Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Poopymonster]

Sign up bonuses in Moscow have jumped yet again. Its now up to 2.245 million rubles after only just being increased to 2.1 a couple of days ago. Really does seem to be spiralling out of control, along with inflation and interest rates. Question is do they do another mobilisation given they are obviously having trouble buying meat to be thrown into the grinder with such rapid bonus increases.

- - - Updated - - -



Looks like the Tuaregs have some friends helping with their Wagner issue.

Bonus payment? In account next week.

Sorry, account closed after premature death on 3 day excursion. No payment.

[Easo]

You can then try to "be the bigger man". Do tell me what changed in your opinion. My first memory of you in this thread was the whole "fog of war" thing, as if russians would have been an overwhelmingly impossible to defeat enemy, with any misfortune that was reported, being made up because of this fog of war.

Have you changed that opinion to more pro-Ukraine way of things or did I get it entirely wrong?

It is hard to understand your opinion when you often pop here to mock the other posters, then vanish without usually trying to make a discussion or defending your viewpoint.

And perhaps the mutual low opinion of each other keeps happening when you were proved wrong, and you vanished for a year only to return....rather arrogant.

I really doubt you are sincere and I do not want to write A4 page of Why, but I will give you the short one (as short as it can be, lol) and if you will actually want to - I can write that wall of text.
Read back the posts - my reaction at the start was rage and anger at Russia, starting with the very first post saying that the war has started. Right now, however, it has changed to fuck everyone and interest in the war has switched to sardonic memes like the upcoming "Russians have taken New York".


Just some rant here, then:

Lies about Russian missile attacks (Buks back in Kiev since day 1, then the usual S-300 "ground attack mode" open bullshit). Executing and torturing PoWs (not a single one ever convicted and this thread denied or excused every single case) , "flechetes", various killings of important people (Denis Kireev case was the best one, the official claims changed a few times... xD), etc.

Russia is going to run out XXXXXX/YYYY/ZZZZZ, Russia is stealing washing machines for rockets (and you actually believed that), Russia's economy will collapse, "whole world is against Russia (insert China's meme about "whole world" here), etc. 3rd year and stories are still being changed and "you misunderstood". Ah - fighting with shovels, too, can't forget that.

All Ukraine's claims are taken at face value aside from the most crazy ones, everything Russia says is lies because "Russia has always lied!!! /iamverysmart"

Basic, blatant and all encompassing russophobia, destruction of historical legacy and attempts to change history, fucking with the religion - all of this chiefly in Ukraine, but also in Baltics and elsewhere.
Add to this every single fucking ever stereotype about the fucking dumb Russians, add to this the usual infamous Western arrogance. You actually do think that you are better than "vile savages from the East" and you do not believe in equality, the words are empty and always have been.

Can't forget the "Ukraine does not target civilians" and "Russia is bombing Donetsk themselves", they must be Jesuses. In the meantime gore galore... All the recent FPV strikes, like the one on public transport bus (oh right, you don't know, because of course you don't).

All the fucking Nazi creeps - I have not forgotten the tatooed freaks that came out of Azovstal or were caught elsewhere, who are now "heroes". Good Nazis, lol, as long as they are against Russia I guess.

2023 - the year of Great Counterattack and the absolute gigabrains here still going on about success in September when the Ukraine did not even breach the first line of defense and the whole thing fell appart in a month. Фортеця Robotyne and "bushes stopping the attack"

Every Western "game changer" which then inevitably got destroyed and then it changed to "it doesn't matter, only Russia cares, it's just equipment". Every retarded raid in Russia with Western donated gear by TOTALLY INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN REBEL UNITS leading to large losses amongst the invaders and dead civilians over the border - great success, we have like almost taken Belhorod (yes, with H), dude, har har Russia can't protect anything.

Absolutely wrong conclusions about Ukraine's counterattacks in 2022 - from "meat waves" actually done by Ukraine with 3-4 to 1 advantage and NOT Russia, why Herson was retaken (no, 2 months of Mad Maxing and suffering stupidly large losses was not the success you think it was) or why it was still a failure for Ukraine which showed it's weakness (free orderly retreat - should have been the sign), why everything got stuck around Svatove-Kreminna line, etc.
Worst of all - seemingly by the Western planners too (or even worse - they knew but let Ukraine continue).

