Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Easo]

All Eurozone countries have agreed to cut off Russia from SWIFT, as per Reuters.
Use Incognito because even Reuters suck and use paywalls
https://www.reuters.com/markets/euro...er-2022-02-26/

We really don't. When will Americans learn that just because you root for some guys doesn't mean they're good enough in your own backyard. Ukrainians couldn't give less of a toss about the West, they don't share our ideals, nor our understanding of freedom. All they see is that we're the better option between us and Russia. The better option for them, that is.

*Looks around at Poland, Baltics, Romania* Hmmm...

There is this thing called Western Ukraine... Slant, it is not that simple.

Not anymore, Zelensky apparently rejected negotiations. Troop movement resumed.

Basically they were in talks with the Ukrainian government about the negotiations venue yesterday on Friday. Russia stopped troop movement and resumed today after not hearing from the Ukrainian side.

I don't think they stopped shit. Just like they had no casualties yesterday.

[MCMLXXXII]

The world should freeze all their foreign assets. Hit those oligarch buddies hard. Probably won't happen since UAE is providing a safe haven for them.

[alkyd]

The world should freeze all their foreign assets. Hit those oligarch buddies hard. Probably won't happen since UAE is providing a safe haven for them.

Russia is planning to nationalize foreign assets/companies of the 'hostile' countries in a tit-for-tat response should that happen.

[zealo]

And those few days may be a few days too late.

Russia isn't making sufficient progress in Ukraine fast enough for this war to be over in just a few days time.

[Graden]

Three Greeks lost their lives and another six injured (one of them is a child) in the village of Sartana, about 10 kilometres away from the centre of Mariupol. It was bombed by a Russian plane.

Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it.

[MCMLXXXII]

Sure they stopped for negotiations. How sympathetic of the russians. If putin doesn't get the Nobel peace prize....
Didn't have anything to do with the troops running out of fuel, ammunition or rations /RT

[formerShandalay]

And those few days may be a few days too late.

While I do want the EU to SWIFT-ban Russia at once, I don't think doing so would stop Russia from escalating the war further. Everything but military action at once will do nothing for the Ukraine in the next few weeks and military support has already been denied by everyone who could feasibly give it.

[Corvus]

Polish PM has had a few words to say about the Germans, telling them to put aside their selfishness and egoism, and that there contribution of 5000 helmets is a joke.

[Easo]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1497370602075734021

I don't care what you think about Musk, but this, this is gold. Simple answer to Rogozon's rant about ISS falling on Europe.

[Strawberry]

Slavic people killing Slavic people gain, meanwhile the west be like "here, have more weapons".

Putin is either crazy enough or strong enough to make the whole west dislike him for invading Ukraine.
His success is pretty much guaranteed. Powerful men do not want to feel or appear weak. He will achieve his goal. He won't have many friends left, but I'm sure that's calculated.

As for Ukraine.... it should just capitulate. It's not getting any military help. It can't defend itself forever. Putin is not commiting a genocide, he wants to replace the government. If the west isn't doing anything to help it but fuel more weapons and try to sanction Russia, then it's already over.
Capitulating means losing less people. No one wants children martyrs. The government should stop broadcasting to people how to make homemade molotov coctails. That's fucking crazy. Innocents die because of that.

[Khaza-R]

There is a case to be made against the SWIFT ban while it makes things difficult it doesn't stop bank functions however 5% of Russia's GDP is nothing to scoff at.

Only issue I see with the whole SWIFT thing, won't Russia just start using China's alternative? Which they've been trying to pressure other countries to switch too anyway.

[Magnagarde]

As for Russian losses. I am going to go and purely guess - a significant part of those are from attacks on supply convoys/lost squads/absolutely careless soldiers by local defense and cut off Ukrainian Army units. Almost all of them - on soft-skinned vehicles.
There are some clear failures in Russian command after all. Nothing really significant, but still painful for them.

I do not see significant heavy armament losses, though. And that, well, is worrying. Not like I ever expected Ukraine to win, but worrying nonetheless.

Regardless - Russian MoD bullshit about no casualties is just that, bullshit. Enough guro and human BBQ for everyone to confirm that.

As for the Snake island and it's defense to death. It might not be entirely true and those posthumous awards might be premature.

The Russians who were told to roll into Ukraine in armored columns seem to have been lied to. Most of them just roll forward in their columns even when shot at and aren't shooting back; they were told to behave as if they're entering friendly territory that's temporarily occupied. They were also told they'd get a heroic welcoming in every zone they enter except the Kievan one. They do get a warm welcome in certain villages and towns, but then they face extreme resistance in the next. There's a lot of those who sympathize with Russia and a Russian ethnic unification, but many of these people are also opposed to the way this was handled and are standing by without taking part in anything. Russia counted on entire towns and urban areas to fold really quickly, which didn't happen. A lot of Russian saboteurs were caught very early on too.

