Posted on 03/18/2022 5:50:13 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Russia has one of the largest and most powerful armed forces in the world, but that has not been apparent in its initial invasion of Ukraine. Many military analysts in the West have been surprised by its performance on the battlefield so far, with one describing it as "dismal".
Its military advances appear to have largely stalled and some now question whether it can recover from the losses it has suffered. This week, a senior Nato military official told the BBC, "the Russians clearly have not achieved their goals and probably will not at the end of the day". So what has gone wrong? I have spoken to senior Western military officers and intelligence officials, about the mistakes Russia has made.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
“At this time I think the Ukrainians outnumber those Russians actually in-country, maybe by a lot.”
Given that the people themselves are (a) lining up for rifles, and (b) UKR expats are returning and lining up for rifles, that’s a good bet.
During the Cold War, NATO would promote the quality of its equipment. The Soviets would reply: “Quantity has a quality all its own”.
They may indeed find out the truth of that aphorism. Right square in the keister.
Ukraine is far more rural than western Europe. Your observation is more applicable to the UK
That chart shows how outnumbered and outgunned the Ukes are. It is impressive that they have held on to now week 4 of the Russian invasion. War is very expensive and when you’re into week 4 of constant war fighting, that is a huge strain on the economy.
Just leave Russia alone is all I’m saying.
***Russia INVADED Ukraine. Twice.
We are still in communication with most of the family and friends in the Ukraine. The most concerning exception is an area just northeast of Kiev where a friend’s elderly mom was in a damaged apartment building all alone on her floor. We finally got word that she was now at another friend’s apartment. The good thing about modern switching equipment is that is automatically reroutes communications around legs that are out. We have a young nephew who left Kharkov and traveled to L’viv and he is still able to sign-in and do work remotely. We have a cousin who still lives in Alchevsk, near Lugansk, in the Donbas, where the situation with water and electricity was already very bad under the “People’s Republic” administration. They get tap water two afternoons per week on a schedule. It is a chemical plant and steel mill town that is failing because the two giant operations are not producing (it is impressive to view the industrial area on Google Earth). Thank you for the prayers. Many prayers have been answered.
“They don’t want NATO encroaching on their borders “
NATO has been at Russian borders since 1999 when Poland joined NATO. Poland borders Russia.
“Ukraine is a totally created country. Like Belgium.”
Belgium fought for its independence in 1830 from the Netherlands.
“Europeans seem to be very city “Centric”. That makes it easy to beat them.”
Much like US democrats. It is all about the inner cities with them
[Just 6 days into the war, on March 2, the Russian Defense Ministry itself said that 498 Russian troops had been killed, and 1597 killed. Those are Moscow’s own numbers. 16 more days later, 2000 dead total is entirely reasonable. ]
[Russian forces are facing an epic ass kicking in the coming weeks.
Math (logistics) will have its day. The economic and manufacturing power of the Arsenal of Democracy is behind the Ukrainians.]
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