Oh yeah, busification campaign - this thread pretends it does not exist. Tisa swimmer club is also growing. Ukraine is so free it shoots people trying to escape to Romania.

And before you go - but Russia!!! - I don't care. We can assume by default Russia is bad, evil, yada yada - sure, let it be so. My problem is why Ukraine, the supposed democractic freedom loving Western leaning and totally not backwards barbaric shithole like Russia is doing the same things Russia is accused of and is getting scot free. Why it always has an excuse, why there basically is a mirror situation with Russia where Russia doing something is bad and Ukraine doing the same is good.
Normally that is called hypocrisy - but I already talked about arrogance, so... And this is my main issue - the hypocrisy and then the lies.

Yeah... This forum and "I don't have to know Russian to understand this conflict", "Russian narratives", "Telegram bullshit" etc. etc. etc.
Could write more and more, about topics as to why the so called experts failed, why analytics failed, why "~5% NATO budget" only is bullshit, etc. It's so much that I cannot even remember all of it (and I have a nice bookmark folder with hundreds of nasty things - most by Ukraine).



P.S.

My opinion about the future is very simple - Ukraine has lost the war and the only question is what it will have to give during the inevitable peace talks. 1991. borders have died even in the official media.
Things like these will only increase in frequency and you will find out that while Ukraine is large it is not endless, but Russia is not going to run out anything (must be all those washing machines, son):
https://x.com/J_JHelin/status/1817628269740773609

I can absolutely imagine the 5 stages of grief and the cope after the war - if Ukraine survives the war then any territorial losses (and millions of people already) will be written off and victory claimed, while "Russia lost" will be screamed at every corner.

[Belize]

Yikes .

[Saradain]

I really doubt you are sincere and I do not want to write A4 page of Why, but I will give you the short one (as short as it can be, lol) and if you will actually want to - I can write that wall of text.
Read back the posts - my reaction at the start was rage and anger at Russia, starting with the very first post saying that the war has started. Right now, however, it has changed to fuck everyone and interest in the war has switched to sardonic memes like the upcoming "Russians have taken New York".


Just some rant here, then:

Lies about Russian missile attacks (Buks back in Kiev since day 1, then the usual S-300 "ground attack mode" open bullshit). Executing and torturing PoWs (not a single one ever convicted and this thread denied or excused every single case) , "flechetes", various killings of important people (Denis Kireev case was the best one, the official claims changed a few times... xD), etc.

Russia is going to run out XXXXXX/YYYY/ZZZZZ, Russia is stealing washing machines for rockets (and you actually believed that), Russia's economy will collapse, "whole world is against Russia (insert China's meme about "whole world" here), etc. 3rd year and stories are still being changed and "you misunderstood". Ah - fighting with shovels, too, can't forget that.

All Ukraine's claims are taken at face value aside from the most crazy ones, everything Russia says is lies because "Russia has always lied!!! /iamverysmart"

Basic, blatant and all encompassing russophobia, destruction of historical legacy and attempts to change history, fucking with the religion - all of this chiefly in Ukraine, but also in Baltics and elsewhere.
Add to this every single fucking ever stereotype about the fucking dumb Russians, add to this the usual infamous Western arrogance. You actually do think that you are better than "vile savages from the East" and you do not believe in equality, the words are empty and always have been.

Can't forget the "Ukraine does not target civilians" and "Russia is bombing Donetsk themselves", they must be Jesuses. In the meantime gore galore... All the recent FPV strikes, like the one on public transport bus (oh right, you don't know, because of course you don't).

All the fucking Nazi creeps - I have not forgotten the tatooed freaks that came out of Azovstal or were caught elsewhere, who are now "heroes". Good Nazis, lol, as long as they are against Russia I guess.

