The Russians have gone in
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Great article from Saturday's Washington Post on the shortcomings and blunders of Russia's military. (Gifted to the Forum.)
I must admit to laughing out loud when I read that field commanders are being fired...the one guy who really needs to be fired won't be...
https://wapo.st/38FF1ji
I must admit to laughing out loud when I read that field commanders are being fired...the one guy who really needs to be fired won't be...
https://wapo.st/38FF1ji
From the link above:
• ...Russia retains considerable combat power available in Ukraine, the U.S. defense official warned, but "you've got to have the will to fight, you have to have good leadership, you have to have command and control." Russia, he said, is "suffering" as a result of these and other shortcomings...
• ..."Once it has been abundantly demonstrated that they don't give a **** about their people, they get it," Boston said of Russian soldiers. "It's hard not to notice."...
• ...Russia retains considerable combat power available in Ukraine, the U.S. defense official warned, but "you've got to have the will to fight, you have to have good leadership, you have to have command and control." Russia, he said, is "suffering" as a result of these and other shortcomings...
• ..."Once it has been abundantly demonstrated that they don't give a **** about their people, they get it," Boston said of Russian soldiers. "It's hard not to notice."...
Yes, but the Chinese tires are flat.
Hindsight being 20/20, the Russians shouldn't have destroyed that Antonov 225 after all.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Speaking of Russian losses, a commander of a Russian army assault company, Adam Khamkhoev, who is the nephew of the Deputy Chief of the Russian Defense Ministry, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, was killed in a battle in Ukraine on the night of May 21.
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In any military, soldiers pledge to serve their countries, even at risk to their lives...but their governments have a corresponding obligation not to take their lives and service for granted, and not to sacrifice them in the name of an unjust, illegal, or immoral cause.
It's hard to imagine how much blood is on Putin's hands. Suffice it to say that his place in history alongside Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Hitler is assured.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
A Russian diplomat in Geneva publicly resigned today, and posted his letter of resignation online.
"My name is Boris Bondarev, in the MFA of Russia since 2002, since 2019 until now – Counsellor of the Russian Mission to the UN Office at Geneva.
For twenty years of my diplomatic career I have seen different turns of our foreign policy, but never have I been so ashamed of my country as on February 24 of this year. The aggressive war unleashed by Putin against Ukraine, and in fact against the entire Western world, is not only a crime against the Ukrainian people, but also, perhaps, the most serious crime against the people of Russia, with a bold letter Z crossing out all hopes and prospects for a prosperous free society in our country.
Those who conceived this war want only one thing – to remain in power forever, live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian Navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity. To achieve that they are willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have already died just for this.
I regret to admit that over all these twenty years the level of lies and unprofessionalism in the work of the Foreign Ministry has been increasing all the time. However, in most recent years, this has become simply catastrophic. Instead of unbiased information, impartial analysis and sober forecasting, there are propaganda cliches in the spirit of Soviet newspapers of the 1930s. A system has been built that deceives itself.
Minister Lavrov is a good illustration of the degradation of this system. In 18 years, he went from a professional and educated intellectual, whom many colleagues held in such high esteem, to a person who constantly broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world (that is, Russia too) with nuclear weapons!
Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not about diplomacy. It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred. It serves interests of few, the very few people thus contributing to further isolation and degradation of my country. Russia no longer has allies, and there is no one to blame but its reckless and ill-conceived policy.
I studied to be a diplomat and have been a diplomat for twenty years. The Ministry has become my home and family. But I simply cannot any longer share in this bloody, witless and absolutely needless ignominy."
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"My name is Boris Bondarev, in the MFA of Russia since 2002, since 2019 until now – Counsellor of the Russian Mission to the UN Office at Geneva.
For twenty years of my diplomatic career I have seen different turns of our foreign policy, but never have I been so ashamed of my country as on February 24 of this year. The aggressive war unleashed by Putin against Ukraine, and in fact against the entire Western world, is not only a crime against the Ukrainian people, but also, perhaps, the most serious crime against the people of Russia, with a bold letter Z crossing out all hopes and prospects for a prosperous free society in our country.
Those who conceived this war want only one thing – to remain in power forever, live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian Navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity. To achieve that they are willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have already died just for this.
I regret to admit that over all these twenty years the level of lies and unprofessionalism in the work of the Foreign Ministry has been increasing all the time. However, in most recent years, this has become simply catastrophic. Instead of unbiased information, impartial analysis and sober forecasting, there are propaganda cliches in the spirit of Soviet newspapers of the 1930s. A system has been built that deceives itself.
Minister Lavrov is a good illustration of the degradation of this system. In 18 years, he went from a professional and educated intellectual, whom many colleagues held in such high esteem, to a person who constantly broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world (that is, Russia too) with nuclear weapons!
Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not about diplomacy. It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred. It serves interests of few, the very few people thus contributing to further isolation and degradation of my country. Russia no longer has allies, and there is no one to blame but its reckless and ill-conceived policy.
I studied to be a diplomat and have been a diplomat for twenty years. The Ministry has become my home and family. But I simply cannot any longer share in this bloody, witless and absolutely needless ignominy."
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I think that Mr. Boris Bondarev has guts, and that it would serve him well to defect to somewhere in the Western World for his own preservation as soon as possible.
Barring that, he may well be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life - and that may not be long.
May God bless him for his courage and honesty.
John
Barring that, he may well be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life - and that may not be long.
May God bless him for his courage and honesty.
John
Boris Bondarev is a stand up guy. I applaud his bravery and hope that he and his family can remain safe.
The best and the brightest of young Russians have left or are leaving their country. Putin has destroyed Russia's future.
WaPo write up here: https://wapo.st/3lzPVtI
The best and the brightest of young Russians have left or are leaving their country. Putin has destroyed Russia's future.
WaPo write up here: https://wapo.st/3lzPVtI
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bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Truck mounted Harpoon ground launched anti-ship missile systems from Denmark are going to Ukraine.
Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles Headed To Ukraine From Denmark | The Drive
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Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles Headed To Ukraine From Denmark | The Drive
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Oh, those are gonna leave a mark
UncleEd
Member
And the trouble with countries
without decent futures is that
the worst of the worst take over
and still manage to make money
providing havens for criminals.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group held a virtual meeting today. Four more nations joined the group today, bringing the total number committed to Ukraine assistance to 47 nations. 20 nations announced new aid going to Ukraine.
An interesting trend has developed among some nations in this group called "Circular Exports". Countries that have stockpiles of Soviet arms systems, which the Ukrainians are already trained for, are exporting them to Ukraine, while the donors accept more modern replacement arms from NATO suppliers. This method of supplying aid should leave the allied donors with more effective militaries unified around NATO standards.
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An interesting trend has developed among some nations in this group called "Circular Exports". Countries that have stockpiles of Soviet arms systems, which the Ukrainians are already trained for, are exporting them to Ukraine, while the donors accept more modern replacement arms from NATO suppliers. This method of supplying aid should leave the allied donors with more effective militaries unified around NATO standards.
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I read today that our M777, Triple Seven, howitzers are now being used to good effect by the Ukrainians. The bottleneck remains training, but they're getting there.
Have yet to read of the Ukrainians using the German Panzerhaubitze 2000. That bad boy sounds like a beast. Training in Germany started earlier this month.
Have yet to read of the Ukrainians using the German Panzerhaubitze 2000. That bad boy sounds like a beast. Training in Germany started earlier this month.
"Novichok, Novichok;
That's our brand;
If that can't kill'em,
Polonium can!" - Ode to Putin the PoisonerTM
That's our brand;
If that can't kill'em,
Polonium can!" - Ode to Putin the PoisonerTM
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Russian-Speaking Technologists Rebuild Their Lives in a San Francisco Home
(Free) NY Times article here
They moved from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries for jobs in the technology industry. Now they are joined by friends fleeing war and repression.
(Free) NY Times article here
They moved from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries for jobs in the technology industry. Now they are joined by friends fleeing war and repression.
....Mr. Doronichev and his housemates are unwilling to work with anyone who remains in the country. He also knows that if he keeps employees in the country, he cannot speak out against Mr. Putin or the war, for fear those employees will be targeted by the Russian government. "Any employee you have in Russia is a hostage," he said. "They prevent you from speaking your mind."...
Lots more trouble in the Donbas.
The easternmost part of the Ukrainian-held Donbas pocket, the city of Sievierodonetsk on the east bank of the Siverskiy Donets river and its twin Lysychansk on the west bank, have become the pivotal battlefield there, with Russian forces advancing from three directions to encircle them.
"The enemy has focused its efforts on carrying out an offensive in order to encircle Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk," said Serhiy Gaidai, governor of Luhansk province, where the two cities are among the last territory still held by Ukraine. Russia launches assault to encircle Ukraine troops in east | Reuters
The easternmost part of the Ukrainian-held Donbas pocket, the city of Sievierodonetsk on the east bank of the Siverskiy Donets river and its twin Lysychansk on the west bank, have become the pivotal battlefield there, with Russian forces advancing from three directions to encircle them.
"The enemy has focused its efforts on carrying out an offensive in order to encircle Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk," said Serhiy Gaidai, governor of Luhansk province, where the two cities are among the last territory still held by Ukraine. Russia launches assault to encircle Ukraine troops in east | Reuters
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