The West prepares for Putin’s next moves as Ukraine war enters a new phase

NBC News ^ | 30 APR 2022 | Patrick Galey

[timza]

Speaking to reporters after a visit to Kyiv, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin said the U.S. wanted to see Russia “weakened to the extent that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.”

[pierrem15]

From what I've read the Russians have already committed about 3/4 of the operational BTGs they have into the war. Many of the other units are static, lacking vehicles, support units, etc., because they are border units. He has already denuded Russia's frontiers of operational units.

The new offensive started about 10 days ago, yielding only an advance of 17-20km near Izyum and smaller advances elsewhere. The Russians have also appointed a new overall commander after replacing the last one with the general from Syria, which doesn't signal success. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are beginning to conduct special forces/guerilla ops behind Russian lines targeting fuel, ammo and railway lines. Poland is transferring 200+ tanks and APCs/IFVs to Ukraine, enough to equip two armored brigades. It will also fly air defense over Slovakia, so the Slovaks can transfer their MiGs to Ukraine.

Even if Putin calls for total mobilization on May 9th, it's not clear how he will be able to train and equip the extra forces. Right now the semi-static fighting in the east is turning into an artillery duel, which means high casualties for both sides.

It's likely to turn into a grinding war of attrition, and with Russia attacking and Ukraine defending, Russia's 3.5:1 population advantage isn't enough to win.

[Antioch]

Lloyd Austin represents the worst of this unelected regime. He’s a diversity hire, Raytheon salesman, a NWO war monger and a Zelensky puppeteer.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Why hasn’t Ukraine not invaded Russia? Moscow is only 300 miles away? Their crack foreign legion could take Moscow in a week. All Russian armies are bogged down in Donbass—Their navy is worthless. One quick Thrust and Ukraine can dominate Eastern Europe? Ukraine is invincible! They should seize Belarus (for helping Putin alone and Modavia as well). The Russian people will cheer for the Freedom Fighting Ukrainians who will free them from Putin’s iron grip. Once Russia falls the whole world will be all unicorns and sunshine.