Last friday Russia again launched a series of devastating energy grid attacks, proving once more that the latest campaign is in fact a systematic one to disable Ukraine’s grid rather than reflexive retaliation:
The media’s attritional war on reality is buckling under its own ponderous falsity, failing in the goal of eating away at the Thinking Person’s connection to sincerity and truth.
The Empire is in attack mode which all comes down to its assertion that you are either with or against us forcing countries to pick a side and, if you're on the wrong side, bad things will happen there. Might is right.
The reaction to the Masters of the Universe's open threat to attack the non-worshippers of the USD so far has been weak. BRICS itself is a weak-formed union that barely trusts each other. That's no way to stand against an opponent bent on destroying you. Trump will try to convince Russia to accept a deal which would include the removal of sanctions which means very little because he also said that he would apply tariffs on any country moving away from the USD.
There are also rumours of a second AFU attack into Russian territory to improve the terms of the
soon peace deal. Russia could let them advance into its borders as much as they want trapping them in by launching a concentrated multi-pronged blitzkrieg counter-offensive and surrounding Kyiv. The AFU kamikaze expeditionary force would lose their line of supply cut off deep in enemy territory and be forced to surrender or be obliterated along with all the other retreating stragglers. And that would be a checkmate against Ukraine. But it looks like Russia is going to settle for a lesser deal at a time when the Empire is in full-spectrum attack mode.
So, BRICS and friends are no match against the Empire as things stand because they are too soft and afraid to offend the Empire which can chip away to break the will of one country at a time. So far Russia fights alone and the Empire knows it. Lack of support from its allies could be the reason Russia is so measured in its SMO. The Masters of the Universe will continue to divide and conquer non-compliant countries. The Empire has struck back while Russia alone holds the line.
Hence, BRICS less R equals BICS which is an appropriate acronym meaning disposable lighter.
The Empire is bent on turning BRICS into BICS one flick at a time. lol
BRICS & friends are too soft and afraid bc the examples are not good. All “medium sized” countries that have opposed the Gringo empire (excluding autarkic & nuclear armed Best Korea) have been thoroughly wrecked: Libya, Iraq, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen, Myanmar, etc. and, now Syria as well.
I guess elites in the Global South are not eager to stick their necks out to fight for multipolarity after seeing how things are developing…
BRICS countries are well aware of the empire's strength. However, BRICS is a long-term project, not a quick solution. Many, including alt-media sympathetic to the BRICS cause, yet seem to expect near future gains - new global reserves, payments systems, etc. - even in the face o0f consistent BRICS pronouncements to the contrary. And as BRICS continues to say, its objective is to provide alternative choice, not a direct challenge to the USD system. Right now, they are simply providing trade arrangements offering payment in national currencies.
My issue is that the Evil Gringo Empire has still a lot of fuel in the tank and it still can get a “lucky shot” and down the R or C of brics if he gets enough time and opportunities for it. And time and opportunities is exactly what R and C are giving away with their mostly passive strategy.
Victor, BICS are going to get dismantled one country at a time before they make it long-term unless it changes its formula. Long-term can't help you when you face short-term existential threats. The Empire does not accept alternative choices. You are either with or against them. That's the choice.
China has a sneaky way of sitting back and patiently waiting to move in after the opposing parties have been weakened. China may not fight wars, but it does know how to covertly infiltrate the political systems of countries for control like it got caught doing in Canada. Naughty, naughty, China. you no do anymore, huh? lol
Funny stuff considering that it is $lumville's ruling ZionaZis that have been behind the so-called global color revolutions and almost every act of terror on this planet in the last 2 decades. China owns you and he who pays the piper calls the tune.
China has Zero to fear from the angloZionaZi paper tiger and its constant howling about "militarily confronting" the "China threat". How stupid! The destruction of Natostan in the sputtering rump Ukrapper dumpster fire is in fact the death knell of $lumville USSA and the inevitable collapse of its IOU worthless (ex) Saudimercan toilet paper dollah. The entire chosenite Wall St sewer is on the verge of implosion as Pentacon Kill Industries and its garbage weapons can no longer bring home the bacon. No more free stuff and if gung hoers in $lumville are under the delusion that they can "take on" the Bear and the Dragon and all their friends then I would suggest putting down the crack pipe, snapping out of the fentanyl delUSion and looking around at the stinking human slum in $lumville proper. It's all over and soon the fat hag WILL sing, the cookie mobster Nudelman and Bath-house Barry Obomber and the ruling Zio$ that have brought America (sic) to its debauched and ruinous state.
Didn't Napoleon say they one with the last reserves wins the battle. I can imagine the US and China watching each other wondering if they are going to commit. The fact that China is a military peer prevents the US from committing it's army.
I think you misinterpret the signs. This Empire is being liquidated by it's Central Banking master's, the death throes are simply the sucking out of every drop of profit from the populous of the West as the genocidal enslavement increases in impetuous through the complete and absolute corruption of every single aspect of Western Governance.
The genocidal treason of the Covid19 Coup D'état should have awoken in rational thinkers the recognition, the point of no return for the Globalist Parasites, where the remainder of the 2020s will see the UN"s primary purpose as overseers of Mass Genocide and enslave of humanity.
There is an unlikely possibility of a recognition and successful rising up of humanities higher consciousness and selfless courage to over throw the parasitic masters of this Satanic Empire. Regardless before the mid half of this century there is a real likelihood the human population of the earth will be counted only in the millions.
The best hope is that the parasite caste will find themselves as square one and their numbers can be counted on one hand.
I don't disagree with anything you say, but I think the East looks at things over a longer timescale.
When they asked Zhou En Lai about the effect of French Revolution in 1972, he said "Too early to say". Now I know it was apparently a misunderstanding, but there's a kernel of truth to it.
The balance of forces is moving, relatively quickly against the West, despite their best efforts. Even "successes" like Syria bring new problems.
So it may be that the BRICS+ are happy to avoid antagonizing an increasingly desperate West, in order to let Time do its work.
All of Ukraine’s fortified defensive lines in Donbas were established between 2014 and 2021—initially at the hands of Azov Battalion-type militia once the civil war erupted in the aftermath of the Euromaidan coup and then gradually from 2015 through 2021 as the U.S.-led OTAN became a steady partner. It’s peculiar that Ukraine has no fortifications beyond Pokrovsk, especially since leaders in the West have insisted on “fighting to the last Ukrainian,” a vociferously stated goal which likely made for quite an entrenched conflict. Military strategists in the West, advising Ukraine, would have had time enough in the 1000 days it took Russia to reach Pokrovsk to begin fortifying areas beyond the citadel, in order to preserve the population of viable Ukrainian soldiers, but no engineers sallied forth to design fortifications or bulk up other earthwork baffles that would slow Russia’s roll eventually as its forces ultimately took village after village. The shovels may have been there for Ukraine, ready, but not the shovel-ready work. The lack of war-urgency or war-industry in the western nations, their inability to *ramp up,* got reflected on the battlefield in Ukraine, even amplified there, where military tactics had an indolent, sometimes irrational quality.
