Forum menu
@molgrips It’s been reported elsewhere that the Russian forces have limited reserves of fuel and ammunition and limited prospect of getting more eg. missiles because lead times are long, and because raw materials come from countries who won’t be in a mood to export.
This is in line with suggestions on the internet that while Russian kit is good, maintenance and training generally isn’t to the standard NATO/EU countries would expect.
Putin wanted to weaken Europe and NATO but it's having the exact opposite effect. It's created an opportunity for Europe to really look like the goodies by helping Ukraine (with massive popular support) whilst not actually engaging in any hostilities directly.
BBC, on Chelsea, saying that Abramovich made his fortune in oil and gas during the 1990s.
That should be corrected - he stole his fortune through state sponsored kleptocracy, state approved elimination of competitors, payment of massive bribes to putin and acting as one of putin's enablers.
This is in line with suggestions on the internet that while Russian kit is good, maintenance and training generally isn’t to the standard NATO/EU countries would expect.
Some Russian kit is good, but a lot of it is more bluff than actual capability, hence why you see old tanks and kit rolling in, same with the airframes
Someone else is far more likely to say ‘enough’ than the man himself. That someone might be Xi.
Ah yes, because the world’s second largest genocidal dictator is famously war-averse. He nailed his colours to the mast when he gave the green light to the campaign last week and signed up to buy Russian commodities.
Reports on Twitter that Russian columns around Brest are heading east.
Wondering if they are trying to prevent delivery of hardware from Poland?
If they are rushing around trying to prevent deliveries they will have their work cut out. Stuff is being promised from all over the place now. Let’s hope it can get there in time.
The Russians maybe about to find that large scale campaigns are critically dependent on logistics - hence prior references to ‘Blitzkreig’ in the hope that they’d roll-in and Zelensky would roll-over. The Russians don’t appear to have achieved their initial objectives, many of their troops are conscripted and don’t appear to be up for the fight. If the Ukrainians can hang on a bit longer and military assistance from other countries start to arrive, the Russians may find themselves in protracted war which isn’t really what Putin wants, especially when the Russian mammas start seeing the body bags piling up.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-kremlin-website-hacked-b2024046.html
hope its true 🤣
Dutch have sent 200 Stingers. That's going to...
...sting.
Germany sending 500 to add to the Dutch 200 so that will sting a little more.
Nice. Those things are savage.
NLAWs are unlikely to help Russian morale too, especially if anyone makes the mistake of looking inside after the event
See there's a school of thought he's gone proper head the ball due to either cancer or covid
Now if we added a few Javelins to the order, things would be very spicy for the Russians.
The Germans are sending 1,000 anti-tank missiles too, not sure what kind
Now if we added a few Javelins to the order, things would be very spicy for the Russians.
Less scary than you might think
How effective are anti-tank missiles? I know tanks don't move very fast compared to planes but they do have flares and chaff and probably ECM don't they?
Haha, good shout. Although pretty sure if you hit a tank with it, it'd cause a scene.
Not sure that it'll fit under the top flap of a bergan though.
@molgrips most modern warheads are pretty effective. But there are some MBTs that have ECM, warning receivers, etc.
The Russian Armata is one such tank.
Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
My 11yo daughter is asking a lot of questions at the moment.
I think they already have quite a few javelins out there, the only reason we are hearing about the stingers is because the Germans had to agree.
Everyone else is just sending stuff in quietly
The Javelin is highly effective against tanks, it trajectory brings it down vertically on its target. The US has supplied them to Ukraine.
How effective are anti-tank missiles?
Javelin is IR guided top down attack (where armour is thinnest).
Think I saw one at a firepower demo in the late 90s - they make a mess.
Disappointed our pro-Putin posters have gone quiet since the invasion they predicted wouldn’t happen, kinda, well, happened.
Who are these pro Putin posters?
Javelin/NLAW is a good AT mix, Stinger is a beast of a MANPAD. Hope they all get there ASAP so the Ukranians can sends Vlads lot packing sharpish.
With the closing of airspace in Poland and Lithuania to Russian planes, where does that leave Kaliningrad?
Very isolated with a long detour to link it by air to the motherland I would have thought?
102 claimed tanks destroyed so far
Good on them, no small feat facing down armoured vehicles.
Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
My 11yo daughter is asking a lot of questions at the moment.
Guess that depends on the type of questions, and presumably worries. Honesty is always the best policy with kids.
The Russian Armata is one such tank.
If that's their top spec tank, how many of the tanks on the road now are those?
A tweet posted on the Guardian live feed saysnthe Ukrainians have already killed 100 tanks. That sounds like a lot but Ukranian losses weren't posted.
Seems like if their allies can supply enough anti tank missiles the Ukranians are prepared to do the rest.
Doubt there’ll be any armatas, well working ones up front and at risk
futonrivercrossing
Free MemberThe Javelin is highly effective against tanks, it trajectory brings it down vertically on its target. The US has supplied them to Ukraine
And NLAW ‘just’ flies over the top of the target and quietly does it’s business. NLAW can also be fired from indoors too, that could be handy any time now
None that I've seen, they have a 100 and doubtful they're anywhere near Ukraine, if they'd been on the 'manouvers' it would have been shared all over the defence community. The wiki page is pretty good if you want to read the claimed specs.
