Russia - threadbanned users in OP

You'd hope they'd withdraw to better prepared positions. Some very experienced soldiers in that pocket who would be a big loss if captured or killed.

The Ukrainians have for the most part fought like lions, but as always the commanders have made some mistakes. The big offensive in the south didn't work, and they've been too keen to waste lives with little gain, mimicking the Russians in this.

I think Zelensky is a very good war leader and understands this war isn't going to end any time soon, so pointless wasting soldiers lives. He's had to reign in some of the gung ho military leaders who think they can beat Russia with one big offensive. Adviika is of minimal strategic value so there will come a point when it has to be abandoned.

Not good if the Americans don't supply funding. That would be just what the Russians wanted and give them the breathing space to preserve their army. Trump is such a Putin fan its not even funny. Him returning to the presidency would set the world back decades. He was useless the first time around, and will be even worse the second time, abandoning allies left, right and centre.

I think the problem if they lose adviika is like bakmut they have to take it back again and as everyone can see if an enemy wants to hold a city it will take considerable time, effort and loss of life to take it back which sadly Ukraine is seeing in bakmut and Russia in adviika, so Ukraine could do without Russia taking control there and Ukraine down the line if they can try and take it from Russia if they lose it.

Here are two articles mentioning the links between conti and the Russian government.

It's state funded or state abetted.

Back in the day neutrality was probably a good way to go but in this day and age it is starting to look naive. There's too much energy in the modern world.

NATO membership is on another thread and is a topic we need to have a serious conversation about. But for me IMHO we first need to actually develop a defense force that is fit for purpose as we do not have one currently.

I agree. Plus lets face it we are not neutral. We believe in living in a free open and democratic society and oppose authoritarian dictatorships and as such we should play our part in the defense of free open democratic societies.

NATO was built for the Cold War, its being left behind.

It was said if Russia attacked Germany, the Germans had enough artillery shells for a couple of weeks (most NATO countries were the same). They have something like 300 tanks.

Regards Ireland, Ukraine has shown you don't actually need a navy to deter major powers. If Ireland had 100 of those unmanned speedboats the Ukrainians built they could deter most navies.

Luckily we are physically on the periphery of Europe. Our main threat is in cyberspace.

I don't believe we should join NATO. We need some western countries not on it. Not really related to Russia but in some situations countries may not be willing to deal with NATO but would accept what they see as a more neutral peacemaker. Being in NATO Ireland becomes an insignificant member of a large group, staying out allows us to influence things more imo.

We do seriously need to upgrade and resource our military more, neutral should not mean weak or incapable of defending ourselves at even a basic level.

100 years of independence and who has attempted to invade Ireland? Yet we must join NATO or buy tanks or some rubbish. Ireland is “freeloading” off the backs of morons who claim that goatherds in Tora Bora are about to take over the world and STILL can’t defeat them.

Ah here,

Would you prefer to live in russia?

Russian hate is being promoted by Russia and in particular Putin. Russian actions have led to millions of Ukrainian refugees having to leave their own homes and take ones all over Ireland and the EU. Thanks Russia!

Actually, who was the huge threat to Ireland during the rise of fascism in the tender years after Independence? As Bennito and Adolf and Franco and Salazar were getting ready to wreck the continent?

when that was all over and Europe was a graveyard, when was Ireland under threat?

From the inception of NATO, when has Ireland been threatened with any kind of military invasion or occupation?

And you have people saying “we must join NATO BECAUSE WE COULD BE ATTACKED”

Please!

Getting back to Avdivika. I don’t see anything bright for it.

Avdiivka

Says the man who can’t spell “MISSILE”.

Avdeyevka is the Russian spelling.....

Yours is something not english or Russian