Russia - threadbanned users in OP

If the Ukrainians can get the Russians pushed back across the northern border, could they then mine the hell out of the first couple of kilometers of their border with Belarus so that they don't need so many troops to defend it and free up most of the troops for the east/south?

I hope they have already been using the past few weeks to mine every bridge and culvert on the rest of the Belarussian border ala the Swiss.

Is he going to launch something at Kyiv?

Just because those Russians found that they were living in different countries after the Soviet Union collapsed it doesn't mean they're 'locked out'. They can go and live in Russia, can't they?!

Russia: We have no plans to attack Kyiv with weapons of mass destruction

Ron Howard: Later that day, Russia attacked Kyiv with weapons of mass destruction

But in seriousness, the city of Kyiv itself is a place I understand Russians hold in high regard and think of it as the second city of the Slavic world, behind Moscow, and an historical centre of Slavic culture before Moscow even got going. The idea of bombarding Kyiv could be controversial for even the true blue supporter of Putin as it would potentially mean destroying some dear history. I don't know what the Irish equivalent would be.... Maybe like flattening Bundoran or something.

What am we looking at there... Some dollars?

If either of those things happen I reckon NATO will get involved and then any Russian within the borders of Ukraine would be fair game.

After Obama's red lines in Syria debacle the US will react in far more aggressive manner.

I suspect it might be the Donbass War for the foreseeable future. Most action will be attrition based warfare along a single long front from Mariupol in the south up to Kharkiv in the north; or some variation thereof. Strikes behind Ukraine lines will be frequent and damaging; Ukraine won't be able to do the same behind Russian lines. Losses on both sides will likely be significant; but Ukraine will struggle against Russian air superiority. At some point Russia might achieve air supremacy over some key Ukrainian cities which would be a disaster and could force Ukraine's hand at any negotiations; but I hope that's less likely.

Just my idiot opinion. I sincerely hope we will have had a Russian withdrawal by then but I just don't see how that happens.

If push comes to shove, Putin does not need any reason to call a nuclear strike....one of his spokespersons has already said that Russia is not bound by any "First Strike " rules or international laws. It will evaluate threats as it sees fit, and react accordingly.( Nukes? ) And we have already seen an Israeli spokes person ( one who has always only posted positive articles / news etc. about Putin ) publicly stating that Putin HAS to achieve his Ukrainian targets, otherwise this will be considered as failure, and that will be an existential threat to Russia.

I'd expect them to leave the troops there if that were the case, maybe I think too little of their command but so far it seems like they're happy to sacrifice the cannon fodder for little reason.

Such a pity the noble Bayraktar is now extinct.

Chicken Kiev renamed Chicken Kyiv by Sainsbury’s after Russia’s attack on Ukraine

Well if you read it on Twitter it must be true!

It's possible they don't have many left but there's no reason to believe they have somehow lost all of them. If they can keep at least two Mi-24 attack choppers in working order until this point they can surely keep a few TB2s.

Only two TB2s have been confirmed lost in Ukraine at this point. The real number is likely higher; but considering the psychological aspect I would expect Russian/DPR/LPR forces to make a song and a dance over any proof of a TB2 kill; so I wouldn't think the real number would be too much higher.

Also there have been several large shipments made from the Turkish airport known to be associated with TB2 deliveries and Rzeszów airport in Poland which is known to be associated with Ukraine aid shipments. A number of those shipments were made by Ukrainian flagged cargo planes too; so read into that what you will.

It is a little concerning we haven't seen any new TB2 footage in some time though.

Has this been posted already?

Pull back from Kyiv. Join up with forces in east and defeat Ukraine forces in detail. Secure rear / supply lines so fighting on one front only. If Russia are in for the long haul.