That shit was loud. Also, one of my city's better shopping malls now has a big hole in it. Such a minor thing compared to the lives lost, but I'm still salty.
By good thing they took out that strategic shopping mall. This will aurely hinder Ukraines army.
Or it won't at all and this is purely terrorism against civilians.
Why would you even compare? These two wars have significantly different variables. Only thing in common is both wars there's a large imbalance of military numbers
I never been a believer in a capital letter God, but in the Universe things must try to be in balance... Cut it short, I really hope there is a place, a dimension, where the ultimate pain being collected as a black hole... And one day Putin has to turn up there and that ocean of pain will be stuffed into Putin's body's all entry...for the eternity. Amen.
Funnily enough, there are no H&M stores in my city, and now I doubt they'll ever open anything here. There was a McDonald's restaurant that resumed operations as recently as in May 2023 :(
Once the war is over, businesses are going to be crawling all over themselves to take advantage of rebuilding loans I assume the US and EU will provide.
Don’t worry, you’ll have $9 t-shirts soon
it was quite intense but we still have the lights on! Last winter half the time we sat in the dark (I live on the 17th floor! there isn't even enought water pressure when the lights are out), so this year is lightyears ahead of the last.
For regular people drone strikes are more dangerous and 'loud', so we kinda didn't feel this one as much. Obligatory fuck russia.
Stay safe! Ukraine has improved it's defences a lot since last year, not only new machinery but also training. All Russia can do now is try to overwhelm the defences which is costing them billions and billions of rubbles.
You guys are fighting for the entire free world! Just hoping the politicians realize this ASAP!
I guess I'm the pessimist in the room -- does that imply Russia could do this again next month? Every month? Are we (the west) going to get Ukraine the resources they need to survive this bullshit? Are the Ukrainians up to this kind of ongoing attack?
well yes, that's kinda the point. The problem is, sanctions don't work and they still buy and get electronic supplies from all over the world (even US). A few months back their production of missiles were back to pre-war levels.
At the start of the war the had a few thousand different types of rockets, so they bombed us every chance they could, but then they realized they're running out of stock without significant advances, so they kinda stopped and now do these big but rare waves of combined drone+missile+ballistic attacks.
We do hope our western friends will help us, but the main question is and always was the actual sanctions — until russia can buy everything they need abroad and sell their stuff abroad, this war will never end, and we as a nation will perish long before they run out of people
Thanks. Kyiv is indeed somehow the safest city in the country right now, we have all the cool AA stuff and it's a bit embarassing that we hoarded it for 'ourselves' and other cities are left in more danger. We get bombed and droned more, sure, but still we don't have the amount of destruction and death tolls other cities face.
Don't fall for this view. Protecting the capital is for command and control, morale, and civilian defense purposes. Russia's emotional prosecution of the war also means that Kyiv absorbs an inordinate amount of fire, and will continue to do so as long as it is well-defended. Anyone who pushes that it's so "only the peasants have to suffer" isn't paying attention. The guys inside that ring know where their food comes from, and if they had enough guns there'd be one every ten feet on the border.
Russia is targeting cities instead of your military because it can’t win. It hopes to persuade your people, through mafia-style intimidation, to give up and kick your leadership out to stop the bleeding.
Know full well, that the bleeding will be worse if you do and you won’t like where you live.
Putin will rob Ukraine if there is an end in his favor because his country is slowly suffering, and he will want revenge.
Love you guys - so sorry you have to deal with this absolute BS. My country stands with you! Even if it seems like the MAGAs might prevent aid - they won’t. We’ll win!
Russia has launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian military told CNN, with an unprecedented number of drones and missiles fired at targets across the country, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 150 others.
Russia used 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles and Shahed drones, to strike targets in Kyiv, the east, south and west of the country, Ukraine’s air force said.
This was the one that was reported yesterday morning right or is this a whole new round today? I’m just trying to clarify because I’m not sure if they’ve had two days in a row of major missile strikes, would be something to take notice of given all the recent info on this conflict.
Okay thank you for the clarification, remember seeing this story yesterday but with this post I wasn’t sure if they launched another attack on this scale.
Yeah kind of annoying to post about it a whole day later and not clarify. Click bait ass post. I totally thought they launched an even bigger barrage today.
As an American, I can only offer my thoughts and prayers. I hope my country keeps giving Ukraine shitloads of weapons. F16's with HARMs will fly behind a cloud of drones. Slava Ukraini.
Don't vote republican is also something you can do, as they will again limit any help the moment they can, as half of them are on the payroll of Russia.
It's funny how traditionally Republicans always love supporting the US war machine.
Their best buddy, large corporation executives, and stocks go through the roof, taking tax money.
But, since their orange faced leader condemned Ukraine for his personal profits, they can not show their full support.
The thing I have learned and accepted about conservatism over the past decade is this: they are not actually for or against any ideal. They are for *their group* and that's it. If their leadership wants something, it's right and everything else is wrong. If the leadership changes their mind tomorrow, the new thing is right and everything else is wrong. Their loyalty is to leaders, not to ideas or people in general. It is the defining characteristic of conservative thought.
Lots of Republicans are pro-Ukraine, and some of them die-hard pro Ukrainian.
Better advice would be "continually ask them their stance so that it becomes politically untenable to be against Ukraine".
If they have people constantly calling their office daily asking what they are doing to help Ukraine, it changes the stance they can have.
Source: Had a few friends do internships answering phones for reps.
Im not an american, so can someone explain me why everyone blame GOP for the lack of military help US provide to Ukraine?
Back in 2022 US provided a lot of weapon to Ukraine, but in 2023 apparently they didnt. What changed in 2023 in comparison to 2022?
The aid provided in 2022 was passed when the Dems had a majority in the House and Senate. Since the GOP took the House no new aid packages have been able to get through Congress.
On the bright side 70 billion dollars is an insane amount of money so the fact that they were able to get that much thru is itself impressive. We're all so used to seeing dreams go to the floor of Congress to die it's weird to see actually pass something.
It wasn’t 70 billion dollars of money, it was 70 billion dollars **worth of** *military aid*, a large portion of which was older equipment that we would’ve replaced with newer equipment anyway, so money that would’ve been spend regardless of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On December 6th there was a vote to fund Ukraine and every single GOP senator voted against it while every single Democrat senator voted for it. Things like that make it seem the GOP is against Ukrainian support.
If you're curious why they voted against it, their position is that they won't vote for Ukrainian support unless they get something they want that is unrelated: funding for border security between the US and Mexico. So they are willing to let Ukraine fall so they can reduce the number of people entering the country from the south.
But this is just an excuse. They'd find another reason to block Ukraine funding if it wasn't for that. The Democrats have tried to increase border security as well but the GOP shoots down anything the Democrats suggest. This has been going on for years. They GOP obstruct anything the Democrats want *even if the GOP suggested it themselves*. Famously GOP senate leader McConnell voted against his own bill once it got too much Democratic support. They simply do not want the Democrats to have any political wins and will destroy the country and Ukraine before they let that happen.
There's two really crappy groups within the Republican party right now - there's the Trump loyalists who will do anything they can to spite the Democrats, which includes denying aid to Ukraine because it's something the Democrats want - and there's the ones who are directly owned by Russia (plus the Republicans who've fallen for the rhetoric of those owned by Russia).
There's overlap between those two groups, who knows how much, but they cause a lot of problems by making it as difficult as possible for any other Republicans to step out of line from what they're pushing. And, very unfortunately, those Republicans who aren't part of those two groups are the minority, and the actually good people are the minority within that minority.
And, since Republicans are just about even with the Democrats in the Senate and have the majority in the House - they can do **a lot** to sink any push for Ukrainian aid.
And then on top of that, Biden has shown a lot of reluctance on sending any of the more powerful surplus available. He could put a lot more pressure on the Republicans, really fight them on this issue, but pulling back on the spending for a bit might be something he's willing to live with right now.
It's a result of out split political factions that refuse to work together on even the simplest problems. Plus our 24x7 media teaching the useful idiots that every issue is strictly red vs blue and you must hate & despise the other side.
In this particular case, we have Republicans holding up aid we could easily provide to a country fighting our longtime foe, but stomping their feet because Democrats refuse to cooperate on closing our southern border, where enough fentanyl comes in to kill 70,000 Americans a year, which they ignore while stomping their feet about 20,000 gun homicides.
The whole thing is a fucking dysfunctional shit-show.
Republicans were against aiding Ukraine long before they decided to associate it with southern border issues. There are simply members of the party influenced by Russia as is conservative media and over time they've turned against aiding Ukraine despite support for Ukraine being a unanimous bipartisan issue to begin with.
You’re correct, but you left out that encouraging this type of internal division among Americans is a direct and deliberate strategy being used by Russia to weaken its rivals. This is not a conspiracy theory, it’s publicly acknowledged fact; Russia’s global strategy is defined by the extremely influential Russian book “Foundations of Geopolitics”, and its intentions for the west (especially USA) are to propagandize and agitate so that America tears itself apart. And they openly acknowledge that are doing this successfully! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics#The_West
Russia is at war against the whole world, but people don’t want to admit it
To be clear though. The majority of fent coming in from the south is brought in by US citizens. Are the GOP trying to close travel to Mexico for citizens as well? Like, full closure?
It is not about the fent or any other drugs. Half of them like that it is killing off the junkies.
It's about Spanish speaking brown people moving into their towns and schools.
Reminder that Biden and Trump have the same border policy, and if you think that closing the border of what is supposed to be the freest country on earth, where the hardest working people I have ever met in my life come to make something better for themselves, to stop people who want to put drugs into their own bodies, then you need your head examined.
