Ukraine updates

[Chop]

It doesn’t look like Russia is going to come out on top in this war. Unless the bar is lowered to keeping hold of Crimea and those small areas in far Eastern Ukraine. They may still pull that much off.

But if Russia does somehow blast their way to victory over all of Ukraine (still possible, but unlikely), they’ve got a nasty occupation of a hostile population on their hands. Even competent Superpowers don’t handle that situation well. And it looks like Russia is neither competent nor a Superpower.

I’d be pretty pessimistic about it all if I was a Russian. Any triumphalism by the Russians at this point is silly and absurd. So are any plans of taking on the Polish, Romanians, or the Finns.

 

[OUBubba]

It doesn’t look like Russia is going to come out on top in this war. Unless the bar is lowered to keeping hold of Crimea and those small areas in far Eastern Ukraine. They may still pull that much off.

But if Russia does somehow blast their way to victory over all of Ukraine (still possible, but unlikely), they’ve got a nasty occupation of a hostile population on their hands. Even competent Superpowers don’t handle that situation well. And it looks like Russia is neither competent nor a Superpower.

I’d be pretty pessimistic about it all if I was a Russian. Any triumphalism by the Russians at this point is silly and absurd. So are any plans of taking on the Polish, Romanians, or the Finns.

Unless they just bomb that corridor until nothing moves and then "hold" the unoccupied territory. I'm sure they have the firepower.

 

[Chop]

Unless they just bomb that corridor until nothing moves and then "hold" the unoccupied territory. I'm sure they have the firepower.

Of course, then what have they won? And do they have the economy to make anything of it? And will it be a drag on an already fragile Russia?

 

[OUBubba]

Of course, then what have they won? And do they have the economy to make anything of it? And will it be a drag on an already fragile Russia?

A corridor to link up to Crimea is all I can see. And possibly a place from which to launch attacks towards Odessa.

 

[Musburger1]

If anyone wondered how Azov treats prisoners. From a 2016 report.
https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/e/7/233896.pdf

 

[OUBubba]

I read the transcript of a call from a Russian soldier to his mom. He described 21 flowers that you could peel back the skin from (appendages) and the thing that the FSB taught them that involved pvc pipe and barbed wire in tender places. So, a lot of angels over there.

 

[TaylorTRoom]

That’s quite an operation Vlad is running over there-

 

[Garmel]

You're getting greedy. Try taking a picture in a busy place like that without looking creepy. And I saw her rear end after I walked past even if I couldn't photograph it. It was a marvel of nature. Just have faith based on the glimpse.

 

[Mr. Deez]

Gotta love Mr. Spock impersonating Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Even white boys have to shout. . .

 

[Dionysus]

Interesting thread about SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellite network and the strategic implications of SatCom going forward. It’s a long thread and pretty technical in places, but a few quotes below stood out to me.

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1523791050313433088.html

SpaceX has handily defeated the strongest cyber & jamming attacks the Russian Federation can assemble.

In addition, one of the lesser known features of SpaceX's Starlink internet service, point to point email service for Starlink users encrypted and not using any ground infrastructure whatsoever, has aided Ukrainian military units behind Russian lines to communicate ...with minimal electronic signature for Russian direction finding to exploit.

Effectively Starlink gave Ukraine the military space telecommunications bandwidth of the United States with zero investment in satellite infrastructure before the war.

The Ukraine War is the first Starlink War & the side with Starlink is beating the side without.

 

[OUBubba]

Interesting thread about SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellite network and the strategic implications of SatCom going forward. It’s a long thread and pretty technical in places, but a few quotes below stood out to me.

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1523791050313433088.html

SpaceX has handily defeated the strongest cyber & jamming attacks the Russian Federation can assemble.

In addition, one of the lesser known features of SpaceX's Starlink internet service, point to point email service for Starlink users encrypted and not using any ground infrastructure whatsoever, has aided Ukrainian military units behind Russian lines to communicate ...with minimal electronic signature for Russian direction finding to exploit.

Effectively Starlink gave Ukraine the military space telecommunications bandwidth of the United States with zero investment in satellite infrastructure before the war.

The Ukraine War is the first Starlink War & the side with Starlink is beating the side without.

Elon better watch it. He might find out he has an acute pulonium allergy.

 

[Musburger1]

 

[Chop]

It appears that their Odessa is even better than our Odessa.

Odessa, Ukraine on the Black Sea looks like a beautiful city--probably the best in the Ukraine. Hate to see this place get blasted to rubble. The world will be a worse place if that comes to pass.

Welp, there they go...
Those sons-of-b!tches, the Russians, have started to "pummel" Odesa.
Such a beautiful and historic city.
This part is a war on human culture.
As far as that little pocket of the World goes, Odesa is like their Paris or Rome.

Ukraine said Russian forces fired seven missiles Monday at Odesa, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse in the country's largest port. One person was killed and five wounded, the military said.

Images overnight showed a burning building and debris — including a tennis shoe — in a heap of destruction in the city on the Black Sea. Mayor Gennady Trukhanov later visited the warehouse and said it “had nothing in common with military infrastructure or military objects.”

