comment: >
  
  To be clear, this is the German Foreign Minister!
context: New post can be found here >
  
  Excellent. >
  
  "putin's war" >
  
  Rusky mir >
  
  I mean, technically it did show how far Russia had come since the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1991. It turns out: not very far. >
  
  I would argue that it went quite a distance downhill... >
  
  I finally googled it:
  "BMP" stands for “Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty”, Russian for infantry fighting vehicle. >
  
  “Military and absolutist regimes are undoubtedly well fitted to get the jump on an unsuspecting or unprepared enemy; but the history of modern warfare proves that they cannot win over representative governments in the long run, provided that people behind those governments have the heart to sustain initial punishment, and both the will and the resources to fight back.” ~ Samuel Eliot Morison >
  
  Yep Morison is a great historian.
  There is a reason why Authoritarian governments always fail. The lies become a house of cards that is destined to fall.
  Also, authoritarian governments cannot manage a middle class.
  The middle class is what makes democracies strong. Not the rich. Not the poor. The middle class have the ability to make changes and the desire that make them. The rich don’t want change. The poor don’t have the ability.
  A country like Russia that does not have a middle class is always destined to fail.
  In Russia’s case this failure is going to be quite spectacular. 🍿 >
  
  Russia does have a middle class though >
  
  Not like in democracies.
  Russia has the greatest disparity of wealth in the word. In a country of 140 million people about 9000 people have over 90% of the assets.
  The middle class is virtually non-existent outside Moscow and PSB.
  Where I am from, Australia, we have the highest median wealth in the world - about $340k USD.
  I hate to think what Russia’s median wealth is.
  As a rough guess, it might be 2K USD, but I’m probably overestimating. >
  
  I checked and it's about 7k. I'm not sure how that's even possible, since I assume wealth should also include your home's value. >
  
  What would they defend? The conscripts they couldnt care less about?. >
  
  its for show so the people of moscow believe they are in danger so the coming mobilization go down a bit easier >
  
  If they are mobilizing in moscow then russia is truly done for. >
  
  It would be great way for russia to plant spies or instigators. Makes sense. >
  
  And anyone resolved to flee mobilization out of any sort of sense of consciousness would have already seen this coming and done so by now. The next wave are more likely to be people who've been drinking Putin's kool-aid up until the point where they have to participate. They'll likely continue drinking that kool-aid no matter where they end up.
  Not against vetting out the good people still caught up in that mix for whatever reason but that's a huge and largely untenable operation so as a blanket policy this is reasonable and expected. >
  
  White House: Here are 323.912 individual pieces of evidence as proof of your war crimes.
  Wagner: They must be fake. I saw 2 Ukrainians doing war crimes too. What about USA in Iraq? >
  
  Whatabout requires you admit to the accusation in the first place. >
  
  A lot of people miss this fact, and keep consuming “news” that includes whataboutism. >
  
  Whoa, lots of hardware today. Wonder where? >
  
  German Tank Megathread Day 33 >
  
  If I had a dollar everytime a German Tank gets mentioned lately, I could send the tanks myself >
  
  WHY ARE U NOT SENDING TANKS DO U HATE UKRAINE!?
  (/s) >
  
  They need to send at least two or Scholz will take refuge in the fact that he stipulated “Abrams tankS” (plural) >
  
  Send a dozen, who gives a fuck. The US has more than what they need/want. >
  
  Still no official word on the explosion yesterday in Berdyansk.
  However:
  
  . . . pro-Ukrainian locals inform us that the cause of yesterday's explosion was a strong ‘arrival’ at the base of Russian invaders.
  . . . a missile landed on the invaders in the RTS area.^1 There were supposedly enemy vehicles and soldiers here.
  The locals took a video from the scene, which shows a huge crater, apparently left after a missile hit.
  
  
  ^(^1) ^(RTS is an old Soviet or pre-soviet term, from the collective farming days, something like “Repairs & Technical Station,” but it would be a whole neighborhood, iirc.) >
  
  actual news:
  Italy will send the SAMP/T missile system to Ukraine, Italy's foreign minister says >
  
  
  technological superiority of Russian weapons
  
  If anyone had still any doubts they aren't trolling and bullshitting, that is your moneyquote. >
  
  Was reading up a bit on Wagner Group and what kind of loonies are members of it.
  There is the Rusich, a neo-nazi regiment of it, headed by some guy called Alexey Milchakov. From Wikipedia: Milchakov first came to public attention after he filmed himself torturing and decapitating a puppy in 2011, posting the footage online. A petition calling to hold him accountable was supported by more than 5500 people. At the same time animal rights activists addressed FC Zenit fans in order for them to give an assessment to Milchakov's actions. In his VK page he also called for killing of homeless people, puppies and children.
  And in their eyes, they are supposed to be the "defenders of common sense", fighters against "nazi Ukrainians" and the "sodomist and crazy West". Despicable. >
  
