Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Belize]

Not great news for Putin if morale is so bad among his army that his troops are fragging their commanders.

Do you blame them though? When your commander's orders are "march into an ambush and get blown up because we have no other real plan.

[Zaydin]

Well, take this with a massive grain of salt but allegedly a Russian MP said that the Russian Federation might launch a 'special military operation' against Poland, the Baltic States and Kazakhstan as part of a 'global operation of demilitarization and denazification'.

I say take it with a grain of salt because that account belongs to an advisor of President Zelenskyy so he's hardly unbiased but if it IS true it's a horrifying thought and showing just how insane Russia has become with them failing to defeat Ukraine so far, especially if the reports of the Ukrainian military pushing Russia back are true.

People were wondering what Putin/Russia would do if they felt backed into a corner with nothing to lose.

Though you would think that even though Putin doesn't want to admit he is struggling to defeat the Ukrainian military, you would think he would be smart enough to know there is no way he could win a multi-front war against Ukraine AND NATO.

Note that Soviet propaganda against the West during the Cold War to keep its citizenry from fleeing to the West when it wasn't resorting to literally walling them in was that the West was full of Fascists/Nazis that hated Russians and had never really denazified West Germany after WW2.

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Do you blame them though? When your commander's orders are "march into an ambush and get blown up because we have no other real plan.

Not particularly, no. Especially if the reports that they were lied to about what they would be doing are accurate before Russia launched its invasion.

[Shalcker]

Russia advancing in the opposite direction. Waiting for Shalcker explanation of the "successful mission" in the north.

The message seems fairly clear - those forces stop Ukrainians from reinforcing army at Donbass; once Donbass force is destroyed Russian army might or might not go ahead with protracted city sieges like Mariupol - it isn't ruled out but it wouldn't be their preferred choice.

Doesn't look like anything changed overall from initial aims.

[jonnysensible]

So Russia can't fight at night, cant feed its troops and has terrible logistics. I'm still surprised how bad the Russian Army is at doing basic things. Alot of the pictures of dead Russian troops are going to be used in lessons on 'how not to die in war'.

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Doesn't look like anything changed overall from initial aims.

Regime change? Failed.

[Santti]

Well, take this with a massive grain of salt but allegedly a Russian MP declared that the Russian Federation might launch a 'special military operation' against Poland, the Baltic States and Kazakhstan as part of a 'global operation of demilitarization and denazification'.

I say take it with a grain of salt because that account belongs to an advisor of President Zelenskyy so he's hardly unbiased but if it IS true it's a horrifying thought and showing just how insane Russia has become with them failing to defeat Ukraine so far, especially if the reports of the Ukrainian military pushing Russia back are true.

People were wondering what Putin/Russia would do if they felt backed into a corner with nothing to lose.

Though you would think that even though Putin doesn't want to admit he is struggling to defeat the Ukrainian military, you would think he would be smart enough to know there is no way he could win a multi-front war against Ukraine AND NATO.

There is no way.

1) They wouldn't announce something like this so openly.

2) This would be an open attack on NATO.

3) Russian military is getting spanked by Ukraine, alone. They have no logistics, no leadership, no morale. And WW2 era equipment.

I don't know what the fuck is the point of this announcement, but it's bullshit.

[Zaydin]

There is no way.

1) They wouldn't announce something like this so openly.

2) This would be an open attack on NATO.

3) Russian military is getting spanked by Ukraine, alone.

I don't know what the fuck is the point of this announcement, but it's bullshit.

That's why I said to take it with a massive grain of salt.

If the story is true, it might be sabre rattling meant to deter NATO and the Baltic states from sending weapons to Ukraine. NATOs response thus far, however, has been 'Fuck you'.

[Fugus]

Well, take this with a massive grain of salt but allegedly a Russian MP said that the Russian Federation might launch a 'special military operation' against Poland, the Baltic States and Kazakhstan as part of a 'global operation of demilitarization and denazification'.

I say take it with a grain of salt because that account belongs to an advisor of President Zelenskyy so he's hardly unbiased but if it IS true it's a horrifying thought and showing just how insane Russia has become with them failing to defeat Ukraine so far, especially if the reports of the Ukrainian military pushing Russia back are true.

People were wondering what Putin/Russia would do if they felt backed into a corner with nothing to lose.

Though you would think that even though Putin doesn't want to admit he is struggling to defeat the Ukrainian military, you would think he would be smart enough to know there is no way he could win a multi-front war against Ukraine AND NATO.

Note that Soviet propaganda against the West during the Cold War to keep its citizenry from fleeing to the West when it wasn't resorting to literally walling them in was that the West was full of Fascists/Nazis that hated Russians and had never really denazified West Germany after WW2.

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Not particularly, no. Especially if the reports that they were lied to about what they would be doing are accurate before Russia launched its invasion.

Given how things have played out and what they leaked early when they thought it was going to be a quick 2 day romp, I doubt it, especially with the fallout they already have going for them.

That sounds more likely what they were originally intending if this had played out like they had hoped and they owned Ukraine right now while showing off to the world how tough they were and how big their balls were. And this exploded in their faces, doubt they want to tempt the world with more invasions when most of the world is already itching to jump in over this and how much it has crippled their military, economy, and position on the world stage.

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

The "Russia strong" people around here forced to make the binary decision of whether this is an example of Russian mutiny, or just Russian incompetence: Either they intentionally killed their commander, or they only accidentally killed their commander.


Damn, it's crazy how somehow is going to tell me that the USA is still responsible for this somehow, isn't it?

