Russia says it's battling a surprise cross-border assault by Ukraine

NBC ^ | 8/7/24 | Yuliya Talmazan

[hardspunned]

Russia said Wednesday it was battling an unprecedented cross-border incursion from Ukrainian troops backed by armored vehicles and aerial support, with Moscow scrambling to reinforce the area after what President Vladimir Putin called a “major provocation.”

The attack has not been acknowledged by Ukraine but would mark a dramatic shift in strategy as its forces struggle to hold onto key territory on the front lines in the country’s east.

[hardspunned]

I will limit my comments here to “rope a dope”. Let’s revisit this operation in a week.

[Who is John Galt?]

[BobL]

To me it looks like the incursion crosses the Russian red-line regarding their nukes (tactical, in this case), so I rate that response as likely in the next 24 hours.

Can’t say that I blame the Neocons for doing this, as they the only other alternative was to lose Ukraine before the election.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

Russia probably knows that they have until January to wrap this up. The gravy-train is pulling out.

I wouldn’t bank on the Dems, at this point.

[Petrosius]

"Major provocation"?

They are at war and the Russians started it.

[Zhang Fei]

Ukraine ping

A key resupply node for Russia’s Kharkov offensive appears to run through Kursk. Just by diverting supplies towards the Russian defense of Kursk, this Ukrainian action appears to shortchange the Russian forces currently stalemated outside Kharkov. Ukraine is perhaps hoping to replicate the Russian collapse of fall 2022, but this time in relation to the Russian attack on Kharkov.

[z3n]

“major provocation” is not meant as a strategy assessment. it’s a political statement.
I read it as meaning they want to rationalize some sort of escallation, and/or to use it as a bargaining grievance when/if it comes time to negotiate for peace.

[Alter Kaker]

How dare those pesky Ukrainians invade Russia, that’s against the rules! 😂 😂 😂

[Mmogamer]

How come there is never any post about Ukrainian losses or stuff? Don’t really see that on here at all.I can’t believe they haven’t won the war with no casualties at all.

[BobL]

“How dare those pesky Ukrainians invade Russia, that’s against the rules!”

Yep, you are correct, otherwise why even bother having nukes. So, it’s up to the Russian government. If Putin doesn’t adhere to their doctrine, they’ll find someone who will.

Hope you enjoy WW3, I doubt that I will.

[hardspunned]

Russia’s major advantage in their war of attrition is their absolute, 100% ability to outlast NATO and the Ukes in regards to men and ALL weapon systems and ammunition. NATO is tapped out already and will not even be able to supply our Israeli masters. Russia is the U.S., late 1943, just hitting their military industrial stride.

[Who is John Galt?]

[Alter Kaker]

Why even bother having nukes?

I think that's the point. Nukes have limited deterrence powers. Certainly Hamas and Hezbollah don't seem to be deterred by Israel's nukes and Ukraine isn't deterred by Russia. And if Russia needs nukes as its only line of defense against tiny puny Ukraine, then Russia must be a lot weaker than it looks.

[Tom Tetroxide]

Attacks like these by the Ukes signal desperation.

[Zhang Fei]

Ukraine ping

[Yep, you are correct, otherwise why even bother having nukes. So, it’s up to the Russian government. If Putin doesn’t adhere to their doctrine, they’ll find someone who will.

Hope you enjoy WW3, I doubt that I will.]

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Ukrainians, who are a lot closer to this than you are, have bet their lives on it. And it’s unlikely that the Russians will nuke the US. The lesson of every war game simulation involving nukes is that there is no such thing as a tactical nuclear weapon. Any use of nukes leads inexorably towards all-out nuclear war. If Putin nukes the US, he will have signed a death warrant for the majority of the ethnic Russians in his empire, including his entire extended family. He will refrain for the same reason every Russian leader, even the fanatical ideologues of the Communist era, did - it’s a literal dead end for himself and his kin.

[Petrosius]

I read it as meaning they want to rationalize some sort of escallation, and/or to use it as a bargaining grievance when/if it comes time to negotiate for peace.

You reap what you sow. Russia invaded Ukraine. They cannot complain if Ukraine responds in kind.

[BobL]

“Russia must be a lot weaker than it looks.”

No, they have a nuclear umbrella, which had worked for ALL countries with the same for the past 79 years, including in Europe where we always knew that the Soviet Union could roll through Western Europe if the war could be confined to conventional-only. But now we have this Neocon bunch, who have, apparently, decided to test Russia’s primary red line, so we’ll now have to deal with the ‘fallout’ from that decision, I guess.

[Petrosius]

Don’t look now. Russia is running out of both men and equipment. They suffering 3-7 times the casualties as the Ukrainians, as is to be expected from the side that is attacking.

[BobL]

“And it’s unlikely that the Russians will nuke the US.”

Believe me, if the Russians nuke the US, it will be in RESPONSE to the Neocons doing the same. It’s up to the Neocons, at this point, to decide if they want to limit this this war to tactical nukes, as their employment in Ukraine is now a near-certainty.

[Alter Kaker]

Russia hasn’t been invaded by a “neocon bunch,” it has been invaded by its neighbor Ukraine after Russia invaded Ukraine. The neocons in the Biden administration have been trying foolishly to stop Ukraine from attacking Russia, which they call “escalation management.” That hasn’t worked. Maybe burning Kursk to the ground will.