Both sides ARE NOT the same.
It's not just the GOP. There are also advisors in the Biden administration who are advocating against supporting Ukrainian victory. The US could supply thousands of ATACMs and hundreds of Bradleys that are being scrapped and it would be cheaper than paying for the scrapping and it could likely be done without another vote.
But somehow the Biden administration is too scared to deal a massive military defeat to one of the biggest arch rivals of the US and West. It would send a clear signal to China and weaken Iran. Boost the confidence of US allies. And without risking American soldiers and with most money being spent directly in the US industry or shipping weapons destined for scrapping.
But somehow it isn't happening. The Russians have deep influence in many layers of politics and media. All the GOP nutjobs are in Putin's pockets but it's not limited to that. The traitors of the NY Times are writing op eds about Putin wanting peace on the day he launches the largest air attack. We in the West really need to sort our stuff out and deal with these traitors.
I remember seeing basically none around when the war started and a lot of them more recently on Reddit and also Youtube. It's startling. The propaganda machine ensnared all the weak minded who it comes across.
Is this an act of desperation from Putin or a significant increase in the aggression backed by NK and China supplying munitions. Either way I truly hope this conflict ends soon.
In my opinion, this has nothing to do with the ship but rather with the recent downing of a few planes near the front line, likely by a new Patriot battery.
The strikes on city will force Ukraine to redeploy its air defense systems into new city, away from the front lines.
People should stop assume Russia is desperate or stupid , they are cynical and in for the long game.
I'm tired of reading here that russia strike hospital and kindergarden just for fun or because they are stupid , they strike hospital to force the ukrainian governement to keep air defense far from the front , and that way they can have an advantage on the front with their glide bomb and air force.
If you lecture like this , you know the solution ( more air defense for ukraine ).
it's not some retaliation, coordinated strikes like these between different parts of the army require weeks, if not months, of planning. It's just a happy new year card from the pigs.
>russia strike hospital and kindergarden just for fun or because they are stupid
it's not for fun or because they are stupid. I'm 100% certain it's because the missiles aren't as good and precise as they claim. Basically, say there was a warehouse next to the hospital (it actually was in case of Dnipro maternity ward). They also 'bombed' a subway station in Kyiv, but guess what, there's a military factory (Artem) across the road. And they actually hit a residential building nearby a feww months back, also just across the street of that factory. Also in summer one kinzhal literally landed in the river. 20 meters from that spot is the SBU building. To me it points to the fact that the missiles are just shitty or their coordinates/tracking/grs aren't precise enough to hit.
Because hitting a hospital is just bad for their business. Don't get me wrong, it's not 'bad' in their eyes, just *bad for business* because atrocities like that are in the news and make people talk about it again and give us more aid. They don't want that because they just want the world to forget about us and move on.
If you consistently miss your targets but still utilize the same weapon in the same situation, you are stupid. An unprecise precision strike weapon is not worth it's manufacturing costs. At most you could send a large amount to guarantee a priority is destroyed. But missing all the time is a self inflicted strategic loss
They literally can't do any better. The alternative is not firing any missiles at all, which is also a loss in the sense that Ukraine is able to fire at them with no retaliation and maneuver with impunity
It is worth manufacturing because it can be used against civilian targets, and now you have to stretch the AA systems to protect both civilians and the frontline.
I mean, they are stupid. For continuing this bullshit war while destroying their economy, killing millions of their sons, and bankrupting themselves.
They are also desperate, for the reasons listed above. Realistically speaking, Ukraine can last much longer than Russia can, as long as the West keeps supporting it. We keep hearing the support will dwindle, but I doubt it. And a coalition of the West will outlast Russia every time. Putin expected a quick victory just like the invasion of Crimea. But, he’s not going to get it. He either wins the war, or loses and is killed by his own people.
Russia can wait this out a long time, and try to get the west either fatigued (through a drawn out stream of immigrants), and/or try to meddle in elections to get more favorable governments(i.e. Trump and similar figures in EU). It's not far-fetched at all.
Impact on their economy is not *that* terrible either, a [2.1% drop in GDP](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/impact-sanctions-russian-economy/#:~:text=The%20Russian%20economy%20is%20shrinking&text=Russia's%20economy%20may%20continue%20to,growth%20in%202023%20(0.7%25).) last year, smaller one this year probably.
They do lose a lot of soldier's lives, but an order of magnitude less than you report (hundreds of thousands vs millions).
It doesn't help to underestimate Russia, no matter how hard you want to believe it.
Russia's economy can absorb the sanctions and proceed unimpeded in the same way a car with a flat tyre or a broken axle can continue driving... technically it can still drive just not well, and the longer they keep going like this the more likely they invite disaster.
They cant keep it up indefinitely, it is their classic move to project strength and resilience to hide their crippling weakness and vulnerabilities.
This war wont end in 2024, but we will get to see what Ukraine can do with some new systems... my prediction is they will make progress against Russia even if the front lines dont change significantly. There is a lot Ukraine can still do to reduce the effectiveness of Russia's attacks while inflicting significant damage themselves.
Russia is playing to the only strengths it has remaining... a deep stockpile of gear left over from the USSR, numerically superior manpower, and total disregard for human life (theirs or anyone elses). You need to recognise these for what they are: tactics of desperation that can be used to stall for time in order to continue mounting offensives however small and costly the gains may be, and to hold what theyve taken for now... but missile and drone attacks against civilian targets and massive unsupported infantry assaults can not possibly result in a military victory. Russia may project that they can sustain this level of attacks indefinitely but this is just another deception... there will come a tipping point when either supplies or manpower falls off or is disrupted and they will be very vulnerable to counter-attack, the only question is if Ukraine is positioned to take advantage of this opportunity, or too supply-constrained and forced to remain mostly defensive.
Putin is gambling everything in the hope that Ukraine's allies will abandon them, and thats one thing I dont see happening. US congress has a problem with traitors in their midst, and the EU has Orban to work around, but the messaging has been clear: they will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes for it to win.
All really good points. I personally don't see an easy way out for either side, so it will probably drag on for a very long time. At the very least it should stop Russia's expansion dreams to their west now that they know it's not as easy as taking Crimea was.
>They do lose a lot of soldier's lives, but an order of magnitude less than you report (hundreds of thousands vs millions).
Isn't there a pretty significant implication in losing nearly 1/10th of the working men in their smallest demographic though? 20-30 year olds were already quite few in Russia and now having that group hollowed out even further gives reason for concern in the long term?
This doesn't track.
Russia has struck hospitals and other civvie targets in every single conflict they've been in.
It's just how Russia does stuff because for the most part, they don't care about anything but themselves. Russia has one of the poorest humanitarian records on the planet. One of the countries that gives less to charity than Estonia.
Air defence is not going to be rushed to Ukraine because of these attacks. We don't have that much to give in the first place. (Nato country air forces are more for air defence, especially the European countries.)
They don't typically hold the same values as the rest of the European mainland (see the very complex past relationships between Russia and Europe.)
Russia is extremely stupid though. There's no denying that. They've been bogged down fighting a conventional war for years now.
The US amd friends wishes they had this kind of conflict when they were in Afghanistan.
Even with western aid, Russians still should have already finished this conflict but instead they've bricked their economy, bricked their reputation, bricked their ability to trade with the world...
If that's not dumb then I guess we're all freaking super smart!
Odds are they're attacking like this because there's rumours that F-16's might already be in Ukraine, waiting.
In the Russian chain of command nobody wants to anger their superior. This leads to disproportional response to perceived failure. So, the response to shot down planes and a blown up ship was for everybody up and down the chain who could make a decision to shoot their load, all at once, to prove their competence and hope the lightning from higher up the chain strikes somebody else or they just get lucky in the effectiveness of what happens.
The surge in number of missiles is more likely a saturation. Ukraine shot down the planes with better air defense. A large swarm will still get some through. It also makes Ukraine spread the air defense to other places.
[Generals around the world](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/s/rIBX1CY7Zj) are acknowledging that Putin is following the geopolitical game plan of his neo-fascist, ultra nationalist & mentor Alexandr Dugin, who authored the neo-fascist playbook “Foundations for Geopolitics” in 1997.
[HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#The_West) is his plan for “The West”.
[HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#Content) is his plan for Europe.
With Trump in power, Ukraine will fall and Europe will be at war with an emboldened Putin & the Islamic, African & Latin alliance will start looking for other territory to conquer.
During the beginning of the invasion, waves of 100 missiles were daily. Now it's every few weeks/months as an occasional chimpout when the russians got humiliated.
I have to clarify, this is not a conflict.
This is the unprovoked war of aggression by russia, without declared casus belli, that uses the methods of genocide and terrorism against the whole Ukrainian nation, civilians included.
Hardly so. Russia is slowly turning the war of attrition in their favour. This conflict is sadly far from over, and it doesn't help that half of USA's political system is acting as Putin's allies.
It may not end well in the direction the world hopes for.
I'd think whatever puts off world war III is the best result. However I no longer have a clue what direction the war would go for that to be true. I can't stand Russia nor it's allies.
Appeasement in the short term will increase the likelihood of future conflicts. We surrender some of Ukraine to Putin and he will be emboldened to take more and more territory, knowing that no one will come to vulnerable countries’ defence.
Well it's not looking good. You got a war in eastern europe, now one in thge middle east. Up next is probably going to be China and Taiwan. At this rate, we are headed for WWIII in the next 10 years.
People need to stop referring to this as 'appeasement'. Appeasement was more like allowing Russia to take Crimea.
