A NATO ship probably couldn’t get through the Straits. Building supplies for a military purpose would probably be caught by the Straits agreement during a state of war.
It could always “accidentally” fall out of a C5 after just happening to be attached to a parachute.
I’m surprised (yet again) that Ukraine didn’t keep the old conventionally armed Soviet missiles. I know they voluntarily gave up the nukes after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Budapest Memorandum agreement.
Russia probably warehoused every missle that was returned. Now they’re sending them back to Ukraine.
Guardian
Russian troll on Snake Island special operation withdrawal.
“It was a goodwill gesture.”
“Also a goodwill gesture.”
The ancient Russian cold war apparatchiks have gone/are still crazy. Dreaming of the old Soviet Union as their country crumbles. Monsters all of them. And I include Cheney, Kissenger, and the rest of the neocons in the monster/mobster category.
Back to Snake Island; odds on the Russians evacuating their dead? I’m going with left to rot/probably boobytrapped.
Can you provide commentary? What is the picture about?
The picture shows columns of smoke rising from the island. The real reason they left is because they were getting hammered.
Here’s an article from over a week ago about Ukrainian strikes on Snake Island:
At the time of writing, it was not known that the Ukrainians’ new home-built long-range self-propelled howitzer, the 2S22 Bohdana, was being used.
Do we have any idea what Russia’s Black Sea naval resources are currently like? It seems to have gone quiet after they took some big hits and I understand they can’t replenish via the straits.
But hammered with goodwill!
(obligatory)
From the Forbes article.
Driving the Russians away is still a big step forward. They can’t arm the island with anti-ship guns. Making them use ships provides a sinkable target.
Big artillery used to be common before missiles.
The German Paris Gun in WWI had a 75 mile range.
The last expert was Gerald Bull. His books are very good. He wrote one book about the Paris Gun and the design specs. He made a bad mistake of trying to build Iraq a super gun. Bull was killed in 1990.
I hope a couple more 2S22 Bohdana’s are quietly being built somewhere. Ukraine needs them.
Amything that big is going to be vulnerable to counterbattery by the Russians if they can get their shorter-ranged guns into range. And possibly worth the trouble.
More likely, saturation missile barrages or airstrikes.
I believe the French Caesar howitzers were also involved in the shelling. The key round was a 155mm HE projectile fitted with a base bleed assembly. These shells had just enough range to reach the island from the coast. Base bleed differs from rocket assist in the way it increases range. Base bleed is a pyrotechnic gas producer that reduces the drag from the rear of the projectile by “filling in” turbulent air trailing the round. It produces no thrust. A rocket assist involves a rocket motor affixed to the projectile base that provides additional thrust.
This Sunday — July 3 — NBC will broadcast a prime time Awareness and Money raiser to benefit Ukraine.
From nbc.com: Ukraine: Answering the Call airs Sunday, July 3 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, and will feature appearances by some of the biggest names in entertainment including José Andrés, Jon Batiste, Brian Cox, Jeff Daniels, Vera Farmiga, Lena Headey, Alicia Keys, Simu Liu, Julianne Moore, Brad Paisley, Rosie Perez and more.
As part of the special event, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the American people. NBC News will also be using the platform to share stories of real people whose lives have been dramatically impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“During the broadcast, viewers will have the chance to help families impacted by the crisis in Ukraine by donating to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an organization that helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives,” reads the official press release.
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I think I read that some organization will be matching donations up to half-a-million, but I’m not motivated to look that up right now (and am naturally suspicious of fund matching).
French are sending 6 additional 155mm SP Caesar howitzers. Twelve were sent earlier [Russia claims to have captured one]. Doesn’t sound like a huge amount but they are fast setup and move after fire. They have a higher rate of fire, are more accurate and outrange equivalent Russian guns.
It has to be maddening for Russian Generals to see a constant supply of high quality munitions pouring into Ukraine knowing your own supplies are dwindling.
Interesting. I wonder if there are any ‘Sabot’ type rounds. Not small and thin. Just a base on a round that is boat tailed to push it out the barrel. The round would be ‘pointy’ on both ends to reduce the turbulent air in the back.
The nes has said Russia hasn’t done a formal call up for troops? They’ve been getting the poorer men to sign up.
I guess this is retaliation for daring to sign with a US Team?
Fedotov won the Silver olympics medal 2022. He’s a hot prospect and wouldn’t have volunteered for the military. He’s probably going to the front lines.
Putin has sure fucked up a lot of Russian and Ukrainian people that just want to live their lives and raise families.
It’s all for the glory of the Russian Empire. All hail the Motherland.
Putin’s dying legacy. He’ll be in the history books with Stalin and Lenin. Putin wants a glass coffin like his hero.