  You got to figure any killer for hire is going to be sick in the head. >
  
  So Russia tried to pull what Ukraine did in the Kharkiv offensive, which is to start a punishing offensive in one section of the country and then secretly launch a second one, taking advantage of all attention and resources being focused on the first one. 
  While Ukraine could pull it off by virtue of having more, better equipped soldiers on hand and whittling down the Russians to the point where they didn’t have enough troops to defend the whole line, Russia couldn’t. 
  Ukraine has a fair amount of well-trained and armed troops. Ukraine isn’t shuffling troops around and only able to focus on one location. Heck, Ukraine may even be able to pull off another Kharkiv offensive because again Russia can only make progress by pulling most of their resources to one small area and pushing. 
  Russia may have taken Soledar and be about to take Bakhmut, but it is at the expense of most of the troops they raised in the fall, putting Russia back into the same situation as they were in back in late August. If the ground cooperates, Ukraine could make significant progress quickly now that Russia has wasted its strength. This was Ukraine’s goal. Set up a place to bleed the Russia strength at minimal cost to their own. >
  
  Ukraine has the Eye of Sauron based in Northern Virginia. Little chance of such things working >
  
  I could listen/read these calls all day! >
  
  
  The USA will support the transfer of F-16 fighter jets by allies to Ukraine - the American ambassador to the OSCE. Michael Carpenter, confirmed that Washington will agree with the idea of partners to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
  
  I just noticed this from 4 hours ago on the live thread. Why isn't this today's main talking point? >
  
  anyway if Ukraine loses we will look silly with our jets and tanks doing nothing.
  Somehow either Russia win or someone steps up and says the joke is over now. >
  
  
  Somehow either Russia win
  
  I think I've got a better chance of winning the lottery. >
  
  I’m curious about the logistics of the mobilization.
  Why is it necessary to personally hand over a slip of paper? From various interviews, I gather that a man can indefinitely postpone his recruitment if he can somehow avoid the “ceremony” of personally receiving the paper. Why does that work? Doesn’t the government have a central register of men who have been selected? >
  
  Russia is a very  bureaucratic  country, like calling the war "special operation" makes what Putin could and couldn't do innl regards with recruits. >
  
  That’s precisely why I’d expect such simple draft-dodging to fail. The country where I was born has mandatory military service, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to avoid it — the whole state bureaucracy would grind to a halt for me. No driver’s license, no bank account, no passport, no job… ordinary city life would become impossible.
  The guy interviewed in this article is an extreme example, in that he moved out of the city… but he still retains his IT job. Presumably he is still getting paid? He is still paying for his Internet? He is transferring his salary to his wife, so she can buy food and pay for fuel?
  Why is the Russian state (which, as you say, is very bureaucratic) unable to intervene and lock him out of the system? >
  
  Many goats can breathe a sigh of relief on this day >
  
  Some goats were hurt in the process, may they graze the fields in peace in the afterlife. >
  
  There it is, they're back to their favorite crutch, nuking a western nation. It's the US this time; Germany and Britain take a breather. >
  
  "Gee, Vladimir, what do you wanna do tonight?"
  "The same thing we do every night, Sergei: threaten our enemies in the West!" >
  
  Sounds very promising! >
  
  One of the RF milbloggers posted a recruitment notice that UA used that highlights camaraderie and assistance between units, such as
  
  
  “Providing Starlink, battery and personal support for the duration of work, constant communication. Continual air monitoring, targeting of enemy positions, adjustment. Joint friendly dinners after a successful defeat. 
  
  
  among other details.
  The RF milblogger was totally envious!  
  He posted: 
  
  This is not even a discussion, but simply known that an exchange of views are key, how important horizontal communications are at the front between units. 
  The idea of ​​a quick chat where soldiers and officers can quickly solve problems, or ask neighboring units for ammunition or a drone—that is not a novel concept. Its just that it’s been fully implemented in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. [as in, widespread norm]
  Question—why does this work for our enemies, but to us, the ideas amount to things like, taking smartphones away or interfering with the volunteers, and even more so, vehicles for the military. 
  What's wrong here? Is it that the enemy is more focused on winning? In Ukraine, the generals think differently, and believe that everything that could conceivably aid in achieving victory shouldn’t be held back? What is our problem? We don't want to win? We do not know how to calmly integrate innovations or new ideas? Do we really want to listen to the instructions of general Sobolev all the time? 
  We are fighting a tenacious and intelligent adversary. Who thinks flexibly. It can only be defeated with the help of even more flexible and unexpected solutions. 
  And nothing else.
  