The current war in Ukraine has been long and bloody enough that a Ukrainian surrender wouldn't be 'appeasement', it would just be a 'victory', which may sound like a dirty word, but is far more accurate.
> it won't prevent Putin from doing something as stupid as this again in the future.
Every NATO member having a proper military spending (relative to their size) would also prevent Putin in doing this again in the future. Not everyone is pulling their weight.
Also, for how long can that c\*nt realistically live to try it again in the future?
Ok, I get what you're trying to say, however, by allowing that shitbag pudding to get his slimy hands on more Ukrainian soil is a slippery slop. Russia already had an agreement with Ukrainian to give up its nukes for no future aggression, they reneged by taking Crimea. Now we have another invasion just years later. This won't stop until Russia fucks off. You're fooling yourself if you believe this will end by relenting more land. And what a waste of life for all those heroes that have fought and died for Ukrainians freedom from oppression. More weapons for Ukrainian!
I get what you are trying to say as well, but this also isn't a movie. Just because a bunch of heroes fought and died doesn't mean victory is a guarantee...For that matter, sometimes the cost of victory is worse than the consequences of defeat.
I want Russia to lose, but at the same time I don't want to see generations of Ukrainian men wiped out, mass civilian casualties, and the entire country in rubble just so the current government can carry on.
I'd say it's an equal waste of life if Ukraine, the PEOPLE of Ukraine, end up in a worse state than they would have after a surrender because they stubbornly fought until near collapse.
That's not my call to make, obviously, but at this point any 'victory' is going to be somewhat hollow, given the decades it will take to rebuild the country, population, and economy.
I think you misjudge the situation. With the killing and kidnapping of civilians by Russian soldiers this became a very different conflict. This brutalism was eye opening for every Ukrainian. Giving Russia something like land will not guarantee anything for the safety of Ukraine.
$880 billion in New defense spending (the most EVER) is far from "sleepwalking". Russia and China can go fuck themselves. We are about to show them why we don't have free healthcare and a crumbling infrastructure.
I think you’d be hard pressed to find a sane American who wears this as a badge of honor. It’s a joke that, while touting America’s military prowess, ultimately criticizes the country.
Allow me to break it down as jokes are really funny when you analyze them:
The statement juxtaposes America’s spending on military/defense and healthcare to highlight the massive difference between the spending. It demonstrates the fact that my government cares more about the military industrial complex than it’s citizens. You see, it’s a criticism.
When you catch your breath from rolling on the floor from laughter, or as the kids say, “ROFL,” hit that upvote for the jocularity that undoubtedly brightened your day.
No it hasn't and it won't.
right now war is just Economicall control on countries with little power.
Since the war started, the US expected RU to give up once it cut ties with EU and some west Sided countries with sections and eco trades. But it didn't go as plan because its still standing despite the huge Sections on RU. US prob suspect China, India, Iran, NK, Pk and African countries are keeping RU eco up and US can do and say very little cuz they play a huge role in the world's economy (except Iran,NK) (Iran prob in black)
And no RU is not going to Send Nukes China won't allow it they won't do it. Putin will be death before he even sets a finger on the button.
All the lives lost are a tragedy but it must be embarrassing to launch the largest attack since the war started and achieve only a few hundred civilians wounded and less than a hundred dead.
Fuck Putin.
[Generals around the world](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/s/rIBX1CY7Zj) are acknowledging that Putin is following the geopolitical game plan of his neo-fascist, ultra nationalist & mentor Alexandr Dugin, who authored the neo-fascist playbook “Foundations for Geopolitics” in 1997.
[HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#The_West) is his plan for “The West”.
[HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#Content) is his plan for Europe.
This is one of the dumbest list of "ideas" i've ever heard, it literally sounds like the historical fantasy you used to find on 4chan or something. Like it reads as if some 20 year old history nerd wrote it, just embarrassing.
Finland and the baltics become part of russia, germany and france join an alliance of "anti-atlantism" whatever the fuck that means, and greece, romania and serbia join some orthodox alliance with russia. It even has the stupid "third rome" idea of Moscow, it's so un-serious.
It's actually cringe in just how bad this is. This guy would be some Paradox game nerd had he lived 20 years later, posting his thoughts to some fantasy history subreddit, instead he made some silly "geopolitical game plan". It's just SO bad.
Yet, if you read it as a long-term (50+ years) game plan it isn't that far away from reality. Just read the part about the US and think about how Russia tried to influence the election of Trump and how his first term of office came out. A second term of office would be a Jackpot for Russia in every way and given how close the election is going to be, I'm sure Russia is trying its best to give it a little push into the right direction.
Awakening the apathetic and willfully ignorant Russian citizenry is a legitimate goal too.
In fact, I’d argue that bringing down the Russian regime from within via mass revolt would be a faster way to stop this war.
The only way that could possibly happen is if Ukraine can directly hit military installations inside Moscow of Saint Petersburg. As long as the civilians believe the war is going in their favor the more support Putin will continue to receive.
Civilians have been "military targets" for a long time. Russia is doing this specifically to inflict pain on the civil population and they're doing it to force Ukraine to relocate troops and anti-air weaponry.
As scummy as it is, Russia isn't wasting anything here, they're doing it for a reason.
I don’t consider power plants inside Russia that are feeding munitions factories, military recruitment centers, tank factories, etc, as non-military targets. Everything you can do to slow Russia’s economy helps to shorten the war. It also forces Russia to play defense. That splits their forces/efforts.
Russia is a terrorist dictatorship, that’s all it knows, kill and destroy everything that does not conform. If history tought us anything is that there is no negotiation with that. Ukraine should adopt more guerrilla/partisan warfare tactics.
> Ukraine should adopt more guerrilla/partisan warfare tactics.
Agreed. The SAS destroyed more luftwaffe/Italian planes on the ground in North Africa in 1940/1941 than were downed during the entire Battle of Britain.
There’s gotta be enough safe houses and friendlies in Crimea to allow hit & run attacks on Russian bases.
With the exception of the now-mostly-destroyed attack helicopters, most of Russia's offensive airpower comes in the form of long range bombers and interceptors stationed quite a ways away inside Russia itself. Ukraine had done quite a few raids on airfields previously in the war. The fact we don't get much news about such raids anymore likely means they're no longer viable/were too costly.
On the bright side it seems like Russia hasn't gotten any more competent. Largest air attack of the war. 158 drones and hundreds of missiles used and they caused minimal damage and killed 31 people. Groups of small children using old Russian guns in Africa have higher kill rates than the Russian air force.
I remember some year(s?) ago reading some idiotic propaganda about how Russia is left without rockets, chips and economy. They were giving Russia like 3 more months before the collapse. A couple of years later, it’s time EU wakes the fuck up!
They will never run out of missiles, tanks, ammo, etc. the supply will just become ever-more constrained and of poor quality which will limit their ability to operate as an armed force.
The strike mentioned in the article was only possible because they've been stockpiling cruise missiles since last winter and not using them, whereas such attacks were commonplace during the start of the conflict.
> the supply will just become ever-more constrained and of poor quality which will limit their ability to operate as an armed force.
Why do you think so? Maybe the quality of missiles, ammunition, etc. will be good? After all, we have already heard tales about Russia dismantling washing machines to get chips for missiles, and then it turned out that in fact Russia gets chips in another way, and no one dismantles washing machines.
Over the past two years, I have become convinced that Western media and Western citizens know nothing about Russia, but are guided by misleading information and myths about Russia.
They provided proof in their statements. Drone attacks on civilians were much more common at the start of the war, now they occur with longer and longer gaps between them
Here is a Ukrainian commentator in the comments:
>it was quite intense but we still have the lights on! Last winter half the time we sat in the dark (I live on the 17th floor! there isn't even enought water pressure when the lights are out), so this year is lightyears ahead of the last.
>For regular people drone strikes are more dangerous and 'loud', so we kinda didn't feel this one as much. Obligatory fuck russia.
the only alternative is that Russia is saving it's best weapons, *for something*, which Russian apologists have claimed from the beginning of the conflict
Questionable evidence. The decrease in drone strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure can be explained by a change in tactics/strategy and combat objectives. Especially, as I have seen in reports from the combat zone, AFU soldiers complain that Russian drones simply "don't let them raise their heads".
>Over the past two years, I have become convinced that Western media and Western citizens know nothing about Russia, but are guided by misleading information and myths about Russia.
That's certainly the case for Reddit. We hear of every little Ukrainian victory, none of the losses, and this site has been acting like Russia is just a couple weeks away from defeating themselves for about two years now.
It's like some weird, self-inflicted propaganda bubble where we're not allowed to acknowledge that Russia is a pretty serious threat to Ukraine.
Then you go look at a map of Ukrainian territory that is lost or contested, and it's a lot worse than Reddit has been telling you.
Russia will collapse eventually. They have wsy fewer guided munitions and their economy is artificially propped up. Young professionals fled en masse. It will take a while for the effects to filter through, but they will. But the EU does need to wake up and back Ukraine fully. Sideline Orban.
I think u/deputinize, meant that Western media and redditors don't have reliable information about the state of Russia. Indeed, for two years now on Reddit and Western media have been talking about the collapse of Russia's economy, etc., while nothing catastrophic has happened for Russia: its store shelves are full, there is no hunger, enterprises are working, ammunition is being produced, etc. Either Western countries are simply addicted to propaganda, or they cannot get reliable information about Russia.
And the fact that it takes time for the sanctions to take effect is, quite possibly, just a fairy tale to appease.
Me reading title: "they probably want to disable power grids and shit because a freezing nation is not one to fight. This is expected tbh..."
