I'm not sure why I feed into this game. Amusement? maybe.
I get a kick out of how so defensive you get because what I say doesn't fit your conditioned programming. Russia will win the SMO no doubt, but it could have been done much better.And you, Field marshall, Maus take offence to my exposing your fear to accept that Russia entered this conflict unprepared. lol
haha, I try to look at things with stoic realism and an open mind. You have yet to sway my opinion because you get too defensive. Have fun and be merry, Fledr. Life is good. Heads up, huh!
What points are to make? Your mind is set anyway. The only question remains for me: Have you ever been to war? A. Martianov has a great characteristic for people like you, just sayin'.
Perfection does not exist in the real world, Denis.
Could Russia have been better prepared- yes, improvement is always possible.
Has Russia made mistakes - yes, quite large ones. It's unavoidable. No plan survives contact with the enemy.
But,
Could Russia have been less well prepared? - abso-fucking-lutely!
You yourself agree that the S MO is likely to end in a Russian victory.
So, to review.
Russia,
- GDP of Italy(I know, it's bollox),
- economically on its arse as recently as 2008
is going to beat NATO ( acknowledged most powerful military alliance in history) and come out of the conflict militarily, diplomatically, economically and geographically stronger than she was in 2022.
Perfection may be unattainable, but one still should learn from one's mistakes not be suckerpunched over and over, continually getting caught flatfooted when one's enemies don't behave the way you think they should.
I noticed the reference to you. Geez, what's wrong with having an opinion. Shallow, profound, misdirected, dead on accurate, tldr (my comments) whatever. It's not like any of us are actually there on the ground or have any real direct influence over events in the theater or the conflict.
It'll soon be my turn—you're going to suspend me for 1000 years. I've still been posting in a way that goes against your today narrative, or at least more neutrally, being cautious, but without insults. I save those for the degenerated retards, the animals, the things… you do attract some of them, though.
You must not have a mirror at home if you don't realize. After all this time, you’re asking me again? Are you that starved for affection? You’re addressing the wrong person.
>>so , why Russian army have so much problems taking over small cities in Donbass is beyond normal comprehension!!
>>how to hard to put drones w/ cameras and cut off all roads w/ stuff going in for Ukraine army is beyond me ! it is *effing* 5*6 km square city!
What's hard to understand? It's right there in the article, the forest on the western side of Kupyansk makes it easy for the Ukrainians to gather forces while remaining hidden. And the river that divides the town makes it difficult for the Russians to hold on to the western part that is adjacent to the forest.
What you are suggesting is that Russian forces should burn the forests in Russian territory to make it difficult for any enemy forces to operate. I guess they could also block inconvenient rivers, level annoying hills etc. You know, destroy the village to save it. (as the Americans famously liked to do in Viet Nam)
Wasn't he defending against an unprevoked attack? Wasn't it the biggest land invasion ever? Are you sure you know what his emotional state was, it was a long time ago after all.
They should also put in place an effective means to prevent you from entering here again. Intelligence is sacred; its opposite must not block it, level it, or destroy it.
Yes. That is exactly what I am suggesting. Indeed this is an ancient tactic used as far back as the Romans, where trees were removed from the surroundings of fortresses to prevent just that from happening
The town is bisected by a river and surrounded by forests. It is the time of year weather wise that means such a situation can be capitalized on to to make a determined advance. It is how the Russians took the town in the first place. Small numbers of troops sneaking in and overwhelming small numbers of defenders.
So the question is ........is the town itself worth holding to the point that a huge number of troops should be placed there to hold it given the troubled lay of the land for defenders whoever they are? Are there better uses for such a massive number of troops? Is win a lot, lose a few .....a better tactic than fighting a p.r. war to win praise from keyboard warriors?
Ukraine is fighting the p.r. war to keep receiving money. But they are steadily losing their army and even territory in the process.
So the real question is .....how did Putin get put in the position of announcing a total capture of territory when it was actually just a small number of troops taking turns over running each other in a location whose value was mostly in who could claim bragging rights? That is something that is so avoidable that some one(s) should be fired over that.
Well, you certainly have to think that if he disagreed with the notion that the town was permanently captured and no longer a concern, he would be in a position to make his position known and that people would take note of it before going on t.v. to comment about the situation.
the kupyansk thing is simply the result of this war not actually being fought on a "civilizational" scale. russia physically can't advance everywhere on the front at the same pace, and ukraine is also allowed to mass forces and fight back too. but the overall trends and the fundamentals of the war remain the same. lessons will be learned but it's nothing to cry over.
Also, as the soldiers have noted the river makes it difficult for the Russians to hold the western side of Kupyansk. The Russians wisely retreated to their side of the river, we have seen this before. Advancement continues elsewhere.
Putin said yesterday, and it makes sense, that they failed to cross the river south of the city so failed to surround it completely. It'll be interesting to see how far the AFU get.
Sir, there are Youtubers claiming that Ukraine has sunk a Russian sub; the latest generation of silent, untraceable subs from the Kremlin, thru the use of underwater drones.
Can you verify and inform us correctly please? The pretenders may attempt to manipulate us.
The sub was at a dock. The dock was struck. Some claim that the explosion on the dock was close enough to the sub to cause some damage.
I would assume such high value targets have booms and netting around them to deflect and protect against such attacks. Said attacks are nothing new except for the somewhat more advanced technology involved.
Somebody was asleep at the wheel. There is a gate that ships must pass through to reach the inner secure area. How did the Ukrainian Sea Baby gain entry? Perhaps it followed close behind a Russian vessel that entered. The security force should have considered the possibility of a submarine. Heads need to roll over this.
The Russians stated they are conducting a special military operation, the west claim Russia is at war with Ukraine. The confusion lay in the surprise, shock and outrage from the west when Russia strikes targets now, that would have been long ago destroyed if Russia was actually at war with Ukraine.
Did you see the recently unclassified records of Putin mini-Bush conversations. Pretty interesting. Will post some in a minute.
RT
[2008]
Putin straightforwardly told Bush that “accession to NATO of a country like Ukraine will create for the long-term a field of conflict for you and us, long-term confrontation,” the transcript read.
The Americans knew that perfectly well. This only shows what they were thinking about already at the time. As I said above: This was a war in preparation for decades.
Totally. It goes to show that those who think the West are evil idiots are mistaken. Their plans are long term and they move forward. Though they seem to have come up against a stiff headwind lately.
They are idiots on a deeper level in that they assume whatever they think will always be the ultimate outcome, and thus get trapped in the cycle of doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results.. (from Johannesburg)
They are already clearly losing hegemony status. And the process is not over. I am not rally enjoying this show as I am watching them throwing away Western domination from the 1990s and on. It is the revenge of the Neanderthals.
Was being the operative word. The US, as always, expected a quick win. Russia wasn't having any of that. They stand challenging the Empire for all to see. Nothing the US threw at the Russians has had any effect. Everybody is watching and the US is obviously under enormous pressure because of that. Didn't Indonesia join BRICS this year?
Even more revealing is George Bush the Lesser's one word response to Putin's statement re: future long term conflict over continual NATO expansion: "Why?". Just that one word. I can see the dull look on his chimp like face in my mind.
US needs ethic European workers/business owners and another 'great' migration will occur as another 'potato famine' takes place. Europe will keep all the migrants as their newest serfs willing to kiss their feet and fill their bank accounts. Civil war in 15-20 years.
Beware. That is how the Ukrainian Nazis started out. Polish aristocracy in pre-ww2 Poland, jewish supervisors, Ukrainian speaking serfs. When the Germans arrived you can see the temptation to turn Nazi and go slaughter 3 or 4 hundred thousand Poles and Jews (plus a few others).
But yes - Europe grabbed the white immigrant workers eagerly (as did Russia). And US want their share too.
EU China trade seems to be growing over time. Do you have any data to back your assertion? I'd say the tariffs would ensure Europeans are more dependant on China than ever.
Well someone blew up NS2 and that sure wasn't Russia.
China total exports 2016 were $2.2 trn and $.7 trn in 2022 which explains much of the growth in EU imports (and EU share of china imports has declined a small amount.)
But continued dependency on China products is not the same as maintaining a heathy relationship. Diplomatic relations between EU and China continue to get worse and much worse - despite the obvious need for EU growth.
EU imports from China is probably even larger considering the connector countries that now screw-driver assemble Chinese products for re-export. My interpretation is that growing imports explains US hostility to EU-China trade rather than are evidence against. Most US policies are failing to achieve their goals.
I thought the Russians stated their objectives in Ukraine clearly and haven't budged to date. They seem to be getting closer to them all the time. Which demands do you see them wavering on?
Neutrality, denazification and demilitarization aren't on the menu, and Russian impotence in achieving these things has caused the europeans to lose fear of Russia.
This article is extremely enlightening and illustrative about the nonexistent Russian drive to consume Western Europe. The yearly historical GDP spendings on the military are explored and so is Ukraine's historical background.
Stockman: The Real Story Behind The Russia–Ukraine War... And What Happens Next
Russia is at war with Ukraine, period. The reason they don't call it a war is because Russian law then requires the mobilization of Russian society that the government doesn't want to carry out.
War is when 3,000,000 German troops invaded the USSR on 22Jun1941. When in Feb 2022, Putin went to Ukraine with 100,000-150,000 troops, to enforce Minsk 2, it's indeed a special military operation.
in 1941 wars were fought differently than in 2022.
It's been proven many times, you don't need 3million men to invade a sovereign country, just several NGO's and the social media.
Russia's production of oreshnik's and any wonder weapons sitting idle don't win wars or sustain peace, its old-school tactics, that no longer have value.
Russia is 110% focused on their special operation with their single neighbour, while the US goes about business, can manage many fronts at multiple times all over the planet.
What many fronts is the US managing, bullying tiny weak nations afraid to commit? Well probably the US will again invade Grenada or Panama as Venuzuela is proving to be a problem.
To your point, Russia's population is just a bit larger than Mexico's.
Imagine dropping Mexico next to Ukraine and having it go to war with a US Empire backed Ukraine. Instead of having the enemy advancing deep into its territory, Ukraine would have conquered all of this relocated Mexico within a few months.
Well, the comparison would be fair if Mexico was a former superpower with many decades worth of stored good quality military hardware, the mothballed factories that produced it, excellent military schools and traditions that stretch back centuries, and had a secure wormhole to China where essential trade could pass between them. ;)
But yeah. There is absolutely no doubt that President Vladimir Putin will go down in Russian history as one of, if not the greatest leader of the nation of all time.
Many English wanker-morons STILL go on and on about Churchill. Literally all that prick did was make some speeches in a sonorous voice, fuck up every policy, every military engagement he had a hand in, and screwed the country and its people into the ground.
Frankly, the pig-suckers are welcome to call 'Zelensky the New Churchill', actually he has Churchill's abilities and Hitler's ethics.
I'd give a lot to meet Putin and shake his hand.
If I was the UK PM, I wouldn't even let Zelensky into the country.
The war has also given Russia a huge boon though. Because it made their economy strong, rooted their idneity even more, and diplomatically rallied the world against Europe and the Americans.
It's not all bad for a country that literally collapsed 35 years ago.
Also this was the American plan since the end of WW2. This was going to happen regardless but what's good is the resilience of Russia. They I guess adapted just in the nick of time.
What fantasy world is that? USA was driven from the Red Sea by Yemen, who lacks even a navy. USA utterly failed to protect Saudi oil fields, failed to protect "israel", cannot complete an invasion of Venezuela, and cannot even protect it's own seat of government, The Capitol, from take-over by the cast of Duck Dynasty and a goon in a Chwebacca bikini.
