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[RD] Russia Invades Ukraine: The 7th Thread Itch; scratch it here!

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Turkey will never allow that, lol.
Same thing was said about Sweden. In fact there is some talks on the topic inside NATO apparently. Everything can be fixed.
 
Silly we’re even still discussing this as a valid grievance.
You mean ridiculing those who act as if they're valid grievances. The reasons Russia invaded are obvious and clear.

The only link to NATO is Russia needed to invade Ukraine before Ukraine could get it's business in order and join NATO.
Which would have taken a lot of work and effort and it's conclussion was still up in the air.
 
There's a story going here, that Sergej Shoigu, the World's most incompetent defense minister, has declared the Ukrainian counter-offensive a complete failure.

As it is still ongoing for probably two-three months more, we'll just have to see about that.
 
Maybe they are worried about the drone operators targeting the wings, since that's where the fuel tanks are located.

It would be much more efficient to simply drain the tanks for fuel.
 
Russia protecting its bombers with tyres. Don't know if that would work against very small drones, I seriously doubt it will work against a Tomahawk though. LoL.
To absorb the impact of a drone hitting the plane, apparently. But if those tires do start burning.....

Really small drones to go through the 'hole' in the tire I imagine wouldn't carry much of a payload.

It would be much more efficient to simply drain the tanks for fuel.
A fuel tank that is still filled with vapors of fuel more likely to explode than a full tank.
 
To absorb the impact of a drone hitting the plane, apparently. But if those tires do start burning.....

Really small drones to go through the 'hole' in the tire I imagine wouldn't carry much of a payload.


A fuel tank that is still filled with vapors of fuel more likely to explode than a full tank.

The tires might help sometimes against shaped-charge warheads, but you need a shaped-charge warhead to penetrate tank armor, not to destroy a fragile plane.
 
Russia protecting its bombers with tyres. Don't know if that would work against very small drones, I seriously doubt it will work against a Tomahawk though. LoL.
I found an article stating that Russia thinks the tires will do something to confuse the targeting/imaging systems of the drones/missiles.

Russia is piling tires on top of its prized bombers, images show — a possible crude attempt to trick Ukraine's missiles​

An analysis by motoring-focused outlet The Drive concluded they are car tires arranged in a gambit designed to confuse incoming missiles. The tires were seen partially covering the fuselages and some of the wings on Tu-95 bombers and Tu-160 heavy bombers, the outlet reported. It's unclear if the measure will work, but it coincides with Ukraine's announcement that it has modified its R-360 Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles to strike targets on land. Ukraine claimed that it has already taken out a Russian S-400 "Triumf" missile in Crimea.



Per the Drive, the tire covering could be intended to break up the planes' infrared signature, which is used by cruise missiles to recognize targets. The tire phenomenon was spotted after a wave attacks on air bases — largely attributed to drones rather than cruise missiles — that have exposed embarrassing weaknesses in the country's air defenses.

https://www.businessinsider.com/rus...ect-bombers-from-ukraine-attack-report-2023-9
 
Shoigu might not be a first rate defense minister. But the Ukrainians have lost their defense minister again, which goes to show that in a war of mediocres, the worst will still lose out. The Ukrainian command is kinda like the sort of thing you would expect from a country like Mali or Zimbabwe, and that's what makes me doubt their claim that their counter-offensive is going to reach somewhere or breach the existing Russian gains significantly.

In the end, Russia might achieve her goals and broker something favourable for peace just because they're not Ukraine, a broken, corrupt country in tatters whose leadership suffers from incompetence and corruption. Well Russian leadership is incompetent and corrupt to a degree too but Ukrainian leadership is like 10x worse, the sons do it better than their daddies apparently. That's what trying to watch a quasi-third world banana war entails, although the Russians have significantly modernized their weapons systems to cover up their logistical and strutuctural weaknesses.
 
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Shoigu might not be a first rate defense minister. But the Ukrainians have lost their defense minister again, which goes to show that in a war of mediocres, the worst will still lose out. The Ukrainian command is kinda like the sort of thing you would expect from a country like Mali or Zimbabwe, and that's what makes me doubt their claim that their counter-offensive is going to reach somewhere or breach the existing Russian gains significantly.

In the end, Russia might achieve her goals and broker something favourable for peace just because they're not Ukraine, a broken, corrupt country in tatters whose leadership suffers from incompetence and corruption. Well Russian leadership is incompetent and corrupt to a degree too but Ukrainian leadership is like 10x worse, the sons do it better than their daddies apparently. That's what trying to watch a quasi-third world war entails, although the Russians have significantly modernized their weapons systems to cover up their logistical and strutuctural weaknesses.

