The bottom line, putie miscalculated concerning holding western europe hostage to russian oil. The effort actually helped solidify the west.
Survivors of the 155th Russian Naval Infantry brigade lament “they turned us to hamburger’ 'People were turned into hamburger': How Putin's arrogance turned the war into a slaughterhouse for his troops I see the problem - using the navy to backfill your infantry losses. To be air to Putin it’s not like he’s got a functioning navy…..
Putin's days are now "Numbered", although no one knows what number today is. Apparently, Russians are not enjoying his lies like they used to. Putin is unable to even give his annual press conference for the first time in years, presumably because they cannot find enough lies that the people will believe. Putin is on the verge of being check-mated after losing his rooks and knights and sacrificing most of his pawns, according to one Russian. Russia Can Finally See that Putin’s ‘Days Are Numbered’
I don’t think you should confuse “naval infantry” with “navy.” Their naval infantry is what we call our Marine Corps. It serves some of the same functions as our USMC as an expeditionary force in readiness and primary maneuver force for amphibious operations. As far as I know, it’s constituted primarily of regular professionals versus conscripts like most of the army. In other words, it’s a relatively big deal that unit took so many losses, assuming the story is wholly true.
Germany opens their first LNG terminal less than 7 months after initial planning began Germany’s first LNG terminal is open for business – EURACTIV.com Deprived of cheap Russian gas, Germany’s alternative infrastructure to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) is operational, opening a new era in German energy policy. It was a foggy and overcast day in the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven, yet Germany’s political top-brass were in full attendance, dressed in high-vis jackets, to look in awe upon a jetty built using 14,000 tons of steel, 1,500 tons of special-made steel pipes and 3,000 cubic metres of concrete. The special jetty was constructed in months to host the “Hoegh Esperanza”, a floating LNG terminal that has become a beacon of hope for the German government. Not only was the ship constructed at unprecedented speed, it is also a major step in Berlin’s quest to live without Russia gas in the not-so-distant future. “Today we are taking a very important step for security of supply in Germany,” explained Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, on Saturday (17 December). Habeck, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner, the heads of the German government, travelled to Lower Saxony to inaugurate the country’s first LNG terminal.
Good for them. That’s what follows when you ask questions like: What happens if this war goes on for a year or longer? How does that affect our economy? What could we do to mitigate if we started working on it now? Of course, one has to do more than just ask the right questions. One has to act on the analysis instead of just saying, “Meh. That’s too hard. That would take too long. That would run at cross-purposes to some unrelated political goals. Let’s just hope this all goes away.”
Russia has cut off its nose to spite its face as they continue to lose long term customers who will never return as the alternative energy sources are secured. Count me as one that didn't know that Azerbaijan had major offshore wind farms with excess power to sell Deal reached for new non-Russian power source for Europe (msn.com) The leaders of Hungary, Romania, Georgia and Azerbaijan finalized an agreement Saturday on an undersea electricity connector that could become a new power source for the European Union amid a crunch on energy supplies caused by the war in Ukraine. .............. Azerbaijan plans to export electricity from offshore wind farms to Europe via Georgia, a cable beneath the Black Sea, and then to Romania and Hungary. The office of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement Friday that the agreement between the four nations will provide the “financial and technical framework” for the undersea electricity cable project. On Friday, Romanian natural gas producer Romgaz also said it signed a contract with Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR to receive natural gas through the so-called southern gas corridor, with deliveries set to start on Jan. 1. Romgaz said it will serve its “strategic objectives” of diversifying natural gas sources.
Ukraine’s General Zaluzhnyi is warning that, apart from a massive escalation on the part of NATO, Ukraine will likely have to surrender. But to whom ? Almost the entire Russian army has been killed or wounded or died of zoo animal poisoning or been captured or is running away.
Derp. Here's his( Zaluzhni) quote from Dec. 15th. "“I know that I can beat this enemy,” the general continued. “But I need resources. I need 300 tanks, 600-700 IFVs [infantry fighting vehicles] 500 Howitzers.” Be better. Sigh
You missed the part about the present possibility of defeat, citing Mannerheim as precedent, apart from the sort of weapons infusion that NATO cannot provide. Moo louder.
Of course, he believes he can beat this enemy (he’s been doing it). And of course he needs more resources to do it (the Ukrainian economy could never keep up with the material demands of this war). But the question is, which Russian army will show up when they kick off this much anticipated (and much delayed) winter offensive? If it’s the same one that showed up last February, then this could be a blood bath on the order of an existential threat to Putin’s regime. If, however, the Russians show up with an army that has learned something about combined arms, logistics, and inter-service coordination, then we may have a wholly different war.
Apparently, the U.S. tried to save a top Russian general from death in April. After finding out that high-ranking general Valery Gerasimov was scheduled to visit the front lines, the U.S. did not pass the intel on to Ukraine. Ukraine found out through other means and went after him (as the U.S. was not able to contact Ukraine's front lines to call off the attack), but were not able to kill him. US officials tried to stop Ukraine from killing high-ranking Russian general who was on a risky visit to the front lines, report says
herp derp. You got it backwards genius. A Power Balance Shifts as Europe, Facing a Gas Crisis, Turns to Africa for Help South Korea Has Quietly Become One Of The World’s Biggest Weapons Suppliers EU, Latin American leaders seek closer ties amid Ukraine war fallout fears Russia strives to avoid G20 isolation as China and India distance themselves | G20 | The Guardian
Moo. Moo. Russia and China and Iran have never been closer. And the Arab World and the Global South is with Russia. Billions who never thought much about Russia before now regard Russia as a middle finger to the weakening West.
Another Russian oligarch dies in mysterious circumstances Another Russian oligarch dies in mysterious circumstances: Tycoon, 50, suffers fatal head injury 'after falling down stairs while visiting friends in France'
of all the “questionable” takes you’ve had this is maybe the most laughable in a long thread of comedic interpretations.
