Russia Invades Ukraine pt XII

[Bamaro]

Western intelligence says Russia is amassing aircraft on Ukraine's border, as countries look to the skies to break deadlock

• Russia is gathering air power at Ukraine's border, according to unnamed Western officials.
• US defense secretary Lloyd Austin denied this, but called on the West to rush air defenses to Ukraine.
• Russia has largely held back on committing its jets to Ukrainian airspace for much of the conflict.

Western intelligence says Russia is amassing aircraft on Ukraine's border, as countries look to the skies to break deadlock (msn.com)

 

[crimsonaudio]

Ooh, more surface to air targets!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Here's Cooper's latest take. It's a long one. At the end, he concludes that what they really need is more artillery and ammo, that, and more air defense. That's before tanks and fighters...

TC 2/14/'23

 

[Tideflyer]

Western intelligence says Russia is amassing aircraft on Ukraine's border, as countries look to the skies to break deadlock (msn.com)

I`ve never been able to figure out why the Russian`s haven`t gained decisive control of the air, and thus the war.

 

[Tidewater]

I`ve never been able to figure out why the Russian`s haven`t gained decisive control of the air, and thus the war.

Because air defenses are cheap and easy.
I have fired a Stinger. It is cheap and easy and deadly.
Using the air is risky and expensive. Denying the use of the air is cheap and easy.

 

[Tideflyer]

Because air defenses are cheap and easy.
I have fired a Stinger. It is cheap and easy and deadly.
Using the air is risky and expensive. Denying the use of the air is cheap and easy.

All true. I`ve just expected them to overwhelm with sheer numbers if nothing else.

 

[Tidewater]

All true. I`ve just expected them to overwhelm with sheer numbers if nothing else.

I think the days of the Red Army are over.
The Russians still have a big military, but not nearly as big as it was in 1988.

 

[Tideflyer]

I think the days of the Red Army are over.
The Russians still have a big military, but not nearly as big as it was in 1988.

Their leadership at all levels just appears to be catastrophically abysmal. Can you imagine what it would be like to be an even semi-competent small unit commander ( company level on down ) in that hell hole?

 

[2003TIDE]

Sanctions are really starting to hit HARD in Russia (pun intended.)

Hard times: Russia to make own erectile dysfunction pills after Viagra supplies stopped – POLITICO

 

[JDCrimson]

Will there be any men left to use them?

Sanctions are really starting to hit HARD in Russia (pun intended.)

Hard times: Russia to make own erectile dysfunction pills after Viagra supplies stopped – POLITICO

 

[crimsonaudio]

Will there be any men left to use them?

The way it's going, by the time this is over the guys that need that help might be all that's left.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Yet another Russian official dies by "jumping" out of a window.

Top Putin official involved in funding Ukraine war dies in apparent suicide (yahoo.com)

I actually think this one might be a real suicide....maybe. She apparently phoned her husband to send police to the address, and there's some mention of health problems.

Of course, the FSB might have been "helping" her to make the call, I don't know.

I'm a little less believing of the colonel mentioned toward the end of the article. Also committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest, five times. Not so sure on that one.

 

[TexasBama]

Missiles hammer Ukraine as Russia eyes Bakhmut's capture by April

Russia rained missiles across Ukraine on Thursday and struck its largest oil refinery, Kyiv said, while the head of the Wagner mercenary group predicted the long-besieged city of Bakhmut would take weeks if not months to fall.

www.reuters.com

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Missiles hammer Ukraine as Russia eyes Bakhmut's capture by April

Russia rained missiles across Ukraine on Thursday and struck its largest oil refinery, Kyiv said, while the head of the Wagner mercenary group predicted the long-besieged city of Bakhmut would take weeks if not months to fall.

www.reuters.com

In the competition between the owner of the Wagner group and the MOD, Wagner has been cut off from recruiting convicts. It'll be interesting to see how that affects the siege of Bakhmut, when he runs out of bodies to throw at the city...

 

[Tideflyer]

I`m somewhat surprised that there hasn`t been a coup in Russia. Ukraine has got to be bleeding Russia dry . I wonder if all that keeps them going is sales of their petroleum.

 

[Tidewater]

I`m somewhat surprised that there hasn`t been a coup in Russia. Ukraine has got to be bleeding Russia dry . I wonder if all that keeps them going is sales of their petroleum.

The dude is ex-KGB. It is not likely any conversation goes on in Moscow about the continuity of government that he does not know about, and who said what.
Look at 4Qtr Basket Case's post above.
The two might be related.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Timely piece by Brzezinski on the private armies being formed and the fact that there's now a conversation going on about post-Putin...

Brzezinski

 

[TexasBama]

Apparently balconies in Russia are not well constructed

Top Russian Military Official Dead After Fall From 16th Floor

Marina Yankina handled cash flows for the Western Military District.

www.thedailybeast.com

 

[TexasBama]

In the competition between the owner of the Wagner group and the MOD, Wagner has been cut off from recruiting convicts. It'll be interesting to see how that affects the siege of Bakhmut, when he runs out of bodies to throw at the city...

Apparently, the Russian spring offensive has started, with a big push on Bakhmut. Reports are that the Ukranians are creating a few hundred good Russians daily.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

The list continues to grow.

Suspicious deaths of Russian businesspeople (2022–2023) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org