Though U.S. leaders brayed loudly about “fighting to the last Ukrainian,” they behaved like it never actually would be possible to run out of Ukrainians. As if consulting a fantasy chapter out of the Rand Corporation’s bestselling novel about how Russia gets weakened in an unending war, they saw a limitless supply of Ukrainians, as if they could conjure them out of the rasputitsa in numbers sufficient enough—like the terracotta army from 209 B.C. China—that they could overwhelmingly force Russia’s capitulation.
There was always going to be a ceasefire. Except now, Ukraine is in a much worse position because it has lost dramatically more territory since the first ceasefire was negotiated in March 2022. Hundreds of thousands more men, women and children have been needlessly killed or maimed because ‘leaders’ from the West, sitting in the safety of their offices thousands of miles from the battlefield, wanted to continue table-topping a really fun board game, using men, women and children as cheap, disposable, pawns.
Thanks about fortification in Donbas over ten years. What I don’t understand is Kursk where Ukro-Nazis entered recently but — it appears are very difficult to dislodge!!??
Something about the fortification story doesn’t add up…
There are no fortifications in Kursk, except a military post near the border, which the Russians had staffed before the Incursion commenced--and whatever village homes & barns the OTAN/merc/AFU can occupy: school buildings in Sudzha & the like.
Terrain-wise, the Kursk region is rolling & forested, densely so, unlike the Donbas areas.
Those meat-assaults by the female DPRK troops are hell in the forest
We could also consider that the RF forces are not rushing in Kursk on purpose. They see that the situation is managable, UA keeps sending reinforcements which are getting depleted, reducing pressure on other areas of the front.
True. Once the threat of artillery strikes on KNPP were neutralised, then the Kursk salient became a convenient firebag for the annihilation of Ukro forces.
Another foray of similar size, by Ukraine, would give Russia yet more opportunity to further decimate the AFU.
The Ukranians are gleeful with new Laser weapons they are pushing I am hearing, most likely at a range of 2 km, likely mostly useful for shorads drone type stuff. I bet the russians do not find it useful for day to day stuff otherwise they would have fielded it en masse. Another wunderwaffen
By escalating hostilities w/ an Oreshnik-launching card-carrying nuclear superpower, Joe’s admin is imperiling the American people & the world during what’s supposed to be a “peaceful transfer of power”—the interregnum.
His admin’s vanity project of “weakening Russia” has failed.
Joe, Blinken and Sullivan do not have a mandate to endanger America & the world any further by provoking Russia to retaliate w/ next-level responses.
It behooves them to stop relying on Russia to show restraint. Global safety should not depend on Russia exhibiting self-control & acting prudently. Continual & needless provocations jeopardize everybody.
I agree Cheetos, however it's no skin off their noses to "mix a bottle" of trouble and grief for the incoming Trumpster team. It's highly unlikely Blinken & Co will be held accountable for their bad faith actions, in fact they'll probably be amply rewarded and still end up with decent, well paid and risk free jobs, just somewhere else.
Russia is playing a waiting game while moving forward with as few casualties as possible . If the Ukrainians launch another "offensive" it will require them to accumulate men and machines and that just makes them worthwhile targets . If the F16's are used in foreign bases those bases will be visited by Oreshniks which will destroy even the most protected bunkers . All scenarios will have already been gamed by the Russian AI's and will incur rapid responses as its all set up . Putin has shown the big stick but not applied it yet .
The grind will continue. Eventually all the major cities east of Dnieper will be Russian with sieges forming up on those on the river. The river can be crossed at places of Russia's choosing. I still favor a blitz down Kerson way. As I wrote earlier this month, I see capitulation being the endgame, not negotiations as NATO is currently incapable of accepting what must be accepted--a new Eurasian security structure that nullifies NATO and sends it to the garbage pile.
In the greater conflict between Russia and the Outlaw US Empire, I see NATO's MIC having to spend 5X Russia's current 6.2% of GDP just to catch-up in both quality and numbers; yet, that gap continues to widen daily, and as Putin said Russia's not slowing down. Imagine what devoting 25% of GDP to the MIC would do to all NATO economies. Yes, the geopolitical game has yet to end, but its ending contours are visible. The Empire lacks the proxies and the military to defeat Russia, China or BRICS. That will be of little solace to Syrians or Palestinians. And the nations comprising the Arc of Instability and their people will likely experience the dying writhing of the Imperial Sanke. It won't happen tomorrow or next year, but as long as the nukes don't fly, the Outlaw US Empire has lost because it lacks the resources and industrial capacity to conquer the world.
I see no way for a real peace. The European leaders live in a fantasyworld. They believe in their own lies. It is like Hitler in the Führerbunker '45. He commanded armies that was not existing, he planned retaliation with non existent wonder-weapons, the wochenschau reported about massive attacks on the Soviets on the Oder, when in reality the troops were depleted and in retreat.
I don't really understand the inference about the North Korean soldiers, men are like artillery shells, you can never have too many. It's great to have them fighting along side the Russians, hopefully the contingent will grow to six figures.
I think as time passes it is quite clear that a few things are true - yes, Russia is massively defeating Ukraine BUT at unacceptable losses to Russia. Losing 100-200 men a day means losing 30-40k KIA of your best people a year, with 3x as many more wounded. By the time this war is over, 1% of Russia's population will have been either killed or maimed by war, which if you age and sex adjust will mean 5-10% of military aged men. Its a travesty.
Yes, Ukraine will be a non-state, 404 as they say on TG. But Russia needs to endure somehow, and it faces grave challenges. I don't understand why they haven't Oreshnik-ed Zelensky yet, I don't understand why they haven't used it again, and I don't understand why they let EU/NATO/US get away with murder (literally). From where I'm sitting Russia is winning tactically but losing strategically. It doesn't help that her opponents (Germany, England, Finland, Baltics, Ukraine, etc) are maniacally enthusiastic about committing economic suicide but economies can be rebuilt, men stay dead.
Wholly agree! Russia’s demographic winter will not be helped by the current battlefield casualties…
(And claiming that Russia is adding population bc of the former UKR citizens that are now part of Russia is hard cope)
Also, I would add that current Russian retaliations for long range strikes against the Motherland are moronic as these are only hitting targets inside Ukraine and we all know how much Western elites care about Ukrainians. Don’t they?
