MeatDr said:NEW: Russia is mounting night raids to overrun Ukrainian positions in the contested Donbas, two Ukrainian sources told @ForeignPolicy.
— Jack Detsch (@JackDetsch) May 17, 2022
Russia's twilight attacks have left Ukraine in dire need of strike and night vision drones to launch counterattacks.https://t.co/IxXDjPmXL2
Rossticus said:There appears to be a massive Sealift Operation currently underway from the Eastern United States involving almost all USNS Ships in the Atlantic, including the USNS Soderman one of the Navy’s RORO Ships who left the Sunny Point Naval Yard yesterday heading likely toward Europe. https://t.co/Y2d9colHMP
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 17, 2022
National Gene Bank of Plants of Ukraine destroyed by the Russian army 🧬🌱
— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) (@mbk_center) May 17, 2022
It kept more than 160 thousand varieties of plant seeds, and hybrids of agricultural crops, including some of those that no longer exist in Europe, and in the entire world. https://t.co/w6PICvpekk
&^($^%$%^& heathens....Rossticus said:National Gene Bank of Plants of Ukraine destroyed by the Russian army 🧬🌱
— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) (@mbk_center) May 17, 2022
It kept more than 160 thousand varieties of plant seeds, and hybrids of agricultural crops, including some of those that no longer exist in Europe, and in the entire world. https://t.co/w6PICvpekk
Every time I see that kind of crap, it makes me just want to see our AF and Navy aviators take off the gloves and bomb every last orc formation in Ukraine back to the point where they are going to have to throw rocks if they want to keep fighting. Every day at least one story comes across the internet that proves they have earned the name orcs and should be called that instead of russians whenever possible.rab79 said:&^($^%$%^& heathens....Rossticus said:National Gene Bank of Plants of Ukraine destroyed by the Russian army 🧬🌱
— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) (@mbk_center) May 17, 2022
It kept more than 160 thousand varieties of plant seeds, and hybrids of agricultural crops, including some of those that no longer exist in Europe, and in the entire world. https://t.co/w6PICvpekk
It was always going to come down to this. That's just what the Euros do.Quote:
Their biggest weakness remains the fact that they cannot finance the war themselves.. and they will be depending upon some extremely undependable allies in the form of Germany and France.. both of whom will take anything resembling a satisfactory peace.
Ultimately, it is likely that for the Ukrainians to endure, the United States Government will have to bankroll their side of this war.
Pray for Ukrainian victory.
I think the Ukrainians have been smart about their counter attacks and have shown remarkable restraint for a military watching their country slowly being raped by orcs. The temptation is to try to counter attack everywhere to save as much as possible. Instead, they have picked key salients of the Russian attack and repelled them one at a time. They are massing their forces and striking at weaknesses in the supply lines to force the orcs to retreat or be cut off.Jayhawk said:
Reports of the Russians' demise have been greatly exaggerated. Mariupol has fallen, the Donbas front, e.g. south of Kharkiv appears to have stabilized. The ~90 M777 tubes should firm up the Ukrainian defensive positions but they are not going to be difference makers when it comes to offensive operations, and the Ukrainian Army does not appear to have the capability to mount any large scale counteroffensive, at least none has been forthcoming thus far. This thing is looking like a real meat grinder from here. The Russians were soundly defeated and prevented from realizing their initial war aims, but they have enough about them to keep the thing going. The Ukrainians have been very disciplined about avoiding reports of their own casualties, but they have to be high and they have to be feeling the wear and tear at this point. There were only so many western quality Ukrainian combat units pre-war and those have got to be exhausted by now at the three month mark. I am confident the national morale is still high and they will be able to field recruits and turn them into competent fighters however. Their biggest weakness remains the fact that they cannot finance the war themselves.. and they will be depending upon some extremely undependable allies in the form of Germany and France.. both of whom will take anything resembling a satisfactory peace.
Ultimately, it is likely that for the Ukrainians to endure, the United States Government will have to bankroll their side of this war.
Pray for Ukrainian victory.
