As a country, their large companies are very well set up to sell arms and profit from it. Maybe when there's less/no profit, they're just not as interested as a country. In WWII, it was the German private industrial companies, not the state, who kept churning out the weapons that kept them going.
Recruitment propaganda.
It seems to me that some people in the west want a war of attrition to grind the Russians down.
Too much exotic tobacco and Majic mushrooms me thinks :) it all messes with the mind they should know.
Then wasn’t it lucky Russia invaded and answered their dreams :D
294 The Five Laws Of Stupidity - YouTube
They don't have a Star Trek replicator. The weapons get ordered. Factories put them together. It all takes time I expect...but that's okay because buying a whole armies worth of "Big Guns" is probably something that years of planning & thought goes into given how serious it it & how much weapons cost.
Weapons are alot more complex than WW2. Also claiming "private companies" were busy producing weapons for Germany during WW2 (so should be able to do so now) when the entire national economies on both sides were mobilised for war and under direct govt. command seems nonsensical.
If Ukraine is to get enough such weapons this year to hold off + maybe drive Russia back out, am doubtful there is any country in Europe than can do it [I suppose several of them stripping their own militaries bare, and just giving everything to Ukraine might do it...?].
It is very clear that Ukraine needs more heavy weapons or they will lose the est over the summer. I just can't get why there is a sudden drop in support with weapons supplies. I did see the previous comments about fear of where they might go how that might be used and the possible backroom deal being done. Non the less, the ability to hold off Russia and drive them back surely can't be compromised? I would be appalled totally appalled if Russia was allowed to take the est. It's hardly a fair fight when you consider Ukraine is outgunned not to mention all the loss of civilian life. As for Germany and France... I did give them a free pass 2 months ago but not anymore. The excuses from them are bolloxoligy at its best. Russia ripped up every handbook that existed in regard to war and they deserve absolutely no respect of any kind nor any compromise. A mega crime terrorist state is all Russia is now.
Heavy weapons delivered
"we decided to prepare a small illustration showing the artillery already handed over to us from Western partners and their characteristics"
It's worth their while to grind the Russians down when they enter urban areas. The Ukrainians in general appear to be much better at urban combat and despite heavy bombardment from the Russians, every single city block appears to have been a hard fight for them. They'll likely have to retreat across the river soon, but by giving the Russians absolute hell in their attempts to advance, their sapping them of the energy, resources and morale they'd need to push on once they reach the river.
Many signs point to the Russians running out of all kinds of stuff. Ukraine just need to hold the line and get ready for a counter offensive.
journos caught in the crossfire, they are selfless, I wish I was a journo
Russia blowing a bridge is a big development.no more russian advances from there which is good news
Crossfire? Or is it referring to when the Russians targeted an evacuation convoy?
As I see it they can hold Severodinetsk until the Russians run out of steam or retreat and fight a war of attrition. If the Russians take Severodonetsk they will hardly have enough steam to take anything else.
Coulda been wired to the 90s on amphetamines and the pressures of war. Still looks really stupid.
Journalists under fire.
..
Edit
Resupplying Asovstal
Now, I'd challenge anyone to say I'm in anyway pro Russian. But, why would journalists travelling with armed soldiers be off limits? Armed soldiers are legitimate targets in war, so while the journalists are brave I don't see anything wrong here if they hang out with soldiers in a war zone.
That's not one of the 2 remaining bridges over the Dnipro though? It's a smaller tributary to the west of the Dnipro going by the place name in the tweet.
https://goo.gl/maps/p5iLJuuxQRTS29maA
And yet the the Baltic states, Poland, UK etc, don't seem the have any problem getting modern weapons into Ukranian hands, while the Germans drag their heels even at the minimum they promised.
Looking at the map, Severodonetsk might actually turn out to be a poisoned chalice for the Russians. More specifically, ooking at a terrain map, the city sits on a flat piece of ground with no real terrain features, making life "relatively" easy for an attacker. However, once you reach the Siverskyi Donets river, things get ugly quickly. The west bank of the river, where the city of Lysychansk is situated, rises up quickly to a height of 30-40 meters over the plain below, immediately after river, creating an extremely strong defensive position. Any attacker will, if they want to take the heights, have to cross the river in the face of an enemy that is able to pour fire down on them from the high ground, without much in the way of cover. At the same time, the heights offer a clear line of sight, and fire, into Severodonetsk itself, exposing even the "rear" areas of any attempted river crossing not just to artillery and mortar fire, but also to direct fire.
Actually, taking a second look at said terrain map, the attempted river crossings near Bilohorivka a few weeks ago make sense now, as a flanking attack on Lysychansk seems to be the only real chance to "crack" that defensive position. Any direct push from Severodonetsk would be a bloodbath. Hell, even occupying Severodonetsk without a push further west could turn into a fiasco for Russian forces if the Ukrainians can get their defense and eventual fallback to Lysychansk right.
But even journalists are targeted when they are on their own, like the Sky News journalists some time back.
The attack on Severodonetsk seems to be a political decision and not stategic to get a quick result.If they take it fully then they will try to flatten Lysychansk to rubble and claim that the Luhansk Oblast is liberated.It would have made more sense to put that entire force into the Izium attack as there is no river protection there.
About 15k west of there,another battle going on right now for another bridge
The wagner group and the chechens are involved in Severodonetsk so Putin is using his "perceived" best forces.I'm sure many of those fell last night and more will continues to fall in the coming days.
MLRS
https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1531614337923686403?s=20&t=sWgdIdYVyzPpMNfgZJz00Q
Honestly, that's my impression as well. The city is the capital of "Free" Luhansk but has little strategic value. It's rail connection seems to be primarily centered around the heavy industry in the city, and not really suited for resupplying an army, and there don't seem to be any useful airfields nearby either. It seems like the attack is based on the wishes of the Kremlin or at least senior military leadership, rather than on any operational necessities.
Interesting article from American historian Timothy Snyder suggesting that Putin doesn't even need an "off ramp" or to be appeased by anyone. Even if he loses the war, he will just announce that he has won it and will be backed to the hilt by state media. He argues that appeasers in the West don't even seem to be aware that Putin doesn't give a toss about Western opinion and just needs to be able to control the narrative within his own borders.
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