Angelina. As time goes on it is clear that Special Operation is a better description for the conflict than war. By WWII measures half of Kiev would have been demolished by now. Russia sems to be maneuvering on a narrow road between two undesirable outcomes. They do not want NATO to take over Ukraine and turn on a conflict of historical proportions. And neither do they want to fully dissolve the general population of Ukraine. Putin was telling the truth to Tucker Carlson at that famous interview in February of 2024: Regardless of the separation of Russia and Ukraine by the Tatar invasion of the early 13th century and related cultural and linguistic differences, the two people are coming from the same roots. Ukraine was consistently handled by very different standards from WWII enemies and those who invaded Russia earlier.
The EU only wanted Ukraine in NATO but not the EU.
Ukraine was silly & too greedy to not see it. Ukraine overestimated own importance and its place in geopolitics, and let it be exploited/destroyed by globalists.
Look @ Hungary - it learned from WW1 & WW2 - doesn't allow it being exploited.
Ukrainians should see that beyond all the Ukrainian flag pins and praise for Ukrainian bravery and love of freedom, Westerners don't even see Ukrainians as humans. The Western Saurons and Sarumans really just consider them orcs to send against Russia.
The issue is that they don't "see beyond." They don't even see under the very noses. I have my Ukrainian life-long friends suddenly telling me how much they hate Russians, and I'm at a loss - were they always feeling this way and I just somehow missed it, or it something developed under the industrial strengh ukro -propaganda?
Soldiers shooting at each other and using tanks, jets and artillery, taking territory and talking about what the laws of war allow. Yeah that's a war. Don't be ridiculous. You don't have to imitate everything Putin says just because you support him, the way mindless followers always do. Putin would also roll his eyes at you. More clear-minded supporters like Alex Mercouris say that this war is a war, so it's okay, you can say it without being a traitor to the cause, I promise. I'm sure Simplicius also agrees that this war is a war. What a ridiculous discussion.
By the way, your knowledge of history is lacking. Stalin amassed an invasion force on the border with Germany, that's why Germany struck. Germany had already gone back to a peacetime economy and offered Britain peace if Britain would just stop its attacks, a peace where Germany would leave France now that the invasion force the French and Britain had been slowly amassing against Germany had been beaten. Germany produced only a few thousand tanks and no equipment for an invasion of Russia as they hadn't planned it, just like Putin didn't plan an attack on Ukraine but was forced by their planned attack on Donbass.
Stalin was a fanatic communist who had read all available communist literature. On his desk he kept at all times a book by his favorite Soviet general, which advocated invasions without war declarations to spread communism.
Stalin had prepared 60,000 or even more tanks, which could only be sustained for a short time. He had prepared hundreds of thousands of paratroopers for the border, useful only for attack, not defense. He had moved the army and planes etc away from their ordinary bases west to the border, which is why the Germans could destroy so many planes right away as they were out in the open, waiting for the order to bomb Germany. They would then invade all of Europe. The Russians had virtually no defenses for their large gathering of troops as they prepared for an attack on Germany.
Funny you take that as your example of a war. But not Stalin's attack on Finland, trying to invade them, or his subsequent invasions of the Baltic states. Where he started a plan to remove the people and replace them with Russians, until he was stopped by the Germans. But like all communist lovers you don't want that to be known, right?
Well just a brief look at history one sees what happened to German and Japanese cities when they were at war. Or are you not aware of what real war really is? Fire bombed cities with no consideration for civilians, well with the actual targeting of civilians. The Russians have made targeted strikes against specific targets. The only cities that remotely look like Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin, Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama etc. during WW2 are the cities in Ukraine that saw actual fighting. The US dropped more bombs on tiny North Korea and North Vietnam each, than they dropped on Germany during the entirety of WW2. It is reality, the Western world has forgotten what war is or maybe some don't know. So it is "hoped" by probably the few that the Russians continue to be patient and not remind the world of that reality. As Russians have known war throughout their history they have fought for their land and defended their homes and loved ones as war for them was never "far away" but western invasions.
If Russians were really 'war' weary, fatigued... they would learn, look at resolving these matters in a different approach, if they've been fighting for centuries.
It begs to question why they would not end wars more decisively and instill absolute fear into the invading armies before it even starts.
Unless they are mongols, and thirst for endless bleeding.
It is always a mistake to see things with such a reductionist mindset. Complexity, especially in matters of war and peace, is a given. Jeff Sachs did a very enlightening article that would give you a much broader perspective. Perhaps you aren't interested.
I'm a realist... John Helmer, Jim J perspectives is my preference and nearer to the truth.
Too much prognosis of analysis, this Ukraine and Russia mess should have been resolved long ago decisively, and not something that should have dragged on for the last 12 years (2014-2026) thanks to Putin, he truly doesn't know how to end it.
One possible ending to the conflict in Ukraine is for NATO member populations feel so threatened by Russian military activities that they mobilize all their resources and manpower and officially go to war with Russia.
Another is that the conflict tempo remains at such a low level that despite their best efforts NATO country leadership cannot manage to get their populations behind declaring outright war on Russia.
Currently NATO member country populations seemed resigned to the conflict going for a long time if not forever. Most understand that Ukraine will get destroyed in the process. And that it might end up not going on for all that long anyway.
It seems the Russian leadership is making its choice.
"thanks to Putin, he truly doesn't know how to end it."
I suspect that Putin and the Russian leadership cannot admit the truth to themselves, that they never will be admitted to The Club that they so desperately seek to join.
You are looking from incorrect perspective. The Russians don’t want to fight, but the other side NEVER listens. So what is the option if the other side never listens and at the same time wants your land and resources?
The Mongol seems more like you, a Mongol of the mentally retarded kind. For centuries, Russia defended itself against invasions and, by repelling them, conquered territory, pushing the enemy farther away.
Not just German and Japanese cities. If you add up all the high explosive dropped on London in WW2, the total amounts to more than the energy of the Hiroshima nuke. Huge swathes of east London were reduced to rubble.
Not a normal war. Most wars are in the range of 50 to 150 dead civilians to 100 military.
Ukraine has lost 15k civilians and (if you believe western media) 200k but more likely 1million to 2 million military.
That is not conventional war - that is an extraordinary Policing effort.
(No surprise that no media discusses it like this).
As Putin said recently, If Nato wants a war bring it on, but it won't be the kind of "surgical fighting " we have seen in Ukraine, it will be bloody and short.
There's a lot of what I'd describe as "selling the drama". This whole episode has seen a pile on of armchair geostrategists, if not outright disinfo agents, not to mention telegram rumour mongers, etc. And reading western narrative managers is no more enjoyable than sifting the tea leaves. Absolute detritus by credentialed morons.
cats are an ecological disaster, that kill billions of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians annually, contributing to extinctions, disrupting food chains, and spreading diseases.
deranged slavs that think of themselves as aryans are not a huge loss either. most people w/ more than 3 brain cells have either left the country or surrender asap.
but this war is a catastrophe 4 wildlife and people of novorossiya.
and since its only white ivans dying, no1 gives a f. lodsa people actually cheer it on.
What is the most surprising is that Russia who didn't get any love from the West and has a capacity to destroy it many times over takes time to explain the basics, the foundations, the roots of the conflict. Speaks slowly that everyone in western think tanks gets it.
I am puzzled who the fork is the so called top Russian analyst Radov. We all know that all top Russian military analysts are in this chart.
And frankly, darling, Rybar' on Znamenka opening eyes to the horrors and warning the populations is given.
"Russian fighter " - I am so confused what is happening with the typeface of Wagner Group at the background.
If he is a fighter I am a Spanish pilot with three concussions under my belt.
Now, at the end of the day Moscow girls don't get the irony. Sure thing, flood gates are open, and the Russian MOD is very insecure about its credibility and what Westerners with their sensibilities feel at this stage of campaign.
Whatever shit-fairies of defensive line on the Zapo-Dnipro border area, it is cute, even if it is real and not an AI creation.
If anyone asks - official version- we are all forking scared of this line of defense, and that piece of engineering wonder - might not stop an advance by Vostok 30 something kilometers from Orechov.
There are voices from the Pro-Russian nationalist circles demanding the removal of Gerasimov for his cautious approach and the new Kupyansk blunder. And as always, people tend to get emotional when encountering minor setback while on a winning streak. What do you think about this situation, Simp? Is there somebody else more suitable than Gerasimov to replace him to finally inject new strategy to break this dead lock faster? Or Russia should just keep thing going this way and pacing themselves for the long run?
No, because it seems Gerasimov is fighting the war the only way it is capable of being fought, at least within the confines of what Putin will allow (i.e. no mass mobilization, etc.). I don't think Kupyansk loss means much because the war is not really about territorial progression anyway but more so about attrition. Russian forces do not seem to have lost much in Kupyansk because, unlike the AFU, they know when to retreat in order to minimize losses.
Like most here I have little idea what is actually occurring in reality, and the situation in Kupyansk is capable of being explained (or spun) in a number of ways - and much depends on the narrative that you want to push or believe. I suggest though that (based on past practice) the RF have deliberately allowed the UAF to advance into a fire sack and are busy attritting some of their better units. It may not appear that way to the poor guys in the front line - which maybe deemed a secondary sector in any event. Holding ground might be good for PR but a bad position will simply cause your own forces to become targets. It is of course possible that ISR in some way missed the UF build up, and or soft troops/poor commanders allowed a mistake to occur. I think it more likely that military considerations took precedence over PR ones. But as I said, what do I know?
That was also my thought when I read that the Russians were retreating: that they were luring the Ukrainians into another cauldron. That said, the Oskol River is a major impediment to effecting a proper cauldron as the Russians have already had problems with river crossings to the south of the city.
Since Zelya showed up on Kupyansk perimeter, we could have been certain that something was brewing up there. Probably the intelligence was, that in this area it would be "easiest" to show a PR win. As was already stated: Forests bordering town, only a bridgehead on the Trans-Oskol, hardly any places to really hide, and maybe understaffed. - Maybe even a trap, to lure and grind. (I still consider Kursk having been a trap and Russian GS having Intel on the planned assault. - Still remember how furious VVP was with GerasiYet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him?mov, and I don't think it was because 404 actually broke into that area...) Anyway. Maybe it was just a Russian f.u. but my left testicle tells me it wasn't.
Clearly from the Ukrainian side, Kupyansk was chosen to be the hill do die upon. Z. visiting the Orange buffoon, again. Probably carrying his maps and edited vids with him, to tell Donnie Dumbo that he's not finished, yet.
Fighting a war of attrition against a larger foe is nonsensical (Ukraine is supported by the entire West which has a great deal more resources both economic and manpower-wise than Russia). Which is why fighting the war using Ghenghis-Khan's siege methods is ideal. Even Sun Tzu wrote about how wars of attritions were a last resort when all other methods fail.
So either Putin must go, or he must become more permissive. The Ukrainians hate Russia anyway, no sense on preserving their lives at the expense of his soldiers and reputation
This jumped out at me: "It is extremely expensive to strike bridges with Kalibrs and Kh-101 missiles."
The US military revels in unleashing expensive ordnance at targets, for good reason. The restocking costs taxpayers a lot more money, which in turn means much better profits, higher executive bonuses and stock prices.
Nonsense. They strike with missiles and bombs because it works. So does Russia. But Russia doesn't have enough missiles to break several heavy bridges that they'd like to remove, and keep them broken.
But phrases like "follow the money" and "qui bono" do sound good. And "what could possibly go wrong?"
Could it be that bridges in Ukraine were actually built by Russians who know how to build and engineer things to last and that the US is generally bombing third world countries with lax building standards? Oh and shitty construction in the US when the bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a ship hit it.
