Defense Official Says Conflict in Ukraine's Donbas Region Could Be 'Knife Fight'

DOD NEWS ^ | APRIL 8, 2022 | JIM GARAMONE

[GonzoII]

The fight for eastern Ukraine will be a "knife fight," as both sides are familiar with the terrain, population centers and access routes, a senior defense official said today.  Russia invaded the area in 2014, and Ukrainian and Russian forces have been confronting each other there ever since.   It is becoming the main scene of battle in the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin's failed attempt to take the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. "The Russians and the Ukrainians have been focused on the Donbas for eight years, and [it's been] for eight years that the Ukrainians have been able to stymie Russia's larger objectives in the Donbas," the official said. "But the fighting has been bloody, it's been stiff. And it's been pretty consistent for years."  

After the failure of the Kyiv campaign, the Russians are moving units to the east and beginning to feed them into the fight for the Donbas. "This will be a knife fight," the official said. "This could be very bloody and very ugly." 

The Russians are limiting their geographic aims, but they still have a lot of combat power available. This could go on for a long time," the official said.  

The Russian units that were attacking Kyiv have withdrawn and are refitting in Belarus and western Russia. The units are making their way to Russian towns of Belgorod and Valuyki, which are near the border with Ukraine and the northern part of the Donbas region….

[Krosan]

>10 of the newest model Switchblade drones

There was a correction saying they’re sending 10 “Switchblade systems” each containing 10 drones.

Still not enough, but at least not a pitiful 10 drones.

[ckilmer]

If that happens it won’t happen quickly.

Question is can the world afford a long war in the Ukraine?

There are a lot of sanctions imposed on both sides.

We’re already hearing of food riots in Sri Lanka, Peru and Greece. That’s just a start. There is much more to come.

This sort of thing will create millions of refugees

The president himself has promised that there will be food shortages.

Sounds like a plan: that is, a feature not a bug of sanctions.

[Travis McGee]

“DP Video Ministry of Propaganda”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehrjf7QE_TY

Evidence that Ukraine train station cluster bomb attack was false flag done to drag NATO into the war

Video goes through these cluster bomb rockets, who owns them, who uses them, down to details, chapter and verse. Notably, it’s the same Scarab-U cluster bomb rocket fired into downtown Donetsk by the Ukes last March, killing pro-Russian civilians.

[Who is John Galt?]

So if Ukraine is beating the Russians so badly, we don’t need to keep giving them money and weapons. They’ve obviously “got this,” right? Can’t have it both ways.

There is a lot of truth in what you are saying. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but the amount of military aid the US has already provided or committed to, far exceeds the entire annual military budgets of multiple NATO member countries. The Ukrainians should be paying full list price for every item they receive from us, including shipping. If the Europeans want to offer freebies, let them; but the US taxpayers have been subsidizing European defense for decades, and we shouldn't be putting billions more on Uncle Sam's credit card, for the grand-kids to pay off (with interest).

And you're right about some people wanting to "have it both ways": they've been screaming since February that the America HAD TO get involved, because the Ruskies were {supposedly} going to blow through Ukraine like Hitler's Wehrmacht, and attack NATO a week later. Turns out that was a complete load of baloney - Putin has a "clown car" army that can't handle Ukraine, and wouldn't last a week against NATO. But the "LET'S GO TO WAR WITH RUSSIA!" club is STILL pushing for American "boots on the ground", in a country where the US has no interests worth the risk of nuclear war...

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

So if Ukraine is beating the Russians so badly, we don’t need to keep giving them money and weapons. They’ve obviously “got this,” right? Can’t have it both ways.

This is ridiculous, and you clearly know nothing of military operations. The Ukrainians have succeeded in stopping the Russian advance cold, but that still leaves Russian troops in Ukraine, and Russians reorganizing for another offensive. Combatting that requires a continuous supply of ammo and material.

What kind of idiot thinks that even an army that is winning doesn't require munitions?

[Who is John Galt?]

Your comment is like saying: The Soviets stopped the NAZIs at Moscow, so they don't need any more Dodge trucks, food, fuel, or steel to build tanks, right?

It is worth remembering that, by the time Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the German military had already conquered Poland (with Soviet assistance), the low countries, France, Denmark, Norway, plus Yugoslavia and Greece (IIRC). German conventional forces were therefore an obvious 'world class' threat; Russia's current conventional forces most definitely are not, although the country's nuclear forces apparently remain the largest (and most threatening) on earth.

It is also worth remembering that the vast majority of the aid provided to the Soviets by the US, was delivered when both countries were formally at war with Nazi Germany (i.e., after December 1941). Ukraine is currently at war with Russia - quite obviously, the US is not, and it would be the height of foolishness to change that.

In summary, there were vital American interests at stake, when the US aided co-belligerents in their mutual war against Nazi Germany. Today, in contrast, this country is not at war with Russia, and has no vital interests in Ukraine that would justify any American action that risks nuclear war...

[Who is John Galt?]

Prince of Space: "So if Ukraine is beating the Russians so badly, we don’t need to keep giving them money and weapons..."

BCC: "What kind of idiot thinks that even an army that is winning doesn't require munitions?"

And what kind of idiot thinks the US is obligated to provide FREE "munitions" to Ukraine? In case you hadn't noticed, the US is already $30 TRILLION in debt, borrowing more every year, and in danger of interest on the debt overwhelming the federal budget, due to inflation & rising interest rates. If Ukraine wants American "munitions", let them pay full list price up front, plus shipping. If they find those terms unacceptable, let them get their arms in Europe, or elsewhere...

;>)