any of them care? Nope, I could tell by some of the reactions of Putin especially, he can't hide his pissed off emotions. His blood pressure is boiling with the US and Europe/NATO right now. I can tell.
Russian state television Channel 1 said that world war 3 has already started, and that the war in Ukraine, which was a rehearsal for a 'bigger conflict' in the future.
To add to all of this, I have reason to believe that Russia and China were behind COVID as the fuse to set it all off to start the shakeup of the world.
All I can say, is that I recommend getting your priorities straight, and your households in order for what could come...
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