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I'm as worried as you jumper but on the whole I think this is reminding some what democracy is all about. A generation has grown up viewing despotic nations in a very different light that which they were seen before the 90's, even though those countries are essentially the same now as they ever were.
I genuinely think that younger people see Russian and Chinese youth in Nike's and doing a dance on tik-tok and think they are 'free like us'.
And people wonder why kids expect everything on a plate? Look at the examples we've put forward for them. Half the properties they can't afford to buy are owned by crooks, the football club they love is owned by crooks, the government that governs them is owned by crooks and for half of western Europe, the gas they burn is bought off of crooks.
We live in a society that gifts and enables crooks. We have litteraly told a generation that working hard, following the rules and paying taxes is for chumps. We are telling them the system has failed so best cheat your way out. Or win the lottery...
SWIFT isn’t the only system; granted it’s the biggest but I think expectations should be tempered.
It may as well be. I’m currently working on a project that uses SWIFT. No other payments transport mechanism comes close. To make payments any other way needs two parties willing to use that other route. That’s time consuming and expensive. The volume of messages that are routed via Swift are in the millions a day, you Can’t manually handle those volumes
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?
The main thing about portable anti-tank weapons is that they're meant for shorter ranges and line of sight, limiting time in flight and time to counter.
The RPG-types aren't going to be troubled by counter-measures, but they're not really effective against a heavy tank.
Move on a generation and you've got wire-guided missiles that are "flown" by the operator. More effective against heavier armour, but only one-shot until the target is hit and the operator is waiting to get one in return. These can have a range of 2+ miles.
Move on again and you have IR-imaging, potentially open to counter-measures, but fire and forget and the the operator can move and reload. Better versions combine UV with IR because flares look different under UV compared to an engine
Our latest is the Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon (NLAW) with Predicted Line of Sight (PLOS). The operator tracks the target for a couple of seconds, the weapon predicts the target track and then fire and forget as above.
The reason that modern anti-tank weapons have such "fat barrels" is the increased warhead size. RPGs achieved that by hanging the warhead out of the front.
I will add that I've no experience of any of these, only WOMBATs, so there's plenty of room for corrections to be issued 🙂
I really hope this turns out to be true.
Edit: looks like the link isn't going to work, you'll have to type the dirty word in yourself 🙂
There’s hope for Bond yet then
(Sorry, gallows humour)
Elon Musk has tweeted that starlink services are active in Ukraine with more terminals en route. Will the Russians be blocked from it or could it be used by their forces?
Cant we FEDex our Javelin anti aircraft batteries out there?
Eventually the Russian airforce will overpower the Ukraininans , by attrition alone.
Yes its old tech from the 80's, with upgrades but we have a few and they are being replalced by StarStreak anyway.
No need to worry about IFF if your planes are on fire or being repaired. If it flies, shoot it down.
Think they are mobile enough to enable fire and move to new location to stop anti radar HARM or drone targeted missile retaliation
@stretch… Starlink needs a dedicated Starlink receiver. Reception is location specific, so if your device is in a new cell area, “resident” devices have traffic priority and you get the dregs (or even potentially SFA if it’s a popular cell). It also depends on a subscription.
Tobias Ellwood banging the drum for a NATO no fly zone regardless of how Putin might react to us shooting his plane down.
I'm not convinced that's wise. He's coming across as very hawkish.
I think the only way we'd get a no fly zone would be with open dialogue and back to putins stance as its a peace keeping mission.
As soon as a nato jet goes near there it'll be just another nudge to a direction no one wants
Reading more than a few tweets from intelligence and related posters suggesting that the RF are looking to fall back on older tactics of huge use of MLRS, large scale tank units, and infantry to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses. Coupled with offering talks in Belarus...
Come and talk, otherwise...
As soon as a nato jet goes near there it’ll be just another nudge to a direction no one wants
The chair of the Defence Select Committee doesn't seem to get that....
Anyone know if the NATO AWACS sorties being flown over Romania and Poland will be close enough to provide early warning for the Ukranians against air raids? I’m guessing they’re getting satellite intelligence of Russian troop movements too?
Tobes isn't showing much military nous; his is one of a number of hawkish voices who should know better.
huge use of MLRS
Can the experts here please expand the acronyms for the benefit of the rest of us?
