War in Eastern Europe, what's it good for ....

[Angel Eyes]

Putin is definitely a bad guy.  Still not entirely convinced Zelensky is a good guy.  He’s got titanium balls.  He’s been effective at rallying Ukrainians to fight the Russians.  But he’s still corrupt as hell.

What proof of Zelenskyy's corruption exists?  Not doubting your honesty, but I'm curious.

[sumpnz]

He’s a politician.  That’s proof enough.  He’s also a politician in Eastern Europe.  By definition he’s corrupt.  Plus, he held back intel on Hunter Biden’s dealings from Trump.  Which means he was either in on it, or he or his people were benefiting from it even if they weren’t directly involved.

[dogmush]

This is his first political job, so not really a politician.

He was president for like 6 months before the 2020 election. Not sure how much he was "withholding from Trump" while trying to get a government built.

He may well be corrupt,  but I haven't seen a ton of evidence of it.

[kgbsquirrel]

He’s a politician.  That’s proof enough.  He’s also a politician in Eastern Europe.  By definition he’s corrupt.  Plus, he held back intel on Hunter Biden’s dealings from Trump.  Which means he was either in on it, or he or his people were benefiting from it even if they weren’t directly involved.

Like that excuses Russia invading them and stealing portions of their country.

[sumpnz]

Like that excuses Russia invading them and stealing portions of their country.

Did I say that?  I’m pretty sure I didn’t say that.

[kgbsquirrel]

Did I say that?  I’m pretty sure I didn’t say that.

So what was the point of your what-about-them'ism?

[WLJ]

Reports of another Russian oil depot up in flames

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61185469?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=626679f96b7942142fe9593d%26What%20we%20know%20about%20oil%20depot%20fire%262022-04-25T12%3A27%3A42.636Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:4fa06a8c-0c67-4d6d-89ee-d86addf5a0ed&pinned_post_asset_id=626679f96b7942142fe9593d&pinned_post_type=share

[WLJ]

    The European Union is ironing out the details of a potential oil embargo on Russia.
    A full embargo from the EU could be particularly devastating for Russia’s already-struggling oil industry.
     "If Putin has to redirect oil and gas exports from the European to the Asian markets, he will lose over half of his revenue.”

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Russia-Could-Lose-Half-Of-Its-Revenue-If-EU-Agrees-On-A-Full-Oil-Embargo.html

[WLJ]

What the  ?

[WLJ]

So much for we're here just to kick out the nazis

Russian defence official predicts break-up of Ukraine
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61224804?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=626807cfb1e16c43aefe774e%26Russian%20defence%20official%20predicts%20break-up%20of%20Ukraine%262022-04-26T18%3A15%3A14.298Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:c6760c2a-3f01-4ca5-8513-e93c748ed32f&pinned_post_asset_id=626807cfb1e16c43aefe774e&pinned_post_type=share

[WLJ]

Oh boy

Mysterious explosions in Transnistria, a breakaway Russian-controlled territory in Moldova bordering on Ukraine, have raised fears that the Ukraine conflict may be spreading.

Separatist authorities said Ukrainian "infiltrators" were responsible. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed Russian special services.

Russia says it is concerned. It has about 1,500 troops in Transnistria.

An official has said Russian speakers in Moldova are being oppressed.

Transnistria and Ukraine conflict: Is war spreading?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61233095

On the heels of this

A Russian general, Rustam Minnekaev, said Friday according to Russian newswire Interfax, Russia wanted to conquer Ukrainian land all the way to Moldova, where Russophones were being persecuted — a pretext previously used for invasions. "Control over the south of Ukraine is another way out to Transnistria, where there are also facts of oppression of the Russian-speaking population,"

https://euobserver.com/tickers/154778

[MechAg94]

So much for we're here just to kick out the nazis

Russian defence official predicts break-up of Ukraine
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61224804?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=626807cfb1e16c43aefe774e%26Russian%20defence%20official%20predicts%20break-up%20of%20Ukraine%262022-04-26T18%3A15%3A14.298Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:c6760c2a-3f01-4ca5-8513-e93c748ed32f&pinned_post_asset_id=626807cfb1e16c43aefe774e&pinned_post_type=share

Yes, Russia will keep the part with the natural gas wells and Ukraine can keep the other part. 

[dogmush]

First they have to win.

Ukraine has backed off the earlier indications they might be willing to give up territory.  If they keep getting enough munitions they may take back Crimea.

[WLJ]

First they have to win.

Ukraine has backed off the earlier indications they might be willing to give up territory.  If they keep getting enough munitions they may take back Crimea.

