A result of Russian’s atrocities on civilians; Ukrainians are now reluctant to surrender. Also everyone is learning fight. ‘Women need to be ready’: the Ukrainian city where mums and daughters are learning to shoot | Ukraine | The Guardian “Ukrainian fighters battling Russian forces in the tunnels beneath Mariupol's immense steel plant refused to surrender in the face of relentless attacks, with the wife of one commander saying they had vowed to "stand till the end." Inside the Azovstal factory: Ukrainians 'only hope for a miracle'
sanctions biting Russia's military-industrial complex in panic over low salaries, mass layoffs (msn.com) Most of the Russian military's electronic components were provided by Germany, but with sanctions in place, Germany is no longer providing Russia with any supplies. With the factories closed, however, the workers are given one of two choices: Go on unpaid leave or join the Russian army to serve in the war with Ukraine, preferably as a SAM operator, and get a monthly salary of 50,000 rubles (around $600). Earlier in April, a Vladivostok shipyard was allegedly unable to meet 25 billion rubles' worth of government orders to build two tankers, two missile boats, and to maintain and repair other vessels. "It is obvious that the Russian military-industrial complex remains dependent on imported high technologies," Ukraine's GUR said. "Without the supply of which Russia is unable to continue production of modern weapons."
Looks like the famous Canadian sniper Wali has returned home, bringing him a first hand account of the war. I prefer these types of info rather than the anonymous propaganda that fills the news networks. Use google translate if you can't read french: Retour du tireur d'élite Wali | « La guerre, c’est une déception terrible » Here's another article based on an interview with Shadow, who was Wali's partner in Ukraine and was mentioned in the previous article as well. Shadow's war: A Canadian veteran describes weeks under fire in Ukraine | CBC News
More report on the Norman Brigade, which Wali was a part of briefly. Incompetence or the realities of war? Turmoil for Canadian-led foreign battalion in Ukraine | National Post
this sounds more like stories I have read from guys coming back. Not so Great tactics, lots of confusion and a lot of death as a result.
Discouraging Sounds like both sides are somewhat incompetent unless it was kust the private group he signed up with that was lacking leadership
War is a dirty business and it shouldn't surprise anyone when propaganda is used to boost morale on and off the battle field. At some given point truth comes out from those with first hand experience. We all knew from the beginning that an entire population of Ukrainian men who were forced into service without experience and training would not bode well.
I have no doubt that the Ukranian military would be fairing far better if it were trained at the same standards as American or Canadian military units.
and had access to the same equipment ( what we are sending plus aircraft and air defense so they can close the skies themelves.
Russia's space agency chief claimed his nation could destroy NATO countries in 'half an hour' during a nuclear war And what does this genius suppose would happen to his beloved mother Russia in such an event? Perhaps he should move to the US and buy a big ass pickup truck, put a lift kit on it, and add the fake plastic balls on the tow hitch.
I’ve read similar accounts of Western soldiers who volunteered - from US, UK. They have the same type of response. They aren’t ready and mentally unprepared what it’s like to go up against larger number of troops with superior firepower. At the same time your team has supply shortages and lacking strong organization. These soldiers are use to being on the other side of the equation. They all have a general sense what did I get myself into. But Ukrainians have little choice and now even surrender isn’t a option.
I do think as this progresses there will be more organization, experience, etc. It's hard to turn an accountant into a soldier overnight, which is what happened to a number of Ukranian men (and women). Hopefully now with more training, better weapons, and better logistics that will change. I think this is one reason Ukraine is starting to push Russia back in more spots.
Updated Luhansk school shelter bombing: 60 people feared dead in Russian bombing, Ukrainian official says - CNN
