That's very true, but that's not what they're doing. If they were doing that they would've withdrawn from the Severodonetsk salient a week ago. Instead, they're just standing still and getting pounded by Russian artillery until they can't hold on anymore. I think Zelensky is conflicted here. He probably has doubts about UAF's offensive capabilities and believes that every inch of territory lost in the Donbass is likely lost forever. I can't think of another good reason why he'd risk another Mariupol, where he lost a good chunk of his most battle-hardened and zealous soldiers.
The son of a British MP has been volunteering in Ukraine, and was identified as being involved in an assault on an armored vehicle with a Chechen "commander" inside. (The commander was only a sergeant, however. Shows what Russia thinks of its guest fighters.) Russia is up in arms about this and is threatening to hunt this guy down after the war. Russia Goes After British MP’s Son for Killing of Chechen Commander in Ukraine
Agree. We’ve approved approx $55B. Not sure how long that $55B should last, but don’t see our political will maintaining that pace. Especially with repubs expected to take control of congress - including more maga repub types who are against it. But we seem to be able to maintain sanctions. Hopefully that will result in sharper degradation of their economy. Interesting, their military is performing better than anyone expected. But the sanctions aren’t hitting them as hard as we hoped. At least not yet.
The tit for tat sanctions war continues. Russia limits exports of noble gases, a key ingredient for making chips Sanctions-hit Russia has limited exports of noble gases such as neon, a key ingredient for making chips, until the end of 2022 to strengthen its market position, its trade ministry said on Thursday. Why this matters June 3rd, 2022. America’s Economic Dependence on Globalism Is About to Cause a Major Problem First up, the economic war between Russia and the West took another bad turn yesterday. It has to do with neon gas, of all things. We’re going to discuss the potential major impact it could have on your family and this country.
this? Deadly secret: Electronic warfare shapes Russia-Ukraine war (msn.com) “They are jamming everything their systems can reach,” said an official of Aerorozvidka, a reconnaissance team of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle tinkerers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of safety concerns. “We can’t say they dominate, but they hinder us greatly.” A Ukrainian intelligence official called the Russian threat “pretty severe” when it comes to disrupting reconnaissance efforts and commanders’ communications with troops. Russian jamming of GPS receivers on drones that Ukraine uses to locate the enemy and direct artillery fire is particularly intense “on the line of contact,” he said. Ukraine has scored some successes in countering Russia’s electronic warfare efforts. It has captured important pieces of hardware — a significant intelligence coup — and destroyed at least two multi-vehicle mobile electronic warfare units. Its own electronic warfare capability is hard to assess. Analysts say it has markedly improved since 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and instigated a separatist revolt in eastern Ukraine. But there are setbacks. Last week, Russia claimed it destroyed a Ukrainian electronic intelligence center in the southeastern town of Dniprovske. The claim could not be independently confirmed, and Ukrainian officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Grain of salt because only source is Russian MoD Russian missile system takes out combat drones mid-air, video reportedly shows
Each missile is about $1M. Each drone is about $1-2M. Pretty much a draw except for Russia having far more S 300 missiles than Ukraine has drones.
The Kremlin has seized on recent signs of hesitancy by some European governments as an indication the West could lose focus in seeking to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, especially as global energy costs surge following the imposition of sanctions on Moscow. Putin “believes the West will become exhausted,” said one well-connected Russian billionaire, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Putin had not expected the West’s initially strong and united response, “but now he is trying to reshape the situation and he believes that in the longer term he will win,” the billionaire said. Western leaders are vulnerable to election cycles, and “he believes public opinion can flip in one day.” Russian elite: Putin says the West will fold first - Tampa Bay Times
Seems like you could send up relatively cheap pre-programmed (to avoid jamming) drones to fly over Russian positions and "harass" them until they expended missiles on them. "We shot down 325 drones today!"
What would be really interesting is if the U.S. could operate an invisible bombing campaign at night, by having Ukrainian fighters and bombers drop bombs on targets from a lower altitude, while U.S. F-35's (with minimal radar signature) drop bombs from a higher altitude on those same targets at the same time, multiplying the damage. You would reserve this for the highest priority targets, to make it more difficult for Russia to catch on. Target One: the Russian Navy in the Black Sea. Have Ukraine flood the area with aircraft such that the number of bombs that fall could plausibly be carried by that many planes. Pick a night with no moon, so no one knows what's going on. Food exports would then resume until Russia could move more ships into the Black Sea.
The same thing has occurred to me. There are too many problems with it, though. One way or another, the ordnance could be forensically traced back to the U.S. And that would cause scandal back home, violations of the War Powers Resolution, etc. The way to do it is, exactly how you proposed it in terms of military method, but in the light of day (metaphorically speaking) with Congressional authorization and formal notice to the Russians. And when they threaten to escalate, shrug and tell them to skin that smoke wagon, see what happens.
He's probably right. Citizens of western countries won't put up with $6 gas for too long whereas Russians are accustomed to economic hardship. The majority of Americans are far too soft and don't know how to budget to get through economic struggles.
Citizens of western countries need to be a bit quicker on the uptake that there are two ways only to end this war: on Putin’s terms or on Ukraine’s. If we want or don’t care about the former happening, then we are on the right track: just keep doing nothing and shake our fist until it gets tired (it’s getting tired). After Putin has won, everything will magically go back to normal. We can return to the fiction that Global Warming and white supremacy are the greatest existential threats for as long as it takes until Russia and/or China make their next inevitable moves.
If you sink all the ships, forensic tracing becomes much more difficult. Another option is to use explosives produced in another country. I just think it would be devastating psychologically for Russia to think that Ukraine sank all their ships in the Black Sea in one night and gave them access to the open water for trade and supplies. We have had presidents use military action before without Congressional authorization.
The shore to ship missiles being delivered to Ukraine by Denmark, US and others should help. More anxious to see the antimissile systems provided by US, Germany, Israel and others start helping to stop the rockets and cruise missiles doing damage
I just don’t think it could be done secretly. There is always that one thing that goes awry that we can’t plan for. No argument here. Put me in, coach. I know. And I’m 100% against it except in case where an immediate decision is required to avert disaster, such as if we had caught the Japanese carriers on their way to Pearl Harbor. The way our republic is supposed to work is that the people’s representatives decide if we go to war, and the President executes it. For informational purposes alone, it would be important to get both parties on record and show a united front against Russia. If Russia attacks NATO unprovoked, it’s game on, and Congress can make a resolution later. But if the President wants to strike Russia first and does not have evidence that his action is preemptive to a Russian move against the U.S., then I want Congress to make the decision.
