fwiw
for many people in europe, “the serbs” is akin to “florida man”
As was mentioned, they’re likely to notice the plane exiting NATO airspace, and it’s impossible to tell the nationality of the pilot from a distance. So, it would be giving Russia cover to widen the conflict if they were insane enough to take that route.
Well, I can’t say that I know what Putin fears. But if he thinks it scares us, he’s probably frightened of them being used on him, too.
probably cleaning out old stock to make place for the new …
From a Turkish domain: Large proportion of Strela missiles in German army depots are no longer usable, Der SPIEGEL news magazine reports
According to a report published by the weekly Der SPIEGEL news magazine, a large proportion of the Strela missiles in the German army depots are not only completely outdated, they are also no longer usable.
A maximum of 2,000 of the rockets in the troops’ warehouses can still be used, according to the report…
Since [2014], the wooden boxes with the weapons that are now to be delivered to Ukraine have become so moldy that soldiers are only allowed to enter the storage facilities with protective clothing.
if the russians use mobile phones, why can’t the ukr. carriers not boot them off? … I assume the russians use the existing local networks?
at the most basic level, all ukr. celphone carries could exchange IMEI listss (from 1 week before the invasion) and disallow all “new” phones from accessing their networks
… and come to think of it … how would russians use the network withouth “having signed up for the ‘sunflowerseed’ plan for the low-low price of 9.99” before?
Hell, go a generation earlier. In 1979 Afghanistan, the Soviet goal was to remove a shaky, questionable communist government and replace it with a stable, reliable one. The Soviets left after little over 9 years leaving an aligned government that did a lot better than the later American clients, lasting three years afterward. And the Soviet Union had a LOT more favorable situational conditions going in, it was not halfway around the world from there.
Basically, if the Russian forces had been actualy as formidable and razor-sharp as everyone had bought into earlier, the first part was expected to be over and done with by now after a massive steamrolling from all directions.
If Russian cellphones haven’t been shut down then either it’s an oversight, they’re tracking their signals, or listening in.
Hopefully not the first.
Considering they’ve been working with commercial satellite companies, I’m sure they’re not overlooking any options they have with cellphones. So probably tracking, listening where possible and also hoping soldiers are reporting home scared or at least demoralized.
Everyone is hoping the Russian Mothers group will organize against the war.
Russia says it has American Basketball Player in custody for drug paraphernalia.
“The Customs Service said in a statement that the player had won two Olympic gold medals with the United States, but it did not release the player’s name. The Russian news agency TASS, citing a law enforcement source, identified the player as Brittney Griner, a seven-time W.N.B.A. All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury. Griner won gold medals with the U.S. women’s national basketball team in 2021 and 2016.”
## Russia’s largest airline suspends international flights to everywhere except Belarus, according to state media (source: CNN)
IAW : aeroflot is bankrupt as of now
and I doubt they will spend $$$ to maintain their fleet…
concerning the “failing” cease-fire attempt in Mariupol…
it is just a hunch …
but I get the feeling that this shows that the russians do not have communication with all of their units … and there are simply units that “havent got the memo” to stop shooting …
potentially a goog gauge on how things are behind the curtains
The US is advising all Americans to leave Russia. Immediately.
Some poor bastard in Ukraine is going to have to go through that mess and sort the Twinkies from the Sno-Balls.
I’m surprised that didn’t happen a week or more ago.
I suspect these are signs that martial law is about to be imposed in Russia.
I believe there are also some concerns that Brittney Griner will not be the only American that Russia decides to detain.
But, but, but, but he just said he has no intention of declaring martial law.
American businesses have invested heavily in Russia and Ukraine.
What happens if Russia seizes these assets?
This is just one example. Over 950 restaurants. McDonald’s could lose a lot of money.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sanctions-russia-may-hit-us-173531139.html
The West has more to lose than Russia in a MAD scenario, and Putin knows it. Plus, I think Putin’s become increasing unhinged, perhaps fueled by his advancing age and ever-shortening window to leave an indelible legacy, to the point where his mindset is now: “if I’m not allowed to win, then I’ll make sure the whole world goes down with me, the concerns of my power backers in the Duma / oligarchs / general Russian populace be damned!”
In essence, kind of like Nixon’s madman theory, except this time it’s not a carefully orchestrated bluff. Putin’s a cornered animal with nothing to lose at this point.