  The other RF milbloggers reposted, implying agreement >
  
  The problem is the Russian soldier can't see that Russia's exclusive and extractive mindset results in the way they act on the battlefield. 
  He highlights the inclusive and collabortive mindset of the Ukrainian soldier working for the common good but doesn't realise that the moment he and his fellow soldiers collaboratively adapt that mindset would mean they have ideologically and morally changed and as a result lack the desire to fight an enemy because they share the same values. 
  He is aware of the actions that make the Ukrainian superior but not their philosophical and moral underpinnings. >
  
  Exactly! >
  
  Medic, from Mariupol:
  
  
  “Life in the city was getting worse and worse every day,  ” recalls Dmitry Gavro. “There was not even the basics, like water. We were lucky that March was very snowy and cold. That saved many people. We collected snow and melted it: we could drink, wash ourselves off. There was a problem with food—the city simply ran out. And the stores were closed. There was nowhere to buy food. We [at the hospital] were helped by the Ukrainian military, who shared stew with us. We poured a can of stew into a pot of water from melted snow and it became little bowls of soup for us to eat.
  
  Do you remember the day when the Russians fired at the maternity hospital?
  
  Oh sure. It was the start of my shift. We did not know what was happening in the city, and suddenly, all of a sudden, a large number of crying pregnant women came to us at once—
  
  Wait, did those women go to the hospital on their own?
  
  Yes, some of the women from the bombed maternity hospital came to our hospital on foot. They were all in a terrible psychological state. They cried, they could not explain anything, not in any normal manner.  No one could understand from them what had happened, it was impossible. 
  Trying to speak with these women—who were now all suddenly in labor—it was difficult, but one of them seemed to have her wits about her, and only then did we learn that the Russians had fired at the maternity hospital. They were then told [by the nurses at the maternity hospital] that everyone who can walk should go on their own towards the regional hospital. It just was not realistic to transport all the wounded women from there. Later, heavier women, late in labor from the maternity hospital began to be brought to the hospital by transport.
  
  Do you know anything about the number of those who died as a result of the terrorist attack in the Mariupol maternity hospital?
  
  Hard to tell. There wasn’t anyone then that could sort through the rubble of the maternity hospital. It was very dangerous, because the shelling continued.
  
  Did you personally seen the woman in all the pictures, the blogger girl, who then unexpectedly moved to Russia and began to talk about the “atrocities of the Azov people”? Were you able to communicate with her?
  
  Yes, I saw her in person. She was in severe shock, she was constantly in a state of panic. We didn't talk to her about anything. And it is unlikely that she could then tell [what happened].
  
  
  Read the rest here >
  
  Wow!  So very brave! >
  
  "Riga - Latvia"? What it has to do with the rest of the story. Sorry I'm confused and article is paywalled. >
  
  Such bylines are common in US media, and indicate from where the reporter filed the report. >
  
  
  common in US media
  
  More like common in media all over the world. It's crazy to imagine that people don't know that. >
  
  Estimated Russian losses from 24.02.2022 to 22.01.2023 (Day 333):
  |Category              |Change*|Total     |
  |:---|:---|:---|
  |Personnel             |+600      |120760    |
  |Tanks                 |+5      |3145      |
  |APVs                  |+12     |6268      |
  |Artillery             |+9     |2144      |
  |MLRS                  |+2      |445       |
  |Anti-aircraft Systems |-      |220       |
  |Aircraft              |-      |287       |
  |Helicopters           |-      |277       |
  |UAVs                  |+1    |1892      |
  |Missiles              |-      |749       |
  |Warships / Boats      |-      |17        |
  |Other Vehicles        |+14      |4932      |
  |Special Equipment     |-      |193       |
  *Change since the previous day.
  Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine >
  
  It's surreal that 600 Russians killed feels like a slow day >
  
  With so many vehicles destroyed indicating intense fighting and a round number, it may be just an estimate, corrected for accuracy in upcoming days/weeks. >
  
  What Ukraine really needs is a shitload of airburst ammo. Russian army is pretty much down to large unsupported units of lightly armed personnel that Ukraine often spots well before they present a threat. 
  As good as UA artillery is, HE shells fuzed for impact are not ideal against human waves or dug in personnel. >
  
  Yes! anti-personal ammo is what is needed to stop the never ending human wave attacks and overcome the endless trenches. >
  
  What unsupplied weapon would have the greatest impact and make the difference? >
  
  F16s. They will appear unannounced, in significant quantity and establish air superiority. The endgame soon follows. >
  
  It’d be absolutely glorious to wake up one day and check the thread to find that the F-16s have been pounding the Russian nonstop for hours. >
  
