Ukraine

Well, this is a fun rabbit hole to go down:

https://twitter.com/adamrangpr/status/1529799570753978369?s=20&t=BbVT7DKP9lAc435fbq5DIQ

#Russia: This looks about right. In case you were wondering how #Putin can possibly risk being in the presence of regular #RussianPeople. He never does. pic.twitter.com/LpCOP5pYvB

— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) May 26, 2022

Well, here’s a surprise: it was not about NATO after all

Exclusive: Vladimir Putin's chief envoy on Ukraine told the Russian leader as the war began that he had struck a provisional deal with Kyiv that would satisfy Russia's demand that Ukraine stay out of NATO, but Putin rejected it and pressed ahead https://t.co/d7mw7NMGDN

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 14, 2022

The “never meets real people” thing is funny, til you remember all those Tory visits to Scotland where the only people David Cameron meets are investment bankers, Theresa May is in a locked warehouse with handpicked employees of a company that have been told to be on their best behaviour, audience plants on Question Time etc. People being arrested for shouting at prince andrew while their assailants get to walk away. All a matter of degrees.

gobuchul
Free Member

From what I understand, the majority of Russians still support Putin. They don’t seem to have any intent of becoming a liberal democracy anytime soon.

So, first of all, it’s really pretty much impossible to know what the support is, since being publically anti-Putin is a very brave stance. I mean, shy tory syndrome skews things so much here and that’s just because people don’t want to admit to strangers that they’re awful. Multiply by many.

And the other is, what underlines that support? People are fed a constant diet of lies. Yes there’s truth or slivers of truth but like anywhere else, the average russian isn’t going to be going out and digging through stacks of propaganda or using internet proxies or communicating with the west.

So, we don’t really know who supports Putin, and we don’t really know who supports real Putin vs fantasy Putin. I don’t personally get the impression that we’re near a tipping point, but, the history of these things shows that things can move VERY fast, in either direction.

Not really one for tanks n stuff, but this is more of an antique

Ukrainian soldiers have captured a T-62

The russians are sending their troops into battle with 60 year old equipment. pic.twitter.com/W7S4zWAMih

— Saint Javelin (@saintjavelin) September 14, 2022

Just simply looking at the level of gear they are wearing says a 1000 words .

Plate carriers and gucci molle systems fast mag pouches, elcan sighting systems peq boxs Safarilands . its another era from what the average Russian booty is wearing/using.

Yes I saw trainloads of T62’s being shipped to Ukraine some time ago. Since then only one has been destroyed according to Oryz, so I’m not sure how many have seen actual combat?

Plate carriers and gucci molle systems fast mag pouches, elcan sighting systems peq boxs Safarilands

You wot mate?

Can’t quite tell if that’s a list of kit or you fell down the stairs 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yes I saw trainloads of T62’s being shipped to Ukraine some time ago. Since then only one has been destroyed according to Oryz, so I’m not sure how many have seen actual combat?

I can’t find the post, but some of the recaptured places had maintenance depots. In there they found vehicles with non working guns, engines and more. It may be that lots were shipped – and few were useable…

Edit, image fail and it’s a “proper” photo so don’t want to copy and post image it

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62888388

Artem said he could hear screams of pain and terror coming from other cells.
The occupiers made sure the cries could be heard, he said, by turning off the building’s noisy ventilation system.
“They turned it off so everyone could hear how people scream when they are shocked with electricity,” he told us. “They did this to some of the prisoners every other day… They even did this to the women”.

@Piemonster

A very poorly written list .. but the reply made me laugh.;)

stevedoc
Free Member

Just simply looking at the level of gear they are wearing says a 1000 words .

Plate carriers and gucci molle systems fast mag pouches, elcan sighting systems peq boxs Safarilands . its another era from what the average Russian booty is wearing/using.

They’re very nearly as well equipped as the average airsofter or nerfer

https://www.foamdartthunder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WhatsApp-Image-2019-08-23-at-1.01.50-AM-1-1.jpeg

And so rats continue to leave the ship…?

