Another article on the same attack with more information: Huge blow for Putin as Ukraine destroys another warship in Black Sea
Good news is the fishing on near shore reefs os going to be great. Don't get me started on the wreck diving opportunities being created...
I feel like that is the first time I have seen a Ukranian attack directly and straightforwardly acknowledged by the Russians. Too big a fireball, I guess
Yeah, but Russia is still winning. Sure, Ukraine might be sitting securely on ground that Russia “annexed by plebiscite” in 2021. Sure, Russia is continuously taking casualties on an order not seen by any country since the Second World War. Sure, Russia is completely paralyzed in terms of initiative in all domains of warfare (unless we’re considering information a domain; credit where it’s due, Russia actually is selling some pretty good BS). But, winning. Any day now. Ukraine should quit now while they can.
Russia gained four new oblasts in 2022. Crazy MAGA-type election deniers are still going on about it. The virulently anti-Putin Mediazona, in conjunction with the BBC, can only confirm 38,000 Russian dead. Russia, after patiently chewing through the human strength of America’s great proxy, is advancing on all fronts. Marinka has fallen. And Ukraine is acknowledging that it’s great redoubt Avdeevka will soon fall. Summary: Ukraine is winning the media war. Russia is crushing the military war.
Thank you, Uftaipan, for your recent posts detailing both the strategic and tactical situation. Zelenski has never wavered regarding complete Russian withdrawal back to 2013 - 2014 Boarders. While I personally like that position, the realities on the ground and material support from allies wavering, that may be a tall ask. If anything I would stand with NATO and the US, commit to ramping up weapons production and committing even more aid and advanced weaponry, the West has an incredible opportunity to see Putins quasi Sovet totalitarianism come to a dead stop, in Ukraine, right now.
I know he wants that. The Ukrainian people want that. I want it, too. But that might have to come through some negotiations after exhausting Russia’s will. That’s not as fun and sexy as annihilating Russia’s army in the field and marching to those borders, but I don’t see that as a realistic option. Given the choice between killing Russians or retaking ground, choose killing Russians every time. Force them into another round of mobilization. Make their troops in the field as frustrated and miserable as possible. Keep their people on wartime economic conditions with no end in sight. And don’t talk until Russia is ready to talk about what conditions will make them leave all of Ukraine.
Which Ukrainian people want Russia to withdraw ? Certainly not the Ukrainians who voted to become a part of Russia.
precision missiles (either storm shadow or SCALP) launched from high altitude SU24 that sliced right through whatever was left of crimean air defenses. It will be interesting to see what the f-16's will be able to do in the skies over Crimea. Russia confirms its landing ship hit by Ukrainian missile strike in occupied Crimea (UPDATED) (yahoo.com) Ukrainian Air Force Claims Destruction Of Russian Ship In Crimea; Moscow Confirms Missile Strike (rferl.org) Ukraine’s military said in a post to Telegram on December 26 that tactical aviation units fired cruise missiles at the port of Feodosia, on the eastern side of the Black Sea peninsula, around 3 a.m. local time, hitting the ship, the Novocherkassk. ....................................... Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said to RFE/RL that the ship had been struck by more than one cruise missile. He noted that Ukraine possesses both Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles provided by the U.K. and France, which have the capability of striking occupied Crimea. Storm Shadow missiles were used in an attack in September on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. ....................................................
I think that you should manage expectations on this. F16s are very good, combat-proven aircraft, and they are probably better than anything else Ukraine is currently flying, but they are not stealthy, and they have no EW capability (at least not any we would be likely to share). The Ukrainians are probably going to have to use those aircraft on their side of the lines or at least close proximity to husband them for maximum use. I don’t think they will try to fly them in deep attacks over Crimea.
it will be interesting to see where the line gets drawn. The deeper they can go with them the further they can reach with the scalp or storm shadow and the further they can keep the su's away from launch points for attacks on Ukraine
F16s are 40 year old frames but they have gone thru many iterations. My guess is that their electronics will smoke anything the Russians have.
What does Zelenski call it? The Russian underwater navy? And he ain't talking about Submarines............ LOL