Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Corvus]

Plenty of reports, including from the UK MoD that the bridge at Nova Kharkova is now out of action to military traffic. With the one at Kherson previously knocked out that leaves only ferries for getting supplies across.

There are also rumours the entire Russian command in Kherson has fled back across the river.

[Iphie]

Plenty of reports, including from the UK MoD that the bridge at Nova Kharkova is now out of action to military traffic. With the one at Kherson previously knocked out that leaves only ferries for getting supplies across.

There are also rumours the entire Russian command in Kherson has fled back across the river.

Rats, ship, etc.

But if the command fled what are the chances of surrender? and how much forces does russia have in the area? (who cannot be supplied, which means they'll run out of stuff soon.)

[Breccia]

Moscow warns of end to Russia-U.S. relations if assets seized, TASS reports

Promise?

Any possible seizure of Russian assets by the United States will completely destroy Moscow's bilateral relations with Washington, TASS quoted the head of the North American Department at the Russian foreign ministry as saying on Saturday.

"We warn the Americans of the detrimental consequences of such actions that will permanently damage bilateral relations, which is neither in their nor in our interests," Alexander Darchiev told TASS in an interview.

Darchiev also said that Russia warned the United States that diplomatic ties would be badly damaged and could even be broken if Russia is declared a state sponsor of terrorism. read more

Speaking about the situation in Ukraine, Darchiev said that the U.S. influence on Kyiv had increased to the degree that "Americans are increasingly becoming more and more a direct party in the conflict".

Darchiev confirmed that Viktor Bout, an imprisoned Russian referred to by American prosecutors as one of the world's most prolific arms dealers, as well as U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan detained by Russia are being discussed in prisoner swap talks between Moscow and Washington, according to TASS.

"Wait, hasn't the US already seized assets?"

I mean, I've been using words interchangably when I probably should have been more clear. I think Russian government/country assets are technically only frozen, while individual Russians who support Putin's war have had their assets seized. But there's public talks about the US and EU going from "we're going to hold them hostage" to "we're going to take them, and give some to Ukraine".

"So which assets in particular was Russia talking about?"

Darchiev wasn't specific, but right after Putin invaded for no reason, Western powers locked down a bunch of Russia's gold and foreign currency. At the time, it was over $300 billion that got locked down.

Russia is losing GDP, facing inflation, running out of reserves, and facing a recession. They cannot afford to lose $300 billion.

Ukraine's Effectiveness '12 out of 10' as Russian Morale Hit: Pentagon

A Pentagon official has praised Ukrainian troops in their fight against Russia saying that they have done things "we might not have thought were possible."

The unnamed Department of Defense official said that despite Russian forces being bigger than Ukraine's, the morale of Vladimir Putin's troops as well as their "ability to sustain themselves" had been hit hard.

On a scale of zero to 10, the official put the effectiveness of Ukraine's armed forces at a 12 "just based on how impressive they've been to us in so many different ways," according to a readout of the briefing.

Explosions at an airbase in Russian-occupied Crimea on Tuesday had caused significant damage to Russian aircraft and munitions, the official said, although the U.S. does not know what caused the blasts.

On Friday, at least seven Russian warplanes were destroyed in the blasts, in what could be Russia's biggest loss of military aircraft in a single day since World War II. Among the destroyed aircraft were Su-24 bombers and Su-30 multirole fighter jets.

The Pentagon official said on Friday that during the war, there had been large civilian casualties due to "the indiscriminate bombing that the [Russian forces] conduct."

However, Russian forces have been impacted by "the Ukrainians' ability to get after [Russian] command and control, ammunition, sustainment and logistics locations" and that the Ukrainians "have found ways to do things that we might not have thought were possible."

[Corvus]

So how many red lines and point of no returns is that now the west has blatantly crossed with no response from Russia?

[zealo]

Rats, ship, etc.

But if the command fled what are the chances of surrender? and how much forces does russia have in the area? (who cannot be supplied, which means they'll run out of stuff soon.)

Supposed to be about 25k+ Russians on the western side of the Dnieper at least, they might be able to get the men out across the river but they'll be likely to have to leave things heavier than small arms behind if Russian command decides the position there is untenable, and they need a speedy retreat with the bridges all out of commission.

