Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

Kate Ross8 said:Are you really worried about his reputation and his wardrobe?

I'm more concerned that the whole group looks bad now. But hey, I guess it could've been worse—they could have banned me from eating lamb for the rest of my life.😳

Mass grave discovered in Izium containing roughly 440 bodies

James Chavez91 said:I’ve actually started strongly opposing the idea of putting Kadyrov and goats into various romantic contexts.
I mean, what did those poor animals ever do to anyone? 😢

On another note, I read somewhere that Americans are sending some kind of long-range missiles. But Russ is suddenly up in arms about it, claiming it's crossing a red line...
Do you guys think that actually intimidated the Americans?

Yeah, I'm with you on that one.
I live in California, where the goat is on our state seal, and seeing it paired with Kadyrov just feels wrong. 🕺

As for that "red line"... wasn't that already crossed when they sent the HIMARS?

James Chavez91 said:I'm more concerned that the whole group looks bad now. But hey, I guess it could've been worse—they could have banned me from eating lamb for the rest of my life.😳

So, does this mean lamb is the only thing allowed to taste good now? What happened to the goat meat?

Anthony Hill5 said:The real question one must ask is how many NATO nations even have the Su-25 in their current inventory? I am quite skeptical that they possess any at all, and if they do, we are likely talking about maybe ten units at most; isn't that precisely why the focus has shifted toward training for the A-10 Warthog and the F-16 Fighting Falcon?

Furthermore, considering this conflict could drag on for years, isn't it obvious why the Ukrainian military is prioritizing the mastery of Western technology?

Since we're already talking about the A-10, I'm not sure if you guys have been following this, but the modern A-10 isn't really what it used to be:

Sandra Harris2 said:Yeah, I'm with you on that one.
I live in California, where the goat is on our state seal, and seeing it paired with Kadyrov just feels wrong. 🕺

As for that "red line"... wasn't that already crossed when they sent the HIMARS?

Personally, I find it distasteful to drag a noble creature into any conversation involving Kadyrov.

Sandra Harris2 said:Yeah, I'm with you on that one.
I live in California, where the goat is on our state seal, and seeing it paired with Kadyrov just feels wrong. 🕺

As for that "red line"... wasn't that already crossed when they sent the HIMARS?

Nancy Gomez26 said:Personally, I find it distasteful to drag a noble creature into any conversation involving Kadyrov.

😁

Poor Stas... those Kadyrovists totally let their guard down once the Ukrainians caught them in a moment of bliss. "AHMAT FORCE!" 😂

View on twitter

Here’s a really solid thread that breaks down the whole strategic dance happening between Russia and China
https://twitter.com/vtchakarova/stat...zMd3y1VXQ&s=19

Timothy Williams5 said:Since we're already talking about the A-10, I'm not sure if you guys have been following this, but the modern A-10 isn't really what it used to be:

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When you look at an A-10 in cross-section, you realize it’s not really a plane with a gun attached—it's more like a massive gun with a plane built around it.

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/c...per-438763.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger

The Russians are basically on track to have even Spain slam the door in their faces...

James Chavez91 said:I’ve actually started strongly opposing the idea of putting Kadyrov and goats into various romantic contexts.
I mean, what did those poor animals ever do to anyone? 😢

On another note, I read somewhere that Americans are sending some kind of long-range missiles. But Russ is suddenly up in arms about it, claiming it's crossing a red line...
Do you guys think that actually intimidated the Americans?

Right. They're shaking. Just like they were when they "crossed the red line" by sending the HIMARS.

Alright. Now I’m pretty sure Russia is losing this one...

I'm driving around listening to an NPR broadcast—that "On Air" segment—with Baric and Vidmarovic as guests...
Honestly, Vidmarovic wasn't exactly easy to listen to. Seems like the guy finally sobered up, I guess.

Russian Ambassador says you haven't seen a real war until you see one

"The Russian Ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarincev, was basically telling reporters that what’s happening in Ukraine isn't even a real war—and if the Russian Federation actually decided to go all out, they'd wrap things up in no time at all. He dropped those lines on Swedish journalists, according to Expressen.