  And send in the export request like had been said multiple times here. >
  
  indeed. no hiding anymore. poland needs to live up to its constant pushing and deliver. >
  
  Happy Unity Day Ukraine!
  It was 22 January 1990 when Ukrainians, still being a part of the Soviet Union, marked the 71st anniversary of the Unification act of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic and Ukrainian People’s Republic, the fledgling independent states that appeared after the fall of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires. Unity was a dream of many generations of Ukrainians who throughout centuries were engulfed by different empires on their borders. >
  
  Credit to the UK still trying to push others forward, such a tough task. >
  
  Other nations: We won't send tanks alone!
  UK: Ok, then we will send some of ours!
  Other nations: Erm, well, you see... What we meant was we won't send tanks without this specific list of supporting nations and only after a stock take of available equipment, which for some reason we haven't done yet. >
  
  Yes he's there to hide(not in a fridge this time) from the endless and multiple allegations of corruption and sleaze that are engulfing him and the Conservative party at this time.
  There is only one reason Boris is in Ukraine and it's exclusively in his own interest (like everything else he's ever done). Meanwhile, his proximity to Russia and specifically Evgeny Lebedev (Son of a KGB officer) are still highly suspicious and yet to be investigated. 
  Boris was pictured in an airport in 2018 stumbling home having jettisoned his security detail for the entire night against advice, to stay at Evgeny Lebedev's castle in Italy. Something he was later forced to admit.
  MPs are also investigating Johnson’s 2020 award of a peerage to Evgeny Lebedev since allegations emerged that it was granted despite an assessment that it posed a national security risk.
  He made him a LORD. Why?
  Edit: Not to mention Boris was the architect of Brexit. Something that has deeply damaged the UK and that is slowly turning out to be the result of a Russian misinformation and influence campaign that the conservatives refused to investigate.
  Tell me again how Boris supports Ukraine.. >
  
  Ultimately Johnson DID play a genuine role in providing aid to and foreign diplomatic support to Ukraine.
  If the Ukrainians like him as much as I hear they do they can keep him, shuffle him off into a diplomatic position and keep him away from the UK. >
  
  
  The cat refuses to move to a new house.
  
  So pick it up, put it in a carrier, and take it to the new house... then keep it inside until it has adapted to its new surroundings... just as you would if you were moving house?? >
  
  Yeah that's the way. Very odd. >
  
  I didn't realise wartranslated have done a translation so I translated it too, I'll post my versoin anyway in case someone doesn't like reading from images:
  
  I was asked an interesting question:
  "What is the main reason why you think that a significant success of Russian troops in an offensive is currently impossible?"
  Here's my answer:
  Of the whole set of reasons that very seriously weaken the combat capability of the RF Armed Forces (not only on the offensive, but also on the defensive), I still believe the main one to be the moral factor. Most mobilized (and most regular) servicemen in the Russian Armed Forces have no motivation to make sacrifices in combat against the AFU, because the objectives of the war are not only not clearly communicated by the government, but not even officially stated. At the same time, the disciplinary measures available to the RF Armed Forces' command "under peacetime laws" are insufficient to make servicemen fear them more than death and injury from enemy fire.
  Accordingly, in such circumstances the following units have a chance of success in an offensive:
  - Volunteer units (of which there cannot be many);
  - Wagner mercenary units, which have their own "internal ideology" (typical of the Landsknecht) combined with the most brutal repressive discipline, which goes beyond even the wartime legislation of the Soviet era.
  Hence the conclusion: a full-fledged offensive against a stubborn enemy position with "elite" units can only be conducted by the military command in very limited and isolated areas. (For example - the direction to Soledar-Bahmut), where it is possible to conduct combat operations without involving forces other than the "Death's Head stormtroopers". (If you do not like this definition, please refer to the Wagner insignia).
  In all other sectors, a successful offensive is also (theoretically) possible, but only if one can achieve a numerical and (most importantly) mechanical superiority over the enemy, thus making it possible to suppress their will to resist, and to create in one's own troops a perception of their overwhelming superiority. However, when confronted with the most resilient and professional units of the enemy, even a large superiority is no guarantee of a major success.
  But what do we have? In general we have got "parity" in the number of troops (as a result of the autumn "half-assed mobilisation") and some advantage in some types of heavy equipment and artillery, but with an extreme lack of decent means of reconnaissance and communication (in which the enemy has a considerable advantage over our troops on the whole).
  That is why I believe that if our troops undertake a large-scale offensive on one or several sections of the front - if we combine insufficient numbers with low morale and a very weak disciplinary apparatus (not considering the "quality" of command in particular) - only an even worse condition of the enemy troops can save us from defeat. Faced with persistent and able enemy resistance, such an offensive will inevitably fade because of the command's inability to compel its forces to go into battle with the necessary degree of military valor. This, in turn, may allow the enemy (if they are able to retain sufficient reserves) to launch counterattacks and achieve success. Perhaps even of an operational and strategic nature.
  What should be done to change the situation? - I have spoken and written about that probably a 100 times already... since last March. Practically nothing has been done or is planned by the highest military and political authorities of the Russian Federation. Because the hope "for an agreement with partners" persists and "the rat does not feel cornered" (because it is delusional and is unable to objectively assess reality). >
  
