Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[viper37]

My cousin is in the French paratroopers and he tells me it's an open secret how shit the VdV really are. They apparently have an outsize influence in Russia itself and their PR is good, but in terms of operational efficiency they're a laughingstock.

Nothing I've seen so far has proved that analysis wrong. They got wiped out at Hostomel airport apparently.

This may all very well be true, but I don't think the outcome at Hostomel tells you much one way or the other about troop quality.  The best airborne troops in the world are not going to fare well when they're transported that deep into enemy territory.

Isn't that the job of paratroops, like in Ste-Mère Église?  Get behind enemy lines, sabotage stuff, prepare the ground for the full invasion?  Granted, the American troopers had help from the French resistance, while the Russians did not.

But there's got to be other paradrop operations in modern history, that were successful with well trained troops? Operation Market Garden was a semi-success, not a total failure... Any others?

[The Brain]

My cousin is in the French paratroopers and he tells me it's an open secret how shit the VdV really are. They apparently have an outsize influence in Russia itself and their PR is good, but in terms of operational efficiency they're a laughingstock.

Nothing I've seen so far has proved that analysis wrong. They got wiped out at Hostomel airport apparently.

This may all very well be true, but I don't think the outcome at Hostomel tells you much one way or the other about troop quality.  The best airborne troops in the world are not going to fare well when they're transported that deep into enemy territory.

Isn't that the job of paratroops, like in Ste-Mère Église?  Get behind enemy lines, sabotage stuff, prepare the ground for the full invasion?  Granted, the American troopers had help from the French resistance, while the Russians did not.

But there's got to be other paradrop operations in modern history, that were successful with well trained troops? Operation Market Garden was a semi-success, not a total failure... Any others?

The Germans at Eben-Emael in 1940? The Germans at Crete in 1941 took heavy losses, but IIRC they got the job done.

[Barrister]

The latest atrocity: Russians bombed the Mariupol Drama Theatre building in Mariupol.  The theatre was being used as a bomb shelter.  Over 1,000 inside.

The word "children" was written in large letters (in Russian) in the front and back of the building.

No idea yet how many have survived.

[Admiral Yi]

Isn't that the job of paratroops, like in Ste-Mère Église?  Get behind enemy lines, sabotage stuff, prepare the ground for the full invasion?  Granted, the American troopers had help from the French resistance, while the Russians did not.

But there's got to be other paradrop operations in modern history, that were successful with well trained troops? Operation Market Garden was a semi-success, not a total failure... Any others?

The distance from Hostomel to the Belorussian border is 471.7 kilometers, and Russia is just now approaching it on D+19.  From the XXX Corps jump off point to Arnhem is 100 kilometers, and they were *supposed* to reach it on day 3.  I'm not going to look up the D Day landing zones, but IIRC they linked up on D+1 or D+2.

My hunch is Hostomel was an attempt to cut off an easy escape route for the Ukrainian government.

[Jacob]

My hunch is Hostomel was an attempt to cut off an easy escape route for the Ukrainian government.

That is consistent with the thesis that the Russians genuinely thought Ukraine would fold immediately.

[Savonarola]

Russian lawmaker demands return of Alaska, California fort and reparations amid US-led sanctions

One front at a time, Comrade.

[The Brain]

Isn't that the job of paratroops, like in Ste-Mère Église?  Get behind enemy lines, sabotage stuff, prepare the ground for the full invasion?  Granted, the American troopers had help from the French resistance, while the Russians did not.

But there's got to be other paradrop operations in modern history, that were successful with well trained troops? Operation Market Garden was a semi-success, not a total failure... Any others?

The distance from Hostomel to the Belorussian border is 471.7 kilometers, and Russia is just now approaching it on D+19.

Isn't it more like 100km?

[Valmy]

Russian lawmaker demands return of Alaska, California fort and reparations amid US-led sanctions

One front at a time, Comrade.

If they have logistics issues invading Ukraine, wait until they try invading Alaska.

Anyway we bought it from a willing seller at the fair market price so no backsies.

[Admiral Yi]

Isn't it more like 100km?

My bad.  Google gave me the distance from Belarus, not the Belorussian border.

[The Brain]

Isn't it more like 100km?

My bad.  Google gave me the distance from Belarus, not the Belorussian border.

Google: "How far apart were the vehicles during the collision?"

[Admiral Yi]

Google: "How far apart were the vehicles during the collision?"

An excellent product in the Alphabet family. 

[celedhring]

Twitter rumor that there's explosions in Belarusian towns. I know we've been here before and it came to nothing, but I'm fearing a false flag to bring Belarus into the war.

[Barrister]

Twitter rumor that there's explosions in Belarusian towns. I know we've been here before and it came to nothing, but I'm fearing a false flag to bring Belarus into the war.

Saw the same thing.  But it was only "heard explosions".

Maybe sonic booms?

Nothing concrete in this rumour, not yet at least.

[Sheilbh]

Twitter rumor that there's explosions in Belarusian towns. I know we've been here before and it came to nothing, but I'm fearing a false flag to bring Belarus into the war.

Yeah I've seen that.

With Belarus it feels like it could be anything from false flags to a coup.

[Jacob]

On the whole Cold War v 2.0 - is there anything the West can do to activate other problems for the Putin regime? Financial and weapons aid to Georgia? Any other trouble zones for Russia we could stir a bit in a relatively effective way?