Russia Masses Military Equipment Near Ukraine Borders: A Prologue to WWIII?

[+and-then]

10 hours ago, Alchopwn said:

To be fair, the UK was boots in from day 1 and so were most former Soviet states in the region.

I believe we were working behind the scenes since 2014.  Had we not put in all that effort and funding, Putin would have accomplished his goal of a two week war.  I also believe that Ukraine aid has become a cash cow for DC players and they'd watch the country bled white to keep the money coming.  We seem to be positioning ourselves such that we cannot be seen to lose.  Putin is in exactly the same fix.  What's your opinion about that kind of stalemate?  Do you believe he will allow all Russian forces to be pushed out of Ukraine, to include Crimea?

[jmccr8]

53 minutes ago, Occult1 said:

Russia has clearly said that they won't use nuke over Ukraine. That's not part of their doctrine.

Russia’s Putin rules out using nuclear weapons in Ukraine

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/27/russia-putin-nuclear-weapons-ukraine-00063801

 

They will use nuke as a deterrent if their existence is threatened. That's why attacking Crimea and providing those longer-range missiles to Ukraine is extremely dangerous.

 

Hi Occult 

What Putin said was they would only use nukes as a response to a nuclear attack on them first.

[Occult1]

US Confronts China Over Companies’ Ties to Russian War Effort

(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration has confronted China’s government with evidence that suggests some Chinese state-owned companies may be providing assistance for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, as it tries to ascertain if Beijing is aware of those activities, according to people familiar with the matter.

The people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, declined to detail the support except to say that it consists of non-lethal military and economic assistance that stops short of wholesale evasion of the sanctions regime the US and its allies imposed after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

The trend is worrying enough that US officials have raised the matter with their Chinese counterparts and warned about the implications of supplying material support for the war, the people said, though they declined to provide details of those contacts. President Xi Jinping has avoided criticizing Russia over the war but has also offered to play a role in peace talks and come out against the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/us-confronts-china-over-companies-ties-to-russian-war-effort-1.1873954

 

[Occult1]

1 hour ago, and-then said:

I believe we were working behind the scenes since 2014.  Had we not put in all that effort and funding, Putin would have accomplished his goal of a two week war.  I also believe that Ukraine aid has become a cash cow for DC players and they'd watch the country bled white to keep the money coming.  We seem to be positioning ourselves such that we cannot be seen to lose.  Putin is in exactly the same fix.  What's your opinion about that kind of stalemate?  Do you believe he will allow all Russian forces to be pushed out of Ukraine, to include Crimea?

There is a real possibility that China could help break the stalemate in Russia's favor by increasing it's military support.

Putin Ally Warns New Anti-American 'Military Alliance' May Emerge

https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-warns-new-anti-american-military-alliance-may-emerge-1775599

Edited January 25, 2023 by Occult1

[Buzz_Light_Year]

1 hour ago, Occult1 said:

Russia has clearly said that they won't use nuke over Ukraine. That's not part of their doctrine.

Russia’s Putin rules out using nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Yeah and Russia wasn't going to invade Ukraine either.

[Helen of Annoy]

Instead of addressing each hilarious russian stupidity perpetuated by russian assets, let's just sum it up 

[Helen of Annoy]

 

russia is so ****ed and so is every imbecile that tied its reputation to it. They are all going down. It's just that they're so stupid they don't realize it yet   

[Helen of Annoy]

Oh, by the way, Switzerland lifted their ban on sales of weapons and munitions produced in Switzerland to the third parties. 

Simplified, it means that munitions for Gepards for example are now going to pour in Ukraine without problems. 

It also means that Switzerland noticed they can't be "neutral" about genocide. 

From utterly cynical point of view, freshly found Swiss conscience means that russian finances are going to the toilet at great speed. 

Edited January 25, 2023 by Helen of Annoy

[DarkHunter]

With the amount of tanks, IFVs, and self propelled artillery that Ukraine is getting they should be able to create a complete armor brigade that is up to NATO standards for a spring/summer offensive.  

This will be on top of other formations Ukraine has/will be able to create with donated and captured military equipment.

[Helen of Annoy]

Also this. Will do until Western planes are transferred.  

