comment: >
  
  It. Is. A. Defensive. Alliance. The way you frame NATO is the way Russian propaganda frames it to make it look villainous.
  
  if we sent viable shit Ukraine would have won a long time ago, although that is a hypothetical.
  
  An extremely incorrect hypothetical not based on fact. Never underestimate how long a nation with authoritarian leaders will commit to a war. Hell, look how long the US stayed committed to losing wars in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. And we had those weapons. We had the most powerful, advanced military on the planet.
context: Last post >
  
  Surovikin is a competent commander. respect for Putin's role in Russia and the war has been tainted since he took over, due to the contrast. this is a move to preemptively dethrone Surovikin. >
  
  Slava Ukraini! >
  
  Putin is always saying: 
  “I have to return some videotapes” >
  
  Losing Soledar was unfortunate, but the heavily urbanized Donbas makes it possible to set up a good defensive line not too far behind the previous front. 
  All-in-all, yesterday’s more significant news was the commitment of sending western MBTs. The defenders of Soledar today will be avenged by the Ukrainian counteroffensives of tomorrow, in which these western weapon systems will be decisively utilized against the Russians. >
  
  Soledar isn't confirmed lost yet. The video is specifically talking about the retreat from the Western part of town. There are no official or reliable unofficial UA accounts that claim the entire town has been abandoned (which is likely a prudent thing to do). >
  
  Hopefully Wagner lost a ton of troops taking Soledar. >
  
  It is now time to once again say “fuck putler” >
  
  Furthermore, I am of the opinion that Putin must be defenestrated. >
  
  Day CCCXXIII, Part I. Thread CDLXIV. >
  
  Slava Ukraini !!!
  Fuck Putin >
  
  God I hope our timeline eventually leads to Navalny in charge over there…🙏
  Edit:What’s with the downvotes? Navalny is against a war. >
  
  He whole heartedly supported the Crimea annexation, he is just the lesser of 2 evils I'm afraid. >
  
  He was acting as a politician trying to win political support from a public that strongly supported the annexation.  I wouldn't hold that against him.  Especially since it's likely to be a moot point if he ever gets any power. >
  
  so he's full of shit? got it. >
  
  Are there any estimates on the number of Americans fighting for Wagner? There has to be some shitheads out there doing it. >
  
  i dont think so, not sure they pay enough TBH. we have other options for contractor work. >
  
  Next month? So won't happen this month >
  
  As was explained last year when the sanctions were first implemented and adjusted later on in the year: immediately cutting off everything is a logistical nightmare for the world. You have to give time for people to establish new trading routes and agreements.
  This morning they said Russia was losing something like 170m/day and the math was done on how much they'd lose by changing specific things, which I imagine is what's being planned out now. >
  
  BADA BOOM! >
  
  Construction workers who’ve come from Russia or Crimea to Mariupol to “rebuild,” have instead been sent to the front, Bakhmut, 0629 reported yesterday. 
  Similarly, Verashuk has just today warned that Russia will mobilize the men remaining in Melitopol. >
  
  
  Construction workers who’ve come from Russia or Crimea to Mariupol to “rebuild,” have instead been sent to the front, Bakhmut, 0629 reported yesterday.
  
  This is the most Russian thing I've ever heard. 
  Its like a dark comedy >
  
  Yeah one Russian wife, back in Crimea, is raising hell about it.  Her husband was promised a large wage for construction work in Mariupol, instead she gets word he’s been injured in Bakhmut.  Can’t get disability pension “bc he’s construction, not military.” But also, can’t get that construction wage, bc didn’t do the work, bc sent elsewhere.
  Why do Russians trust their government? >
  
  Woah hold on there no Russian has ever trusted his or her government ever. Let’s not be too naive here lol >
  
  Yet they comply to whatever the government wants of them. Every single time. 
  Those goddamn lemmings. >
  
  As some context. In the US and UK we don’t have a living memory of an autocratic government that can and did take millions of its own people and gulag/mock trial and execute or just starve them. We don’t fear our governments. Europe has a healthier understanding of what a government like that can do but the key thing is they overcame it. Russia never really did. 
  In Russia the atrocities committed against the people by their own government are still well remembered, it would certainly frame your feelings if you had lived through a similar regime. The Stalinist purges are only seventy to eighty years ago and events like that leave a lasting legacy on a countries consciousness. Unlike with the Nazis no one was ever really held to account for the Russian atrocities. If I lived there I would be a lot more circumspect about voicing my displeasure. By the time you’re at the front and actually facing death it’s too late to complain. >
  
  
  If I lived there I would be a lot more circumspect about voicing my displeasure. By the time you’re at the front and actually facing death it’s too late to complain.
  
