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It seems really hard to believe that Russia is truly fighting to win this war. More and more I think they’re stalling for a Trump election so they can be easily talked into quitting. Meanwhile the Democrats want this thing to go on and on for ten years.
This is possible, but I can't see what advantage there is for Putin and his inner circle of merry thugs to pretend they can't put up a fight. What will they say, oh yeah, we could have stopped the Ukrainian incursion, could have kicked their ass, but we chose not to? Doubt that would go over well with the thousands of Russians now fleeing their homes, not to mention the many thousands of families absolutely pissed off at Putin for the loss of their sons, husbands, fathers, brothers...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
More and more, with every passing day, I am thinking Putin is whipped. There are widespread reports of mutinies in Russian ranks...actually, such revolts have been occurring since the early months of the evil invasion, but in the past, they were isolated incidents and small groups. Now, if the reports can be trusted as true, whole battalions (4,500 soldiers) have revolted against Putin, and are refusing to obey orders to fight Ukraine. There are some confirmed reports of larger revolts, but I have not seen confirmation of battalion-size ones. Have to be careful not to get sucked in by the pro-Ukrainian influencers (on YouTube, etc.) who jump on such rumors and spread them as confirmed truths. But, something is happening. Russians are generally not pleased with their country's invasion of Ukraine.
As for Trump, he needs to support Ukraine, and NATO and other allies need to stay behind Ukraine and deliver Putin a blow he'll never recover from (politically).
Typical response from a terrorist regime...strike innocent civilians. Putin struck Sumy and Kyiv with cruise missiles and drones, targeting non-military facilities. Early reports include a hotel where a Reuters reporter was killed. Of course, this is nothing new, Putin has been targeting civilians since day one of his evil invasion. What perplexes me is why is the world tolerating this? Oh, that's right, he has nukes, therefore he can commit as many murders as he wants.
A pundit on CNN, a dizzy blonde :icon_roll: female woman (I suppose...) offered her theory on why Putin has not responded to the Kursk incursion with more force; says Putin wants Russians to suffer, to be scared, and then they will flock to volunteer for his army. Putin's remarks that this is a fight about poor ole, trodden-on Russia vs. NATO (shudder!) and therefore, a second "patriotic" war (reference to Russia's fight against Hitler's invasion) is meant to stir some patriotic fervor. Doesn't seem to be working. This may be part of his thinking, but for now, it's more a case of the Ukrans kicking Russia's ass.
Russian drones struck Ukran energy infrastructure, including a hydro-electric dam. Did only minimal, superficial damage to the dam.
One of the Russian drones struck inside of Poland, some 17 miles inside, and has greatly angered the Poles. No reports on any damage or casualties in Poland. Might have landed harmlessly in a field. Some hotheads are calling for NATO to react, as this violates the stringent doctrine of "not even one square inch of NATO territory..." but, most pundits think this was a case of a Russian drone straying off course and was not a deliberate attack on Poland. Long-range drones cover hundreds of miles from their launch sites to their targets, so straying 17+ miles off course is not uncommon.
Ukraine has launched another incursion into Belgorod, this one with 500 soldiers and supporting armored vehicles. Pundits surmise this is another attempt to pin Russian forces in place to prevent those being shifted to Kursk. It has caused massive panic in Russia and one of the local commanders ordered his unit to withdraw, which brought a sharp rebuke from Russian high command. Right now Ukraine is "on the front foot," which is a phrase used in soccer to say a team is the aggressor and enjoying the run of play. Also, Ukrainian leadership is outthinking their Russian counterparts. Ukraine is dictating the action, and Russia is relegated to reacting. The best defense is a good offense, and that is the situation right now for Ukraine.
In other news, Ukraine continues making small gains in Kursk, and Russia is still slowly advancing west of Avdiivka.
Bam!!! Ukrans' first official F-16 mission is a resounding success!!! Six F-16 Falcons were sent to intercept incoming Russian cruise missiles destined for Kyiv. Remote radar sites detected 70 Russian cruise missiles, according to the reports from the advanced sites. Immediately the Ukran flight commander, in one of the F-16s, questioned that report, since Russia had never sent that many cruise missiles before. Lancet drones, yes, but not cruise missiles. After a brief pause the Ukran commander radioed his flight and the radar station with the correct assessment. It was a flight of 12 cruise missiles and the rest long-range drones. The F-16s were over 50 miles away and closing and the onboard radar system/targeting system computer had correctly identified the threat. Using the F-16's targeting pod every cruise missile, and every drone was shot down. Ukrainian air force officials are astounded by the effectiveness of the F-16s. They knew, on paper, based on what they had been told about the Falcon's capability what they could do, but only ever having flown Soviet jets, they didn't believe it possible. Well...they believe it now. These particular F-16s had come from Norway and do not have the very latest technology the Falcons can deploy today. Older F-16s...and still far superior to anything Putin has.