Kazakhstan will suspend its membership in Russia-led CSTO (equivalent of China-led SCO) in the beginning of 2023. Kazakhstan didn’t support Russia in its war against Ukraine and did not recognize the annexation of Crimea & the self-proclaimed independence of the Donbas republics.

— Velina Tchakarova (@vtchakarova) September 14, 2022

seems russia has blown up a dam overnight along with the attacks on the grid its clear they are targeting civilians infrastructure to make this winter as hard as possible for ukraine.

scorched earth. have they stopped pedalling the line they are there to save and liberate people yet?

And so rats continue to leave the ship…?

It doesn’t seem to be substantiated. Kazakhstan called on the CSTO in January after rioters seized most of the city of Almaty over the price of LPG.
Kazakhstan opposed the invasion of Crimea and, later, the rest of Ukraine, but it wouldn’t be logical for them to leave the CSTO. There is rumour that China would be prepared to step in, but that isn’t their MO

scorched earth. have they stopped pedalling the line they are there to save and liberate people yet?

They want to pressure Ukraine into a deal that secures some/any part of Ukraine. If that doesn’t happen then rebuilding will give Europe an economic kicking

On the subject of “liberation” this is a translation from an RIA Novosta article, I wont quote as it needs to be read in full to really appreciate what its saying, and how that would translate into action on the ground.

https://medium.com/@kravchenko_mm/what-should-russia-do-with-ukraine-translation-of-a-propaganda-article-by-a-russian-journalist-a3e92e3cb64

Also, if anyone has seen rumours of Ukrainian “kill lists” kicking about. Worth getting hold of the text from the “evidence” and translate that text if you can

The example I saw translated to something completely different, but I guess some wouldn’t bother and just take it at face value.

Theres not been much chat about China.

In keeping with other questions about this war.

WHAT PARTNERSHIP WITHOUT LIMITS DOING?

Is their any balanced analysis or even opinion pieces kicking around for this?

Specifically looking for something that isnt clearly biased one way or the other. The opinion of someone that always favours the authoritarian outlook, or the US hegemony isnt going to add anything new.

They’re very nearly as well equipped as the average airsofter or nerfer

I’m sure there’s a few in this thread.

I’m sure there’s a few in this thread.

🙃

Having just googled an Airsoft shop. And recently been made aware of LARPers pretending to be in Ukraine.

If you have something like this https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/lct-lck-12-tactical-airsoft-replica-aeg?pv=11152

Are you not genuinely at risk of an armed police response?

Sorry, that’s way OT beyond the LARPer thing.

Are you not genuinely at risk of an armed police response?

If you walk down the street yes but they just play on private sites. Think trail centres rather than cheeky trails.

Is their any balanced analysis or even opinion pieces kicking around for this?

They dont seem to be doing a lot hence lack of articles on it. Might be sending a bit of kit but nothing major and are abstaining/voting for Russia.

Theres not been much chat about China. In keeping with other questions about this war. WHAT PARTNERSHIP WITHOUT LIMITS DOING?

Not analytical in the slightest but the “profound transformation” and “world order” is taking taking on a new meaning and the timing is bad for President Xi a month before the CCP conference and vote for leadership

China Daily reports an agreement with Ukraine in 2013, “The two sides underline their support to each other on issues concerning national sovereignty, reunification and territorial integrity.” https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-12/05/content_17155239.htm

China will continue to play the long game

Are you not genuinely at risk of an armed police response?

Yup. But some rules were bought in a while ago that makes buying the weapons harder for dickheads.

I thought bikes were expensive until I saw what they wear. Crye kit isn’t cheap, although seems there’s plenty of Chinese knock off gear.

Anyhow, nice to see the UKR getting some decent kit to do their job, I wonder how much is from aid packages, procured through their system or privately bought.