Russia pummels vital port of Odesa, targeting supply lines

Russia fires hypersonic missiles at Odesa
Odesa pounded by multiple missiles as Russia hits Ukraine's ports

 

[Chop]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/...-live-updates-missiles-strike-odesa-rcna28057

Russia strikes at the ability to feed the World.

It's now Russia vs. the World's hungry.

Russia fired a barrage of missiles at Odesa, the crucial Black Sea city, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the blockade of the port and others like it was threatening the world's food supply.

 

[Chop]

 

[Chop]

Ol' Putin is starting to remind me more-and-more of N. Korea's Kim...

 

[Chop]

Ol' Putin is starting to remind me more-and-more of N. Korea's Kim...

Well, at least we've never had a President who demanded public flattery and the shameless stroking of his fragile ego by craven sychophants ...

 

[Musburger1]

Russia strikes at the ability to feed the World.

It's now Russia vs. the World's hungry.

This is a cruel reality of war. Ulysses Grant used to surround and siege cities using starvation as a tactic. Of course, this could have been avoided had Ukraine and NATO been willing to seriously work out a joint security ability as proposed by Putin back in December, prior to the current action. China has a big food security problem, but they have laid the groundwork with African and South American countries to help feed their people. Russian will work with India and whatever countries remain "friendly."

Those sons-of-b!tches, the Russians, have started to "pummel" Odesa.
Such a beautiful and historic city.
This part is a war on human culture.
As far as that little pocket of the World goes, Odesa is like their Paris or Rome.

Odesa is still under control of Ukraine and this is where much of the western armament is headed for. As it arrives, Russia will destroy it as was done yesterday with the huge mall being used to store armaments. Same as what was done to Mariupol. Yes this is a tragedy. But its also a choice Ukraine, the US, and NATO has chosen.

 

[Chop]

Ulysses Grant used to surround and siege cities using starvation as a tactic.

Grant was a butcher no doubt (largely of his own men), but he was the guy who got the job done--where multiple others before him had failed. That's why he's considered a great general (though he was a terrible President).

Now, if you wanted to say some other past U.S. Generals, like Sherman, were bloody war criminals, you would be very much correct.

 

[Musburger1]

Yeah. Atlanta and Mariupol infrastructure have a lot in common based on photographs.

 

[Chop]

Frankly, since we're on this topic, Grant was similar to Zhukov. Both had overwhelming advantages in manpower and firepower, and used them effectively--where others before them had failed despite having said overwhelming advantages in numbers and firepower. They both kept the pressure on, and wouldn't let up. And both were facing off against some very smart generals for the opposition.

 

[Monahorns]

As far as that little pocket of the World goes, Odesa is like their Paris or Rome.

Yeah. This really sucks. Odesa is also kind of like their Las Vegas. It is a cultural center for sure.

 

[Musburger1]

No confirmation yet, but if true, it looks like Ukraine is trying to "help Europe decide" to ban Russian gas imports. This would halt 1/3rd of the Russian gas flow entering Europe. Wonder how the affected EU countries will take this unilateral move by Ukraine if in fact it happens?

Ukraine turns off Europe-bound gas

Russian gas conglomerate Gazprom has received no confirmation of force majeure or any obstacles to continued transit of gas through a junction in Lugansk Region, the company said on Tuesday, after Ukraine’s operator OGTSU announced it would halt further deliveries starting May 11, due to the presence of “Russian occupiers.”​

 

[OUBubba]

But its also a choice Ukraine, the US, and NATO has chosen.

I love how you blame the Ukrainians for the destruction of their cities. Nice.

 

[Musburger1]

I love how you blame the Ukrainians for the destruction of their cities. Nice.

They still have a choice, but with less options. Odesa is still intact. That's going to change. Western Ukraine could eventually wind up as part of Poland. Time will tell. Zelensky is like Colonel Travis in terms of dying to the last man, except he is safely tucked away in some bunker. If he were in Azovstal he'd likely sing a different tune.

 

[Monahorns]

Zelensky is like Colonel Travis in terms of dying to the last man, except he is safely tucked away in some bunker.

Yeah. He is hanging out with Bono and The Edge. I've seen the pictures.

 

[TaylorTRoom]

Russian soldiers shooting civilians on security cam:

 

[Musburger1]

Russian soldiers shooting civilians on security cam:

This is murder. I doubt anyone will be punished unfortunately. Do you remember the video released by Wikileaks of the Iraqis murdered by the US helicopters with the audio of whoops of joy as they gunned down those innocents? No one was punished for that either; except for Assange and the soldier that released the video to Wikileaks. War and hatred go hand and hand.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

Oh, I am sure somebody will be along to correct you, and teach you the "truth" that those were really Ukranian Nazis dressed up like Russian soldiers just trying to make Putin look bad.

 

[TaylorTRoom]

Sangre, I think I have the only ones who would do that on “ignore”- I just don’t think “who are you going to believe- me or your lying eyes?” a proper “debate”