2023 - the year of Great Counterattack and the absolute gigabrains here still going on about success in September when the Ukraine did not even breach the first line of defense and the whole thing fell appart in a month. Фортеця Robotyne and "bushes stopping the attack"

Every Western "game changer" which then inevitably got destroyed and then it changed to "it doesn't matter, only Russia cares, it's just equipment". Every retarded raid in Russia with Western donated gear by TOTALLY INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN REBEL UNITS leading to large losses amongst the invaders and dead civilians over the border - great success, we have like almost taken Belhorod (yes, with H), dude, har har Russia can't protect anything.

Absolutely wrong conclusions about Ukraine's counterattacks in 2022 - from "meat waves" actually done by Ukraine with 3-4 to 1 advantage and NOT Russia, why Herson was retaken (no, 2 months of Mad Maxing and suffering stupidly large losses was not the success you think it was) or why it was still a failure for Ukraine which showed it's weakness (free orderly retreat - should have been the sign), why everything got stuck around Svatove-Kreminna line, etc.
Worst of all - seemingly by the Western planners too (or even worse - they knew but let Ukraine continue).

Oh yeah, busification campaign - this thread pretends it does not exist. Tisa swimmer club is also growing. Ukraine is so free it shoots people trying to escape to Romania.

And before you go - but Russia!!! - I don't care. We can assume by default Russia is bad, evil, yada yada - sure, let it be so. My problem is why Ukraine, the supposed democractic freedom loving Western leaning and totally not backwards barbaric shithole like Russia is doing the same things Russia is accused of and is getting scot free. Why it always has an excuse, why there basically is a mirror situation with Russia where Russia doing something is bad and Ukraine doing the same is good.
Normally that is called hypocrisy - but I already talked about arrogance, so... And this is my main issue - the hypocrisy and then the lies.

Yeah... This forum and "I don't have to know Russian to understand this conflict", "Russian narratives", "Telegram bullshit" etc. etc. etc.
Could write more and more, about topics as to why the so called experts failed, why analytics failed, why "~5% NATO budget" only is bullshit, etc. It's so much that I cannot even remember all of it (and I have a nice bookmark folder with hundreds of nasty things - most by Ukraine).



P.S.

My opinion about the future is very simple - Ukraine has lost the war and the only question is what it will have to give during the inevitable peace talks. 1991. borders have died even in the official media.
Things like these will only increase in frequency and you will find out that while Ukraine is large it is not endless, but Russia is not going to run out anything (must be all those washing machines, son):
https://x.com/J_JHelin/status/1817628269740773609

I can absolutely imagine the 5 stages of grief and the cope after the war - if Ukraine survives the war then any territorial losses (and millions of people already) will be written off and victory claimed, while "Russia lost" will be screamed at every corner.

It shouldn't matter if my question to you was sincere or not - if you speak facts, with substance in your post, it can be discussed. Everything you claim on your list will also be up for a debate. For me, you seem to list a lot of things that either were said by literally one poster, as something everyone agreed upon. You speak of ukranian nazis, while Russia tried to frame random people as ukrainian agents with pictures of Hitler, copies of Sims 3...I'm sure the whole Azov regiment have people with shadier past, I don't try to say neo-nazis don't/didn't exist within their ranks. At very least they cannot perpetrate same kind of shit Putin is trying to, they do not have the power. Yeah, Azov people defending Ukraine from genocidal aggression IS heroic, regardless of their past.

It's pretty easy to assume Russia is going to lie after lying, for a reason.

You assume a lot of things as the opinions of many. Washing machines for rocket components? I'm pretty sure I had the opinion of "russians so fucking poor they steal washing machines as personal loot".

Denying russians purposefully targeting civilians is pretty wild given Bucha, given the fucking threater with the road paint saying "children".

Your post has a lot of things to argue about, whether they are true or made up. Which many will, soon enough.

[Deus Mortis]

I really doubt you are sincere and I do not want to write A4 page of Why, but I will give you the short one (as short as it can be, lol) and if you will actually want to - I can write that wall of text.
Read back the posts - my reaction at the start was rage and anger at Russia, starting with the very first post saying that the war has started. Right now, however, it has changed to fuck everyone and interest in the war has switched to sardonic memes like the upcoming "Russians have taken New York".


