Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Gabriel]

so then from a war game/strategy PoV, what do you people think Putin can do to turn this around without resorting to the crazy talk of WMDing his own country

At this point? He can't. Ukraine won't stop before they've retaken all the land by force. He could have just taken Crimea and been happy with it and he would probably have gotten away with it, but everything after that has been one colossal fuck up after another, and there is no light at the end of this tunnel for him anymore.

Or well, maybe the muzzle flash created by the hot expanding gases accelerating the 6 grams of copper jacketed lead as it exits the barrel of 9x18mm Makarov that one of his KGB friends saved for sentimental reasons.

[Endus]

so then from a war game/strategy PoV, what do you people think Putin can do to turn this around without resorting to the crazy talk of WMDing his own country

Turn what around? Win the war? Probably off the table. Retreat while protecting his ego and maintaining what he's gained? Also off the table.

Why would there need to be any option where Putin can "turn this around"? It's entirely possible he's just fucked up so colossally that he can't recover from it.

it's always been said that Russia holds out its absolute best and most dire tactics and resources for if Russia were actually invaded, implying what we have seen in Ukraine is not them pulling out all the cards

Nobody says that except Russia. Russia's one and only real tactic, historically, has been "throw more expendable men at the problem until there's no longer a problem". And that just hasn't worked this time around.

[Gorsameth]

war is on his doorstep now and it clearly intends to stay.

On a strategic note, Russia is now apparently pulling an undisclosed number of troops stationed in Ukraine to Russia to fight this incursion. Can Ukraine hold out if Russia just does the ol' zerg rush/by numbers assault?

Again, HIMARS soft target missiles covering footballs fields in tungsten balls of death.

[YUPPIE]

Turn what around?

This incursion into Russia specifically, not the whole war as others assumed.

[Endus]

This incursion into Russia specifically, not the whole war as others assumed.

Same question; why should Putin have any option to "turn this around" in the first place? That's not an expectation that's reasonable. It's entirely possible this is the last domino tipping for Putin.

[YUPPIE]

Same question; why should Putin have any option to "turn this around" in the first place? That's not an expectation that's reasonable. It's entirely possible this is the last domino tipping for Putin.

not, "should," like talking from some moral compass, but "how" or "can." This is a war, again, I love watching and observing strategies and tactics from both sides as war spectators do whether it's ongoing or historical.

[Endus]

not, "should," like talking from some moral compass, but "how" or "can." This is a war, again, I love watching strategies and tactics from both sides as war spectators do.

Again, you're assuming, based on absolutely nothing, that there's a legitimate argument to be made on how he could turn the invasion back.

All indications are that Putin lacks the personnel and materiel to do so meaningfully.

When you've got nothing but bluster, and the enemy isn't paying attention to bluster, you're out of options. At this point, I'm pretty sure the only real constraints on Ukraine are their own logistical capacity to hold what territory they've taken. And they may choose to not try and hold territory defensively, but just push to strike more-valuable targets deeper into Russia, forcing Putin to raze his own lands to keep resources out of Ukraininian forces' hands. Which is a victory for Ukraine.

[Gabriel]

Again, HIMARS soft target missiles covering footballs fields in tungsten balls of death.

I have a dream that Musk wasn't such a bitch, and he would authorize the modification of the Starship to carry 150 metric tonnes of tungsten balls and 100 metric tonnes of explosive filler, so we could be wiping entire zip codes empty from orc invaders per pop.


Infracted.

[Jessicka]

I have a dream that Musk wasn't such a bitch, and he would authorize the modification of the Starship to carry 150 metric tonnes of tungsten balls and 100 metric tonnes of explosive filler, so we could be wiping entire zip codes empty from orc invaders per pop.

Fortunately, its not Elon 'Tessier-Ashpool, Weyland-Yutani, Tyrell' Musk that makes that decision and actually a number of UN treaties.

[Gabriel]

Fortunately, its not Elon 'Tessier-Ashpool, Weyland-Yutani, Tyrell' Musk that makes that decision and actually a number of UN treaties.

Bah! Technicalities.

[YUPPIE]

Russia has tried to plead with the UN to condemn Ukraine for "abhorrent crimes." Apparently, the UN council gave Russia the cold shoulder.

Russia criticized Western allies of Ukraine at the United Nations on Tuesday for not condemning Kyiv's incursion into the Russian region of Kursk, accusing Ukrainian forces of killing civilians and questioning the goals of the cross-border assault.

