Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Here's an aircraft to keep an eye on. It's a Tu-214ON. To the casual observer it looks like the usual TU-214 airliner/cargo variant, but its not. From Wiki:

The Tu-214ON is an observation version of the Tu-204-200, equipped for Treaty on Open Skies missions and built by Kazan Aircraft Production Association. Vega Radio Engineering Corporation was contracted for the development of airborne surveillance system, ground-based complex and other mission equipment for the aircraft. It is equipped with one A-84ON panoramic camera, one AK-111 topographic camera and two perspective AK-112 digital aerial cameras to capture high-resolution aerial photography.[22

It will be interesting to see its operations over the next few days. Its currently leaving Crimea. It is also powered by Rolls Royce engines, which the Russians may swap out for their own bypass variants.

TBH his country is under attack from an aggressive foe who is deliberately attacking and killing civilians I wouldn't blame him for those outbursts. As you say we don't have the military to give them any real help from the fighting side. We do have arms that they are using to good effect against the invaders and I believe we should pass those arms onto the Ukrainians who are in effect fighting for Europe here.

Our main job in Ireland is to provide a safe haven for the families of those who are fighting and I am proud to say we are stepping up to the mark on this. Personally we've offered a room in our home so I'm fully prepared to back my words up with actions.

I would say most people would understand the circumstances these comments were made in and also that the media have probably hyped them up a bit to sell papers or get clicks.

He's only saying that because it's 14 degrees today in Latvia 🙂

https://www.accuweather.com/en/lv/riga/225780/weather-forecast/225780

Wait until tomorrow when it's back down to 6 degrees for another few weeks

The EU and US can help build Ukraine. Whereas I think with Russia it is in our interests to make sure they would find it very difficult to do something like this again. Before anyone says anything I don't mean like Germany after WW1, not punishing reparations, occupying the Saarland, disassembling and carting off factories etc. No, simply discourage/prevent FDI from western countries, make it difficult for them to get certain advanced tech, encourage a brain drain by granting visas to younger highly educated people, particularly women. This will speed up their demographic problem. Russia/USSR was pretty good with heavy industry, but this war shows that producing large amounts of steel to assemble tanks is very 20C. Russia will struggle in the new era of smart weapons and I really don't see that changing.

I’d say a lot of East Europeans are as perplexed by our aversion to NATO as they are perplexed by britains aversion to the EU.

Wow, amazing if true. If it is will this spark a domino affect, will we see mutiny's? If so then a coup is surly just around the corner

A lot of higher ups are being killed. A lot. The theory from me was that they were getting whacked by the FSB for not following instructions. Maybe they are getting killed by "friendly fire".

This idea that the only thing Ukraine needs or wants is weapons is clearly ridiculous; and in particular the weapons and quantities that Ireland can provide.

There are tens of thousands of emergency workers also there working in horrific conditions but according to you the only thing that Ukraine needs is more weapons because sure that's going to kick Russia out immediately and solve every problem. Indeed Ireland's pittance of 100 Javelins will send Russia packing before the supplies even reach the country I'm sure; job done!

Maybe spare a thought for a medical workers who might appreciate a few extra fully equipped ambulances, who might be crying out for sterile medical equipment so that the child who just lost his leg might at least be able to stay alive rather than die in agony with a preventable infection.

It's far more obvious that that. The Ukrainians are hunting them as a tactic.

Facilitated I am assuming by "private" surveillance assistance from the West.

If I were a Russian General there currently I'd be throwing my phone in the river.

It's called saving face:-

It is a bit of a misconception that Ireland has no offensive weapons useful to Ukraine. Ireland has 1,800 AT4 anti tank rockets:

A Ukrainian solider with an AT-4, one of the first seen in country as of 5 March

22-3-22:

• "The US's latest security assistance package to Ukraine includes 6,000 AT4 anti-armor weapons.
• The AT4 is an anti-tank weapon, but it's no substitute for Javelins or NLAWs that take out main battle tanks.
• The AT4 has an advantage in street fighting and could be used if the Russians continue to assault cities."
• https://www.businessinsider.com/us-sending-at4-basic-deadly-anti-tank-weapon-to-ukraine-2022-3?op=1&r=US&IR=T

So Ireland coud send almost a third as many as the US is sending. It also has a few Javelins which would be extremely useful and well received.

'But everyones already sending them so much stuff, they surely wouldn't make a difference':

They need everything they can get, and despite all the glowing promises of stuff to be sent, it doesn't seem to be arriving anything like fast enough:

"Ukraine has said it is fast running out of the weapons it needs to destroy Russian aircraft and tanks and urged Germany and France to honour their pledges and send more arms.

...

Western officials said that Ukraine was “obviously expending a lot of ordnance”, and more than anticipated. They had expected to be supporting a more limited insurgency by this stage." https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukrainian-troops-are-running-out-of-weapons-in-fight-against-russia-87d7mqzlt

Zelenskyy recently said that they were using a weeks worth of military aid in just 20 hours.

There is actually a benefit to sending them all these munitions. They don't last forever and have a shelf life, so handing them over puts them to better use than Ireland realistically ever would and allows for restocking with better and fresher stuff.

Call it military grade environmentalism - not allowing things spoil and go to waste.

Well, well, well - Zelensky now giving Ireland **** for daring to remain neutral in a matter of war. This after Michael Martin was prostrating his anus in obscene fashion to him a few days ago.

Talk about entitlement and biting the hand that feeds you, he seems to want nothing but WW3. The truth character of Zelensky is all coming out now.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10651117/Zelensky-scolds-Europe-late-imposing-sanctions-Russia.html