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Ukrainian men who've fled to Europe are receiving extradition summons for drafting. Zelenskyy has also authorized a draft for women, although its unclear if this is to fill the losses on the front lines or to free up administrative and support positions.
Putin murders 16 more civilians, with 47 injured. The Russkies struck a shopping mall with a cruise missile. There are no military facilities or important defense department manufacturing anywhere close to this mall, so they can't claim it was an "Oops!" Just another wanton act of terrorism by Putin.
The Ukrans have hacked into Russian surveillance cameras placed on major highways throughout eastern Ukraine and have been tracking the movement of Russian convoys, which is one reason the Ukrans have been so good at attacking and destroying these convoys. Okay, great...but why in the hell would you reveal this!? Dumb! A Ukran officer, a colonel, in charge of the hackers appeared on national TV, not so much to boast because he was so matter-of-fact about it all, but he did let the cat out of the bag. Why? Even the stupid Russians will unplug those cameras or do something different now. Sheeesh!
They are called DEWs, Directed Energy Weapons, and most, if not all developed nations have been experimenting with them. The US's version, well two types, are based on lasers and thermal energy. We have a couple of prototypes that are being developed primarily to deal with drones. Sweden and Japan have made advancements in this technology too. But, after viewing videos on all of these, I saw nothing that looked like what the Russians used. It's true the Russians failed to bring down a rather large, slow-moving target which was barely 500 feet up, but theirs looked impressive! Lightning bolts shot out of a cannon, more or less. Kool!Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Impressive that Russia was able to sneak into Ukrainian territory and steal a US missile and then fire it at a Ukrainian shopping mall and then sneak back into Russian territory.
Or, alternatively, the US missile was fired from a Ukrainian launcher. Shrapnel and burst on the video seem consistent with a AGM 88 HARM
You Putinites are so desperate for anything to what, hang your hat on, that you make up stupid conspiracy BS. It is so stupid that it does not warrant a response. Only, it's 4am and I'm just now starting my first cup of coffee, so...Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
Please, tell me, for what possible purpose would President Z order an attack against random civilians in his own country?
Do you think he is trying to illicit more world sympathy by trying to blame the evil Putin? Why!!??? Putin has been attacking civilian targets for over 18 months. Putin has been murdering women and children for over 18 months. Hell, Putin invaded a sovereign nation, has arrest warrants out for him internationally, and in your feeble mind you actually think President Z thought: Heck, I better stage a fake Russian missile attack...
Was it an accident? Hmmm....why would the Ukrans be launching a missile from a location such that it would have to overfly that city. First, thanks to NATO's stupid-ass reluctance Ukraine has no long-range missiles, thus ALL of their launchers on in the combat zone of eastern Ukraine. This city is west of where the Ukrans have their combat units. But, oh, I see, they turned one of their launchers around 180 degrees and fired away from the bad guys!
Special kind of stupid alert!
Don't you just hate it when I am proven right...Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
I had thought the F-15 stood alone as undefeated, and I was right. After some more research I found one incident where an F-16 was lost in air-to-air combat. It was a Pakistan F-16 lost to a MIG-25 flown by a Russian pilot over Afghanistan. So, make that 76-1.
NOTE: during my research I found an article saying the British Sea Harrier is a perfect 20-0 in aerial combat. That is true for British pilots. But the Sea Harrier has also been flown by other countries and there is an account of two Harriers lost in aerial combat during the brief Chili-Argentina war. Also, one account of an Australian Sea Harrier lost during the Malaysian civil war, flown by a mercenary apparently.
BTW we shouldn't be surprised by the height of ridiculousness the Putin propagandists will put out there. In fact, if you live within reach of the evil POS Putin, you had better either lie on his behalf or just shut up. A poor woman, a social media influencer, has just been sentenced to 6 years in prison for daring to post the truth. She didn't lie, didn't post half-truths, didn't post rumors, only facts, and because the FACTS cast Putin in a bad light she was arrested and sentenced to prison. This should tell you all you need to know about the pro-Putin propagandist crowd.
Zelenskyy has been attacking his own civilians in the Donbass since the CIA-backed coup, so if it were intentional, that would not be surprising. But I don't think that's necessary or likely in this case. Probably just an unfortunate accident.
Elon Musk, what an azzhole!