  But the thing is there's no difference between a russian living in Europe/overseas and a russian living in russia. They are complacent and passive towards their regime regardless of their place of stay. >
  
  That’s touching. I watched the video as well. The insight on why some people are staying in Bakhmut made sense, but was still difficult for me to hear. I get that some people don’t have the ability to leave, but just feel nervous for them. So with that, it’s great that this doctor continues to stay. It’s dangerous, but I respect it. >
  
  He really doesnt give a shit. He just needs his public to a) think he gives a shit and b) know it is someone else's fault. >
  
  And oh he is such a "strong" and "big" leader putting these people in their place... 
  What a pathetic actor and fool he is. Maybe he put this out because the whole putin is a "little man" thing. >
  
  If it turns out that Russia can't take and hold it after all of this, I really don't know what Putin's next move will be. >
  
  There is talk that this is Prigozhin's game. He promised to deliver Soledar and if he will be succesful, it will mean more power points to him. Apparently there is quite some infighting between the army, Wagner, Kremlin factions, some say the command changes are related to this too.
  If he is succesful, Wagner will probably be expected to repeat the performance at Bakhmut too. They apparently have run out of cannon fodder at Soledar so in these conditions Bakhmut does not seem to be possible unless they get 30 to 50000 meat sacks. >
  
  My fear is that their BS propaganda machine is so powerful around the world that they can actually find cannon fodder outside of Russia and expend it in human wave attacks without inflicting losses to Russian people. >
  
  No way can they get meaningful numbers of people from outside Russia. >
  
  I hope you are correct. So many people use aggressive rhetoric portraying western reaction to the war in Ukraine as neo colonialism, imperialism, hypocrisy and so on, and there's so much resentment everywhere in the world that I think it doesn't take that much for Wagner thugs to recruit cheap mercenaries abroad. >
  
  Lets go Baerbock, I had zero faith in her as foreign minister, but she is miraculously doing good out there >
  
  That’s a jab at the Swiss, isn’t it? >
  
  I don't think so, it seems that he expects the issue to be genuinely controversial within the German government. >
  
  Killed by Wagner terrorists probably. >
  
  Well, they are aid workers providing aid to civilians, so essentially targets for russian orks. >
  
  Haha, and people say Germans don't have any sense of humor >
  
  When beer is involved, we don't joke around.
  How else would you transport beer to remote areas? >
  
  Germany is one of the few places in the world where there are beer pipelines. For example the stadium where Schalke 04 plays has a pipeline from a nearby brewery, so fans can get it fresh from the tap.
  Serious business indeed. >
  
  I wonder when the western tanks show up (Challenger/Leopards) the fresh conscripts are really going to think they're fighting NATO units. But then I figured those poor conscripts probably have no idea what a NATO tank looks like in the first place so probably won't think much of it. >
  
  
  
  They already think that because that's what they've been told.  
  
  
  You don't use tanks vs infantry. >
  
  
  You don't use tanks vs infantry
  
  You do. Leo 2s have ability to use programmable ammunition. There are certain types of ammunition specifically designed for anti-infantry operations. They explode above the ground and spread shrapnel. >
  
  LiveUaMap shows Russian Shelling of Kremnina - Does this mean the UAF have reached the town? >
  
  Ukrainians have shelled Kremina before, it has been pretty close to the frontline for a while. >
  
  I thought it was showing Russian shelling, could be my bad. The map also shows clashes inside the city, but I’m not sure how accurate the map is. >
  
  It is showing Russians doing probing attacks, seems they have increased activity a bit since 76th VDV has reinforced Kremina. In any case, recon action is pretty common for both sides at that part of the front. >
  
  Only 47 billion? Elon musk lost 4x that last year... >
  
  Elon never had that, it's paper money based on his perceived value. The 47 billion is actual resources that are either wasted or underpaid. >
  
  Not that it matters much but what is going on with Putin's face? It's either steroids for a medical condition or bad Botox or a body (face?) double. >
  
  There's been rumors swirling for several months that he's on steroid treatment for some manner of (possibly) late-stage cancer. Regardless of how true that may or not be, he certainly looks puffier as of late. >
  
  Got any recent pics? I can only find old ones. >
  
  Just a little light call for genocide with your lunch break. Normal country things. >
  
