comment: >
  
  I might've been confused, I thought that AEGIS and GMD are 2 different systems
context: It's astonishing that Russia destroyed more of Mariupol than the Nazi's did. Supposedly they've even killed more civilians too, but there's no real way to confirm that yet. >
  
  Q: How were the Ukrainians ever even able to push out the Russians from Snake Island?
  A:  A howitzer on a pontoon boat.
  
  The location of the firing position from self-propelled guns was almost on the border with Romania in the Odesa region. The road there was not easy...had to literally crawl. One of the highlights of our trip was rafting a self-propelled gun on a pontoon through the channels of the Danube Delta.
  The complexity ...determined by the weather conditions, which changed almost every hour, near impossible to make calculations for shooting because the [1] direction of the wind and [2] its strength constantly changed. In addition, the weather on the shore is very [3] different from the weather over the sea. 
  Also, we had no air cover.
  The first day of shooting was unsuccessful. We fired six shots, but missed. 
  The very next day, fog for hours.
  A large team of military specialists worked with us. In particular, a drone was raised into the sky to adjust the fire. After a few more shots, Russian’s Pantsyr caught fire and the signs of the Russian electronic communications station's operation disappeared. 
  Later, the General Staff confirmed that the targets were suppressed by our Bogdana.  So it was we who gave further opportunity to strike the island with other forces of destruction. >
  
  
  A howitzer on a pontoon boat
  
  Non-Credible Defense is going into overdrive >
  
  Russian comments to the news of Engels, from a Russian newspaper, midsize city:
  “Demilitarization .. Well done))”
  “Uh-huh...the drone was shot down...
  And those three that died, they caught it with nets ...
  Just a reminder... all is ok. 800 km from Ukraine...”
  “[regarding why three died from falling debris] It is not clear, they caught the wreckage with their hands?”
  “How did we end up in this... narrow, dark place? But more importantly, how do we get out of it now? What other losses must be in order to stop this?!”
  “Without the DPR, LPR and Crimea, Russia survived well and got along with the West. But someone's greed prevented someone from living peacefully.”
  “so nothing flew in, just lost ... but there is no time to deal with it, the main thing is to fulfill the plan for mobilization and legitimize the tricks of the departed.”
  “one drone, old and inexperienced, was nevertheless shot down ... but imagine about twenty of them modern .... and this is at a strategic aviation airfield .... where the existence of a storage of nuclear warheads is also implied ....
  In general, our military miserable country is not only incapable of fighting NATO, but in itself poses a threat to its own population.
  If this were NATO, the largest ranks would immediately fly into retirement after this.”
  “What to say. Ukrainians are a very resourceful people.”
  “So basically, this drone quietly flew 800 km and no one noticed it???”
  “The triad is under attack. Wake up.”
  “Engels again. Shot down again. Again victims from the wreckage. Maybe next time just try not to shoot down?”
  “Do we really have air defense?” >
  
  I think this is the unveiling of strategic capabilities for Ukraine which Russia cannot counter with its economy the size of Italy. It will be quite simple propeller drones with price tag of 100k fly for large distances, armed with a modern Hellfire or Brimstone missiles. These are released with automatic seeker heads on GPS coordinates towards military sites, especially airfields where the targets are soft skinned but highly valuable.
  Automatic seekers are required, because the assets are not static. This is the difference between Iranian Shaheds, which can only hit buildings or similar structures. I suspect now that the summer attack against the airfield in crimea had something similar. There were 2 almost simultaneous explosions on separate locations, something that is difficult to do if you are flying in the targets with multiple drones.
  It is not enough for Russia to suddenly move their best AA assets near Ukraine toward the rear bases. They also have to start recognizing friend from foe and stay vigilant 24/7, it ain't happening. And the crews are needed where they are right now. >
  
  
  Automatic seekers are required, because the assets are not static.
  
  Ukraine could get up-to-date satellite images/coordinates (from a number of sources) and relay to the drones until the last few minutes. Good enough to hit most military targets. >
  
  Information relay would need an active satellite connection which would increase the complexity (Starlink is geofenced, not working over there) and price. You would have to concert the satellite imaging overpass and intelligence gathering tightly to the drone reaching the area, another difficulty and expense. >
  
  This us probably a subtle "fuck you" on Germany's part. >
  
  Four explosions heard, Tokmak, Zaporozhye, where mobilized men are based. >
  
  From the Wagner group channel regarding why are they fighting at Bakhmut:
  
  to take Bakhmut for the sake of Bakhmut is not the purpose of the Wagner PMC. The main objective of the company is the destruction of the enemy's manpower and equipment. If he begins to fight in the city itself, it means assault. Fortunately the "musicians" (Wagner troops)  have enough experience of fighting in large urban areas.
  
