Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Here he is, as far back as 12 March, calling on the West to allow Putin have a ‘victory’ in order to stop the war.

Pathetic, but at least his eagerness for appeasement is consistent. But why is the Irish Times persisting in giving him editorial space to, in effect, make Putin’s case?

Whats left of Russian forces will fight to the last man to defend its objective demanded by a mad man

A retired US General quoted saying if nato went in with its almost immediate air supremacy war would be over in 96 hours

Only thing stopping it is a possible nuclear backlash and the nnp that's putin has been as a hostage to prevent such a scenario.

Ukraine army is being made look good by a bad Russian mob like unprofessional force

Your last sentence unnoticingly sidesteps the Ukrainians adeptness with technology and ability to integrate many different systems.

The Russians would have tried to eat Western weapons systems.

Today's words on Sesame Street are "adaptiveness" and "versatile".

The French Service de déminage is still clearing up unexploded WW1 and WW2 ordnance (more rarely 1870 ordnance these days) in the north east of the country, into the tons (metric) every year, to this day.

It’s long been dubbed the “iron harvest”. Primer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_harvest

And it keeps on killing, every year too. Mostly Darwin Award chasers with metal detectors. Much more rarely, but still and very regrettably, sappers themselves. I spent some of my military service with them BITD, a guy I met on that team died on the job some years ago.

Sadly, that will be Ukrainian reality for a lot of years. No matter how thorough the clean up immediately post-war.

Seems Russians are leaving Kherson including their administration building and check points..

But it's not spring yet, how could they? /s

That one didn't even last 24hrs.

Nice ending sentiment.

If I'm correct they still have patrols collecting unexploded munitions found in fields during plowing season ,

If anybody thinks drone are impressive have a look at the unmanned Blackhawk helicopter program

I think what's needed is a lot of those ordnance sniffer dogs or they need to develop an ordnance sniffing drone that flies in a predetermined search pattern low to the ground.

With any luck this is them bugging out and leaving the city without a fight.

I've little doubt that Ukraine could win a street fight for this city, but it would be drawn out & very bloody. If they are bugging out it also robs Ukraine the chance to remove Russia's "best" troops from the fight. I was hoping for a mass surrender here, which might have set up a precursor to Ukraine's own version of Sherman's March to the Sea....instead you'd swap out Confederate Georgia with Crimea.

Adaptiveness changing from sovet era to western in the middle of a war with a lot of civilians coming I to the fray has been spectacular and including the drone stuff.

Point is a nato force would have demolished the over rated Russian forces with its current levels of unity very quickly and with less destruction.

I still think nato will end up in the conflict boots on the ground eventually.

Whatever the total is, seems clear Russia has lost a lot of troops and equipment from the original force.

There is alot of evidence beyond what Ukraine says or the figures they or their allies/supporters give for this. e.g. fact that Ukraine managed to take any ground back at all, continuous funnelling of additional equipment from other parts of Russian army/stockpiles into Ukraine, rounding up of "volunteers" + recruiting for Wagner pmc etc., that Putin had to do a partial mobilisation/shift to a war economy to keep the slaughter going, that Putin has gone to Iran and North Korea for more weapons/supplies...

Maybe just maybe Ukraine is a bit more erm "democratic" than Russia, & Zelensky would be out on his ear (and Ukraine would be suing for peace) if he ordered military to begin some huge assaults that will result in kind of losses Russia's army is suffering (or worse!) trying to win land for Putin in Ukraine?

It's funny how fact of damage Russia has suffered will not sink in for some or be admitted to. Computer says no! I think if the US had been going about waging such a disgusting war and its military being hammered by same level of casulaties & losses, some of these posters would have been rubbing their little paws together in glee at the unfolding catastrophe.

I've seen firsthand too what these infernal weapons do, and predominantly to innocent civilians long after the war has ended. I've shared living quarters with de-miners and like your case, one of them lost his life as well, in Libya.

all roads lead to Crimea. Get the HIMARS in range and liquidate their bases.