About Kupyansk, Simplicus said it was the North group of Russian fighters who were responsible for the defense, while one of the videos said it was the West group. Which is the case? I understand that West was fighting around Seversk and one commander fabulated a bit about military successes, and was removed.
By north I simply meant the northern grouping in terms of the orientation of the map. However, officially speaking the group there is the Western Military District in terms of its designation inside Russia itself. It's the military district responsible for the Moscow and Leningrad districts, which were formerly called 'Western Military District'.
Thanks I wondered about that. Northern group always seemed to me to be more inclined to exploit social media publicity channels than other more reticent groups.
But maybe that is only because of where I get my information from. My selection of available channels may distort the reality of who says what, where they say it and how often they do.
Just as an aside, it seems to me I recall the Western Military District to have fairly recently been expanded to include right up to the border with Finland and Estonia. It was presented as having more importance than simple administrative concerns.
It will be interesting to see if tank anti-drone measures eventually reach some standard. Maybe the dandelion, or a cover like the shipping containers.
Also interesting if, as some predict, drones will lose their current offensive role, because of anti-drone drones and the successful blocking of signals. So that drones will instead be used as a form of artillery hovering over their own side's advancing troops. Honestly, I think everyone would prefer that outcome.
A very substantial problem will be created for Ukraine if it was cut off from the Black Sea. One can only wonder why this did not happen earlier. Ukraine will clearly become a landlocked country, supplies will arrive only from Romania and Poland.
The problem is the Russians want Odessa to be a functional port assuming they eventually take it. While I'm sure they can build self-destruct modes into the mines (not necessarily exploding but just rendering themselves non-functional) how sure would they be that that would always work? The sea is a really nasty place to mechanical things. And a left-over mine could ruin a ship's day....
That's another excuse we hear. The US embarks on a daylight genocide in Gaza, and whst does the "Global South" do in response? It doesn't do anything concrete.
I agree with you that the big majority of the world population doesn't give a fly about Gaza, not just the global south. But Gaza is Israel is the USA. Different theatre, different artists, different reactions of the global south. Russia needs it's allies, without them they stand no chance against the soft power of the USA and the west.
I totally agree. As the old line goes (many variations) people have friends, nations have interests. The Palestinians aren't really good for anything national-interest-wise. Russia and the rest of the world do have common interests, though. Even the West, though they totally schizophrenic about it (oil, gas, uranium)...
Russians are either complete losers or idiots, or both, led by a indecisive leader who keeps getting his best men slaughtered.
4years on and still fearing "air defences" of your brothers of the Ukraine? With the loser Putinz the stupid silly SMO will continue until all Ukrainians and many more Russians are dead.
Next, Putinz will betray and make an agreement with the devils, bleed more lives, no surprise.
Yemen is much, much more than that. That's why it has been fought for over for centuries. Oh that's right, so has Russia. So far they haven't lost, though they did retire from the previous rounds of nuclear brinkmanship.
They didn’t. There was the Casablanca meeting in January/ February 1943 where Roosevelt and Churchill met and decided on the ‘unconditional surrender’ of Germany.
Hence no diplomacy to try to end the war 2 years early. Just imagine how many lives could have been saved in those 2 years, including the many jews that died during the last years because of illness (typhus) and starvation.
AI overview (google)
As the overall German infrastructure collapsed due to the general bombing campaign, supply lines across the country were severely disrupted. This did lead to severe shortages of food, medicine, and other supplies in the concentration camps, contributing to the deaths of millions from starvation and disease, particularly in the final months of the war.
The Germans had a lots of golden bridges, just before the war. It's hard to believe the British gave them Sudentland and even after they took the whole country the British gave the Czechoslovakian gold reserves to the Nazis.
lol, Feral. I suspect things, likely the same things that you suspect about the Kremlin. Many folks here get so offended and defensively paranoid just for saying a simple truth that Russia entered the SMO unprepared due to poor or deliberately flawed forward thinking. It stirs a disturbed hornet's nest response. It's like a mass formation psychosis.
Best wishes to you in the new year, Mr. Finster. 😂
There's a lot of wishful thinking, a tendency to substitute moral victories for the genuine article, probably because actual victories are in such short supply.
"Many folks here get so offended and defensively paranoid just for saying a simple truth that Russia entered the SMO unprepared due to poor or deliberately flawed forward thinking"
Those offended and defensively paranoid have been cowered by your logic. Not one dared to respond. I think we can all agree that the RF started with a very small force and hoped to press a negotiated settlement. After all, it is extremely well documented (Simplicius being one reliable source).
I'd say it is the "deliberately flawed" theory that generates the offence and paranoia in some less informed about the situation. Perhaps there is a logical counter argument to the "Putin spent 2 decades transforming Russia from a basket case to again being a great power, indeed able to take on the largest military alliance in world history, single handed" theory. What is this deliberately flawed thinking and why do you think the Russian leadership did it?
“This was actually the primary reason behind the Kharkov collapse in general around Izyum and eastward in ‘22—this northern region is filled with forests which gives Ukrainian units many advantages of accumulating forces covertly. “
I thought ISR is ubiquitous and nothing can move without the other side knowing about it?
In 2022 I get it. But now in 2025, how is the AFU capable of doing that?
Something doesn’t smell right. Either this is some kind of trap or clearly Russia needs more eyes in the area.
How many times does Russia need to get suckerpunched, often in entirely predictable ways, before we admit that Russia and its military and leadership are not as competent as we may wish.
Few have ever called me a coward (More have called a goddamned fool who rightfully should have been dead a long time ago, tbh), but crawling through a forest in thick mud and fog, praying an insulted glorified blanket is going to hide you from omnipresent anti-personnel drones, before you then launch a probably suicidal attack on semi-secure Russian positions... I'm glad I'm thousands of miles away in the warm, typing on a keyboard instead.
People will always find a way, but it'd probably be easier to crawl in the other direction and get the hell out of dodge, aka the conscripted cannon-fodder of the AFU.
Ukraine gets ISR from the west and thus can locate the spots where the Russians are less densed or not present. Then create larger groups over time by sending small units first.
I do know a bit what I am talking about and I would know an awful lot more if I could be the fly on the wall. And as Mercouris and other analysts say, the Russian military is not telling us everything.
I can think of a couple of possibilities. The ISR of the Russians ISR will not be 100% accurate, local circumstances like weather, vegetation, geographical structures will make it more difficult. Ofcourse the Ukrainians aren’t stupid either and also use obfuscation to hide their presence.
An alternative could be that the Russians know about the buildup, let it happen and then when the Ukrainian forces come out, retreat and bomb the Ukrainian forces. Recall that the Russians are fighting a war of attrition. But there is always a risk involved in such tactics. You can’t predict the exact outcome.
If Russia had been more aggressive and neutralized Kiev with a bold deep encirclement, as I said long ago, AFU forces would be prisoners by now instead of continuing to resist and counter-attack.
Russian losses would have been lower while controlling everything east of the Dniper, including a besieged Kiev and the forced surrender of AFU forces. It was doable. Now, Russia is making gains the hard way, expending resources and more soldiers. Oh well, it's not my war. lol
Another excuse. General Zukov would have you shot for that. lol
You don't control the whole territory, You take out command centers, siege the main cities, nothing goes in, nothing goes out. The assault needs to be done smartly comrade. Force enemy defenders to retreat into your advance forces behind enemy lines as you advance defensive forces into enemy lines and cut off enemy supplies on a large scale, paralyzing AFU forces. There's more, but I'm wasting time.
You are afraid to admit that Russia entered this SMO completely unprepared.
That's why this conflict is so laborious and costly. Russia thought it could just dance into Kiev if it just flexed a bunch of tanks and poorly trained soldiers with no real objective. Russia was not ready for what it got into, and you can't admit it, so you project your fear on me.
I once suggested he overthrow the current regime and take control. Commander in Chief. I think it's more likely than a positive response by mail (or phone). He chose the electric recliner instead.
My readings from John Wear's "Germany's War" leads me to understand that at the outbreak of war, the SU had one million paratroopers trained and ready to go, as contrasted with Germany's 4000.
The suicidal inclinations of the generals of yesteryear were clearly spelled out in the trenches of the first world war, and in every other preceding conflict.
Are you telling me Russia can't drum up a measly million soldiers to end this SMO decisively to its full advantage? It sure could have, and stopped the death count with a huge victory.
With which troops? North Korean? Russia had a peacetime military, Denis. It's taken this long to recruit, train and equip the amount of troops needed for such a plan.
Taking the symbol Kiev while losing the Donbass, possibly even down to Crimea without the defending troops, would have lead to the regime moving to Lvov, and a considerably worse strategic position.
Of course mistakes are made, on all sides.
It is certain that Russian Military Command considered all these options beforehand.
So what you are saying is Russia was not prepared to execute the SMO in the first place. After all those years it had time to prepare, knowing about the western incursion on its borders, and Russia retained a peacetime army. That's poor planning, Gnuneo. It entered the SMO unprepared.
Exactly. They were totally unprepared. They didn't think anyone would be so absolutly idiotic to allow them to take control of the most valuable areas of Ukrainian land. 20% of the area, 40% of the GDP with a bonus NPP and 10 million committed citizens. Who thought up that geostrategically imbecilic plan, oh that's right, the US neocons. Putin no doubt sent Vikki Nuland a Christmas card.
So Russia leaves Ukraine intact, settling for 20% land without an adequate buffer zone, setting the stage for a later war. That's great forward thinking.
I think they realised that a huge number of nazi Banderites would have to be used as fertilizer before they would have a chance of ruling over western Ukraine.
So 20% of it would have to suffice until only old men and babushkas remained west of the river.
We assume that rump post-war Ukraine will be an ally of the West.
But they have been lied to, ridden hard and put away wet. Post war Ukraine will be a resentful, poor and anarchic place.
It's entirely possible that contact with the West will have soured relations for a generation, rather like Russia's experience of neo-liberal economics in the 1990-2010 period taught the Russians a valuable lesson.
It's not a game, dude. Russia could have no real idea how this would go. They didn't WANT it to happen, and kept hoping the Western powers would come to their senses.
A military build-up would have given the game away. Recall that Russia very slowly built up that SMO force, moving equipment into the area for "exercises", and then leaving it there ready.
If the West were certain of a planned invasion - due to the unmistakeable signs of extra recruitment, re-opening of mothballed military factories etc - then the West could have in moments brought Ukr into NATO, and sent their own troops there, making it all but impossible.
They HAD to be careful.
And in all honesty, Putin's plan worked. Kiev came to the negotiating table at once in panic. They initialled the negotiated peace deal. Russian troops pulled back.
And then one slovenly fat slob flew in, and offered Zelensky an offer he couldn't refuse (A huge bag of pharma grade coke incl, little doubt).
Russia WAS prepared for a limited SMO. It couldn't be prepared for a full scale war - when the war first started, PLENTY of Russians couldn't see the danger that NATO expansion was causing. It took the inhuman sanctions, the treatment of Russians abroad, the never-ending obviously severely racist Russophobia across the board in Western mass media, and the Nazi behaviour of the Kiev regime itself to bring most of them on board.
Hindsight is easy. Did YOU expect the SMO at the time? I did. I was alone among all my friends, online or IRL.
Putin made Russia as ready as it could be. With some humanity in the West, it would have ended in weeks (With some humanity in the West, it would never have been necessary at all, but hey ho).
Russia STILL has a 'peacetime' military and economy, but now it is brought up to speed, just in case the Western powers haven't learned their lesson yet (And they obviously haven't).
Over-employment - a shortage of workers - and inflationary pressures deliberately caused by the inhuman sanctions regimes placed on the country.
Russia had to hike interest rates to slow the economic growth.
Of course a major re-armament is going to cause stress.