It's true but I've long held a counter argument to that, which is steel sharpens steel and Russia's losses are a necessary "watering of the tree of liberty with blood". Russia's 'liberty' is its strength. Those sacrifices in the form of losses are building generational strength, cementing genetic legacies of the warrior bloodline which will keep Russia strong. In short, Russian warlike culture is maintained and strengthened for all time, while the West devolves and dissolves into soy weakness. As such, all the losses are in fact accomplishing a great deal in strengthening Russia and cementing its independence and sovereignty for all time.
Also, keep in mind even if Russia were to lose 1 million people, Russia has gained thus far something like 10 million total new citizens from Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, Kherson, and could still potentially gain millions more in the future depending how far it goes. This vastly overshadows any losses and Russia will have a massive net population gain after the war is done, so all "demographic catastrophe" talks are mostly nonsense.
And as for those who keep returning to the trope of 'slavs killing slavs', the truth is slavs are the most populous ethnic group in all of Europe by far, with no one even close, this war won't change that.
As long as Russia doesn't permanently get rid of cretins like Chubais its watering of the tree won't amount to much. Russia needs an ideology, what does it stand for; not what it stands against. Thus far the Kremlin hasn't articulated such an ideology. The best I've seen, and it's full of issues, is the Eurasianism pushed by people such as Dugin.
In fact, Putin’s economic policies are classic liberal: free market, small state, non interventionist (except for defense industry, of course). I don’t pretend to be an expert but this IMO stands in total contradiction with the Russian tradition of community & mutual cooperation (“Sobornost”).
"Russian tradition of community & mutual cooperation (“Sobornost”)"
This tradition is mostly a myth. Russians are very individualist people. At least after Soviet regime which destroyed most of traditional communal institutions. All in all, today's Russian are more or less happy to be on their own.
Highly individual and incredibly paranoid and mistrustful of govt and large institutions in general. One of the reasons why its so hard to make friends with them but if you do its for life.
Thanks for the correction! I would have thought that them present day Russians would be more community-focused as e.g. the Scandinavians are (or were?).
No, absolutely not. Recently there have been some "green shoots" of horizontal cooperation but mostly people here prefer that nobody pokes one's nose in their life. Patriotism and nationalism are probably the only things we can be rallied around.
I’m pretty sure the poor guys doing the irrigation might NOT agree with that.
Also, this whole argument is to be expected by Gringo citizens that have experienced nothing but colonial wars in far away places against inferior forces and fought mostly by professional soldiers and PMCs…
In the rest of world I would bet that people in general prefer to make their nations & culture stronger without going to war.
Agree that Slavs vs Slavs makes no sense. Change that to Russians vs Russians (bc a LOT of UKR casualties have been Russian speakers from the Central & Eastern areas of Ukraine) and then it doesn’t sound so good at all.
Last: until the fertility rate climbs above 2.1, Russia will remain in a demographic winter. That’s a fact.
Mikey, war is like entering a dark room, fighting and killing, offence and defence, gives you real information how strong you and your opponent are.
This war is seriously asymmetrical, as Russia is obviously stronger, but if the West is willing to support Ukraine 100%, war could end in stalemate. Could.
A stalemate could be interpreted as a victory.
But let's look at the war from another point.
When all is over, who will know, understand deep inside, that he had made a mistake?
US and the West entered this war as a luxury war, a non existential war, and are faced with a Russia that is willing to fight a war as existential, to the end.
It was a mistake.
Whatever the West does now, it is difficult to turn this war into existential- that means be ready to send soldiers to die in Ukraine.
And if West is not ready to send soldiers to die in Ukraine, the war will be lost on the battlefield
Creating a NATO army out of Ukrainians is possible, but still does not guarantee victory, just exhausting the Ukrainian population.
Even with full NATO support, as is being provided right now, in weapons, information, there is no way to win, for Ukraine.
In my judgement, raising the stakes, by creating a bigger, larger Ukrainian army creates a risk that Russia will be obliged to form an even stronger army.
Why would Russia accept any ceasefire if it has to create an army that is capable of winning against Ukrainian army just to be offered negotiations on ceasefire.
The moment West offers negotiations, is the moment West admits Ukraine is losing and there is no point in negotiations.
West has created a monster in Ukraine that is going to destroy Ukraine. Millions more will die.
Simple. The alt media has mislead it's audience about the strength of Russia. Yes, Russia is winning against the Ukraine, and yes if the Ukraine were fighting alone this war would have ended in the spring months of 2022. But for 2 plus years we've been fed bs about Putin and co playing 5D chess, etc. It's all bunk. The worst of the lot is Martyanov. At least Simplicius tries to maintain some impartiality and admits when he doesn't know something.
Anyway, I hope Russia finally kicks things into overdrive in 2025 and wins a decisive victory. One can only hope...
Both sides have been hard-coping. The truth was always in the middle. And what was obvious from may 2022 was that the US and China were the big winners, while Europe and Russia the big losers, and Ukraine the graveyard
If Ukraine ends up capitulating, which seems more likely by the day, then Russia will at the least end up with the 4 oblasts they have annexed. These happen to be the 4 top oblasts in Ukrainian GDP. They are the powerhouse of the Ukrainian economy with a sizeable industrial base, large populations (though many are displaced) and loads of primary resources. I wouldn't be calling Russia a big loser just yet. Let's wait and see if they push past the massive lithium deposit west of Kurhakove.
If the casualties of war would be that bad Russia would not be thriving economically and sitting in 4th place behind India in the global standings. Winning wars for a just cause strengthens a nation greatly, even with the human losses involved. These men are celebrated as heroes and their familes treated with the utmost respect by the populace. Also don't forget that the battle hardened Donbas militias incorporated into the RAF have contributed greatly to the fighting at the front and are liberating their own lands from the banderite occupation which again is heroic in itself.
I always think that it is the Troops in the Donbas Militias, and now regular Russian Army, that are the ones that are truly fighting for their homeland. While Kyiv's Soldiers from central and western Ukraine likely don't even care what goes on in eastern Ukraine.
“Since day one, this war has stunk to high Heaven,” Douglas MacKinnon says, writing in The Hill about Project Ukraine. “The biggest *mystery* is, why some do not want to stop the almost instantly stoppable killing in Ukraine. Another mystery is why some are so anxious to lead the world to the edge of World War III. Another is why some want no accountability for the hundreds of billions sent into Ukraine. And the last *mystery* is why so many in the media and in leadership positions in the U.S., the United Kingdom and France have deliberately ignored or downplayed the horrific casualty counts in Ukraine?”