  Normal TERRORIST country things. >
  
  A small town in exchange for a large town at a strategic crossroad. All sacrifice is tragic but it will not be in vain if they can take Kreminna. >
  
  Ukrainians are still nowhere close to attacking Kreminna. They need to secure the northern approach to the city first, where they are still quite far away from. >
  
  They're basically at the gates in the South and have fire control on all other sides except the East. They don't necessarily need to take the North. >
  
  It would be no different than Russian head on assault on Bakhmut. Unless they secure the northern flank, it would be a pointless assault that will cost many lives. >
  
  Unpopular opinion: With a decent amount of luck the war will end with the 1991 borders, or perhaps minus Crimea, and with some reparations in the form of appropriated frozen Russian capital.
  Some Russian officers captured on the battlefield will be sentenced, but there won't be a Nuremberg style trial. Russia will stay as nasty as they are, just in a defeated and weakened state. The same faces we know so well will rant and threaten day in day out in the media, but we'll eventually stop listening. >
  
  Russia will collapse, its economy functioned primarily on the export of oil and gas with their primary (EU) market now gone. It won't be possible to export the same volumes to Asia. On top of that China and India are buying Russian oil and gas at a big discount. Add to that expulsion of capital from Russia, huge brain drain, military losses and natural reduction of a population (as approximately -1 mln Russians per year), low birth rates. Russia becomes a failed state within a span of 10-15 years, maybe even less. Civil war is highly likely with Northern Causausian Regions trying to breakaway. All this will likely occur following Putin's death. >
  
  Agreed. If anything this whole war was their last chance to land grab for a minimum of 30-40 years. Since it has been going so horribly unwell (for them) we're now looking at 50-70 years minimum before Russia could even remotely return to a position of any true relevance.
  This assumes their next generation (10-15 years of age right now) starts having lots of children between 2025 and 2040, while they struggle to maintain or even survive. And then those children have to grow up in a restructured, specialized economy that has access to global trade, putting their productive years and power into use around 2060+ >
  
  
  Recruitment from prisons is now much harder for Wagner, due to news of the massive losses in Ukraine getting back to penal colonies in Russia. A source tells VChK-OGPU that "the flow of 'newcomers' to the private military companies has thinned considerably.
  "Those who were ready to go straight away have almost all been taken. And now there is persistent talk in the prisons about the PMCs as 'pure meat and total losses'."/end
  
  Mass mobilization seems to be the next logical step >
  
  There's only so much prisoners that are motivated enough to risk likely death in human wave assaults. At some point the flow depletes, even if they're so high on propaganda that they don't receive news of high losses. >
  
  Nah, they are prisoners.  At the end of the day Russia can make conditions in the prison worse and worse until fighting and dieing seems attractive.  
  The real problem is that tortured and starved men without training have no place on the modern battlefield.  A trained defensive force with modern weapons will simply slaughter the conscripts. >
  
  I guess that the plan for Russia now is to get more and more totalitarian and find excuses to put more people in prisons so that they're funnelled into the hands of Prigozhin to be used as cannon fodder. >
  
  Weird. Maybe they want to avoid giving Lukashenko any ammunition to stir up resentment.
  AFAIK the Belarusian public is not on board with him and Putin. >
  
  Luka got within about a stone's throw of getting Gaddafi'd not that long ago.  Despite his eventual brutal crackdown, I suspect this may have put the fear of God into him a bit and now he just wants to live in his palace and not rock the boat too much. >
  
  Luka seems really good at playing Putin, honestly.  It's been nearly a year and he's managed to get Putin to think Belarus supports his invasion of Ukraine and that Belarus is willing to join without actually sending any troops, weapons, or funds.  
  Like he just dangles this in front of Putin all the time and Putin is too stupid to notice he never actually gives Russia anything substantial. >
  
  
  weapons
  
  didn't they send some artillery and tanks? >
  
  I bet they have been already training on them. >
  
  
  Domestic replacements won't be ready until 2030.
  
