Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[Josquius]

Just getting it to run after sitting outdoors in Siberia for 70 years will be a minor miracle. 

I see on wiki they've been used in active service by others like south ossetia until very recent decades so I guess they'll be getting those that were being maintained until fairly recently?

Semi related, though even older tanks, googling I get this thrown at me from a few years back.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/11/europe/russia-t-34-world-war-ii-tanks-laos-intl/index.html

[Crazy_Ivan80]

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1641054269586518016

sir Hockey has reincarnated!

[mongers]

Incidentally the Ukrainians have confirmed they are now in possession of both German Leopard 2s and UK Challenger 2s.

[Admiral Yi]

Incidentally the Ukrainians have confirmed they are now in possession of both German Leopard 2s and UK Challenger 2s.

I hope we're not setting ourselves up for a massive disappointment.

[mongers]

Incidentally the Ukrainians have confirmed they are now in possession of both German Leopard 2s and UK Challenger 2s.

I hope we're not setting ourselves up for a massive disappointment.

It's a tricky one, the Ukrainians might be tempted to use them in a risky way to gain 'publicity' as opposed to letting them bed in with their crews/units and build a battlefield reputation gradually.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

surely they must have been briefed thoroughly on how to use them to the best longterm effect, foregoing publicity through dangerous stunts?
Expecially since this is a long war for their existence as a country

[Admiral Yi]

I'm not so much worried about the Ukrainians misusing them as us expecting them to roll to Moscow in a week.

[celedhring]

Do we expect the Ukrainians to roll into Moscow in a week, though? (yes, I know you're using hyperbole). I think best case scenario is another success like in the fall, but the war will still go on.

[Josquius]

I just hope they've been given a lot of spare parts.

[mongers]

I just hope they've been given a lot of spare parts.

That's one advantage of them fighting the Russians, they have an endless supply of soviet AFVs to pillage for spare parts.

[Sheilbh]

Do we expect the Ukrainians to roll into Moscow in a week, though? (yes, I know you're using hyperbole). I think best case scenario is another success like in the fall, but the war will still go on.

I think that's more likely than not, but I think there's a not insignificant chance that Putin puts in a call to Xi to try and do a deal sooner than we expect.

On all of this my view is fundamentally that the Ukrainians have not yet disappointed when given the tools they're asking for. So give them what they want.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Ideally the new offensive, when it happens, manages to reach berdiansk and mariupol so the kerch bridge kan be put under permanent threat.
Assuming that's where the focus of the offensive will be

[The Larch]

A WSJ journalist has been arrested in Russia on espionage charges.

[Legbiter]

A WSJ journalist has been arrested in Russia on espionage charges.

Hostage taking. He'll be swapped for some Russian in a US jail.

I'd reschedule any Russian holiday plans this century.

[Legbiter]

Turkey has just approved Finland's NATO membership. Now to just wait until after the Turkish election and dropping some  hints about earthquake reconstruction aid being helped by approving Sweden as well.