Just some rant here, then:

Lies about Russian missile attacks (Buks back in Kiev since day 1, then the usual S-300 "ground attack mode" open bullshit). Executing and torturing PoWs (not a single one ever convicted and this thread denied or excused every single case) , "flechetes", various killings of important people (Denis Kireev case was the best one, the official claims changed a few times... xD), etc.

Russia is going to run out XXXXXX/YYYY/ZZZZZ, Russia is stealing washing machines for rockets (and you actually believed that), Russia's economy will collapse, "whole world is against Russia (insert China's meme about "whole world" here), etc. 3rd year and stories are still being changed and "you misunderstood". Ah - fighting with shovels, too, can't forget that.

All Ukraine's claims are taken at face value aside from the most crazy ones, everything Russia says is lies because "Russia has always lied!!! /iamverysmart"

Basic, blatant and all encompassing russophobia, destruction of historical legacy and attempts to change history, fucking with the religion - all of this chiefly in Ukraine, but also in Baltics and elsewhere.
Add to this every single fucking ever stereotype about the fucking dumb Russians, add to this the usual infamous Western arrogance. You actually do think that you are better than "vile savages from the East" and you do not believe in equality, the words are empty and always have been.

Can't forget the "Ukraine does not target civilians" and "Russia is bombing Donetsk themselves", they must be Jesuses. In the meantime gore galore... All the recent FPV strikes, like the one on public transport bus (oh right, you don't know, because of course you don't).

All the fucking Nazi creeps - I have not forgotten the tatooed freaks that came out of Azovstal or were caught elsewhere, who are now "heroes". Good Nazis, lol, as long as they are against Russia I guess.

2023 - the year of Great Counterattack and the absolute gigabrains here still going on about success in September when the Ukraine did not even breach the first line of defense and the whole thing fell appart in a month. Фортеця Robotyne and "bushes stopping the attack"

Every Western "game changer" which then inevitably got destroyed and then it changed to "it doesn't matter, only Russia cares, it's just equipment". Every retarded raid in Russia with Western donated gear by TOTALLY INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN REBEL UNITS leading to large losses amongst the invaders and dead civilians over the border - great success, we have like almost taken Belhorod (yes, with H), dude, har har Russia can't protect anything.

Absolutely wrong conclusions about Ukraine's counterattacks in 2022 - from "meat waves" actually done by Ukraine with 3-4 to 1 advantage and NOT Russia, why Herson was retaken (no, 2 months of Mad Maxing and suffering stupidly large losses was not the success you think it was) or why it was still a failure for Ukraine which showed it's weakness (free orderly retreat - should have been the sign), why everything got stuck around Svatove-Kreminna line, etc.
Worst of all - seemingly by the Western planners too (or even worse - they knew but let Ukraine continue).

Oh yeah, busification campaign - this thread pretends it does not exist. Tisa swimmer club is also growing. Ukraine is so free it shoots people trying to escape to Romania.

And before you go - but Russia!!! - I don't care. We can assume by default Russia is bad, evil, yada yada - sure, let it be so. My problem is why Ukraine, the supposed democractic freedom loving Western leaning and totally not backwards barbaric shithole like Russia is doing the same things Russia is accused of and is getting scot free. Why it always has an excuse, why there basically is a mirror situation with Russia where Russia doing something is bad and Ukraine doing the same is good.
Normally that is called hypocrisy - but I already talked about arrogance, so... And this is my main issue - the hypocrisy and then the lies.

Yeah... This forum and "I don't have to know Russian to understand this conflict", "Russian narratives", "Telegram bullshit" etc. etc. etc.
Could write more and more, about topics as to why the so called experts failed, why analytics failed, why "~5% NATO budget" only is bullshit, etc. It's so much that I cannot even remember all of it (and I have a nice bookmark folder with hundreds of nasty things - most by Ukraine).



P.S.

