[Kazan]

Despite an end to US resupply until Saturday’s Congressional vote and serious ammo shortages on the part of Ukraine, it took the Russians at least 3 months to take this tiny village of 1,400 people.

What a load of crap. The Russians are rooting Ukraine out of positions that had been heavily fortified for years.

Ukraine isn't getting an inch of territory back that the Russians control. Ukraine is losing ground DAILY that it will never get back. If you want to dispute, put up or shut up and bet me on that. $500 to a future freep-a-thon.

[Zhang Fei]

Ukraine ping

Kazan: [What a load of crap. The Russians are rooting Ukraine out of positions that had been heavily fortified for years.

Ukraine isn’t getting an inch of territory back that the Russians control. Ukraine is losing ground DAILY that it will never get back. If you want to dispute, put up or shut up and bet me on that. $500 to a future freep-a-thon.]

---

The Maginot Line is a far more complex, expensive, robust and visually-impressive fortification than whatever hillbilly defenses Ukraine managed to put up on the fly in this war. France’s rapid collapse in the face of German attack is testament to the fact that in war, physical factors are important, but morale cannot be overlooked. And it is morale that kept Ukraine in the fight despite the large Russian advantage in equipment and manpower.

For reference, the Taliban at its peak had maybe 50K part-time fighters. Its equipment consisted of rifles, RPGs and mortars with a maximum range of less than 5 miles. The US spent $50b a year there, between supplying the Afghan government and providing fire support through howitzers and strike fighters.

Russia has about 500K troops in Ukraine. Its ranged weapons includes ballistic and cruise missiles, howitzers and strike fighters. It outranges the Taliban 100x. Yet Ukraine is somehow stalemating this Russian force 10x the size of the Taliban, that outranges the Taliban by two orders of magnitude, without direct US participation, using the same $50b a year.

This astounding disparity in results is why so many of Ukraine’s backers remain supportive. It shouldn’t be possible. And yet Ukraine remains standing, bloodied but unbowed.

[Chad C. Mulligan]

Ukraine isn't getting an inch of territory back that the Russians control. Ukraine is losing ground DAILY that it will never get back. If you want to dispute, put up or shut up and bet me on that. $500 to a future freep-a-thon.

I smell flop-sweat.