Russia invades Ukraine {2022-02-24} (Part 2)

[Procrustus]

@aceplace57

Eventually Russia will realize they have to reach a peace agreement.

I assume they’re waiting to see what happens here in November. Things could shift in their favor pretty quickly.

[RickJay]

@aceplace57

They’ve taken this war much further than Afghanistan. They finally pulled out there when it became unsustainable.

They were in Afghanistan for like nine years though, so that doesn’t fill me with glee.

Of course, the evidence suggests that Russia has already lost more men in Ukraine than the Soviets did in Afghanistan, and Russia has half the people the USSR did, So that may hasten its end, though the fact it’s because a bunch of men, most of whom were scared kids who didn’t want to be there, got killed or maimed doesn’t make me happy, either. It’s not Vladimir Putin in some ditch, holding his own intestines and crying out for his mother.

[eschereal]

@RickJay

I mean, seriously. Russia has managed to kill tens of thousands of people and it’s been a deadlock for two years. They have accomplished nothing.

They have razed a lot of buildings. It is like urban renewal. Or the “broken window theory”.

[Chronos]

@CaveMike

Putin is reported to have ordered his forces to push back Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region by October 1, according to RBC Ukraine.

Is that Gregorian, or Julian? Because ordering the enemy forces to be pushed out over a month from now is seriously weak, on Putin’s part.

I mean, even October 1 Julian would be a really long time for Ukraine to be running around free and unopposed in Kursk.

[eschereal]

@Chronos

I mean, even October 1 Julian would be a really long time for Ukraine to be running around free and unopposed in Kursk.

“By” means “start now and get it done by then”. If the military heeds his order, the Ukraine army would not be “running around unopposed” the whole time.

[Euphonious_Polemic]

Summary

@Procrustus

@aceplace57

Eventually Russia will realize they have to reach a peace agreement.

I assume they’re waiting to see what happens here in November. Things could shift in their favor pretty quickly…

Agreed. A Harris win will see the end of this war pretty quickly. A Trump win will likely mean the US will start attacking Ukraine and/or start sending military support to Russia

.

[What_Exit]

Moderating:
@Euphonious_Polemic: Please keep US polical speculation out of this thread.

[aceplace57]

Good information about Pokrovsk and it’s crucial role as a logistical hub for Ukraine’s military.

I remember the other major cities that Russia was determined to take. The cities were leveled over a prolonged siege. I’m not optimistic anything will be different in Pokrovsk. It is large and has many buildings that can be used by defenders. The city won’t fall easily.

Pokrovsk: Ukraine's vital eastern town in Russian sights

“Pokrovsk is a very important hub, a centre of defence. If we lose Pokrovsk, the entire front line will crumble,” military expert Mykhaylo Zhyrokhov warned.

Ukraine relies on the town’s rail and road infrastructure to provide supplies and reinforcements to its troops on the eastern front line, as well as to evacuate the wounded

[aceplace57]

Zelenskiy’s strongest words yet. He’s really matured into his role as President of Ukraine.

The Guardian live

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed more “retribution” against Russia while Kyiv and Moscow announced the exchange of 230 prisoners just over two weeks into Ukraine’s surprise offensive on the Kursk region. Zelenskiy published a video of him standing in a forested area said to be near where Ukraine launched its incursion into Russia on 6 August. “What the enemy brought to our land has now returned to its home,” he said, adding that Russia would “know what retribution is”. Russia and Ukraine exchanged 115 prisoners of war from each side after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acted as an intermediary. It is the first such exchange since Ukraine launched its Kursk raid. Russia’s defence ministry said the Russian servicemen swapped were captured in the Kursk region.

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

Assuming Ukraine captured more than 115 Russian soldiers, one has to wonder whether the POWs were given a choice to be among the exchanged or stay in Ukraine.

[Love_Rhombus]

Belarus is putting a lot of troops on its border with Ukraine. There’s no way Ukraine is gonna push in there, so I’m guessing this is just posturing?

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-calls-belarus-pull-back-forces-border-2024-08-25/

[Al128]

pretty much so … there is no way any decent military of a neighbouring country would not do that … given the situation … “logic” suggests that a significant number of your military should be stationed there …

interesting part is: how long did it take them to do this … the UKR invasion of RU began on aug 6th (or 8th)? … so roughly 3 weeks …

Having said that: there were reports of the UKR opening a second salient on the RU/BelaRU border - about a week ago … I have not seen any further confirmation of that, hence it should be disregarded or otherwise IWS et al would have picked it up.

[aceplace57]

A hundred missiles in one attack! Following this war and seeing NATO unwilling to help more with air defense is depressing.

The BBC has a entire live feed page of the damage. The Russians targeted a hydropower plant to take down Ukraine’s energy grid,

Guardian live

The time for decisive action is now’: Zelenskiy issues call following ‘one of the largest attacks’

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has issued another plea to western partners to step up their assistance, after Russian launched what he described as “one of the largest attacks – a combined strike, involving over a hundred missiles of various types and around a hundred ‘Shaheds.’”

“Across Ukraine, we could do much more to protect lives if the aviation of our European neighbors operated in concert with our F-16s and air defense systems. If such unity has proven effective in the Middle East, it must work in Europe too,” the Ukrainian leader stressed.

“Ukraine cannot be constrained in its long-range capabilities when the terrorists face no such limitations,” he said, adding: “America, Britain, France, and our other partners have the power to help us stop this terror. The time for decisive action is now.”

BBC Live

Details are still emerging about Russia’s overnight aerial attack on Ukraine, but here’s what we know so far:

• At least six people have been killed across multiple regions, local authorities say

• President Zelessky says that more than 100 missiles and about 100 drones were used

• The Russian military confirmed the attack targeted energy infrastructure and “high-precision weapons” were deployed

• Blackouts have been reported in cities across Ukraine and the state-run energy company has cut power to stabilise the national grid

• In the capital city of Kyiv residents were forced to shelter in metro stations

[Cardigan]

This damages the Russian war effort every bit as much if not more than capturing a mid size town in Russia.

[aceplace57]

The US and Europe has spent hundreds of millions (maybe billions??) in military aid for Ukraine.

But the missile barrages from Russia keep coming every few days.

Sitting on on the sidelines is obviously
not working.

[What_Exit]

Moderating: OK, that is for a non- breaking-news thread. Leave it there.

[Al128]

an english translation from austrian equivalent of the BBC:

Reports indicate a serious military incident at the border between Ukraine and the Russian region of Belgorod. According to Russian Telegram channels, around 500 Ukrainian soldiers have attacked checkpoints in the towns of Nechotejewka and Schebekino. The Russian regional authorities describe the situation as difficult but still under control.

These developments follow an earlier incursion by Ukrainian troops into the Russian region of Kursk on August 6. These events reflect an escalation in military activity at the border, potentially worsening the situation in the region.

map for context/orientation and how this relates to the Sumy / Sudzha offensive started aug 6th.

Let’s see if there will be confirmations later on … of if that was just a distraction-maneuver

[aceplace57]

First confirmation that Ukraine is using F-16’s in combat. Apparently the pilots haven’t bagged any Russian MiGs. Yet

Guardian live

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that his military deployed western-supplied F-16 fighter jets to down Russian drones and missiles fired in recent attacks, AFP reports.

Zelenskiy announced earlier this month that Ukraine had received the first batch of the fighter jets promised by western countries, declining to say how many had been delivered.

“We destroyed already some missiles and drones using the F-16,” Zelenskiy said in English at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday without elaborating.

He said at the press conference that Ukraine still needed more of the jets. In May, he told the AFP news agency that Kyiv needed at least 120 to achieve “parity” with Russia.