The EU leadership (cough) is going to spend over ONE TRILLION EUROS on its planned re-armament program, all borrowed while the real world economies are already crashing down.
THAT is going to cost more economic stress than what the Kremlin has to deal with.
The US annually spends $1.5Tn on military and espionage, and that doesn't include VA or NASA costs.
The pre-war Russian military budget was $60bn.
(Obviously all sides spend considerably more than that, but that's what's on paper.)
But the foundations of Russian growth are good. An investment into industrialism, military AND civilian. Increased spending on education, and welfare/pensions.
Russia will come out of the "stress" stronger, the EU's plan will destroy what little remains of the European economy, industrialism and finance.
The rouble is still a good bet - I wouldn't be investing long term in the euro if I was you.
the euro is not relative, it's a synthetic construct. Deutsche Bank gobbled up all european currencies and lo-and-behold, there was the euro. qui bono, indeed...
"Putin made Russia as ready as it could be''. Really? Is that why he left over 200 billion of Russia's assets in Euroclear?
The history of the 20th century showed time and again that the imperialist West would never give up on its goal to dismember Russia. Putin and the oligarchs who surround him made the foolish mistake thinking that the West would act 'rationally'.
ABSOLUTELY it's why he left the money there deliberately. Look at what has happened - the EU has already lost a $tn in overseas reserves, and it's dropping ever more rapidly.
It was a low hanging carrot, put there for the purpose.
It's seizure allowed Russia to seize MORE assets within Russia - and when the war comes to an end, Russia has every legal right to sue and demand every penny back.
It didn't cost Russia a dime.
"The history of the 20th century showed time and again that the imperialist West would never give up on its goal to dismember Russia. Putin and the oligarchs who surround him made the foolish mistake thinking that the West would act 'rationally'. "
I think by this point Putin had a good inkling of what was planned.
Your comment does not make sense. Leaving your sovereign assets in the hands of a hostile enemy is a clever tactical play? Really? You have got to be kidding.
"The EU has lost a trillion in overseas reserves'' Evidence for this claim?
FYI Russia is not getting its money back. That money came from the hard labour of the Russian people. No responsible government allows its sovereign assets to be seized.
You quote Sachs but let's not forget how Sachs was involved in the the disastrous economic policies implemented by the Yeltsin regime in the early 1990s. He advocated for getting rid of price controls and ending government subsidies to firms knowing full well it would lead to mass unemployment. Plus he advocated for privatisation ie the rape and pillage of Russian industry and later he naively says that he was not in favour of the
corrupt privatisation which took place. He also says he advocated for western aid to support Russia while its planned economy was dismantled.
Sachs was part of the problem in the 1990s which saw a disastrous collapse of living standards and mortality rates in Russia. Sachs is the last person I would quote to support my opinion.
Perhaps your understanding of economics is lacking. The Russian assets frozen in Euroclear are bonds, mostly Euro but some USD. If these aren't returned, or traded by the Russians once the conflict is over, then this triggers a sovereign default. Not what any financial centre wants on their CV. The Russians conversely are looking at reciprocity but with predominantly private assets. When the piper stops playing I know which scenario I would choose.
Not only that, Russia is losing the entire central asian region to the US and Turkey as well as Chinese expansion as its messaging there has completely flopped. This might mean war on Central Asia in the coming years
Kazakhstan is trying to move away from Cyrillic and has been westernizing. Most Kazakh youth is anti-Russian and there is strong nationalist and anti-Russian messaging in Kazakhstan. Armenia is anti-Russian and supplying the AFU. Azerbaijan is acting as a Turkish forward base, signed a tresty to house a Turkish military base. Azerbaijan also signed a treaty with Uzbekistan about cultural and military support. There is a rise of nationalism and anti-Soviet/Russian messaging throughout central asia. So yeah Russian messaging lost
Didn't the Russian swoop in a couple of years back and prevent the Kazakhstan government from being toppled in a US/UK/Turkey/Israel regime change operation? I believe Tokaev and Putin are pretty friendly though I agree there is distrust in parts of the populace. I think there is a similar relationship between Putin and Aripov. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are the big players in Central Asia. Ofc the Caucus are entirely different, but that seems to have settled down for the time being.
When that is done, millions of non combatants die.
I was struck how when reporting the latest missile attacks, the Ukrainians noted that "Fortunately, no civilians were killed," as if that were an accident.
I'm not sure why I feed into this game. Amusement? maybe.
I get a kick out of how so defensive you get because what I say doesn't fit your conditioned programming. Russia will win the SMO no doubt, but it could have been done much better.And you, Field marshall, Maus take offence to my exposing your fear to accept that Russia entered this conflict unprepared. lol
haha, I try to look at things with stoic realism and an open mind. You have yet to sway my opinion because you get too defensive. Have fun and be merry, Fledr. Life is good. Heads up, huh!
"Could have been" is not a recognized term in geopolitics.
You may be right - but nobody will ever know, or really care.
It's common knowledge in some circles.
Some circles are better to avoid or made to dump excrements into. People who are constantly full of themself scare me, they do a lot of damage.
You never made a single relevant point except for babbling.
What points are to make? Your mind is set anyway. The only question remains for me: Have you ever been to war? A. Martianov has a great characteristic for people like you, just sayin'.
Perfection does not exist in the real world, Denis.
Could Russia have been better prepared- yes, improvement is always possible.
Has Russia made mistakes - yes, quite large ones. It's unavoidable. No plan survives contact with the enemy.
But,
Could Russia have been less well prepared? - abso-fucking-lutely!
You yourself agree that the S MO is likely to end in a Russian victory.
So, to review.
Russia,
- GDP of Italy(I know, it's bollox),
- economically on its arse as recently as 2008
is going to beat NATO ( acknowledged most powerful military alliance in history) and come out of the conflict militarily, diplomatically, economically and geographically stronger than she was in 2022.
And you're still bitching. "6/10 could do better"
Some people are never satisfied!
Perfection may be unattainable, but one still should learn from one's mistakes not be suckerpunched over and over, continually getting caught flatfooted when one's enemies don't behave the way you think they should.
Maybe the funding ran out?
Or the meth.
I was assuming he was the one S gave a time out to.
It was.
Careful what you wish for mate! 😁😁😁
If its surrounded by forests, as suggested here, it will be tricky to hold.
everyone fancies himself a hero watching the fight from a sidewalk
"Everyone?" No, not me I don't hustle on the sidewalk.
Shall we assume you are in the trenches?
Suspended for 1 day for nonstop spam, calling people morons in approximately 40% of all posts, including the author of the blog
I noticed the reference to you. Geez, what's wrong with having an opinion. Shallow, profound, misdirected, dead on accurate, tldr (my comments) whatever. It's not like any of us are actually there on the ground or have any real direct influence over events in the theater or the conflict.
It'll soon be my turn—you're going to suspend me for 1000 years. I've still been posting in a way that goes against your today narrative, or at least more neutrally, being cautious, but without insults. I save those for the degenerated retards, the animals, the things… you do attract some of them, though.
You must not have a mirror at home if you don't realize. After all this time, you’re asking me again? Are you that starved for affection? You’re addressing the wrong person.
>>so , why Russian army have so much problems taking over small cities in Donbass is beyond normal comprehension!!
>>how to hard to put drones w/ cameras and cut off all roads w/ stuff going in for Ukraine army is beyond me ! it is *effing* 5*6 km square city!
What's hard to understand? It's right there in the article, the forest on the western side of Kupyansk makes it easy for the Ukrainians to gather forces while remaining hidden. And the river that divides the town makes it difficult for the Russians to hold on to the western part that is adjacent to the forest.
If the forests are a problem, burn the forests.
That is what the Americans did in Vietnam.
What you are suggesting is that Russian forces should burn the forests in Russian territory to make it difficult for any enemy forces to operate. I guess they could also block inconvenient rivers, level annoying hills etc. You know, destroy the village to save it. (as the Americans famously liked to do in Viet Nam)
I can guarantee that I.V. Stalin would have no such qualms.
And lose millions of troops in the process of fighting his kind of war. Without the slightest regret.
He won.
Wasn't he defending against an unprevoked attack? Wasn't it the biggest land invasion ever? Are you sure you know what his emotional state was, it was a long time ago after all.
They should also put in place an effective means to prevent you from entering here again. Intelligence is sacred; its opposite must not block it, level it, or destroy it.
Yes. That is exactly what I am suggesting. Indeed this is an ancient tactic used as far back as the Romans, where trees were removed from the surroundings of fortresses to prevent just that from happening
Yes that is just what I am suggesting.
But Ron. Mate. "Scorched Earth" tactics are as traditionally Russian as long, gloomy novels!
It's the middle of winter in a deciduous forest. Not a good time for burning.
Abcdefg. Napalm don't care. Jungles are wetter than forests.
And then the US won the war?
No of course not Victor, but the USA didn't lose because of impenetrable jungle, which was the problem we were discussing here.
And if you read something super negative about yourself, you would believe it, wouldn't you? Because you read it.
alx west
<<<<<well actually i know answer!<<<<<<
No. You aren't even asking the right question.
The town is bisected by a river and surrounded by forests. It is the time of year weather wise that means such a situation can be capitalized on to to make a determined advance. It is how the Russians took the town in the first place. Small numbers of troops sneaking in and overwhelming small numbers of defenders.
So the question is ........is the town itself worth holding to the point that a huge number of troops should be placed there to hold it given the troubled lay of the land for defenders whoever they are? Are there better uses for such a massive number of troops? Is win a lot, lose a few .....a better tactic than fighting a p.r. war to win praise from keyboard warriors?
Ukraine is fighting the p.r. war to keep receiving money. But they are steadily losing their army and even territory in the process.
So the real question is .....how did Putin get put in the position of announcing a total capture of territory when it was actually just a small number of troops taking turns over running each other in a location whose value was mostly in who could claim bragging rights? That is something that is so avoidable that some one(s) should be fired over that.
I dont like the general in command og the sector. Too arrogand, too stupid, too politician. He dosent even care for the troops
Well, you certainly have to think that if he disagreed with the notion that the town was permanently captured and no longer a concern, he would be in a position to make his position known and that people would take note of it before going on t.v. to comment about the situation.
Ah, you serve in a company in Kupyansk under his command?
Are you surrounded by forests? Did you check Google Maps?
"how did Putin get put in the position of announcing a total capture of territory" ? Exactly, you asked the right question.
HNY.
the kupyansk thing is simply the result of this war not actually being fought on a "civilizational" scale. russia physically can't advance everywhere on the front at the same pace, and ukraine is also allowed to mass forces and fight back too. but the overall trends and the fundamentals of the war remain the same. lessons will be learned but it's nothing to cry over.
Also, as the soldiers have noted the river makes it difficult for the Russians to hold the western side of Kupyansk. The Russians wisely retreated to their side of the river, we have seen this before. Advancement continues elsewhere.
Just a question, are you observing events from the forest? You seem to know everything.
Putin said yesterday, and it makes sense, that they failed to cross the river south of the city so failed to surround it completely. It'll be interesting to see how far the AFU get.
Sir, there are Youtubers claiming that Ukraine has sunk a Russian sub; the latest generation of silent, untraceable subs from the Kremlin, thru the use of underwater drones.
Can you verify and inform us correctly please? The pretenders may attempt to manipulate us.
Blessings.
Was debunked last week.
grr
The sub was at a dock. The dock was struck. Some claim that the explosion on the dock was close enough to the sub to cause some damage.
I would assume such high value targets have booms and netting around them to deflect and protect against such attacks. Said attacks are nothing new except for the somewhat more advanced technology involved.
Russia could use subs to lay mines off Odessa, or use glide bombs as mines.