I can understand your rational. But I disagree with the your assessment of the Ukes counteroffensive capabilities. They are by all accounts, the tactically superior and most highly motivated force in this equation. Their supply line and command/control targeting emphasis has crippled the Russian momentum and inflicted significantly higher casualty and equipment losses on the invaders (in a few months) than most could have even imagined.Jayhawk said:
Reports of the Russians' demise have been greatly exaggerated. Mariupol has fallen, the Donbas front, e.g. south of Kharkiv appears to have stabilized. The ~90 M777 tubes should firm up the Ukrainian defensive positions but they are not going to be difference makers when it comes to offensive operations, and the Ukrainian Army does not appear to have the capability to mount any large scale counteroffensive, at least none has been forthcoming thus far. This thing is looking like a real meat grinder from here. The Russians were soundly defeated and prevented from realizing their initial war aims, but they have enough about them to keep the thing going. The Ukrainians have been very disciplined about avoiding reports of their own casualties, but they have to be high and they have to be feeling the wear and tear at this point. There were only so many western quality Ukrainian combat units pre-war and those have got to be exhausted by now at the three month mark. I am confident the national morale is still high and they will be able to field recruits and turn them into competent fighters however. Their biggest weakness remains the fact that they cannot finance the war themselves.. and they will be depending upon some extremely undependable allies in the form of Germany and France.. both of whom will take anything resembling a satisfactory peace.
Ultimately, it is likely that for the Ukrainians to endure, the United States Government will have to bankroll their side of this war.
Pray for Ukrainian victory.
Lots of Russians die.Ulrich said:
I think Ukraine is going to keep making inroads, but it's hard to imagine that a winner will emerge by winter. What happens when it gets cold again?
Come home safe, brother.Quote:
"My brother is on the front. He contacts me as often as he can but he has been silent for 6 days. He is not a volunteer soldier. He is a professional one. In the Ukrainian army since 2019. He told me that one day all men in the country would need to defend Ukraine, and he wanted to be trained before that day came.
He was 19 then. He is 22 years old now and has been in combat a few times since Russia invaded. We had a method of communication set up. 'Alive. Working' meant he is in combat area and cannot speak, but is okay. He sent me this message every day or every two days.
He told me Russian artillery is the worst. (Worst to endure) Russian infantry is scary but only within shouting distance. He said the closer the two armies become the worse the fighting gets. Everyone prefers to keep the enemy as far from them as possible. He told me several times he has been in such a close distance they have thrown grenades at each other.
I am proud of my brother. He was not a brave child growing up. Deep water scared him. Heights scared him. Even the dark scared him. So I respect that he has courage now to do the things many others are afraid to do. He says that everyone is scared and it's not courage that keeps them fighting. It's necessity.
He has told me that courage plays a small role in fighting. You move positions because you have to or you will die. You fight because you have to or you will die. You load ammunition because you have to. You dig trenches because you have to. My brother has changed a lot. I really respect him. I am confident he will survive this war and come home to tell us all his stories.
My brother is a Ukrainian soldier and I am proud of him. To me he is Ukraine and I will always praise him."
- Ukrainian Civilian. May 14th, 2022
Ukraine IDs Russian 'war criminal' accused of gang-raping child
— Charlotte Pratten (@Pratttte) May 17, 2022
#51722 #rape #russia #ukraine #ukrainewar #warcrimeshttps://t.co/xroyDhXV5F
This guy better be a dead man walking. I weep for all the crimes of Mariupol that will be covered up.Quote:
Bulat Fassakhov, 20, a native of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, carried out the crimes in the early months of the war in March. Fassakho, who is serving in the 30th Individual Motorized Rifle Brigade, 2nd Guards Merged Military of the Central Military District of the Russian Federation, allegedly barged with 3 comrades into a non-public household in a village in the Brovary district close to Ukraine's capital.
Ukrainian authorities accused Russian soldier Bulat Fassakhov of participating in a gang rape of a younger female. The group forced the spouse and children living there into the avenue, but requested the unnamed victim explained by SSU as a "young girl" to stay at the rear of.
Perfect exposed windpipe and skinny neck for some K-Bar work. Hope it happens to this vile F'er.CondensedFoggyAggie said:Ukraine IDs Russian 'war criminal' accused of gang-raping child
— Charlotte Pratten (@Pratttte) May 17, 2022
#51722 #rape #russia #ukraine #ukrainewar #warcrimeshttps://t.co/xroyDhXV5FThis guy better be a dead man walking. I weep for all the crimes of Mariupol that will be covered up.Quote:
Bulat Fassakhov, 20, a native of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, carried out the crimes in the early months of the war in March. Fassakho, who is serving in the 30th Individual Motorized Rifle Brigade, 2nd Guards Merged Military of the Central Military District of the Russian Federation, allegedly barged with 3 comrades into a non-public household in a village in the Brovary district close to Ukraine's capital.
