I think this is actually a bigger deal than it might seem:

Russian ministry recommends fertiliser producers halt exports - Reuters

— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 4, 2022

TRM said:

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I think this is actually a bigger deal than it might seem:

Russian ministry recommends fertiliser producers halt exports - Reuters

— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 4, 2022

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One of their few economic weapons. I am sure there is a carve out for India, not one for us.

Captain Positivity said:

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This is actually a pretty significant video, as it reflects the fact that, north of Kyiv, the Ukrainians still hold a line of control on the Irpin river https://t.co/7e6fxdxevj pic.twitter.com/COv5P0WWn1

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 4, 2022

Reason #1 they still hold it, they turned the Irpin river into a lake pic.twitter.com/cRtsSYvxuk

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 4, 2022

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I was wondering how they would flood the Irpin since it flows into the Dnieper. Looks like there is a lot of elevation between the natural end of the Irpin and where it currently flows into the Kyiv Reservoir. Lots of flooding/mud forcing troops into chokepoints.

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The location where Irpin' enters the Dnieper river falls into the Kyiv Reservoir which the Dnieper forms because of the Kyiv Hydro-Electric Power Plant dam. Thus, the Dnieper water level at this location is lifted artificially by about 6.57 meters above the natural level. Therefore, the water of Irpin' is pumped into the Kyiv Reservoir by powerful electrical pumps, making Irpin' the river that literally flows upwards.

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Ag In Ok said:

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TRM said:

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I think this is actually a bigger deal than it might seem:

Russian ministry recommends fertiliser producers halt exports - Reuters

— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 4, 2022

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One of their few economic weapons. I am sure there is a carve out for India, not one for us.

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If there isn't, India is gonna be pissed. I'd imagine there's probably also a carve out for China probably as well

Touchless said:

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GAC06 said:

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This is a TOW, which is a heavier missile, but the result is the same. Hit the ammunition and/or fuel inside, and the tank goes pop and the crew is mist.

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I know absolutely nothing on how this stuff works, but a missle that is flying above a tank and then blowing it up is mind boggling to me. It doesn't even hit the tank. It just explodes when it's directly over the object it wants to blow up and somehow the explosive gets all of the energy and force going directly down onto the tank. Like, what? How? Crazy technology to me.

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Well if all you gotta do is cook off the inside then you don't technically need to penetrate the armor. Just create a large enough shockwave and you've basically triggered the tank to blow itself up.

Now how that's accomplished I'm not 100%. I know shaped charges do crazy stuff like create a molten jet of metal which melts through armor, but I don't know if that's happening here. It really does look like the bigass shock just does the work.

edit, frame-stepping through the video it actually does look like there's a smaller jet of explosion that goes into the tank and then a few frames later everything explodes. Might be as simple as that.

TRM said:

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I think this is actually a bigger deal than it might seem:

Russian ministry recommends fertiliser producers halt exports - Reuters

— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 4, 2022

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Some people see how big a deal it is

No Spin Ag said:

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Irish 2.0 said:

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SWISS GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS ADOPTING FURTHER PACKAGES OF EUROPEAN UNION SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA

— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) March 4, 2022

SWISS GOVERNMENT SAYS TRANSACTIONS WITH THE RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK ARE ALSO NO LONGER PERMITTED

— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) March 4, 2022

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Does anyone know why the Swiss are hitting Putin like this when they stayed neutral when Hitler was running rampant?

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Yeah sadly Putin doesn't threaten them the way Hitler did.

Can always count on Texags to have a guy.

What's the advantage of a shaped charge from overhead instead of direct? Thinner armor?

🇺🇦⚡️🇷🇺 The Ukrainian army seized abandoned military vehicles belonging to the Russian army. It is considered that the vehicles, which were not damaged, were abandoned because they could not be refueled. pic.twitter.com/OzJB5HXegV

— Ali Özkök (@Ozkok_A) March 4, 2022

SpreadsheetAg said:

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All I do is Nguyen said:

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ATX_AG_08 said:

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I think a lot of people are surprised by these numbers, but opposed invasions cause a number of losses.