Footage of the explosion showed it wasn't a big blast. I guess we'll find out one day what really happened.
Somebody was asleep at the wheel. There is a gate that ships must pass through to reach the inner secure area. How did the Ukrainian Sea Baby gain entry? Perhaps it followed close behind a Russian vessel that entered. The security force should have considered the possibility of a submarine. Heads need to roll over this.
The Russians stated they are conducting a special military operation, the west claim Russia is at war with Ukraine. The confusion lay in the surprise, shock and outrage from the west when Russia strikes targets now, that would have been long ago destroyed if Russia was actually at war with Ukraine.
For simplicity I would call this a Western War against Russia that was in the preparational stages for decades.
Did you see the recently unclassified records of Putin mini-Bush conversations. Pretty interesting. Will post some in a minute.
RT
[2008]
Putin straightforwardly told Bush that “accession to NATO of a country like Ukraine will create for the long-term a field of conflict for you and us, long-term confrontation,” the transcript read.
The Americans knew that perfectly well. This only shows what they were thinking about already at the time. As I said above: This was a war in preparation for decades.
Totally. It goes to show that those who think the West are evil idiots are mistaken. Their plans are long term and they move forward. Though they seem to have come up against a stiff headwind lately.
They are idiots on a deeper level in that they assume whatever they think will always be the ultimate outcome, and thus get trapped in the cycle of doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results.. (from Johannesburg)
They are already clearly losing hegemony status. And the process is not over. I am not rally enjoying this show as I am watching them throwing away Western domination from the 1990s and on. It is the revenge of the Neanderthals.
The problem with US presidents is that they don't know themselves what's going on.. (from Johannesburg)
Don’t possess the intellect to process/ comprehend..
For the Americans, that was a win-win
Was being the operative word. The US, as always, expected a quick win. Russia wasn't having any of that. They stand challenging the Empire for all to see. Nothing the US threw at the Russians has had any effect. Everybody is watching and the US is obviously under enormous pressure because of that. Didn't Indonesia join BRICS this year?
Actually, the US expected a far more vigorous Russian attack.
BRICS is basically a glorified dorm room bull session.
https://smallcaps.com.au/article/top-ten-economies-in-the-world-by-2030
"Actually, the US expected a far more vigorous Russian attack."
Ofc they did. Who would have expected the Russians to read the RAND report. Small oversight from Empire.
@abcdefg
Even more revealing is George Bush the Lesser's one word response to Putin's statement re: future long term conflict over continual NATO expansion: "Why?". Just that one word. I can see the dull look on his chimp like face in my mind.
True.. From the Western side, a lot more has gone into the Ukraine proxy war than meets the proverbial eye.. (from Johannesburg)
3 wars - all prepared for a long time
Civil war - W Ukraine on E Ukraine
Global military war Nato on Russia
Economic war: US on Europe/Germany/China (chopping off trade between Europe and BRICS)
US won the third.
Speculation:
US needs ethic European workers/business owners and another 'great' migration will occur as another 'potato famine' takes place. Europe will keep all the migrants as their newest serfs willing to kiss their feet and fill their bank accounts. Civil war in 15-20 years.
Some patterns never change.
Beware. That is how the Ukrainian Nazis started out. Polish aristocracy in pre-ww2 Poland, jewish supervisors, Ukrainian speaking serfs. When the Germans arrived you can see the temptation to turn Nazi and go slaughter 3 or 4 hundred thousand Poles and Jews (plus a few others).
But yes - Europe grabbed the white immigrant workers eagerly (as did Russia). And US want their share too.
Beware indeed! What a hot mess we're in!
EU China trade seems to be growing over time. Do you have any data to back your assertion? I'd say the tariffs would ensure Europeans are more dependant on China than ever.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/thumb/e/ed/Eu-trade-china-2014-2024.jpg/1200px-Eu-trade-china-2014-2024.jpg
Well someone blew up NS2 and that sure wasn't Russia.
China total exports 2016 were $2.2 trn and $.7 trn in 2022 which explains much of the growth in EU imports (and EU share of china imports has declined a small amount.)
But continued dependency on China products is not the same as maintaining a heathy relationship. Diplomatic relations between EU and China continue to get worse and much worse - despite the obvious need for EU growth.
EU imports from China is probably even larger considering the connector countries that now screw-driver assemble Chinese products for re-export. My interpretation is that growing imports explains US hostility to EU-China trade rather than are evidence against. Most US policies are failing to achieve their goals.
Yes, which makes Russian dithering and indecision even more inexcusable.
"Russian dithering and indecision"
I thought the Russians stated their objectives in Ukraine clearly and haven't budged to date. They seem to be getting closer to them all the time. Which demands do you see them wavering on?
Neutrality, denazification and demilitarization aren't on the menu, and Russian impotence in achieving these things has caused the europeans to lose fear of Russia.
yes, indeed, I wrote about this here:
https://finnandreen.substack.com/p/putins-old-and-recent-mistakes-in?r=ewq2s
Jew war against Russia.
The Revenge of the Neanderthals, as it is known by the science of anthropology.
This article is extremely enlightening and illustrative about the nonexistent Russian drive to consume Western Europe. The yearly historical GDP spendings on the military are explored and so is Ukraine's historical background.
Stockman: The Real Story Behind The Russia–Ukraine War... And What Happens Next
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/stockman-real-story-behind-russia-ukraine-war-and-what-happens-next?utm_source=daily_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6757
Russia is at war with Ukraine, period. The reason they don't call it a war is because Russian law then requires the mobilization of Russian society that the government doesn't want to carry out.
War is when 3,000,000 German troops invaded the USSR on 22Jun1941. When in Feb 2022, Putin went to Ukraine with 100,000-150,000 troops, to enforce Minsk 2, it's indeed a special military operation.
-------------------------------------------------incorrect--------------
in 1941 wars were fought differently than in 2022.
It's been proven many times, you don't need 3million men to invade a sovereign country, just several NGO's and the social media.
Russia's production of oreshnik's and any wonder weapons sitting idle don't win wars or sustain peace, its old-school tactics, that no longer have value.
Russia is 110% focused on their special operation with their single neighbour, while the US goes about business, can manage many fronts at multiple times all over the planet.
Who is leading who?
It's possible that you can start a war as you have described, but that's not how you can win a war.
What many fronts is the US managing, bullying tiny weak nations afraid to commit? Well probably the US will again invade Grenada or Panama as Venuzuela is proving to be a problem.
"Russia is 110% focused on their special operation with their single neighbour, while the US goes about business, can manage many fronts"
Really. I thought they were very active in the AWS. Didn't they take over the US built $200 million dollar drone base in Niger recently?
Ah yes, Russia with it's 100m population compared to a world-spanning empire, 350m domestic pop and billion+ incl vassals.
Damn those Russians must be seriously inferior not to be winning everywhere all at once!
The only thing school taught you is addition.
At least I managed to get into a school. You were home-schooled by your equally lumpen parents because you didn't get over the IQ60 bar for entry.
To your point, Russia's population is just a bit larger than Mexico's.
Imagine dropping Mexico next to Ukraine and having it go to war with a US Empire backed Ukraine. Instead of having the enemy advancing deep into its territory, Ukraine would have conquered all of this relocated Mexico within a few months.
Well, the comparison would be fair if Mexico was a former superpower with many decades worth of stored good quality military hardware, the mothballed factories that produced it, excellent military schools and traditions that stretch back centuries, and had a secure wormhole to China where essential trade could pass between them. ;)
But yeah. There is absolutely no doubt that President Vladimir Putin will go down in Russian history as one of, if not the greatest leader of the nation of all time.
Many English wanker-morons STILL go on and on about Churchill. Literally all that prick did was make some speeches in a sonorous voice, fuck up every policy, every military engagement he had a hand in, and screwed the country and its people into the ground.
Frankly, the pig-suckers are welcome to call 'Zelensky the New Churchill', actually he has Churchill's abilities and Hitler's ethics.
I'd give a lot to meet Putin and shake his hand.
If I was the UK PM, I wouldn't even let Zelensky into the country.
The keyword you seem to miss - scale.
The war has also given Russia a huge boon though. Because it made their economy strong, rooted their idneity even more, and diplomatically rallied the world against Europe and the Americans.
It's not all bad for a country that literally collapsed 35 years ago.
Also this was the American plan since the end of WW2. This was going to happen regardless but what's good is the resilience of Russia. They I guess adapted just in the nick of time.
And then, when Georgia want these NGO’s to be registered as foreign agents…
It’s called FARA in the USA with ofc exception for AIPAC.
Rules for thee, not for me
North America's Media, and that includes Canada, isn’t mentioning the Ukraine war anymore. Like it’s not happening at all.
The order has been received - the talking heads stopped talking about it.
What fantasy world is that? USA was driven from the Red Sea by Yemen, who lacks even a navy. USA utterly failed to protect Saudi oil fields, failed to protect "israel", cannot complete an invasion of Venezuela, and cannot even protect it's own seat of government, The Capitol, from take-over by the cast of Duck Dynasty and a goon in a Chwebacca bikini.
USA is a global farce and laughingstock.
That what makes this a very dangerous situation. And why the Russians and their allies are using kid gloves.
Handling multiple fronts? They're really just taking multiple kicks to the balls on a single front.
Angelina. As time goes on it is clear that Special Operation is a better description for the conflict than war. By WWII measures half of Kiev would have been demolished by now. Russia sems to be maneuvering on a narrow road between two undesirable outcomes. They do not want NATO to take over Ukraine and turn on a conflict of historical proportions. And neither do they want to fully dissolve the general population of Ukraine. Putin was telling the truth to Tucker Carlson at that famous interview in February of 2024: Regardless of the separation of Russia and Ukraine by the Tatar invasion of the early 13th century and related cultural and linguistic differences, the two people are coming from the same roots. Ukraine was consistently handled by very different standards from WWII enemies and those who invaded Russia earlier.
Ukraine wanted to be in the EU.
The EU only wanted Ukraine in NATO but not the EU.
Ukraine was silly & too greedy to not see it. Ukraine overestimated own importance and its place in geopolitics, and let it be exploited/destroyed by globalists.
Look @ Hungary - it learned from WW1 & WW2 - doesn't allow it being exploited.
Yeah, Orban keeps repeating that he is not going to walk into the WWI, WWII trap again.
That makes lots of sense.
Ukrainians should see that beyond all the Ukrainian flag pins and praise for Ukrainian bravery and love of freedom, Westerners don't even see Ukrainians as humans. The Western Saurons and Sarumans really just consider them orcs to send against Russia.
The issue is that they don't "see beyond." They don't even see under the very noses. I have my Ukrainian life-long friends suddenly telling me how much they hate Russians, and I'm at a loss - were they always feeling this way and I just somehow missed it, or it something developed under the industrial strengh ukro -propaganda?
Soldiers shooting at each other and using tanks, jets and artillery, taking territory and talking about what the laws of war allow. Yeah that's a war. Don't be ridiculous. You don't have to imitate everything Putin says just because you support him, the way mindless followers always do. Putin would also roll his eyes at you. More clear-minded supporters like Alex Mercouris say that this war is a war, so it's okay, you can say it without being a traitor to the cause, I promise. I'm sure Simplicius also agrees that this war is a war. What a ridiculous discussion.
By the way, your knowledge of history is lacking. Stalin amassed an invasion force on the border with Germany, that's why Germany struck. Germany had already gone back to a peacetime economy and offered Britain peace if Britain would just stop its attacks, a peace where Germany would leave France now that the invasion force the French and Britain had been slowly amassing against Germany had been beaten. Germany produced only a few thousand tanks and no equipment for an invasion of Russia as they hadn't planned it, just like Putin didn't plan an attack on Ukraine but was forced by their planned attack on Donbass.