  If they ever would be ready at all. >
  
  But but this is what putins yes men are telling him! >
  
  I wonder what all of Putin's supporters will say when Russian soldiers return and start committing crimes on Russian soil.  It's laughable if they think that they will behave because they are back in Russia.  The late 2020's will make 90's Russia look like paradise with all the crime and black market weapons that will make there way into Russia. >
  
  I'd watch out, you might get reported for inciting violence.
  We appear to have a heap of Russian bots reporting this kind of stuff. >
  
  Fun fact, I got that on day 5 of the invasion for implying that this was already hell for Russia, somehow.
  EDIT: I wear that as a red ban on courage, never let them "chilling effect" you >
  
  As far as I remember this guy was pro-Ukraine most of the time. Unfortunately Scholz makes decision. >
  
  There are several other towns they would have to get through first before they could surround Bakhmut. >
  
  WHAT THE BLYAT!? Why am I even bothering... >
  
  I keep hearing a quote run through my head from some Ukrainian official:  “This is what madness looks like.” >
  
  Keep the tab running for Russia to pay later >
  
  Soledar—100+ Russians killed there yesterday—says Command of the Special Operations Forces (“SSO”)
  
  
  "More than a hundred Russians went to hell in the Soledar region. This happened thanks to the well-coordinated work of SSO soldiers, gunners, and rocket launchers.
  The concentration of the enemy in several areas was discovered by the operators of the Special Operations Forces. Artillery was directed at the enemy, and a tactical missile complex Tochka-U was used in one of the areas.
  
  As a result of these strikes, more than 100 occupiers, 2 machine gun crews and 2 mortar crews were confirmed destroyed. The SSO showed one of the stages of ‘working out’ the artillery according to the given coordinates on video [at link]. >
  
  This is sanctions starting to bite. >
  
  A doctor who has stayed in Mariupol gave a brief interview to 0629, the only pro-Ukraine publication still in operation in Mariupol.
  He says only 2 hospitals work, and those each just partially.  That specialists have come from Russia to fill the empty positions.  But it’s still an insufficient amount of medical care.
  
  
  "In Mariupol, almost everyone is in poor health. People come to the hospital, for example, with heart complaints, and we find old injuries, like broken bones.
  There was one case, when a woman came for an examination, she had fallen ill with a viral infection. We x-rayed her and saw a shell fragment in her lung. Can you imagine? It turns out that she was injured in the spring. The woman was bleeding. Neighbors once tamped her wounds. And over time, the skin grew back. And the fragment remained in the lungs. And there are thousands of such stories in Mariupol. Old wounds, strokes suffered on the legs (blood clots), inflammation of the lungs, not to mention stomach diseases...
  
  According to him, there are many people in Mariupol who need psychological help. 
  
  "There are many people in the city who lost their minds during the carpet bombings. You can see them. They walk the streets. But no one is interested in their fate. No help is given to such patients at all." >
  
  Oh, the atrocities that will come to light once they recapture Mariupol... It will be devastating... >
  
  Trying a different format, down vote if you hate it.
  From 24.02.2022 to 12.01.2023 (Day 323) estimated Russian losses so far:
  |Total  |Change (+)|Type                  |
  |:------|:---------|:---------------------|
  |113390 |430         |Personnel             |
  |3094   |0         |Tanks                 |
  |6159   |0         |APVs                  |
  |2082   |4         |Artillery             |
  |437    |0         |MLRS                  |
  |218    |1         |Anti-aircraft Systems |
  |285    |0         |Aircrafts            |
  |276    |1         |Helicopters           |
  |1865   |3         |UAVs                  |
  |723    |0         |Missiles              |
  |17     |0         |Warships / Boats      |
  |4826   |0         |Other Vehicles        |
  |184    |0         |Special Equipment     |
  Change is since previous day. >
  
  If can, try changing the order to Type, Change, Total >
  
  i wanted to post exactly the same. So i just upvote your comment! >
  
  Last post >
  
  A Russian official has just clarified how they're planning to move the age bracket for the mobilization. It had been 18 to 27 year olds previously. A month ago Putin changed it to "21-30 within three years".
  Andrey Kartapolov, the Chairman of the State Duma's Committee on Defense, said in an interview to the extremely pro-Russian Parlamentskaya Gazeta that they'll raise the upper ceiling to 30 right now, and then raise the lower limit from 18 to 21 in three years. 
  
  "For example, let's say the military registration and enlistment office is tracking one hundred people aged 21 to 30 who did serve in the military without sufficient grounds. And the job is to mobilize 200 people. By the new rules, half of them will be people aged 18 years, as before, and the other half - people aged 21 to 30 years old" >
  
  “Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be mobniks…” >
  
  Soon enough Russia will be so desperate for soldiers that they won't be able to fully grow up at all. >
  
  Dangit, that’s in English now?!  They make me wrinkle my brain trying to translate it last night, grrr >
  
  👍 >
  
  It’s “logical” for a few reasons. Firing a general implies blame and keeps any responsibility for the war off of Putin. Also, he has to be wary of generals they’re too successful. If a general does too well, he might gain power and threaten Putins dominance. Firing a general also gives the perception that you are “doing something”. much of it is for propaganda or political purposes. >
  
