Russia Invades Ukraine pt XII

[Tidewater]

This is a bad sign.
All 500 original members of a Ukrainian battalion were killed or wounded in fighting with Russia, commander says
I remember in the summer of 1942, the commander of the 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Division (SS Totenkopf) said that of all the men in the division who crossed the Soviet border on June 22, 1941, all but 3 were dead. Staggering levels of casualties.

In this Ukrainian unit it is a brigade, not a division and the casualties are both killed and wounded, but this is still a butcher's bill to pay.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Here's Cooper's latest take...

Tom Cooper 3/15/'23

 

[Bamaro]

Saw on the news that drone cost $56.5 Million!

I heard 32

 

[seebell]

I heard 32

Several websites list the cost of that drone as $32 million.

MQ-9 Reaper: what is the US drone that collided with a Russian jet and how is it used?

The US air force operates a number of unmanned aircraft or UAVs, with the MQ-9 Reaper the most common

www.theguardian.com

.

This site says $56 million.

Collision with Russian aircraft sees US drone worth over $50 million downed over Black Sea

The downing of an MQ-9 Reaper drone following a collision with a Russian jet will likely cost the US Military several million dollars.

www.hitc.com

 

[Bazza]

I heard 32

It was Don Lemmon on CNN.....you make the call....

Several websites list the cost of that drone as $32 million.

MQ-9 Reaper: what is the US drone that collided with a Russian jet and how is it used?

The US air force operates a number of unmanned aircraft or UAVs, with the MQ-9 Reaper the most common

www.theguardian.com

.

This site says $56 million.

Collision with Russian aircraft sees US drone worth over $50 million downed over Black Sea

The downing of an MQ-9 Reaper drone following a collision with a Russian jet will likely cost the US Military several million dollars.

www.hitc.com

Thank you, @seebell - either way that's a boatload of money!

 

[Bamaro]

What I dont understand is why didn't they just take it down with a missle or cannon? Seems much simpler and safer than very close passes dumping fuel. Either way its a hostile action.

 

[Tidewater]

What I dont understand is why didn't they just take it down with a missle or cannon? Seems much simpler and safer than very close passes dumping fuel. Either way its a hostile action.

I think that they thought they were being clever. Dumping fuel on it may cause the engine to quit, and then they could say, "We did not shoot it down; your crappy kit just conked out."
Remember, these are the guys who dispatched to GRU agents (with consecutive passport numbers) to Britain to poison a dissident with a nerve agent only Russia has. Why not just smuggle a pistol into the UK and shoot the guy?

 

[92tide]

fwiw

International court issues war crimes warrant for Putin

THE HAGUE (AP) — The International Criminal Court said Friday that it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine .

apnews.com

 

[crimsonaudio]

Doubt that it means much, other than Putin won't be able to travel outside of Russia easily (if he even has been).

 

[CrimsonJazz]

fwiw

International court issues war crimes warrant for Putin

THE HAGUE (AP) — The International Criminal Court said Friday that it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine .

apnews.com

I was just coming here to post this and you beat me to it. I read somewhere that neither the U.S. or Russia recognize the ICC or participate in it, though. Didn't they do the same thing to Dubya?

 

[92tide]

I was just coming here to post this and you beat me to it. I read somewhere that neither the U.S. or Russia recognize the ICC or participate in it, though. Didn't they do the same thing to Dubya?

that rings a bell about w.

not sure it makes any difference one way or the other, but

Although world leaders have been indicted before, it was the first time the ICC has issued a warrant against a leader of one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

 

[CrimsonJazz]

that rings a bell about w.

not sure it makes any difference one way or the other, but

Although world leaders have been indicted before, it was the first time the ICC has issued a warrant against a leader of one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

Oof, I didn't even think about that. That fact alone does raise the interest factor for me.

 

[crimsonaudio]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1636029568946413570

#Ukraine: Remains of an unexploded Russian Lancet loitering munition finally allows us to take a look at the one of the warhead variants which may help with assessing damage- the drone is armed with a factory-made KZ-6 demolition shaped charge.

 

[crimsonaudio]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1636029572494905347

This charge weights ~3kg and consists of 1.8KG of TG-40 explosives. In the best case it can penetrate up to 215mm of rolled homogeneous armour.

 

[Tidewater]

Doubt that it means much, other than Putin won't be able to travel outside of Russia easily (if he even has been).

The Russian Constitution explicitly prohibits extraditing a Russian citizen for trial elsewhere.
This just means that, at best, he will die hiding in a culvert like Qaddafi.

 

[Tidewater]

This is probably not good.
A US veteran joined Ukraine's International Legion, then made a shock defection to Russia. Ex-comrades say he was incompetent and left behind a trail of chaos.
This cat looks to me to be mentally ill.
To quote Rickie Ricardo, "Somebody's got some 'splaining to do."

 

[crimsonaudio]

A US veteran joined Ukraine's International Legion, then made a shock defection to Russia. Ex-comrades say he was incompetent and left behind a trail of chaos.

Sounds like he'll fit right in.

 

[Tidewater]

Sounds like he'll fit right in.

The comments from the American retired Chief Petty Officer were illuminating.
I think he is mentally disturbed and desperately seeking attention. He certainly has attention now and not in a good way.

 

[TexasBama]

NATO considering deployment of up to 300,000 troops on border with Russia

NATO is discussing the need to strengthen the eastern borders with Russia by concentrating equipment and a military contingent of up to 300,000 soldiers, which should prevent Russia from expanding the war beyond Ukraine.

www.yahoo.com

 

[TIDE-HSV]

NATO considering deployment of up to 300,000 troops on border with Russia

NATO is discussing the need to strengthen the eastern borders with Russia by concentrating equipment and a military contingent of up to 300,000 soldiers, which should prevent Russia from expanding the war beyond Ukraine.

www.yahoo.com

In the end, probably not necessary, because Russia's chances of taking Ukraine are slim and none. However, that many NATO troops will outweigh Russia's effective army by many factors...