I'm afraid you have no idea how endemic the corruption and incompetence is in Russia. Basically everyone close to Putin is chosen for loyalty and being career yes-men, not competence, and they're siphoning the country's wealth into their own pockets, and basically everyone under them does the same. Remember those 1.5M missing winter uniforms? That is just one case, one example of how far reaching the corruption is. The country is almost quasi-feudal, with oligarchs having their territories, their private armies (despite the fact that PMCs are illegal in Russia) and both overt and covert influence on government. Something like due process does not exist in Russia. If you're wealthy enough, you can buy your way out of most things. If you're not, or become too big PITA, then....well, ask Prigozhin, Girkin or Navalny.

Yes, Ukraine was pretty much the same. Russia does tend to turn its vassals into quagmires of corruption, as evidenced in my country that fortunately managed to break away in 1989. But since 2014, there were some efforts to clean up the mess, and with the invasion they gained traction. That's why the change, Reznikov failed to sufficiently address the corruption within his department.
 
It is difficult for me to see what the current Ukrainian offensive will achieve that is really key.

Ukraine capturing a few square kilometers of ground at high human costs seems scarcely worthwhile bearing in mind
the immensity of EurAsia. Unless it can lead to a breakthrough and from that encirclement and destruction of a
russian army or pose such a threat that Russia accordingly undertakes a wider withdrawal to prevent just that.

It makes me think of the war in Italy.

The allies knocked a hole in the German line but the Germans just retreated to a line further back.

Of course I am speculating in the dark.

I have no idea what the respective casualties rates are and whether one side is facing the greater
exhaustion of trained soldiers, moral, or supply of key items than the other.
 
"I'm afraid you have no idea how endemic the corruption and incompetence is in Russia. Basically everyone close to Putin is chosen for loyalty and being career yes-men, not competence, and they're siphoning the country's wealth into their own pockets, and basically everyone under them does the same. Remember those 1.5M missing winter uniforms? That is just one case, one example of how far reaching the corruption is. The country is almost quasi-feudal, with oligarchs having their territories, their private armies (despite the fact that PMCs are illegal in Russia) and both overt and covert influence on government. Something like due process does not exist in Russia. If you're wealthy enough, you can buy your way out of most things. If you're not, or become too big PITA, then....well, ask Prigozhin, Girkin or Navalny."

I know that giddy.

I know that.

I said Russia was corrupt and their command structure and military doctrine are third rate, Cold War relics. That's true.

But then Ukraine is significantly worse. It's a banana war, really. Kinda like watching Bolivia and Chile ducking it out. That said Ukraine is significantly worse out including the corruption department. Ukraine is a kind of mini-Russia in all aspects, including the obsolete Cold War command structure and military thinking. That's why they have to rely on mercs, because the mercs are expendable and don't have to follow the rigid and obsolete command and tactical structures of the regular army.

That's why Wagner became such an elite group in the first place, and that's why Prigozhin and the others didn't want to dilute this eliteness by getting joined into the regular army.
 
"Actually, they've been reforming that, one of the reasons why the drive on Kyiv failed, the Kharkiv collapse ect. They actually have been building a competent lower command structure along NATO lines allowing them to be much more flexible compared to the Russians rigid top-down command structure."

The Ukrainian army is sort of like the Bolivian army. I picture the Bolivian army defending itself.

Surely they have been trying to reform along NATO lines. Getting an actual NCO corps, which their Soviet doctrine neglected, is one these aspects. Still it's too late to make a difference, and trying to stem the Russian hordes while reforming might not be possible for them.

Russia has also been reforming. Anyway. Ukrainian and Russian military doctrines, being a relic of the USSR and the Cold War, are still very similar. Russia doesn't have an NCO corps, because of the thinking that hey strategic camp is all that matters and we'll just throw more men to fix the problem. Against Ukraine's Bolivia-like army, that might still work, but hey this isn't gonna cut against a real army on the field, which is why Russia has been mimicking China and trying to build an NCO force suited to their tactical\strategic doctrine.

Still both armies have glaring weaknesses, obsolete weapons and structures, and it's easy to see this in the current conflict. It just shows they have a long way to go.
 
But then Ukraine is significantly worse. It's a banana war, really. Kinda like watching Bolivia and Chile ducking it out. That said Ukraine is significantly worse out including the corruption department. Ukraine is a kind of mini-Russia in all aspects, including the obsolete Cold War command structure and military thinking.
Actually, they've been reforming that, one of the reasons why the drive on Kyiv failed, the Kharkiv collapse ect. They actually have been building a competent lower command structure along NATO lines allowing them to be much more flexible compared to the Russians rigid top-down command structure.
(re-done 'cause i mucked up the quote)
 
Source this claim please.
Here's just one of that.

The CSS is hardly what I would think of Russian propaganda. They're just an average US outlet.


