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'The closest thing I've seen to hell': U.S. veterans fighting in Ukraine describe heavy losses against Russia
NBC News ^ | July 21, 2022 | Phil McCausland

Posted on 07/22/2022 3:26:55 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101

(snip)

(The war is) now a grueling artillery slugfest.

(snip)

An American fighting for Ukraine who served in the U.S. Army with combat tours in the Middle East described the constant Russian bombardment of the city of Severodonetsk in Ukraine’s Donbas region as “the closest thing I’ve ever seen to hell.”

(snip)

“We lost three guys,” after fighting near Severodonetsk, the soldier said. “My commander got killed out there. A buddy of mine got killed out there. When s— like that happens, it’s hard to imagine the way forward.”

(snip)

“The number of people that are upset and have low morale has increased, and that’s partly because of the way the Russians have chosen to fight,” Ripley Rawlings, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and author, who is supplying foreign fighters in Ukraine through his U.S.-based organization, Ripley’s Heroes, said.

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


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Germany; News/Current Events; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 1butukraineiswin; 2000bucksaday4mercs; 2moneypit4us; abc; bidencartel; defeat; dolchstoss; eussr; fourthreich; greedymercs; molotovribbentrop; newmolotovribbentrop; putinsbuttboys; russia; ukraine; war; zelenskybuttbois
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There are very, very few people on earth -- trained or not -- who can hold up to sustained artillery shelling like what Russia is doing to the Ukraine side right now.

This is how Russia fights wars. They are very focused on artillery superiority. And they just keep blasting until the opponent is "shell shocked" and blown into submission, after which the Russians advance their forces and mop things up.

The USA has great soldiers (including these fighters mentioned in the article) and great training. The problem for these American/foreign/Ukrainian fighters in Ukraine is that probably almost none of them have ever been in a combat situation like the current one (a relatively fair fight scenario where the opponent is focused on artillery battle and well-stocked to execute it).

NATO better load up on the HIMARS, Harpoons and the rest. The long-range weapons. Right now, to me, that's the only hope the Ukrainian side has of turning things around.

If the fight continues on the present terms, Russia will prevail. It will only be a matter of "when".

1 posted on 07/22/2022 3:26:55 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101
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To: AmericaFirst101

Why are US Veterans fighting in the Ukraine?


2 posted on 07/22/2022 3:29:15 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: AmericaFirst101

Interesting how the ‘tone’ of the articles on this war seems to have shifted a bit over the past few months.


3 posted on 07/22/2022 3:29:49 PM PDT by BobL (My hatred of Necons/Globalists exceeds my love of Ukraine or any other country, other than the US)
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To: EEGator

I’m guessing as mercs, maybe some as volunteers.

There are rumors of NATO forces (including US) in Ukraine to help man the HIMARS, etc.


4 posted on 07/22/2022 3:30:52 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101 ( )
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To: EEGator

Biden, Soros, and the deep state want WW3. That’s why.


5 posted on 07/22/2022 3:31:08 PM PDT by imabadboy99
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To: AmericaFirst101

I’m guessing the Ukrainians use himars on the Russian fleet and Crimea.

Then Russia bombs kiev.

Then all hell breaks loose.


6 posted on 07/22/2022 3:31:33 PM PDT by struggle
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To: BobL

Can’t cover it up forever.

To be fair to the Ukraine side, the NATO weapons are starting to help them. But they’re going to need a lot of that going forward to keep pace, I think.

Still much to be decided.


7 posted on 07/22/2022 3:31:45 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101 ( )
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To: struggle

If they hit Crimea, woo, that’s could legit start WW3.

I hope not.


8 posted on 07/22/2022 3:32:19 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101 ( )
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To: AmericaFirst101

Someone posted earlier about how neither the leadership of Russia nor Ukraine are in a hurry to finish this. Russia is waiting for winter to set in on Western Europe and Ukraine is getting billions more dollars.

I can’t find the story though.


9 posted on 07/22/2022 3:32:25 PM PDT by packagingguy
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To: EEGator

In a way at least THOSE Americans are doing something and not simply asking their country to do it for them. Saying that though, it is always the progressives that write the narratives in the end. Years from now what will be the story?


10 posted on 07/22/2022 3:32:30 PM PDT by Sam Gamgee
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To: imabadboy99

And they’ll get their war.


11 posted on 07/22/2022 3:32:43 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: AmericaFirst101

I think some just like to fight and kill.


12 posted on 07/22/2022 3:33:27 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: imabadboy99

Bidens war against Putin will not have a good ending.....those there understand this.


13 posted on 07/22/2022 3:34:46 PM PDT by caww (O death, when you seized my Lord, you lost your grip on me......Augustine)
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To: AmericaFirst101
There are rumors of NATO forces (including US) in Ukraine to help man the HIMARS, etc.

Sounds like Vietnam.

14 posted on 07/22/2022 3:35:19 PM PDT by McGruff (Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f*** things up - Barack Obama)
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To: packagingguy

Yeah I’ve heard similar. Not sure what the truth is.


15 posted on 07/22/2022 3:35:25 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101 ( )
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To: EEGator

Certainly could be true. Warriors get used to war. It can be hard to turn that off.


16 posted on 07/22/2022 3:35:54 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101 ( )
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To: BobL

Reality is hitting the tone of articles.


17 posted on 07/22/2022 3:36:31 PM PDT by entropy12 (Trump & MAGA are the only way to keep USA viable.)
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To: McGruff

Yeah. Hope this is not another quagmire


18 posted on 07/22/2022 3:36:33 PM PDT by AmericaFirst101 ( )
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To: Sam Gamgee

1984 memory hole. Americans won’t care either way.


19 posted on 07/22/2022 3:37:05 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: struggle
I’m guessing the Ukrainians use himars on the Russian fleet and Crimea.

The focus appears to be on using the HIMARs on ammunition dumps and anti-aircraft missile systems. If the Ruskies don't have ammo, it doesn't matter how many more guns they have. Take out the air defenses, and air attacks become easier. As long as the West continues to supply Ukraine with arms, time is not on Russia's side.
20 posted on 07/22/2022 3:38:05 PM PDT by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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