Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Edge-]

Whomp whomp.

Is there any branch of their military that isn't a total shitshow? It sure doesn't seem like it so far.

I'm beginning to think Russia's greatest military success in recent decades is creating the myth of their modern military might. I wonder if all those Republicans who salivated over the "MANLY" Russian military ads still think they're hot shit.

[Shrouded]

We will see the real impact of the sanction when Russian manufacturers run out of foreign parts, and the production lines ground to a complete halt. Probably sometimes around May or June. Depending on the size of their stockpile of foreign parts.

And in the even longer term, when Russian airlines can't go on flying anymore since they have no planes of their own and stole all the planes they leased. Pity for them that those leases also covered maintenance, and without spare parts and manufacturer expertise each and every one of those planes is on a ticking clock. Black market and cannibalizing some planes for parts to save others will only keep them going for so long.

[Poopymonster]

We will see the real impact of the sanction when Russian manufacturers run out of foreign parts, and the production lines ground to a complete halt. Probably sometimes around May or June. Depending on the size of their stockpile of foreign parts.

CONGRATULATIONS COMRADES! It's May 9th! We will be having glorious victory parade! On top of parade, it's vacation time! Everyone working in....bozhe moi...manufacturing will be given vacation for supporting fantastic 3 day excursion against the borscht stealers! How long will well earned vacation last? Until we say so!
Remember comrades, we have nothing to lose but our chains.

[Breccia]

Incidentally, while the RPGist in me is wondering why a fuckin' flagship could be taken out with two missiles, the history buff in me knows different. The term "eggshells armed with sledgehammers" has been describing battleships since 1943. You can only make armor so thick before your ship won't float, and filling the rest with water can't possibly help.

- - - Updated - - -

Whomp whomp.

Wait, this is cutting-edge Russian military tech? Again, I get "ship hit by two missiles sinks" but their upgraded flagship? Between that and the construction-paper tank armor, I don't know which is worse.

Black market and cannibalizing some planes for parts to save others will only keep them going for so long.

I mean, that's technically better. But ironically enough, recycling isn't sustainable, like you said.

[PhaelixWW]

Is there any branch of their military that isn't a total shitshow?

Sure, the ones not headed by corrupt, venal military and civilian leadership.

Oh... wait...

I'm beginning to think Russia's greatest military success in recent decades is creating the myth of their modern military might.

Except... no. Because if recent events have shattered this myth, then it's just as obvious that the military leadership wasn't fully aware of its own hollow cachet.

Thus it can't be called a "success" when it wasn't done knowingly. Basically, Russia doesn't get credit for fooling everyone into believing the lie if they believed it, too.

[Iphie]

Wait, they don't? What happened to it? They must have at some point.

They did...in Mykolaiv....

[Breccia]

MoEx is just taking a dump, I guess.

I do like the 5Y graph. Putin wiped out nearly five years of growth.

[PhaelixWW]

Wait, this is cutting-edge Russian military tech? Again, I get "ship hit by two missiles sinks" but their upgraded flagship? Between that and the construction-paper tank armor, I don't know which is worse.

Hmm, whichever general was in charge of the retrofit may want to think about a vacation, I'd say.

[Breccia]

Hmm, whichever general was in charge of the retrofit may want to think about a vacation, I'd say.

I'm wondering if he moved to Texas and built Trump's Wall. Oh, wait, the timeline doesn't fit that obvious joke.

Related: from NBC's live ticker.

Russia sent a formal diplomatic note to the United States warning that American and NATO shipments of the "most sensitive" weapons systems to Ukraine could bring "unpredictable consequences" and were "adding fuel" to the volatile conflict.

"Be careful, Yankees," Putin warned, "or we will throw pieces of our most advanced warship at you."

[Vladier]

I'm wondering if he moved to Texas and built Trump's Wall. Oh, wait, the timeline doesn't fit that obvious joke.

Related: from NBC's live ticker.



"Be careful, Yankees," Putin warned, "or we will throw pieces of our most advanced warship at you."