Strategy starting to change as the Ukrans begin to think about the coming fall/winter and the rains and snow, which will turn the fields into quagmires. For instance, south of Bakhmut, the Ukrans have solidified their lines and are now attacking east/southeast away from Bakhmut trying to capture a major highway in the area. This is just one example of a change in immediate goals/targets. Once the rains set in there will be no more movement of vehicles across the open ground. This is occurring all along the front now.
Nothing new on the Putin terrorist attack that killed 17 people. Read an article that says this marked the 8th such attack by the Russkies on this town, as it does have some industry in it. But, not at the open market. The Romanians acknowledged a Russian missile did impact on the territory, but it hit a patch of woods and did no damage. However, the small village there is being evacuated.
Reports of 47 elite Russian paratroopers being killed in one fight near Bakhmut. And a report of a war crime by the Russians way up north near the Russian border. Seems a Ukran patrol, about 8-10 soldiers, was surprised and captured, and then murdered on video with the Russian commander boasting about it. The video was blurred out, but you can see the Ukrans were on their knees when shot. Now, there have also been some incidents of Ukrainians killing Russians after they surrendered, although the last such incident was several weeks ago, and was two Russians shot. Doesn't make it right for either side, although I can better understand the rage by the Ukrans as they are the victims in this war. I know if someone invaded my home and threatened my family, I'd be in a pretty sour mood too.
Lots of reports this morning of a Ukran success at the village of Klishvicka (sp?) south of Bakhmut. All are saying the same thing, the Russians are in full retreat from the village and giving up strong positions along the important railway line, but not much in the way of details, and no drone footage either...maybe that'll come later. However, there is documented proof of the 3rd Assault Brigade (Azov) making progress north of Klishvicka. They were making a reconnaissance in force approaching the railroad line and a VERY important highway beyond it, expecting to meet heavy resistance from the Russians, but then...nothing, save for a small band of Russians, numbering 8-10 soldiers. The 3rd seized the moment and overran the trench and then saw more Russians, about 40 soldiers, retreating up the highway. They quickly called in an artillery strike against those on the road, and there is drone video of that...brutal.
Last week, the Russians launched a concerted counter-attack using heavy tanks and about 600 infantry trying to retake the village of Klishvicka and the surrounding area. After some initial success, their attack bogged down and their tanks became sitting ducks. Six tanks were destroyed, others damaged, and the rest driven off.
Klishchiivka...that's how you spell it. Goofy names over there.
The plot thickens and the walls continue to close in on Putin. Armenia added its signature to the ever-growing list of nations supporting the arrest warrant for Putin and some of his inner circle of criminal thugs. The defense minister of Russia was incensed by this making threats on Armenia saying this could mean war. To which the Armenians responded, "yes, and sooner than you think." Armenia has officially called for its military to report for duty and some units have already moved to the Russian border. Now, complicating this...and man! such geopolitical happenings are never cut and dry...Iran has pledged support for Armenia and threatened any nation that tries to interfere with its proclaimed seizure of land, currently in Russia. Armenia claims a chunk of Russia saying it's its historic territory. Turkey has warned Iran to stay out of this, and that they support Armenia but only to the point they seize one province of the disputed land but not the others.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, a fake election was held in Donbas with only Putin's hand-picked candidates on the ballots. They used write-in, paper ballots. Most of the ballots, like 80% of them, were not completed but rather had hand-written notes such as "F**k You!" and "Death to the invaders" and "Putin is a criminal" scribbled on them. Well, well, again where are my Putinites on this forum? One of the excuses used to support the Russian invasion was that Donbas (three provinces) was primarily ethnic Russians, in love with Putin and who wanted to be "liberated" from the Nazis in Kyiv. That stupidly ridiculous notion has been debunked already, as evidenced by the vast support for anti-Russian partisan actions (local militias, like the French Underground of WWII), and the out-pouring of love showered on the true liberators, the Ukrans, as they retake towns across eastern Ukraine. Those who actually do (did) support Putin's invasion represent a tiny minority and most of them have already fled across the border to Russia.
Putin is not losing the war...he has already lost it. It's just a matter of time and how many more lives have to be lost before the POS makes it official.