  So... They are there cause they are... winning. >
  
  So they are admitting Wagner is there literally to be cannon fodder. >
  
  Their plan A is a war of attrition, it's a bold strategy, let's see how it works out for them >
  
  that's the most brutal clip i've seen. Its NSFL >
  
  I think I'm gonna leave that link blue >
  
  There is nothing gory in the video.  Maybe screen resolution is low.  Smoke and flying dirt block out a lot.  
  If you read the title and comments then the idea is already something you have to process. >
  
  [ Removed by Reddit ] >
  
  Russia "bringing in huge amount of reserves" to fight in Kreminna, Ukraine says
  
  Kreminna lies on a key north-south road from Svatove, which Russian troops had been using to resupply and which became even more important to them after Ukrainian troops took over Kupyansk, a resupply hub to the northwest of Kreminna and Svatove. Losing Kreminna would limit Russia's ability to resupply its troops in the key city of Severodonetsk.
  
  Russia underlining that the imminent liberation of Kreminna will be devastating for them. >
  
  Oh yes, Russia bringing lots of troops into an exposed bulge where they can be shelled in bulk.
  Classic. >
  
  Basically himars bait. >
  
  Just regular arty, honestly. >
  
  150 Russians were wounded and killed after near Polovinkino
  “The Defense Forces of Ukraine struck the area where the enemy's manpower was concentrated, near the Polovynkino Starobil district.” >
  
  
  Invaders get WRECKED! >
  
  Stark contrast to the bus that wouldn't pick up a disabled Russian vet in a wheelchair. Do they disagree with her or are they worried about guilt by association? >
  
  Heroes >
  
  I am glad so many such heroes emerged also in the russia proper in the first days of the war.
  Oh wait..... >
  
  yes the poor Russians are afraid to act because the government is so oppressive and powerful, better to just not have an opinion while they take their kids to be slaughtered so Putin can keep a lid on their brains for a few more days to pretend they are not losing the war >
  
  From 24.02.2022 to 27.12.2022 estimated Russian losses so far (change since previous):
  103220 (+620) Personnel
  3015 (+0) Tanks
  6024 (+7) Armored Personnel Vehicles
  1998 (+2) Artillery Systems
  418 (+0) MLRS
  212 (+0) Anti-aircraft Warfare Systems
  283 (+0) Aircraft
  267 (+0) Helicopters
  1707 (+0) UAV operational-tactical level
  653 (+0) Missiles
  16 (+0) Warships / Boats
  4652 (+5) Other vehicles
  179 (+1) Special Equipment >
  
  losing 3,000+ tanks is completely fucking insane. assuming all of their tanks are capable of service (doubt it) they are approaching 1 in every 3 destroyed, in 10 months, in one corner of one country in europe. if this carries on as-is for 10 more months, they will probably have NO tanks. literally none. wtf? >
  
  General Staff:
  
  On December 25, our soldiers struck a concentration of Russian invaders near Novobilozerka, Vasylivsky District, Zaporizhzhia Region. The enemy lost up to 100 soldiers dead and wounded. Among them are 15 employees of the FSB. >
  
  FSB casualties going up will probably have more weight in the "motherland" than soldier casualties. >
  
  In two weeks: Explosions reported at Ukrainka airbase >
  
  How far can these old drones fly hypothetically? >
  
  I would suspect being intercontinental bombers there are only a few airbases equipped to handle them.  Russia probably had one east and one west.  They can't use the western one any more so they had to go east.  
  Major achievement by Ukraine.  They denied the western base and took these bombers out of the equation for now. >
  
  Before the invasion, Putin was complaining about "security issues". 
  Well, NOW he's got real security issues. >
  
  I agree.  I might add that the internal issues make it worse since everyone now knows Russia is a paper tiger. >
  
  What was that rocket fired at the end? Are these things basically like the Slayer from perfect dark, a launcher that fires a remote-controlled explosive? >
  
  How have you made it this far without ever seeing a Javelin? >
  
  never seen their POV videos, I don't watch many war vis for mental health reasons lol >
  