Time Mag:


Anyway etc etc etc

I'm not taking any sides. It would be easier for me to take the Russian side, but I'm not doing this, instead like Pershing in Russo-Japanese war just probing, studying and telling honestly what are the weaknesses and strengths on each side. But I have nothing to care about or lose in such a conflict.

It's just a neo-third world banana war. Really. Neither army has anything great going on its side. In the end they might just fight for survival, getting out of the stalemate, then finding peace. But after the US and US backed forces on Afghanistan lost and ran against a bunch of mountain tribesmen with bamboo spears and AK-47's, one would think that surprises are plenty and those taking the side of the US have no moral high ground at all.
 
A somewhat balanced look at why Ukraine dismissed it's defence minister.
BBC said:

Ukraine's defence minister Oleksii Reznikov dismissed​

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has confirmed that he is leaving his post.
Mr Reznikov had led the ministry since before the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Mr Reznikov's dismissal on Sunday, saying it was time for "new approaches" in the defence ministry.
Rustem Umerov, who runs Ukraine's State Property Fund, has been nominated as Mr Reznikov's successor.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Reznikov confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to the country's parliament.
Ukrainian media has speculated that he will become Kyiv's new ambassador in London, where he has developed good relations with senior politicians.

The 57-year-old has become a well-known figure since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Internationally recognised, he has regularly attended meetings with Ukraine's western allies and played a key role in lobbying for additional military equipment.
But his dismissal has been anticipated for some time. Last week, Mr Reznikov told reporters he was exploring other positions with the Ukrainian president.
According to local media, the former defence minister said that if Mr Zelensky offered the opportunity for him to work on another project he would probably agree.
Ukrainian defence advisor Yuriy Sak told the BBC that Mr Reznikov spearheaded the transformation of the ministry, laying the groundwork for future NATO membership.
"His legacy is that he has convinced ministers of defence around the world that the impossible is possible," he said in reference to Mr Reznikov's successful lobbying of foreign governments for arms.
But experts have observed that the cabinet reshuffle is unlikely to lead to any major change in Ukraine's battlefield strategy, with Gen Valery Zaluzhny - the commander of Ukraine's armed forces - overseeing the campaign.

Mr Reznikov's dismissal comes amid a wider anti-corruption drive in Mr Zelensky's administration - which has been seen as essential to Ukraine's ambitions to join Western institutions like the EU.
According to the Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine ranks 116th out of 180, but efforts in recent years have seen its position improve significantly.
While Mr Reznikov is not personally accused of corruption, there have been a number of scandals at the ministry of defence involving the procurement of goods and equipment for the army at inflated prices.
Earlier this year Mr Reznikov's deputy, Vyacheslav Shapovalov, resigned in the wake of the scandal. It was widely reported at the time that Mr Reznikov barely held on to his own post.
At the time, he said the stress he had endured was "hard to measure precisely", adding that his "conscience is absolutely clear".
The defence ministry has also been rocked by several recent arrests at regional recruitment offices, where officers have been accused of taking bribes to allow men to avoid Ukraine's military draft.

On Friday, the US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with senior Ukrainian anti-corruption officials and urged them to continue prosecuting anti-graft cases "no matter where they lead".
Mr Umerov, who was nominated by the president, represented Ukraine in peace talks at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The ex-MP allegedly suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning during peace negotiations in March 2022 alongside Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich - who was also part of the negotiating party. In a statement posted to Facebook he later denied the reports, urging people not to trust "unverified information".
Speaking to the BBC at the time, he said it took courage to find solutions but he was determined "to find [a] political and diplomatic resolution to this brutal invasion".
A member of the Crimean Tatar community, he has become a key member of Mr Zelensky's international outreach efforts, focussing on fostering ties in the Islamic world.
Mr Reznikov's dismissal comes as Ukraine wages a slow and bloody counter-offensive after securing more advanced weapons from Western allies.
Progress on the frontline has been slow but top Ukrainian generals said on Sunday that their forces have broken through a key line of Russian defences in the south of the country.
Meanwhile, Russia reported several attempted drone attacks on its territory overnight.
The defence ministry said it shot down two drones over the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, early on Monday.
The region's governor Roman Stravoit also reported on Sunday that debris from a destroyed drone had caused a fire at a non-residential building in the city of Kurchatov.
Elsewhere, Russia launched its own 3.5-hour overnight assault on the south of Ukraine's Odesa region, with the governor reporting that 17 drones were downed.
"Unfortunately, there are also hits," added Oleh Kiper, who said there had been damage to "several settlements" in the region of Izmail. But he said there were no casualties or injuries.
Izmail is one of Ukraine's two major grain-exporting ports on the Danube River in the Odesa region.
The Danube ports have become Ukraine's major exporting route since the collapse of the Black Sea grain deal in July. Moscow has launched frequent attacks on the Danube since withdrawing from the deal.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66702893
 
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