PJYoung said:

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18 year old Ukrainian volunteers off to war in Kyiv. Three days training and they will be on the front line. pic.twitter.com/xWudDwhpXS

— Jeremy Bowen (@BowenBBC) March 4, 2022

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Wow. That's surreal. Kids' balls have barely dropped

E said:

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On'es got a sleeping bag and the other a yoga mat... godspeed fellas, give the Russians hell!

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Not much of a camper I take it

Quote:

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How do you photograph the mist?

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With proper side lighting

deddog said:

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black_ice said:

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LostInLA07 said:

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That's already happening. O&G is their last source of outside cash but the impact to everyday Russians from the current sanctions will be substantial, particularly in the cities where many of their citizens are accustomed to daily interaction with western people, products and tech.

The iPhone they are currently holding is likely the last one they will ever have. Most of their apps don't work anymore. Eventually the russian stock market will have to reopen and anyone with capital in that market is going to take crushing losses that they will likely never recover from.

Frankly, the biggest risk here is that we inadvertently re-create a post WW1 Germany and end up with a population in Russia that hates us because of the sanctions imposed by the west. They'll kick out Putin but who knows what the sentiment will be when they are figuring out who the replacement will be. It could be another militaristic nationalist who rallies a desperate and humiliated population.

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Very interesting points.

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Nothing unites a nation like being invaded or attacked by an external adversary.
See Ukraine.
Soon, we will see Russia unite behind Putin.

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That will be interesting to see. Some differences:

1) Economic sanctions suck, but aren't murder
2) We can lift them after the occupation. We are basically saying, "yeah, you be you, but go do that over there. We want nothing to do with you right now"

Iran has been able to hobble along for years with this kind of isolation, but, the people really haven't tasted capitalism yet.

If the entire people of Russia start chanting "death to America" in the streets, I agree we have a real problem. But, I don't think economic sanctions during the Uke occupation gets them there.

aggiehawg said:

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LostInLA07 said:

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That's already happening. O&G is their last source of outside cash but the impact to everyday Russians from the current sanctions will be substantial, particularly in the cities where many of their citizens are accustomed to daily interaction with western people, products and tech.

The iPhone they are currently holding is likely the last one they will ever have. Most of their apps don't work anymore. Eventually the russian stock market will have to reopen and anyone with capital in that market is going to take crushing losses that they will likely never recover from.

Frankly, the biggest risk here is that we inadvertently re-create a post WW1 Germany and end up with a population in Russia that hates us because of the sanctions imposed by the west. They'll kick out Putin but who knows what the sentiment will be when they are figuring out who the replacement will be. It could be another militaristic nationalist who rallies a desperate and humiliated population.

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Or there is further fractioning into more independent sovereign states like what happened the last time?

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We (the West) missed our opportunity when Gorbachev did the right thing and brought the communist experiment to an end. We did not support (get involved enough) to ensure that democratic rule was being established on as many levels as possible. The old cronies and Putin stepped into the power vacuum and the rest is history.

We may get a second chance. Let's see how this plays out and demand more from our leaders. The world may not survive Putin 2.0 let alone Putin 1.0.

PJYoung said:

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18 year old Ukrainian volunteers off to war in Kyiv. Three days training and they will be on the front line. pic.twitter.com/xWudDwhpXS

— Jeremy Bowen (@BowenBBC) March 4, 2022

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>18 year olds with 3 days training, haphazard gear, and no uniform

>Ukraine is winning, or even doing all that well.

Pick one

There is a very clear return on investment for Ukraine's SOF. They're an effective force multiplier, and the fighting in northwest Kyiv is strategically critical as it is preventing Russia from enveloping the city from the west.

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 4, 2022

Mule said:

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aggiehawg said:

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LostInLA07 said:

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That's already happening. O&G is their last source of outside cash but the impact to everyday Russians from the current sanctions will be substantial, particularly in the cities where many of their citizens are accustomed to daily interaction with western people, products and tech.

The iPhone they are currently holding is likely the last one they will ever have. Most of their apps don't work anymore. Eventually the russian stock market will have to reopen and anyone with capital in that market is going to take crushing losses that they will likely never recover from.

Frankly, the biggest risk here is that we inadvertently re-create a post WW1 Germany and end up with a population in Russia that hates us because of the sanctions imposed by the west. They'll kick out Putin but who knows what the sentiment will be when they are figuring out who the replacement will be. It could be another militaristic nationalist who rallies a desperate and humiliated population.

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Or there is further fractioning into more independent sovereign states like what happened the last time?

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We (the West) missed our opportunity when Gorbachev did the right thing and brought the communist experiment to an end. We did not support (get involved enough) to ensure that democratic rule was being established on as many levels as possible. The old cronies and Putin stepped into the power vacuum and the rest is history.

We may get a second chance. Let's see how this plays out and demand more from our leaders. The world may not survive Putin 2.0 let alone Putin 1.0.

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I will say I think the younger Russian has much more exposure to to the West via technology. We do have a chance if Putin is ousted

Buyer Finally Emerges For Russian Oil Offered At A Record $28 Discount https://t.co/3nHMNTwnRF

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 4, 2022

Russia having to sell their oil at massive discount to get it out

Irish 2.0 said:

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WHITE HOUSE SAYS LOOKING AT OPTIONS TO CUT U.S. CONSUMPTION OF RUSSIAN ENERGY

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

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If only we had a reserve of petroleum to use in times like this.