McKinnon’s outrage is that of someone who has swallowed all the lies he was fed and now discovers what a stump he is for doing so. As recently as October McKinnon was cheerleading for Project Ukraine. It’s not a stretch, oddly, to imagine that McKinnon always knew a high percentage of the actual truth—that at no point was Ukraine capable of winning this war—and McKinnon fell into that big mysterious group of supposedly responsible witnesses to this horror who stood by & said nothing.
While Zelya claims only 83,000 Ukrainian soldier have died, the Western media at large has begun to report more realistic numbers in the high-100 thousands, which may in fact be a low-ball figure.
“Three men instantly opposed the war,” McKinnon writes, “while warning of the ultimate horror it could spawn — Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” He speaks of how all three guys were vilified for deigning to interrogate the casualty numbers, for instance, which always seemed too pie-in-the-sky unbelievable. “There are a great many questions some powerful people don’t want answered under any circumstances,” according to McKinnon.
He himself is on the verge of accepting that “the Obama White House and State Department played a role in the overthrow of the legitimately elected Ukrainian president Yanukovych in 2014.” Which means McKinnon is on the ground floor of jettisoning the propaganda. Jettisoning the propaganda is *not* nothing. But many of us less well-connected than McKinnon *saw,* believed and understood that the State Department played a role in the Euromaidan street coup which deposed Yanukovych. We ‘jettisoned the propaganda’ 10 years ago. Which means McKinnon is dramatically late. In a rush to laud DJT, JD & RFKjr and give them their flowers, he wants to bask opportunistically now in their glow. Something has happened for the media, something has happened for McKinnon. Even in the midst of ‘jettisoning the propaganda,’ he remains unconvincing.
One question about Syria : The SAA was decisively defeated, but it hardly seems DESTROYED, with evidence that many, if not most, retreated into Iraq. Mahar al-assad, Bashar's brother, also seems to still be with SAA units in Iraq.
Despite the current jubilation over HTS rule, once Syria evolves into a free for all like in Libya, would an Iranian-sponsored invasion of Syria be on the cards in the future?
Probably not. that's not Iran's general modus operandi. However, you can't discount the possibility of Iran heavily sponsoring the SAA remnants in Iraq to cause trouble in whatever is left of Syria, esp if the numbers of troops justify the investment.
The war’s current trajectory highlights a significant shift in the nature of modern conflict: it is no longer about quick, decisive victories but rather prolonged, grinding battles that test not only military strength but also societal and political endurance. Russia’s approach reflects more than just its military capabilities—it demonstrates an ability to adapt to sustained pressure and rethink its strategic methods. By attacking infrastructure, decentralizing supply lines, and focusing on slow, incremental territorial gains, Russia isn’t seeking dramatic breakthroughs. Instead, it’s pursuing a strategy of gradual attrition, aiming to wear down Ukraine’s capacity to resist over time. This deliberate, patient approach echoes historical wars of attrition, but with modern tools like drones, electronic warfare, and precision strikes replacing brute-force tactics.
What makes Ukraine’s situation particularly precarious isn’t just its manpower challenges or logistical strains, but its heavy dependence on external support. Unlike Russia, which can rely on its internal resources and has largely weathered sanctions, Ukraine’s war effort is tied to the political and economic priorities of Western allies. This creates a largely unspoken vulnerability: Ukraine is effectively fighting two wars—one on the battlefield and another to keep international support intact. If Western governments shift their attention, face domestic political pressures, or prioritize other global issues, Ukraine’s ability to continue the fight could weaken dramatically.
For Russia, the conflict carries a broader geopolitical message that extends beyond Ukraine’s borders. By demonstrating its capacity to endure and adapt against the collective West, Russia is signaling to other nations that Western influence and military dominance have limits. This has far-reaching implications, particularly for countries viewing the war as a test case for a multipolar world order. For the Kremlin, the conflict is as much about reasserting Russia’s position on the global stage as it is about achieving specific military objectives.
At the same time, Ukraine’s leadership faces a difficult balancing act: projecting confidence and strength while contending with the very real risk of exhaustion—both militarily and within society. The rhetoric surrounding future offensives serves a dual purpose: maintaining domestic morale and convincing Western supporters that Ukraine can still achieve meaningful victories. But this strategy carries risks. If optimism fades and gives way to disillusionment, sustaining both domestic and international support will become even harder as the war drags on.
Ultimately, the war reveals an uncomfortable reality for modern military planners: advanced technology and tactical superiority cannot always overcome demographic challenges, industrial capacity, and the ability to adapt to prolonged conflict. Ukraine’s reliance on external lifelines places it in a precarious position where its survival depends as much on the endurance of its Western backers as on its own capabilities. Meanwhile, despite setbacks, Russia appears to be playing a long game, betting that it can outlast Ukraine and the resolve of its supporters. In this sense, the conflict is more than just a test of military strength—it’s a test of systems and resilience, a contest to see who can endure the strain the longest.
Hope Putin goes way of Assad after Ukraine gets to Moscow. Putin is not a wartime leader and 100-200 day is too many. He should have invaded right not with a piddly 100,000 and should have mobilized every day since instead of letting Ukraine/NATO bleed Russia out.
Re: "Zelensky ‘testing the limits’ of both sides' red lines with the ATACMS strike on Taganrog".
The author might have forgotten what Russian officials, including VVP, have repeated numerous times, namely that Banderastan's military lacks the means to autonomously operate "Western" provided long-range missile systems, without ZATO's ISR operational support, as well as without "Western instructors" direct involvement in the form of programming said missile systems' with the designated target coordinates.
A more correct assessment would be that ZATO's military is the one who's "testing limits" and, as many times before, disingeniously attempting to "draw red lines" and provoke further escalation from Russia. In the meantime, The Big Bear marches on uninterrupted, obliterating the nazi armies in the process. До победы!
The media’s attritional war on reality is buckling under its own ponderous falsity, failing in the goal of eating away at the Thinking Person’s connection to sincerity and truth.
Drones and tranny shootarounds while we print money to launder… only 35 days left to cash out!
Looks like porksicles for Christmas!
"The Empire Strikes Back" with vengeful furry.
The Empire is in attack mode which all comes down to its assertion that you are either with or against us forcing countries to pick a side and, if you're on the wrong side, bad things will happen there. Might is right.
The reaction to the Masters of the Universe's open threat to attack the non-worshippers of the USD so far has been weak. BRICS itself is a weak-formed union that barely trusts each other. That's no way to stand against an opponent bent on destroying you. Trump will try to convince Russia to accept a deal which would include the removal of sanctions which means very little because he also said that he would apply tariffs on any country moving away from the USD.
