I wonder if there is anything else behind this? I guess we'll hear about it in the next few days.
Crystal balls?
Ben Wallace resigned as Defence Minister
I see an unfortunate window accident in girkins future
Looks like it could be as much as six IL - 76 planes destroyed by the Ukrainian drones in Pskov airbase the other night. Great to see these airbases now being targeted.
Correction - It looks like 2 planes destroyed - bad translation from the initial 4 that were reported to be destroyed.
That's how I see it too. The Wagner group have been implicated in numerous war crimes in Ukraine, not to mention the many criminal elements among them. Not sure I'd trust them fighting on my side, best thing for Ukraine might simply be if the group dissolves
I'm no solider but my understanding is Russian doctrine is based on overwhelming artillery dominance to saturate an area so their mechanized/armored forces move forward with infantry support. If their artillery is being shredded doesn't that pose a slight problem for their entire way of conducting war ?
Even more so when, if reports are to be believed, Russia can't easily build new barrells for replacements; so one wonders how and where they're replacing these huge losses.
You'd like to think somewhere in the military brain trust they're reckoning the days of turtling with saturation artillery are over and to pivot their armed forces. But then bureaucracies don't easily bend.
Russian artillery losses are mindboggling
I suppose it's possible but would you want to fight alongside people who have committed crimes against humanity against your brothers and sisters?Wagner imo are likely to dissolve now their fighters join other contractors as paid mercenaries.
This an interesting YouTube channel.
Strength is relative to your opponent in war. They're not strong enough to take Ukraine. They're not even strong enough to make advances anymore. If they're a strong force, the AFU are at least as much, it would seem, and the AFU's capacity to withstand pain is buoyed up by the fact that their fight is existential.
correct horse battery staple threadbanned
True. And every aircraft hit, is even more difficult to repair or replace. One less piece of equipment to launch at Ukrainians.
The mercenaries of the former Wagner PMC were in it for the money. Most of them will either accept becoming part of some special unit under the Kremlin's control or else join other mercenary groups and continue riddling poorly-armed rebels somewhere in Africa. Few will put their arses on the line for Ukraine or revenge against Putin.
We hear about this loyalty they had to Prigozhin. Personally, I think that, upon reflection, they'll conclude that Prigozhin didn't know what the hell he was doing.
They've a lot of territory and assets to cover with air defence, so keeps them guessing I suppose.
I and I'm sure others follow and appreciate your expertise/ insights on matters aviation here :)
The Free Russia brigade in Ukraine said they will take them.
They could be sent ahead as mine clearers.
I couldn't think of a faster way to crash Ukrainian morale than hiring the very soldiers - literal criminals in many cases - who had been murdering and raping their way across the country since day 1 of the invasion.
Now that Wagner are unemployed and not allowed to fight in Ukraine for Russia. Could Ukraine hire them and use them as cannon fodder to break the defence lines
Great song to listen to while reading about the Ruble, Russian morale or the number of Il-76s Russia has.
Going Down by Freddy King.
Not huge numbers but every little helps, and moral should continue sliding down because it's unlikely much will happen to reverse it (hopefully).
Appreciate the support on "that other thread".
PK.
Pretty good imitation of Putin.
Roger has always been a dick, just ask Dave.
It happens
...
Dead cat bounce?
that means this operation was successful and hurt them badly. Good.
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://we.vanillicon.com/v2/e050b53be62f0ae2404c620976170938.svg)