Ukrainian authorities accused Russian soldier Bulat Fassakhov of participating in a gang rape of a younger female. The group forced the spouse and children living there into the avenue, but requested the unnamed victim explained by SSU as a "young girl" to stay at the rear of.
Quote:
I try to look into the distance with my glass eyes. Bring the man to the tent. A woman with an eight-year-old boy is already standing nearby. Volunteer Volodymyr Miroshnychenko explains that the childs turn is not coming soon. He is very hungry, and you cant eat before the test so we need to let the boy go ahead. His DNA samples will be taken to find his father.
"My dad will come back from the war," the boy says. "And he will teach me to ride a bike."
Miroshnychenko and I pretend that we dont exist. Most likely, his dad is here, next door in the same refrigerator truck.
Quote:
Today, the capacities of the Turkish manufacturer Baykar Makina are such that, on average, one attack drone per day can be sent to the territory of Ukraine. However, once every two weeks, military transport aircraft depart from the territory of the Turkish city of Tekirdag, which, according to sources, deliver attack drones to the territory of neighboring Poland, which are subsequently transported to Ukraine.
"It is profitable for Ukraine to buy Turkish attack drones, and it is profitable for Turkey to sell them. We are not even talking about complexes, but about the drones themselves, which may well work with control systems previously delivered by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. - the analyst notes.
To date, according to official statistics, more than 50 Bayraktar TB2 drones have been destroyed during the JMD in Ukraine, but Ukraine, apparently thanks to Turkey, is quickly making up for losses.
10 year old Illia Matviienko from #Mariupol and his mom were hit by 🇷🇺 bomb. Mom dragged Ilia to safety and died hugging him. 🇷🇺 troops kidnapped the boy to #Donetsk, but his grandma crossed four borders and saved him. #Kyiv 🏥 was able to save his leg, he will walk again. pic.twitter.com/htWoZUKeAO
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 15, 2022
🔥 In the Novosibirsk region, a chemical plant for the production of polyethylene received an overdose of cotton and caught fire.
— Joanna🇪🇺🇵🇱❤️🇺🇦 (@JoaJuan2) May 17, 2022
Russian media reports that the fire area is 2,000 square meters.😳🔥 pic.twitter.com/PdL9fi34H0
Quote:
Representatives of the Black Sea Fleet didn't want to take me to the hospitals [where the sailors from the Moskva were being treated], but I managed to get into three. There, I saw normal, living guys, there were about 20 of them in total. I found out that they had signed something like a non-disclosure agreement for five years.
I tried to speak with one of the boys, he was with my son at the same time and place. But as soon as he started talking, the two women in uniform came over and then he said that he couldn't say anything because of the NDA. One boy managed to tell me in a whisper that they [the surviving sailors] were "scattered all over Russia."
The next day, I returned to the hospital again, but the boys flatly refused to talk. Some of the guys were in a very depressed state. I understand them perfectly. I tried to talk with them, albeit unsuccessfully. I showed them [the sailors in the hospital] photos of all the [missing] guys that I had. Some recognized them, but they conferred [with each other] and didn't tell me anything about anyone.
Ulrich said:
I think Ukraine is going to keep making inroads, but it's hard to imagine that a winner will emerge by winter. What happens when it gets cold again?
This quote from Vzglyad is striking
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) May 17, 2022
"Now they are waiting for public trials, in which they will have to look into the eyes of the people they tortured and humiliated. And there is some supreme justice in this! Donetsk Nuremberg"https://t.co/nIimyTTiID
It's possible they settle into a stalemate that lasts until December or longer but I think it's just as likely that Ukraine stays on defense and keeps the KIA ratio in their favor and we see a broad Russian collapse before then.Ulrich said:
I think Ukraine is going to keep making inroads, but it's hard to imagine that a winner will emerge by winter. What happens when it gets cold again?