Well, I never knew about airsoft

It’s like paintball with less mess and more pain. It’s good fun as a one off, but some people take it far too seriously…

I wonder how much is from aid packages, procured through their system or privately bought.

An interesting question – Zelensky said early on in the conflict that money wasn’t the problem, they were happy to buy gear they just needed the opportunity to do so.

Specifically looking for something that isnt clearly biased one way or the other. The opinion of someone that always favours the authoritarian outlook, or the US hegemony isnt going to add anything new.

You’re never going to find that. An honest reporter can report factual events, but there will always be editorial decisions about what is worth reporting. Different publications have different editorial priorities, the honest ones are clear about those priorities.

That’s for straight news reporting. For opinion articles, every writer starts with some worldview. Most Western journalists have been raised in liberal countries and trained in cultures where things like freedom of speech and challenging the views of the government are considered central to an effective press. To countries like Russia or China, those liberal values are evidence of support for the U.S. hegemony (which, at its core, is based on advancing Western liberal values.)

The worst thing of all is the “bothsidism” view, where reporters just report what politicians say without questioning whether it’s factual. This gives them access to political leaders, but it just serves to propagate misinformation. Donald Trump is a master of using this to his advantage.

Much better to just have media organizations clearly state their editorial viewpoints and base their news reporting on verified facts. It’s not possible for humans to not have biases.

But some rules were bought in a while ago that makes buying the weapons harder for dickheads.

Dang…

*puts credit card away

It’s good fun as a one off, but some people take it far too seriously…

I’m sure that’s what airsoft people say about mountain biking.

It’s like paintball with less mess and more pain. It’s good fun as a one off, but some people take it far too seriously…

That they do. Better regards gear than I was issued, for a while at least.

OT: Although there is a hilarious video of a guy from the 75th Ranger Regiment absolutely carving a bunch up.

An interesting question – Zelensky said early on in the conflict that money wasn’t the problem, they were happy to buy gear they just needed the opportunity to do so

No way of knowing, but I have noticed a gradual upturn of kit, with the exception of the foreign defence legion, they are clearly way down the pecking order.

Dang…

*puts credit card away

Haha!

No way of knowing, but I have noticed a gradual upturn of kit

Oh god I hope so! I’ve always wondered if there was a chance that Ukraine could ‘own the night’, like the US were able to do with such devastating effect in Iraq (I did not support that war). They were able to do this simply because the US had nigh vision goggles and Iraq didn’t. Now, we know that Russia does not equip their solders with night vision, so if we reach a point where enough of the Ukraine forces have them could they start to over run the Russia lines by attacking at night? I mean, it’s winter soon, so those nights are going to be looooong….

When they do, they’ll find themselves up against an increasing number of ‘volunteers’ many of whom will have swapped life behind bars for life under the Himars

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/09/14/russian-prisoners-told-executed-flee-fighting-ukraine/

In fairness Putin’s chef doesn’t mess about. Five minutes indeed

Yep that guy does not mince his words!

Now, we know that Russia does not equip their solders with night vision, so if we reach a point where enough of the Ukraine forces have them could they start to over run the Russia lines by attacking at night?

Apparently, that was one of the things that stopped the Russian advance on Kyiv back in March. Ukrainian special forces had night vision gear and the Russians were terrified of night attacks. I think the point there is that you don’t need the entire army to have night vision gear, just enough to make sure that the enemy are afraid to sleep at night.

They were able to do this simply because the US had nigh vision goggles and Iraq didn’t.

The US also had GPS and Iraq didn’t

Excellent interview with Mark Hertling

https://morningshots.thebulwark.com/p/general-mark-hertling-russias-army

The proper NATO Military NV kit is bonkers money and utterly impractical to issue en masse.

For example: https://tnvc.com/shop/l3harris-gpnvg-ruggedized-bridge/

But when issued to Special forces, it gives them a massive advantage over opponents without them, or even those just using cheaper, lower quality NV kit.