“Look, from the Russian side, this is just a special operation. It's not a war. If Russia ever starts a real war, Ukraine will be finished before you know it,” Tatarincev claimed.

He also went on to say that Russia isn't just some country, but an entire continent, making it impossible to isolate them.

“We are winning. You should probably write that down,” the Russian Ambassador concluded.

https://www-gazeta-ru.translate.goog..._x_tr_pto=wapp

gentlerider7 said:Russian Ambassador says you haven't seen a real war until you see one

"The Russian Ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarincev, was basically telling reporters that what’s happening in Ukraine isn't even a real war—and if the Russian Federation actually decided to go all out, they'd wrap things up in no time at all. He dropped those lines on Swedish journalists, according to Expressen.

“Look, from the Russian side, this is just a special operation. It's not a war. If Russia ever starts a real war, Ukraine will be finished before you know it,” Tatarincev claimed.

He also went on to say that Russia isn't just some country, but an entire continent, making it impossible to isolate them.

“We are winning. You should probably write that down,” the Russian Ambassador concluded.

https://www-gazeta-ru.translate.goog..._x_tr_pto=wapp

Talk about pure copium. It’s like watching a bunch of toddlers throw a tantrum because they lost the game and now they're claiming the rules don't count since they weren't "ready." 🤣 🤣 🤣

Carol Johnson21 said:I suspect that wasn't even their main motivation. Adding ten thousand motivated criminals to the mix is the ultimate force multiplier. We're looking at a wave of classic street crimes that will terrorize the local population. Where else could the Russians find such a motivated force? They're essentially offering these guys an escape route; if they called for a general mobilization, they'd just face a mass exodus.

These criminals represent the absolute peak of current Russian capabilities.

They promise plenty of ammo—supposedly better than what was provided in Afghanistan or Chechnya. Meanwhile, on Taiwan, there's a video circulating of a Russian soldier talking to his wife. He tells her he's wounded but isn't allowed to leave his post because there are no hospital beds available. Her response? She tells him they've been abandoned just like they were in Afghanistan and Chechnya.

Speaking of videos of Russian soldiers, there's one where a low-ranking guy explains to his superior how unfair it is that the officers got to bring three seized cars back to Russia, while they're stuck driving some old Hyundai 😁
. It’s also quite telling how he complains about not having had a single day off in seven months because there is absolutely no rotation of troops.

I really have to correct my colleague here—those were actually LNR soldiers, and they were driving a Daewoo Lanos 🙂

As for the video, I might have misread the context regarding Afghanistan and Chechnya, but it sounded to me like he was saying things wouldn't be as easy as they were back then.

And here's another interesting point: some people were claiming they wouldn't recruit criminals charged with the most heinous crimes, yet in the video, Pirozhgin mentions someone on the front lines who was serving a thirty-year sentence. So, clearly, we aren't just talking about petty thieves stealing wallets on a subway car...

Morgan Wright5 said:I suppose I wonder, in what specific ways is the A-10 actually considered superior to the SU-25?

First off, the Su-25—unless you're looking at one of the few "T" variants actually flying—doesn't even have a Head-up Display (HUD). What is this, 1955? Where is this conversation even headed?

gentlerider7 said:Russian Ambassador says you haven't seen a real war until you see one

"The Russian Ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarincev, was basically telling reporters that what’s happening in Ukraine isn't even a real war—and if the Russian Federation actually decided to go all out, they'd wrap things up in no time at all. He dropped those lines on Swedish journalists, according to Expressen.

“Look, from the Russian side, this is just a special operation. It's not a war. If Russia ever starts a real war, Ukraine will be finished before you know it,” Tatarincev claimed.

He also went on to say that Russia isn't just some country, but an entire continent, making it impossible to isolate them.