[Corvus]

The war criminal Gerkin, wanted for the downing of MH17, has been detained by Russian authorities. His critical opinions of the Russian efforts may have finally gotten him in trouble, especially as his most recent post called for the politburo to be shot.

The circumstances were bizarre - he shaved his moustache, was using his old FSB passport and was travelling to Kherson, apparently to join the fight or something.

https://twitter.com/niktwick/status/...MXxfUJhJDujrCg

[Iphie]

The war criminal Gerkin, wanted for the downing of MH17, has been detained by Russian authorities. His critical opinions of the Russian efforts may have finally gotten him in trouble, especially as his most recent post called for the politburo to be shot.

The circumstances were bizarre - he shaved his moustache, was using his old FSB passport and was travelling to Kherson, apparently to join the fight or something.

https://twitter.com/niktwick/status/...MXxfUJhJDujrCg

Gods I WISH russia still had a functioning politburo, alas it's been gone since 1991.

[Logwyn]

So how many red lines and point of no returns is that now the west has blatantly crossed with no response from Russia?

What would you suggest Russia does?

[Jastall]

What would you suggest Russia does?

I believe the post was more of a commentary on how they actually can't do anything, in fact.

Any economic sanction from Russia is a joke considering their situation, military threats are laughable for multiple reasons including (but not limited to) the current failure of an invasion, diplomatic consequences are nearly zilch when their only reliable allies are small-time client states, and nukes as a threat are in effect worthless because Russia becomes glass as soon as they launch one and everybody knows it.

[Flarelaine]

On a scale of zero to 10, the official put the effectiveness of Ukraine's armed forces at a 12 "just based on how impressive they've been to us in so many different ways," according to a readout of the briefing.

The US Army could be the best-organised fighting force on the planet, but US soldiers have not been defending their homeland from invaders for two centuries. That sort of motivation is hard to match.

[Corvus]

What would you suggest Russia does?

They are going to continue dong nothing as they have been doing. Its all bluster.

The bridge at Kherson has been hit again. Russians fired off a lot of missiles trying to intercept, to no effect. Lots of big bang on the bridge.



And this is a recruitment centre in Russia....

[zorkuus]

And this is a recruitment centre in Russia....

That's some Class A cannon fodder.

[Iphie]

That's some Class A cannon fodder.

The cynic in me thinks it saves on pensions...but that's really cynical.

[Makabreska]

That's some Class A cannon fodder.

"You will all receive 2l of vodka and a sack of beetroots!"

Hence the moderate crowd.

[jonnysensible]

if Prigozhin got domed by a himars strike big lmao

[Iphie]

if Prigozhin got domed by a himars strike big lmao

Wait... that's the Wagner dude...right?

[PfeffermintShake]

Lol @ the Grayzone, they got some of their fascist heroes HIMAR'd

A few days ago, the Grey Zone (RSOTM) Telegram channel posted photos of a visit to the so-called Wagner HQ in the Donbas (Popasna). Prigozhin may have been there.
The photos were apparently easy to geolocate. Ukraine destroyed it in a HIMARS strike today.

[jonnysensible]

Lol @ the Grayzone, they got some of their fascist heroes HIMAR'd

A few days ago, the Grey Zone (RSOTM) Telegram channel posted photos of a visit to the so-called Wagner HQ in the Donbas (Popasna). Prigozhin may have been there.
The photos were apparently easy to geolocate. Ukraine destroyed it in a HIMARS strike today.

shame its not that the grayzone tho. think they are doin covid conspiracies now

[enigma77]

Lol @ the Grayzone, they got some of their fascist heroes HIMAR'd

A few days ago, the Grey Zone (RSOTM) Telegram channel posted photos of a visit to the so-called Wagner HQ in the Donbas (Popasna). Prigozhin may have been there.
The photos were apparently easy to geolocate. Ukraine destroyed it in a HIMARS strike today.

I wonder if the cat survived.

[fwc577]

if Prigozhin got domed by a himars strike big lmao

Well, if he did, I've got one thing to say:

Dasvidaniya, motherfucker.