MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Ukraine's forces have officially withdrawn from Siversk in the Donetsk region of the Donbas.
Current conditions there are making drone surveillance and attacks difficult, while Russia is continuing to pressure the defenders
It seems that some of Ukraine's senior officers suffer from the same need to falsify reports as their Russian counterparts.
Colonel Oleksii Konoval and Colonel Volodymyr Potieshkin have been relieved of their commands after the withdrawal from Siversk. The 11th Army Corps, under Brigadier General Serhii Sirchenko, has been relieved of its command in the area.
Ukrainska Pravda learned that the dismissals are linked to alleged falsification of reports by both brigades' leadership. The brigades reported that they held positions in their areas of responsibility, but in reality those positions had long remained without personnel. The alleged falsehood became apparent during the swift loss of the city. Russia said that it had seized Siversk on 12 December 2025.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/12/27/8013612/
Speaking of which, over the last couple of days Russia has been claiming that it has retaken Kupyansk from Ukraine.
Strangely, none of the reports are geo-located and coincidentally President Zelensky is meeting with President Trump today, who of course favours a strong leader
The Russian MoD, Kremlin officials, and Russian state media appear to be engaged in a whole-of-government effort to cover up battlefield failures in Kupyansk and to address widespread milblogger and ultranationalists’ criticism of the Kremlin’s false reports.
There is ample evidence to indicate that Ukrainian forces have liberated most of Kupyansk, however. https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-27-2025/
The latest press briefing after Zelensky and Trump met was quite telling. Both by what was said and the body language of Zelensky hearing Trump so obviously side with Russia.
I understand that at this moment in time Ukraine and all Europe are too reliant on the USA to totally exclude them .. but, agreeing to Putin and Trumps terms are going to be horrendous for Ukraine and probably financial suicide for European countries too.
It seems likely that Ukraine withdrew a proportion of its forces from Myrnohrad over Christmas.
Logistics and troop rotations were becoming more difficult, however, this isn't a full withdrawal and Ukraine still has forces both there and in Pokrovsk.
Assessed Russian advances: ISW has not observed evidence in the past few weeks that would indicate that Ukrainian forces continue to maintain defensive positions south of and in southern Myrnohrad, and available visual evidence and combat footage collected in December 2025 suggests that the FEBA is north of the railway between Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, indicating that Russian forces advanced south of and in southern Myrnohrad. This change did not occur in the past 24 hours but is a reflection of ISW’s updated assessment. https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-28-2025/
The withdrawal was clearly conducted in a disciplined way because Russian sources haven't talked it up with video of casualties and it also places doubt on Russia's claims to have encircled Myrnohrad since November. That claim was contradicted on December 9th by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi,
He added that the neighboring city of Myrnohrad is not surrounded, though logistics have become more difficult.
Earlier this week, Ukraine's Air Assault Forces said on Dec. 5 that neither Pokrovsk nor Myrnohrad is encircled, countering Russian claims that Pokrovsk had been captured. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-regains-part-of-pokrovsk-syrskyi-says/
Russia is continuing to claim that various settlements have fallen, despite evidence to the contrary. These include: Myrnohrad, Rodynske, Vilne, Hulyaipole and Kupyansk
The Kremlin likely timed the meeting to fall on the eve of the December 28 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida in order to influence the US-Ukrainian meeting. Putin, Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov, and the GoF commanders made a series of likely exaggerated claims about Russian successes across the battlefield. https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-28-2025/
Few of these settlements have massive operational value to Russia but there's clearly a PR value. Ukraine is defending hard to gain time to develop existing permanent defences now that Russia's plan is more obvious and before the "fortress belt" and the larger cities are reached.
As things currently stand it will continue to be a war of attrition until either economies, weapons or personnel issues force a change.
External influence is a massive factor in two out of those three, e.g. the EU €90bn should keep Ukraine going well into 2027. Without that Ukraine would have run out of money within the next six months, however, the IMF reckons that "The program is expected to catalyze large-scale external support to close Ukraine’s financing gaps. In the baseline, the total financing gap is calculated at around US$136.5 billion for 2026-29" so there will be more EU wrangling ahead if the invasion continues into 2028-29, which will mostly be within President Trump's current term.