  I don't know what you're referencing but the Javelin is an ATGM, so it's an infrared guided fire and forget anti-tank missile. So the explosive is not remote controlled it's just...a missile. >
  
  The Switchblade 600 has a Javelin warhead. >
  
  Interesting that they decided to admit Ukrainian drones can get that far into the country instead of screaming smoking accident like idiots. >
  
  Hard to deny that anything happened when the reports and videos of an explosion spread across telegram and other outlets withing minutes. >
  
  They’ve been criticizing him for this several months now. >
  
  Nice to have a reminder that there are some good Russians.
  (people don't need to reply with "yeah, but...", we all know already) >
  
  I bet the poor elderly couple just lost their son and decided they had nothing left to lose. I’m sorry we will never find out because of how terrible Russian “news” is. They will probably both be de facto killed for their “crime”. >
  
  Also in the first months of the invasion, the Russians claimed that they did not bomb civilians. They said that Ukraine itself is bombing its cities in order to blame Russia for this. >
  
  Gosh I remember when we were all afraid back in February as to how quickly Russians would end up establishing air superiority.
  Fast forward ten months and that still hasn't happened, meanwhile their ground forces are constantly being chased and bombed by Ukrainian drones. >
  
  
  Maria Lvova-Belova 
  
  The woman has five biological and 17 adopted children
  Jesus Christ that is morbid. Poor kids. >
  
  Even if you're evil and intend to use the children as slaves that feels like too high of a number. >
  
  Is it a new type of drone? Looks like based on the explosions from the hits, they have a lot of ammunition >
  
  It looks like it's a modified quadcopter with an RPG facing forward (for a directional attack). Basically a steerable RPG at that point. >
  
  Ukrainian military being creative again, creating a mobile observation station out of a GAZ Volga. >
  
  Engels—What we Know So Far:
  DW writes that:
  
  
  a drone fired two missiles, one was shot down, other hit its target. Drone itself was not shot down. 
  
  
  The ‘base control center’ was hit.
  
  
  3 killed, 4 injured.
  
  
  Dialog reports what locals claim, (And Fakty, too):
  
  5 bombers damaged 
  
  The Air Force spokesman:
  
  wait a few days, for when satellite images from the airfield appear, in order to see the real consequences of the explosions.
  
  Editor of military publication Defense Express, live on EspressoTV:
  
  
  Russia has claimed that removed planes, bombers from Engels, and moved north.  Never happened.
  
  
  Russia will not acknowledge that bombers were damaged.  Acknowledging would mean Russian air defense cannot protect the nuclear triad. 
  
  
  ”But we understand that the Russians will not admit the losses associated with the strikes on the planes. Because this is the undermining of the basis of the Russian nuclear triad. If we can destroy Russian strategic bombers with conventional drones, it means that Russian air defense is not working well and the Russian nuclear triad is vulnerable.”
  
  
  Editor, Defence Express:
  
  
  there was a fire at the airfield, which took 3+ hours to extinguish
  
  
  bomber-carriers Tu-95MS and Tu-160 were parked there
  
  
  Unverified:
  
  
  5 Tu-95ms strategic bombers “seriously damaged”
  
  
  2 other planes “slightly damaged”
  
  
  17 soldiers killed
  
  
  26 wounded, 4 in serious condition 
  
  
  already trying to repair control tower >
  
  This quote about the nuclear tiad is really interesting. Their submarines are all noisy enough to be followed. Their air defense is now demonstrably inadequate to protect bombers on the ground, and so that just leaves the land based ICBMs- SS-18 Satan, SS-19 Stiletto, and SS-27 Topol-M.
  They claim to have about 479 all told —but we also know they have been cannibalizing them for space flight, some are bound to be as quality as the rest of Russian hardware, and if ordered everyone wouldn’t even fire.— so let’s say an optimistic 400.
  NATO/US has AGEIS, THAAD, and ground based midcourse (space) deterrents for ICBMs, which though not foolproof- are actually effective. 
  Which means, if there TRIAD really is effectively one pillar, the worst case doomsday scenario may actually be globally survivable. If west was quick, and did not retaliate in kind anyway… it’s an interesting thought experiment to think about anyway >
  
  
  AGEIS
  
  Isn't it for intermediate-range BMs only?
  
  GMD
  
  AFAIK, US only has 44 launchers (1x SM-3 in each) and that's not enough to intercept all ICBMs and their warheads (assuming one SM-3 is only intercepting one warhead).
  Plus, the probability of interception isn't high, as far as I've read.