Apparently Ukraine destroyed a column of 56 tanks being operated by a Chechen unit of Rosgvardiya that Tushayev was commanding. And apparently the western intelligence agencies knew the Chechen’s battle plans for the invasion because the Chechen commanders and Kadyrov were planning it by sending each other unencrypted Android voice notes… BBC has written an article about those voice notes, which include Kadyrov being told of concerns that some Chechen troops may refuse orders or desert once in Ukraine.
Ukraine does have a history of corruption. Including in its government. That was particularly true when the Russians dominated its government. And after 2014, there were corrupt officials still involved there. Recall the prosecution being removed at the behest of the E.U. and US and Biden taking credit for driving him. Part of the 2020 Trump related scandal was concern over the effect that the anti-corruption efforts by Zelensky would be corrupted. But, Zelensky held firm in the face of the pressure and he is holding firm now in a very courageous way. But, if you want to understand how Putin and his Oligarchs got rich, a very interring start is Bill Browder's book Red Notice. He explains how his investment business was stolen and the use of state apparatuses to accomplish the theft. Ukraine May have it’s corruption issues, but it has a democratically elected government and a leadership trying to change it.
NASA and Roscosmos rank and file have virtually zero friction. All the way to the people on the ISS. They are scientists and professionals. They have nerd warfare, higher end D&D. And NASA director, including Trump’s, are mostly pros too. I actually liked Bridenstine, he was essentially ignored since there was not an obvious path to grift, and he did an admirable job. Nelson is a pro too. Roscosmos is legit but also a state puppet, and the quasi-privatization of our own space industry runs counter to Russia and China. It is not surprising that Russia would squeal like this for PR, hoping the pro-Putin US suckers will forward it on FB. In reality, this is an absurd threat.
Agreed, although it shouldn’t take a BBC story for them to know unencrypted voice messages are not secure. That story is basically “Chechen warlords are idiots.”
My question is how fast that western weaponry can get there. You would think the stuff from Germany, Netherlands and other Western Europe locations might be there already if they really put a rush on it, but the stuff from us, Australia etc, could be days. They need it yesterday.
I agree but at the same time the Chechen forces are such a small portion of the offensive that I doubt it really matters.
I wonder how they will deliver them to Kyiv and other areas? Best way to prevent an intercept is through the air but that risks an engagement with Russian air units.
I hope this is true, but I doubt it. 56 tanks is already sketchy. We did this as theater in Iraq because there was no chance of an event like this. If true, then the Russian brass is amateur hour.
I would think just get them into Poland & since Ukraine closed the border to only Ukrainians have citizens bring in the stuff from there? Slower but you're right- anything by air would get shot at.
I suspect “tanks” is probably inaccurate. Tushayev commanded a motorized regiment, so most of that is probably some form of armored infantry vehicles.
Let them have their fun but I wish they’d attack things more substantial than informational websites.