[Parker Dean]

First they have to win.

Ukraine has backed off the earlier indications they might be willing to give up territory.  If they keep getting enough munitions they may take back Crimea.

It's obvious that the populace is mad as hell and I think it's become politically impossible for the Ukraine government to try for anything less than pre-2014 borders. They may get repulsed and that'll be one thing but just saying they'll settle for less won't work imo.

It's also apparent that this whole thing took a population that wasn't very invested and forged a nation out of it.

[WLJ]

As usual take with a grain of salt.
But so far Ukraine's number's have been not too far off from what other countries intel has been saying if that means anything.

Ukraine claims Russia has lost 23,000 military personnel
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence claims Russia has suffered 23,000 military personnel losses since the beginning of the war, in an update on Telegram.

It claims that since Russia invaded on 24 February, the Ukrainian military has destroyed:

    986 tanks
    2418 armoured combat vehicles
    435 artillery systems
    189 aircraft
    eight ships
    155 helicopters

It said Russia experienced the greatest losses in the direction of Izyum, in eastern Ukraine.

Estimates of Russian military losses vary widely, but Moscow has previously admitted to suffering "significant losses of troops" during the invasion.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify Ukraine's latest claims.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61252785?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=626bd061b1e16c43aefe7b41%26Ukraine%20claims%20Russia%20has%20lost%2023%2C000%20military%20personnel%262022-04-29T13%3A52%3A38.541Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:fa58615b-fa4a-4e2b-86ae-c768687d4769&pinned_post_asset_id=626bd061b1e16c43aefe7b41&pinned_post_type=share

[Pb]

I wonder what Ukraine's losses are.  I read they are not releasing numbers.

[WLJ]

I wonder what Ukraine's losses are.  I read they are not releasing numbers.

I posted this back in #1388 April 16

----

Ukraine put some numbers out of their dead and wounded soldiers

Zelensky says up to 3,000 Ukrainian troops dead
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61124291?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=625a359fb1e16c43aefe64fa%26Zelensky%20says%20up%20to%203%2C000%20Ukrainian%20troops%20dead%262022-04-16T04%3A07%3A41.545Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:72a194f2-c5b7-4ead-8246-0ed2acf1a73e&pinned_post_asset_id=625a359fb1e16c43aefe64fa&pinned_post_type=share

[HankB]

As already stated, casualty numbers - by both sides - should be taken with a grain of salt.

But whatever they actually are, Russian casualties are probably higher - a LOT higher - than the Russians were projecting on the day before they invaded.

I think a good part of the reason is that as a former Soviet state, the Ukrainians were well-versed in Soviet (e.g, Russian) military doctrine, tactics, and hardware, and were able to use their knowledge to good effect. Especially since the Russians were telegraphing their intentions for months.

I wonder if anyone outside Russia's military has a good handle on how Putin's stocks of missiles, ammo, combat vehicles, and aircraft (fixed wing and helos), and spare parts are doing, given combat losses and high tempo operations. By some counts, Putin's used over 1300 cruise and ballistic missiles already, including at least some new and expensive hypersonics.

[WLJ]

The Russians were expecting The Anschluss but they got Verdun instead.

[K Frame]

The Russians were expecting The Anschluss but they got Verdun instead.

Gun Jesus made pretty much the same comparison in one of his recent videos.

I thought I posted it here, but it may have been to another board.

He also made the point that in 1939 Stalin made the same assumption -- that the Soviets would be welcomed with open arms in Finland for bringing an end to all of the internal bickering between political parties.

[MillCreek]

In terms of Russian losses, I have read a couple of articles that their wartime field medical care and evacuations are no where near US capabilities and at least some of their losses would survive if they were US soldiers.

[dogmush]

In terms of Russian losses, I have read a couple of articles that their wartime field medical care and evacuations are no where near US capabilities and at least some of their losses would survive if they were US soldiers.

Well, we have a lot of practice.

[WLJ]

Why are Ukrainians calling Russians 'orcs'?
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61252785?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=626bcdcc77811a20d37ca001%26Why%20are%20Ukrainians%20calling%20Russians%20%27orcs%27%3F%262022-04-29T20%3A15%3A01.610Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:81098973-27ce-4c53-bc62-a0453e61abe9&pinned_post_asset_id=626bcdcc77811a20d37ca001&pinned_post_type=share

[charby]

The Russians were expecting The Anschluss but they got Verdun instead.

The French Germans Russians were expecting Russia and got Russia instead.

Fixed it for you.