Stalin was a fanatic communist who had read all available communist literature. On his desk he kept at all times a book by his favorite Soviet general, which advocated invasions without war declarations to spread communism.
Stalin had prepared 60,000 or even more tanks, which could only be sustained for a short time. He had prepared hundreds of thousands of paratroopers for the border, useful only for attack, not defense. He had moved the army and planes etc away from their ordinary bases west to the border, which is why the Germans could destroy so many planes right away as they were out in the open, waiting for the order to bomb Germany. They would then invade all of Europe. The Russians had virtually no defenses for their large gathering of troops as they prepared for an attack on Germany.
Funny you take that as your example of a war. But not Stalin's attack on Finland, trying to invade them, or his subsequent invasions of the Baltic states. Where he started a plan to remove the people and replace them with Russians, until he was stopped by the Germans. But like all communist lovers you don't want that to be known, right?
The chances of Russia declaring war in Ukraine are nil. They would declare a counter terrorist operation if they wanted to move up that ladder.
Well just a brief look at history one sees what happened to German and Japanese cities when they were at war. Or are you not aware of what real war really is? Fire bombed cities with no consideration for civilians, well with the actual targeting of civilians. The Russians have made targeted strikes against specific targets. The only cities that remotely look like Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin, Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama etc. during WW2 are the cities in Ukraine that saw actual fighting. The US dropped more bombs on tiny North Korea and North Vietnam each, than they dropped on Germany during the entirety of WW2. It is reality, the Western world has forgotten what war is or maybe some don't know. So it is "hoped" by probably the few that the Russians continue to be patient and not remind the world of that reality. As Russians have known war throughout their history they have fought for their land and defended their homes and loved ones as war for them was never "far away" but western invasions.
If Russians were really 'war' weary, fatigued... they would learn, look at resolving these matters in a different approach, if they've been fighting for centuries.
It begs to question why they would not end wars more decisively and instill absolute fear into the invading armies before it even starts.
Unless they are mongols, and thirst for endless bleeding.
It is always a mistake to see things with such a reductionist mindset. Complexity, especially in matters of war and peace, is a given. Jeff Sachs did a very enlightening article that would give you a much broader perspective. Perhaps you aren't interested.
https://consortiumnews.com/2025/12/24/jeffery-sachs-two-centuries-of-russophobia-rejection-of-peace/
I'm a realist... John Helmer, Jim J perspectives is my preference and nearer to the truth.
Too much prognosis of analysis, this Ukraine and Russia mess should have been resolved long ago decisively, and not something that should have dragged on for the last 12 years (2014-2026) thanks to Putin, he truly doesn't know how to end it.
Realism is great if it is informed by history. Let's examine your assertion that great power military conflicts can be resolved quickly.
Palestine - ongoing 77 years
Korea - ongoing 72 years (armistice).
Vietnam - resolved approx 20
Iran - ongoing 47 years
Afghanistan - resolved 20 years
Iraq - partially resolved 22 years
Libya - ongoing 14 years
ReynMeLo
One possible ending to the conflict in Ukraine is for NATO member populations feel so threatened by Russian military activities that they mobilize all their resources and manpower and officially go to war with Russia.
Another is that the conflict tempo remains at such a low level that despite their best efforts NATO country leadership cannot manage to get their populations behind declaring outright war on Russia.
Currently NATO member country populations seemed resigned to the conflict going for a long time if not forever. Most understand that Ukraine will get destroyed in the process. And that it might end up not going on for all that long anyway.
It seems the Russian leadership is making its choice.
NO - the risk was always direct war with Nato who it has become clear always intended to fight Russia.
But Nato got fat Russia went to the gym and it now is able to quietly do its policing in Ukraine and thumb its nose at Nato.
WE have all seen dozens of versions of this movie before - The Karate Kid 1 - 99.
"thanks to Putin, he truly doesn't know how to end it."
I suspect that Putin and the Russian leadership cannot admit the truth to themselves, that they never will be admitted to The Club that they so desperately seek to join.
Great article! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for posting the article by Jeffrey Sachs.
You are looking from incorrect perspective. The Russians don’t want to fight, but the other side NEVER listens. So what is the option if the other side never listens and at the same time wants your land and resources?
The Mongol seems more like you, a Mongol of the mentally retarded kind. For centuries, Russia defended itself against invasions and, by repelling them, conquered territory, pushing the enemy farther away.
Don't forget Laos. No declaration of war and the JUSA dropped more on them than Viet Nam.
Cambodia.
A Yale study suggests over 2.5 MILLION TONS of bombs were dropped on Cambodia. That is several USA/WWII worth of aerial bombs right there.
https://inkstickmedia.com/the-us-bombed-my-country-thanks-to-people-like-henry-kissinger/#:~:text=Many%20of%20those%20munitions%20are,these%20acts%20of%20mass%20destruction.
Not just German and Japanese cities. If you add up all the high explosive dropped on London in WW2, the total amounts to more than the energy of the Hiroshima nuke. Huge swathes of east London were reduced to rubble.
Plus 500 towns and cities flattened by the USAAC and Bomber Command across Italy and France, from Monte Cassino to Lyons to Caen.
And a little known, almost forgotten bombing of a city; Bangkok.
And well deserved. Hitler refused to bomb English cities until Churchill repeatedly provoked the Germans by bombing German cities.
NATO is at war with Russia and they don’t call it a war either as they understand that Russia will act very differently in that situation.
No, Russia is at war with Ukraine and NATO.
Not a normal war. Most wars are in the range of 50 to 150 dead civilians to 100 military.
Ukraine has lost 15k civilians and (if you believe western media) 200k but more likely 1million to 2 million military.
That is not conventional war - that is an extraordinary Policing effort.
(No surprise that no media discusses it like this).
As Putin said recently, If Nato wants a war bring it on, but it won't be the kind of "surgical fighting " we have seen in Ukraine, it will be bloody and short.
There's a lot of what I'd describe as "selling the drama". This whole episode has seen a pile on of armchair geostrategists, if not outright disinfo agents, not to mention telegram rumour mongers, etc. And reading western narrative managers is no more enjoyable than sifting the tea leaves. Absolute detritus by credentialed morons.
"Absolute detritus by credentialed morons." Perfectly articulated.
This "just the tip" style of warfare only gets people and cats killed.
cats are an ecological disaster, that kill billions of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians annually, contributing to extinctions, disrupting food chains, and spreading diseases.
deranged slavs that think of themselves as aryans are not a huge loss either. most people w/ more than 3 brain cells have either left the country or surrender asap.
but this war is a catastrophe 4 wildlife and people of novorossiya.
and since its only white ivans dying, no1 gives a f. lodsa people actually cheer it on.
North America's Media, and that includes Canada, isn’t mentioning the Ukraine war anymore. Like it’s not happening at all.
What is the most surprising is that Russia who didn't get any love from the West and has a capacity to destroy it many times over takes time to explain the basics, the foundations, the roots of the conflict. Speaks slowly that everyone in western think tanks gets it.
I am puzzled who the fork is the so called top Russian analyst Radov. We all know that all top Russian military analysts are in this chart.
And frankly, darling, Rybar' on Znamenka opening eyes to the horrors and warning the populations is given.
"Russian fighter " - I am so confused what is happening with the typeface of Wagner Group at the background.
If he is a fighter I am a Spanish pilot with three concussions under my belt.
Now, at the end of the day Moscow girls don't get the irony. Sure thing, flood gates are open, and the Russian MOD is very insecure about its credibility and what Westerners with their sensibilities feel at this stage of campaign.
Whatever shit-fairies of defensive line on the Zapo-Dnipro border area, it is cute, even if it is real and not an AI creation.
If anyone asks - official version- we are all forking scared of this line of defense, and that piece of engineering wonder - might not stop an advance by Vostok 30 something kilometers from Orechov.
There are voices from the Pro-Russian nationalist circles demanding the removal of Gerasimov for his cautious approach and the new Kupyansk blunder. And as always, people tend to get emotional when encountering minor setback while on a winning streak. What do you think about this situation, Simp? Is there somebody else more suitable than Gerasimov to replace him to finally inject new strategy to break this dead lock faster? Or Russia should just keep thing going this way and pacing themselves for the long run?
No, because it seems Gerasimov is fighting the war the only way it is capable of being fought, at least within the confines of what Putin will allow (i.e. no mass mobilization, etc.). I don't think Kupyansk loss means much because the war is not really about territorial progression anyway but more so about attrition. Russian forces do not seem to have lost much in Kupyansk because, unlike the AFU, they know when to retreat in order to minimize losses.
Kupyansk isn't lost
Like most here I have little idea what is actually occurring in reality, and the situation in Kupyansk is capable of being explained (or spun) in a number of ways - and much depends on the narrative that you want to push or believe. I suggest though that (based on past practice) the RF have deliberately allowed the UAF to advance into a fire sack and are busy attritting some of their better units. It may not appear that way to the poor guys in the front line - which maybe deemed a secondary sector in any event. Holding ground might be good for PR but a bad position will simply cause your own forces to become targets. It is of course possible that ISR in some way missed the UF build up, and or soft troops/poor commanders allowed a mistake to occur. I think it more likely that military considerations took precedence over PR ones. But as I said, what do I know?
That was also my thought when I read that the Russians were retreating: that they were luring the Ukrainians into another cauldron. That said, the Oskol River is a major impediment to effecting a proper cauldron as the Russians have already had problems with river crossings to the south of the city.
The AFU have taken sizeable sections on the Russian side of the river also.
That's depressing. I think Simplicious is right: someone needs fired from the command of that sector of the front.
It is more of an expensive PR-stunt from the Zelensky regime. Show father Donald that Ukraine is strong and can bite back.
"Not all who Kypyansk are lost".
I hope so.
Key sentence: ” the only way it is capable of being fought”.
And Russia is doing it very well.
Taking that as granted, the phrase "...within the confines of what Putin will allow" is doing a lot of work, here.
Both is true.
Since Zelya showed up on Kupyansk perimeter, we could have been certain that something was brewing up there. Probably the intelligence was, that in this area it would be "easiest" to show a PR win. As was already stated: Forests bordering town, only a bridgehead on the Trans-Oskol, hardly any places to really hide, and maybe understaffed. - Maybe even a trap, to lure and grind. (I still consider Kursk having been a trap and Russian GS having Intel on the planned assault. - Still remember how furious VVP was with GerasiYet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him?mov, and I don't think it was because 404 actually broke into that area...) Anyway. Maybe it was just a Russian f.u. but my left testicle tells me it wasn't.
Clearly from the Ukrainian side, Kupyansk was chosen to be the hill do die upon. Z. visiting the Orange buffoon, again. Probably carrying his maps and edited vids with him, to tell Donnie Dumbo that he's not finished, yet.
Yeah, right. If it were up to us, Oreshnik lands in the most unlikely of places.
If anyone is excited about mass mobilization in Russia- these folks are very much welcome to join the fighting force by signing a contract.
As long as they are men, the Russian MOD is strict from the point of view of gender analysis.
So as of December 27 Kupyansk is lost for Russia, even with the todays tags by Creamy Caprice? To be retaken for the third time?
Fighting a war of attrition against a larger foe is nonsensical (Ukraine is supported by the entire West which has a great deal more resources both economic and manpower-wise than Russia). Which is why fighting the war using Ghenghis-Khan's siege methods is ideal. Even Sun Tzu wrote about how wars of attritions were a last resort when all other methods fail.
So either Putin must go, or he must become more permissive. The Ukrainians hate Russia anyway, no sense on preserving their lives at the expense of his soldiers and reputation
Reminds me of the people who wanted Barclay De Tolly removed for not fighting the Grande Armee in 1812.
