Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

josip · 19-04-2026 06:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407603#Comment_124407603

There is no demographic crisis as far as the 70+ year old kuntz who are continuing this war are concerned. Not their problem.

keeponhurling · 19-04-2026 06:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407603#Comment_124407603

and to think Russia had a serious demographic crisis before the war even broke out

thomil · 19-04-2026 06:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407603#Comment_124407603

@josip and @keeponhurling are basically right. Russia was already suffering from a massive demographic crisis before the war due to decades of poor social policies, low birth rates, high alcoholism and its related issues, and a massive brain drain amongst other issues. The Ukraine war has only exacerbated these issues.

Thing is, the war wasn’t supposed to last anywhere near as long as it did. It was planned as a quick coup de main to remove Zelensky and install a pro-Moscow government in Kyiv. If thing had played out the way Putin had originally planned, the losses would have been so low that it wouldn’t even have affected Russia’s population statistics. It was only when the war turned from a quick three-day operation to a multi-month, and then multi-year slugging match that the losses started mounting.

None of this is relevant to Putin. He only cares about saving his own skin. Having said that, most of the recruits drafted for this war have come from republics on the periphery of the Russian Federation. These have always been ministers cannon fodder going back to the days of the tsars and are generally the first to get drafted in any conflict. It looks to me like Putin is doing everything possible to avoid conscripting people from the “core” of Russia, the areas around Moscow & St. Petersburg, probably out of fear that those could turn against him. Still, when it comes down to it, I have no doubts that he and his cronies will sacrifice those as well, rather than accept defeat.

BettyS · 19-04-2026 06:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407787#Comment_124407787

at what point, will the Russian society collapse? How will they afford state services if all the workers keep getting killed?

bored65 · 19-04-2026 06:38PM

Societally one can make a strong case that they have already collapsed and it’s every man for themselves praying (and bribing) they are not next to be sent to the meatgrinder.

You have mothers selling sons for a bag of onions and wives complaining they are not being compensated for their “missing” husbands and sisters selling themselves to prostitution to pay debts

What kind of society just shrugs at sending so many young men to die, and these days mostly being killed by drones and robots? All so the oligarchs get a bit more mud in what is already the worlds largest country

What kind of society indoctrinates its young kids weapons instead of science and literature?

What kind of society has pensioners who don’t get pensions in an economy with 70% inflation and quarter of homes not having toilets cheering at what they know are their ex friends and often extended families being bombed night after night by Iranian drones (they can’t even design their own tech anymore)

We seen how panicked Putin was when Wagner marched on Moscow and how Russians came onto streets to greet an absolute scumbag as a liberator

When the end comes for Putin the speed will be shocking

thomil · 19-04-2026 06:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407802#Comment_124407802

State services are already failing, at least in the outlying republics. There are plenty of reports out there of district heating plants or sewer systems failing, in places where those systems are in place in the first place. Again, it looks like the state apparatus is sacrificing the periphery in order to keep the centre going.

With regards to a collapse of Russian society, that is the one million ruble question. I personally don’t consider a popular uprising to be likely. It sounds brutal but Russian society lacks the level of civic engagement for anything of that nature to really happen. Any change will likely come from Putin’s inner circle, and only once enough key players there have reached the point where their fear for their continued existence outweighs their fear of reprisals. This could be tonight, it could be two months from now or it could be two years from now.

Manic Moran · 19-04-2026 06:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407873#Comment_124407873

You realise a million rubles is only a touch above 11,000 Euro…?

BettyS · 19-04-2026 06:54PM

I am always surprised that they still have the funds to continue. When this war started in 2022, I didn’t think that they would be able to fund it beyond 18 months. I remember great posts from Yurt2 on the topic when it all began. And here we are in 2026. And they are still managing to mobilise funds

thomil · 19-04-2026 06:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407907#Comment_124407907

That much? I’m genuinely surprised!

TheValeyard · 19-04-2026 08:20PM

It's absolutely mad how Russia fought so hard and lost so many men and equipment to make gains on the Zaporizhzhia front, that to be loosing those gains so easily and watch their forces melt away is quite bizarre altogether. Great to see though.

BorneTobyWilde · 19-04-2026 09:28PM

https://www.politico.eu/article/bulgaria-election-russia-rumen-radev-win-exit-poll/

Orban out last week, replacement in this week

TheValeyard · 19-04-2026 09:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124408301#Comment_124408301

Like playing a game of whack a mole

RoyalCelt · 20-04-2026 03:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124407922#Comment_124407922

Well the posts couldn't be that great if they're still funding it! Personally I predicted summer this year but that's not looking likely.

I think at this point military victory is the only way. Serious economic problems will affect the war effort and ultimately aid with defeat rather then the collapse of Russia. Hope I'm wrong though, every year their situation gets worse.

RoyalCelt · 20-04-2026 03:34AM

Laaaawd

https://twitter.com/i/status/2046048669086916756

These sanctions are unbelievable. A bleak few years ahead for Russian refineries if they keep this up.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2046048269202018562

Those big montages we seen of Russian AD getting destroyed recently leads to this.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2046062735004479871

bored65 · 20-04-2026 09:01AM

BBCs main correspondent keeps posting great reviews of Russian papers from Russia

https://bsky.app/profile/bbcstever.bsky.social/post/3mjvxlea2as2i

Discusses their view of everything from Bulgaria to deepening economic troubles

Oh and apparently Putin’s approval ratings dropped 1% to 66% 🙃

keeponhurling · 20-04-2026 09:55AM

Ukraine's drone capabilities - both capability and quantity - have improved so much in 4 years.