  Lincoln fired generals constantly, until he won the Civil War. >
  
  Considering Sherman was a little mentally unhinged at times, and Grant an alcoholic, I'd say the Russians still have a chance sadly, enough of both types of generals for sure in Russia >
  
  This whole Soledar business just seems like another Izium, Russia pouring infantry into the meatgrinder to improve the strategic position only to run out offensive capability for the main target (Bakhmut/Sloviansk).
  Fast forward a couple months and they have to abandon the slim gains due to being outflanked... >
  
  I mean neither does Bakhmut really. Russia is needing a PR win here more than anything.
  If they take Bakhmut it's a Pyrrhic Victory at best. >
  
  Bakhmut is a transport hub, no? >
  
  I don't think anyone is denying that RU has pushed quite deep into Soledar. The uncertainty is whether Ukr still holds a defensive line in Soledar, or if they've pulled out. >
  
  The battle for Bakhmut has been going on for do long now that it's equal in length to the siege of Stalingrad >
  
  The 10k for Bakhmut part is very much believable, the 10k for Soledar less so. >
  
  I can understand that view. This war in general has been very depressing and there's been a lot of loss of life in many different ways... I remember seeing someone here who constantly updated their situation while living in Ukraine. I haven't seen them for a while >
  
  Has Russia now stopped with the terrorist missile attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure? I feel I haven't heard about any since around New Year's Eve. >
  
  They have 3 frigates with 8 Kalibrs each and 3 Kilos that can launch 4 Kalibrs each (technically they can launch them from torpedo tubes as well, but for some reason they are not ding that). So 36 Kalibrs. They usually synchronize with long range bombers carrying Kh-101s which are usually prepared at Engels or (recently) at Ukrainka and Tu-22M3s from Rostov. Recent RU tactics is to get Kalibr platforms as close to the shore as it's safe for them, launch ALCMs from long range strategic bombers, launch Kalibrs and then to add to the chaos - launch Kh-22 and Kh-31s. 
  So usually if the Kilos are going towards an Ukraine - they are preparing for something. If the frigates are leaving the port - then it's usually 2-3 days before strike. Loading up Tu-95s - 1 day before strike. If Tu-95s are at Ukrainka - it takes them about 8 hours to get into position and you can hear the preparation to launch on BearNet radio. When they are at Caspian sea area - the launch is imminent and they are just coordinate timing with other strike platforms. 
  At this stage launching less than 90 missiles has about 8-10% probability of hitting the target area. >
  
  
  technically they can launch them from torpedo tubes as well, but for some reason they are not ding that
  
  Likely because this is how the Kursk sunk and they don't trust their torpedo tubes now.  They actually just had another recent failure of what was supposed to be a test of their nuclear loitering torpedo launched from a submarine under the arctic.
  Honestly, launching missile attacks from ships seems like a weird pivot to take when their air launched missiles seem to be doing just fine without needing to put any equipment or crew at risk.  Maybe they are just running out of that ordinance or maybe they are planning something different this time. >
  
  This article came out yesterday. If you take the usual assumption that Russia projects when it states specific numbers and claims, it’s an admission of losing 500 troops and not yet holding the town. >
  
  Day 323 of a 3 day Special Military Operation >
  
  
  This is however the first time they mention Kreminna in the shelling report which usually indicates progress.
  
  I read "Kreminna Kuzmyne and Dibrova in Luhansk Oblast were hit by fire" as meaning that Kuzmyne and Dibrova were hit, not Kremninna itself (those are small village west of Kremninna which are disputed since a long time). >
  
  Feels like Russia has now become so obsessed with taking Soledar that they've paused their push on Bakhmut proper. I get the sense that Russian initative and offensive capabilities are well fucked, considering the entire focus is now on this area... >
  
  they are obviously playing 5D chess, while Ukraine is fighting a war, the vatniks forgot this isn't chess >
  
  Russia is focused on taking objectives.
  Ukraine is focused on killing the enemy.
  Will Russia be able to take all objectives before Ukraine can kill them all? >
  
  ahahah yes, and objectives which only make sense to the enlightened grand masters who are doing the sacrificing! we are not worthy!!! >
  
  de_bakhmut
  [Putin]: Rush B
  [Gerasimov]: Roger That
  [Surovikin]: Roger That
  [Putin]: Rush B
  [Putin]: Rush B
  [Putin]: WTF guys
  Counter-Terrorists Win!
  [Putin] has initiated a vote "changemap de_soledar" >
  
