Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-25

[Syt]

BBC report from Kharkiv.

https://twitter.com/sommervilletv/status/1502000265490227206?s=20&t=7QN8xXn3kOF6GhmOmGJ3jg

Contains dead Russians/Chechens.

[Zanza]

Looks like the Panzerfaust 3 has made it to Ukraine.

[Syt]

Gerhard Schröder is traveling to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin to mediate. Without consulting the German government beforehand, but apparently on suggestion of the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin. Bizarre. Not sure if useful idiot, traitor or a worthy ambassador as one of the few "friends" Putin supposedly has... 

Or he just needs to meet his KGB contact person...

His wife posted this picture.

[Admiral Yi]

How about some more ambiguity there Soyeon-ah.

[PDH]

Watching how that armor column piled up into a chokepoint to be hit at the head then the tail which made advance and retreat a far slower deal...the Russian "change is tactics" is to try the same thing as earlier but with more stupid.

Honest question: Is driving tanks single file down a road a sensible military tactic? I thought the whole point of tracked vehicles is that they can go off road, so that you circumvent situations like this. 

As far as I know, in enemy territory, especially going through places where the ability to get off the road is impacted (like in this town), it is not advisable - unless you are Berkut on a zerg rush.  The first tanks hit will be the front to block that way, then the rear to try an immobilize the armor to for destruction.  This road was too wide to totally work, and quite a few looked to be backing out but there were a good deal of losses here.  I would venture that one of the initial tanks hit was the commander as they all just seemed to stop and lose their ability to function for a bit.

The mud has been a killer for the Russian tracked vehicles.  Before this, the Russians bragged how their tanks were lighter and thus were able to drive in the mud.  This is, like many of their statements about their military, false.

[alfred russel]

People are dying in Ukraine. Harsh blanket sanctions against Russia are hitting normal Russians regardless of political opinion. Worrying about reduced income for some Russian artists seems to me to be way down the list of priorities.

It isn't about some artist getting reduced income, it is about the society we live in. These people aren't in Russia and aren't supporting the war effort. Do we collectively punish groups? Should we put them in internment camps?

[Admiral Yi]

Everything I've read, and every war game I've played, has told me troops and vehicles in road march column are sitting ducks.

On the other hand, the recon marines in their humvees in Generation Kill basically drove through Iraq in road march column so what do I know.

[The Brain]

People are dying in Ukraine. Harsh blanket sanctions against Russia are hitting normal Russians regardless of political opinion. Worrying about reduced income for some Russian artists seems to me to be way down the list of priorities.

It isn't about some artist getting reduced income, it is about the society we live in. These people aren't in Russia and aren't supporting the war effort. Do we collectively punish groups? Should we put them in internment camps?

We ARE collectively punishing Russians. You may disagree with the West's sanctions, but they have strong public support.

Like I said, as long as it's legal then who cares? I think a free society is better than the alternative. If people don't want to be seen to support Russia in this crisis then let them.

I think internment camps for Russian citizens would be illegal in many Western countries.

[Legbiter]

I put that into google maps and asked for directions to the city center of Kiev/Kyiv. 43 minutes with lighter traffic than usual.

Vitali Klitschko the mayor of Kænugarðr says they've basically turned the city into a fortress. I believe him. If there's not a ceasefire next week I can see the war lasting indefinetly.

[crazy canuck]

People are dying in Ukraine. Harsh blanket sanctions against Russia are hitting normal Russians regardless of political opinion. Worrying about reduced income for some Russian artists seems to me to be way down the list of priorities.

It isn't about some artist getting reduced income, it is about the society we live in. These people aren't in Russia and aren't supporting the war effort. Do we collectively punish groups? Should we put them in internment camps?

It is more hypocrisy  - a popular star like Ovi keeps on playing, despite his pro Putin position.

[crazy canuck]

general question - are tanks still worth putting into battle or have they been surpassed by better systems/tactics?

[Berkut]

general question - are tanks still worth putting into battle or have they been surpassed by better systems/tactics?

I don't think we are going to get the answer in Ukraine.

[Sheilbh]

general question - are tanks still worth putting into battle or have they been surpassed by better systems/tactics?

I'm wondering. Because I've supported more UK defence budget because I think there's higher risk/need for land forces in Europe - and I'd thought of not going back fully to the Cold War but something like that but we'd definitely need tanks.

After the last couple of weeks and knowing Russia would most likely be the opponent we'd face in Europe I'm wondering if we would need to bring back more of an old school tank army or if it's maybe something different? (Bayraktar!? )

[HisMajestyBOB]

I put that into google maps and asked for directions to the city center of Kiev/Kyiv. 43 minutes with lighter traffic than usual.

Vitali Klitschko the mayor of Kænugarðr says they've basically turned the city into a fortress. I believe him. If there's not a ceasefire next week I can see the war lasting indefinetly.

Google Maps Ukraine will soon allow users to report both speed traps and tank traps.

[Malthus]

general question - are tanks still worth putting into battle or have they been surpassed by better systems/tactics?

From what I understand, tanks remain a valuable part of a combined-arms army. Tanks on their own are quite vulnerable, as has always been the case, but even more so now.

Sending tanks in alone in a modern battle is to condemn them.

Keegan makes a point about weapons systems in his History of Warfare, that every new weapon type has been heralded as the ultimate weapon, rendering all others obsolete - only to find itself incorporated into an ever more complex and diverse set of combined-arms tools. The drone is the latest of these.