Imagine what it would be like in another 4 years. It does feel like this attacks on Russia's oil refineries are intensifying.

Patrick2010 · 20-04-2026 10:02AM

I'm no expert but I'm guessing most of the Russia conscripts are coming from remote areas to be sent into the meat grinder?

Dubh Geannain · 20-04-2026 10:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124408964#Comment_124408964

For now. They've emptied their prisons. Increased signing on bonuses will draw some poor unfortunates too but it's not enough to avoid needing conscription.

They're importing mercenaries too. I read about some Colombians being killed at the weekend. Russia propaganda is good enough to turn a few useful idiots in the West. I'd imagine it's even more successful in even less well regulated media markets.

Rawr · 20-04-2026 10:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124408964#Comment_124408964

Mostly yes, but they've also been known to hookwink migrants into the country for this as well as defaulting any transgression by Russians from anywhere into punishement by way of said Meat Grinder.

Pretty much mobilisation in everything but name. They will however eventually run dry of the various "non-direct" ways to draft people and will have to form a more open Draft. I would however wonder if Official Russia would be functional enough by then to even organise such a thing. Remember folks: Putin could turn around tomorrow and declair 1 Million conscripts to be delivered by the end of the month…but none of that happends without Tens of Thousands of other people sorting out round-ups, transport, boot camps and everything that goes with that.

They're losing 1000 heads a day, and with that likely being general knowledge in Russia now, you'd wonder if even the boot camp people can their moral going knowing how futile their efforts are. Russia don't need to lose all their men to lose this war…the end will happen long before that.

bored65 · 20-04-2026 10:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124408964#Comment_124408964

Yes Putin been trying hard to isolate Moscow and St Petersburg elites from this war as he knows from the of fall Tzar in their disastrous WW1 participation hundred years ago, which has many parallels with this war, that conscription from there will bring him down fast

hence most of the meat came from everywhere else especially poorer more far flung regions

https://en.zona.media/article/2026/02/24/mapofwar

That’s the bbc + mediazona investigation from a couple months back

Trying to find the link {I think was from United24} but March 2026 was the deadliest yet for Russians with no gains and continued declined in recruitment, so Putin might have to start drafting in Muscovites now

Dubh Geannain · 20-04-2026 10:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124409001#Comment_124409001

They're calling in their reservists now too.

keeponhurling · 20-04-2026 11:18AM

Yeah, it seems like Moscow and St.Petersburg have been relatively isolated from the ~~war~~ special military operation.

I'm not advocating targeting civilians in any way, but I do wonder could Ukraine try to disrupt things more in those cities…e.g. fly drones to disrupt airport flight schedules, maybe just as a daily reminder. Attack any military or FSB offices in those cities, maybe a few "dual purpose" train tracks or motorways

Stanley 1 · 20-04-2026 11:43AM

Yeah, it seems like Moscow and St.Petersburg have been relatively isolated from the ~~war~~ special military operation."

The elites offspring have left long ago and will mainly be around Europe, they have the money to do as they want, middle class offspring will also have departed, remainder will have hooked up with the various mafia factions to stay ahead of any recruitment drive.

zv2 · 20-04-2026 01:48PM

Warning: Lots of bad language in this one-

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/2046200411074212059

Paddigol · 20-04-2026 02:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124409523#Comment_124409523

That's very concerning. Should we start a gofundme appeal?

Field east · 20-04-2026 02:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124408655#Comment_124408655

Ukr can happily continue OPERATIONS without any cards- according to Trump- if it can continue to light these kind of fires!!!!!!

Rawr · 20-04-2026 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124409153#Comment_124409153

I think that's exactly what the AFU have been doing for a good bit. They've been hitting logisitics hubs, the refineries the Russians need for their fuel and some critical rail infrastucture. Without well functioning transport links, factories or the means to power things, the actually work of running a war becomes considerably harder compared to otherwise.

Things grind to a halt, the Russian can't move as fast, and in the end the Ukrainians are give the breathing room they need to outlast the Russians.

BettyS · 20-04-2026 02:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124409612#Comment_124409612

I would love to know exact detailed demographic breakdowns of the Russian population and particular in the under 18 and the economic work-age category

RoyalCelt · 20-04-2026 02:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124409628#Comment_124409628

The man working on that report unfortunately fell out a window.

BettyS · 20-04-2026 02:42PM

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/russian-economy-faces-financial-disaster-102009400.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADqmaNfvfLkPVSjloCjzMNdLbzYKPssw-tnf5H_5J3ErEu44seaoFYb5-YoVMfWb2V9hgbAvVw_XeTBSSnnEWFXxN9cba8HeCd5m8uVRgToVIILsE89ghwwGSM47_t6DD3ggqvYf5n9PT_f6L_R-WklKQaHbUYTQpB38l4sxFRMF

interesting- just published that article today

Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

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