Smart.

Except I guess they didn't support it with troops who could ensure it wouldn't get flanked and that could reload it.

LMCane said:

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Waffledynamics said:

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Macron spoke to Putin about the situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant today. Macron "expressed his support for sending a mission of IAEA experts to the site as quickly as possible...The Russian President indicated his agreement to the deployment of this mission," per Elysee. pic.twitter.com/ByvjOnzX6M

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) August 19, 2022

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so the wind goes from east to west in that part of Europe?

it may be worth it to at least kill off a bunch of Ruskies in the Zapirozhiye area with a small leak

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Use an app ventusky.com which shows prevailing winds out of russia turning south just west of the facility. Doesn't look like it would affect russia much. But I'm not a meteorologist

Good read

Interview: What Ukraine's New Strategy Means For The Next Phase Of The War

Quote:

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A lot of the Western observers have been expecting to see a grandiose, large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson, but the Russians have reinforced this territory now and brought in lots of equipment and more units [and] they've created multiple prepared defensive lines.

The Ukrainian response has since been to degrade the supply lines required to sustain those frontline positions so that over time they might be able to actually break through.

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Quote:

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People should remember that the Kremlin's stated objective has been consistent: to gain full political and territorial control over Ukraine. While we might hear statements from officials that they are only really focused on the Donbas or the south, it's about all of Ukraine.

Even if Moscow doesn't succeed in doing this all at once, any foothold they can maintain in Ukraine will be used in the future to continue what was already started.

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They should have opened up from the flanks when they "captured" the machine gunner

Don't like the sound of this.

Quote:

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The Russian military said Thursday that it has deployed warplanes armed with state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to the country's westernmost Baltic region, a move that comes amid soaring tensions with the West over Moscow's action in Ukraine.

Russia's Defense Ministry said three MiG-31 fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles arrived at the Chkalovsk air base in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad as part of "additional measures of strategic deterrence."

The ministry said the warplanes will be put on round-the-clock alert.

A video released by the Defense Ministry showed the fighters arriving at the base but not carrying the missiles, which were apparently delivered separately.

Finland's Defense Ministry said Thursday that two Russian MIG-31 fighter jets were suspected of having violating Finnish airspace in the Gulf of Finland off the southern town of Porvoo, west of Helsinki. The Nordic country's Border Guard started a preliminary investigation into the incident.

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Link

Why? First time you've heard communist saber rattling?

AgLA06 said:

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Why? First time you've heard communist saber rattling?

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The chances of the battleground expanding into other areas involving other nations.

Must be getting ready for the next season of Deadliest Catch...

interesting article

Apparently Ukraine took it upon themselves to start training pilots to fly the A-10 in May.

https://time.com/6207115/ukraine-train-fighter-pilots-russia/

AgLA06 said:

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aggiehawg said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Why? First time you've heard communist saber rattling?

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The chances of the battleground expanding into other areas involving other nations.

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They can't take more than 20% of Ukraine. Are running out of men and equipment. And you're worried they're going to open a second front?

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You think Putin is still all there? I don't. For what purpose would they be sending these now?

aggiehawg said:

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AgLA06 said:

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aggiehawg said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Why? First time you've heard communist saber rattling?

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The chances of the battleground expanding into other areas involving other nations.

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They can't take more than 20% of Ukraine. Are running out of men and equipment. And you're worried they're going to open a second front?

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You think Putin is still all there? I don't. For what purpose would they be sending these now?

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Hawg, these are old platforms that are questionable at best in their capabilities. I wouldn't get too concerned with 3 Mig 31's and "hypersonic" missiles. I know it is hard for those of us that grew up during to cold war to not pucker up over the Russians, but the last thing they want is to start some poop with us right now. Have a good evening.

AgLA06 said:

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interesting article

Apparently Ukraine took it upon themselves to start training pilots to fly the A-10 in May.

https://time.com/6207115/ukraine-train-fighter-pilots-russia/

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That is interesting but it still doesn't make sense to me. Pilots are just one part of the training roadblock. They need maintainers, ordnance, etc. And as stated in the article, the airspace is too contested/controlled by Russia for them to really operate.

Some more armed drones seems like the easier and more realistic route.

1. Noone has operationally ready hypersonics
2. Ukraine has no targets that warrant or would even be worth targeting with hypersonics
3. If they actually try using this as a deterrent to us they'll be staring down the barrel of US hypersonic artillery batteries in Finland, Lithuania, and Poland by FY25.

GAC06 said:

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AgLA06 said:

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interesting article

Apparently Ukraine took it upon themselves to start training pilots to fly the A-10 in May.

https://time.com/6207115/ukraine-train-fighter-pilots-russia/

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That is interesting but it still doesn't make sense to me. Pilots are just one part of the training roadblock. They need maintainers, ordnance, etc. And as stated in the article, the airspace is too contested/controlled by Russia for them to really operate.

Some more armed drones seems like the easier and more realistic route.

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I think the reality is if they wait until it makes sense they'll be a year or more out from trained pilots. So they can't wait. Probably have more pilots than planes available right now, so it doesn't hurt anything.

It also appears that we've heard a lot the last week or two of the Ukes shifting to destroying SAM and radar sites. As well as a sudden uptick in fighter sorties.