Multiple Launch Rocket System. Basically those trucks which throw out loads of missiles at the same time.
It's interesting watching the news today, it seems like Putin is having to wage a substantial propaganda war at home; banning use of the words "invasion" or "war" by media, focusing on "special operations" in the SE of Ukraine...
With protests, a lack of aligned international (Chinese) support, etc, could this actually be the start of Putin's undoing? He's becoming a liability for his oligarch buddies.
He’s becoming a liability for his oligarch buddies.
I think the level of mistrust among them is probably his saving grace. If you saw his security council meeting, it could be well believed that if someone assassinated him they would all collectively be relieved. But they would never trust anyone who suggested they be part of a plot, and would probably grass on any such conversation just in case.
I was googling Von Staufenburg to make a point that sometimes people will try to remove a leader they consider a liability even at great personal risk.
Turns out there were quite a few, including a couple of suicide bomb attempts
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assassination_attempts_on_Adolf_Hitler
… although the daughter of the Press Secretary briefly posted an anti-war comment on Insta. I wonder how that went down.
After watching the latest news update on Ukraine, I can't see them holding out much longer in Kiev and the other eastern cities. NATO needs to act now by creating a no fly zone over Ukraine and police it with jets. It's so upsetting watching the Russians advance into Ukraine whilst the whole world watches, the whole time sitting on their hands.
NATO needs to act now by creating a no fly zone over Ukraine and police it with jets. It’s so upsetting watching the Russians advance into Ukraine whilst the whole world watches, the whole time sitting on their hands.
The reasons for not setting up a no-fly zone have been discussed several times now. It would be a massive escalation
If reports are to be believed, a column of Chechen special forces got obliterated, losing 56 tanks and a top general.
Was I alone in hoping that these murderous thugs would be on the receiving end of some extra special attention?
MLRS multiple launch rocket system.
Also sometimes referred to as GSRS - grid square removal system.
If reports are to be believed, a column of Chechen special forces got obliterated, losing 56 tanks and a top general.
I just came here to post that.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/meaww.com/amp/magomed-tushaev-top-chechen-general-reportedly-killed-ukrainian-forces
Link. No idea how reliable that site is though
It’s so upsetting watching the Russians advance into Ukraine whilst the whole world watches, the whole time sitting on their hands.
How many more people do you want to die? This is the calculation being made.
So much propaganda around at moment it’s hard to say but really hope it is true. It’s very rare I wish harm on anyone but those ****ers are just another league.
By contrast I could feel a little more sympathy for the ordinary Russian soldier, but I will reserve that until we see how long Ukraine can hang on.
Also just spotted Chelsea’s 24 word statement on war - pretty shameful.
So who are Putin’s friends just now?
Lukashenko
Assad
Kadyrov
I can’t thinmnof anyone else who has expressed any support.
Can we add Trump to that list?
Much as I dislike it active NATO involvement would I think play into Putin’s hands. We should do absolutely everything we can short of that though.
NATO really just have to stand by the sidelines until the Russians do something that contravenes law, then they can use that as a reason for using peacekeeping options.
All the talk of what weapons the Russians will use are only valid if the Ukrainians were daft enough to face the Russians in an open environment, they're not that daft, and a defending force, MLRS, etc are all pretty redundant in urban environments, and if used, could lead to NATO getting that foot in the door.
Can we add Trump to that list?
Seems like that particular bellend switched sides last night
Olaf Scholz just made an historic speech.
Major u-turn in German foreign policy. Not just in terms of this government's policy but in terms of its default post-WW2 stance.
This feels significant.
Just seen on the BBC that Liz Truss has announced the government will support Brits who want to go out to join the fight.
What that actually amounts to is anyone's guess, but it's a change from charging them with terror offenses like they did for those fighting IS.
China are being very non-committal, I suspect waiting to see how it plays out before choosing a side.
China do a lot of business and want to expand their influence in Africa. All the African nations on the Security Council voted against Russia (for obvious reasons they dislike imperialism) so China probably didn't want to upset them by being seen to support Russia.
I don’t know if anyone has posted this up already but this film on Netflix is well worth a viewing.