There are also rumours of a second AFU attack into Russian territory to improve the terms of the
soon peace deal. Russia could let them advance into its borders as much as they want trapping them in by launching a concentrated multi-pronged blitzkrieg counter-offensive and surrounding Kyiv. The AFU kamikaze expeditionary force would lose their line of supply cut off deep in enemy territory and be forced to surrender or be obliterated along with all the other retreating stragglers. And that would be a checkmate against Ukraine. But it looks like Russia is going to settle for a lesser deal at a time when the Empire is in full-spectrum attack mode.
So, BRICS and friends are no match against the Empire as things stand because they are too soft and afraid to offend the Empire which can chip away to break the will of one country at a time. So far Russia fights alone and the Empire knows it. Lack of support from its allies could be the reason Russia is so measured in its SMO. The Masters of the Universe will continue to divide and conquer non-compliant countries. The Empire has struck back while Russia alone holds the line.
Hence, BRICS less R equals BICS which is an appropriate acronym meaning disposable lighter.
The Empire is bent on turning BRICS into BICS one flick at a time. lol
https://youtu.be/pfuZWP4YDW4
Here is the masterpiece:https://youtu.be/YMvcCfs8mf8
All good points!
And love the pun of the bic lighters!
BRICS & friends are too soft and afraid bc the examples are not good. All “medium sized” countries that have opposed the Gringo empire (excluding autarkic & nuclear armed Best Korea) have been thoroughly wrecked: Libya, Iraq, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen, Myanmar, etc. and, now Syria as well.
I guess elites in the Global South are not eager to stick their necks out to fight for multipolarity after seeing how things are developing…
Thanks. Amusement keeps me sane in a crazy world. cheers.
BRICS countries are well aware of the empire's strength. However, BRICS is a long-term project, not a quick solution. Many, including alt-media sympathetic to the BRICS cause, yet seem to expect near future gains - new global reserves, payments systems, etc. - even in the face o0f consistent BRICS pronouncements to the contrary. And as BRICS continues to say, its objective is to provide alternative choice, not a direct challenge to the USD system. Right now, they are simply providing trade arrangements offering payment in national currencies.
I agree 100%.
My issue is that the Evil Gringo Empire has still a lot of fuel in the tank and it still can get a “lucky shot” and down the R or C of brics if he gets enough time and opportunities for it. And time and opportunities is exactly what R and C are giving away with their mostly passive strategy.
Victor, BICS are going to get dismantled one country at a time before they make it long-term unless it changes its formula. Long-term can't help you when you face short-term existential threats. The Empire does not accept alternative choices. You are either with or against them. That's the choice.
When will China finally realize that they are next on the platter of the hegemonic globalists.
I'd wager they have realised. That's why they are busy ramping up production of ships, planes, weapons, etc.
China has a sneaky way of sitting back and patiently waiting to move in after the opposing parties have been weakened. China may not fight wars, but it does know how to covertly infiltrate the political systems of countries for control like it got caught doing in Canada. Naughty, naughty, China. you no do anymore, huh? lol
Funny stuff considering that it is $lumville's ruling ZionaZis that have been behind the so-called global color revolutions and almost every act of terror on this planet in the last 2 decades. China owns you and he who pays the piper calls the tune.
China has Zero to fear from the angloZionaZi paper tiger and its constant howling about "militarily confronting" the "China threat". How stupid! The destruction of Natostan in the sputtering rump Ukrapper dumpster fire is in fact the death knell of $lumville USSA and the inevitable collapse of its IOU worthless (ex) Saudimercan toilet paper dollah. The entire chosenite Wall St sewer is on the verge of implosion as Pentacon Kill Industries and its garbage weapons can no longer bring home the bacon. No more free stuff and if gung hoers in $lumville are under the delusion that they can "take on" the Bear and the Dragon and all their friends then I would suggest putting down the crack pipe, snapping out of the fentanyl delUSion and looking around at the stinking human slum in $lumville proper. It's all over and soon the fat hag WILL sing, the cookie mobster Nudelman and Bath-house Barry Obomber and the ruling Zio$ that have brought America (sic) to its debauched and ruinous state.
Are you alright, bot? lol
Didn't Napoleon say they one with the last reserves wins the battle. I can imagine the US and China watching each other wondering if they are going to commit. The fact that China is a military peer prevents the US from committing it's army.
I think you misinterpret the signs. This Empire is being liquidated by it's Central Banking master's, the death throes are simply the sucking out of every drop of profit from the populous of the West as the genocidal enslavement increases in impetuous through the complete and absolute corruption of every single aspect of Western Governance.
The genocidal treason of the Covid19 Coup D'état should have awoken in rational thinkers the recognition, the point of no return for the Globalist Parasites, where the remainder of the 2020s will see the UN"s primary purpose as overseers of Mass Genocide and enslave of humanity.
There is an unlikely possibility of a recognition and successful rising up of humanities higher consciousness and selfless courage to over throw the parasitic masters of this Satanic Empire. Regardless before the mid half of this century there is a real likelihood the human population of the earth will be counted only in the millions.
The best hope is that the parasite caste will find themselves as square one and their numbers can be counted on one hand.
Discombobulated bot talk. What you bots up to, anyway?
Good post mate.
I don't disagree with anything you say, but I think the East looks at things over a longer timescale.
When they asked Zhou En Lai about the effect of French Revolution in 1972, he said "Too early to say". Now I know it was apparently a misunderstanding, but there's a kernel of truth to it.
The balance of forces is moving, relatively quickly against the West, despite their best efforts. Even "successes" like Syria bring new problems.
So it may be that the BRICS+ are happy to avoid antagonizing an increasingly desperate West, in order to let Time do its work.
FESTINA LENTE!
All of Ukraine’s fortified defensive lines in Donbas were established between 2014 and 2021—initially at the hands of Azov Battalion-type militia once the civil war erupted in the aftermath of the Euromaidan coup and then gradually from 2015 through 2021 as the U.S.-led OTAN became a steady partner. It’s peculiar that Ukraine has no fortifications beyond Pokrovsk, especially since leaders in the West have insisted on “fighting to the last Ukrainian,” a vociferously stated goal which likely made for quite an entrenched conflict. Military strategists in the West, advising Ukraine, would have had time enough in the 1000 days it took Russia to reach Pokrovsk to begin fortifying areas beyond the citadel, in order to preserve the population of viable Ukrainian soldiers, but no engineers sallied forth to design fortifications or bulk up other earthwork baffles that would slow Russia’s roll eventually as its forces ultimately took village after village. The shovels may have been there for Ukraine, ready, but not the shovel-ready work. The lack of war-urgency or war-industry in the western nations, their inability to *ramp up,* got reflected on the battlefield in Ukraine, even amplified there, where military tactics had an indolent, sometimes irrational quality.