I've crapped on the A-10 idea since the beginning of the conflict, but I'm starting to see a way for them to be used in a regional approach. The videos of all the 18 wheelers and heavy equipment lined up waiting to cross the bridge the Ukes took out couldn't be a more perfect target. We've tried decommissioning A-10 fleet for a while now.Would it be that crazy to think the Ukes to put a plan together to create an area of operations for A-10 pilots to safely fly with fighter escort?

I mean lets look at the south right now. The Ukes took out half of the air force for the black sea fleet in 2 days. It's rumored the remaining planes departed east yesterday. Supposedly the Ukes are being successful in targeting SAM sites with HIMARs, radiation missiles, and drones. The black see fleet itself has essentially retreated in fear of harpoons after losing their flag ship and snake island is no longer occupied.

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the drones shot down today by Russia in Crimea were the Ukes either working towards this or testing / perfecting the theory.

aunuwyn08 said:

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1. Noone has operationally ready hypersonics
2. Ukraine has no targets that warrant or would even be worth targeting with hypersonics
3. If they actually try using this as a deterrent to us they'll be staring down the barrel of US hypersonic artillery batteries in Finland, Lithuania, and Poland by FY25.

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Maybe I read it wrong, but I thought the hypersonics were simply a defensive posturing threat to the nordic countries. Which made the hand wringing about them even more ridiculous.

I just assumed they meant Ukraine, you're right.

In any case, my points still apply in the case of Finland/Norway/Sweden.

I agree with most of that but it's still a rough environment for stuff like A-10's. Also although fanboys love "BRRRT", they did most of their damage in DS with mavericks. That's why I say armed drones are the more logical solution. Hellfire kill tanks better, they're cheaper than A-10's, and it would be easier to train, especially since Russia won't need to know how much help Ukraine is getting with flying drones.

⚡️Washington Post: Russia's FSB had lined up at least two pro-Russian governments ahead of invasion.

A Washington Post investigation found the FSB had worked closely with former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 19, 2022

Just more confirmation that Russia really believed this would be over in a matter of days.

According to The Washington Post, FSB officers were so confident that they would seize power in #Kyiv "in three days" that in the last days before the war they organized housing for themselves in the Ukrainian capital.

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 19, 2022

⚡️Media: No new German commitments for arms deliveries to Ukraine.

German Die Welt reported, citing its sources in the Ukrainian government, that Ukrainian diplomats have repeatedly asked the German government for commitments for further heavy equipment, but to no avail.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 19, 2022

#Afghanistan offered to buy oil products from #Russia by barter in exchange for raisins, dried fruits and medicinal herbs. This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Taliban Nuriddin Azizi. pic.twitter.com/AFsuBZogNg

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 19, 2022

⚡️Governor: Russian military repair base in Luhansk Oblast destroyed.

According to Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai, around 100 pieces of military equipment and 50 personnel were located at the base in Lotykove village when a presumable strike by Ukraine's forces occurred.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 19, 2022

That’s a bit specific. Half of the Black Sea Fleet’s combat air power… but only a portion of the air wings in Crimea are assigned to the Black Sea Fleet Command. It was a great strike, but let’s not have people picturing half of Russia’s Air Force in Crimea as burning wrecks.

— Geri Monsen 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇦 (@GeriMonsen1) August 19, 2022

Live report from a goblin camp set up in a captured school in Severodonetsk. pic.twitter.com/ejatWNy337

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 19, 2022

More wonderful OPSEC by the Russians.

The day before, explosions were reported at the Belbek military airfield near the city.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 19, 2022

Private PoopyPants said:

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The aid also includes mine-clearing equipment, 15 ScanEagle drones, dozens of mine-resistant vehicles, and other equipment.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 19, 2022

The people benefiting the most from this war are the American defense manufacturers.

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I'd say it's a mutual benefit if those things help Ukraine take back territory.

GAC06 said:

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I agree with most of that but it's still a rough environment for stuff like A-10's. Also although fanboys love "BRRRT", they did most of their damage in DS with mavericks. That's why I say armed drones are the more logical solution. Hellfire kill tanks better, they're cheaper than A-10's, and it would be easier to train, especially since Russia won't need to know how much help Ukraine is getting with flying drones.

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Ukraine seems to plan ahead better than the orcs. Have some surplus pilots trained in A-10s to complement their Su-25's just in case the orcs provide an opportunist scenario.

0:18 - that is neither a young man or a grizzled veteran.

Anecdotal, but they look depleted.

Ag In Ok said:

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0:18 - that is neither a young man or a grizzled veteran.

Anecdotal, but they look depleted.

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Severodonetsk has been Russian-occupied territory since June. What do they have to be tired about?

Private PoopyPants said:

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⚡️Governor: Russian military repair base in Luhansk Oblast destroyed.

According to Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai, around 100 pieces of military equipment and 50 personnel were located at the base in Lotykove village when a presumable strike by Ukraine's forces occurred.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 19, 2022

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Oh ****. That's gonna hurt.

Those 50 will be harder to replace.

Crush the depots.

Slaughter the techs. (They thought non-front line skilled were safe).

MOAR

Interesting video about NATO cooperation to enable the HIMARS effectiveness.



Honestly, what did Russia expect to happen?