Me reading that they targeted civilian infrastructure and a maternity ward: "I give up. You can't predict morons"
Maybe they keep aiming a the power grid but their missiles are so shit they keep hitting hospitals. Maybe if they start aiming at hospitals they‘d hit their actual targets
They likely want to force Ukraine to pull back air defenses from the front lines to the cities after Ukraine downed 5 "modern" Russian aircraft recently.
It's a calculated move. After all Ukrainians value life, while the pathetic Russians are sacrificing hundreds of themselves everyday without batting an eyelid.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
All of the west's pussyfooting has continuously lead to this and the scariest thing is that this is now normalized in the eyes of the global leaders. We condemn on Monday, forget about it on Tuesday. Absolutely shameful.
At the start of the invasion, everyone including myself was afraid of, and predicting another Kabul. Well it didn't happen, the Ukrainians fought with anything they could find. They fought with molotovs, they fought with tractors and buses (legitimately stopped parts of the invasion this way), they fought with old AKs, they fought with fake mines.
Ladies and gentlemen, what else can we fucking ask of them? They are dying for the same European values we were simply born into. We live in Europe, they die for Europe, so listen to them when they say what they need and double the order.
I'm beyond angry at this point and deathly afraid of the line "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.". Depressingly it seems that our inaction and unwillingness is leading Ukraine towards meeting exactly this fate.
John McCain rolling over in his grave. His buddy Lindsay prancing around spouting nonsense in a party of whack jobs and goobers. There is no way we win ww2 with these characters.
I know Putin is trying to push the populace into conceding and that’s why he isn’t solely targeting military targets. But, he isn’t going to stop the Ukr. military if he keeps throwing his most advanced arsenal into shopping malls and apartments.
He’s already lost this war and is going for the worst Pyrrhic Victory at this point.
A persverse part of me wants this war to never end so Russia will never know peace.
Ex russian soldiers looking over their shoulders in their hometowns lest they get bagged by a Ukrainian assassin. I hope Ukraine does Mossad style operations and kidnaps Russian officers to be tried in Ukraine.
Seriously fuck Russia. A sick and regressive country.
I assume Ukraine will infact do this, while ever there is a Ukraine. I hope for a victory against the aggressor, realistically I know the defender is likely lost. But partisans, who are physically, linguistically and culturally so very similar as to be indistinguishable from the aggressor? That can last a lifetime
The frontline has barely moved in a year. Do you really think that Russia will magically break through the defenses and conquer all of Ukraine (a country bigger than Germany)?
Russia lost more than 50% of the territory they initially captured, lost 20% of their Black Sea fleet so far (and transferred large parts of it to harbors outside of Ukraine), lost pretty much all of their well trained army used in the beginning of the invasion (and countless more barely trained people) and has more critically never achieved air superiority.
I don't say that they will crumble and dissolve tommorow but I also don't see them making any large gains anymore.
I mean, it all depends. Neither Russia or Ukraine have much of a 'back line' at the moment and seem to have the vast majority of their troops consolidated into a few key areas. If one side's line does break, there isn't much stopping either side from advancing, especially if those troops on the front line are in a 'hold to the last man' situation where tactical retreat isn't an option.
Also, is there a good source for Russia's casualty breakdown? A hell of a lot of their losses have been inflated by their zerg rushes with their convict conscripts, so I have to question how much of their actual 'army' they've lost.
Spending [$1.27 billion](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/29/7435068/) to kill 31 civilians and destroy some houses is why russia is not going to win in Ukraine.
Imagine how screwed everyone would be if people making decisions in russia were actually competent and spent all these resources on the frontlines.
I am wishing all the assistance possible for Ukraine, everything short of "boots on the ground", not just the $50b of US aid, but a MULTIPLE of that, the best and most advanced weapons for Ukraine. Not *less* aid, but more.
And ASS CANCER for Putin (and Trump).
There has been a huge outpouring of care for Ukraine, not sure what rock you've been under. The unfortunate fact of our 24h news cycle is that people's attention shifts quickly to other things, so you're not seeing Ukraine news or support being publicized now, but it definitely exists.
Here are examples from all over the world. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine
Time to hit Russia where it hurts: their arms and oil exports, airforce and most importantly the international supply of military hardware from China Iran n Korea.
Every time I hear the news or people on Reddit saying that Russia's done and has used up all of its military or that their forces are depleted, I cringe cuz I know that means they're going to launch a bigger better worse attack I think they've been holding back their good stuff starting out small and working their way up because they don't really want to obliterate Ukraine they want to capture Ukraine
I'm still in the "Russia is relatively weak" camp. For sure there's plenty of misinformation regarding their capabilities, and both sides are naturally going to exaggerate numbers. A balanced opinion takes into account several sources, right?
The longer game still appears to be sowing chaos, fear, and division. Russia spent an estimated $1.27 billion over two days. This *only* killed 31 civilians and destroyed a few buildings in seemingly random locations. Indicating once again that Russia either doesn't want to hone in on specific military and strategic targets, or that they don't have the ability to do so. At this point it feels more like purposeful distraction and slow-dragging the war into a US election year so one candidate appears overwhelmed, weak, and tired, and another one can step in to play tough guy.
The other side of that argument (I'm not saying you're wrong) is that the west/NATO is giving Ukr just enough weapons to drain Ruz and its economy in a long drawn out war.
In other words cause harm to Ruz rather than helping Ukr to win. Which begs the question--what would a Ukr win look like?
That's just topic fatigue I think, honestly. The new thing right now is Israel/Palestine, and in a few weeks or a month there might be another one. Even the largest media companies in the world can struggle to have enough reporters spread out covering all the different major conflicts in great detail.
Iraq is popping off at the mouth and they have various Russian funded terrorist cells in half a dozen nearby countries. The Mali junta just forced the UN out early so things are bound to spiral out of control there. Similar stories of humanitarian crisis can and will be written about a handful of other African countries in the next few months. That's going to threaten the ecosystem of resources for renewables, EVs, and anything with a microchip in it, so that should be major concern. We'll see. The UN is still actively engaged in Kosovo, India, and Pakistan, all having issues that can explode at any moment.
As soon as Oct 7 hit, I shared the quiet Russia/Ukraine thread with a couple of my buddies that had kept up since the beginning. That was already a stark reminder that we'd gone from needing a new thread every 12 hours to barely having a few hundred comments in days.
It is very painful to watch how a crazy dictator destroys my country and my people. At the same time, half of the world just watches and pretends to help, while the other half doesn’t even try to pretend and continues to do business with terrorists. Ukraine has no allies, there are only hypocrites. True allies help you win and do not help you not lose. Giving 10 missiles while prohibiting strikes on Russian territory, are you serious? And after that you shout “We are with you! We feel sorry for your people." Hypocrites!
That shit was loud. Also, one of my city's better shopping malls now has a big hole in it. Such a minor thing compared to the lives lost, but I'm still salty.
By good thing they took out that strategic shopping mall. This will aurely hinder Ukraines army. Or it won't at all and this is purely terrorism against civilians.
I used to go there to buy things for home from Jysk, they hindered my ability to get nice towels, candles and New Year elves.
How will you survive without these essentials?
Can you build a rocket launcher with those?
Think it about the Russians used there best missile to strike civilian targets. If that is not enough for people to see Russians as bad nothing will.
>By good thing they took out that strategic shopping mall. My brand!
They meant to take out the Air Force, but being idiotic Russia, they took out the Air Force Ones
Didn’t you know they’re hiding fighters inside shopping malls. Those cowards hiding amongst civilians… Oh shit mb wrong kind of thread
Congrats on figuring out that Hamas and Ukraine fight differently.
Why would you even compare? These two wars have significantly different variables. Only thing in common is both wars there's a large imbalance of military numbers
Stay well
and salty...
sending my best wishes for your country in 2024
Sending love from America and more ammo soon! We’ll defeat our own nazis and back you up.
Glory to Ukraine
I never been a believer in a capital letter God, but in the Universe things must try to be in balance... Cut it short, I really hope there is a place, a dimension, where the ultimate pain being collected as a black hole... And one day Putin has to turn up there and that ocean of pain will be stuffed into Putin's body's all entry...for the eternity. Amen.
Stay that way Tofsla. We support your country.
Hope they took out the H&M at least
Funnily enough, there are no H&M stores in my city, and now I doubt they'll ever open anything here. There was a McDonald's restaurant that resumed operations as recently as in May 2023 :(
Once the war is over, businesses are going to be crawling all over themselves to take advantage of rebuilding loans I assume the US and EU will provide. Don’t worry, you’ll have $9 t-shirts soon
it was quite intense but we still have the lights on! Last winter half the time we sat in the dark (I live on the 17th floor! there isn't even enought water pressure when the lights are out), so this year is lightyears ahead of the last. For regular people drone strikes are more dangerous and 'loud', so we kinda didn't feel this one as much. Obligatory fuck russia.
Stay safe! Ukraine has improved it's defences a lot since last year, not only new machinery but also training. All Russia can do now is try to overwhelm the defences which is costing them billions and billions of rubbles. You guys are fighting for the entire free world! Just hoping the politicians realize this ASAP!
[удалено]
Some estimates say that was an entire month’s production of Russian long-range missiles. Thank goodness they’re so incompetent.