Ukraine claims 9166 Russian casualties, while the last Russian claim was 2100

Per @oryxspioenkop tracker, we can confirm at least 500 Russian vehicles destroyed. pic.twitter.com/uwZB4ks8gi

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 4, 2022

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This is HUGE regardless of whatever misinformation is coming out. If Russia is willing to admit to at least 2100 dead, then it is much worse than that.

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It's huge from an American / Western standpoint, but not so much to Russian Generals. They don't have our same view of casualties.

We know:
1. Russian tactics (and soviet before that) commit their conscripts and old equipment to fight first
2. Russian generals won't balk at these numbers, they will just keep feeding the war effort with more personnel and equipment from stores until they overwhelm or wear down the defenders

Now they probably were surprised by the resistance and the technology being thrown at them, but that was them sticking their hat up on a bayonet and seeing where the shooting is coming from and what is being shot at them.

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So Russia uses 2nd tier machinery and soldiers first? Why does that not make a lot of sense to me? I would think you would want a mix of top tier soldiers with everyone else. I have ZERO military or tactical experience so I am just going off what makes sense to me, a civilian.

Decay said:

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Can always count on Texags to have a guy.

What's the advantage of a shaped charge from overhead instead of direct? Thinner armor?

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More or less, ya. Most direct path to the magazine is through the top. The molten penetrators from the shaped charges are intended to set off the tank's ammo stores. And if the tank was out of ammo most likely will start a fire inside the crew compartment, disabling the tank and killing the crew.

TRM said:

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I think this is actually a bigger deal than it might seem:

Russian ministry recommends fertiliser producers halt exports - Reuters

— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 4, 2022

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They export about $3 billion of nitrogenous fertilizer per year. The US uses about 115 tons a year, and it's about $700 bucks a ton, so I am guessing...that while we probably import some it is not actually a show stopper (only around 4 or 5 tons).

My cowboy math (someone correct me) says that is only about 4 million tons in total (and most probably goes to India/Europe). I am sure there will be some good profit opportunities though as it will spike prices further short term.

This is probably a good site to ask; do we really have to import a lot of nitrogenous fertilizer?

Thanks y'all. Last question, is the Javelin really a 280/300 kind of weapon? If it's smaller than the TOW is it more anti-BMP and less anti-tank?

Javelin is very much an antitank weapon.

I'm kind of thrilled that the NATO countries are sending the javelins as well as the old inventory.

Save the Javelins for the heavy tanks. Use the old stuff for the softer targets. Lot's more softer targets than tanks and you'd hate to waste a Javelin on a fuel truck.

Simple and quick video describing shape charges. The concept was first introduced in WWII with Panzerfusts and I think Bazookas. The biggest difference is the use of electronics to expand the range of the weapon and allow to target the thinner steel on top, as previously mentioned.

Why are countries not sending Ukraine some drones? Seems like Russia would not have any way to tell what country supplied them or, for that matter, who was controlling them.

Are drones considered a "weapon" like a missile, or are they considered "aircraft" like an A-10?

Bayraktar!

Ukraine is buying drones from Turkey. They've been highly effective.

The convoy in the west may be a bit out of operating range depending on launch location and is likely covered by somewhat active anti-air measures now, so drone strikes are less feasible.

There's a subreddit setup for information about volunteers going to Ukraine. https://www.reddit.com/r/volunteersForUkraine/

Some interesting posts

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We are responding to the critical needs of the situation on the ground. I will be blunt it is not good. There are seasoned combat veterans who survived the worst of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, etc. all saying they have never seen anything like this and it is warfare on a level never before.

This means we need to send the people who can best respond to this circumstance. I know you heard Zelensky asked for "everybody. That doesn't mean that WE should help send everybody. We are focusing on sending people with the following skills to get the most effective volunteers over to Ukraine right away:

[ol]

Heavy combat experience with multiple tours of duty and multiple years of enlistment, usually infantry or special forces/spec ops

Combat/heavy combat experience with medical training or a highly qualified medical professional (surgeon, Navy Corpsman, etc.)