Though U.S. leaders brayed loudly about “fighting to the last Ukrainian,” they behaved like it never actually would be possible to run out of Ukrainians. As if consulting a fantasy chapter out of the Rand Corporation’s bestselling novel about how Russia gets weakened in an unending war, they saw a limitless supply of Ukrainians, as if they could conjure them out of the rasputitsa in numbers sufficient enough—like the terracotta army from 209 B.C. China—that they could overwhelmingly force Russia’s capitulation.
There was always going to be a ceasefire. Except now, Ukraine is in a much worse position because it has lost dramatically more territory since the first ceasefire was negotiated in March 2022. Hundreds of thousands more men, women and children have been needlessly killed or maimed because ‘leaders’ from the West, sitting in the safety of their offices thousands of miles from the battlefield, wanted to continue table-topping a really fun board game, using men, women and children as cheap, disposable, pawns.
Depravity & hypocrisy walk hand in hand.
No (good) news from the western front, cannon fodder into drones fodder or propaganda fodder, no spectacular news not even with a cease fire.
Thanks about fortification in Donbas over ten years. What I don’t understand is Kursk where Ukro-Nazis entered recently but — it appears are very difficult to dislodge!!??
Something about the fortification story doesn’t add up…
There are no fortifications in Kursk, except a military post near the border, which the Russians had staffed before the Incursion commenced--and whatever village homes & barns the OTAN/merc/AFU can occupy: school buildings in Sudzha & the like.
Terrain-wise, the Kursk region is rolling & forested, densely so, unlike the Donbas areas.
Those meat-assaults by the female DPRK troops are hell in the forest
;]
We could also consider that the RF forces are not rushing in Kursk on purpose. They see that the situation is managable, UA keeps sending reinforcements which are getting depleted, reducing pressure on other areas of the front.
True. Once the threat of artillery strikes on KNPP were neutralised, then the Kursk salient became a convenient firebag for the annihilation of Ukro forces.
Another foray of similar size, by Ukraine, would give Russia yet more opportunity to further decimate the AFU.
Cynism at its worst.
The Ukranians are gleeful with new Laser weapons they are pushing I am hearing, most likely at a range of 2 km, likely mostly useful for shorads drone type stuff. I bet the russians do not find it useful for day to day stuff otherwise they would have fielded it en masse. Another wunderwaffen
By escalating hostilities w/ an Oreshnik-launching card-carrying nuclear superpower, Joe’s admin is imperiling the American people & the world during what’s supposed to be a “peaceful transfer of power”—the interregnum.
His admin’s vanity project of “weakening Russia” has failed.
Joe, Blinken and Sullivan do not have a mandate to endanger America & the world any further by provoking Russia to retaliate w/ next-level responses.
It behooves them to stop relying on Russia to show restraint. Global safety should not depend on Russia exhibiting self-control & acting prudently. Continual & needless provocations jeopardize everybody.
I agree Cheetos, however it's no skin off their noses to "mix a bottle" of trouble and grief for the incoming Trumpster team. It's highly unlikely Blinken & Co will be held accountable for their bad faith actions, in fact they'll probably be amply rewarded and still end up with decent, well paid and risk free jobs, just somewhere else.
Trump will lose no political capital from washing his hands of Ukraine.
The key question is whether the State Department and CIA will let him?
There is NO map showing total territory freed in 2024 - only endless number of derailed fields and patios freed daily - very confusing.
For example - how far from Dnjeper river are we now away along the entire front? That is NEVER shown — a big mystery… !!!???
Derailed typo was meant to be — detailed ;-((
Just go to deepstatemap and use their ruler. It's 80-100km depending where you measure from
Russia is playing a waiting game while moving forward with as few casualties as possible . If the Ukrainians launch another "offensive" it will require them to accumulate men and machines and that just makes them worthwhile targets . If the F16's are used in foreign bases those bases will be visited by Oreshniks which will destroy even the most protected bunkers . All scenarios will have already been gamed by the Russian AI's and will incur rapid responses as its all set up . Putin has shown the big stick but not applied it yet .
The grind will continue. Eventually all the major cities east of Dnieper will be Russian with sieges forming up on those on the river. The river can be crossed at places of Russia's choosing. I still favor a blitz down Kerson way. As I wrote earlier this month, I see capitulation being the endgame, not negotiations as NATO is currently incapable of accepting what must be accepted--a new Eurasian security structure that nullifies NATO and sends it to the garbage pile.
In the greater conflict between Russia and the Outlaw US Empire, I see NATO's MIC having to spend 5X Russia's current 6.2% of GDP just to catch-up in both quality and numbers; yet, that gap continues to widen daily, and as Putin said Russia's not slowing down. Imagine what devoting 25% of GDP to the MIC would do to all NATO economies. Yes, the geopolitical game has yet to end, but its ending contours are visible. The Empire lacks the proxies and the military to defeat Russia, China or BRICS. That will be of little solace to Syrians or Palestinians. And the nations comprising the Arc of Instability and their people will likely experience the dying writhing of the Imperial Sanke. It won't happen tomorrow or next year, but as long as the nukes don't fly, the Outlaw US Empire has lost because it lacks the resources and industrial capacity to conquer the world.
I see no way for a real peace. The European leaders live in a fantasyworld. They believe in their own lies. It is like Hitler in the Führerbunker '45. He commanded armies that was not existing, he planned retaliation with non existent wonder-weapons, the wochenschau reported about massive attacks on the Soviets on the Oder, when in reality the troops were depleted and in retreat.
I don't really understand the inference about the North Korean soldiers, men are like artillery shells, you can never have too many. It's great to have them fighting along side the Russians, hopefully the contingent will grow to six figures.
I think as time passes it is quite clear that a few things are true - yes, Russia is massively defeating Ukraine BUT at unacceptable losses to Russia. Losing 100-200 men a day means losing 30-40k KIA of your best people a year, with 3x as many more wounded. By the time this war is over, 1% of Russia's population will have been either killed or maimed by war, which if you age and sex adjust will mean 5-10% of military aged men. Its a travesty.
Yes, Ukraine will be a non-state, 404 as they say on TG. But Russia needs to endure somehow, and it faces grave challenges. I don't understand why they haven't Oreshnik-ed Zelensky yet, I don't understand why they haven't used it again, and I don't understand why they let EU/NATO/US get away with murder (literally). From where I'm sitting Russia is winning tactically but losing strategically. It doesn't help that her opponents (Germany, England, Finland, Baltics, Ukraine, etc) are maniacally enthusiastic about committing economic suicide but economies can be rebuilt, men stay dead.
Wholly agree! Russia’s demographic winter will not be helped by the current battlefield casualties…
(And claiming that Russia is adding population bc of the former UKR citizens that are now part of Russia is hard cope)
Also, I would add that current Russian retaliations for long range strikes against the Motherland are moronic as these are only hitting targets inside Ukraine and we all know how much Western elites care about Ukrainians. Don’t they?
