Cnn live "US assesses Russia is running low on air-launched cruise missiles and is experiencing high rates of failure From CNN's Barbara Starr The US has assessed that Russian forces are running low on air-launched cruise missiles, and there are indications they are trying to preserve that inventory as part of their declining stocks of precision guided munitions, according to a US defense official. Air-launched cruise missiles are the “lowest” part of the inventory, the official added. In addition, these missiles are showing high failure rates at launch, the official said. The US currently assesses Russian failure rates of precision guided munitions, especially cruise missiles failure rates, range from “20 percent to as high as 60 percent,” the official said, depending on the type of weapon and mission. "
Cnn live... "Putin instructed energy giant Gazprom to switch to ruble payments, Kremlin spokesperson says From CNN staff Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed Russian state energy giant Gazprom to switch to ruble payments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday. Asked in a conference call with reporters whether Russia would continue to supply gas to the EU if the European countries refuse to pay in rubles, Peskov said, “Gazprom has been instructed by the Russian president to accept payment in rubles." " ....... Problem- this would be a breach of contract (German & Italian legal folks weighed in elsewhere) so no, he can't just do that & expect to get paid.
This is not going to be a popular assessment, but my gut instinct is that the Russian figures are probably closer to the truth than the Ukrainian figures. First, whatever the absolute numbers are, Russia knows them +\- 10%, and Ukraine does not. Russia might have some motivation to hide or delay release of the true numbers, but eventually they have to come out. As I said early on in the war, Pavel’s parents are only going to say, “Why don’t he write?” so many times before they start making phone calls and knocking on doors. Second, enemy casualties are notoriously and universally hard to confirm with accuracy. So what do you do? You estimate. And the nature of the beast is to estimate high. So I would say cut the Ukrainian figures at least in half and no more than double the Russian figures. That gives you between 3,000 and 7,500 Russian casualties, which is still very, very high by Western standards.
I have seen other estimates closer to Ukrainian estimate although I agree that no one knows for certain. And don't overlook the fact that not everything may be getting reported accurately up the channels. I agree that the Russian high command has a much more accurate feel for everything's been reported up, but it has to be reported up. Also, remember the seemingly credible reports of a lot of confusion in mobilization to conceal the ultimate aim, and calling on different forces from other areas, which may make it very difficult to account overall. But your point is generally well taken
Right, and I get that. But even a conservative estimate is higher than the Russians would offer up, especially since they're refusing to accept bodies offered by Ukraine for burial. I'd trust their numbers more if they weren't refusing bodies/cremating them because they can deny it based ok "well we don't have a body to count"
A world leader started a war over a made up political buzzword and is now arguing about it with a children's book author. Was the human race a mistake?