Ukraine's allies on the U.N. Security Council - including the United States, France and Britain - stood firm in their support for Kyiv during an informal council gathering convened by Russia. They did not mention the Kursk offensive.

"We will not recognize the aggressor as the victim," said senior Slovenian diplomat Klemen Ponikvar, one of several members to accuse Russia of hypocrisy, double standards and wasting the Security Council's time.

[Corvus]

There are reports pootie has changed the kursk commander again, only a week after putting the fsb in charge. The new commander is a former bodyguard.

[Edge-]

There are reports pootie has changed the kursk commander again, only a week after putting the fsb in charge. The new commander is a former bodyguard.

Did the last commander in that position for a week fall out of a window?

[Poopymonster]

so then from a war game/strategy PoV, what do you people think Putin can do to turn this around without resorting to the crazy talk of WMDing his own country

it's always been said that Russia holds out its absolute best and most dire tactics and resources for if Russia were actually invaded, implying what we have seen in Ukraine is not them pulling out all the cards

I'm not gonna spin fanfics for your fantasies.
I will say this. Use lotion, you're gonna chafe if you keep this up.

[YUPPIE]

Again, you're assuming, based on absolutely nothing, that there's a legitimate argument to be made on how he could turn the invasion back.

All indications are that Putin lacks the personnel and materiel to do so meaningfully.

When you've got nothing but bluster, and the enemy isn't paying attention to bluster, you're out of options. At this point, I'm pretty sure the only real constraints on Ukraine are their own logistical capacity to hold what territory they've taken. And they may choose to not try and hold territory defensively, but just push to strike more-valuable targets deeper into Russia, forcing Putin to raze his own lands to keep resources out of Ukraininian forces' hands. Which is a victory for Ukraine.

the problem with that last bit you mentioned, and some commentators brought up: If Putin starts desperately razing his own land and everyone on it just to get rid of the Ukrainians, that's a huge moral risk to Ukraine because they're playing with the lives of their soldiers.

It's not a good outlook to try to poke at Putin and go "get mad, do it" and hope he does some insane shit since it will undoubtedly take the lives of these soldiers.

[Endus]

the problem with that last bit you mentioned, and some commentators brought up: If Putin starts desperately razing his own land and everyone on it just to get rid of the Ukrainians, that's a huge moral risk to Ukraine because they're playing with the lives of their soldiers.

That just means they can't resupply off the land, and might go home. It doesn't mean they're all destroyed.

And even then, the nature of being a soldier is to put your life on the line for your country. Soldiers dying is tragic but expected. As long as they're achieving successes along the way (and this is already a massive success), the sacrifice is worth the trade. The soldiers knew what they were in for.

Losing them would not in any way be a "moral risk". Putin razing his own territory, on the other hand, would be.

It's not a good outlook to try to poke at Putin and go "get mad, do it" and hope he does some insane shit since it will undoubtedly take the lives of these soldiers.

You don't have any idea what you're talking about. Destroying stores and gas stations so Ukrainian forces can't resupply and might have to go home is not killing those soldiers. It means they might go home.

[Belize]

Russia sure has been putting the special in special operation.

[Corvus]

The total number of evacuated civilians in russia is now meant to be around 200,000, while Ukraine claims to now hold 74 russian settlements.

Meanwhile, russia is digging new trench lines in Kursk - 45 km from the border. That's a lot of ground to give up, and you still need the troops in them to actually man them.

And the Belgorod region governor has declared a regional level state of emergency, and wants the Kremlin to upgrade it to a federal level of emergency, just like in Kursk.

[PhaelixWW]

the problem with that last bit you mentioned, and some commentators brought up: If Putin starts desperately razing his own land and everyone on it just to get rid of the Ukrainians, that's a huge moral risk to Ukraine because they're playing with the lives of their soldiers.

It's not a good outlook to try to poke at Putin and go "get mad, do it" and hope he does some insane shit since it will undoubtedly take the lives of these soldiers.

They're soldiers fighting a war; their lives are already at risk due to Putin's ego and cruelty.

There's no "moral risk" in fighting back against a dictator with a genocidal agenda.

What an absolute shit take. Shame.

[Iphie]

Troops from Kaliningrad to Kursk

Reeks of desperation to be honest.