War in Ukraine

The optics look horrible. The attacks on Belgorod and now they're running for their lives, as Russia has opened up a new front just across the border of Belgorod. I'm not sure why you have to spin everything as a "nothing to see here" when it comes to Ukraine and their buffoonery.

 

Buffoonery? No denying that Ukraine was lazy in their defense at the border, but I'd hardly call their defense of the last 2.5 years buffoonery...
If Ukraine is buffoons what does that make Russia?

 

Sounds like you’ve got it set up as a win either way. If Russia doesn’t take Kharkiv, despite throwing 500K troops at it, then it was all part of their plan just to thin Ukrainian defenses with zero additional strategic effect. If I was Russia, that’s how I would be presenting it, too.

 

You don’t? After greater than two years of Ukraine “stopping them,” you have a failure of imagination as to how they would do it again? Well, off the top of my head, one way Ukraine could “stop them” is by killing so many Russians it overwhelms the ability of Russian engineers to keep the roads clear, choking Russia’s ability to move forward in any meaningful way. The better question is, since Russia has not had a successful offensive against one of Ukraine’s cities yet, what makes you think this time would be any different?

 

Point taken re: Ukrainian cities. # Mariupol was savagely overrun and sacked by Russia. Let's hope that is the only one.

 

Not that it reduces the tragedy of that siege, but Mariupol is not even one of Ukraine’s 10 largest cities. I was referring to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and L’vov. Donetsk is a major Ukrainian city, but it was captured through subterfuge over 10 years ago, not via a major combat operation like we are discussing here.

 

If they are throwing 500k troops at Kharkiv alone, then yeah, Kharkiv is falling within days. The 500k troop amount is dubious and I’ve not seen that confirmed from multiple sources. Do you really think Ukraine could extend their lines to repel a 500k troop assault on Kharkiv? I’ve lost all respect for you if you think that’s possible. Based on what I’m reading, it’s 15k to 20k Russian troops at most. If it was 500,000, the Russians would be in Kharkiv already. Does Ukraine even have 500,000 soldiers left total?

 

Hasn't had a successful offense against any of Ukraine's cities? Didn't they hold Kharkiv for a time?

 

Wow quite a high bar for the mighty Russian military. They held a Ukrainian city 20 miles from their border that one time…

 

Reread what you wrote, then assess if it was a “successful offensive,” given that Russia does not hold Kharkiv today.

 

follow-up - 2 mig 31's and s-400 system

Crimea Strike Destroys Two Russian MiG-31s, Prized S-400 System—Report (msn.com)

An advanced Russian air defense system and two fighter jets were damaged in a Ukrainian long-range missile strike on a key air base in Crimea, according to an independent Russian media report.

A pair of MiG-31 fighter jets were "destroyed" and an S-400 air defense system was damaged after Ukraine attacked the Belbek military airfield close to the western Crimean city of Sevastopol overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, independent Russian outlet Astra reported on Thursday, citing anonymous sources in Crimean emergency services.

 

Explosion Targets Ammunition Depot at Crimea’s Belbek Airfield (msn.com)

An explosion has reportedly hit the primary missile and artillery depot at the Russian-controlled Belbek military airfield near Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, as per information shared by the resistance organization Atesh on the night of May 15.

Earlier reports from the Crimean Wind Telegram channel indicated that the Belbek airfield had suffered an attack, resulting in a blaze at a fuel depot, according to accounts from witnesses. Explosion sounds and fires were also observed in several Crimea regions, including Sevastopol, Simferopol, Dzhankoi, and Hvardiiske.

According to the partisans, the compromised depot contained a substantial stockpile of missiles for combat aircraft like the Russian Su-27, Su-30, and the MiG-31, the latter being the launch platform for the Kinzhal ballistic missiles Russia has deployed against Ukraine. The specific mention of Kinzhal missiles in the stored ammunition was not made.

 

Well if Russia has 500k troops allocated for Kharkiv alone, they gonna hold it again real soon.

 

Ukraine Rushes in Reinforcements to Stem New Russian Advance — The Wall Street Journal

 

The laconic response “if” comes to mind. We will see. I hope you’re disappointed and have to come up with a new reason to hold Ukraine in contempt if Russia underperforms again.

 

Was Zelenskyy bombing Belgorod as much as the Russians were, with 21 bombs dropped in March/April? It must have seemed like a smart, strategic move to the Russians at the time.

 

Jake will hit his new $1 million goal in the next few hours. He is apparently maxing the trucks out at 30 or $600K. The other $400K is going to the purchase of drones. The drones appear to be headed to the defense of Kharkiv.

"Thursday 16th May Update:

‍WOW - What a truly incredible response to the Jake Broe campaign. We are all totally stunned at your kindness and generosity towards Ukraine. The target is now at $1 million - which just seems totally crazy to be writing to you all, and that currently breaks down as $600,000 – 30 X NAFO 2.0 trucks (Including Pick ups, Ambulances, Transporter for Drones) - 20,000$ = $600,000

$400,000 - FPV & ISR Drones (Including Wild Hornets, Mavic 3T, Mavic Matrice 30T, Autel EVO Max 4T). We are just discussing the specific requirements for exactly what drones with a number of units across the frontline, particularly those that are engaged in combat in Kharkiv Defence and Chasiv Yar defense. Which are strategically critical locations at this time."

 

Do. you know the logistics on these vehicles. Who is he buying them from? How are getting to Ukraine?

 

They are apparently located in Estonia.

"All the cars you can see below are precious gifts to Ukrainian Defenders from global startup community - so let us tell about putted efforts and great results.

At one day reality has changed and our startup-minded friends from all over the Globe understood that Ukraine will suffer without immediate help. Soon after the 24th of February founder of LIFT99 and Pipedrive Ragnar Sass started getting support from different companies / individuals / countries, and started looking for great cars that our warriors needed so much. This led to First Freedom Convoy with 14 cars came to Ukraine on 26th of March. Totally Ragnar and our team gathered more than 1.3 millions euros for volunteer initiatives.

Machines were found in different countries including Estonia, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland etc. Each of them should had passed a technical inspection and "redesign" - many cars were painted in military green and marked with Estonian and Ukrainian flags.

Six times Freedom Convoys did the long journey from Estonia to Ukrainian battlefield. With sweat and blood it gave us 74 machines to the frontline given to 40 military units! We have big hope that each of them will serve it best.

Many thanks to global startup community and friends all over the Earth! Keep working and bringing the Victory as close as we can."

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