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War in Ukraine: Change of emphasis or admission of failure by Moscow?
BBC ^ | 25 March, 2022 | Paul Adams

Posted on 03/26/2022 6:14:57 AM PDT by GonzoII

Is the Russian military having to change its plans? Perhaps even reduce the scale of Moscow's ambitions in Ukraine?

It's probably too early to tell, but there's definitely a shift in emphasis.

A top Russian general - Sergey Rudskoy - says the "first stage" of what President Vladimir Putin calls Russia's "special military operation" has been mostly accomplished and that Russian forces will now concentrate on "the complete liberation of the Donbas".

This is likely to mean a more concerted effort to push beyond the "line of contact" that separates Ukrainian government-held territory in the east of the country from the Russian-backed separatist "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The pace of Russia's advance in other areas of Ukraine remains glacial. Its forces have been pushed back from positions around the capital, Kyiv, and are said to have started digging defensive positions to avoid losing more or prepare for some kind of pause.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: frbidenfanclub; kiev; russia; ukraine; war; zelensky4highheels
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"As many as 10 new Russian battalion tactical groups are being generated, officials say, and are heading for the Donbas."
1 posted on 03/26/2022 6:14:57 AM PDT by GonzoII
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To: GonzoII

If things are going so poorly for Russia I wonder why Zelensky is touring around begging for support?


2 posted on 03/26/2022 6:20:30 AM PDT by Celerity
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To: GonzoII

Just imagine for a moment what would have happened if they’d tried invading a real NATO country, with all the high tech and air support that would imply.

Looks like the Russian Army was a paper tiger all along.


3 posted on 03/26/2022 6:21:11 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan (qd4)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

Yep, time to defund and disband NATO.


4 posted on 03/26/2022 6:23:56 AM PDT by NorseViking
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To: NorseViking

You have uncovered Putin’s secret plan!
* Step 1: Invade Ukraine and have your army look utterly weak and incompetent.
* Step 2: Lure your enemies into a false set of security so they disarm and get rid of NATO
* Step 3: Take advantage of your weak rivals.


5 posted on 03/26/2022 6:30:20 AM PDT by Renfrew
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To: Celerity
Putin forced Zelenski to thin out his forces. You really think Putin wants a country bounded by NATO countries.

There's a reason that Crimea and the Donbass area have/had Independent status. Look at the Map...It tells the story.

6 posted on 03/26/2022 6:31:46 AM PDT by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Chad C. Mulligan
Looks like the Russian Army was a paper tiger all along.

I am generally against getting involved in this cluster, but it looks like Putin pulled his pants down in public.

7 posted on 03/26/2022 6:32:28 AM PDT by Stentor ( )
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To: NorseViking

WION
Gravitas Plus: Did NATO push Ukraine into war?

https://youtu.be/TzgPJeYZaOU

On Gravitas Plus, Palki Sharma tells you how Western arrogance & NATO’s expansionism are *also to blame* how their actions precipitated the crisis in Ukraine


8 posted on 03/26/2022 6:33:14 AM PDT by Its All Over Except ...
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To: GonzoII

They are going try to hold what they got, declare success, then do it all again once they are ready and better trained next time.

If the West falls for this, we deserve it.

And .... what about the Chinese? We never learn....


9 posted on 03/26/2022 6:38:07 AM PDT by dila813
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To: GonzoII

Not sure why Putin wasted his time fighting near Kiev over the past weeks when he must have determined in the first few days of the war and meeting heavy resistance there that the Ukraine military was not going to cut and run and installing his puppet in Kiev would be much too costly in military terms. His shift to focus on the East to get most of what he wants makes sense. What does not make sense is his taking so long to abandon his Kiev puppet dream and make the shift. Slow learner, I guess.


10 posted on 03/26/2022 6:40:10 AM PDT by chuckee
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To: Stentor

*Looks like the Russian Army was a paper tiger all along.*
Could any POTUS afford that luxury and not act on the threats-perceived? Should we have listened to Patton? Then there’s MacArthur/China.


11 posted on 03/26/2022 6:42:03 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Celerity

Do you really wonder that? Because if you don’t understand that Ukraine does have a “Javelin Factory” then you might want to take a few minutes an do some reading.

What you find won’t be written in Cyrillic, but I am sure you can manage.


12 posted on 03/26/2022 6:43:04 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: dila813
"then do it all again once they are ready and better trained next time"

Putin is going to have to fight the war at home next.

13 posted on 03/26/2022 6:43:11 AM PDT by GonzoII ("If the new crime be, to believe in God, let us all be criminals" -Sheen )
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To: NorseViking

“Yep, time to defund and disband NATO.”

You Russians would like that but the opposite of that is the reality, thanks to Der Leader. We will hang out just in case.

The US will be focusing on Asia, but will add 2 to 3 armored brigades to Europe. With Germany doubling their military spending, Poland vowing to be the largest and best Euro military and adding Sweden and Finland, we look to be good.


14 posted on 03/26/2022 6:43:27 AM PDT by rbmillerjr (Defeating China is impossible without understanding that Russia is our enemy)
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To: Renfrew

BS. It wasn’t my point. Install Telegraph, and follow some Chechens or DLNR rebels who don’t have the OPSEC of the Russian military.

The media portrayal of the conflict is the direct opposite from truth.


15 posted on 03/26/2022 6:45:17 AM PDT by NorseViking
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To: NorseViking

nato is really about keeping the europeans from fighting each other

see ww1 and ww2


16 posted on 03/26/2022 6:45:40 AM PDT by joshua c (Dump the LEFT. Cable tv, Big tech, national name brands)
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To: rbmillerjr

Why do you need it? They say Ukraine is doing fine by itself:)


17 posted on 03/26/2022 6:46:01 AM PDT by NorseViking
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To: GonzoII

He is trying to head that off by claiming victory.


18 posted on 03/26/2022 6:47:25 AM PDT by dila813
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To: joshua c

Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay, NATO’s first Secretary General, famously said the purpose of the Alliance was “to keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down”.


19 posted on 03/26/2022 6:48:14 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference of the Devil...-Churchill)
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To: GonzoII

“They are going try to hold what they got, declare success, then do it all again once they are ready and better trained next time.
If the West falls for this, we deserve it.”

Exactly. The Russian military has been exposed, and now they are aware of their weaknesses. People who supplied duds and bad tires will be executed. Emphasis on drones and better protection for armor will commence. Finally, understanding and practice of basic logistics will be employed. Then they will be back.

They will be back because they invaded for reasons other than those actually stated. It’s ‘economic’ and they need the resources and pipelines. In the meantime, the Ukrainian people will continue to fight on, and turn completely to the west. There are only four ways to really end this:
1. Russia leaves all Ukraine territory and pays reparations.(really unlikely)
2. Ukraine takes back all disputed territory and gets ready to roll on Moscow (unlikely)
3. Russia takes all of Ukraine conventionally. (Unlikely)
4. Russia goes nuclear or chemical (most likely)

This is going to just drag on and on. However, from a humanity standpoint Russia coming to its senses is best.


20 posted on 03/26/2022 6:50:47 AM PDT by Pete Dovgan
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