Watch Zelensky's face and body language when the deluded tangerine chimp talks of Russia wanting Ukraine to succeed and Putin's generosity. He has the restraint and patience of a saint to have to listen to this garbage without openly laughing in Trump's face.
On the mark as ever from the Marsh family
He has the restraint and patience of a saint to have to listen to this garbage without openly laughing in Trump's face.
Too much to loose unfortunately, as have most politicians who stand next to him on a podium and he definitely doesn't need to get into a public slanging match again. Would be glorious to see someone who genuinely doesn't give a shit share a press conference with Trump.
"No. I'm sorry Donald you ****ing moron, you're being played and couldn't grasp a good deal with your tiny hands if it was glued to Milania's tits."
The negotiation will Not succeed because Zelensky's cannot afford to agree to any terms table by Russia vice versa.
If Zelensky accept Russian's term, he will be in grave danger from his own backers (not necessarily the population but the hardcore few that swell his ranking i.e. their extreme right).
Trump does not want to get involve because economically it does not pay, and Trump wants UK and EU to foot the bill themselves. Trump only want to sell "products" and earn profit. No profit means not economically viable.
Domestically, Trump needs to make sure US economy is sound, which it is not at the moment. No soy beans sell, rare earth shortage etc, no further investment in aircraft carriers with only minimal (2) shipyards ready only etc etc.
The only way out for Zelensky is to maintain the status quo and to continue some form of reliance on UK/EU funding to "buy" arms from US, and to prolong the war in the hope that the next US administration will come to his aid.
The war will drag on until such time as UK/EU or even USA can no longer see a way out (not economically viable) by abandoning Ukraine. Depending on the severity Trump may/may not be in office by that time. Then there is a greater risk of triggering some form of nuclear wars when the next person takes over the administration, and in desperation takes a pre-emptive strike on Russia (because that's the only way to "win").
In the Pacific, Japan is trolling China and is trying to drag US into some form of involvement. i.e. Japan is trying to regain their full war like status, while Trump knew exactly that Japan is a poison chalice yet can do some leg works to "disrupt" China's progression economically.
Therefore, the war in Ukraine will not end any day soon. Not even half way there yet.
Therefore, the war in Ukraine will not end any day soon.
Whilst I don't agree with your reasoning, I do agree with that conclusion. Putin is a busted flush once the war stops, and he knows it. He has no desire whatsoever to end it. If he did, the military spending which is artificially keeping wages high and their fragile economy afloat will stop, causing huge economic problems.
There will be a day of reckoning for the huge loss of Russian lives and the population will no longer have the war to divert their gaze from all the many issues which they are facing. Putin will be expected to fix them but will have few levers to pull to address them. Without the war, Putin is finished. He's terrified of it ending.
Zelensky cannot accept giving huge chunks of territory to Russia after the heroic effort to defend them. He cannot accept a peace which would allow Russia to come back for another go in the near future. He cannot accept weak security guarantees after their betrayal with the Budapest memorandum.
The US is becoming (by choice) irrelevant. Europe needs to hold fast and continue to fully support Ukraine. It's a war of attrition and Ukraine, with defenders advantage is exacting an unsustainable cost from Russia. And whilst so doing are giving the rest of Europe time to prepare for the next stage of Putin's imperial project. We owe them a huge debt.
IIRC, a few folk suggested Ukraine at the time. Reading this I would suggest many people might want to stop this ship and it's cargo...
#CannotTrustRussia
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
I think I am see desperation now? Are we seeing the modern day buccaneers in South America disrupting the supply chain?
Putin is a busted flush once the war stops, and he knows it. He has no desire whatsoever to end it. If he did, the military spending which is artificially keeping wages high and their fragile economy afloat will stop, causing huge economic problems.