This despite Napoleon losing more men advancing in to Russia than he lost in the retreat.
This jumped out at me: "It is extremely expensive to strike bridges with Kalibrs and Kh-101 missiles."
The US military revels in unleashing expensive ordnance at targets, for good reason. The restocking costs taxpayers a lot more money, which in turn means much better profits, higher executive bonuses and stock prices.
Always follow the money.
Nonsense. They strike with missiles and bombs because it works. So does Russia. But Russia doesn't have enough missiles to break several heavy bridges that they'd like to remove, and keep them broken.
But phrases like "follow the money" and "qui bono" do sound good. And "what could possibly go wrong?"
So Russia has been running out of missiles every month for the last 4 years?
Everyone knows how corrupt US politicians are and who owns them.
But hey, whatever helps you sleep better.
No, Russia hasn't been running out of missiles every month because they know better than to waste them on a fool's errand.
Could it be that bridges in Ukraine were actually built by Russians who know how to build and engineer things to last and that the US is generally bombing third world countries with lax building standards? Oh and shitty construction in the US when the bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a ship hit it.
Follow the money... To Hell.
We don't believe in those fairy tales.
Doesn't matter if we believe in it or not.
It works.
The US can conjure money into existence out of nothing; a unique privilege that props up all of their unique privileges.
For now.
About Kupyansk, Simplicus said it was the North group of Russian fighters who were responsible for the defense, while one of the videos said it was the West group. Which is the case? I understand that West was fighting around Seversk and one commander fabulated a bit about military successes, and was removed.
By north I simply meant the northern grouping in terms of the orientation of the map. However, officially speaking the group there is the Western Military District in terms of its designation inside Russia itself. It's the military district responsible for the Moscow and Leningrad districts, which were formerly called 'Western Military District'.
Thanks I wondered about that. Northern group always seemed to me to be more inclined to exploit social media publicity channels than other more reticent groups.
But maybe that is only because of where I get my information from. My selection of available channels may distort the reality of who says what, where they say it and how often they do.
Just as an aside, it seems to me I recall the Western Military District to have fairly recently been expanded to include right up to the border with Finland and Estonia. It was presented as having more importance than simple administrative concerns.
It will be interesting to see if tank anti-drone measures eventually reach some standard. Maybe the dandelion, or a cover like the shipping containers.
Also interesting if, as some predict, drones will lose their current offensive role, because of anti-drone drones and the successful blocking of signals. So that drones will instead be used as a form of artillery hovering over their own side's advancing troops. Honestly, I think everyone would prefer that outcome.
In a full-war scenario, AI mass drone swarms will drop in civilian cities.
Imagine the terror.
😳😳😳
Those drones don't deliver themselves to the front.
Good point, but if the enemy is advancing they could be stockpiled until the front comes to them.
If the drones are destroyed behind the front or never get to the front, then the point is moot.
No, but I don't see how the fact that weapons need to be transported changes the scenarios that I presented
I am saying that there is a much simpler anti-drone mechanism.
A very substantial problem will be created for Ukraine if it was cut off from the Black Sea. One can only wonder why this did not happen earlier. Ukraine will clearly become a landlocked country, supplies will arrive only from Romania and Poland.
If you really want to block Odessa then the answer is mines, mines and more mines.
The problem is the Russians want Odessa to be a functional port assuming they eventually take it. While I'm sure they can build self-destruct modes into the mines (not necessarily exploding but just rendering themselves non-functional) how sure would they be that that would always work? The sea is a really nasty place to mechanical things. And a left-over mine could ruin a ship's day....
I think that would be more complicated than most think. Russia also has to consider it’s alies. They don’t operate in a vacuum
That's another excuse we hear. The US embarks on a daylight genocide in Gaza, and whst does the "Global South" do in response? It doesn't do anything concrete.
I agree with you that the big majority of the world population doesn't give a fly about Gaza, not just the global south. But Gaza is Israel is the USA. Different theatre, different artists, different reactions of the global south. Russia needs it's allies, without them they stand no chance against the soft power of the USA and the west.
To the extent Russia has allies, it is because they see this as being in their interests.
Moral considerations never played into it.
I totally agree. As the old line goes (many variations) people have friends, nations have interests. The Palestinians aren't really good for anything national-interest-wise. Russia and the rest of the world do have common interests, though. Even the West, though they totally schizophrenic about it (oil, gas, uranium)...
I think you are forgetting one particular interest that is none of the interest of the allies: self determination
Indeed. The Global South could care less and are far more interested in their own issues than what Russia does
I'd say many are looking to hedge against Empire. AWS comes to mind and many other African states, Iran, Venezuela, SA, Indonesia.
Russians are either complete losers or idiots, or both, led by a indecisive leader who keeps getting his best men slaughtered.
4years on and still fearing "air defences" of your brothers of the Ukraine? With the loser Putinz the stupid silly SMO will continue until all Ukrainians and many more Russians are dead.
Next, Putinz will betray and make an agreement with the devils, bleed more lives, no surprise.
Yemen is stronger and more decisive than Russia.
Yemen is much, much more than that. That's why it has been fought for over for centuries. Oh that's right, so has Russia. So far they haven't lost, though they did retire from the previous rounds of nuclear brinkmanship.
Considering Soviet collapse as Strategic retreat instead of abject loss is interesting.
Always offer your enemies a golden bridge. Unfortunately the hubris in the west makes it impossible to build such bridge.
Another flawed human characteristic: hubris, but also the (stupid) idea of winners and losers
" Always offer your enemies a golden bridge. "
What golden bridge were the Germans offered in WW2 ?
Thank you for asking!
They didn’t. There was the Casablanca meeting in January/ February 1943 where Roosevelt and Churchill met and decided on the ‘unconditional surrender’ of Germany.
Hence no diplomacy to try to end the war 2 years early. Just imagine how many lives could have been saved in those 2 years, including the many jews that died during the last years because of illness (typhus) and starvation.
AI overview (google)
As the overall German infrastructure collapsed due to the general bombing campaign, supply lines across the country were severely disrupted. This did lead to severe shortages of food, medicine, and other supplies in the concentration camps, contributing to the deaths of millions from starvation and disease, particularly in the final months of the war.
Basically, they wanted to completely destroy the German nation, not stop the bloodshed.
The Germans had a lots of golden bridges, just before the war. It's hard to believe the British gave them Sudentland and even after they took the whole country the British gave the Czechoslovakian gold reserves to the Nazis.
We'll know which it was in the next few decades.
USSR is not Russia.
Russia has been holding back, and I can only suspect the reason.
That reason could hurt some feelings.
Denis, welcome back my fellow Canadian.
You made me blush, Gisela. Sweet.
Best wishes, fellow Canuckster.
Tell us, please. That is an honest request.
lol, Feral. I suspect things, likely the same things that you suspect about the Kremlin. Many folks here get so offended and defensively paranoid just for saying a simple truth that Russia entered the SMO unprepared due to poor or deliberately flawed forward thinking. It stirs a disturbed hornet's nest response. It's like a mass formation psychosis.
Best wishes to you in the new year, Mr. Finster. 😂
There's a lot of wishful thinking, a tendency to substitute moral victories for the genuine article, probably because actual victories are in such short supply.
"Many folks here get so offended and defensively paranoid just for saying a simple truth that Russia entered the SMO unprepared due to poor or deliberately flawed forward thinking"
Those offended and defensively paranoid have been cowered by your logic. Not one dared to respond. I think we can all agree that the RF started with a very small force and hoped to press a negotiated settlement. After all, it is extremely well documented (Simplicius being one reliable source).
I'd say it is the "deliberately flawed" theory that generates the offence and paranoia in some less informed about the situation. Perhaps there is a logical counter argument to the "Putin spent 2 decades transforming Russia from a basket case to again being a great power, indeed able to take on the largest military alliance in world history, single handed" theory. What is this deliberately flawed thinking and why do you think the Russian leadership did it?
GM, is it you?
“This was actually the primary reason behind the Kharkov collapse in general around Izyum and eastward in ‘22—this northern region is filled with forests which gives Ukrainian units many advantages of accumulating forces covertly. “
I thought ISR is ubiquitous and nothing can move without the other side knowing about it?
In 2022 I get it. But now in 2025, how is the AFU capable of doing that?
Something doesn’t smell right. Either this is some kind of trap or clearly Russia needs more eyes in the area.
Maybe they didn’t have enough time. Understandable.
What isn’t is how the AFU managed to accumulate forces covertly without the Russian side noticing?
How many times does Russia need to get suckerpunched, often in entirely predictable ways, before we admit that Russia and its military and leadership are not as competent as we may wish.
It's not just the Russians who can develop and deploy heat-blanketing clothing. Drones can only fly so far, for so long.
Brave people will always find a way.
I agree, but without the word brave: peoplr will always find a way😊
Few have ever called me a coward (More have called a goddamned fool who rightfully should have been dead a long time ago, tbh), but crawling through a forest in thick mud and fog, praying an insulted glorified blanket is going to hide you from omnipresent anti-personnel drones, before you then launch a probably suicidal attack on semi-secure Russian positions... I'm glad I'm thousands of miles away in the warm, typing on a keyboard instead.
People will always find a way, but it'd probably be easier to crawl in the other direction and get the hell out of dodge, aka the conscripted cannon-fodder of the AFU.
Will call you a fool next time😀
:'D
Ukraine gets ISR from the west and thus can locate the spots where the Russians are less densed or not present. Then create larger groups over time by sending small units first.
My 2 cents, just another armchair general here
But why can't the Russians see the Ukrainians creating these larger groups Marledonna?
Particularly in the Northern sector, where the Russians appear to have been seriously caught out 3 times.
Fool me once, shame on you: fool me twice shame on me: fool me three times and it's time for some new generals.
And ditto, I don't really know what I am talking about either. 😁
I do know a bit what I am talking about and I would know an awful lot more if I could be the fly on the wall. And as Mercouris and other analysts say, the Russian military is not telling us everything.
I can think of a couple of possibilities. The ISR of the Russians ISR will not be 100% accurate, local circumstances like weather, vegetation, geographical structures will make it more difficult. Ofcourse the Ukrainians aren’t stupid either and also use obfuscation to hide their presence.
An alternative could be that the Russians know about the buildup, let it happen and then when the Ukrainian forces come out, retreat and bomb the Ukrainian forces. Recall that the Russians are fighting a war of attrition. But there is always a risk involved in such tactics. You can’t predict the exact outcome.
So Russian ISR on Russia's own border is not very good.
That is always a possibility. You cannot exclude the possibility in my opinion. Ukraine is one of the biggest countries in Europe.
As a side note: I remember ISR in Iraq which observed weapons of mass destruction that weren't there. So you something get false positives...
/sarcasm off
Don't confuse ISR with deliberate lies.
Meanwhile, NATO ISR seems to read Russia just fine, and we don't have to make excuses because Ukraine is so big, see.
They are able to do that because
1. Forest cover makes drone use more difficult
2. Because of localized (or not) incompetence
If Russia had been more aggressive and neutralized Kiev with a bold deep encirclement, as I said long ago, AFU forces would be prisoners by now instead of continuing to resist and counter-attack.
Russian losses would have been lower while controlling everything east of the Dniper, including a besieged Kiev and the forced surrender of AFU forces. It was doable. Now, Russia is making gains the hard way, expending resources and more soldiers. Oh well, it's not my war. lol
Another excuse. General Zukov would have you shot for that. lol
You don't control the whole territory, You take out command centers, siege the main cities, nothing goes in, nothing goes out. The assault needs to be done smartly comrade. Force enemy defenders to retreat into your advance forces behind enemy lines as you advance defensive forces into enemy lines and cut off enemy supplies on a large scale, paralyzing AFU forces. There's more, but I'm wasting time.
lol, Field Marshal Maus.
