Posted on 02/24/2022 7:08:32 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The scenes out of Ukraine as Russia continues to invade its sovereign neighbor have painted a picture of chaos. We’ve seen street fighting, apartment buildings being hit with rockets, and tanks rolling down highways. But, what we haven’t seen is a decisive victory for Vladimir Putin.
Part of the invasion strategy was to quickly take the major airports in order to fly in men and materials to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses. Surprisingly fierce opposition has prevented that, though. As of Thursday afternoon, Ukrainian military forces had actually recaptured one of the airports initially lost. That apparently happened with the help of a Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot, who shot down multiple planes and helicopters taking part in the airborne assault.
⚡️⚡️⚡️BREAKING:
Ukrainian troops in full control of the Hostomel Airport, Russian airborne force eliminated.— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) February 24, 2022
I'm seeing reports (but can't confirm) that a Ukrainian Mig 29 pilot has become an ace today.
First, how incredible in this day and age.
Second, holy shit the balls on that guy.
— Mike Nelson (@mikenelson586) February 24, 2022
NEW: Ukraine reports 350 Russian troops were killed in the first day of the invasion.
— Election Wizard 🇺🇸 (@ElectionWiz) February 24, 2022
For comparison, the United States lost only 154 servicemembers killed in action over the entire Gulf War. Over the first year of fighting the second Iraq War, 486 US service members were killed in the theater. That’s a testament to the technological and training superiority of the U.S. military, compared to the Russians, who have always been less formidable than they present. It also puts into perspective how much blood has already been extracted from Putin in an invasion that has barely gotten started.
That begs the question of how much resolve Russia truly has. Are they in this for the long haul, and possibly thousands killed in battle and via an insurgency? Or is Putin looking to tag the bag at Kyiv, claim victory, and then back off with his ego still intact? It’s hard to say because even though Russia is a dictatorship, the dynamics are not the same as other authoritarian regimes. While the Taliban had unlimited stamina when it came to absorbing losses and setbacks, I do not get the feeling Putin has that luxury. If things start to get really bloody, the protests already happening in his country are going to escalate, and that could cause major problems at home.
Further, it looks like the Ukrainians are in this for the long haul. They have already barred the exit of able-bodied men aged 18-60, meaning they are expected to stay and fight. Guns and Javelins are being handed out to militia forces in an effort to bolster defenses.
Still, I don’t want to give the impression that Ukraine is going to win this fight. Russia has a massive amount of forces ready to go in reserve along the border. If Putin is willing to accept the costs of blood and treasure, he will eventually reach his goal of decapitating the current government. I’m not so sure that’ll work out well for him in the end, though. If an insurgency takes hold, it’s going to be a nightmare for the Russian occupiers. Meanwhile, the Russian stock market is down over 40 percent today, a massive drop. Pain is coming for Putin, and we are going to find out how committed he actually is to this misadventure.
28,141 Russians were killed taking Kiev from Manstein in 1943.
Good thing for them he’s not there today.
Fox headline. Russian forces attacking Kyiv, explosions heard in Ukrainian capital: LIVE UPDATES
Another. Putin UNLEASHES bloodshed on Ukraine’s capital in full-scale blitz to ‘decapitate’ government
I’m not believing a single thing coming out of the media, including Redstate.
Question EVERYTHING
May the Javelin destroy Russian tanks the way the afghans used Stingers to shoot down aircraft.
This really could get expensive for Putin. But he’s all in now. No turning back.
Sounds a bit like a headline from the past:
German forces attacking London, explosions heard in British capital
Always wise vet to not to trust the news.
Russians are trying to hop up with Ukrainian chicks on Tinder, apparently.
https://nypost.com/2022/02/24/ukrainian-women-say-russian-troops-are-flirting-with-them-on-tinder/
You have to be careful when assessing Ukrainian claims. They *grossly* overstated enemy losses during the 2014/2015 fighting. Russian claims must be seriously questioned as well.
How many Russians had smart phones in WW2? Putin can demand all he wants. He doesn’t have the army to back it up.
Biden thinks they had them back then.
And, guess where Ukrainian forces have for the last 20 years? In AFG alongside the US... They are well trained and quiet proficient.
The first casualty in any war is the truth.
Russia has declared that casualty figures are a “state secret” and anyone releasing the numbers will be imprisoned. Its an early sign just how unpopular this war is with the Russian people. Putin knows these deaths will sting and further enrage the people. The people know Putin has overplayed his hand and has severely harmed Russia in many ways.
I thought the wars in Iraq and Kuwait showed that the day of the tank is over. In some ways the Thunderbolt with rockets at the end of WWII showed that tanks were very vulnerable. I guess old habits die hard in Russia.
That. Or the Ukrainians are much better soldiers than Iraqis. Ukrainians also have some of our weaponry, which also levels the field. They also have the same military tradition.
They have a little charge (with very small back blast) that pops the round out several yards ahead, before the main motor kicks in. It reduces your signature (from being observed) and allows you to fire from inside a building.
My feeling is this thing will be over right quick when Ukraine's political leaders have been assured they will still have their "phony jobs" (Thank you, Blazing Saddles) when the shooting stops, and the country's elite have been promised their privileged lives will not be touched by this "unpleasantness."
All of that out of the way, Ukraine will easily fold itself into the Russian juggernaut, and the propaganda outlets will report a "mutually-agreed sensible and lasting end" to the conflict.
All peachy keen to everyone but the "average men and women" who will have experienced the trauma.
As I say, I might be jaded, but I regretfully must assume that is the way the world turns these days.
Um, yeah-watching live feed from roof of parliament building. Nada.
CC
The guy on the news said the capitol's name as KEEEVE - spelled Kyve I think. No Kee-ev (Kiev). Turns out Kiev is the Russian spelling and pronunciation, so now the media is told to use the Ukrainian spelling and pronunciation.
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