  Off to bed - hope everyone's having a good weekend! >
  
  Thanks for continuing to update the live feed! >
  
  Mariupol:
  Russia’s demolition crews have so far demolished 50+ high-rise apartment buildings..  City plans (previously published by Medusa) shows that over 1,000 buildings are to be demolished. 
  So far, multiple residential blocks have been demolished, in the Livoberezhny District (“Left Bank” of Kalmius River) video here
  And at least two new, pristine-but-cheap blocks of new apartments have been built.  Photo here.  Of course, the building are not given to those whose homes Russia demolished (although 200 Mariupol residents who’d met requirements, including accepted Russian passport, have received).  They’re inhabited by Russians or stand empty, presumably, to be sold for profit later.
  Note: one article includes reactions of Mariupol readers to the news Russia has built multiple new buildings—it’s all over the place regarding reactions—some say good, it reparations; others say they’ll be torn down when UA returns, either because not up to code, or out of protest, or because no one will want to live in enemy’s building; others outraged bc built on bones and to hide war crimes; others say that although despicable, it’s cold and people need housing—see channel for more. >
  
  The property rights issues if where you live is destroyed in war and the occupiers build a different building on the site must be a nightmare. I mean, mild concerns compared to the other problems, but intellectually interesting. >
  
  It’s written about several times a week, it seems, in the Eastern Ukraine news sources.
  Bc can get value of house back from government aid, but have to have papers as proof, and when home destroyed, how did papers even survive?  So there’s all these recommendations, bc there’s all this red tape and bureaucracy, bc even in war, there’s scammers. >
  
  Are you an enemy combatant? Do you not want to be? Call 1-888-DEFECT-NOW to defect, now! The US will welcome* you with open arms!
  *Some conditions apply >
  
  They tried a new offensive there and it drowned in its own blood immediately. They took immense losses, videos show entire platoons get destroyed out in the open. Russians keep reoccupying the same stretch of no-man's land where they sit with zero cover in direct view of Ukrainians on the high ground. 
  Russians are now shelling the high ground villages where Ukrainian observers sit. 
  They're going to follow up with minimally supported mass.human waves, literal uphill battles across wide open fields. There will be insane videos of fields littered with the dead. Russians are into this. They're going to their deaths knowingly and willingly. They're no longer resigning en masse. There are no desertions and few surrenders. 
  At this point it's just mass suicide by Ukrainian. These fools would really rather die than imagine life without Putin. >
  
  We're very lucky they're so fucking stupid. >
  
  Russia has been getting pretty crazy since the invasion of Ukraine.
  - Blew up Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.
  - Murdered Belarus foreign minister Vladimir Makei using poison.
  - Poisoning Roman Abramovich and two Ukrainian members of the peace talks.
  - Failed far right coup of German government that is linked to Russia.
  - Mystery divers suspected of being Russian found near the Port of Gdansk.
  - Seven Russians arrested in Norway for using drones to take pictures of sensitive locations.
  - Murdering Russian business executives and in some cases their families.
  - Putin awarding medals to soldiers accused in the Bucha Massacre.
  - Industrial level theft of grain and machinery from Ukraine.
  - Putin making it legal for Russian soldiers to steal anything in Ukraine.
  - Russia providing kill lists of political leaders and other important people in Ukraine.
  - Dozens of nuclear threats from some of Russia's top political leaders.
  - Destroyed a building in Olenivka to give a cover story in murdering Ukrainian POWs.
  - Responsible for thousands of war crimes in Ukraine.
  - Government sponsored human trafficking of thousands of children and adults.
  - Setting Russians convicted of murder free if they serve a couple of months in Ukraine.
  - The sledgehammer murder of a Russian citizen broadcasted without charging anyone.
  - The man that leads the group being the sledgehammer murders bragging about it.
  - Sending Russians to fight in Ukraine with no training or almost no equipment.
  - Arresting and imprisoning people for calling the invasion a war.
  - Lavrov claiming Hitler was Jewish and that the Jews were behind the Holocaust.
  - Four months after the invasion Lavrov claiming Russia never invaded Ukraine.
  It's hard to believe they're one of the top 20 economies in the World and a member of the UN Security Council. >
  
