What I was saying is that all of the 80,000 Russian casualties were military casualties, while a large percentage of the Ukrainian casualties were likely civilians. That point is still valid, whether the Russian casualties are dead or missing limbs or whatever. The fighting is in Ukraine, and Russia is doing very little to avoid collateral damage. In fact, Russia has been bombing schools, hospitals, and apartment buildings, as well as running torture centers in Ukraine. I doubt that the BBC has enough correspondents in Ukraine to make an accurate assessment of the casualties on the Russian side. They are likely following Ukrainian units around and seeing most of the Ukrainian dead (or seeing funerals well behind the front lines), while occasionally coming across a dead Russian soldier or two. I don't think the BBC has anyone brave enough to embed themselves with a Russian unit that may only have hours left on this earth. While I realize that Ukraine certainly has the potential to fudge numbers if it helps them in some way, clearly a century of telling mostly lies has painted the Russian and Soviet communists as untrustworthy purveyors of propaganda. And they are extremely desperate to paint themselves as winning this war, even as they retreat to Russia and send draftees into battle with little more than the knowledge of how to dig a latrine. Again, a little common sense will tell you that Russia is losing this war. Badly.
I think the point is that this is something that does not normally happen to an army that is winning a war. In fact, large-scale mutinies rarely happen DURING a war. And the other point is that this incident could be repeating itself throughout the Russian military--it could be a symptom of a much larger problem, like Russian troops shooting themselves in the leg to get out of the war. These are indications that (a) Russia is losing; and (b) Russia was not prepared to fight this war.
Here is a nice story of Russian competence and heroics, told by a Russian soldier. {Cue Russia's national anthem.} Battalion of Russian conscripts destroyed in Luhansk Oblast, hundreds killed So much for "grinding them to dust with artillery, missiles, air attacks and drones." Russia could only afford three shovels for this battalion--there was no money for missiles and drones. Comrade, consider yourself dusted.
https://thehill.com/policy/internat...-peace-talks-with-russia-washington-post/amp/ This is BS if true. Russia wanted to fight it out. Let them fight it out.
Another article on how badly things are going for the Russians in Ukraine. Apparently, Russians have a saying that they don't leave their own behind, meaning that they collect fallen troops and send them home for a funeral. Russian troops, however, are being ordered to leave dead Russian troops behind so the government does not have to pay the soldier's family. Another part of the story shows where draftees are revolting because they have been issued rusty rifles that don't work, so an officer threatens to call the riot police. The draftees then threaten to call "everyone we know" to pummel the riot police. (Interesting that the draftees do not threaten to pummel the riot police themselves, and need someone else to do their fighting for them. They are obviously ready for combat.) ‘The Command Fled’: Putin’s Own Troops Keep Humiliating Him More evidence for comrade that the Russians are hiding the numbers of dead Russian soldiers in battle . . .
An interesting article about Putin's rise to power, the modernization of Russia's military under Shoigu, and Russia's willingness to use nuclear weapons. It also includes a description of the one bad thing that could result from Russia's defeat: Russia may not be able to continue controlling and providing security for the "-stan" countries in central Asia, and they may revert to radical Muslim rule. ‘Our leaders may not know when to stop’: boozy confessions of Putin's Little Green Men Hopefully, Putin will be removed from office quickly, so Russia can retreat from Ukraine, and continue to provide stability to the Stan's.
Likely true but make sure to read the sub headline for the justification. It’s not about ultimately trying to pursue peace talks but keeping Western and domestic support for Ukraine in place. It’s pretty fragile right now, and a unified front is absolutely necessary The move is reportedly a strategic effort by the U.S. to ensure ongoing support for Kyiv, according to the Post.
My take on that is, it’s the “fragile allies” who need the quiet talking to. Russia cannot be allowed, under any circumstance, to have a strategic victory here. But, yeah, that might take some discomfort for other parts of the world. We all hope Ukraine is able to eventually win, fighting alone, with material support only. But even if they can, we talking about a long, long time. Anyone demanding a faster victory needs to understand there’s only one way to do that, and the Biden Administration has publicly ruled it out.