Combat experience/significant military experience and a fluent Russian/Ukrainean speaker

[/ol]

<SNIP>

The strange benefit of the horrors of war in Iraq and Afghanistan now means that the USA has thousands of people who do fit the profiles above. The problem is these guys are not easy to send off. Combat vets generally don't have passports especially after two years of Covid. Seriously, a combat vet with a passport is finding a diamond. As one of you told me "Grunts are bad at paperwork." That is true there is an inverse relationship between having a passport or being able to get a passport quickly and being able to keep yourself alive in a war zone. I learned that this week I think I explained to 500 of you guys how to get a passport and shout out to a certain one of you who is REALLY bad at paperwork I'm so glad we got you all set buddy. In addition, we have to heavily vet people. We have to know you have the experience you claim and you aren't really a militia member who will make things worse. This is serious. This is not weekend warrior this is going into the worst ground warfare the world has ever seen. We also have to make sure you have the proper equipment and 100% of everything you need


<SNIP>

Lawyers, we also need you. Here are two options to assist. Must be members of the bar in any US state:
[ol]

Are you former JAG Corps or other relevant experience in military law? Definitely in need of your help to answer questions from volunteers.

Are you an attorney who could assist volunteers file passport applications and get them expedited, write wills and update wills, assign power of attorney, etc.? All of our volunteers have legal needs to get them on their way.

[/ol]

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There are seasoned combat veterans who survived the worst of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, etc. all saying they have never seen anything like this and it is warfare on a level never before.

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This is the 2nd time I've seen that said. What makes this one so much different than previous?

And some comments on the Ukraine Volunteers sub

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14 year veteran with the U.S. Army as an infantryman. Small arms expert, proficient in training and multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan with combat experience with paperwork to prove it.

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Any chance I can find out if my application has been processed yet? Two combat tours airborne infantry with commo and medic qualifications. 48 years old excellent physical condition (no meds or preexisting cond) With passport and can get myself there and geared up. Just need some direction.

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I messaged you. Still waiting. I am a corpsman. The group I have 50% have our passports and the other 50% are enroute.

While being patient I went ahead and took the initiative. I hope recruited is the right word but I have inspired a navy doctor into my group. We have many seasoned and salty corpsman who were with the infantry their entire career. We were all in from 04 and on. We are an older batch of veterans.

We have planned everything out and are coordinating with troops on the ground from our network. We are gathering medical supplies, donations and gear. There is a group that we have contact with but for the sake of opsec, rather not say ****, they are requesting for major support.

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US Army 11B, firefighter, EMT, and law enforcement here. Got a group of 25 veterans trying to go over.

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I am a nurse. Can I be of assistance. ICU and psych experience. Have a passport

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I have 14 years in the Army Reserve and Virginia Army National Guard. I was an XO of my MP unit in Iraq. I handled logistics but the Fort Leonard Wood MP school taught me to shoot an M9 left and right handed and an Army sniper at Fort Dix taught me to be better at the M-16. My father's family was killed by Russians from 1917-1941 and his father was put in a gulag. Can I get an address for where to go, say in Lviv for starters? I have to determine where to go? Or should I just make my way to the border? I can get in myself but need to know where to go. I don't know Ukrainian.

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Iraq vetran trying to get over there to help out. Im new to reddit so idk how to pm you. Im in Alaska right now. Deployed to iraq 07-09 gunner and PSD. Need more info on how to help out.

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wangus12 said:

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Quote:

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There are seasoned combat veterans who survived the worst of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, etc. all saying they have never seen anything like this and it is warfare on a level never before.

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This is the 2nd time I've seen that said. What makes this one so much different than previous?

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My guess is hyperbole, but what do I know? That use of rhetoric could convey urgency and danger for those that like to run toward that sort of stuff, though.