  The UN Security Council permanent member thing is dumb. How is it supposed to work 100s years in the future? >
  
  The UN was created after WWII to provide a diplomatic alternative to war. WWII was so brutal and horrible for everyone involved a lot of countries that didn't get along still thought that this was a good idea. It might not always work, but the idea was that anything is better than war so it was worth trying. 
  This is why the Soviet Union was on the security council. Not despite of being, but because they were a belligerent power player. The people who might be attacking or defending in the next global war got the prime seating. 
  Using this logic, the spirit of the original UN charter says that's exactly why Russia should sit on the security council. It sucks because they're awful, but the idea is maybe we can talk this out without wholesale killing. 
  The problem is that people really want the UN to be something it was never made to do. It has power, but only those powers the member states decide to give it. It can't be a police force unless everyone says it's ok, and they won't shoot the guys in the baby-blue helmets. 
  If we were to kick the Russians out of the UN then the UN would become another NATO to them: russophobic Nazis ganging up on brave and plucky Russia because they are too weak to face their obvious übermenche superiors, who are also just peace-loving victims. 
  My god those people are exhausting. 
  But yea, that's a problem with the UN, that Russia (or at leas the Soviets) are there not because they're good, but because they're bad. >
  
  Well said, but to most people, the world state of 70 years ago is far too abstract to grasp, and the idea of a "world government" much more easily digestable, even if it is detached from reality. >
  
  Russia: “At least they didn’t get western jets”
  F16’s under radar coverage: “Surprise motherfuckers!”
  We can dream… >
  
  C-17: Supplies Motherfuckers. >
  
  Not a single day passes that I don't think of Mariupol, and hope my damnest to see the tiniest bit of good news from there... 3 is my lucky number, so on this 333rd day of the invasion: if there's any shred of "cosmic luck" that I hold, I wish it'd be given to the people of Mariupol. May your day of liberation come soon, and may you get the justice and peace that you deserve. Heróyam sláva. >
  
  Ukraine was also one of the main military manufacturing republics of the USSR. Not only people know about tanks here, people make them here. >
  
  Wow. 120 thousand KIA, and almost 10 thousand mechanised fighting vehicles (tanks plus IFVs)  in 333 days.
  That’s 360 dead and 30 pieces of heavily armoured fighting vehicles destroyed every day for almost a year.
  All of this against a weaker opponent.
  This will go down in history as one of the worst planned and worst executed military campaigns ever. >
  
  It's still a rounding error compared to WWI. The six months of the Somme alone killed a million men in a collosal failure of an offensive.
  The Romans lost almost that many men in a single day at Cannae. The Napoleonic invasion of Russia was far more disastrous than this.
  It's still a catastrophic and embarrassing defeat, but to call it one of the worst ever overlooks a lot of bad decisions. >
  
  That’s the thing.
  Russia is recording almost WWII losses because they are rising equipment and tactics that are barely improved from WWII.
  It’s not 1944.
  It’s 2023. >
  
  While there's an awful lot of genocidal bigots in Ukraine, Russia can trivially solve that issue by asking them to come home. >
  
  I know typical, Putin claims Kherson is Russia for everrr, yet he shells the city over a 100 times a day. Bullshit after bullshit and the Russian people go along for the ride. >
  
  What's happening in Zaporizhzhia is beyond belief. One of the worst military blunders happening right in front of our eyes. 
  These are their good mobiks. This is the ace up their sleeve. These are the units that actually got equipment and training. They're well fed and move as units in much larger numbers than before. And they're dying in droves, by the platoon, all while performing some practiced.rituals from their field training that would have been obsolete in 1904. They hit the dirt and crawl in formation, they lay down covering fire and send out flanking elements, except it's all in vain, they all get blasted by artillery before they ever have sights of a Ukrainian.
  Whatever it is they're trying to prove, it's not working. >
  
  They had a choice. >
  
  
  Pistorius wants to travel to Ukraine soon
  
  The new SPD defense minister wants to quickly procure new weapons, modernize the barracks - and make the troops more attractive.  He says: »My job is to set the course for the Zeitenwende to be successful«.
  
  The new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) wants to go to Ukraine as soon as possible.  »What is certain is that I will travel quickly to the Ukraine.  Probably even within the next four weeks,” he told the “Bild am Sonntag”.  Pistorius took office on Thursday after Christine Lambrecht resigned as head of department.
  
  …
  
  When asked what his goal was for the troops, Pistorius said: “Germany is the largest economy in Europe, so it should also be our goal to have the strongest and best-equipped army in the EU.” However, that is not in  three years to do it, it would take a few more years.  "It's my job now to set the course for the Zeitenwende to be successful." 
  