It’s a brilliant documentary about the 2014 uprising against the pro-Moscow government and really gives some context to the present situation. It also shows a lot of the type of incredible bravery we presently see from the Ukrainian people
Silly Putin has triggered the Germans to rearm. "Are we the baddies"
One of the main Russian news presenters, currently fronting Russian news shows pushing Putin’s like to the populace is a British passport holder and purchased an expensive London house in 2016🤔
https://twitter.com/francska1/status/1497629033881911298?s=21
@somafunk I must say Zhukov dobbing Beria was one of the first things that came to my mind a few days ago when Russia invaded.
Seems like that particular bellend switched sides last night
To be fair he often seems to switch sides within the same sentence
Ukraine back in control of Kharkiv! If true then this must count as a remarkable success, considering how close to the border it is.
Also just seen a report that Belarus may be about to declare war.
Ukraine back in control of Kharkiv! If true then this must count as a remarkable success, considering how close to the border it is.
Quite!
It makes you wonder how accurate the information we are getting is
If true this has been one of my favourite things so far
https://twitter.com/antiputler_news/status/1497843820091871235?t=Wi-sH6XEbgqiyLFN3oXaRQ&s=19
From BBC news: 'Here's a video that shows Ukrainian residents stopping advancing Russian tanks by walking at them en masse.
It is understood the scene was filmed in Koryukivka, in Chernihiv region'
Also just seen a report that Belarus may be about to declare war.
And so the escalation begins. Nasty.
some odd tactics being employed by the russians there was some footage on al jazeera of wiped out convoy of what looked not much more than up armored snatch landrovers 20 or so shot to pieces in the middle of a small town driving down the middle of a wide road, recce in force ?
these things
China don't want this conflict as it causes them nothing but trouble, they are potentially the only country able to talk to Putin, on the other they have a similar issue with Taiwan and the South China Seas stance, so a bit of a bind for them if they were to come out and completely denounce this action.
I was just listening to BBC news and the reporter was talking about sanctions against the Russian central bank. That way the foreign currency Putin uses to prop up the rouble can't be liquidated and the rouble crashes, making goods for the average person very expensive, possibly hyperinflation, etc.
I can see why that is attractive to create internal pressures on Putin, but at what point does it become collective punishment, or does that have to be more physical?
High stakes? Could Putin spin that, in a controlled media state, as being what the nasty west is doing to the average Russian, or do they see it as all Putin's fault for starting it?
Putin using the nuclear threat again.
I’d accept nothing other than the surrender of the Russian army! 😉
WTF does this (sorry if already posted)?
https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1497918774657355778?s=20&t=rY6lc4AZ5x7KRIy_D-kB7Q
Looks like they drove into a well prepared ambush?
BBC reporting a run on the main Russian Bank - that's the kind of domestic pressure he can't cope with.
Who and why are Belarus declaring war on? Other than Putin told them to.
Not sure I'd want to attend any peace talks on the border, jeez. Proper medieval stand off.
The nuclear thing could be very serious - you'd hope someone with a brain in Moscow can stop that getting out of control. Please.
I read a few replies looking for a translation. Someone says it's 95% swearing, but he says they are Chechen tanks. People are saying that the damage is too much for hand held anti-tank weapons, and I'm not sure how other tanks could do that on a lone on a street. It looks like an airstrike? They didn't have time to react?
Ukrainian planes are still flying aren't they?
After vinnyeh's post ^^^ it's definitely worth following Illia Ponomarenko on twitter...
https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
He's a Ukrainian war correspondent from the Donbas.
If only half of his posts are accurate the russians are getting schooled.
Ukrainian planes are still flying aren’t they?
Yep.
Have a look for the 'Ghost of Kiev
Obviously not a one man effort but he seems to have become the poster-boy.
>BTR60 troop carrier i think or a version of.
Alot of fragments and blast debris. Probably what happens if you use an amti tank weapon against a lesser armored vehicle. Esp HEAT warheads as opposed to the sabot velocity round or coppper cored reactive.
Speculation as i sm not in the infantry, just read lots
The V painted on the first vehicle means it entered from the north apparently, the Z is painted on vehicles coming in from the east.
The guy is saying it's Kadyrov's men, in most of the rest of the video he seems to be saying something like 'putchya', not sure what that translates to but I can guess..
For our Putineers. Pilger’s latest.
https://twitter.com/johnpilger/status/1497730624135647242?s=21
Russia wrong! West wronger! What a dick he’s turned into.