For an existential war this is not so bad
It's true but I've long held a counter argument to that, which is steel sharpens steel and Russia's losses are a necessary "watering of the tree of liberty with blood". Russia's 'liberty' is its strength. Those sacrifices in the form of losses are building generational strength, cementing genetic legacies of the warrior bloodline which will keep Russia strong. In short, Russian warlike culture is maintained and strengthened for all time, while the West devolves and dissolves into soy weakness. As such, all the losses are in fact accomplishing a great deal in strengthening Russia and cementing its independence and sovereignty for all time.
Also, keep in mind even if Russia were to lose 1 million people, Russia has gained thus far something like 10 million total new citizens from Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, Kherson, and could still potentially gain millions more in the future depending how far it goes. This vastly overshadows any losses and Russia will have a massive net population gain after the war is done, so all "demographic catastrophe" talks are mostly nonsense.
And as for those who keep returning to the trope of 'slavs killing slavs', the truth is slavs are the most populous ethnic group in all of Europe by far, with no one even close, this war won't change that.
As long as Russia doesn't permanently get rid of cretins like Chubais its watering of the tree won't amount to much. Russia needs an ideology, what does it stand for; not what it stands against. Thus far the Kremlin hasn't articulated such an ideology. The best I've seen, and it's full of issues, is the Eurasianism pushed by people such as Dugin.
Great point!
In fact, Putin’s economic policies are classic liberal: free market, small state, non interventionist (except for defense industry, of course). I don’t pretend to be an expert but this IMO stands in total contradiction with the Russian tradition of community & mutual cooperation (“Sobornost”).
"Russian tradition of community & mutual cooperation (“Sobornost”)"
This tradition is mostly a myth. Russians are very individualist people. At least after Soviet regime which destroyed most of traditional communal institutions. All in all, today's Russian are more or less happy to be on their own.
Highly individual and incredibly paranoid and mistrustful of govt and large institutions in general. One of the reasons why its so hard to make friends with them but if you do its for life.
Thanks for the correction! I would have thought that them present day Russians would be more community-focused as e.g. the Scandinavians are (or were?).
No, absolutely not. Recently there have been some "green shoots" of horizontal cooperation but mostly people here prefer that nobody pokes one's nose in their life. Patriotism and nationalism are probably the only things we can be rallied around.
I’m pretty sure the poor guys doing the irrigation might NOT agree with that.
Also, this whole argument is to be expected by Gringo citizens that have experienced nothing but colonial wars in far away places against inferior forces and fought mostly by professional soldiers and PMCs…
In the rest of world I would bet that people in general prefer to make their nations & culture stronger without going to war.
Agree that Slavs vs Slavs makes no sense. Change that to Russians vs Russians (bc a LOT of UKR casualties have been Russian speakers from the Central & Eastern areas of Ukraine) and then it doesn’t sound so good at all.
Last: until the fertility rate climbs above 2.1, Russia will remain in a demographic winter. That’s a fact.
Simplicius wrote about 4500-6000 KIA and 10 000 - 12 000 maimed/month. Thats 50-70k KIA/year and another 120 000 - 150 000 handicapped for life.
It is inexcuseable if Russia has means to end the War sooner than later.
They probably cant.
Mikey, war is like entering a dark room, fighting and killing, offence and defence, gives you real information how strong you and your opponent are.
This war is seriously asymmetrical, as Russia is obviously stronger, but if the West is willing to support Ukraine 100%, war could end in stalemate. Could.
A stalemate could be interpreted as a victory.
But let's look at the war from another point.
When all is over, who will know, understand deep inside, that he had made a mistake?
US and the West entered this war as a luxury war, a non existential war, and are faced with a Russia that is willing to fight a war as existential, to the end.
It was a mistake.
Whatever the West does now, it is difficult to turn this war into existential- that means be ready to send soldiers to die in Ukraine.
And if West is not ready to send soldiers to die in Ukraine, the war will be lost on the battlefield
Creating a NATO army out of Ukrainians is possible, but still does not guarantee victory, just exhausting the Ukrainian population.
Even with full NATO support, as is being provided right now, in weapons, information, there is no way to win, for Ukraine.
In my judgement, raising the stakes, by creating a bigger, larger Ukrainian army creates a risk that Russia will be obliged to form an even stronger army.
Why would Russia accept any ceasefire if it has to create an army that is capable of winning against Ukrainian army just to be offered negotiations on ceasefire.
The moment West offers negotiations, is the moment West admits Ukraine is losing and there is no point in negotiations.
West has created a monster in Ukraine that is going to destroy Ukraine. Millions more will die.
Simple. The alt media has mislead it's audience about the strength of Russia. Yes, Russia is winning against the Ukraine, and yes if the Ukraine were fighting alone this war would have ended in the spring months of 2022. But for 2 plus years we've been fed bs about Putin and co playing 5D chess, etc. It's all bunk. The worst of the lot is Martyanov. At least Simplicius tries to maintain some impartiality and admits when he doesn't know something.
Anyway, I hope Russia finally kicks things into overdrive in 2025 and wins a decisive victory. One can only hope...
Both sides have been hard-coping. The truth was always in the middle. And what was obvious from may 2022 was that the US and China were the big winners, while Europe and Russia the big losers, and Ukraine the graveyard
If Ukraine ends up capitulating, which seems more likely by the day, then Russia will at the least end up with the 4 oblasts they have annexed. These happen to be the 4 top oblasts in Ukrainian GDP. They are the powerhouse of the Ukrainian economy with a sizeable industrial base, large populations (though many are displaced) and loads of primary resources. I wouldn't be calling Russia a big loser just yet. Let's wait and see if they push past the massive lithium deposit west of Kurhakove.
https://global.espreso.tv/russia-ukraine-war-russian-appointees-grant-permission-to-extract-lithium-in-ukraine-controlled-territory-of-donetsk-region-andriushchenko
Of course they will! 😉
If the casualties of war would be that bad Russia would not be thriving economically and sitting in 4th place behind India in the global standings. Winning wars for a just cause strengthens a nation greatly, even with the human losses involved. These men are celebrated as heroes and their familes treated with the utmost respect by the populace. Also don't forget that the battle hardened Donbas militias incorporated into the RAF have contributed greatly to the fighting at the front and are liberating their own lands from the banderite occupation which again is heroic in itself.
I always think that it is the Troops in the Donbas Militias, and now regular Russian Army, that are the ones that are truly fighting for their homeland. While Kyiv's Soldiers from central and western Ukraine likely don't even care what goes on in eastern Ukraine.