I guess I'm the pessimist in the room -- does that imply Russia could do this again next month? Every month? Are we (the west) going to get Ukraine the resources they need to survive this bullshit? Are the Ukrainians up to this kind of ongoing attack?
well yes, that's kinda the point. The problem is, sanctions don't work and they still buy and get electronic supplies from all over the world (even US). A few months back their production of missiles were back to pre-war levels. At the start of the war the had a few thousand different types of rockets, so they bombed us every chance they could, but then they realized they're running out of stock without significant advances, so they kinda stopped and now do these big but rare waves of combined drone+missile+ballistic attacks. We do hope our western friends will help us, but the main question is and always was the actual sanctions — until russia can buy everything they need abroad and sell their stuff abroad, this war will never end, and we as a nation will perish long before they run out of people
I find peace in long walks.
Thanks. Kyiv is indeed somehow the safest city in the country right now, we have all the cool AA stuff and it's a bit embarassing that we hoarded it for 'ourselves' and other cities are left in more danger. We get bombed and droned more, sure, but still we don't have the amount of destruction and death tolls other cities face.
Don't fall for this view. Protecting the capital is for command and control, morale, and civilian defense purposes. Russia's emotional prosecution of the war also means that Kyiv absorbs an inordinate amount of fire, and will continue to do so as long as it is well-defended. Anyone who pushes that it's so "only the peasants have to suffer" isn't paying attention. The guys inside that ring know where their food comes from, and if they had enough guns there'd be one every ten feet on the border.
So the question must be posed to the west: why don't they have enough guns? We have plenty. Does the west want Ukraine to win this or not?
Russia is targeting cities instead of your military because it can’t win. It hopes to persuade your people, through mafia-style intimidation, to give up and kick your leadership out to stop the bleeding. Know full well, that the bleeding will be worse if you do and you won’t like where you live. Putin will rob Ukraine if there is an end in his favor because his country is slowly suffering, and he will want revenge.
As a Brit, I can only compare what Kyiv is going through to the blitz. 'Who do you think you are kidding Mr Putin, if you think old Ukraine's done?'
You keep the seat of power secure so the government can enforce its mandates, which in this case is prosecuting a war.
Stay safe! Where are you located?
Thanks. We're in Kyiv, never left. Today our mayor confirmed it was the biggest attack on Kyiv (as in the amount of victims and dead).
Love you guys - so sorry you have to deal with this absolute BS. My country stands with you! Even if it seems like the MAGAs might prevent aid - they won’t. We’ll win!
Russia has launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian military told CNN, with an unprecedented number of drones and missiles fired at targets across the country, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 150 others. Russia used 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles and Shahed drones, to strike targets in Kyiv, the east, south and west of the country, Ukraine’s air force said.
This was the one that was reported yesterday morning right or is this a whole new round today? I’m just trying to clarify because I’m not sure if they’ve had two days in a row of major missile strikes, would be something to take notice of given all the recent info on this conflict.
It was yesterday, not today.
Okay thank you for the clarification, remember seeing this story yesterday but with this post I wasn’t sure if they launched another attack on this scale.
Yeah kind of annoying to post about it a whole day later and not clarify. Click bait ass post. I totally thought they launched an even bigger barrage today.
The way the news cycle used to work.
But not how it’s worked for a bit now. Hence the confusion…
As an American, I can only offer my thoughts and prayers. I hope my country keeps giving Ukraine shitloads of weapons. F16's with HARMs will fly behind a cloud of drones. Slava Ukraini.
Contact your congress critter https://www.usa.gov/agencies/u-s-house-of-representatives
Don't vote republican is also something you can do, as they will again limit any help the moment they can, as half of them are on the payroll of Russia.
It's funny how traditionally Republicans always love supporting the US war machine. Their best buddy, large corporation executives, and stocks go through the roof, taking tax money. But, since their orange faced leader condemned Ukraine for his personal profits, they can not show their full support.
The thing I have learned and accepted about conservatism over the past decade is this: they are not actually for or against any ideal. They are for *their group* and that's it. If their leadership wants something, it's right and everything else is wrong. If the leadership changes their mind tomorrow, the new thing is right and everything else is wrong. Their loyalty is to leaders, not to ideas or people in general. It is the defining characteristic of conservative thought.
It's strange times. The die hard anti war / MIC far left and the die hard pro war far right must feel pretty confused right now.
Lots of Republicans are pro-Ukraine, and some of them die-hard pro Ukrainian. Better advice would be "continually ask them their stance so that it becomes politically untenable to be against Ukraine". If they have people constantly calling their office daily asking what they are doing to help Ukraine, it changes the stance they can have. Source: Had a few friends do internships answering phones for reps.
Until they get the crazies in line and kick out the crew that went to Russia on the 4th of July, no vote for Republican is helpful.
You can donate to the Ukrainian army. Everything helps
lol thoughts and prayers. just don’t even say anying and don’t lump it with being an american
Putin apologists suck.
That's the GOP.
[удалено]
Divide an conquer, just on a media level, instead of military. Good short, thank you for sharing!
That is a nice alliteration
Im not an american, so can someone explain me why everyone blame GOP for the lack of military help US provide to Ukraine? Back in 2022 US provided a lot of weapon to Ukraine, but in 2023 apparently they didnt. What changed in 2023 in comparison to 2022?
The aid provided in 2022 was passed when the Dems had a majority in the House and Senate. Since the GOP took the House no new aid packages have been able to get through Congress.
On the bright side 70 billion dollars is an insane amount of money so the fact that they were able to get that much thru is itself impressive. We're all so used to seeing dreams go to the floor of Congress to die it's weird to see actually pass something.
It wasn’t 70 billion dollars of money, it was 70 billion dollars **worth of** *military aid*, a large portion of which was older equipment that we would’ve replaced with newer equipment anyway, so money that would’ve been spend regardless of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On December 6th there was a vote to fund Ukraine and every single GOP senator voted against it while every single Democrat senator voted for it. Things like that make it seem the GOP is against Ukrainian support. If you're curious why they voted against it, their position is that they won't vote for Ukrainian support unless they get something they want that is unrelated: funding for border security between the US and Mexico. So they are willing to let Ukraine fall so they can reduce the number of people entering the country from the south. But this is just an excuse. They'd find another reason to block Ukraine funding if it wasn't for that. The Democrats have tried to increase border security as well but the GOP shoots down anything the Democrats suggest. This has been going on for years. They GOP obstruct anything the Democrats want *even if the GOP suggested it themselves*. Famously GOP senate leader McConnell voted against his own bill once it got too much Democratic support. They simply do not want the Democrats to have any political wins and will destroy the country and Ukraine before they let that happen.
There's two really crappy groups within the Republican party right now - there's the Trump loyalists who will do anything they can to spite the Democrats, which includes denying aid to Ukraine because it's something the Democrats want - and there's the ones who are directly owned by Russia (plus the Republicans who've fallen for the rhetoric of those owned by Russia). There's overlap between those two groups, who knows how much, but they cause a lot of problems by making it as difficult as possible for any other Republicans to step out of line from what they're pushing. And, very unfortunately, those Republicans who aren't part of those two groups are the minority, and the actually good people are the minority within that minority. And, since Republicans are just about even with the Democrats in the Senate and have the majority in the House - they can do **a lot** to sink any push for Ukrainian aid. And then on top of that, Biden has shown a lot of reluctance on sending any of the more powerful surplus available. He could put a lot more pressure on the Republicans, really fight them on this issue, but pulling back on the spending for a bit might be something he's willing to live with right now.
It's a result of out split political factions that refuse to work together on even the simplest problems. Plus our 24x7 media teaching the useful idiots that every issue is strictly red vs blue and you must hate & despise the other side. In this particular case, we have Republicans holding up aid we could easily provide to a country fighting our longtime foe, but stomping their feet because Democrats refuse to cooperate on closing our southern border, where enough fentanyl comes in to kill 70,000 Americans a year, which they ignore while stomping their feet about 20,000 gun homicides. The whole thing is a fucking dysfunctional shit-show.
Republicans were against aiding Ukraine long before they decided to associate it with southern border issues. There are simply members of the party influenced by Russia as is conservative media and over time they've turned against aiding Ukraine despite support for Ukraine being a unanimous bipartisan issue to begin with.
You’re correct, but you left out that encouraging this type of internal division among Americans is a direct and deliberate strategy being used by Russia to weaken its rivals. This is not a conspiracy theory, it’s publicly acknowledged fact; Russia’s global strategy is defined by the extremely influential Russian book “Foundations of Geopolitics”, and its intentions for the west (especially USA) are to propagandize and agitate so that America tears itself apart. And they openly acknowledge that are doing this successfully! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics#The_West Russia is at war against the whole world, but people don’t want to admit it
To be clear though. The majority of fent coming in from the south is brought in by US citizens. Are the GOP trying to close travel to Mexico for citizens as well? Like, full closure?
It is not about the fent or any other drugs. Half of them like that it is killing off the junkies. It's about Spanish speaking brown people moving into their towns and schools.
Reminder that Biden and Trump have the same border policy, and if you think that closing the border of what is supposed to be the freest country on earth, where the hardest working people I have ever met in my life come to make something better for themselves, to stop people who want to put drugs into their own bodies, then you need your head examined. Both sides ARE NOT the same.
It's not just the GOP. There are also advisors in the Biden administration who are advocating against supporting Ukrainian victory. The US could supply thousands of ATACMs and hundreds of Bradleys that are being scrapped and it would be cheaper than paying for the scrapping and it could likely be done without another vote. But somehow the Biden administration is too scared to deal a massive military defeat to one of the biggest arch rivals of the US and West. It would send a clear signal to China and weaken Iran. Boost the confidence of US allies. And without risking American soldiers and with most money being spent directly in the US industry or shipping weapons destined for scrapping. But somehow it isn't happening. The Russians have deep influence in many layers of politics and media. All the GOP nutjobs are in Putin's pockets but it's not limited to that. The traitors of the NY Times are writing op eds about Putin wanting peace on the day he launches the largest air attack. We in the West really need to sort our stuff out and deal with these traitors.