This is in response to Kiev putting that Russian soldier on trial for war crimes.Rossticus said:This quote from Vzglyad is striking
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) May 17, 2022
"Now they are waiting for public trials, in which they will have to look into the eyes of the people they tortured and humiliated. And there is some supreme justice in this! Donetsk Nuremberg"https://t.co/nIimyTTiID
Ukraine is having success with its Kharkiv offensive. But the sense in Donbas is that the situation is deteriorating significantly - and that this has accelerated in recent days. Russian troops have advanced on several axes in the past 24 hours and there's an ominous feeling here
— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) May 18, 2022
Russia's army is significantly degraded, but it still has a lot of firepower - and it's all here
— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) May 18, 2022
Luhansk- Popasna Map (May 18 10:00 AM)
— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) May 18, 2022
Russian Forces have captured the villages of Toshkivka, Orikhove, and Novozvanivka
Ukrainian Forces are defending the villages of Komyshuvakha, Zolote, and Hirske 🇺🇦#UkraineWar #Donbass #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/9jmuAEy1Y6
#Lyman Update - The situation around #Lyman is rapidly deteriorating for #Ukrainian troops. Today, #Russia captured Novoselivka to the NW and may have captured Yarova. Lyman is now surrounded on three sides with only destroyed bridges over the Donets on the 4th side. pic.twitter.com/xDWQah0EYs
— OSINT Aggregator (@AggregateOsint) May 18, 2022
Later the general area allegedly got hit by MLRS fire, but it is still unclear if anything was damaged and no M777 can be seen in the footage.
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 18, 2022
#Kharkiv Axis - #Ukrainian troops have bridged the Donets River in 2 locations, moved a large assault force across the river and attacked #Russian forces 90km NE of Kharkiv along critical #RUAF supply lines. #UAF may have seized the town of Zarichne and are still attacking NE. pic.twitter.com/8k2ASVeWmR
— OSINT Aggregator (@AggregateOsint) May 18, 2022
#Russian leadership is undoubtedly moving troops into the area to counterattack this surprise assault by #Ukraine. If #UAF can capture #Vovchansk they may be able to establish a permanent bridgehead on the E side of the Donets River and use it to attack #RUAF to the S. pic.twitter.com/BBQP0VgJ1R
— OSINT Aggregator (@AggregateOsint) May 18, 2022
Take it you have never studied war before, artillery can very much be an offensive weapon, without it the Allies would have not been able to defeat the Axis. When most people hear "cover and move" they think of small arms but that is not the case. You lay down an artillery barraige and have infantry come in underneath of it. Russia knows this is coming which is why in the Donbas region they have been working on trenches for the past month. Artillery is great but unless you get a direct hit or have an air burst munition then you are safe in the trench.Jayhawk said:
Reports of the Russians' demise have been greatly exaggerated. Mariupol has fallen, the Donbas front, e.g. south of Kharkiv appears to have stabilized. The ~90 M777 tubes should firm up the Ukrainian defensive positions but they are not going to be difference makers when it comes to offensive operations, and the Ukrainian Army does not appear to have the capability to mount any large scale counteroffensive, at least none has been forthcoming thus far. This thing is looking like a real meat grinder from here. The Russians were soundly defeated and prevented from realizing their initial war aims, but they have enough about them to keep the thing going. The Ukrainians have been very disciplined about avoiding reports of their own casualties, but they have to be high and they have to be feeling the wear and tear at this point. There were only so many western quality Ukrainian combat units pre-war and those have got to be exhausted by now at the three month mark. I am confident the national morale is still high and they will be able to field recruits and turn them into competent fighters however. Their biggest weakness remains the fact that they cannot finance the war themselves.. and they will be depending upon some extremely undependable allies in the form of Germany and France.. both of whom will take anything resembling a satisfactory peace.
Ultimately, it is likely that for the Ukrainians to endure, the United States Government will have to bankroll their side of this war.
Pray for Ukrainian victory.
They're not that deep yet ... they just crossed the Donets and are trying to secure the east bank. Likely with mobile assault groups. This is shaping up for a major assault on Vovchansk to cut the critical supply route from Belgorod. Will be interesting to follow.AgLA06 said:
I think they'll keep doing what they are now. Fix the enemy with blocking units and find a way to flank them and cut them and their supplies off from the rear. If the reports this morning of Ukraine troops now 90km northeast of Isium is correct and they are that deep in the rear, Russia might soon panic like they did north of Kiev and retreat
Quote:
Russia wants the sea ports and manufacturing resources of the area since without it they are done as a country in a generation.
