Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-26

[Crazy_Ivan80]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1qbCPRjHms

apparently Azov is back in Mariupol. Dronebased of course but still.

[viper37]

Putin had to beg to organize his victory parade:
https://barrygander.substack.com/p/asking-for-permission-to-hold-a-victory

[Grey Fox]

Interesting that Fico is changing opinion. The checks must have stopped clearing.

[Habbaku]

Fuck yeah. Fuck Russia.

I don't know if Ukraine is ever going to recover from this war, but at least they did the world a great service by fucking over Russia on the way out.

The latest population estimates in Ukraine suggest that they will never recover to pre-war levels, absent a massive baby boom or return of literally all the diaspora. It's tragic, but still better than giving in to Russia.

[crazy canuck]

Fuck yeah. Fuck Russia.

I don't know if Ukraine is ever going to recover from this war, but at least they did the world a great service by fucking over Russia on the way out.

The latest population estimates in Ukraine suggest that they will never recover to pre-war levels, absent a massive baby boom or return of literally all the diaspora. It's tragic, but still better than giving in to Russia.

Thinking of the Ukrainians who have come to Canada during the war, they have been here long enough now to start families and careers.  This has largely become home. My guess is few would return after the war - whenever that might happen.  Also, many will likely make the judgment that they can do more good by sending money back home from the income they make from the jobs they have now in Canada.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

big airstrike going on.

[Sheilbh]

Positive:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2026/05/17/russia-is-starting-to-lose-ground-in-ukraine

[Jacob]

Interesting article on Ukraine's low cost drone swarms: https://www.thelowdownblog.com/2026/05/russians-despair-as-kyivs-road-cutting.html?m=1

[Richard Hakluyt]

That was very interesting. I hope Western defence departments are paying attention. It makes Ukraine even more valuable to us, without them as a shield we would not have this opportunity to catch up. Self-interest dictates that we should subsidise and support them; morality too of course, but that doesn't seem to bother much of the West's population.

[Zanza]

I read somewhere else that the Ukrainians can defeat 95% of the Shahed type drones with counter drones now. It's amazing and frightening what kind of technological progress a hot near peer conflict creates.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Their intercept rate lies between 90 and 95% indeed, consistently.

It's the missiles that are still an issue but apparently Ukraine is now developing their own interceptors

[Syt]

Seems parts of the frontlines are getting covered in fiber wire from drones.





Video from Lyman: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSpF_QplCYI/

[Richard Hakluyt]

Very interesting. I wonder if all those wires will impede further drone deployments?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

The cleanup is going to be horrendous

[Josquius]

Yeah, I've been thinking that for a while. Obviously with all this human death and despair in the here and now it's not good to worry about such things. But the environmental impact of this war is quite horrific.
The only bright side is hopefully it sped up a move to renewables.

That was very interesting. I hope Western defence departments are paying attention. It makes Ukraine even more valuable to us, without them as a shield we would not have this opportunity to catch up. Self-interest dictates that we should subsidise and support them; morality too of course, but that doesn't seem to bother much of the West's population.

The story of the Ukrainians crushing NATO in naval exercises was quite something.
I can't help but feel we are still dragging our feet on adapting though. Continuing to throw money at legacy military and not going all in for what is needed.

Certainly however I do think Ukraine have helped us avoid a Taiwan war. All that investment China had been making into old style amphibious landings... Didn't factor in drones.
The way things are now I can't see a Taiwan invasion working in the short term even without any foreign support. China would need to run a siege and strategic bombing campaign.