It’s quite likely that the front line troops carrying out these bombardments are getting no briefings about what’s going on in their target areas. “Look, orders from Moscow last Sunday say fire at Kyiv Thursday afternoon, at Kharkiv Friday morning morning.” “Sounds good - load gun.”
Not even from the strangers (security/entourage). Just from the footprint that arriving VIPs are sure to create on arrival. Which could be especially obvious if there are limited access/entry points into the country from abroad. Surveil those areas, track any convoys that look suspect (composition/behavior that suggests VIP with escort) and just track them to… wherever. What happens then could depend on how reckless/stupid Putin wants to be. Given he has already invaded Ukraine, I can imagine quite a lot could go horribly wrong.
Of course one would hope that arriving VIPs and Zelensky as well realize this and take appropriate precautions to mask ultimate destination and prevent tracking. One would hope.
I endorse this line of thinking. It would be a mistake to assume that Putin has the ability to employ a ten thousand (or even two thousand) mile screwdriver with which he can control the movements and actions of tactical units. Particularly as we have strong evidence of a disconnect at multiple levels of the chain of command.
What sort of repercussions are you thinking? I’m curious.
I was responding to another poster’s wish for Ukraine to actually take land in Russia with a marginally less impossible wish of my own. I realize it’s not likely to happen.
No major announcements from Ras Putin on May-9th Victory Day celebration despite all the sabre rattling of the past weeks. They also canceled their flyover’s due to weather.
They said they cancelled the flyover due to weather. We all know how reliable statements coming out of Russia can be these days.
I remarked a few weeks ago when they made the announcement the US would be sending 100 Switchblade kamikaze drones, it seemed a rather modest contribution to Ukraine’s war efforts. I saw a video this weekend clarifying they sent a 100 Switchblade systems. Each system package includes 10 drones. The most recent aid package increased the number of Switchblades being sent up to 700. That means they’ll be receiving 7,000 drones. That’s more like something that will make a tangible difference to the conflict.
It’s hard to say because it’s always a delicate balancing act. A lot would depend on the specifics of how it happened. But if Russian action killed a leader or senior diplomat of a NATO country, I’m pretty sure NATO would directly move against Russia.
I didn’t realize that, either and had wondered why so few!
The day the Switchblade donation was announced, CNN had a weapons expert on air talking about what effect those kinds of drones have on the battlefield. I remember him saying that 100 Switchblade drones weren’t going to be enough, that the U.S. needed to send more like one thousand.
Done and done.
The “weather” was probably a lack of parts for the planes.
I’m pretty sure it woldn’t.
true that … (looks smilingly to his right to check the time)
http://www.relojdeavion.es/IMAGENES/M21/M21COCKDETAL.jpg
While capitan Ivan is looking at a 6" black hole in his cocktpit, where - until yesterday - there wasn’t one 
The Russian ambassador to Poland wasn’t well received at an event to honor those fallen in WW-II. The wreath he was going to use was stomped on and they threw paint on him. Boy was his face red.
I see what you did there.
They’re being sent to “filtration camps” across Russia.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FSQ5n8IXEAAXYHo?format=jpg&name=900x900
No-one in the outside world knows what happens to the people who are “filtered out” from these camps.
From the NYT live blog:
An antiwar message was sent to some Russian TVs during the parade. A hack is suspected.
Program descriptions on the digital schedules for several major Russian television networks were changed to an antiwar message during the annual Victory Day parade on Monday. The schedules were apparently hacked, although there was no immediate claim of responsibility.
In every time slot on some online schedules and many televisions’ electronic program guides for Channel 1, for example, one of the main state-run channels, the names of the programs had all been changed to: “On your hands is the blood of thousands of Ukrainians and hundreds of their murdered children. TV and the authorities are lying. No to war,” according to BBC Monitoring.
That looks nearly identical to a clock my husband’s had for years (found it at a thrift store).
The Russian Ambassador to Poland got doused in red paint by pro-Ukraine protesters.
Biden has just signed the Lend-lease Act.
I like the fact that he’s done it on Victory Day.