I think you’ve overlooked that it’s not just allies - that there is a substantial domestic component, that will be in greater power in January and is also trying to undermine the effort. It won’t matter that the new Speakers was recorded in 2016 saying that he thought the then candidate that became our 45th President was in the employ of Vladimir Putin along with Dana Rohrbacher. Times have changed. What was fringe has become more center. But it is also allies. So far, this administration has done an excellent job putting together alliances, both domestically and in nations facing substantial domestic constituencies that have been influenced by foreign are instinctively gravitating towards a pro Russian worldview. See Tony Kushner and Steven Spielberg’s magnum opus about our 16th President, forced to prosecute the War and ensure passage of the 13th Amendment through maintaining a fragile coalition that required pursuing peace talks. It’s a very accurate historical portrayal, and there are substantial analogues to what we are facing, although also substantial differences
Another Putin lie exposed. Romania says it does not have any territorial claims against Ukraine. Putin thought he could gain the support of Ukraine's neighbors for the defeat of Ukraine if he promised them some of Ukraine's territory. It is apparent that Ukraine's neighbors do not trust Russia or Putin's lies. Romania rejects Putin's false statements that the country has ‘territorial claims’ against Ukraine
How much will Congress be able to slow down the arms shipments to Ukraine? Doesn't Biden just sign off on these shipments as executive orders? I see the new people in Congress being a bit confused and ineffective when they first arrive, offending some of the longer-serving representatives and not being able to pass legislation by themselves. Once they figure out how to get anything done (mid-2023?), this war may be over or effectively over, with Ukraine not needing any more U.S. weapons or ammo. I'm o.k. with that.
Assuming republicans win at least one of the two assemblies, what you may see is a lame duck session attempt to push through additional funding for Ukraine for an extended period. There are a lot of things that may come up for lame duck agenda. Not clear how much can get accomplished. - Ukraine funding - resolution to raise or suspend the debt ceiling - interim budget funding - federalize some protection for gay marriage.
Let us hope you are correct. Congress always has the power of the purse. And there will necessarily be cost to rebuild as well. It’s the right thing to do but it’s also in our interest. And I still worry about the fact that the world will be on substantial pause due to the weather until spring. So that may provide some time for the Russians to work the opposition all throughout the West from both sides.
lot of lives lost that likely didn't even want to be there. Hopefully this story makes it to the russian people, damn shame these men didn't just surrender. reports from Russia that the great majority of the 570 men were killed Battalion of Russian mobilised men wiped out in days, survivors claim (msn.com) An entire battalion of Russian mobilised men was wiped out within days of being sent to the frontline in Ukraine, survivors have told Russian opposition media. The soldiers had been ordered to the frontline in Luhansk, Donbas, and then told to dig trenches, the Verstka news agency said in an unverified report. “We had three shovels per battalion and there were no provisions at all. We dug in as best we could and in the morning the shelling started from artillery and helicopters. We were simply shot,” Agafonov, the alleged unit survivor, said. “When it all started the officers simply ran away.”The news agency also quoted a group of wives of men in the same unit saying that their husbands had been abandoned. “They did not sleep, did not eat, for three days they held the defence and did not run anywhere, unlike the command,” one of the women said in the video which was shot in Voronezh in southwest Russia.
Stop climbing down. You clearly said 80,000+ DEAD. This is ludicrous Ghost of Kyiv level drivel. Maybe they died from parasites from eating zoo animals. *warranted contempt*
should warehouses full of Iranian drones in Belarus be fair military targets when those drones are being launched from Belarus? Seems the easiest way to defeat them would be to blow them up in their warehouses Swarms of Iranian drones in Belarus our biggest problem, says Kyiv (msn.com) Ukraine's "biggest problem" is Iranian-made drones being stockpiled in Belarus “quite close to Kyiv”, its ambassador to the UK has said. Vadym Prystaiko's comments on Sky News come after Russian missile and drone strikes destroyed large sections of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. He said: “They are running out of rockets, that is for sure. "But the Iranian drones, this is the biggest problem. They are cheap … they come in a swarm. Very difficult to deal with. "We have evidence that thousands and thousands of them have been provided, some of them stored now in Belarus, which is on top and north of Ukraine, quite close to Kyiv city for example.”
