Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-25

[grumbler]

Telegram rumor that Strelkov has been found hanged in his cell.

If true, the world is a tiny bit better a place.

[celedhring]

Damn, the regime is being quite relentless if true. I mean both Navalny and Strelkov dead-ed in the space just a few days, weeks before the "election".

[Duque de Bragança]

Telegram rumor that Strelkov has been found hanged in his cell.

If true, it could only be an accident.

[Zoupa]

First Abrams tank destroyed in Ukraine.

[Valmy]

First Abrams tank destroyed in Ukraine.

Huh. How long have they had Abrams tanks?

[Zoupa]

First Abrams tank destroyed in Ukraine.

Huh. How long have they had Abrams tanks?

Since mid-summer 2023.

About 11 000 have been produced, with the US having about 8 000 in stock.

The US sent 31 tanks.

[Razgovory]

They need at least 500 hundred.

[Barrister]

They need at least 500 hundred.

50,000 tanks - I like the way you think!

[Razgovory]

The Egyptians have over 1,000 Abrams.  I think we can do better for the Ukrainians.

[Sheilbh]

It seems Europe's new spoiler is in place - because I don't think this is true and I can't think of a single good reason to be saying it like this, beyond spoiling and actively playing into Russian propaganda:

Several Nato and EU members considering sending soldiers to Ukraine, Slovak PM says

Reuters reports that several Nato and European Union members are considering sending soldiers to Ukraine on a bilateral basis, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said on Monday.

Fico, who has long opposed military supplies to Ukraine and has taken a position seen by some critics as pro-Russian, offered no details and other European leaders did not immediately comment on his remarks.

He was speaking ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Paris that he is due to attend later on Monday.

"I will limit myself to say that these theses (in preparation for the Paris meeting) imply a number of Nato and EU member states are considering that they will send their troops to Ukraine on a bilateral basis," Fico told a televised briefing after a meeting of Slovakia's security council.

"I cannot say for what purpose and what they should be doing there," he said, adding that Slovakia, a member of the EU and the Nato military alliance, would not be sending soldiers to Ukraine.

Fico said he saw a risk of a large escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, and that more information could not be revealed to the public.

About 20 European leaders, including Fico, will gather in Paris on Monday to send Russian president Vladimir Putin a message of European resolve on Ukraine and counter the Kremlin's narrative that Russia is bound to win a war now entering its third year, France said.

French president Emmanuel Macron has invited European leaders to the Élysée Palace for a working meeting announced at short notice because of what his advisers say is an escalation in Russian aggression over the past few weeks.

Fico said calling the meeting showed the West's strategy on Ukraine had failed. He said he was going to take part in a constructive spirit although the material for discussions sent "shivers down his spine".

[Tamas]

Orban worked hard to help Fico elected, Fico now needs to pay it back.

[Josquius]

Apparently Sweden had said it'd transfer gripens to Ukraine once a full nato member and has been quietly training Ukrainian pilots towards this.

Persistent rumours of French marages being a lot closer than we think too.

And then the more publically visible F16s....surely any day now? Lots of tinfoil hattery they're there already.

[Tamas]

Apparently Sweden had said it'd transfer gripens to Ukraine once a full nato member and has been quietly training Ukrainian pilots towards this.

Persistent rumours of French marages being a lot closer than we think too.

And then the more publically visible F16s....surely any day now? Lots of tinfoil hattery they're there already.

Just in time to be late to be of any use during the counter-offensive.

[Grey Fox]

There are reports that of a Russian drones attacking western Ukraine from Transnistria.

[Zoupa]

That would be incredibly stupid of the vatniks there, as Ukraine could mop them up in a week.

So definitely a possibility.