There's stuff in development for next generation MBTs and other armoured platforms within the Western militaries too.
Javelin is IR guided top down attack (where armour is thinnest).
I watched a video about them on YouTube yesterday.
Basically 'fire and forget' They can be top down, but can also do direct, which is apparently quite good against helicopters. A well trained couple of soldiers can fire about one every forty seconds.
@mashr I was thinking that, elevated positions in those flat complexes, could setup some pretty vicious ambushes from up there.
Modern anti tank stuff is very effective indeed. The Israelis have developed a counter measure that detects and fires a projectile to intercept the incoming missile, but I’m pretty sure the Russians don’t have similar. It’s been sold to US, Germans and I think is planned for Challenger 3 (UK).
Apparently Ukraine is also pretty flat and open which has to favour tanks quite a bit I'd think.
Looks like the SWIFT system expulsion is going to go ahead, plus the credit ratings agencies have demoted Russia to 'junk' status, not that anyone was going to lend them money anyhow.
I'd imagine if Putin has any cyberwarfare against our financial services up his sleeve, we'll be seeing it fairly soon.
Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
My 11yo daughter is asking a lot of questions at the moment.Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
My 11yo daughter is asking a lot of questions at the moment.
Dunno if it's any good but I saw this.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/26/ukraine-anxiety-children-psychologists-teachers
dirkpitt74
Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
My 11yo daughter is asking a lot of questions at the moment.
We’ve not found a way to cover it as yet. Thankfully live tv is pretty much a non thing in the house so at present they’re oblivious to the week’s developments. I’m sure that will change on Monday when they go back to school.
I’ve heard that BBC newsround has a good edition covering the situation which is supposedly very good.
I think there'll be a few countries and companies that will be enjoying the freefire on Russia to use cyber attacks, over the years the risk has far outweighed the benefit, but that's changed now, so hopefully a lot of unseen work is being done to help Ukraine.
Watching an IL76 heading south towards Kyiv at the monent. It’s definitely Air Force, seems bonkers that we can see it even if it isn’t going there (still over south Belarus right now)
On a different tangent hundreds of Russia artists have been openly critical. There are huge numbers of protesters within Russia and protesters don't just get 12 hours in the cells.
There is a report of a Russia MP saying he did not support the invasion.
All that unheard of in Russian life.
Also reports of a Russian ship taking down a Russian fighter jet in a friendly fire incident.
And France has started pulling in ships (cargo non navy)that they believe to be Russian controled.
If Putin wants to destabilize the EU and NATO he is going a funny way about it
He is terminal with a illness I'm sure
Even hungry has turned thier backs on him.
As for the owner of Chelsea I'm not into football but he is just protecting his own interests he can take that club back at any time.
Maybe post-brexit/mid C19, this will do some good for Europe, so long as they don't **** Ukraine somehow.
Rally and get our collective shit together so to speak.
Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
I saw this link on Facebook. I haven't read it though.
Apparently Ukraine is also pretty flat and open which has to favour tanks quite a bit I’d think.
Except of course it means the tanks are, erm, out in the open.
There are posts on Reddit that the Ukraine have captured the commander of the tank company. The photos look genuine ID shown ect
You really need to be careful where you read these things, reddit is a shit storm of excitable 14 year olds posting nonsense right now.
As someone born in the 60's and growing up during the cold war, understanding what democracy meant was pretty easy. The events of recent years have made me think that younger generations don't understand what a precious thing democracy is.
It's not just a question of explaining things to an eleven year old, there's a fair few 30 somethings who have perhaps taken democracy for granted.
@pk13 the Major? Have you seen the photos of the alleged saboteur with infrastructure and personnel target lists?
Except of course it means the tanks are, erm, out in the open.
That makes them vulnerable to air attack, and maybe other tanks. Ukraine has some decent aircraft and some tanks but not nearly as many as the Russians.
However, most of the AT weapons sent to Ukraine are man portable short range missiles. These are best when the user is in cover, forests or urban areas.
I don't think capturing a million acres of grazing land is Putin's objective though, they are going to have to go into the cities at some point and will be vulnerable there.
'...in the open' a JTAC's favourite phrase.
Also, the Javlins and NLAWs have been getting the headlines, mainly because it shows some support from outside I guess, but they do make their own, which are apparently pretty good (longer range than Javlins and NLAWs for example)
https://www.armyrecognition.com/ukraine_ukrainian_army_vehicle_missile_system_uk/stugna_stugna-p_anti-tank_guided_missile_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_information.html
They have a few thousand of them
While I agree reddit is full of crap the Ukraine section is no too wild people are trying to verify.pinch of salt and all that.
On a side note the Irish giving the Russian ambassador a welcome home the other day was nice. He got absolutely taken apart on Irish TV by a reporter as well.