The German-built Leopard II tank is one of the best in the world, and some pundits crown it as the BEST tank in the world, even besting the US Abrams tank. Whatever its ranking on the world stage it is clearly MUCH superior to anything the Russians have, and the Ukrans are learning how best to use it.
The Ukrans have learned that only the very heaviest Russian weapons can affect a Leopard. Mortars, the lighter anti-tank guns, anti-personnel mines, most of the Russian drones, and their light missiles have zero effect on the German tank. The Ukrans, used to using the Soviet-built tanks, especially the T-72, started off very cautiously with the Leopards, fearing they would be as vulnerable as the T-72. Three Leopard IIs just wreaked havoc on the Russian defenses west and southwest of Robotyne, opening several miles of trenches to Ukran infantry. The Russians tried to counter and sent two T-90s and two T-80s to engage the Leopards. Bad idea. One of the Leopards broke off the attack on the Russian defenses and went to intercept the four Russian tanks. Ukran drones had alerted the tank crews and offered guidance on the Russian tanks' movements. The Leopard plowed through a brush line and caught the Russian tanks in the flank. Two shots in less than 25 seconds and two dead Russian tanks. The other two Russian tanks, including a T-90 returned fire. The T-90 missed and the T-80's shell harmlessly bounced off the Leopard's thick armor. Realizing their peril, the Russians fled. The Leopard was able to strike the T-90 just as it turned and the Russian crew had to abandon the crippled tank. The remaining T-80 sped away, later attacked and damaged by a Ukran drone.
The Leopard II is not invincible, as no tank is. The heavier Russian artillery and anti-tank missiles, and anti-tank missiles launched from fighter-bomber aircraft can knock out a Leopard, as they could an Abrams tank. But, the Russians have limited heavy weapons, and they certainly cannot be expected to always be in the right place to counter the advance of Leopards. In fact, using their drones for scouting, the Ukrans know where the heavy weapons are and try to avoid them as much as possible.
There is good drone video footage of a Leopard clearing an anti-personnel minefield, the small explosions doing zero damage to it, and then the tank attacking Russians in a trench, quickly clearing them out. Ukran infantry follow the path of the tank across the field, thus negotiating a minefield. Later, after the Russians have retreated, Ukran engineers finish clearing the rest of the mines. Anti-tank mines can damage a Leopard, at least knocking a track off and making it vulnerable to other attacks. That is what happened to the one Challenger II tank the Ukrans have lost. The Ukrans have done an awesome job of mapping the location of most of the anti-tank mines, which the Russians mostly confine to the roads, not in the open fields. And this is why it is critical for the Ukran counter-offensive to gain as much ground as possible before the fall/winter rains set in.
Ukran commandos have successfully captured the remaining two off-shore oil rigs the Russians had held in the Black Sea, between Crimea and Odesa. And the Russian terrorists have deployed 46 more Ikander long-range missile batteries near the border for the purpose of launching more attacks against civilian targets. Of course, some morons will try to blame President Z for the attacks when they happen...
More trouble brewing for Putin. The isolated "Russian" state of Kaliningrad may officially seek to secede from Russia forming an independent nation, or perhaps allowing itself to be annexed by Poland. A recent poll had 72% favoring independence, another 16% "not sure" and only 12% wishing to remain under Moscow's influence. And Armenia has made official gestures seeking stronger ties to the US and the West, severing its dependence on Russia.
Kaliningrad, or Kronsberg, its original Prussian name, sits between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea and is one of only two warm-water ports available to the Russians. The other ice-free port is Sevastopol, Crimea, and now Putin may be on the verge of losing both. Kronsberg has historic ties to Prussia, annexed by Germany, and then lost to the Soviet Union post-WWII. Even after the Baltic states all went independent, two now part of NATO, this small enclave has remained part of the Russian Federation and the west (NATO) has not rocked the boat, leaving it alone. In the wake of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, and his published intent to revitalize the Soviet Union, by military force if need be, all bets are off.
Poor ole Putin, he had delusions of grandeur becoming ruler of a vast empire, but instead is presiding over the shrinkage of Russia, loss of influence...not to mention now being a wanted international criminal. It's appropriate that the little fat tyrant of North Korea is making an official visit to Putin today. They deserve each other, and the world will be better off when both are removed from power.
The verge of losing Crimea? :laugh:
Azerbaijan threatens to invade Armenia. They have been feuding over a province for decades.