Especially in the Rural areas, things are bad enough for ordinary Russians or other groups. The glitz and glamour are noticeably absent once you leave the city's. But even there, they have their poorer side too. Th Vodka is the standard medication to take the sharp edge's off life.
It does make you wonder if the prolonged drip drip of weapons to Ukraine by the west was to slowly destroy the russian military and bankrupt the regime rather then out of abundance of fear of provoking Russia… either way the delay is costing Ukraine big time
Perhaps target the Vodka production and cause revolution?
Edit: Wrong thread
Would dropping kegs of vodka into Russia lines be a good option along with an advisory for surrender?
At least it would do for breakfast.
The Russians have had time to prepare, it was always going to be a tougher slog to extract an enemy that has bedded in. The previous offensive took everyone by surprised, especially given Ukraine was almost entirely on a rearguard before that point; everyone was caught with their pants down. Fool me once etc.
I think they have artillery that can reach... but if Ukraine can get more parity in the air, that'll make the difference IMO - as it has done for most conventional warfare since ww2. Lord knows how much equipment might have been saved had Ukraine some decent air support to hassle Russia's own. Not without reason Zelensky was practically begging the US for f16s
But the manner of the Russian defence speaks to how they're out of ideas WRT strategy and nous; trenches and mines?? It has descended into the mid 21sr century fighting an early 20th century force. And while they can slow down the advance, once the major breaches occur, you'd have to imagine Ukraine will simply swamp the rest of the defensive lines. Might as well call this Maginot V2.
To be a fly on the wall of the Russian forces' trenches. The morale must be non existent, surely?. How are they still fighting? Wonder are they being fed propaganda about Ukrainians killing PoW or something. And presumably the officer tradition of threatening your troops with a bullet in the head is still in vogue.
Very true. Just shows the difficulties when trying to negotiate with that miindset.
Wonder what the plan is
Detonate or retreat
July 5th.
I was thinking the same thing. Static defenses are tough to break through, but if a breakthrough happens it needs to be countered with a flexible mobile reserve, otherwise all you have is a lot of units in static positions waiting to be rolled up or encircled. How many elite mobile formations do the Russians have to fill that role?
Poland planning on sending 60 more Pt 91 tanks
I won't be surprised if Putin would rather make eastern Ukraine uninhabitable if they can't have it.
Yes, but I'd say that if / when Ukraine has one major break though, the rest will fold. The main aim and objective ( and now more than ever after the Prigozhin episode) of the Russian soldiers is survival first, second and third.
I think that is the revised plan. When they were building their fortifications, I said that I felt they are building their border. It think what they want is a Korean style DMZ Zone, except a lot thicker.
If and when they blow the plant I presume the US have to respond as if it was a nuclear weapon being deployed…..
Poland just received their first batch of Abrams tanks and true to their word they are giving Ukraine more of their Soviet era tanks.
"The Ukrainians are going slowly because they are trying to limit their casualties — something that bloodthirsty Russian commanders don’t care about. It is doubtful that any Western military could do any better without air superiority."
Good piece from the Wapo
Ukraine ought to respond in kind with a massive aerial mining on the Russian side of the border
Or just go into Russia and go around the defences and attack them in the rear.
Pop up to undefended Moscow on the way for some milk
from what we saw last week with wagner,Ukraine could do it too!
The Freedom of Russia Legion no doubt have been looking at how far Wagner got and could be getting ideas!
be like that old film "convoy" only with tanks and apcs..
Rare Zaluzhny interview.
He's saying what's completely obvious but few seem to want to acknowledge. Ukraine needs more help. Predictions of Russian routs and collapses, useless platitudes, thoughts and prayers, etc. aren't going to cut it.
Link without paywall https://archive.ph/2nyYu
These reports are very worrying if even half true
They would want to make shure the wind wasn't blowing from the west.
If Russia did this at Zaporizhzhia, then what remained of Russia's allies would slink into the undergrowth, 'cos nobody's going to bat for a country that would knowingly sabotage a nuclear power plant. You'd imagine even the tedious ageing lefties like Lula would stop trying to Whatabout NATO. I can't seriously imagine Russia are that desperate and that maniacal that they'd slag a plant.
If they do it, I'd expect NATO air strikes to cripple the Russian military and sink the Black Sea fleet within hours.
A country ruled by a deluded narcissist whose powerbase may be threatened and who has gone on record saying a world without a strong Russia is a world not worth having.
I suspect he and his cronies love their lives of wealth and luxury too much to throw it all away over Ukraine, but you never know
If it gets that far I'd say lots of recriminations and a massive step up in supply of conventional weapons/support bringing an accelerated end to this sorry war....but I doubt nato/us launch nukes tactical or otherwise.
Wouldn’t still be enough for Worzel Gummidge and his sidekick to publicly condemn Russia.
They’d find a reason somewhere to keep blaming NATO and the ‘corrupt EU’ !
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