Now, take these bad boys on the offensive. Take the fight to Putin. Russia is still clobbering Ukrainian ground forces, defenses, and positions with their glide bombs, which are "dropped" by Russian bombers and fighter-bombers, especially the SU-34. Ukraine has been hollering for a way to take down these planes, which drop their glide bombs between 50 and 75 miles away from targets, from fairly high altitude. The bombs, which are "dumb bombs," are fitted with wings which allow them to glide for up to 75 miles. The Russian pilots have gotten pretty good, with experience, and are accurate with these attacks. The bombers are protected by Russian MIGs and Ukraine, with a very limited air force, has been reluctant to challenge these attacks. Couldn't afford to trade jet for jet in losses. But, the F-16s are a different breed. Go for it!
Ukraine launched its first attack into the Kirov Oblast, which is about 1,000 miles from Ukraine. Early reports say 5 long-range Ukran drones targeted a Putin oil refinery/storage facility. Russians are claiming all 5 drones were shot down, but that three of those still crashed into the facility, starting a fire and causing damage. Even if true, all 5 drones were shot down, this shows that Ukraine is really "reaching out and touching ole Putin." Sending drones 1,000 miles into Russia? Good stuff!
Now, in light of the F-16s success, Russian air force officials are thumping their chests boasting the F-16 is no match for their SU-57 Felon Fighter...."Felon" that's an appropriate name for a Putin plane, eh. But, due to western sanctions, Russia has been unable to mass-produce the "Felon" and have less than 10 operational jets, which they are afraid to risk. This demonstrates why we, the US, must get high-tech and other manufacturing back home. Can you imagine a prolonged war with China right now? We are dependent on China for a lot of the electronics and parts that go into our weapons. Russia has learned the hard way about being dependent on international markets for stuff you need for your military.
As for the SU-57, western experts are not sold on its capabilities, brushing off the rhetoric as mere Russian BS. What most say is the SU-57 is equipped with very good, long-range radar, but its weapon systems are inferior to ours, and even if they get the first shot in an air-to-air encounter, US/western jets have vastly superior defensive measures, and then when we shoot...well, goodbye SU-57.
Anyway, gotta love the "Felon" nickname for the jet.
One Ukran F-16 has been lost. Cause of the crash is still unknown and is under investigation, but the early reports indicate it was likely the result of pilot error. There are other rumors, including friendly fire. A Colonel Mes was the pilot is confirmed killed as a result of the crash. Reports say this plane was one of 20 delivered by The Netherlands less than a month ago.
Russians continue their advance west of Adiivka, specifically toward Pokvosk, a key logistics site for Ukrainian forces in that area.
Now, get this...the city of Pokvosk was granted money by Kyiv over 6 months ago to build defenses, trenches, bunkers, and hardened shelters for supplies, ammo, and equipment. Recently a reporter from a Ukrainian TV network went to Pokvosk to see what preparations have been made. Whoa! The city has done nothing to enhance the defenses, instead, the mayor used a good portion of the money to enhance the recreational facilities in the city and to plant trees, plants, flowers in the city parks. The mayor says he did not want to create panic so, plant pretty flowers!
Only in recent days has the Ukrainian army itself begun preparing defenses. The mayor sent his police to stop the army as they were digging trenches just outside the city, including close to a school. The mayor says the children got scared and began to cry. The Ukran army told the police and the mayor to take a hike. This mayor has to be a democrap, or the Ukrainian version of the Dem Party.
The Putin criminal thugs have stepped up the use of illegal chemical weapons. The UN and other international organizations have confirmed what Ukrainian leaders have been complaining about for 2+ years. Recently two UN investigators were injured by a Russian chemical attack when they were in a Ukran trench in Donbas. Both were treated at a hospital for inhalation of a chemical gas, and then released. Okay...now that the world knows the truth, what's next? If Putin/Russia is allowed to get away with this then just trash the whole stupid Geneva Convention, take off the gloves and "all is fair in love and WAR!"
In better news, France is sending Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine, great news! The Mirage 2000 Fighter is one of the best in the world, and among the very fastest. Used to be THE fastest fighter jet but other nations have produced jets that rival it in speed. It will be the fastest in the Ukraine-Russia war. The French make equipment fast, like jets, so they can get out of trouble just as fast as they get into it. Ukranian pilots and maintenance crews have been in France for 2 years training in the Mirage 2000 jets. In similar news, Sweden has again delayed delivery of their very capable Gripon fighter jet citing Ukraine's need to settle in with the F-16 and now the Mirage 2000 jets. It's not just training pilots, it's also all the logistics and support for these high-tech, high-maintenance planes; Ukraine needs time to develop its own stable of trained personnel.
