Russia Ukraine War thread (strict rules)

[glocktogo]

As Russia Advances, NATO Considers Sending Trainers Into Ukraine

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/u...o-ukraine.html

So far the United States has said no, but Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that a NATO deployment of trainers appeared inevitable. “We’ll get there eventually, over time,” he said.

This is absolutely insane. It's like they haven't learned a damned thing since the Korean War.

[tn1911]

This is absolutely insane. It's like they haven't learned a damned thing since the Korean War.

It’s been in the cards for a while now. NATO tested and passed every redline Russia had. France telegraphing its intention to send in troops to free up Ukrainian border units to move to the front lines, then France saying it cannot allow Ukraine to fall, then Estonia… NATO now seriously looking at shooting down Russian targets over western Ukrainian territory.

Yeah we’re moving towards a direct conflict in a hot war with Russia.

“We’ll get there eventually, over time,” he said...

[1168]

So, if you've been following the war in Ukraine, it's been a wild ride the last couple days with a Russian report of the deployment of French Foreign Legion troops to Ukraine being picked up and reported as fact, only to have it today declared "Russian Disinformation."

Couple articles on the subject:

https://asiatimes.com/2024/05/france...e-battlefront/
https://apnews.com/article/fact-chec...d-994039088319

I first heard about this yesterday when one YouTube channel I follow, S2 Underground, reported it as fact that the French were deploying the Foreign Legion to Ukraine, and gave exact numbers of the planned deployment, and what roles they were to play initially. They even had a full analysis of what the deployment of the Foreign Legion would mean for both France, and NATO in general, and the potential threat of escalation. Today, however, that same channel reported that it was likely Russian disinformation, but "we'll never know the truth." No admission they fell for it, no apology. Sucks too, because the channel frequently has good info on domestic affairs, but has some of the worst Foreign Policy takes possible, on both Ukraine and Israel, and always frames in whatever way makes the current Administration look the worst. I miss the days when folks had more nuance than "Uncle Joe likes X, so X must be bad!"

I enjoy that dude’s channel when it’s informational and factual. When he gets speculative, it sounds like some shit you’d hear from dudes drinking in the barracks.

That is fantastic news. We are lucky we learned we were extremely underarmed without getting a lot of Americans killed first.

We’re also removing some “training” that doesn’t improve lethality and is widely despised by Warfighters.

[WillBrink]

This is absolutely insane. It's like they haven't learned a damned thing since the Korean War.

"Trainers" have been there all along, since at least 2014 Annexation of Crimea. That's one major reason Ukraine surprised the world with their far better response to the Russians compared to 2014. I put trainers in quotes because I have no doubts the various SOF types are doing more than training, but it's always worked as a cover story for plausible deniability and denial we are directly involved in conflicts.

This sounds like usual double speak to me.

[mack7.62]

Ukraine sends a bunch of (reports of over 80) drones to hit the refinery at Novorossiysk and most make it though, begs the question "what air defense doing". Ukraine defense against this class of drones like the Iranian Shahed-136 is to use MANPADS and technicals with MG mounted searchlights since most Russian attacks are at night. This attack was at 2 - 2:30 AM when it was already getting light.


Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M
@sumlenny
A Russian commentator: “This is terrible, they [the Ukrainian drones] are flying one by one, about 20 have already passed, no air defense is active, it is a nightmare”.
Note that drones fly to attack military targets, as Russian civilians are angry, but not afraid at all.

[tn1911]

The French Parliament called for Ukraine to be allowed to hit with French weapons on the Russian Federation

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/the-french...an-federation/

[mack7.62]

What Ukraine needs is a bunch of Cessna 150's to convert into long range drones.

[SpecWired]

Ukraine sends a bunch of (reports of over 80) drones to hit the refinery at Novorossiysk and most make it though, begs the question "what air defense doing". Ukraine defense against this class of drones like the Iranian Shahed-136 is to use MANPADS and technicals with MG mounted searchlights since most Russian attacks are at night. This attack was at 2 - 2:30 AM when it was already getting light.


Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M
@sumlenny
A Russian commentator: “This is terrible, they [the Ukrainian drones] are flying one by one, about 20 have already passed, no air defense is active, it is a nightmare”.
Note that drones fly to attack military targets, as Russian civilians are angry, but not afraid at all.

Russians historically are pretty smart. How long till they get an effective iron dome of their own, and a small scale mobile anti drone system to better defend the frontlines from grenade droppers?

Russians are tenacious and are proven to be willing to throw bodies at something. Ukrainians may be able to demoralize the Russian army with drone attacks, but they don’t have the bodies to push the Russians out without a treaty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tn1911]

Exclusive: Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...ay-2024-05-24/

MOSCOW/LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a negotiated ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines, four Russian sources told Reuters, saying he is prepared to fight on if Kyiv and the West do not respond.

Three sources said Putin understood any dramatic new advances would require another nationwide mobilisation, which he didn't want, with one source, who knows the Russian president, saying his popularity dipped after the first mobilisation in September 2022.

[WillBrink]

Exclusive: Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...ay-2024-05-24/

MOSCOW/LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a negotiated ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines, four Russian sources told Reuters, saying he is prepared to fight on if Kyiv and the West do not respond.

Three sources said Putin understood any dramatic new advances would require another nationwide mobilisation, which he didn't want, with one source, who knows the Russian president, saying his popularity dipped after the first mobilisation in September 2022.

Makes sense. He waited until the tide turned in favor of Russia to negotiate from a position of strength, offering end hostilities for X territory gained and perhaps a guarantee they will not join NATO. Time has always favored the Russians.