Conscripts in track suits getting married just before deployment(Presumibly for benefits in case of KIA)

Sad but morbidly interesting scene as men have shotgun weddings moments before they leave for mobilization. You can tell from everybody's body language they know this is a one way trip.

I remember professor Roger Reese(TAMU History professor on Russian history and USSR) saying that the cultural mindset in Russia is very different from Americans. In a time of war, we talk about "serving our country" with the full expectation of going, fighting and returning home safely. In Russia, in the same manner they talk about, "dying for our country", for that is the expectation if you're going off to fight. I wonder if it can be traced back to the super late emancipation of the serfs in Russian society, because even after during the USSR days lives are entirely expendable if it's for the betterment of the state. It is sad and I would hope that 21st century interconnectedness would change this mindset for those living under oppressive boots, but I guess it's censured enough to not be the case.

Do these women know they're supposed to have 10 babies before their husband's go off to die?

Ukrainian forces recover a captured Russian R-145BMA command vehicle based on the SPM-2 Tigr IMV, Kharkiv Oblast. There’s a pretty good chance that the tow vehicle, an Ural-4320, was also captured by Ukrainian forces at some point. pic.twitter.com/SkK491b9k3

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 28, 2022

BREAKING: Russia's FSB is investigating damage to Nord Stream pipelines as "international terrorism" - Interfax

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) September 28, 2022

Gaius Julius Bevo said:

---

They mustered up a bunch of middle-aged and elderly men. Gads. Humor me, gents. Is there any good use out of these Russians other than cannon fodder? Can they be tasked with something meaningful that they can yet accomplish?

---

Earlier in the war…operation, when the russkies were stealing washing machines and dryers from houses, these guys probably would have been very good tinkering with them. Actual combat? Doubt these guys do much other than fetal position or surrender.

If the Russians are smart, they will surrender in large numbers at the first opportunity when pressed, and therefore maximize their survival chances instead of fighting a in a reckless useless war.

txags92 said:

---

Private PoopyPants said:

---

BREAKING: Russia's FSB is investigating damage to Nord Stream pipelines as "international terrorism" - Interfax

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) September 28, 2022

---

Of course they are... Bless their hearts.

---

US will be found responsible. Due to the fact that Nord Stream carries Russian gas, it qualifies as Russian soil. US is a member of NATO, therefor the sabotage was a direct attack against Russian soil, by NATO. Full scale mobilization (which would be just as much of a charlie foxtrot) and martial law in Russia?

mickeyrig06sq3 said:

---

txags92 said:

---

Private PoopyPants said:

---

BREAKING: Russia's FSB is investigating damage to Nord Stream pipelines as "international terrorism" - Interfax

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) September 28, 2022

---

Of course they are... Bless their hearts.

---

US will be found responsible. Due to the fact that Nord Stream carries Russian gas, it qualifies as Russian soil. US is a member of NATO, therefor the sabotage was a direct attack against Russian soil, by NATO. Full scale mobilization (which would be just as much of a charlie foxtrot) and martial law in Russia?

---

Probably. And the world will care about as much as their sham referendums.

FSB can't figure out why their army just evaporated. I'm sure there's lots of things going on here, but investigating isn't one of them.

AgLA06 said:

---

mickeyrig06sq3 said:

---

txags92 said:

---

Private PoopyPants said:

---

BREAKING: Russia's FSB is investigating damage to Nord Stream pipelines as "international terrorism" - Interfax

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) September 28, 2022

---

Of course they are... Bless their hearts.

---

US will be found responsible. Due to the fact that Nord Stream carries Russian gas, it qualifies as Russian soil. US is a member of NATO, therefor the sabotage was a direct attack against Russian soil, by NATO. Full scale mobilization (which would be just as much of a charlie foxtrot) and martial law in Russia?

---

Probably. And the world will care about as much as their sham referendums.

FSB can't figure out why their army just evaporated. I'm sure there's lots of things going on here, but investigating isn't one of them

---

Just have to make their own people believe it. Right now people are fleeing because it's a "not my war not my country" situation. Stir up feelings of nationalism and you get people clamoring to join. The question is whether the Russian people have started to reach their BS threshold. US population was torn on WWII, then Pearl Harbor happened. We were mostly ambivalent about the middle east, then 9/11 happened.

