Posted on 05/12/2022 12:35:24 PM PDT by Widget Jr
A fact which for political reason, many on who know better are trying hard to ignore.
Interesting. Last paragraph puts you in mind of the segment of US black culture that denigrates academic achievement as “acting white”.
Ukraine is not going to settle for a cease fire. Putin should withdraw to Feb 24 borders. Demand Ukraine's pledge not to join NATO. Call it a victory.
Otherwise, Ukraine may recapture Cromea, Lutansk and Donbass. Putin's reign may be at risk all of a sudden.
If I understand it right, CNN first reported that pontoon bridge this Tuesday, May 10, from open source intelligence. On Wednesday, May 11, Ukraine hit it with artillery. One battalion's worth of men and equipment were wiped out. Estimated losses were 100 vehicles destroyed and 1,000 to 1,500 men dead. They were bunched up while crossing the river and could not get out of the way fast enough, which means artillery caused a lot destruction and casualties fast.
Russia ignored that Ukraine knew where that bridge was. They tried to cross it anyway, when by now they have to know good Ukraine is using drone targeted artillery. Conducting a operation when the enemy knows it is coming happens in war. That is not what I do not understand.
What I do not understand is Russia took no means to protect their own operation. As far as I know, there was no air cover attempting to suppress artillery, and no counter battery fire. Russia seems to be oblivious to how Ukraine is fighting back or what their own operating limits are.
Go ahead and call me naive, I do not understand how Russia's army let this happen.
This thread is more reasonable with less name calling than usual for a Ukraine thread. Why not keep it that way?
#143. Agree entirely. We are thinking along the same lines here.
I’M not saying that. I’m taking about embedded cultural disdain for ‘acting smart’, like what you quoted in that paragraph.
Aha! Got it! Sorry, I misunderstood what you meant.
You are correct that the Russians did just about everything wrong you can do in trying to launch an attack across a river. They should have read their basic training manuals more carefully.
I think we may be seeing the results of poor organization, weak communications technology, and a dramatically incorrect assessment of the opponents ability and forces. A lot of recent military experience by US, Russian, and NATO forces has been against vastly weaker forces. Just like the US and others appeared to underestimate the Ukrainian military before the war the Russians did too. And they are suffering the consequences.
What an eye-opening post. Thank you very much.
Ridiculous the Russians are getting their asses kicked like always. If you look at their culture you see little more than incredible incompetence.
Here's one particular analysis that you might find interesting.
Its veracity is up for debate, but that particular river was apparently crossed in numerous other areas beyond the spot where those were photos taken, based on fighting reports elsewhere (and acknowledgement that Russians have established positions west of the river):
This river goes all over the place in the Donbass:
His argument is based solely on what models he thinks the destroyed equipment are, and who he thought was operating them at the time. He has no data to support the idea that the two sides were fighting at that spot on the river for a week. And it makes no sense that they would be.
The attempt at fording the river seems to have been at approximately 48.950339, 38.226397. It makes no sense that the Ukrainians would have driven their armor down to the river there, when just a few thousand feet further into their controlled territory there are some hills with a commanding view and fire path to cover the river.
In addition, there would be no obvious tactical reason for a Ukrainian armored group to try to cross the river when they could be far more effective in other places just a couple of miles away.
Ridiculous the Russians are getting their asses kicked like always.
Remind me. Why is Ukraine absolutely helpless in coming to the aid of those trapped in Avostal? Why are those trapped in Avostal pleading with everyone and anyone, including Elon Musk, to help them?
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10812449/Ukraine-war-Russians-make-second-failed-attempt-crossing-river.htmlaccording to Ukrainian investigative site InformNapalm....
According to a Ukrainian source, Ukraine is doing splendidly.
Mariupol disappeared and 8 million are displaced inside Ukraine presumably due to unexplained reasons. They are working on getting to the bottom of it. Presumably they have enlisted the help of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf as a mercenary.
Imagine what the bill for the U.S. taxpayer would be if they were losing.
Ukraine does not have the air or sea lift ability anymore to get there. Their existing army is pushing out of Kharkiv and holding on to the Donbas while their mobilization is ongoing.
There is no way for Ukraine to relieve them and there is no way Turkey will let NATO send a fleet into the Sea of Azov.
“Mariupol disappeared and 8 million are displaced inside Ukraine presumably due to unexplained reasons. They are working on getting to the bottom of it. Presumably they have enlisted the help of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf as a mercenary.”
That is what happens when they are fighting on your territory.
From the link: 1) According to the composition of the burned equipment, we see the presence of the Russian and Ukrainian armies, as well as forces of the LPR or DPR. We can no longer write off the entire pile as Russian casualties.
This makes no sense at all. It is looking for imaginary needles in imaginary haystacks, then after find them assuming they are real. This version of events would mean Ukrainian artillery was inflicting friendly fire casualties on their own, while they were engaged in a point blank armor battle that only happens in movies. The author does not consider that at all.
Russia has taken so many losses they are bringing out the reserves. Ukraine, the NPR and LPR all use dated vehicles, and both sides have captured equipment from each other. Both sides are using a mix of old and new now.
Realistically, Ukrainian grounds forces would have stood back, let the artillery do the work, then picked off the survivors.
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