My opinion about the future is very simple - Ukraine has lost the war and the only question is what it will have to give during the inevitable peace talks. 1991. borders have died even in the official media.
Things like these will only increase in frequency and you will find out that while Ukraine is large it is not endless, but Russia is not going to run out anything (must be all those washing machines, son):
https://x.com/J_JHelin/status/1817628269740773609

I can absolutely imagine the 5 stages of grief and the cope after the war - if Ukraine survives the war then any territorial losses (and millions of people already) will be written off and victory claimed, while "Russia lost" will be screamed at every corner.

So much projection. You act like a something the media was hyping up was hyped up by posters here(2023 counter offensive). Maybe a few posters here and there act like Ukraine is some saint, but most here acknowledge that they are just nearly as corrupt as Russia, the reason Ukraine gets a pass currently is because they are being fucking invaded atm. We can talk about all the corruption after the war when they try to join the EU/NATO.

You can look at my post history I have already stated both sides have lost at this point, the amount of humans lost with two countries that already have shit birth rate numbers is going to be damning for the next century. Yes Russia is not running out of shit any time soon in the overall picture, but they are getting low of certain types of vehicles, but they have enough other types that are similar. The thing is this vast stock pile is USSR stockpile, Russia after this entire war is over with will be fucked for decades.

They currently control around 22% of Ukraine down from 30+% in 2022 which is just pure embarrassment. Ukraine land mass wise is smaller than fucking Texas, and Russia is almost twice the size of the US, it would be like all of US ganging up on Texas and only being able to control 20%, the rest of the country would get laughed at, as is the case with Russia.

You talk about stages of grief and cope, but you're the one who literally ran away for an entire year from this forum because of your shit opinions and "fog of war" bullshit. You can continue to act like everyone here has this merry vision that some outlets put out, but it is clearly not the case.

[Corvus]

The fighter bomber channel is having a bit of a snarky complain that ground crews (engineers, mechanics, radio operators, you know, the trained guys that keep the planes flying) and even flight crews (navigators, pilots) are sent to a Air Force motorised rifle regiment to be used as assault troops.

You really wouldn't want to be using people like that to be sent into meat assaults if you can at all help it.

[alach]

And before you go - but Russia!!! - I don't care. We can assume by default Russia is bad, evil, yada yada - sure, let it be so. My problem is why Ukraine, the supposed democractic freedom loving Western leaning and totally not backwards barbaric shithole like Russia is doing the same things Russia is accused of and is getting scot free. Why it always has an excuse, why there basically is a mirror situation with Russia where Russia doing something is bad and Ukraine doing the same is good.

This is a false equivalence. One is violence sponsored and sanctioned by the state, the other are outliers that usually end up punished for their behavoir. They are also a country at war under martial law fighting for their existence, which leads me to..

My opinion about the future is very simple - Ukraine has lost the war and the only question is what it will have to give during the inevitable peace talks. 1991. borders have died even in the official media.
Things like these will only increase in frequency and you will find out that while Ukraine is large it is not endless, but Russia is not going to run out anything (must be all those washing machines, son):

So lets say this is true and you are right. What in your mind does a Russian victory look like, because I only see two options available for Russia now if they continue.

1) They meet at the table, Ukraine surrenders, they lose all that land, Russia gets to be a bigger country and they manage to steal all that oil, gas, and lithium -- However, this is not recognized by the international community. The western world hates them, the sanctions remain and get tighter, making it difficult to sell all those stolen goods. Russia becomes a state not unlike North Korea. There will be counter insurgencies constantly against those in the stolen land, it is too dangerous to settle. General disdain for the Russian people across the world will last generations.
I would like to point out that right this moment countries like Iran, and North Korea are still invited and accepted to the olympics and are competing against other countries in non-violent legal means. Russia is not. They will never be again, to anything. Congrats on "victory" #1.

2)They continue to wage war across the entire country of Ukraine, bombing and pillaging and raiding for years to come until there is nothing left of the Ukrainian people or culture as per Putins wishes. How will the world react to this? Do you think everyone will be cool with this genocide and russian "victory"? and let it stand? I dont.