True or not, the 'ghost of Kyiv' story steals the Vasily Zaytsev narrative from Stalingrad and trolls Putin with it.
WTF does this
Are they Russian tanks?
Everyone is saying Turkish drones are making a mess of the Russian convoys
Turkish drones?
putchya
I think it's something like see you next the day after Monday.
I can see why that is attractive to create internal pressures on Putin, but at what point does it become collective punishment, or does that have to be more physical?
Only an internal revolute will cause him to engineer a change of stance.
I think there is multiple side to this "special alert". One is a th flex and warnings, another is to try and damage other world economys. This will cause panic I. The west and the markets will crash. I am not saying this is his main aim but it will be a consideration. It's all about causing choas on as many fronts as possible
Turkish drones would be all the more dangerous for all concearned.
Putin has put his Nuclear forces on high alert citing agression from the West. See most news channels.
I am now shitting myself and keeping my children close.
They aren't operated by Turkey, just given to Ukraine by them.
Pretty good by all accounts, had a but of success in Syria
This will cause panic I. The west and the markets will crash.
Unlikely; it's 'just' another threat.
If he instructs a nuclear attack, will his instruction be ignored and will he then be forcibly removed?
Maybe.
But maybe the person ignoring it will be replaced by someone who won't.
Is it one someone, or will all missile silos, submarines etc operate independently? Even if most of them disobey orders it only takes one to follow through
@Kryton57 - his circle of scummy ministers are only there to get wealthy and perpetuate that wealth for their descendants. Multi-billionaires gain nothing from nuclear war as everyone will be dead (mutually assured destruction).
It's not going to happen. If US/NATO invaded Russia and were about to win that would be a very different retaliatory scenario.
He's just a shitbag winding up the west hoping to cause panic and stock market tumbles. They've built up a huge domestic currency reserve beforehand to ride out months of economic isolation.
Hard to concentrate on anything right now.
Might grab a beer, get high and enjoy the sun for the last time.
I am now shitting myself and keeping my children close.
Is that fair on your children?
Is that fair on your children?
🙂
It looks like an airstrike?
Just what I was thinking. Serious amount of firepower been deployed there.
Obviously not a one man effort but he seems to have become the poster-boy.
Didn't someone suggest that this is actually a female pilot? Or did I imagine that?
@Kryton57 – his circle of scummy ministers are only there to get wealthy and perpetuate that wealth for their descendants. Multi-billionaires gain nothing from nuclear war as everyone will be dead (mutually assured destruction).
It’s not going to happen. If US/NATO invaded Russia and were about to win that would be a very different retaliatory scenario.
He’s just a shitbag winding up the west hoping to cause panic and stock market tumbles. They’ve built up a huge domestic currency reserve beforehand to ride out months of economic isolation.
Yup, I'm inclined to agree. Putin wants to make out he holds all the cards prior to 'meeting' Zelenskyy. However, once the latter calls his bluff, Putin will have a 'Hitler downfall' moment... and that's when he'll realise that not everyone in his gang is a 'yes' man.
Either he's mad, or he wants us to think he is. Hope it's the latter.
I have it pegged as the latter
Nuclear forces on alert? Talks on day 4 by which time they should have been swigging vodka in Kiev? Absolutely unbelievable. Some talk they may start flattening cities. Apart from the moral repugnance history proves it to be an immense mistake - makes life much more difficult for the attackers - see British assault on Caen and battle of Stalingrad.
Watching those Ukrainian troops firing RPG’s they didn’t even look worried, just like they were shooting pheasants…
Watching those Ukrainian troops firing RPG’s they didn’t even look worried, just like they were shooting pheasants…
That's what I thought! Fag in mouth and everything lol
shermer75
Free MemberThat’s what I thought! Fag in mouth and everything lol
The fag got me, he's fighting russians with the demeanor of someone building a shit brick wall. It's the same with that footage of the crowd blocking the tank- nobody looks like they're bothered, or worried, or even really doing anything out of the ordinary, it's like "things to do: pop down to shops, obstruct a tank, meet the lads in the pub and watch the footy"
People talk about the banality of evil but I never really thought there was such a thing as banality of heroism. It's like a whole town made of tank guys
People talk about the banality of evil but I never really thought there was such a thing as banality of heroism. It’s like a whole town made of tank guys
I know. Their stoicism in the face of such absolute bit of a messery has been massively impressive