As the situation stands, there's no way to establish an easy continuity between territory that's been "driven through" because the land is dotted with villages, towns and cities that differ in their ethnic composition and their ideological and national identity. I feel sorry for the Russian youth that's been geared up and put into cans to drive into certain suicide, having been lied to by their leadership.

[MCMLXXXII]

Polish PM has had a few words to say about the Germans, telling them to put aside their selfishness and egoism, and that there contribution of 5000 helmets is a joke.

Indeed a joke, at least we are delivering 200 stingers....

[Gorsameth]

Indeed a joke, at least we are delivering 200 stingers....

The Dutch don't even have ammo for their own forces, those 200 stringers are probably a significant part of what they own.

[MCMLXXXII]

The Dutch don't even have ammo for their own forces, those 200 stringers are probably a significant part of what they own.

While that was embarrassing that's a few years behind us now. In recent times we actually have a functioning but small military again.

[alkyd]

The Dutch don't even have ammo for their own forces, those 200 stringers are probably a significant part of what they own.

It's not like they are gonna need them in the foreseeable future.

[Easo]

Finally a big local success, a destroyed column of Rosgvardia, ~29 or so vehicles. Some questions remain, but shitload of lost equipment regardless.

The Russians who were told to roll into Ukraine in armored columns seem to have been lied to. Most of them just roll forward in their columns even when shot at and aren't shooting back; they were told to behave as if they're entering friendly territory that's temporarily occupied. They were also told they'd get a heroic welcoming in every zone they enter except the Kievan one. They do get a warm welcome in certain villages and towns, but then they face extreme resistance in the next. There's a lot of those who sympathize with Russia and a Russian ethnic unification, but many of these people are also opposed to the way this was handled and are standing by without taking part in anything. Russia counted on entire towns and urban areas to fold really quickly, which didn't happen. A lot of Russian saboteurs were caught very early on too.

As the situation stands, there's no way to establish an easy continuity between territory that's been "driven through" because the land is dotted with villages, towns and cities that differ in their ethnic composition and their ideological and national identity. I feel sorry for the Russian youth that's been geared up and put into cans to drive into certain suicide, having been lied to by their leadership.

I absolutely doubt they were told that.
To highly simplify it - split Ukraine along the Dniepr river and you will have your general sympathies for each side. Though the average citizen, just like everywhere in the world, could not give two shits about this, as long as they are left alone. Marginals and some, who have become more extremist over the years will be your usual loud voice.

As for saboteurs - I think it is total bullshit and Ukrainian panic. Some were definitely there, but as of now they are shooting each other much more than the supposed diversants.

[Corvus]

As for Russian losses. I am going to go and purely guess - a significant part of those are from attacks on supply convoys/lost squads/absolutely careless soldiers by local defense and cut off Ukrainian Army units. Almost all of them - on soft-skinned vehicles.
There are some clear failures in Russian command after all. Nothing really significant, but still painful for them.

I do not see significant heavy armament losses, though. And that, well, is worrying. Not like I ever expected Ukraine to win, but worrying nonetheless.

I'm surprised we haven't seen anything from the Americans regarding losses. Their satellites have got to be all over this and have images of lost vehicles.

But the number of soft convoys the Russians are losing seems very surprising - they just don't seem to be doing a good job protecting their supply lines. So much footage of entire convoys burnt out, including an engineering unit with bridge building gear and fuel tankers. And more recently an entire Rossguardia convoy.

[Ihavewaffles]

In war there's lots of spin, heck ukrainians are lying the whole time even when its not war, now that there is, I wouldn't trust anything they say, especially not when they are loosing so badly. They even ok'd child soldiers to fight, a sure sign they have totally lost their minds n the war.

[Easo]

I'm surprised we haven't seen anything from the Americans regarding losses. Their satellites have got to be all over this and have images of lost vehicles.

But the number of soft convoys the Russians are losing seems very surprising - they just don't seem to be doing a good job protecting their supply lines. So much footage of entire convoys burnt out, including an engineering unit with bridge building gear and fuel tankers. And more recently an entire Rossguardia convoy.

I doubt Americans would start posting guro and how, exactly? They are not there, sattelites won't help that much with recognizing burned out vehicles, as far as I understand.

As for the losses, war is war. You cannot put a tank squad or AA with everything, guard every patch of forest or dirt road, cleanup phase comes after the initial trusts have passed through. Though yes, seems that rush to Berl..., ahemm, Kiev is playing some bad jokes on them, there is no slow methodical bombing and systematic cleanup. Gotta win quick due to PR...