Posted on 03/15/2022 1:27:11 PM PDT by Mariner
Paris (AFP) – A Russian call for fighters from Syria and Chechnya to join its war in Ukraine is motivated by plans to take major cities with urban warfare tactics which will require overwhelmingly superior attacking numbers, Western observers say.
After three weeks of fighting, all of the 150,000 Russian soldiers initially deployed at the Ukrainian border are now inside the country, experts say.
"The Russians have no more reserves in the zone," a source at the French military chiefs of staff told AFP.
But if President Vladimir Putin wants to capture major cities such as Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odessa, he will have to bolster troops on the ground after an initial campaign phase that has been slower than the Kremlin expected.
This could equate to a numerical superiority of roughly 10 attackers for every Ukrainian soldier defending the urban centres, according to a military source, who asked not to be named.
Local knowledge, mobility and early occupation of vantage points typically favour defending forces in urban combat, adding the source.
The Kremlin said Friday that volunteers including from Syria were welcome to fight alongside Russia's military in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, a war monitor said Russia had drawn up lists of 40,000 fighters from Syrian army and allied militia ranks to be put on standby for deployment in Ukraine.
In a country where soldiers earn between $15 and $35 per month, Russia has promised them a salary of $1,100 to fight in Ukraine, the Observatory reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
Their blockades of cities demonstrates their ability to take them if necessary. And NOBODY wants to see that.
But the imminent Ukrainian surrender will make it unnecessary.
Russia plans on paying the Syrian mercenaries in rubles. That’ll work out just great.
They haven’t blockaded Kiev yet, and most of Putin’s militias have only proven themselves murdering civilians.
D E S P E R A T I O N . . .
How low this guy has sunken.
150,000 troops on the ground, and he still needs to bribe
people from other nations to come pull his bacon out of the
fire.
Furious Molotov tossing grandmothers will greet these Russian Morlocks from their kitchen windows.
Wasn’t there a comment by the Defense Minister of Russia
regarding Mercs?
I guess it’s okay if Russia uses them though.
Didn’t our boys kick their asses in Syria awhile back?
They’d be fighting Ukrainians, not battle hardened and extremely proficient US Troops.
Our guys AND the real president.
Yeah right…
Propaganda on all sides. Hard to believe anything about anything anymore.
Lots of dead Syrians and Chechens? There’s no way that could be a bad thing.
This is in honor of Putin and the Putin Puffers.
Ukraine war: Nine-year-old girl loses arm after being shot by Russians https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10614473/Ukraine-war-Nine-year-old-girl-loses-arm-shot-Russians.html?ito=native_share_article-masthead
Lots of emotion.
No facts.
You can do better.
Ukraine is losing because they are asking for foreigners to come in and help fight.
Russia is losing because they are asking for foreigners to come in and help fight.
Maybe they are both just losing. They need to make an agreement and go home.
You don’t have a clue who fired the bullet that hit that little girl.
All it would take is Russia packing up and leaving.
Gee so in not going to be Ukrainians and Russians fighting...
it going to be
They useful idiots
Versus
Our useful idiots
????
But we do know who started the brutal invasion of Ukraine-Putin.
“...$1,100 to fight in Ukraine...”
Is that per week or per month? I earn more than that in 32 hours of work.
The Russians are screwed. The most optimistic of the folks about Russia’s prospects (not pro-Putin, but grimly realistic) on military forums I frequent are now saying the Russians cannot conquer Ukraine. The only question is how much pain Putin can take before his army cracks, and he gets a replay of Red October (which ended very badly for the Romanovs). He would be well-advised to retreat and kill his internal rivals before they come for him.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.