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Ukraine: The military balance of power
BBC News ^ | 3 March 2014 | Jonathan Marcus

Posted on 03/03/2014 6:20:05 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

On paper, at least, the Ukrainian military looks credible, though it is numerically inferior to the Russian armed forces - Moscow having about four times as many active troops and twice as many tanks as Kiev.

On the face of things, if Russia were to move into eastern Ukraine, then the Ukrainian forces should be able to put up a better performance than tiny Georgia's armed forces did when the Russians moved onto the offensive in 2008.

But in reality, Ukraine's military is dispersed; it lacks readiness, and much of its equipment is in storage.

Given the divisions inside the country, there must also be question marks about the loyalty of elements of the Ukrainian military to the new interim political authorities in Kiev.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: bhorussia; putin; ukraine
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To: SADMILLIE

I’ll take that bet. BTW the Black Sea fleet was never threatened. FWIW, the Ukrainian Navy also uses the port.


21 posted on 03/03/2014 7:05:36 PM PST by meatloaf (Impeach Obama. That's my New Year's resolution.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

The Ukrainian military has only a token force in the autonomous republic of Crimea — a lightly armed brigade of about 3,500 people, equipped with artillery and light weapons but no tanks.

The forces also have only one air squadron of SU-27 fighters deployed at the air base near Belbek, which is now in the hands of Russian military.

Ukraine’s small naval fleet had been boxed in by Russian warships. Many high ranked officers defected.


22 posted on 03/03/2014 7:07:37 PM PST by Marguerite (When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm even better)
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To: SADMILLIE
"Ukrainian army dupes"? Now that's a rather odd thing to say, considering your past posting:

To: cherokee1 That is awesome. God bless you. As a lawyer ,I understand,. It is time for trials and verdicts. It is time to rise up. I admire the freedom sought in UKRAIN.
I admire democratic statements like Egypt before it was raped by military power and US CIA.
We are legion. The DHS has not enough firepower to face us. God Bless America. God Bless freedom from parasites.
27 posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 7:14:18 PM by SADMILLIE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3124904/posts?page=27#27

What changed your opinion, may I ask?

23 posted on 03/03/2014 7:09:22 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: GeronL
A lot of their military has basically defected though

Pravda Russia Today says Crimean units have. But non-Russian outlets report that there's a standoff, with Ukrainians not shooting at the Russians (presumably under orders), but not letting themselves be disarmed by the Russians. The Ukrainian government is apparently trying to avoid war, while mobilizing reserves. Russia has been mobilized for a while, presumably for something like this.

Ukraine won't kick anything off for a while. It took almost 6 months for us to get ready for Desert Storm. I expect it will take a few weeks, minimum, for a shoestring budget peacetime army like Ukraine's to get ready. It took Afghans almost a decade to turf the Soviets. This isn't going to be a lightning war, any more than our campaigns in Iraq or Afghanistan have been lightning wars. If Ukrainians want their territory back, however, they will need to fight for it.

24 posted on 03/03/2014 7:09:47 PM PST by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: Mariner
Any Ukrainian who fights, will die. -------------

Die like this?

Sorry that's not a fighting man. That's a girl under that tank. Russia's finest seem to specialize in hiding behind civilians and running their tanks over girls. You are keeping good company.

25 posted on 03/03/2014 7:10:11 PM PST by lodi90
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To: meatloaf

Not anymore.


26 posted on 03/03/2014 7:11:03 PM PST by SADMILLIE
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To: gwjack

We have family in Alushta on the SE Crimean Coast and family in Alchevsk near Lugansk (Eastern Ukraine).

We have family in Tbilisi, Georgia too so five and a half years ago they were the ones facing Russian forces.

At this time none of our family in serving in the Ukrainian military.


27 posted on 03/03/2014 7:11:29 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 ( ...even more American than a French bikini and a Russian AK-47.)
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To: Monterrosa-24

My memory is that Lugansk is a shipbuilding city, similar to Virginia beach in the US. Correct?

My prayers are with you, your family, and your countrymen.

It is a sad time.

Gwjack


28 posted on 03/03/2014 7:15:55 PM PST by gwjack (May God give America His richest blessings.)
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To: Marguerite
The Ukrainian military has only a token force in the autonomous republic of Crimea — a lightly armed brigade of about 3,500 people, equipped with artillery and light weapons but no tanks. The forces also have only one air squadron of SU-27 fighters deployed at the air base near Belbek, which is now in the hands of Russian military. Ukraine’s small naval fleet had been boxed in by Russian warships. Many high ranked officers defected.