  He is not wrong to point out that many Russians -- perhaps even a prohibitive majority -- do support their invasion of Ukraine, and that they bear some responsibility for it. 'I was just following orders' isn't a viable defence.
  But it's worth realising that if Russia's stock market hadn't tanked in 1998, and Boris Nemtsov -- who was appointed as one of Yeltsin's deputy prime ministers about a year before Putin was -- was running Russia instead of Putin, we probably wouldn't be in this mess, and we'd have a lot fewer dead Ukrainians, Syrians, Georgians, Chechens, Dagestanis, etc.-- and Russians.
  Putin, of course, had Nemtsov killed. >
  
  I liked the argument that Galeev pointed out on twitter. Arguably the Russian people are actually helpless and can't make a change. But that is also not compatible with the idea that Russia should continue to exist in its current form. >
  
  That's the point. The people are not "genetically inferior" with "slave mentality". They exist in a system in which initiative is severely punished while conformism is "rewarded" with no immediate punishment. For those who cannot leave, there are not many other options for survival.
  The only way to save the people is to change the system they live in and the only way to do that is to end the russian empire. >
  
  Morning Update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has a few interesting bits:
  
  Over the past 24 hours, units of the Defense Forces repelled the attacks of the occupiers in the areas of the settlements of Stelmakhivka and Kreminna in the Luhansk region and Rozdolivka, Sil, Krasna Gora, Paraskoviivka, Pidgorodne, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Mayorsk, Pervomaiske and Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region.
  
  This is the first time they mention Kreminna or Sil as 'repelled the attacks'. This means some Ukrainian units have entered Kreminna and are holding. 
  
  On the Lyman direction, Terny in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as Makiivka, Ploshanka, Nevske, Chervopopivka, Kreminna, Kuzmyne and Dibrova in Luhansk Oblast were hit by fire.
  
  Russians are shelling Kreminna. 
  
  In the direction of Bakhmut, the enemy fired from tanks, mortars, barrel and rocket artillery in the areas of the settlements of Spirne, Vyimka, Berestovka, Bilogorivka, Rozdolivka, Soledar, Krasna Gora, Pidgorodne, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Ivanovske, Klishchiivka, Bila Gora, Kurdyumivka, Diliivka and Druzhba of the Donetsk region.
  
  No mention of Soledar
  
  Near the settlement of Radensk, Kherson region, the Russian invaders built a network of trenches and dugouts using shipping containers, which were previously used as a field hospital.
  It is known that the recruitment of mercenaries for the newly created private military companies "Shield" and "Rusych" has been announced in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Ex-servicemen and other employees of the security forces are invited there, with priority given to officers. In order to at least somehow interest, potential candidates are promised a high monetary maintenance, as well as the fact that they will allegedly not be involved in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.
  During the past day, the Air Force of the Defense Forces made twenty strikes on enemy concentration areas, as well as three strikes on the positions of its anti-aircraft missile systems.
  During the past day, our soldiers shot down a Ka-52 helicopter, as well as two Orlan-10 reconnaissance UAVs.
  Our rocket launchers and gunners hit the enemy control post, seven manpower concentration areas and three ammunition depots of the invaders. >
  
  
  Bilogorivka, Rozdolivka, Soledar,
  
  You missed it, Soldear is mentioned.
  Also a mention of Pidhorodne, which was assumed to be taken over by russians. Either it never was, or they were pushed back. >
  
  Okay, so I saw today that the Wagner leader has said again that they have captured Soledar and killed 500 UA soldiers, but I can't find ANY evidence of this.
  Have I missed any source of credible information, or is this just like he did yesterday only to debunked later in the day, like the nazi idiot that he is? >
  
  I don't think any side can give reliable numbers of Russian or Ukrainian casualties and basically random numbers are being thrown around by everyone ranging from 100 to 25000,
  I think Soledar is pretty much captured or close to being captured, per yesterday's update there were still couple of streets under Ukrainian control, but the remnants were being pushed from all sides. I think it is just an orderly withdrawal covering the rear rather than a serious attempt to defend that last patch of territory. >
  