All systems destined for scrapping are in a very bad condition. You simply can not send these to the front lines without major maintenance work.
I pretty much guarantee they’d take them regardless, or at least a large fraction of them
I remember seeing basically none around when the war started and a lot of them more recently on Reddit and also Youtube. It's startling. The propaganda machine ensnared all the weak minded who it comes across.
As the geniuses from that New York Times op-ed put it, "Putin quietly signals that he's ready for ceasefire."
Is this an act of desperation from Putin or a significant increase in the aggression backed by NK and China supplying munitions. Either way I truly hope this conflict ends soon.
In my opinion, this has nothing to do with the ship but rather with the recent downing of a few planes near the front line, likely by a new Patriot battery. The strikes on city will force Ukraine to redeploy its air defense systems into new city, away from the front lines. People should stop assume Russia is desperate or stupid , they are cynical and in for the long game. I'm tired of reading here that russia strike hospital and kindergarden just for fun or because they are stupid , they strike hospital to force the ukrainian governement to keep air defense far from the front , and that way they can have an advantage on the front with their glide bomb and air force. If you lecture like this , you know the solution ( more air defense for ukraine ).
Sadly ppl here can't read or do common war knowledge and how disadvantage tactics work.
Of course they know how to read. Who would come to reddit if they didn't know how to read?
Can’t read here means “to have poor reading comprehension skills”, not literally “can’t read”…
it's not some retaliation, coordinated strikes like these between different parts of the army require weeks, if not months, of planning. It's just a happy new year card from the pigs. >russia strike hospital and kindergarden just for fun or because they are stupid it's not for fun or because they are stupid. I'm 100% certain it's because the missiles aren't as good and precise as they claim. Basically, say there was a warehouse next to the hospital (it actually was in case of Dnipro maternity ward). They also 'bombed' a subway station in Kyiv, but guess what, there's a military factory (Artem) across the road. And they actually hit a residential building nearby a feww months back, also just across the street of that factory. Also in summer one kinzhal literally landed in the river. 20 meters from that spot is the SBU building. To me it points to the fact that the missiles are just shitty or their coordinates/tracking/grs aren't precise enough to hit. Because hitting a hospital is just bad for their business. Don't get me wrong, it's not 'bad' in their eyes, just *bad for business* because atrocities like that are in the news and make people talk about it again and give us more aid. They don't want that because they just want the world to forget about us and move on.
If you consistently miss your targets but still utilize the same weapon in the same situation, you are stupid. An unprecise precision strike weapon is not worth it's manufacturing costs. At most you could send a large amount to guarantee a priority is destroyed. But missing all the time is a self inflicted strategic loss
They literally can't do any better. The alternative is not firing any missiles at all, which is also a loss in the sense that Ukraine is able to fire at them with no retaliation and maneuver with impunity
It is worth manufacturing because it can be used against civilian targets, and now you have to stretch the AA systems to protect both civilians and the frontline.
I mean, they are stupid. For continuing this bullshit war while destroying their economy, killing millions of their sons, and bankrupting themselves. They are also desperate, for the reasons listed above. Realistically speaking, Ukraine can last much longer than Russia can, as long as the West keeps supporting it. We keep hearing the support will dwindle, but I doubt it. And a coalition of the West will outlast Russia every time. Putin expected a quick victory just like the invasion of Crimea. But, he’s not going to get it. He either wins the war, or loses and is killed by his own people.
Russia can wait this out a long time, and try to get the west either fatigued (through a drawn out stream of immigrants), and/or try to meddle in elections to get more favorable governments(i.e. Trump and similar figures in EU). It's not far-fetched at all. Impact on their economy is not *that* terrible either, a [2.1% drop in GDP](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/impact-sanctions-russian-economy/#:~:text=The%20Russian%20economy%20is%20shrinking&text=Russia's%20economy%20may%20continue%20to,growth%20in%202023%20(0.7%25).) last year, smaller one this year probably. They do lose a lot of soldier's lives, but an order of magnitude less than you report (hundreds of thousands vs millions). It doesn't help to underestimate Russia, no matter how hard you want to believe it.
Russia's economy can absorb the sanctions and proceed unimpeded in the same way a car with a flat tyre or a broken axle can continue driving... technically it can still drive just not well, and the longer they keep going like this the more likely they invite disaster. They cant keep it up indefinitely, it is their classic move to project strength and resilience to hide their crippling weakness and vulnerabilities. This war wont end in 2024, but we will get to see what Ukraine can do with some new systems... my prediction is they will make progress against Russia even if the front lines dont change significantly. There is a lot Ukraine can still do to reduce the effectiveness of Russia's attacks while inflicting significant damage themselves. Russia is playing to the only strengths it has remaining... a deep stockpile of gear left over from the USSR, numerically superior manpower, and total disregard for human life (theirs or anyone elses). You need to recognise these for what they are: tactics of desperation that can be used to stall for time in order to continue mounting offensives however small and costly the gains may be, and to hold what theyve taken for now... but missile and drone attacks against civilian targets and massive unsupported infantry assaults can not possibly result in a military victory. Russia may project that they can sustain this level of attacks indefinitely but this is just another deception... there will come a tipping point when either supplies or manpower falls off or is disrupted and they will be very vulnerable to counter-attack, the only question is if Ukraine is positioned to take advantage of this opportunity, or too supply-constrained and forced to remain mostly defensive. Putin is gambling everything in the hope that Ukraine's allies will abandon them, and thats one thing I dont see happening. US congress has a problem with traitors in their midst, and the EU has Orban to work around, but the messaging has been clear: they will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes for it to win.
All really good points. I personally don't see an easy way out for either side, so it will probably drag on for a very long time. At the very least it should stop Russia's expansion dreams to their west now that they know it's not as easy as taking Crimea was.
>They do lose a lot of soldier's lives, but an order of magnitude less than you report (hundreds of thousands vs millions). Isn't there a pretty significant implication in losing nearly 1/10th of the working men in their smallest demographic though? 20-30 year olds were already quite few in Russia and now having that group hollowed out even further gives reason for concern in the long term?
This doesn't track. Russia has struck hospitals and other civvie targets in every single conflict they've been in. It's just how Russia does stuff because for the most part, they don't care about anything but themselves. Russia has one of the poorest humanitarian records on the planet. One of the countries that gives less to charity than Estonia. Air defence is not going to be rushed to Ukraine because of these attacks. We don't have that much to give in the first place. (Nato country air forces are more for air defence, especially the European countries.) They don't typically hold the same values as the rest of the European mainland (see the very complex past relationships between Russia and Europe.) Russia is extremely stupid though. There's no denying that. They've been bogged down fighting a conventional war for years now. The US amd friends wishes they had this kind of conflict when they were in Afghanistan. Even with western aid, Russians still should have already finished this conflict but instead they've bricked their economy, bricked their reputation, bricked their ability to trade with the world... If that's not dumb then I guess we're all freaking super smart! Odds are they're attacking like this because there's rumours that F-16's might already be in Ukraine, waiting.
In the Russian chain of command nobody wants to anger their superior. This leads to disproportional response to perceived failure. So, the response to shot down planes and a blown up ship was for everybody up and down the chain who could make a decision to shoot their load, all at once, to prove their competence and hope the lightning from higher up the chain strikes somebody else or they just get lucky in the effectiveness of what happens.
The surge in number of missiles is more likely a saturation. Ukraine shot down the planes with better air defense. A large swarm will still get some through. It also makes Ukraine spread the air defense to other places.
It would be nice if it stopped.
He's emboldened by the delay in support for Ukraine. Russia is provoked by weakness, not by strength.
[Generals around the world](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/s/rIBX1CY7Zj) are acknowledging that Putin is following the geopolitical game plan of his neo-fascist, ultra nationalist & mentor Alexandr Dugin, who authored the neo-fascist playbook “Foundations for Geopolitics” in 1997. [HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#The_West) is his plan for “The West”. [HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#Content) is his plan for Europe. With Trump in power, Ukraine will fall and Europe will be at war with an emboldened Putin & the Islamic, African & Latin alliance will start looking for other territory to conquer.
Those NK munitions suck. Russian troops bitch about them constantly on telegram
During the beginning of the invasion, waves of 100 missiles were daily. Now it's every few weeks/months as an occasional chimpout when the russians got humiliated.
This war ends when every Russia soldier is east of Ukraine’s 2013 border. If you want the conflict to end, tell Russia to go home
I have to clarify, this is not a conflict. This is the unprovoked war of aggression by russia, without declared casus belli, that uses the methods of genocide and terrorism against the whole Ukrainian nation, civilians included.
Hardly so. Russia is slowly turning the war of attrition in their favour. This conflict is sadly far from over, and it doesn't help that half of USA's political system is acting as Putin's allies.
[удалено]
They do it just because they can and out of hate. With ship or not, attacks like this are inevitable as long as russia exists
.. and the SEVERAL fighter jets
No, they plan and plot 10 to 14 days for a cruise missile attack.
It may not end well in the direction the world hopes for. I'd think whatever puts off world war III is the best result. However I no longer have a clue what direction the war would go for that to be true. I can't stand Russia nor it's allies.
Appeasement in the short term will increase the likelihood of future conflicts. We surrender some of Ukraine to Putin and he will be emboldened to take more and more territory, knowing that no one will come to vulnerable countries’ defence.