‘…in the open’ a JTAC’s favourite phrase.
Followed by ‘in hot’.
Lip biting meme.
relapsed_mandalorian
Yes I did he looked like a chav on a Friday night out.
andrewh
Free MemberAlso, the Javlins and NLAWs have been getting the headlines, mainly because it shows some support from outside I guess, but they do make their own, which are apparently pretty good (longer range than Javlins and NLAWs for example)
Needs mounted on something (like a tank) though?
It's bigger than the Javlins and NLAWs but doesn't have to be tank-mounted
Less portable, but if you've got time to set up a defensive position that doesn't matter so much.
Laser guided rather than IR, I don't know which of those is better in which circumstances?
I know tanks don’t move very fast compared to planes but they do have flares and chaff and probably ECM don’t they?
Yes but there are variations due to the differing technology.
Its more important to block lasers and line of sight eg smoke including anti-flir.
Then there is the stuff which shoots the missile in the air eg mini Phoenix and at the last resort reactive armour which blows up just as it gets hit to disrupt the attack.
Plus there are the welded cages on top of the tanks which appeared close to the Ukraine border. Whether those are hoped to counter the top down missiles or just the drones the Ukrainians got from Turkey or just a vain hope only the Russians know.
There will be lots of arms company employees and western military officers watching very closely and trying to see how well the top down Javelins and NLAWs they are selling/going to use are working.
Russian banks removed from SWIFT. this is significant as the banks will have no money within days. IMO, The people will turn on Putin. Will the oligarchs stand for this, or will they fund a coup?
I think he’ll be out within 2 weeks.
SWIFT isn't the only system; granted it's the biggest but I think expectations should be tempered.
As this cleary hasn't gone as putin expected I think it's only hours before he escalates the aggression - dirty bomb, indiscriminate bombing or god forbid a nuclear strike.
Plus there are the welded cages on top of the tanks which appeared close to the Ukraine border. Whether those are hoped to counter the top down missiles or just the drones the Ukrainians got from Turkey or just a vain hope only the Russians know.
That makes sense. I had seen pictures of them and wondered what the 'roofracks' were for
SWIFT isn’t the only system; granted it’s the biggest but I think expectations should be tempered.
Indeed that was part of the argument about cutting them out. As it is if they are on SWIFT then interested parties can snoop in allegedly but if they switch to another system then that removes some quite handy "features".
Which option gives the best long term outcome is way beyond me and I suspect even those who have a good idea of the short/medium term impacts.
Anyone wondering why the petrol bombs being made by Ukrainian civilians are also partially filled with polystyrene?
It adds as a spacer so less fuel is needed to fill them but I don't see any positives in that, so does it have a nasty interaction with the petrol upon impact perhaps?
I've managed to melt styrene with solvents over the years and it goes very sticky, could it form a very cheap but not so cheerful "napalm" analogue?
Makes it tacky like a wax....
Like a diy napalm
I see, nasty stuff to get hit with.
Yes, adds stickiness. Washing up liquid does similar apparently
Russian banks removed from SWIFT. this is significant as the banks will have no money within days. IMO, The people will turn on Putin. Will the oligarchs stand for this, or will they fund a coup?
I think he’ll be out within 2 weeks.
I was wondering this. It would be ironic if he was poisoned.
Russia bought an f-ton of foreign currency to hedge against a run on the rouble, Reuters
Looks like Kyiv is being hit hard tonight.
Putin bs gs. There's proof.
Day one, it looked like China had Putin's back and if things went swiftly then we thought we'd be starting a Taiwan thread.
Day two and China sits on the fence a bit.
Day three, Erdogan starts sticking the boot in and Kazakhstan turns down request for troops.
All Putin needs now is a bit of trouble in the Caucasus (not a euphemism) or unrest in the Stans.
So who are Putin's friends just now?
Lukashenko
Assad
Kadyrov
I can't thinmnof anyone else who has expressed any support.
.
China are being very non-committal, I suspect waiting to see how it plays out before choosing a side. India likewise. Not heard anything from Iran. I'm surprised at Kazakhstan, their government probably owes its survival to Putin.
I'm very worried my comment earlier about a domino effect is coming true. Putin is facing a massive squeeze from all fronts that limits his options. He'll never surrender so the question is what will he do when he's cornered?
The whole thing has me bricking it.
I was going to type exactly the same andrewh, only I was going to add that Kim Jong Un has yet to tweet out his disapproval!
Right now I can't see what a 'victory' for Putin would look like. A swift victory and regime change may have emboldened China but I reckon the Chinese now see Putin as Kim Jong Un 2.0, China is still run by the CCP, whereas Russia's destiny is now in the hands of an irrational nutter.
Watched this film again for the umpteenth time, let’s hope we have end such as this
Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
My 11yo daughter is asking a lot of questions at the moment.Anyone found a good way of explaining the current situation to kids?
My 11yo daughter is asking a lot of questions at the moment.
We just talk to them about it. We’ve even had a family discussion about what we would do if we faced a similar situation in our country.