See I think you keep thinking that this conflict is happening in a vaccum, and it isnt. Whether the intentions are noble or not, they are alot of powers in the world that need Ukraine to fight on, and to win.

[Ivanstone]

Russia is not going to run out anything

They're slowly running out of oil refineries. Is it 3 down, 4 to go currently?

How's Vlad and company gonna line their bank accounts if they can't process any oil?

[PhaelixWW]

They're slowly running out of oil refineries. Is it 3 down, 4 to go currently?

How's Vlad and company gonna line their bank accounts if they can't process any oil?

Wait, how is Russia running out of oil refineries?

[Lanrefni]

Wait, how is Russia running out of oil refineries?

Ukraine has been targeting the cracking towers at refineries, replacing them is expensive as fuck and takes months if not years to get new ones built,no cracking tower means the rest of the refinery is about as useful as tits on a bull.

[PhaelixWW]

Ukraine has been targeting the cracking towers at refineries, replacing them is expensive as fuck and takes months if not years to get new ones built,no cracking tower means the rest of the refinery is about as useful as tits on a bull.

Is there any evidence that they've actually managed this kind of damage? I see them targeting refineries and I see shit burning, but I haven't seen anything to suggest that the damage was more than a temporary setback.

[Ivanstone]

Is there any evidence that they've actually managed this kind of damage? I see them targeting refineries and I see shit burning, but I haven't seen anything to suggest that the damage was more than a temporary setback.

I was under the impression two had to stop. A third was hit recently.

In any case, Ukraine isn't likely to let up on the refinery strikes. Sooner or later more permanent damage will happen.

[Belize]

Let's check in on Russia not running out of things:

Russia has had to double the recruitment bonus to keep meeting demand for the meatgrinder.

Sure sounds like the supply of willing participants is dwindling.

[alach]

Its about frickin time!

BREAKING: First F-16 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports
Ukraine has received the first batch of fourth-generation U.S.-made F-16 jets, Bloomberg reported on July 31, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The news comes a year after the allied "fighter jet coalition" took shape at the Vilnius NATO summit under the Danish and Dutch leadership.

The deadline for the transfer of F-16s was late July, the sources told Bloomberg. Ukraine received "a small number" of the planes, the sources said.

Ukraine is expected to receive at least 79 F-16s from the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway, with the deliveries to continue in the coming years.

Now the unfortunate part of this is russia has been waiting for them, and offers large bounties to whoever shoots a F-16 down. They have also been targetting airfields. The upside of course being, Ukraine knows all this and hopefully has some safetys and protections in place.

[Zaydin]

Its about frickin time!



Now the unfortunate part of this is russia has been waiting for them, and offers large bounties to whoever shoots a F-16 down. They have also been targetting airfields. The upside of course being, Ukraine knows all this and hopefully has some safetys and protections in place.

Hopefully Ukraine has the sense to build sturdy bunkers to shelter the planes in when not in use.

The fact that Russia is desperate to destroy them suggests that they are worried what impact they might have. Granted, Ukraine will never have enough of them to compete with the Russians for full aerial superiority but the F-16s can fit the western weapons being sent to them without requiring improvised mounting methods.

[Deus Mortis]

Hopefully Ukraine has the sense to build sturdy bunkers to shelter the planes in when not in use.

The fact that Russia is desperate to destroy them suggests that they are worried what impact they might have. Granted, Ukraine will never have enough of them to compete with the Russians for full aerial superiority but the F-16s can fit the western weapons being sent to them without requiring improvised mounting methods.

Yeah if Ukraine leaves them in the open like some of their other jets it is gonna cause other countries to not want to send them. These things need to be rotated and protected like HIMARS and the Patriot batteries.

[Corvus]

Let's check in on Russia not running out of things:

Russia has had to double the recruitment bonus to keep meeting demand for the meatgrinder.

Sure sounds like the supply of willing participants is dwindling.

It's way, way, way more than doubled. It was 197k at the start of the war, but it's over 2 million in Moscow already. Technically you could say the federal contribution to bonuses has doubled, but the various regions were already paying far more to meet their quotas than 400k.