“Since day one, this war has stunk to high Heaven,” Douglas MacKinnon says, writing in The Hill about Project Ukraine. “The biggest *mystery* is, why some do not want to stop the almost instantly stoppable killing in Ukraine. Another mystery is why some are so anxious to lead the world to the edge of World War III. Another is why some want no accountability for the hundreds of billions sent into Ukraine. And the last *mystery* is why so many in the media and in leadership positions in the U.S., the United Kingdom and France have deliberately ignored or downplayed the horrific casualty counts in Ukraine?”
McKinnon’s outrage is that of someone who has swallowed all the lies he was fed and now discovers what a stump he is for doing so. As recently as October McKinnon was cheerleading for Project Ukraine. It’s not a stretch, oddly, to imagine that McKinnon always knew a high percentage of the actual truth—that at no point was Ukraine capable of winning this war—and McKinnon fell into that big mysterious group of supposedly responsible witnesses to this horror who stood by & said nothing.
While Zelya claims only 83,000 Ukrainian soldier have died, the Western media at large has begun to report more realistic numbers in the high-100 thousands, which may in fact be a low-ball figure.
“Three men instantly opposed the war,” McKinnon writes, “while warning of the ultimate horror it could spawn — Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” He speaks of how all three guys were vilified for deigning to interrogate the casualty numbers, for instance, which always seemed too pie-in-the-sky unbelievable. “There are a great many questions some powerful people don’t want answered under any circumstances,” according to McKinnon.
He himself is on the verge of accepting that “the Obama White House and State Department played a role in the overthrow of the legitimately elected Ukrainian president Yanukovych in 2014.” Which means McKinnon is on the ground floor of jettisoning the propaganda. Jettisoning the propaganda is *not* nothing. But many of us less well-connected than McKinnon *saw,* believed and understood that the State Department played a role in the Euromaidan street coup which deposed Yanukovych. We ‘jettisoned the propaganda’ 10 years ago. Which means McKinnon is dramatically late. In a rush to laud DJT, JD & RFKjr and give them their flowers, he wants to bask opportunistically now in their glow. Something has happened for the media, something has happened for McKinnon. Even in the midst of ‘jettisoning the propaganda,’ he remains unconvincing.
One question about Syria : The SAA was decisively defeated, but it hardly seems DESTROYED, with evidence that many, if not most, retreated into Iraq. Mahar al-assad, Bashar's brother, also seems to still be with SAA units in Iraq.
Despite the current jubilation over HTS rule, once Syria evolves into a free for all like in Libya, would an Iranian-sponsored invasion of Syria be on the cards in the future?
Probably not. that's not Iran's general modus operandi. However, you can't discount the possibility of Iran heavily sponsoring the SAA remnants in Iraq to cause trouble in whatever is left of Syria, esp if the numbers of troops justify the investment.
The war’s current trajectory highlights a significant shift in the nature of modern conflict: it is no longer about quick, decisive victories but rather prolonged, grinding battles that test not only military strength but also societal and political endurance. Russia’s approach reflects more than just its military capabilities—it demonstrates an ability to adapt to sustained pressure and rethink its strategic methods. By attacking infrastructure, decentralizing supply lines, and focusing on slow, incremental territorial gains, Russia isn’t seeking dramatic breakthroughs. Instead, it’s pursuing a strategy of gradual attrition, aiming to wear down Ukraine’s capacity to resist over time. This deliberate, patient approach echoes historical wars of attrition, but with modern tools like drones, electronic warfare, and precision strikes replacing brute-force tactics.
What makes Ukraine’s situation particularly precarious isn’t just its manpower challenges or logistical strains, but its heavy dependence on external support. Unlike Russia, which can rely on its internal resources and has largely weathered sanctions, Ukraine’s war effort is tied to the political and economic priorities of Western allies. This creates a largely unspoken vulnerability: Ukraine is effectively fighting two wars—one on the battlefield and another to keep international support intact. If Western governments shift their attention, face domestic political pressures, or prioritize other global issues, Ukraine’s ability to continue the fight could weaken dramatically.
For Russia, the conflict carries a broader geopolitical message that extends beyond Ukraine’s borders. By demonstrating its capacity to endure and adapt against the collective West, Russia is signaling to other nations that Western influence and military dominance have limits. This has far-reaching implications, particularly for countries viewing the war as a test case for a multipolar world order. For the Kremlin, the conflict is as much about reasserting Russia’s position on the global stage as it is about achieving specific military objectives.
At the same time, Ukraine’s leadership faces a difficult balancing act: projecting confidence and strength while contending with the very real risk of exhaustion—both militarily and within society. The rhetoric surrounding future offensives serves a dual purpose: maintaining domestic morale and convincing Western supporters that Ukraine can still achieve meaningful victories. But this strategy carries risks. If optimism fades and gives way to disillusionment, sustaining both domestic and international support will become even harder as the war drags on.
Ultimately, the war reveals an uncomfortable reality for modern military planners: advanced technology and tactical superiority cannot always overcome demographic challenges, industrial capacity, and the ability to adapt to prolonged conflict. Ukraine’s reliance on external lifelines places it in a precarious position where its survival depends as much on the endurance of its Western backers as on its own capabilities. Meanwhile, despite setbacks, Russia appears to be playing a long game, betting that it can outlast Ukraine and the resolve of its supporters. In this sense, the conflict is more than just a test of military strength—it’s a test of systems and resilience, a contest to see who can endure the strain the longest.
Hope Putin goes way of Assad after Ukraine gets to Moscow. Putin is not a wartime leader and 100-200 day is too many. He should have invaded right not with a piddly 100,000 and should have mobilized every day since instead of letting Ukraine/NATO bleed Russia out.
Ooh. We have a contender right here.
For the most ignorant comment of the thread.
Early days yet, though. Plenty of time yet for someone to show *greater* ignorance.
prigozin almost made Moscow with far less troops than Simp says is assembling
You don't have to double down on your ignorance, you've proven enough already.
Critical Thinkers Question: How far toward *Kursk* did Ukraine get, with far MORE troops than Prigozin had... and how much further is Moscow???
He ‘should’, he ‘must’, ‘i told you so’ lalala
Re: "Zelensky ‘testing the limits’ of both sides' red lines with the ATACMS strike on Taganrog".
The author might have forgotten what Russian officials, including VVP, have repeated numerous times, namely that Banderastan's military lacks the means to autonomously operate "Western" provided long-range missile systems, without ZATO's ISR operational support, as well as without "Western instructors" direct involvement in the form of programming said missile systems' with the designated target coordinates.
A more correct assessment would be that ZATO's military is the one who's "testing limits" and, as many times before, disingeniously attempting to "draw red lines" and provoke further escalation from Russia. In the meantime, The Big Bear marches on uninterrupted, obliterating the nazi armies in the process. До победы!