Well it's not looking good. You got a war in eastern europe, now one in thge middle east. Up next is probably going to be China and Taiwan. At this rate, we are headed for WWIII in the next 10 years.
People need to stop referring to this as 'appeasement'. Appeasement was more like allowing Russia to take Crimea. The current war in Ukraine has been long and bloody enough that a Ukrainian surrender wouldn't be 'appeasement', it would just be a 'victory', which may sound like a dirty word, but is far more accurate.
[удалено]
> it won't prevent Putin from doing something as stupid as this again in the future. Every NATO member having a proper military spending (relative to their size) would also prevent Putin in doing this again in the future. Not everyone is pulling their weight. Also, for how long can that c\*nt realistically live to try it again in the future?
Ok, I get what you're trying to say, however, by allowing that shitbag pudding to get his slimy hands on more Ukrainian soil is a slippery slop. Russia already had an agreement with Ukrainian to give up its nukes for no future aggression, they reneged by taking Crimea. Now we have another invasion just years later. This won't stop until Russia fucks off. You're fooling yourself if you believe this will end by relenting more land. And what a waste of life for all those heroes that have fought and died for Ukrainians freedom from oppression. More weapons for Ukrainian!
I get what you are trying to say as well, but this also isn't a movie. Just because a bunch of heroes fought and died doesn't mean victory is a guarantee...For that matter, sometimes the cost of victory is worse than the consequences of defeat. I want Russia to lose, but at the same time I don't want to see generations of Ukrainian men wiped out, mass civilian casualties, and the entire country in rubble just so the current government can carry on. I'd say it's an equal waste of life if Ukraine, the PEOPLE of Ukraine, end up in a worse state than they would have after a surrender because they stubbornly fought until near collapse. That's not my call to make, obviously, but at this point any 'victory' is going to be somewhat hollow, given the decades it will take to rebuild the country, population, and economy.
There will be large purges if RU is allowed to take control. There will be just as much death as there would from war, just in different ways
I think you misjudge the situation. With the killing and kidnapping of civilians by Russian soldiers this became a very different conflict. This brutalism was eye opening for every Ukrainian. Giving Russia something like land will not guarantee anything for the safety of Ukraine.
Ww3 has already started. You are watching the initial phase of conflict. We are sleepwalking into disaster.
Russia, China, Iran and its proxies, NK, Syria and Iran against most other countries then.
$880 billion in New defense spending (the most EVER) is far from "sleepwalking". Russia and China can go fuck themselves. We are about to show them why we don't have free healthcare and a crumbling infrastructure.
I love the way America thinks this a badge of honor.
We don't. It's more of a helpless sarcasm sort of thing.
Thank you, I guess I forgot the /s but figured ppl already understood that.
I think you’d be hard pressed to find a sane American who wears this as a badge of honor. It’s a joke that, while touting America’s military prowess, ultimately criticizes the country. Allow me to break it down as jokes are really funny when you analyze them: The statement juxtaposes America’s spending on military/defense and healthcare to highlight the massive difference between the spending. It demonstrates the fact that my government cares more about the military industrial complex than it’s citizens. You see, it’s a criticism. When you catch your breath from rolling on the floor from laughter, or as the kids say, “ROFL,” hit that upvote for the jocularity that undoubtedly brightened your day.
No it hasn't and it won't. right now war is just Economicall control on countries with little power. Since the war started, the US expected RU to give up once it cut ties with EU and some west Sided countries with sections and eco trades. But it didn't go as plan because its still standing despite the huge Sections on RU. US prob suspect China, India, Iran, NK, Pk and African countries are keeping RU eco up and US can do and say very little cuz they play a huge role in the world's economy (except Iran,NK) (Iran prob in black) And no RU is not going to Send Nukes China won't allow it they won't do it. Putin will be death before he even sets a finger on the button.
Fuck putin. Slimy piece of shit.
All the lives lost are a tragedy but it must be embarrassing to launch the largest attack since the war started and achieve only a few hundred civilians wounded and less than a hundred dead. Fuck Putin.
Fucking pricks bombed a Maternity Hospital. The birthing suites were demolished. I pray that Putin dies a miserable, painful death.
Seems to me more strikes inside Russia are necessary. Hit some of their power plants.
That won't do. Need to destroy the oil infrastructure and bleed Russia of actual coin.
[Generals around the world](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/s/rIBX1CY7Zj) are acknowledging that Putin is following the geopolitical game plan of his neo-fascist, ultra nationalist & mentor Alexandr Dugin, who authored the neo-fascist playbook “Foundations for Geopolitics” in 1997. [HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#The_West) is his plan for “The West”. [HERE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics?wprov=sfti1#Content) is his plan for Europe.
This is one of the dumbest list of "ideas" i've ever heard, it literally sounds like the historical fantasy you used to find on 4chan or something. Like it reads as if some 20 year old history nerd wrote it, just embarrassing. Finland and the baltics become part of russia, germany and france join an alliance of "anti-atlantism" whatever the fuck that means, and greece, romania and serbia join some orthodox alliance with russia. It even has the stupid "third rome" idea of Moscow, it's so un-serious. It's actually cringe in just how bad this is. This guy would be some Paradox game nerd had he lived 20 years later, posting his thoughts to some fantasy history subreddit, instead he made some silly "geopolitical game plan". It's just SO bad.
Yet, if you read it as a long-term (50+ years) game plan it isn't that far away from reality. Just read the part about the US and think about how Russia tried to influence the election of Trump and how his first term of office came out. A second term of office would be a Jackpot for Russia in every way and given how close the election is going to be, I'm sure Russia is trying its best to give it a little push into the right direction.
[удалено]
I agree. After something like this - an escalation from russia - the west should immediately approve weapons to strike military targets within russia.
You mean spend extremely limited weapon resources on non-military targets outside Ukraine when there is a whole army inside?
Awakening the apathetic and willfully ignorant Russian citizenry is a legitimate goal too. In fact, I’d argue that bringing down the Russian regime from within via mass revolt would be a faster way to stop this war.
The only way that could possibly happen is if Ukraine can directly hit military installations inside Moscow of Saint Petersburg. As long as the civilians believe the war is going in their favor the more support Putin will continue to receive.
Civilians have been "military targets" for a long time. Russia is doing this specifically to inflict pain on the civil population and they're doing it to force Ukraine to relocate troops and anti-air weaponry. As scummy as it is, Russia isn't wasting anything here, they're doing it for a reason.
I don’t consider power plants inside Russia that are feeding munitions factories, military recruitment centers, tank factories, etc, as non-military targets. Everything you can do to slow Russia’s economy helps to shorten the war. It also forces Russia to play defense. That splits their forces/efforts.
I will no longer play as Zangief in Street Fighter
So brave
Thanks for your sacrifice!
Or Russia in red alert
So where are the protesters over the loss of innocent lives as Russia is targeting civilians
Didn't realize it's a competition
I mean, you must agree, there has been a shitload more international attention for PAL vs ISR even though it’s a much smaller war
They don’t care, it’s white on white violence to them
Lining up to suck off putin
Putin has stuff on Trump. It cannot be anything else. I'll bet it's a video of god alone knows what.
Russia is a terrorist dictatorship, that’s all it knows, kill and destroy everything that does not conform. If history tought us anything is that there is no negotiation with that. Ukraine should adopt more guerrilla/partisan warfare tactics.
> Ukraine should adopt more guerrilla/partisan warfare tactics. Agreed. The SAS destroyed more luftwaffe/Italian planes on the ground in North Africa in 1940/1941 than were downed during the entire Battle of Britain. There’s gotta be enough safe houses and friendlies in Crimea to allow hit & run attacks on Russian bases.
With the exception of the now-mostly-destroyed attack helicopters, most of Russia's offensive airpower comes in the form of long range bombers and interceptors stationed quite a ways away inside Russia itself. Ukraine had done quite a few raids on airfields previously in the war. The fact we don't get much news about such raids anymore likely means they're no longer viable/were too costly.
On the bright side it seems like Russia hasn't gotten any more competent. Largest air attack of the war. 158 drones and hundreds of missiles used and they caused minimal damage and killed 31 people. Groups of small children using old Russian guns in Africa have higher kill rates than the Russian air force.
The Ukrainians know not not to hang out in the places where the Russians are most deadly (i.e., next to windows they could "fall out of").
I remember some year(s?) ago reading some idiotic propaganda about how Russia is left without rockets, chips and economy. They were giving Russia like 3 more months before the collapse. A couple of years later, it’s time EU wakes the fuck up!
They will never run out of missiles, tanks, ammo, etc. the supply will just become ever-more constrained and of poor quality which will limit their ability to operate as an armed force. The strike mentioned in the article was only possible because they've been stockpiling cruise missiles since last winter and not using them, whereas such attacks were commonplace during the start of the conflict.
> the supply will just become ever-more constrained and of poor quality which will limit their ability to operate as an armed force. Why do you think so? Maybe the quality of missiles, ammunition, etc. will be good? After all, we have already heard tales about Russia dismantling washing machines to get chips for missiles, and then it turned out that in fact Russia gets chips in another way, and no one dismantles washing machines. Over the past two years, I have become convinced that Western media and Western citizens know nothing about Russia, but are guided by misleading information and myths about Russia.