Does anyone else find someone threatening another with "unpredictable consequences" to be incredibly insincere?

"Even we don't know what we will do to you, unless you comply!"

[Zaydin]

I have been seeing reports that the commander of the Russian Black Sea fleet has been arrested. No reports from sources I trust yet, so I'm treating it as rumor at this point nor are there any official reasons. I'm sure if the story is true, however, the real reason is more than likely "You got our flagship that we can't replace sunk".

[Breccia]

Does anyone else find someone threatening another with "unpredictable consequences" to be incredibly insincere?

Not in this case, no. Putin must know by now that most of his intel is wrong and most of his tech is faulty. It's possible he could hit the "they all retaliate" button on his desk and literally nothing happens.

[Zaydin]

Sure, the ones not headed by corrupt, venal military and civilian leadership.

Oh... wait...

Let's be honest, it's probably faster to list what ISN'T massively corrupt within Russia.

[Rasulis]

Is there any branch of their military that isn't a total shitshow? It sure doesn't seem like it so far.

I'm beginning to think Russia's greatest military success in recent decades is creating the myth of their modern military might. I wonder if all those Republicans who salivated over the "MANLY" Russian military ads still think they're hot shit.

This is not the first time the US overestimate Russia's capabilities. From my oldies but goodies collection.

Soviets Say CIA Overestimates Size of Their Economy : Foreign affairs: The U.S. view of gross national product is rosy compared to reality, panel asserts.

[Poopymonster]

Does anyone else find someone threatening another with "unpredictable consequences" to be incredibly insincere?

"Even we don't know what we will do to you, unless you comply!"

That might be the most honest thing they've said.
It's in such disarray that they'll learn what their forces do about the same time we do.
Will their fodder Fight? Run? Desert? Run over the CO with a tank?

[Breccia]

the real reason is more than likely "You got our flagship that we can't replace sunk".

We keep hearing stories how the Putin crony oligarchs who ran everything just embezzled the money and told Putin things were fine. That's an actual crime. And considering this would be in the years since 2014, a really ballsy one.

"But Marge, I swear, I thought you'd never find out!" leaps to mind.

The man is Admiral Igor Vladimirovich Osipov. Keep an eye out.

[Gaidax]

I have been seeing reports that the commander of the Russian Black Sea fleet has been arrested. No reports from sources I trust yet, so I'm treating it as rumor at this point nor are there any official reasons. I'm sure if the story is true, however, the real reason is more than likely "You got our flagship that we can't replace sunk".

There are reports of many high ranking officers being detained over the course of this shitshow. It would not be surprising seeing they were stealing massive funds for years if not decades.

Of course nothing is confirmed, but I am sure at least part of it is true. The leadership will spend next years trying to clean up the corruption in the military, but it's a decades old tradition all the way from Soviet times, so I don't expect them to be able to root it out in any sort of significant capacity.

What's more Putin can't really afford to go full Stalin there, because they may decide to bump him off if he goes too far.

[Zaydin]

We keep hearing stories how the Putin crony oligarchs who ran everything just embezzled the money and told Putin things were fine. That's an actual crime. And considering this would be in the years since 2014, a really ballsy one.

"But Marge, I swear, I thought you'd never find out!" leaps to mind.

The man is Admiral Igor Vladimirovich Osipov. Keep an eye out.

Yeah, but the oligarchs are also key allies of Putler and he can't go after them.

He can pin the blame on people with less power and influence, however, and make THEIR lives miserable instead.

[Breccia]

Yeah, but the oligarchs are also key allies of Putler and he can't go after them.

Um...I think recent events suggest otherwise. I personally cited that he arrested his own head spy. Putin will blame literally anyone at this point -- especially the liars who made him look bad.

[Poopymonster]

Um...I think recent events suggest otherwise. I personally cited that he arrested his own head spy. Putin will blame literally anyone at this point -- especially the liars who made him look bad.

He probably has a list of who's expendable, who is less expendable, who can become expendable , and who do I make expendable before they make me expendable.