I'm sure the spin will be about how those Russians killed their commanding officer because he just wasn't good enough at leading them in killing Ukrainians.

[Kaleredar]

People were wondering what Putin/Russia would do if they felt backed into a corner with nothing to lose.

Here's the funny thing, though.

It's a corner they walked into. And moreover, a corner they could just walk out of. Literally no one is keeping them there.

Russia could pull every troop out of Ukraine tomorrow, say they're super duper sorry, and I'm sure have to negotiate how sanctions would be getting removed, and then they'd largely be at where they were back in January, save for a couple thousand dead soldiers, a shambling economy, a gigantic loss in military equipment, and an international reputation in the dirt.

But them continuing to fight doesn't make any of those latter points "less bad." More Russians will continue to die, their economy will continue to crumble, more of their equipment will be destroyed or seized, and their international reputation will only continue to spiral downwards.

It seems Putin has fallen into the cost-sunk fallacy. Let's see how long the rest of Russia keeps following that line.

[Santti]

That's why I said to take it with a massive grain of salt.

If the story is true, it might be sabre rattling meant to deter NATO and the Baltic states from sending weapons to Ukraine. NATOs response thus far, however, has been 'Fuck you'.

It's some sort of saber rattling, sure, but I just have to wonder what their own soldiers are thinking, reading that. Or their regular citizens. Or the Oligarchs that have yet to flee Russia.

Seems all kinds of stupid to post this. Putin might be happy, though, so yay?

[Mayhem]

Working together means finding compromise.

What are you ready to give up to reduce Russian warmongering?

Aha, so you agree that Russia is warmongering, well that's a start.

Looks like you are fine with that. Truly messed up.

[Shalcker]

Regime change? Failed.

Given that war is still ongoing it still can happen, one way or another.

Not that it ever was explicitly set as a non-negotiable goal, so it can stay ambiguous on wherever they actually want(ed) it.

[Corvus]

Grain of salt time, but this claim popped up.

https://mobile.twitter.com/golub/sta...00930941100037

The temporary minister of defence signed an order to make it seem like Shoigu is still in charge because even they don't know where he is. And his daughter was pictured in what looks like mourning clothes.

[P for Pancetta]

That's why I said to take it with a massive grain of salt.

If the story is true, it might be sabre rattling meant to deter NATO and the Baltic states from sending weapons to Ukraine. NATOs response thus far, however, has been 'Fuck you'.

I think most of these stories come from the Russian media and Russian public figures/politicians, none with the authority to make such decisions. It's basically propaganda meant for the Russian public. By focusing on the conflict following the current one they're implying that the current one will be resolved shortly in a favorable fashion.

I've seen multiple of these from the past few weeks.

People with ties to the Kremlin generally keep saying that whatever the NATO is currently doing is a provocation which could lead to nuclear war.

[Jessicka]

Here's the funny thing, though.

It's a corner they walked into. And moreover, a corner they could just walk out of. Literally no one is keeping them there.

Russia could pull every troop out of Ukraine tomorrow, say they're super duper sorry, and I'm sure have to negotiate how sanctions would be getting removed, and then they'd largely be at where they were back in January, save for a couple thousand dead soldiers, a shambling economy, a gigantic loss in military equipment, and an international reputation in the dirt.

But them continuing to fight doesn't make any of those latter points "less bad." More Russians will continue to die, their economy will continue to crumble, more of their equipment will be destroyed or seized, and their international reputation will only continue to spiral downwards.

It seems Putin has fallen into the cost-sunk fallacy. Let's see how long the rest of Russia keeps following that line.

They have to walk back out over their own minefields, and through the same areas their supply convoys were being blown up. Going backwards without a peace agreement is incredibly difficult, because as long as hostilities are hot, nobody is going to let you just take your tanks with you.

[Corvus]

This is an interesting read

https://informnapalm.org/en/medal-co...es-in-ukraine/

The Russians are giving out the Order of Courage as a posthumous award - and the serial numbers are being displayed in funeral photos. What is more the numbers are done sequentially and reveal in the first week nearly 5000 were given out.

So it may be that Russia did loose almost 5000 men in the first week.

[Yunru]

This is an interesting read

https://informnapalm.org/en/medal-co...es-in-ukraine/

The Russians are giving out the Order of Courage as a posthumous award - and the serial numbers are being displayed in funeral photos. What is more the numbers are done sequentially and reveal in the first week nearly 5000 were given out.

So it may be that Russia did loose almost 5000 men in the first week.

They probaly gave some in a previous war for a number of dead to be so high (in such a short time).
I mean arent rewards usualy reserved for people that earned them?
Unless russa is like a child care center that gives stars to everyone for doing pretty much nothing.

[VMSmith]

Anybody remember Red Dawn?

Seems kind of preposterous now to believe that Russia could drop paratroopers across the US and take control of most of the country in no time at all. Still, Go Wolverines!

[Corvus]

They probaly gave some in a previous war for a number of dead to be so high (in such a short time).
I mean arent rewards usualy reserved for people that earned them?
Unless russa is like a child care center that gives stars to everyone for doing pretty much nothing.

It explains it in the article. This is basically an award for being dead. And they know roughly were the numbers started at prior to the invasion.

[Afrospinach]

I mean arent rewards usualy reserved for people that earned them?

Dying for your country is not worthy of a medal?

If you read the article that is what the medal in question is generally for. They also tracked the serial numbers for previous wars.

Anybody remember Red Dawn?

Seems kind of preposterous now to believe that Russia could drop paratroopers across the US and take control of most of the country in no time at all. Still, Go Wolverines!

That is what they want you to think

11D string theory chess.