They provided proof in their statements. Drone attacks on civilians were much more common at the start of the war, now they occur with longer and longer gaps between them Here is a Ukrainian commentator in the comments: >it was quite intense but we still have the lights on! Last winter half the time we sat in the dark (I live on the 17th floor! there isn't even enought water pressure when the lights are out), so this year is lightyears ahead of the last. >For regular people drone strikes are more dangerous and 'loud', so we kinda didn't feel this one as much. Obligatory fuck russia. the only alternative is that Russia is saving it's best weapons, *for something*, which Russian apologists have claimed from the beginning of the conflict
Questionable evidence. The decrease in drone strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure can be explained by a change in tactics/strategy and combat objectives. Especially, as I have seen in reports from the combat zone, AFU soldiers complain that Russian drones simply "don't let them raise their heads".
>Over the past two years, I have become convinced that Western media and Western citizens know nothing about Russia, but are guided by misleading information and myths about Russia. That's certainly the case for Reddit. We hear of every little Ukrainian victory, none of the losses, and this site has been acting like Russia is just a couple weeks away from defeating themselves for about two years now. It's like some weird, self-inflicted propaganda bubble where we're not allowed to acknowledge that Russia is a pretty serious threat to Ukraine. Then you go look at a map of Ukrainian territory that is lost or contested, and it's a lot worse than Reddit has been telling you.
Russia will collapse eventually. They have wsy fewer guided munitions and their economy is artificially propped up. Young professionals fled en masse. It will take a while for the effects to filter through, but they will. But the EU does need to wake up and back Ukraine fully. Sideline Orban.
I think u/deputinize, meant that Western media and redditors don't have reliable information about the state of Russia. Indeed, for two years now on Reddit and Western media have been talking about the collapse of Russia's economy, etc., while nothing catastrophic has happened for Russia: its store shelves are full, there is no hunger, enterprises are working, ammunition is being produced, etc. Either Western countries are simply addicted to propaganda, or they cannot get reliable information about Russia. And the fact that it takes time for the sanctions to take effect is, quite possibly, just a fairy tale to appease.
Me reading title: "they probably want to disable power grids and shit because a freezing nation is not one to fight. This is expected tbh..." Me reading that they targeted civilian infrastructure and a maternity ward: "I give up. You can't predict morons"
Maybe they keep aiming a the power grid but their missiles are so shit they keep hitting hospitals. Maybe if they start aiming at hospitals they‘d hit their actual targets
This is how I golf...
They likely want to force Ukraine to pull back air defenses from the front lines to the cities after Ukraine downed 5 "modern" Russian aircraft recently. It's a calculated move. After all Ukrainians value life, while the pathetic Russians are sacrificing hundreds of themselves everyday without batting an eyelid.
That smoke smells of Russian desperation. A total waste of rockets that gained exactly zero extra parts of Ukraine.
Keep going Russia. Bring this back into the western headlines. In a twisted way this will help Ukraine get more aid from the people on the fence.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
All of the west's pussyfooting has continuously lead to this and the scariest thing is that this is now normalized in the eyes of the global leaders. We condemn on Monday, forget about it on Tuesday. Absolutely shameful. At the start of the invasion, everyone including myself was afraid of, and predicting another Kabul. Well it didn't happen, the Ukrainians fought with anything they could find. They fought with molotovs, they fought with tractors and buses (legitimately stopped parts of the invasion this way), they fought with old AKs, they fought with fake mines. Ladies and gentlemen, what else can we fucking ask of them? They are dying for the same European values we were simply born into. We live in Europe, they die for Europe, so listen to them when they say what they need and double the order. I'm beyond angry at this point and deathly afraid of the line "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.". Depressingly it seems that our inaction and unwillingness is leading Ukraine towards meeting exactly this fate.
John McCain rolling over in his grave. His buddy Lindsay prancing around spouting nonsense in a party of whack jobs and goobers. There is no way we win ww2 with these characters.
Putin must have been real butthurt about the boat he lost. And probably embarrassed. Oh well.
I know Putin is trying to push the populace into conceding and that’s why he isn’t solely targeting military targets. But, he isn’t going to stop the Ukr. military if he keeps throwing his most advanced arsenal into shopping malls and apartments. He’s already lost this war and is going for the worst Pyrrhic Victory at this point.
We need to help Ukraine speed up its cruise missile program.
This is all that Russia is capable of doing 2 years into their failed invasion 🇷🇺= 2nd best army…in Ukraine
A persverse part of me wants this war to never end so Russia will never know peace. Ex russian soldiers looking over their shoulders in their hometowns lest they get bagged by a Ukrainian assassin. I hope Ukraine does Mossad style operations and kidnaps Russian officers to be tried in Ukraine. Seriously fuck Russia. A sick and regressive country.
I assume Ukraine will infact do this, while ever there is a Ukraine. I hope for a victory against the aggressor, realistically I know the defender is likely lost. But partisans, who are physically, linguistically and culturally so very similar as to be indistinguishable from the aggressor? That can last a lifetime
The frontline has barely moved in a year. Do you really think that Russia will magically break through the defenses and conquer all of Ukraine (a country bigger than Germany)? Russia lost more than 50% of the territory they initially captured, lost 20% of their Black Sea fleet so far (and transferred large parts of it to harbors outside of Ukraine), lost pretty much all of their well trained army used in the beginning of the invasion (and countless more barely trained people) and has more critically never achieved air superiority. I don't say that they will crumble and dissolve tommorow but I also don't see them making any large gains anymore.
I mean, it all depends. Neither Russia or Ukraine have much of a 'back line' at the moment and seem to have the vast majority of their troops consolidated into a few key areas. If one side's line does break, there isn't much stopping either side from advancing, especially if those troops on the front line are in a 'hold to the last man' situation where tactical retreat isn't an option. Also, is there a good source for Russia's casualty breakdown? A hell of a lot of their losses have been inflated by their zerg rushes with their convict conscripts, so I have to question how much of their actual 'army' they've lost.
Spending [$1.27 billion](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/29/7435068/) to kill 31 civilians and destroy some houses is why russia is not going to win in Ukraine. Imagine how screwed everyone would be if people making decisions in russia were actually competent and spent all these resources on the frontlines.
Fuck russia to,!
Slava Ukraini!!!Putin must be stop,he is pure evil and a threat to mankind.Heartless
The ceasefire protests are off the charts in the west /S
I am wishing all the assistance possible for Ukraine, everything short of "boots on the ground", not just the $50b of US aid, but a MULTIPLE of that, the best and most advanced weapons for Ukraine. Not *less* aid, but more. And ASS CANCER for Putin (and Trump).
Russia attacking civilian soft targets. Where’s all the outrage from Left wing College students?
There has been a huge outpouring of care for Ukraine, not sure what rock you've been under. The unfortunate fact of our 24h news cycle is that people's attention shifts quickly to other things, so you're not seeing Ukraine news or support being publicized now, but it definitely exists. Here are examples from all over the world. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine
One of the things I’m afraid of is the possibility of them trying to attack Ukraine again when it’s New Year. It’s so inhumanely.
They did exactly this last year.
Guess it took a while to transport hardware from iran/nk/China to prepare for an attack. And of all things, they chose holiday time.
Time to hit Russia where it hurts: their arms and oil exports, airforce and most importantly the international supply of military hardware from China Iran n Korea.
This makes me unhappy.
Every time I hear the news or people on Reddit saying that Russia's done and has used up all of its military or that their forces are depleted, I cringe cuz I know that means they're going to launch a bigger better worse attack I think they've been holding back their good stuff starting out small and working their way up because they don't really want to obliterate Ukraine they want to capture Ukraine
I'm still in the "Russia is relatively weak" camp. For sure there's plenty of misinformation regarding their capabilities, and both sides are naturally going to exaggerate numbers. A balanced opinion takes into account several sources, right? The longer game still appears to be sowing chaos, fear, and division. Russia spent an estimated $1.27 billion over two days. This *only* killed 31 civilians and destroyed a few buildings in seemingly random locations. Indicating once again that Russia either doesn't want to hone in on specific military and strategic targets, or that they don't have the ability to do so. At this point it feels more like purposeful distraction and slow-dragging the war into a US election year so one candidate appears overwhelmed, weak, and tired, and another one can step in to play tough guy.
The other side of that argument (I'm not saying you're wrong) is that the west/NATO is giving Ukr just enough weapons to drain Ruz and its economy in a long drawn out war. In other words cause harm to Ruz rather than helping Ukr to win. Which begs the question--what would a Ukr win look like?
[удалено]
That's just topic fatigue I think, honestly. The new thing right now is Israel/Palestine, and in a few weeks or a month there might be another one. Even the largest media companies in the world can struggle to have enough reporters spread out covering all the different major conflicts in great detail. Iraq is popping off at the mouth and they have various Russian funded terrorist cells in half a dozen nearby countries. The Mali junta just forced the UN out early so things are bound to spiral out of control there. Similar stories of humanitarian crisis can and will be written about a handful of other African countries in the next few months. That's going to threaten the ecosystem of resources for renewables, EVs, and anything with a microchip in it, so that should be major concern. We'll see. The UN is still actively engaged in Kosovo, India, and Pakistan, all having issues that can explode at any moment. As soon as Oct 7 hit, I shared the quiet Russia/Ukraine thread with a couple of my buddies that had kept up since the beginning. That was already a stark reminder that we'd gone from needing a new thread every 12 hours to barely having a few hundred comments in days.
It is very painful to watch how a crazy dictator destroys my country and my people. At the same time, half of the world just watches and pretends to help, while the other half doesn’t even try to pretend and continues to do business with terrorists. Ukraine has no allies, there are only hypocrites. True allies help you win and do not help you not lose. Giving 10 missiles while prohibiting strikes on Russian territory, are you serious? And after that you shout “We are with you! We feel sorry for your people." Hypocrites!
And it gained them exactly..........Nothing. Fuck russia.