  …
  
  Pistorius named three key tasks that now have to be implemented quickly and simultaneously: the procurement of weapons and equipment, the modernization of the barracks and the recruitment of personnel.  »And: The troops have to feel that we trust them and are grateful for what they do.«
  
  Source: Spiegel
  I can't see the future and he's only been in office for a few days, so a lot can still happen, but I can really see the Zeitenwende being successful with him as Minister. 
  He already has more planning and ideas of ​​what the Zeitenwende should mean than his predecessor. >
  
  Yeah, historically DefMin was a place to park people in an unimportant position. Which is shocking, but anyway. 
  At least the rhetoric is good. Did lambrecht even visit Ukraine? I don’t recall a visit. >
  
  Thanks, looks like she visited in October. >
  
  Training has already been announced by Reznikov. It's a matter of time. But some people want to be mad so bad, that they don't want to read that. >
  
  And that training has the blessing of the german mod. I don't think they would give that blessing if the plan was to deny polands export requests. 
  My personal hope is therefore that its not a question of if but of how many, of what type (a4? a5?) and who joins. >
  
  And this clarification is exactly what Pistorius talked about when he announced the 'taking of inventory' on Leopard tanks. This entails the analysis of available configurations and spare parts not at the Bundeswehr, but at other Leopard users and industry.
  But well, it's easier to mock that statement along the lines of 'LOL Germany hat 11 months and they dont know what tanks they have' >
  
  Can't wait for Poland to deliver those tanks now. I'd get mighty upset if now they start blocking. >
  
  Poland : Hey Olaf. We want to send 20 Leopards to Ukraine. Can we?
  Olaf : Nein.
  Poland : Ok. We will send 9 Leopards.
  Olaf : 😠 >
  
  Germany already said they can do it. We are all awaiting for Poland now. >
  
  I think /u/Pepperinho just wanted to mke a pun. >
  
  Latest Perun: How Politics Destroys Armies: Politics, Factionalism & Russia's war in Ukraine >
  
  For those asking, "Why not give Abrams so we can give our tanks" there you fucking go. 
  Though I want a better source than that. >
  
  The tweet selectively quotes a part of an article from NZZ , which in turn is generally very reliable. The article, however, is an opinion/analysis, not news reporting. Incidentally, I've read it yesterday (in German) and thought it's rather balanced, you'll find things like
  
  When Lloyd Austin urges the German government to approve the delivery of Leopard 2s to Ukraine, he also has American interests in mind. In doing so, he plunges the Germans and Chancellor Scholz into a dilemma. If Scholz gives in, he harms German interests. If he stands firm, he risks Ukraine losing more territory and thus also harms German interests. How this tricky situation could come about has to do with German security policy over the past thirty years.
  
  and
  
  In Germany, however, arms exports have not been considered from this point of view for decades, but rather from an economic and above all an ethical point of view. Politicians, especially from the left-wing spectrum, wanted Germany to stop exporting weapons abroad altogether. They were convinced that this would make the world more peaceful.  
  The Americans are pursuing a different policy, and increasingly ruthlessly, even towards their own allies. France felt this two years ago when Australia unceremoniously cancelled a contract to build submarines worth 56 billion euros in order to buy American boats. Previously, the US government had concluded a security alliance with the Australian government and Great Britain that assured the Australians of the United States' assistance. In return, the Australians were to buy their weapons in the USA.
  
  Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) >
  
  Their take on the Australian Subs is very flawed at best.
  Australia's submarine needs are technologically best met by Nuclear and Australia is close enough to UK and US to be able to access their cutting edge technology.
  Previous governments were trying to fit a square peg in a round hole because they didn't want to be seen as the government that went nuclear.
  This doesn't even mention various reports of clashes between Australian and French representatives over a range of issues during development.
  The way it was handled by the government at the time was garbage and disrespectful though. Oh and it was Australia's idea to go to nuclear, not the US or UK's.
  So if the analysis can get something like this so wrong when all of this has been in the public domain in Australia for ages... ... I wouldn't be trusting a word of it without corroboration. >
  
  I remember reading an article at the time of the deal being called off and it mentioned how the Australian workers didn't get along with their French counterparts at all.  One of the reasons cited were the Australians felt that the French workers were lazy and constantly on break lol >
  
  Good grief, that man must be made of seal blubber! >
  
  I wonder if the current UA strat is to hold the line till western- resources arrive and get integrated. Plus still muddy weather... >
  
  UA is going to be satisfied with a seemingly static position that causes an unsustainable attritional rate on the Russians.
  This isn't all that different then the Kherson Offensive but on a larger scale. >
  