You are afraid to admit that Russia entered this SMO completely unprepared.
That's why this conflict is so laborious and costly. Russia thought it could just dance into Kiev if it just flexed a bunch of tanks and poorly trained soldiers with no real objective. Russia was not ready for what it got into, and you can't admit it, so you project your fear on me.
I once suggested he overthrow the current regime and take control. Commander in Chief. I think it's more likely than a positive response by mail (or phone). He chose the electric recliner instead.
Press one to give advice on tactics, press two for strategy …
Very different attitude to military deaths in Zhukov's day, of course.
Not sure I agree Tim.
When all you have is untrained bodies that's what you use. Look at Ukraine.
And by 1944 even Zhukov ( who was very "results-driven) was more careful with his troops.
My readings from John Wear's "Germany's War" leads me to understand that at the outbreak of war, the SU had one million paratroopers trained and ready to go, as contrasted with Germany's 4000.
The suicidal inclinations of the generals of yesteryear were clearly spelled out in the trenches of the first world war, and in every other preceding conflict.
Care for one's troops is only a recent anomaly.
People are rarely sure that they agree with me at first.
It usually takes a little time.
Is Syrski concerned about the lives of his men? Where the Iranian generals in the 1980's?
Whereas, Montgomery, to pick one example was a less effective general because he was so concerned about limiting casualties.
Frederick the Great was very mindful of limiting his casualties throughout the 7 years war.
Not seeing many comments deleted, it’s odd🤔
I've asked S to delete yours, so we'll see.
Why?
At the pace this conflict is going its best to comment on a longer timescale to assess how things are going. lol
Are you telling me Russia can't drum up a measly million soldiers to end this SMO decisively to its full advantage? It sure could have, and stopped the death count with a huge victory.
I don't care if you live on the moon.
You don't seem to know much except rattle insults like a 2-year-old.
I think they read the 2019 RAND report on how to overextend and put them off balance. So far they have managed themselves quite well.
Currency up
Growth stable
No conscription
Trade steady
Very high public support
Debt level very low
High level of diplomatic support.
I'll think you'll find it's almost the exact opposite for Ukraine.
Very good point about them reading that report.
No doubt there were some chuckles and derogatory remarks over vodka.
Debt level low. not
Strategic reserve depleting. yes.
Denis.
Russia's national debt is less than 25% of their GDP.
Canada's national debt is over 95% of your GDP.
Well, I have no debt and lots of cash. Not my problem.
Facts don't seem to mean much with Denis.
Things can be done in many ways.
But invariably, one way is chosen and stuck to.
Do you have a couch or an electric recliner?
Why bring feelings into a logical discussion?
You get butthurt so easily. lol
You didn't answer my question. I was trying to gather more data before providing a logical rebuttal.
Your mind is completely closed and unbendable to new data.
You had your chance to discuss with me rationally, and you failed the test.
Don't worry, be happy.
It will all work out in the end.
I'm guessing electric recliner.
You are totally right totally
With which troops? North Korean? Russia had a peacetime military, Denis. It's taken this long to recruit, train and equip the amount of troops needed for such a plan.
Taking the symbol Kiev while losing the Donbass, possibly even down to Crimea without the defending troops, would have lead to the regime moving to Lvov, and a considerably worse strategic position.
Of course mistakes are made, on all sides.
It is certain that Russian Military Command considered all these options beforehand.
So what you are saying is Russia was not prepared to execute the SMO in the first place. After all those years it had time to prepare, knowing about the western incursion on its borders, and Russia retained a peacetime army. That's poor planning, Gnuneo. It entered the SMO unprepared.
Exactly. They were totally unprepared. They didn't think anyone would be so absolutly idiotic to allow them to take control of the most valuable areas of Ukrainian land. 20% of the area, 40% of the GDP with a bonus NPP and 10 million committed citizens. Who thought up that geostrategically imbecilic plan, oh that's right, the US neocons. Putin no doubt sent Vikki Nuland a Christmas card.
So Russia leaves Ukraine intact, settling for 20% land without an adequate buffer zone, setting the stage for a later war. That's great forward thinking.
The fat lady hasn't stopped singing (though she is probably on Christmas break from Columbia U).
I think they realised that a huge number of nazi Banderites would have to be used as fertilizer before they would have a chance of ruling over western Ukraine.
So 20% of it would have to suffice until only old men and babushkas remained west of the river.
I think Tim makes a good point.
We assume that rump post-war Ukraine will be an ally of the West.
But they have been lied to, ridden hard and put away wet. Post war Ukraine will be a resentful, poor and anarchic place.
It's entirely possible that contact with the West will have soured relations for a generation, rather like Russia's experience of neo-liberal economics in the 1990-2010 period taught the Russians a valuable lesson.
It's not a game, dude. Russia could have no real idea how this would go. They didn't WANT it to happen, and kept hoping the Western powers would come to their senses.
A military build-up would have given the game away. Recall that Russia very slowly built up that SMO force, moving equipment into the area for "exercises", and then leaving it there ready.
If the West were certain of a planned invasion - due to the unmistakeable signs of extra recruitment, re-opening of mothballed military factories etc - then the West could have in moments brought Ukr into NATO, and sent their own troops there, making it all but impossible.
They HAD to be careful.
And in all honesty, Putin's plan worked. Kiev came to the negotiating table at once in panic. They initialled the negotiated peace deal. Russian troops pulled back.
And then one slovenly fat slob flew in, and offered Zelensky an offer he couldn't refuse (A huge bag of pharma grade coke incl, little doubt).
Russia WAS prepared for a limited SMO. It couldn't be prepared for a full scale war - when the war first started, PLENTY of Russians couldn't see the danger that NATO expansion was causing. It took the inhuman sanctions, the treatment of Russians abroad, the never-ending obviously severely racist Russophobia across the board in Western mass media, and the Nazi behaviour of the Kiev regime itself to bring most of them on board.
Hindsight is easy. Did YOU expect the SMO at the time? I did. I was alone among all my friends, online or IRL.
Putin made Russia as ready as it could be. With some humanity in the West, it would have ended in weeks (With some humanity in the West, it would never have been necessary at all, but hey ho).
Russia STILL has a 'peacetime' military and economy, but now it is brought up to speed, just in case the Western powers haven't learned their lesson yet (And they obviously haven't).
The Russian economy is starting to show signs of stress.
Over-employment - a shortage of workers - and inflationary pressures deliberately caused by the inhuman sanctions regimes placed on the country.
Russia had to hike interest rates to slow the economic growth.
Of course a major re-armament is going to cause stress.
The EU leadership (cough) is going to spend over ONE TRILLION EUROS on its planned re-armament program, all borrowed while the real world economies are already crashing down.
THAT is going to cost more economic stress than what the Kremlin has to deal with.
The US annually spends $1.5Tn on military and espionage, and that doesn't include VA or NASA costs.
The pre-war Russian military budget was $60bn.
(Obviously all sides spend considerably more than that, but that's what's on paper.)
But the foundations of Russian growth are good. An investment into industrialism, military AND civilian. Increased spending on education, and welfare/pensions.
Russia will come out of the "stress" stronger, the EU's plan will destroy what little remains of the European economy, industrialism and finance.
The rouble is still a good bet - I wouldn't be investing long term in the euro if I was you.
Well-said. I'm mostly in gold stocks.
These things are relative of course.
the euro is not relative, it's a synthetic construct. Deutsche Bank gobbled up all european currencies and lo-and-behold, there was the euro. qui bono, indeed...
Lol, are getting paid to spout your BS. I hope so, otherwise you're a sad fuck!
You sound like a miserable old man with high blood pressure trying to push your darkness upon a bright light. Keep trying, Pedro.
"Putin made Russia as ready as it could be''. Really? Is that why he left over 200 billion of Russia's assets in Euroclear?
The history of the 20th century showed time and again that the imperialist West would never give up on its goal to dismember Russia. Putin and the oligarchs who surround him made the foolish mistake thinking that the West would act 'rationally'.
ABSOLUTELY it's why he left the money there deliberately. Look at what has happened - the EU has already lost a $tn in overseas reserves, and it's dropping ever more rapidly.
It was a low hanging carrot, put there for the purpose.
It's seizure allowed Russia to seize MORE assets within Russia - and when the war comes to an end, Russia has every legal right to sue and demand every penny back.
It didn't cost Russia a dime.
"The history of the 20th century showed time and again that the imperialist West would never give up on its goal to dismember Russia. Putin and the oligarchs who surround him made the foolish mistake thinking that the West would act 'rationally'. "
I think by this point Putin had a good inkling of what was planned.
https://consortiumnews.com/2025/12/24/jeffery-sachs-two-centuries-of-russophobia-rejection-of-peace/
Your comment does not make sense. Leaving your sovereign assets in the hands of a hostile enemy is a clever tactical play? Really? You have got to be kidding.
"The EU has lost a trillion in overseas reserves'' Evidence for this claim?
FYI Russia is not getting its money back. That money came from the hard labour of the Russian people. No responsible government allows its sovereign assets to be seized.
You quote Sachs but let's not forget how Sachs was involved in the the disastrous economic policies implemented by the Yeltsin regime in the early 1990s. He advocated for getting rid of price controls and ending government subsidies to firms knowing full well it would lead to mass unemployment. Plus he advocated for privatisation ie the rape and pillage of Russian industry and later he naively says that he was not in favour of the
corrupt privatisation which took place. He also says he advocated for western aid to support Russia while its planned economy was dismantled.
Sachs was part of the problem in the 1990s which saw a disastrous collapse of living standards and mortality rates in Russia. Sachs is the last person I would quote to support my opinion.
Perhaps your understanding of economics is lacking. The Russian assets frozen in Euroclear are bonds, mostly Euro but some USD. If these aren't returned, or traded by the Russians once the conflict is over, then this triggers a sovereign default. Not what any financial centre wants on their CV. The Russians conversely are looking at reciprocity but with predominantly private assets. When the piper stops playing I know which scenario I would choose.
Not only that, Russia is losing the entire central asian region to the US and Turkey as well as Chinese expansion as its messaging there has completely flopped. This might mean war on Central Asia in the coming years
Kazakhstan is trying to move away from Cyrillic and has been westernizing. Most Kazakh youth is anti-Russian and there is strong nationalist and anti-Russian messaging in Kazakhstan. Armenia is anti-Russian and supplying the AFU. Azerbaijan is acting as a Turkish forward base, signed a tresty to house a Turkish military base. Azerbaijan also signed a treaty with Uzbekistan about cultural and military support. There is a rise of nationalism and anti-Soviet/Russian messaging throughout central asia. So yeah Russian messaging lost
Didn't the Russian swoop in a couple of years back and prevent the Kazakhstan government from being toppled in a US/UK/Turkey/Israel regime change operation? I believe Tokaev and Putin are pretty friendly though I agree there is distrust in parts of the populace. I think there is a similar relationship between Putin and Aripov. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are the big players in Central Asia. Ofc the Caucus are entirely different, but that seems to have settled down for the time being.
Scenarios of rapid and total victory can always be imagined, but imagination rarely proceeds as expected.
If wishes were horses....., Denis.
You absolutely right, except I don't think Russia had the forces to do it at the time.
That is correct, John.
So it failed to adequately prepare against an existential threat which it had many years to prepare for. Just saying.
Time to take the gloves off.
When that is done, millions of non combatants die.
I was struck how when reporting the latest missile attacks, the Ukrainians noted that "Fortunately, no civilians were killed," as if that were an accident.
Especially if you're wearing two pairs!