“We are winning. You should probably write that down,” the Russian Ambassador concluded.

https://www-gazeta-ru.translate.goog..._x_tr_pto=wapp

History will simply record this as a "special operation," allowing them to claim they never lost a war. It’s their classic playbook—everything looks perfect on paper, while the reality leaves nothing but a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. There is zero incentive for them to change their mindset or behavior when they can continue living in this fantasy of invincibility. Why bother with self-reflection? Then people wonder why vodka consumption remains so high in the Russian Federation.

Here is an incredibly detailed map of Ukraine. You can even zoom in for more detail
https://t.co/895AdBVLMr

The US is rolling out another military aid package worth $600 million. 😁
1. 1,000 Excalibur Artillery Rounds
2. 36,000 105mm Artillery Rounds
3. HIMARS Ammo
4. 4 Counter Artillery Radars
5. Counter Unmanned Ariel Systems
6. Claymore Anti-personnel Mines
7. Night Vision Systems
8. Small Arms

https://twitter.com/ukraine_map/stat...54990116724741

The war in Ukraine has apparently triggered a massive spike in alcohol consumption among Russian officials, to the point where they're drinking more than ever before—and word on the street is that Putin isn't exactly thrilled about it.

Quote : Snorkyy

Over the last couple of months, Vladimir Putin has made a point of bringing up the issue of alcoholism during several public meetings with regional governors—a topic he spent years largely ignoring. But according to sources close to the Kremlin, Putin, who has always been known as a rather disciplined drinker himself, isn't actually that concerned about the nation's public health. It seems his real preoccupation is the drinking habits of Kremlin officials and the rest of the ruling elite. According to various sources, the President has spent a significant amount of time lately focusing on the growing issue of alcoholism within his administration. It seems that as the war in Ukraine drags on, Russian officials have significantly increased their alcohol consumption. Sources suggest that Putin is particularly troubled by the behavior of certain individuals within his inner circle. People have been finding ways to blow off steam like this since February. According to a source, everyone from cabinet ministers and their aides to deputy prime ministers, the White House administration, members of the Security Council, and even heads of major corporations and state governors has started leaning more heavily on the bottle. The primary driver behind all this tension is the domestic fallout triggered by the war in Ukraine and the subsequent wave of sanctions. According to a Meduza source, the heavy drinking habits among certain Russian officials have apparently become a massive thorn in Putin's side because "discipline has started to slip." Apparently, some of these officials have been missing critical meetings entirely, while others have been making a complete fool of themselves by rambling incoherently during official proceedings. It’s reached a point where even the general public is starting to take notice of the decline.

The logistical reality on the ground suggests that the initial rush of high-tech Western hardware is beginning to meet the grueling friction of sustained attrition. While the headlines focus on the glamour of precision strikes, the actual rhythm of this conflict is being dictated by much grittier necessities—the sheer volume of shells, the reliability of supply lines, and the ability to maintain complex systems under constant fire. We are seeing a shift from the excitement of tactical breakthroughs to the sobering realization that victory in modern warfare isn't just about having better tech; it’s about who can sustain a massive, industrial-scale output of basic munitions over months and years without breaking. There is a certain level of cynicism required to look at these reports without getting swept up in the hype. You see the flashy footage of advanced systems being deployed, but you also see the mounting pressure on the logistics chains trying to feed them. It’s one thing to deliver a few specialized units to a front line; it is an entirely different beast to manage the endless flow of artillery rounds and fuel required to keep a mechanized force moving across contested territory. The gap between theoretical capability and operational sustainability is where most modern military efforts either succeed or collapse. Furthermore, the evolution of drone technology and electronic warfare is rapidly changing the math for everyone involved. What worked three weeks ago might be obsolete today because of a new way to jam signals or a cheap, improvised solution to counter expensive surveillance. This constant cycle of adaptation means that the "edge" provided by high-end equipment is often fleeting. It forces a return to more fundamental principles of combat: positioning, concealment, and, most importantly, the capacity to endure heavy losses while maintaining enough momentum to prevent a stalemate. It's less like a chess match and more like a slow, grinding process of exhaustion.