  I wonder if Prigozhin is getting delusions of overthrowing Putin in the back of his head. He has an army and a semblance of a structure now, including headquarters. Putin has him on a leash but he must be wondering if the dog will ever bite back the hand, given his open repudiation of the conventional Russian military. Putin's hold may be too strong though, so he might just be trying to expand his influence as much as he can within that circle. >
  
  Prigozhin is a threat, he's building a rival powerbase. >
  
  I have a feeling he's going to have an accident in the next couple of months. He's just a pawn in the bigger picture. >
  
  Even if Ukraine wins this thing pretty fast, Russia won't sign a peace treaty or agree they lost.  Everyone needs to be ready to accept that this is going to be a long-term issue in Europe.  There will be a huge military build up things won't go back to normal for many, many years.  The days of playing pretend with Russia are over. >
  
  Oh I don't think you understand. 
  After this, Russia is finished. >
  
  Unless someone is going to invade Russia, they're not going to be finished. >
  
  Disagree. It is more likely their will be a complete social and economic collapse in Russia after Putin's last crime empire is finished, and then, China will be the one to purchase most of Russia's territory and will be managed as a proxy state. >
  
  I just don't see how Russia will be for sale.  I do, however, think that China will have a lot more power over Russia. >
  
  Most likely Russia will experience Balkanization 2.0, with Moscow and St. Petersburg maintaining a hold over the metropolitan areas and a decent chunk of Russia's Middle class and industrial capacity, while the likes of Chechnya, Siberia, etc increasingly breaking away from the Kremlin. Or even if they don't officially separate, the regions will become more or less autonomous. >
  
  The enemy of my enemy is... tomorrow's enemy? >
  
  I think he is implying that poorly educated, brainwashed men who live in poverty are being used as cannon fodder as per every war ever.
  As much as I want Russia to lose and for the guys in charge to suffer I have enough humanity to feel for the guys whose lives mean nothing to their ruling elite.
  Europe WW1 comes to mind as an example of the same mindset. Rich entitled fucks throwing poor people in the meat grinder for “likes” from their peers. >
  
  Those poorly educated, brainwashed men are also the biggest ultra nationalists who can't pronounce the word "Ukrainians" without using the word "hohol". Funny how we give them the benefit of the doubt, but not, let's say, to KKK from the American South >
  
  What is breaking about that title? Of course they can, they always could send their own tanks...
  Here is the abstract auto-translated for more context:
  
  Defense Minister Pistorius wants to check which Leopard tanks the Bundeswehr could hand over to Ukraine. According to SPIEGEL information, such a list has been available for some time. 19 older leopards appear particularly suitable. >
  
  I wonder why would older models be "particularly suitable"? >
  
  They are referring to tanks stationed at the German national training center. Maintained and regularly used, but not actually assigned to an active unit. >
  
  Those rust buckets are no threat to America. >
  
  Lady injured by shrapnel:
  She’s Ukrainian by birth.  She’s a traitor. She was born in Luhansk. 
  When Russia invaded in 2014, she embraced Russia’s terrorism, supported the ‘LDR,’ started spreading Russian propaganda, herself. >
  
  I hope after the war her head is shaved for being the traitor that she is.
  Of course she'll probably scurry to Russia like all the other rats. >
  
  Russia's 28 times the size of Ukraine. Even if it's not all good land, they can easily accommodate everyone in the world who wants to be Russian, there's no reason for them to be occupying any other land. >
  
  After the meeting between Scholz and Macron in Paris, basically no advancement regarding MBT delivery. 
  During the press conference the answers are evasive, Scholz reminds Germany's longstanding position of not delivering offensive weapons to territories in conflict, but states that he will continue supporting Ukraine. Macron doesn't rule out the delivery of Leclerc tanks, but he also reminds that training of Ukrainian soldiers and supply chain issues have to be considered, also that the decision doesn't have to represent a security risk for France (they have around 200 Leclerc in all). >
  
  A German bureaucrat and a French diplomat walked into a (meeting) room… >
  
  these two don't get along at all >
  
  
  Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of Russia’s parliament, warned that countries’ decision to supply Ukraine would lead to a “global catastrophe”.
  “If Washington and NATO supply weapons that would be used for striking peaceful cities and making attempts to seize our territory as they threaten to do, it would trigger a retaliation with more powerful weapons,” he said.
  
  Not even a good bluff.  The West will proceed as necessary to assist UA. >
  
  
  weapons that would be used for striking peaceful cities
  
  Projecting much, Russia? Impatient to see that crass of a country fall apart and fragment into a bunch of North Korea like tribal states. >
  
  Didn't count closely looked like 25-30 ~~tanks~~ on one train ... EDIT: 30 Bradleys