No, there is no logic in stopping when winning. Just keep pressing until one surrenders or take terms.
There will be a day of reckoning for the huge loss of Russian lives and the population will no longer have the war to divert their gaze from all the many issues which they are facing. Putin will be expected to fix them but will have few levers to pull to address them. Without the war, Putin is finished. He's terrified of it ending
This is not just Russia. Ukraine will realise that first while UK/EU later when they participate fully in the war.
Zelensky cannot accept giving huge chunks of territory to Russia after the heroic effort to defend them. He cannot accept a peace which would allow Russia to come back for another go in the near future. He cannot accept weak security guarantees after their betrayal with the Budapest memorandum.
He has no cards.
The US is becoming (by choice) irrelevant. Europe needs to hold fast and continue to fully support Ukraine. It's a war of attrition and Ukraine, with defenders advantage is exacting an unsustainable cost from Russia. And whilst so doing are giving the rest of Europe time to prepare for the next stage of Putin's imperial project. We owe them a huge debt.
US will always be relevant to Europe, but not the other way round. Europe is just a tool for US. We only have to look at how the European leaders submit to US President. Ukraine can defend as much as they wish but they know exactly well Russia has so far only despatched their expeditionary force. The main Russian force is actually anticipating (waiting) European participation. Therefore, early or late European participation makes no difference at all. Ukraine is currently owing many people and even it will take them several generations to pay off their debts. US/UK/EU/NATO etc can send in all the crack troops etc but the bottom line is that this is not a war of yesteryear, but an unknown warfare that involving drones (plenty of it too), which many on the both sides will perish. I can imagine all the crack troops moving forward the front line but the "Predator like drones with their heat sensor sees them all like sitting ducks".
just watched the trump/netanyahu press conference on al jazerra, what a pair of absolute ****ers, I so ****ing hope the pair of these ****s have a horrible and painful/prolonged death
they know exactly well Russia has so far only despatched their expeditionary force. The main Russian force is actually anticipating (waiting)
Bollocks. They've resorted to emptying their jails, using pressed North Koreans and conning the poor of Africa and India to die for them in meat attacks. Scraping the bottom of the barrel. Virtually all their armour is destroyed and a big chunk of their navy gone too.
I'd love to address all your other points one by one, but I'm out for the night at a pantomime with Mrs Bloke. So you crack on!
More 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ from our resident troll
And the Armata (Russian wunder tank - that’s actually a POS) will be along soon - honest governor 🤣🤣🤣
Looks like it’s a rolling collapse in the North, Ukraine advancing too fast and with Russia unable to form a defensive live to stabilise the situation.
Assuming this continues and the bulk of the Northern Luhansk area is retaken, what are Ukraines next moves?
“Armchair General” time
Roll up the remainder of forces north of the Dnipro river and retake Kherson.
Move these forces round to Zaporisia and strike down to Melitopol, severing the Russian territory in two. Destroy Kerch bridge. The Russians in Kherson are cut off from resupply.Strike down to Mariupol splitting the Russian territory into three. All Russians west of Mariupol are now cut of from resupply.
Then squeeze.
How did that work out?
More
from our resident troll
It's a sad state of affairs in a thread when it's actually chewy that makes most sense !!
How did that work out?
I don't know who you're quoting, but there's a huge back catalogue of bad takes on this thread. Do all your posts hold up to scrutiny? I doubt mine do!
It's the interval btw! 😊
Are you smoking what chewy is smoking?
Are you smoking what chewy is smoking?
I know I am smoking German duty free Pueblo tobacco 😀
Are you guys smoking some seriously weird stuff? 😆
I am. But even I can see you're a massive lettuce
Well this has taken an unexpected turn! Perhaps if your aunt sent some of that to Trump and Putin, it might help?
#somafunksaunt #nobelpeaceprize
Chewk - I wish you’d **** off from this thread.
Timba does a good job here without your inane ramblings getting in the way of good info.
So Russia now lie about an attack on Putins residence?
An excuse to do a retaliation in the next few hours on a high profile target?