  Source? >
  
  I swear if/when Ukraine takes Krimenna in the next week, we're going to see less news surrounding it then this whole Soledar situation, despite the fact that it represents a far better strategic target.  Russia/Wagner desperately wanted/needed a PR win (as evidenced by the "Chef" getting a photo op as soon as possible) and people came out in droves in the media and here hook line and sinker to talk and concern about it.  They did the same exact thing with the nuclear power plant during the Kharkiv offensive.  I don't think people realize that the town has been fought over, with back and forth pushes for around five months.  It does look like they're going to be giving the town up, but I'd pressure those that keep talking about it like the line will collapse to take a moment to look a a topographical map and understand the bigger picture.
  Russia doesn't have any ability to advance beyond it with any speed as armed Vehicles have been a no go for a verity of reasons all along the Bahkmut front. Let Russia trade space for bodies if they're willing to offer up that price, they can't afford to sustain it. >
  
  There will be successful counteroffences in Kremmina, Svatove, and Melitopol and people will still be concern trolling about the Bakmut direction. Let them be this delusional. >
  
  Russia has to control the narrative at all times, Ukraine could be taking Crimea, but if Russia sent 500 troops and a tank to Belarus we'd be talking about an invasion from the north again. >
  
  
  Russia has to control the narrative at all times
  
  Information warfare is the one thing they are good at. If they win this, it will be because they manage to shift public opinion in ways that suit them. >
  
  So maybe we as internet users can make a difference... I believe so. >
  
  Ok so this is a bit of a dumb question but why are people so eager to see tanks given to Ukraine? I mean why are tanks so good? Will they significantly enhance Ukraine's ability to take its land back and if so how? Thanks in advance to anyone who answers. >
  
  Tanks are a very useful offensive tool.
  I can understand why you ask that after watching how incompetently Russia has used them.
  Basically they are there to argument infantry attacks.
  Imagine an attacking infantry group coming up to a pill box and getting pinned down. You then call in the tank that has been following you to take it out.
  With modern ATMs tanks are basically mobile coffins without proper infantry cover.
  With support they are an essential part of a strike force.
  In more modern attacks they are combined with BMPs and APCs for fast strikes. >
  
  Ok thanks a lot. So basically they are a piece of an offensive puzzle. The more pieces you have, the more things you can deal with. >
  
  Yep. Exactly.
  Up til now Ukraine has been using artillery to fill that hole. Which works, but it cuts down the offensives speed and so it’s element of surprise.
  The Kharkiv offensive and breakthrough was done by IFVs. The Ukrainians were 30km behind the defensive lines before the Russian knew what had hit them. >
  
  Have they always waited for the US to supply certain types of weapons before following suit? I thought the official message was around not being the first or only country to provide Western tanks? Please let me know if I'm mistaken and this (of following America's lead) has been Scholz's position all along. >
  
  The main reason, whether reasonable or not, to not give Ukraine all the weapons it wants and needs - in addition to logistics, maintenance and training issues of certain weapons systems - is to minimize the risk of escalation. Nuclear or otherwise as Russia-NATO war. 
  US has been in charge of evaluating this risk from the start of the war for the very practical reason that it is the other nuclear superpower on the planet, as well as the de-facto leader of NATO. So US doesn't dictate what weapons systems each country gives to Ukraine, but many (most) countries expect US to manage the risk and what types of weapons systems are not handed over for the fear of escalation.
  It's a very different war if US gets pulled into it. At that point the rest of us will turn into spectators. Lots and lots of support, yes, but eventually Russia needs to be kicked out by the "little brother". Humiliation at the hands of Ukraine is much more effective in geopolitical sense than a beat down by the "big, bad NATO". One shows unity and Ukraine's capability to defend itself, the other yet another world policing operation by outsiders. Sadly, Ukraine will pay for all of this geopolitics with blood. >
  
  Well put >
  
  Speculation on Soledar is not necessary when a leadership change occurred, imo. Salt failing, new plan. >
  
  I'm 99% sure the leadership change is internal politics and power plays, especially now that Putin and the Russian army is getting openly criticised by more prominent heads. >
  
  Still, it's some signalling about power >
  
  In the words of one of the chess players of all time, I urge Putin to "just resign dude" >
  
  Seeing zero proof of Russia fully occupying Soledar, from what i see they are having a bad time.
  I wondered why they went quiet. >
  
  The freshest most cryptic news from Soledar we got is Madyar posting a new JAGA JAGA video an hour ago. A few seconds in he switches to a video of a squid shooting ink and darting off-screen and says "and that was today in Soledar, get it?"
  My interpretation is, they pulled out and blanketed Russians with artillery and / or set off massive booby traps in the salt mines. 
  We already know Ukraine pulled back from the Western part of town. Your guess is as good as mine whether he meant that pullout, or a second complete fighting retreat. >
  
