Russia invades Ukraine {2022-02-24} (Part 1)

Also increase production requirements could easily increase the risk of fires and explosions.

But it is nice to think at least that the Ukrainians and sympathizers in Russia are behind much of this.

I agree. I choose to believe that these are volitional acts of resistance, not just stupid oligarchs playing stupid industrial games and winning stupid prizes.

Like crime sprees or suicide waves, this could also inspire copycats. Even if some of the fires were accidental, the more these get reported in the media, the more some people will get the idea in their heads to do some arson.

If they were false flags to accuse Ukrainian’s of sabotage, I’d have expected Russia to start rolling that story out. Has there been anything of the sort pushed by Russian sources?

I was chatting with the Wife about the patrol boats that were destroyed. She said, ‘I’d hate to be on one of those boats!’ I told her, ‘I’d really hate to be on the second boat!’

Rehearsals underway for the May 9th Moscow “Victory Parade”:

Great place for a drone strike.

Those red armbands on the black uniforms is a great look for the country obsessed with denazifying Ukraine. Just saying.

Indeed. They come across as So Stylish.

Combined with Le Pen winning over 40% of the vote in a nation that was invaded by the Nazis in WWII, I’m starting to think many Nazi-victim nations have Stockholm Syndrome of sorts.

Just read a thread about why Russia has lost 9 generals and 36 colonels thus far, a stupefying rate of officer losses for any military: Apparently Russia has an extremely top-down culture and generals have to be near the front lines in order to get anything done (combined with primitive communications,) so the Ukrainians are just poaching one officer after the other with glee.

“Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.”

Coupled with the habit authoritarians have of stashing bad news in the memory hole I’m turning pessimistic again.

Factual Question: What are Russia’s Naval assets in the Black Sea?

This article says ‘About 20 Russian Navy vessels, including submarines, are in the Black Sea operational zone, the [British Defence] ministry said on Twitter.’ (Minus two patrol boats, now.)

I read that Moskva was ‘the most powerful warship in the Black Sea.’

  1. Now that Moskva is gone, what is Russia’s ‘most powerful warship’ in the Black Sea now?
  2. What vessels (ships/boats/submarines) does Russia have in the Black Sea? (Is there a list?)

Wiki has the Russian OOB for the Black Sea Fleet. But somehow I think that list is rather dated and incomplete. I haven’t found a more recent OOB, however. Wait long enough and the list will be zero (I hope!)

I agree as well. Just wondering what the stats would show over time. So common to misinterpret anecdotes if unaware of data over time.

I don’t believe he has even had significant experience with small arms. Once saw a photo of him aiming a pistol. He was using only one eye, with the non-dominant eye shut tightly. Anyone who has any training at all knows that is NOT the proper way to do it. You want both eyes open so as to have awareness of peripheral targets.

Here’s an interesting YouTube channel: Insights From Ukraine and Russia. A Ukrainian man posts intercepted phone calls from Russian soldiers, along with English translations.

A soldier talking with his wife/girlfriend about injuring himself to collect a government payout.

A soldier talking to his mother about consolidating sub-divisions and about artillery attacks.

Thanks. They list a bit more than ‘about 20’.

The photos are not Moscow but St Petersburg.

Yes, you’re right, it’s for the St Petersburg “Victory Parade”.

This is from a previous year, without the overtly Nazi-style armbands: