Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[Legbiter]

Zelensky addressed the Alþing today. He started with a greeting in Icelandic, referred to Kyiev as Kænugarðr, invoked ancient Saga relations since way back and stressed our logistics companies keep shipping over stuff to turn live Russians into dead ones. A masterclass in persuasion, knowing your audience, mixed with Saga rhetorical flairs to ram a point home.

[Jacob]

Yeah, he really is good at tailoring his rhetoric to the local audience.

[Legbiter]

Yeah, he really is good at tailoring his rhetoric to the local audience.

Yeah he really is. A helpful reminder to the 80% of Languish who seem often perplexed at routine human interactions.   

[Josquius]

He's the good guy in this whole thing nonetheless it does seem highly memable how to every nation in the land he speaks of how they've always been special friends of Ukraine.

[Zanza]

He's the good guy in this whole thing nonetheless it does seem highly memable how to every nation in the land he speaks of how they've always been special friends of Ukraine.

Not Germany 

[Razgovory]

Russians are now blowing bridges are around Kharkiv.

[grumbler]

The side that is retreating is the side that blows up bridges.

[Darth Wagtaros]

I've heard the war will be over by Christmas.

No need to stock up on Winter supplies.

[Jacob]

What do you think?

If Ukrainian troops push back the Russians to the border in local areas, will they operate in Russian border regions as well? Will they take an hold strategic areas to support the main effort in Ukraine? Or will they confine themselves to Ukrainian territory only?

[Legbiter]

What do you think?

If Ukrainian troops push back the Russians to the border in local areas, will they operate in Russian border regions as well? Will they take an hold strategic areas to support the main effort in Ukraine? Or will they confine themselves to Ukrainian territory only?

They'll certainly shell Russian forces close to Ukrainian border. Lots of war left.

[Tonitrus]

What do you think?

If Ukrainian troops push back the Russians to the border in local areas, will they operate in Russian border regions as well? Will they take an hold strategic areas to support the main effort in Ukraine? Or will they confine themselves to Ukrainian territory only?

The danger in that is legitimizing the Russian internal "we're defending the motherland!" propaganda.  While we know it is bullshit, it carries more currency there, and could sway those on the ideological fence who are struggling to make sense of the conflict.

Also why Ukraine is being very tight lipped about military actions (or subversive ones seeming to take place there) inside Russia itself.

[Josquius]

What do you think?

If Ukrainian troops push back the Russians to the border in local areas, will they operate in Russian border regions as well? Will they take an hold strategic areas to support the main effort in Ukraine? Or will they confine themselves to Ukrainian territory only?

I've asked about this a lot, already in the north where the Russians pulled back the standard border sits. I am fascinated to know what the situation looks like there. Did the Ukrainians stop right at the (presumably now unmanned) border?

Where this will be particularly interesting is crimea. Ukraine will have less pause for entering its own legal territory.

[PDH]

I think, based on what has been said and done, that Ukraine will not attack across the pre-2014 borders.  They will attack across the separatist borders and into the Crimea if possible.

Perhaps in early March they might not have wanted to, but now I think the Ukrainian government and people might be of a different mindset.

[Legbiter]

May 9th is just around the corner, Putin needs to present a victory so one option is to announce the incorporation of Donbas and Luhansk into Russia, announce some kind of draft and warn Ukraine of consequences if it does not swiftly start serious negotiations. The parade will feature a lot of nuclear missile launchers and meme-tier weaponry like the Armata tank and Su-57 flyovers.

[Razgovory]

What is "meme-tier".