The reports of defections are coming almost solely from Pravda Russian news outlets. As to whether Ukraine has the ability to eject the Russians, it comes down to Ukraine's willingness to sacrifice. If it is willing to trade the lives of tens of thousands of its young men for those of tens of thousands of Russian servicemen, Russia will run, not walk, to its side of the border before this is over.

29 posted on 03/03/2014 7:21:03 PM PST by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: Marguerite

And they haven’t been paid in months. That’s gotta take its toll on morale, readiness, supplies and maintenance.


30 posted on 03/03/2014 7:26:06 PM PST by FreeInWV (Have you had enough change yet?)
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To: gwjack

Luhansk (as it is usually transliterated from Ukranian Cyrillic) is inland and is in coal and steel country. Alchevsk has a huge chemical plant and a huge steel mill which managed to stay in operation all the way through the break-up of the Soviet Union and is still in operation today.

Lugansk is northeast of Donetsk and relatively close to the Russian border. Smaller Alchevsk is a bit to the west of Lugansk.


31 posted on 03/03/2014 7:28:54 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 ( ...even more American than a French bikini and a Russian AK-47.)
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To: lodi90
"You are keeping good company."

OK buddy, I'm taking some serious umbrage here.

Because I'm providing an observation and opinion in realpolitik, you're accusing me of siding with the Russians.

Nothing could be farther from the truth and you need to take that back.

And, any Ukrainian that fights will die. And, if it was MY country I'd be fighting, killing and dieing.

Seriously, dude, take that back and ask next time rather than jumping to an unfounded conclusion.

32 posted on 03/03/2014 7:31:03 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: MinorityRepublican

If it goes hot, the Ukraine will need EU air support. Gee, sure would be nice to have some missile defense systems in Poland right now. Obama needs to be impeached ASAP !


33 posted on 03/03/2014 7:39:31 PM PST by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: Monterrosa-24
"So claims our own Dr. Goebbels"

Really?

You resort to ad hominem attacks of "You're a Nazi!" rather than responding to the contention in argument?

Yes, any Ukrainian that fights, will die...and they'll die at the hands of a Russian soldier or mercenary. Anyone who argues otherwise lives in Hope and Change world.

You're CHARACTERIZATION of me can only be ascribed to projection as it cannot be based in observation.

You're being e m o t i o n a l.

Just like a girl.

34 posted on 03/03/2014 7:39:59 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Monterrosa-24
Maybe they are mad because the Klitschko brothers have dominated the heavyweight boxing division for so long.

Congratulations, You found some new material to post. Very commendable. It gets kinda tiring reading the same thing over and over again. Please. More new material.

35 posted on 03/03/2014 7:43:37 PM PST by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: Mariner

I’m not sure how you meant it but it sounded like a threat to me. Why in Hades would you post such a thing “Any Ukrainian who fights will die”. Maybe you should try writing a whole paragraph so one can understand what you are attempting to say. How can one respond to the “content” of your argument otherwise.

I still say it sounds like a threat to browbeat Ukrainians. Try to write something someone can understand. Lodi90 and I both took your comment as an insult. We’re not bad guys but we both don’t understand you.


36 posted on 03/03/2014 7:49:26 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 ( ...even more American than a French bikini and a Russian AK-47.)
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To: Zhang Fei
Watch it by yourself:

http://youtu.be/hYQvVqBZSsI

The head of the Security Service of Crimea Petyor Zima, Chief of Department of Internal Affairs in the Crimea Sergey Abisov, the head of Service for Emergency Situations Sergei Shakhov and acting Chief of the Border Guards of Crimea Victor Melnichenko all took an oath of allegiance to the people of Crimea.

Those who took the oath promised “to respect and strictly observe the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea”.

37 posted on 03/03/2014 8:02:20 PM PST by Marguerite (When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm even better)
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To: SADMILLIE

What about the bet? Still think the Russians are going to roll Ukraine up?


38 posted on 03/03/2014 8:07:15 PM PST by meatloaf (Impeach Obama. That's my New Year's resolution.)
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To: Mariner

Don’t make incendiary one line posts if you don’t want flip responses.

A lot of people are going to get killed if the balloon goes up. Not just Ukrainian fighters. Civilians, Russians, etc. One consistent throughout the history is that where ever Russians go, misery follows. For everybody.


39 posted on 03/03/2014 8:13:48 PM PST by lodi90
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To: meatloaf

NJo doubt. Russia will do what they want. If they want Ukraine — Its a done deal. You know that. It is over.


40 posted on 03/03/2014 8:14:37 PM PST by SADMILLIE
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