The Russian Invasion of the Ukraine.

[Galaxie]

Speaking of Ukrainian capabilities: This probably isn't news to anyone here, but there are some interesting bits:
https://news.yahoo.com/how-the-us-helped-ukraine-prepare-for-a-russian-invasion-210407079.html

The support has included billions of dollars in military aid; enhanced intelligence sharing between the CIA, the National Security Agency and Ukrainian spy agencies; anti-corruption assistance; and enhanced cybersecurity coordination.
...
the CIA has also conducted paramilitary training for Ukrainian special operations forces at a facility in the Southern U.S. as part of a secret program that began in 2015, and has sent agency paramilitaries to the front in eastern Ukraine to advise their counterparts there.
...
the U.S. has provided advanced military training to elite Ukrainian military and special operations units. A small contingent of U.S. special operations and other military personnel were based in Ukraine to train their counterparts there, though they were were recently evacuated by the Pentagon because of the looming threat of a Russian invasion.

 

[dudalb]

They are not covered by the Geneva convention.

The Americans have set dangerous precedents on what you can do to these "illegal combatants".

B.S.
A long time before World War 2 , soliders caught with arms in Enemy uniforms were considered spys and executed.

 

[JoeMorgue]

I was wondering how long before Russia invading Ukraine was America's fault.

(And here I'll save everyone the trouble. *Clears throat* "tHaT's a StaRWAmAN. sHoW mE WHEere ANYOne sAID THAt!"

 

[jimbob]

I was wondering how long before Russia invading Ukraine was America's fault.

(And here I'll save everyone the trouble. *Clears throat* "tHaT's a StaRWAmAN. sHoW mE WHEere ANYOne sAID THAt!"

Oh I've seen it over on scrutable.science - or at least that it was the West in general

 

[Andy_Ross]

Agreed, but thousands seems like a lot of casualties to inflict, by light infantry doing onsie-twosie ambushes and then scarpering to their next defensive positions. How densely do Russian units have to be concentrated, and how poorly organized and defended, for the Ukrainians to be racking up such high kill counts at such low cost to themselves? Unless the Russians are just rolling face-first into serial ambushes, without any reconnaissance screens or fire support, for days on end...

More than light infantry and ‘onesie-twosie’ After all NATO doctrine in Europe was a slow fighting retreat, wearing away the massed charge of armour. Extensive reconnaissance didn’t seem to figure much in Warsaw Pact tactics. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of tactical thinking or coordination in the Russian actions so far. As for fire support, is there the ability to properly coordinate it? plus it depends on the logistics, if they are running out of fuel, what is their ammunition situation?

We saw the video of what looked like a light, possible recon column getting shredded in a town street. They were taking no basic precautions, they were bunched together, guns all ‘fore and aft’ no attempt at scouting the surrounding gardens and streets etc.

 

[jimbob]

More than light infantry and ‘onesie-twosie’ After all NATO doctrine in Europe was a slow fighting retreat, wearing away the massed charge of armour. Extensive reconnaissance didn’t seem to figure much in Warsaw Pact tactics. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of tactical thinking or coordination in the Russian actions so far. As for fire support, is there the ability to properly coordinate it? plus it depends on the logistics, if they are running out of fuel, what is their ammunition situation?

We saw the video of what looked like a light, possible recon column getting shredded in a town street. They were taking no basic precautions, they were bunched together, guns all ‘fore and aft’ no attempt at scouting the surrounding gardens and streets etc.

Bellingcat is reporting them using civilian radios (FM - so not even digital) and mobile phones or even flares for communication - with photos of captured equipment like that. Which again suggests there's a lot of effort in prestige weapon systems, but not the more boring stuff that makes all that work.

 

[Galaxie]

Belarusian Army convoys moving near border, marked with red squares on vehicles. U.S defense officials say they see no indication that Belarus forces will join the conflict

Russia claims only officers and contracted soldiers participating in conflict, no conscripts

Yeah, right...

Mounting worries of food shortages in Kharkiv. Also reports from Kyiv of food quickly selling out in supermarkets

I was wondering how long their food would hold out. Not good.

 

[trustbutverify]

I hope whoever Ukraine sent to the so called "peace talks" was informed not to accept any offered refreshments, no matter how hungry or thirsty they might be.

And stay out of hypodermic needle range.

 

[dudalb]

Apparently Belorussian troops have crossed into Ukraine.

"The hand that held the dagger struck it into the back of it's neighbor".

 

[Silly Green Monkey]

Is there a chance at all that Belarus is there to help Ukraine, rather than join the invasion?

 

[plague311]

Is there a chance at all that Belarus is there to help Ukraine, rather than join the invasion?

Not that I've heard. They're Russia bootlickers.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Russia claims only officers and contracted soldiers participating in conflict, no conscripts
Yeah, right...

That would make their performance even more shocking.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Is there a chance at all that Belarus is there to help Ukraine, rather than join the invasion?

Bahahahaha no. Lukashenko has his head so far up Vlad's arse that he can see daylight.

 

[JoeMorgue]

Seems weird to jump on team Russia now rather than when the invasion began.

"Let's wait until they are having a much harder time then they were counting on AND they are massively unpopular with the rest of the world!"

 

[Andy_Ross]

Yeah, right...


I was wondering how long their food would hold out. Not good.

Is there a chance at all that Belarus is there to help Ukraine, rather than join the invasion?

Not with the Russian Army in the country and using the border with Ukraine as a stepping off point.

 

[Galaxie]

Bellingcat is reporting them using civilian radios (FM - so not even digital) and mobile phones or even flares for communication - with photos of captured equipment like that. Which again suggests there's a lot of effort in prestige weapon systems, but not the more boring stuff that makes all that work.

Several people have picked up what sounded like Russian rear-area comms on this short wave receiver in the Netherlands:

http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

*Check the "logbook" tab

 

[MarkCorrigan]

That would make their performance even more shocking.

While it's obviously not true given the number of conscripts who have been captured, that would be hilarious. "Oh no, it's not our poorly trained conscripts bungling the invasion so pathetically, it's our trained forces and officers. Wait..."

 

[Andy_Ross]

Seems weird to jump on team Russia now rather than when the invasion began.

"Let's wait until they are having a much harder time then they were counting on AND they are massively unpopular with the rest of the world!"

Maybe Vlad gave them orders to get fighting and help out.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Seems weird to jump on team Russia now rather than when the invasion began.

"Let's wait until they are having a much harder time then they were counting on AND they are massively unpopular with the rest of the world!"

At a guess, Vlad told Lukashenko not to join in because the Ukrainians would surrender in droves, and now that not only isn't happening but that the Russians are getting a spanking, he's asked for some "help" from his puppet.

The Belarussian military is even more pathetic than the Russian one though, so I suspect this is just going to give the Ukrainian civilians even more APCs that they can nick.

 

[crescent]

Mariupol is getting hit very hard. There are indications that some of the Russian forces are within 3 km of the city center - some DPR idiot named "War Gonzo" is showing video from his position where he can see some of the towns industrial areas. In general, the Russians have been doing better in the south than in the north. Mariupol now seems to be surrounded.

That said, it would not be the first time Russians made it into a city only to be shredded once inside. And Mariupol was expected to be captured about 12 hours into this war.

Still, things are not looking good there. The concern is that if the Russians can get that city, they will have established the land corridor and can start to shift forces from the south up to the north.

Russia is taking much heavier casualties that expected - but is still gaining ground.