Ukrainian partisans, an organization known as Atesh, attacked and severely damaged the Mariupol-Crimea railroad line. The Ukrans have hit it periodically with drones and HIMARS missiles, but Atesh planted charges, destroying a bridge, about 100 feet of track, and an electronic tracking/switching station. The Russians have built this RR line in anticipation of the Kerch Bridge being destroyed, which the Ukrans are still trying to achieve.
Ukraine launched its biggest drone attack ever last night. Nearly 200 drones were sent directly at Moscow. Yes, for the first time there was a concerted attack on Putin's capital. Heretofore there have been some isolated, limited drone strikes in or close to Moscow, but nothing like this. The Moscow International airport, of which I have flown in/out of 6 times, was temporarily closed, flights diverted as the sky was filled with drones and with Russian anti-aircraft fire. Russia claims they shot down 177 of the drones outside of Moscow, but those crashed somewhere, and of the others, who knows?
Ukraine attacked the critical railroad hub in Crimea, at Kosenov. The newly built Mariupol-Crimea RR intersects the Kherson-Crimea RR at this town. Huge explosion rocked the area when a Russian ammo dump was destroyed. The Kherson-Crimea line was hit by Ukran cruise missiles, there is a huge crater where the rail line used to be. Ukran drones and cruise missiles also struck three other targets, including the Russian airbase/civilian airport in the center of Crimea. More huge explosions were seen at the airbase and at other Russian military sites. Putin has moved his best, and remaining, anti-aircraft batteries (missiles) to protect the Kerch Bridge, leaving the rest of Crimea without adequate protection. Ukraine noted this and launched drone/cruise missile attacks across Crimea.
Putin is back on his heels, moving his remaining anti-aircraft weapons to the Kerch Bridge and to Moscow. Ukraine knows what is protecting Moscow and sent 200 drones to attack, knowing most would be shot down. But, Ukraine is producing thousands of drones monthly, and if sacrificing 200 keeps Putin's best weapons anchored at Moscow, that means the rest of Russia, including Putin's crucial oil facilities, are more vulnerable. And, to prove the point, another Putin oil storage site was utterly destroyed last night, this one about 800 miles inside of Russia.
A private cruise ship, or more accurately, a cruise boat, a party boat that can be charted for excursions on the Black Sea out of a Russian resort town, was blown to bits by Ukran drones. Why? Well, because it was not chartered by a bunch of party animals, but rather Putin's pathetic government (military) in an attempt to get ammo (anti-aircraft missiles) and supplies to his batteries at Kerch. They might have gotten away with it except the Putin propagandist TV networks made a big deal out of a story some party-goers would be going out on that boat. Ukranian spies/intelligence found it odd that was making news, in light of the war and the attacks on Moscow. The Putinites were hoping Ukraine would ignore this boat as it traveled to Kerch..."pay no attention to that party boat, it's just a bunch of drunk partiers." So, a close observation found the Russians were loading the boat with crates of missiles and other ammo/supplies. And, to make matters stupider, the Russians had a patrol boat escorting it. Duh! Ukran drones made short work of the party boat, it exploded in a huge fireball, killing the three-man crew. The patrol boat fired some shots at the drones but made only a half-hearted effort and sped away saving itself, when several drones approached it.
Putin has gotten so desperate his vaunted military has resorted to trying to sneak ammo past the Ukrans!
Meanwhile, Putin has responded, yes indeed. He killed more Ukrainian women and children in random cruise missile strikes in several towns...what a piece of shit he is.
Putin murdered 41 more Ukrainian civilians overnight, with his cruise missile strikes on a town. No military or critical infrastructure targets, just random hits in residential areas.
Putin is in Mongolia, which is a member of the UN and International Criminal Court Treaty, which obligates it to arrest and detain Putin. Instead, they rolled out the red carpet in a welcoming ceremony. Mongolia wants to buy Russian oil and are hoping for a better price than current market. Follow the money...
In other news (better), Ukranian forces continue to enjoy success in the Kursk incursion. Progress has slowed as Russia has been rushing units to Kursk, but thus far, the Ukrans are still winning every engagement. And, in good news, Ukraine has turned back Russia's advance west of Avdiivka, the "Avdiivka Bulge," retaking key high ground along the southern edge of the bulge. And, Russia has made no further gains toward Pokvosk in the past 2 days. A stalemate has developed about 5 miles east of that key town. Now that the Ukrainian army has built defenses, rather than planting pretty flowers :icon_roll:.