  I wondered whether Ukr were busy setting up a trap. >
  
  WarInUkraine just posted.
  He's describing the Western area of Soledar (Salt mine no.7 and the Silj rail station) being under Ukrainian control but still says it amounts to a loss of the town.
  Reporting the Russian capture of Opytne (SE of Bakhmut). Remember that Opytne has been fought over for several months now, changing hands several times. >
  
  That cough of his is sounding pretty gnarly >
  
  He's had a cough for months. >
  
  It's a fun exercise to zoom out very slowly and realize how far you have to zoom out before Russia's original goal -- the whole of Ukraine -- comes into focus. And to think that Russia has been frantically throwing itself at this tiny plot of land for what seems like an eternity. >
  
  In the last six months or so, virtually every major advance of russia's is accompanied by some insane and unsustainable value.
  They took Soledar...after losing several thousand troops to take the tiny village.
  Months ago they took Siverodonetsk...by burning ~40,000 artillery shells PER DAY in that one town for a few weeks.
  Absolutely none of this can possibly scale up to the size of Ukraine as a whole. >
  
  Slava Ukraini! >
  
  Heroiam Slava! >
  
  That, or some local interocular lead poisoning >
  
  I wonder if anybody has numbers on the increase in Russian bots/Russian propaganda since Musk took twitter over and fired large parts of its staff. >
  
  I've been avoiding it, it was a garbageheap of state-sponsored nonsenese before, can't imagine it now. Look for direct links to real sources instead. >
  
  At the same time there are lots of real sources and people to follow on there. So you can't put it all off due to some idiots in the comments or people who are broadcasted that are irrelevant >
  
  He says about a 100 soldiers got captured, are there any pictures or videos of that on telegram / russian sources?
  I assume if they captured that many soldiers, they will be flaunting it massively on social media. >
  
  Okay guys, if Germany wanna wait with their tanks, can they at least send their tankies to the frontlines? >
  
  Furthermore, I am of the opinion that Putin must be defenestrated. >
  
  Slava Ukraini !!!
  Fuck Putin >
  
  Heroyam Slava! >
  
  Day CCCXXIII, Part I. Thread CDLXIV. >
  
  Hopefully Wagner lost a ton of troops taking Soledar. >
  
  with all the talk of Tanks and IFVs, it seems so silly that there are thousands of them, and they have been sitting idly in Europe doing "training" fuckall while there's an active war going on and peoples homes and lives being terrorized... yet we have waited a year doing bullshit military drills and playing soldier while there are actual deployed troops that need the support in an active 1500km front... even debating what to send seems pathetic frankly >
  
  I mean it's normal. Historically if a "neutral" country wants to send an expeditionary force or arms support to another in a war they don't send off the shit they would need in the event that they get attacked. They send the extras or bits that aren't integral to their battle plans
  It's also done under the plausible deniability guise. We are actually a lot more brazen here than in many other similar scenarios. >
  
  attack from where?! NATO's whole point of existence has manifested itself, and they sit on their stockpiles.. debating whether they should send the weapons they built to fight the enemy they built it against, while kids are getting kidnapped, killed, or worse. >
  
  
  NATO's whole point of existence has manifested itself
  
  No NATO nation has been attacked. It's a defense alliance not a "let's counter Russia actively" alliance.
  As far as "attack from where," well anywhere. That's not the point. Say you send vital shit to ukraine and Ukraine lost and now you're vulnerable to attack. Not likely to happen, but the govts exist to make sure it doesn't happen.
  National security is something nation states crave.
  Plus, again, you can't just ship unlimited gear to a country and expect it to be useful. Training takes a ton of time, logistics make it a nightmare, etc. There's a reason the EU has been sending soviet style gear most of the time: Ukraine has the ability to use it without much overhead.
  Ukraine doesn't have some legion of bored tank crews waiting around for want of a tank, either. Every man they pull back to retrain on new equipment is one less on a precarious front line vs hordes of Russian mobilized conscripts.
  Your derision of training and drills shows you have a complete lack of understanding of how militaries have worked for ages. >
  
  It was primarily created to counter Russia, unless there is some other huge threat with massive military stockpile besides NATO I can't think of? if we sent viable shit Ukraine would have won a long time ago, although that is a hypothetical.
  e/ I'm saying rather than doing fucking pointless drills playing out scenarios where Russia could invade (which is what most of the exercises NATO does focus on), we could've started training back in April/March on all that viable equipment