Private PoopyPants said:

---

BREAKING: Russia's FSB is investigating damage to Nord Stream pipelines as "international terrorism" - Interfax

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) September 28, 2022

---

Kinda late don't you think? Other nations already assessed the situation and have responded accordingly. If this were a false flag on the Russian side, i would have thought they would be one of the first investigating and throwing out allegations.

Ag In Ok said:

---

I am in the minority with this, but i think he will declare the occupied territories as Russian soil, launch an EMP, and bill rush the front with conscripts. What a waste of human life.

---

Using a low altitude nuke for EMP blinds and silences both sides across dozens of miles if not a hundred. No radios and no motor vehicles exposed to that would run except for old Soviet era Lada's with points and condenser ignition. I just don't see an army of pissed off conscripts marching on foot dozens of miles with no resupply of food, ammo, medical care or shelter, into a region that's already a wasteland to fight. They would just as likely march to Moscow.

Putin doesn't have an army anymore. He has a bunch of mafiosos that cannot motivate anyone except by threat of violence against them. They're dead men walking and they know it. Everyone from the cops to the Duma are going through the motions waiting for someone to take Putin out.

I don't believe the total collapse of the Russian military is unlikely. It's just a matter of time. Those that have been to the fight know they are beaten and those that have not in Moscow and St Petersburg will do anything not to go including putting guns to the back of old men, boys, and prisoners to push them to the meatgrinder.

🎁An ordinary day in Ukraine: a captured Russian T-80 tows a captured Russian howitzer. pic.twitter.com/5ZmJ3L6BR8

— Captain Black Sea (@CaptainBlackSe1) September 28, 2022

Burrus86 said:

---

CondensedFogAggie said:

---

USA 🇺🇸 in its next package to Ukraine will be giving 18 HIMARS Systems, more than doubling the number of systems Ukraine 🇺🇦 has in service which is 16 HIMARS

Ukraine will now have 34 HIMARS and at least 12 M270 Launchers pic.twitter.com/J1odUXUPEo

— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) September 28, 2022

---

That's definitely going to leave a mark on the Ruskies.

---

We can build like 2 a month right?

⚡️Meduza: Kremlin to hold back on illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.

According to independent Russian media outlet Meduza, the annexation will be postponed as it now won't have the desired "PR effect" on the Russian population that is dissatisfied with mobilization.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 28, 2022

Nah keep going. Maybe this will finally convince the Germans to allow Leopold transfers.

CondensedFogAggie said:

---

USA 🇺🇸 in its next package to Ukraine will be giving 18 HIMARS Systems, more than doubling the number of systems Ukraine 🇺🇦 has in service which is 16 HIMARS

Ukraine will now have 34 HIMARS and at least 12 M270 Launchers pic.twitter.com/J1odUXUPEo

— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) September 28, 2022

---

What am I looking at--is that by ship? Ukraine needs those airlifted to Poland and driven over the border into combat as soon as possible.

"Whose are Crimea and Donbas?"

In Kazakhstan a blogger asked these questions to men fleeing from mobilization.

The answers speak for themselves - they don't want to go to war but they don't condemn their country's policy.

📽: TSN pic.twitter.com/hU2oQvJKEg

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) September 28, 2022

CondensedFogAggie said:

---

USA 🇺🇸 in its next package to Ukraine will be giving 18 HIMARS Systems, more than doubling the number of systems Ukraine 🇺🇦 has in service which is 16 HIMARS

Ukraine will now have 34 HIMARS and at least 12 M270 Launchers pic.twitter.com/J1odUXUPEo

— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) September 28, 2022

---

This is part of the reason the "Russians will use conscripts in human wave attacks" argument is silly. Historical examples are from times when precision fires couldn't be directed deep behind enemy lines in real time. Anywhere the Russians attempt to mass forces is asking for a salvo of GMLRS

74OA said:

---

What am I looking at--is that by ship?! Ukraine needs those airlifted to Poland and driven into combat sooner.

---

Probably a stock photo. If it helps, these were posted in the last few days. Not sure if destined for the Ukraine, but if so is probably there by now.

In Latvia extensive military training takes place from September till October.

Today #HIMARS systems were demonstrated as part of the military training to sharpen cooperation skills with our close ally - the United States! #StrongerTogether #SOFinEurope 🇱🇻🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/pHmTjV4JpE

— Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) September 26, 2022

HIMARS on the move in Latvia, you love to see it pic.twitter.com/V1AdyYUgd6

— Eidetic Eye (@eideticeye) September 28, 2022

CondensedFogAggie said:

---

74OA said:

---

What am I looking at--is that by ship?! Ukraine needs those airlifted to Poland and driven into combat sooner.