 

[Unusual Tournament]

52 minutes ago, Buzz_Light_Year said:

Yeah and Russia wasn't going to invade Ukraine either.

…yeah I found that very funny. Even Zelensky wasn’t convinced until it actually happened 

[Unusual Tournament]

2 hours ago, Occult1 said:

 

German foreign Minister say they are ''fighting a war against Russia''.

…it’s certainly a de-facto war against Russia. 

[Helen of Annoy]

3 minutes ago, Unusual Tournament said:

…yeah I found that very funny. Even Zelensky wasn’t convinced until it actually happened 

No one sane could believe poopler is that stupid to invade. 

[Helen of Annoy]

1 minute ago, Unusual Tournament said:

…it’s certainly a de-facto war against Russia. 

Nah. This is just giving russia a fair warning before they make an even stupider mistake. 

[Unusual Tournament]

4 hours ago, godnodog said:

This is a thought but I have this morbid curiosity about seeing news reports of the F35 against russian air defense systems, though I have not read anywhere,including rumours, anything about that.

Its not about trashing russian tech, its more about seeing some of the best newest gen stealth multi role planes against the “supposed” best systems in the world.

…well these wars have become a test track of sorts for manufacturers and buyers. During the successful Russian war in Syria, Russia sold heaps of weapons systems. Now it’s all about Ukraine. American weapons are gonna find a lot of buyers e.g. Javelin and HIMARS, even German IRST-T’s and possibly Leo2A6-7

[Helen of Annoy]

russia is attacking Ukraine with crappy Iranian drones again. Two already shot down. 

[Helen of Annoy]

By the way, any equipment that is going across EUrope right now, seemingly in Ukrainian direction, is going to the routine exercises that were planned long ago.  

  

I'm so happy I could cry. Routinely. As an exercise. 

 

*plops a toilet plunger onto the floor* Use in case of vatnik, return to the same spot after use.  

[+Nuclear Wessel]

2023 is endgame for the Russo-Ukrainian war, I think.

[Helen of Annoy]

Which reminds me Turkey gave Ukraine two more Bayraktars, for free. 

(Remember how trumper "experts" were blathering stupidities about Bayraktars having bad results and not being used anymore? It's because Bayraktars are still a torn in orc side. Sometimes quite literally  )

Anyway, russia did another stupid mistake.

 

[Trelane]

16 hours ago, Unusual Tournament said:

They’re extra ordinary conditions. . I bet these tanks haven’t come alone either. Tankers and mechanics would follow to train and advise. Spare parts also. Probably have the tanks working in different regions or theatres 

I can't speak to the full details, but the presence of the 101st being deployed last year wasn't a knee jerk reaction nor an accident. The "beans and bullets" piece of the logistics hubs has been in place for months now. Points of embarkation and methods of transport have been well established as well.

Edited January 25, 2023 by Trelane

[Duke Wellington]

I predict Russia will strike rail lines next to stop the tanks being trained in.

 

[DarkHunter]

Scholz is now saying he isnt ruling out sending fighter jets to Ukraine.

Given the massive change it Scholz attitude in arming Ukraine I'm suspecting quite a few things happened behind the scenes.  One of which I'm guessing is German arms manufacturers pointing out his reluctance to arm Ukraine is risking their market shares but that is just speculation.

[jmccr8]

57 minutes ago, Cookie Monster said:

I predict Russia will strike rail lines next to stop the tanks being trained in.

 

Hi Cookie

Might be a bit of a problem for them to hit targets that deep into Ukrainian territory.

[Trelane]

1 hour ago, Cookie Monster said:

I predict Russia will strike rail lines next to stop the tanks being trained in.

 

UMOs have actual intelligence reports that help them shape multiple modes of transport. Vladdy's tactics aren't too much of a concern at this point. More of a speed bump than a roadblock.

Edited January 25, 2023 by Trelane

[Unusual Tournament]

Slightly off topic: one of the biggest take away from this war - for want of a better word - is the rise of ‘vulture’ country’s like Russia, China, Turkey and Iran. Happy to destabilise and prey on weaker countries. Land grab. Concessions etc. maybe it’s time to scrap NATO and make an all encompassing military and political alliance from one end of the planet to the other. A kind of pax-Americana. Isolating trouble makers, promoting democracy and protecting vulnerable country’s