- - - Updated - - -

Sign up bonuses in Moscow have jumped to 2.5 million now. That's an increase of 600k in, what, less than a week? And they will pay for transport costs from anywhere for those willing to sign up, to help meet Moscow's quota.

Leningrad and St Petersburg are also over the 2 million mark.

And these bonuses are actually being paid. Recruits are using it to buy better gear than the russian government is providing them with.

[Iphie]

Might want to specify Leningrad Oblast as Leningrad and St. Petersburg are the same city, just renamed. The oblast did not get renamed.

[PhaelixWW]

Forbes: A Two-Pound Ukrainian Drone Just Shot Down A 12-Ton Russian Helicopter

Ukrainian forces deploy more than 100,000 explosive first-person-view drones a month all along the 700-mile front line of Russia’s 28-month wider war on Ukraine. The drones smash into armored vehicles, chase down exposed infantry and follow artillery fire back to its origin in order to target Russian howitzers.

And today one of the small quadcopter drones—remotely steered by an operator wearing a virtual-reality headset—shot down a Russian helicopter, apparently for the first time.

Photos and videos that circulated on social media depict the Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter burning near Donetsk in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. “A speedy recovery to the survivors,” one Russian blogger wrote.

This new use of explosive drones has been a long time coming. As long ago as September, Ukrainian operators first tried ramming their flying robots into Russian helicopters mid-flight. The drone threat got so serious that the Russian air force began assigning some helicopters to escort other helicopters.

It apparently took at least 10 months of trying before a Ukrainian drone operator finally hit a Russian helicopter. The months of misses are understandable. A helicopter can fly faster than 150 miles per hour at altitudes exceeding thousands of feet—too fast and too high for a two-pound drone to get a clean shot without an enormous degree of skill or luck on the part of the operator.

The Ukrainian drone pilot in the Wednesday shoot-down was very skilled or lucky—or both. They spotted the 12-ton, three-crew Russian helicopter—which performs attack, transport and medical-evacuation missions—while it was still close to the ground. “Caught at the moment of takeoff,” a Russian blogger reported.

An FPV drone normally carries just a few pounds of explosives. But it doesn’t take much firepower to knock down a helicopter if it takes a hit it in the rotors.

After more than two years of war, Ukrainian drone operators have become extremely adept at targeting the most vulnerable parts of Russian targets: flying drones into the open hatches of armored personnel carriers, under the add-on armor on so-called “turtle tanks” and through the doors of reinforced infantry dugouts.

Compared to a 36-inch-wide hatch, an Mi-8’s 12-foot-diameter rotor disc is an easy target.

What might be most impressive is how far the Russian helicopter may have been from the front line. The western edge of Donetsk is just three miles from the front line—well within the range of an unaided FPV drone.

But the eastern edge of the city is closer to 10 miles from the front line. That’s apparently where the shoot-down took place. “The distance,” the second blogger explained, “is very significant.”

To travel 10 miles, an FPV might need help from a second drone, trailing a few miles behind, that captures and rebroadcasts its short-range command signal. It’s a complex operation requiring careful coordination.

The Russian military has hundreds of helicopters and, so far, has lost just a hundred or so to Ukrainian action. One more loss isn’t catastrophic for the Russians. But now that the Ukrainians have droned their first helicopter, they may redouble their efforts to take down Russian rotorcraft.

Considering how many FPV drones the Ukrainians deploy every month, the threat to Russian helicopters could intensify—a lot.

[Vampiregenesis]

Great news, our Prime Minister agreed with Zelensky to train Ukrainian pilots at the Kalamata military airport that was bought recently by Elbit (an Israeli company), that airport is used to train Greek pilots.

The fun fact is that I'm living almost next to that airport in Messene and in my area you hear noises from aircrafts often or you can seem them clearly at close range.

This treacherous decision will now turn that airport into an important NATO facility and my area could become a potential target and it's also a small area so no problem to drop a nuke on it, it's far from the capital. The airport wasn't that important before.

PUTIN PLEASE DONT BOMB US, WE DONT WANT THEM HERE