---

Probably a stock photo. If it helps, this was posted today though not sure if it's a repost.

HIMARS on the move in Latvia, you love to see it pic.twitter.com/V1AdyYUgd6

— Eidetic Eye (@eideticeye) September 28, 2022

---

Latvia is a long way from Ukraine, and the HIMARS there are for a NATO exercise.

That's what NATO wants you to think.

74OA said:

---

Latvia is a long way from Ukraine, and the HIMARS there are for a NATO exercise.

---

Well then, if they're done with the exercise, we have a place where we can put them to real use, don't we?

Also, 12 hour drive and you're in Ukraine. Not too bad.

Private PoopyPants said:

---

The first Russian RPG fired in this video appears to still have the fuse cover and safety pin in place pic.twitter.com/DKcRG2bHAa

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 28, 2022

---

now we see Muslims fighting on both the Ukraine side and the Russian side. Chechens playing both sides and the International Brigade fighting for Kyiv.

wonder if they ever go up against each other...

A few days on a ship and a couple more on a train and they are there.

CondensedFogAggie said:

---

⚡️Meduza: Kremlin to hold back on illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.

According to independent Russian media outlet Meduza, the annexation will be postponed as it now won't have the desired "PR effect" on the Russian population that is dissatisfied with mobilization.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 28, 2022

Nah keep going. Maybe this will finally convince the Germans to allow Leopold transfers.

---

Condensed- I think you are referring to Leopard tanks.

Leopold was King of the Belgians.

Leopard is the German Main Battle Tank.

Gaius Julius Bevo said:

---

They mustered up a bunch of middle-aged and elderly men. Gads. Humor me, gents. Is there any good use out of these Russians other than cannon fodder? Can they be tasked with something meaningful that they can yet accomplish?

---

according to many reports the Russkies are just bringing back former military veterans - for those guys there is some value add as they understand tactics and technology and how equipment works.

if they are just pulling 40 year old guys out of their civilian jobs and handing them an AK-74.. then no that is just cannon fodder waiting to be hit by a drone.

Here is a thread pointing at Russia for the pipelines. The speculation is fascinating

The two explosions of Nord Stream 1 & 2 took place just outside of Danish & Swedish territorial waters, that is, on international waters. They were professionally pursued with huge detonations. Talking to experts here in Stockholm, I receive only one answer: Russia.

— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) September 28, 2022

BREAKING:

The Norwegian Water and Energy Directorate has reported that drones have been spotted flying over critical power installations.

Sweden faced a wave of similar observations over its nuclear power plants last year.

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 28, 2022

LMCane said:

---

Gaius Julius Bevo said:

---

They mustered up a bunch of middle-aged and elderly men. Gads. Humor me, gents. Is there any good use out of these Russians other than cannon fodder? Can they be tasked with something meaningful that they can yet accomplish?

---

according to many reports the Russkies are just bringing back former military veterans - for those guys there is some value add as they understand tactics and technology and how equipment works.

if they are just pulling 40 year old guys out of their civilian jobs and handing them an AK-74.. then no that is just cannon fodder waiting to be hit by a drone.

---

I don't think based on what has made it to the West that their mobilization apparatus is functioning that well. Also the vast majority of those with prior service are 1 year conscripts who get very little in the way of military training during that time. This isn't like the Israeli model, those conscripts are basically grunts with contract soldiers (those serving for multiple years) and junior officers doing the work of NCOs and such. It's just not the same as what Western armies are training.

LMCane said:

---

Gaius Julius Bevo said:

---

They mustered up a bunch of middle-aged and elderly men. Gads. Humor me, gents. Is there any good use out of these Russians other than cannon fodder? Can they be tasked with something meaningful that they can yet accomplish?

---

according to many reports the Russkies are just bringing back former military veterans - for those guys there is some value add as they understand tactics and technology and how equipment works.

if they are just pulling 40 year old guys out of their civilian jobs and handing them an AK-74.. then no that is just cannon fodder waiting to be hit by a drone.

---

They are primarily reservists who were former 1-year conscripts. In addition to age, fitness and mental preparedness issues, they additionally have the problem of no refresher training since they left the military and almost none have combat experience. Are they better than someone with zero military background? Yes, but depending on how long since they were last in uniform, not much better.