We could fill salt domes along the gulf coast with crude and pump it out in times of need. For a working name we can call it the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

p_bubel said:

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I was lucky enough to be able to see it take off after it landed in Anchorage a couple years ago. The size of it was almost incomprehensible,

Ukraine fields the 9M113, so I imagine these captured missiles will be put into use quickly. https://t.co/iip3DVgInA

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 4, 2022

The Moldavian Breakaway Region of Transnistria which is currently occupied by about 1,500 Russian Troops has demanded that Moldova recognize their Independence, this comes after Moldova submitted their Proposal to join the European Union yesterday.

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 4, 2022

*YELLEN: WILL ACT FURTHER IF RUSSIA FURTHERS UKRAINE INVASION

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

TRM said:

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Ukraine fields the 9M113, so I imagine these captured missiles will be put into use quickly. https://t.co/iip3DVgInA

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 4, 2022

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Seems like the Russians are supplying the Eukranians as much munitions and weaponry as the EU and NATO allies.

Irish 2.0 said:

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Buyer Finally Emerges For Russian Oil Offered At A Record $28 Discount https://t.co/3nHMNTwnRF

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 4, 2022

Russia having to sell their oil at massive discount to get it out

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Refill the SPR with the cheap Russian oil.

Ukraine is not winning, and is not going to win. That was 100% given from the start.

But, they are doing extremely well given the circumstances and expectations.

RebelE Infantry said:

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LostInLA07 said:

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That's already happening. O&G is their last source of outside cash but the impact to everyday Russians from the current sanctions will be substantial, particularly in the cities where many of their citizens are accustomed to daily interaction with western people, products and tech.

The iPhone they are currently holding is likely the last one they will ever have. Most of their apps don't work anymore. Eventually the russian stock market will have to reopen and anyone with capital in that market is going to take crushing losses that they will likely never recover from.

Frankly, the biggest risk here is that we inadvertently re-create a post WW1 Germany and end up with a population in Russia that hates us because of the sanctions imposed by the west. They'll kick out Putin but who knows what the sentiment will be when they are figuring out who the replacement will be. It could be another militaristic nationalist who rallies a desperate and humiliated population.

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I'm afraid this is exactly what we're hurtling headlong towards and no one seems to be interested in talking about it. Private corporations are going far beyond the official sanctions and only making this even more likely.

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Yeah, but what choice does the global community have? If Putin is unwilling to relent and pull out, and we are unwilling to directly engage, I don't see another option. We can't blame ourselves for the actions of an evil dictator. This totally sucks, but what he is doing is devastating.

#Ukraine forces blow up bridge at border to #Transnistria pic.twitter.com/IyFqjaGfL9

— C4H10FO2P (@markito0171) March 4, 2022

PJYoung said:

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18 year old Ukrainian volunteers off to war in Kyiv. Three days training and they will be on the front line. pic.twitter.com/xWudDwhpXS

— Jeremy Bowen (@BowenBBC) March 4, 2022

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I've never seen anyone look so brave in skinny jeans.

Tonight is a pretty quiet night so far.
It looks like new Russian convoys northwest of Kyiv have been defeated - again.

— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) March 4, 2022

Irish 2.0 said:

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Buyer Finally Emerges For Russian Oil Offered At A Record $28 Discount https://t.co/3nHMNTwnRF

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 4, 2022

Russia having to sell their oil at massive discount to get it out

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The American people need to boycott Shell gasoline stations.

YouBet said:

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JoeAggie1010 said:

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David Wallace said:

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Reading here about some of the supply chain issues the Russian military is experiencing in regards to ammo, weapons and such.

Reminds me of the global supply chain issues everywhere.

Makes me think about our own military and replenishment of our own hardware, ammo, weapons.

But this all goes towards why maybe Russia sent in their "B" team. The cost and time of replacing old APCs and Tanks vs newer ones (that may have more advanced technology---we all know about the chip shortages causing delays in the Auto industry) could have factored in this...

Another reason the US and NATO may be standing down is to save our equipment for use in a potentially larger and bigger conflict (Think China/Taiwan) Maybe its not just that we can't fight two wars at the same time. Its we also can't resupply and replace at a quick enough pace.

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Is this just throwing stuff on the wall time? You are seeing a war in real time, where Russia is unprepared. Please tell me an instance where human nature you throw in the "B" team.

As for DOD logistics, the Russian's couldn't hold our jock.

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This has happened throughout history in waging war. You throw the conscripted fodder in the front lines to soften up the enemy and not expend your best resources if you don't have to. Especially if you think you are going to roll anyway. It's a numbers game.

We have intelligence officials in the west who have said this is happening here albeit not 100% confirmed, yet. But there is an enormous amount of 'evidence' that this has probably happened to some degree here.

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I fully understand what you're saying. But also, if they are playing the numbers game, they miscalculated. Also, if they indeed threw in their "B" team, the Russian plan for Ukraine was woefully inept. The Russian's, once they secure their desired terrain, are then going to bring in the "A" team to hold it? Doesn't sound logical to me.

The SU was reported earlier, but a helicopter is also downed.

Two Russian aircraft shot down near Volnovakha in Donbas today, an Su-25 fighter and an Mi-8 helicopter https://t.co/xeD6S849my

— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) March 4, 2022

BREAKING - Russia has blocked Twitter, Interfax says

— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 4, 2022