Just to tie this all to a news story:
This is described as a type of hantavirus.
I note this paragraph from the story you linked:
In a Telegram post, Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (GUR) reported that mouse fever has spread through the ranks of the Russian troops “due to inadequate provision of winter clothing and a complete lack of medical care.” The post did not indicate how many soldiers were believed to be sick.
Also this:
GUR wrote that the outbreak of mouse fever occurred near the city of Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, where the combat capability of the sickened Russians has been “significantly reduced” as a result.
This is, of course, from Ukrainian sources, and the Russian response is of course denial that there’s any problem, but I know which side’s version I believe is closer to the truth.
Trench foot is from wet socks and cold weather.
Something that’s almost impossible to avoid in a trench during winter battles. A soldier might be lucky to have 3 pair socks to wash and use. Would a soldier have 2 pairs of boots? It would take over a day for leather to dry outside in the cold.
Today you can factor in the increase of diabetes in modern diets.
There has to be some nasty, bone-deep wounds and amputations.
Who’s on First? It’s the Dutch government. 18 F-16’s are a nice development in defending Ukraine.
Finding airstrips will be challenging. AFAIK there is no place inside Ukraine that Russia can’t successfully target.
The Guardian feed
It’ll be a year before those planes are delivered. This is good news, but it’s not good active news.
I bolded the sentences that referenced establishing the necessary infrastructure.
Parking planes on an air strip would only get them bombed and destroyed. It’ll take a air defense artillery battalion to protect an airfield.
I remember at the start of the invasion the Russian paratroopers almost seized control of a cruical airbase outside Kiev. (The Battle of Antonov Airport aka battle of Hostomel Airport)
I’m not sure if its fully operational today.
Speaking of fighter jets, the Ukrainian Air Force today claimed 3 Russian Su-34 shot down south of Kherson. OSINT Twitter speculation is that the latest Patriot battery from Germany has been deployed to the southern front. Also, the loss of these aircraft will force the Russians to reconsider their use of FAB-500 glide bombs. They’ve been using them extensively against the bridgehead at Krynky because their ~50km range allows (or rather, used to allow) for sufficient stand-off capability to avoid vulnerability to air defense. Apparently there has been significant wailing and gnashing of teeth on Russian Telegram channels, which is generally taken as confirmation of the Ukrainian claims.
If Sun Tzu was living today he’d be rolling in his grave.
It’s a paraphrased Randy Newman lyric from The World Isn’t Fair.
The setting in a bombed building makes this more poignant. It’s humbling to realize the stress humans can endure and their spirit remains strong.
Found the original link
The NY Times is reporting Putin is “privately signalling” openness to a ceasefire. I don’t have a NYT subscription but you can read the highlights of the story here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been privately signaling that he is open to a cease-fire in Ukraine, the New York Times reported Saturday, despite publicly saying he won’t back down from the conflict that has been ongoing since early last year.
Putin has been indicating since at least September that he is open to stopping the fighting at the current boundary lines, the Times reported, citing two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin and other American and international officials.
Putin also “sent out feelers” for a cease-fire last fall, according to the Times, and communicated that he was satisfied with the territory they had taken. But sources cited by the Times also warned that it could be an attempt at “misdirection” or that Putin could change his mind if his troops regain momentum.
Of course he wants a cease fire. He’s bleeding resources dry and needs to regroup. What’s left of his soldiers lack food/weapons and are suffering from disease in the trenches.
Exactly. A ceasefire is much more useful to Russia than it is to Ukraine. The latter is still receiving a lot of support and materiel, and the former is haemorrhaging resources. Losing those three Su-34s in one day, and the probability of losing more, has got to hurt.
There’s no point in Ukraine that Russia can’t hit, on a good day, if they’re lucky, and if they’re really willing to spend heavily on it. There are plenty of places in Ukraine they can’t reliably hit.
@Johnny_L.A, @Magiver, I agree, Putin’s not looking for more than a chance to repair his war machine. Still, it’s interesting that this is being allowed to become public; perhaps a PR move, perhaps a sign of desperation?
No downside to Putin offering a ceasefire IMO. If turned down, Ukraine can be cast as warmongers; if accepted, military advantage plus Ukraine‘s supporters not going to back a resumption of hostilities by Ukraine.
You’re not warmongers while trying to repel invaders. Only idiots would accept such a spin.
Ukraine should not accept ceasefire without Russia leaving the Ukraine.