Russian invasion of Ukraine | Fewer tweets, more discussion

Seems a long time ago that we were watching Russian helicopters flying towards Kyiv on the 24th of February. It even felt like Ukraine was going to collapse right then right away.
 
I think they should give their 100% of their tank arsenal to Ukraine, and the rest of the West should go to Poland and get ready to protect them. The US has already sent parts of the 82 Airborne Division.
I have a relative that was part of that Division; he only just retired. Let’s hope they don’t have to get too involved.
 
"In fact, it has donated at least 25% of its 808-strong total tank arsenal."

This is great, thank you Poland!

I think they should give their 100% of their tank arsenal to Ukraine, and the rest of the West should go to Poland and get ready to protect them. The US has already sent parts of the 82 Airborne Division. There is also an Aegis ashore installation in Poland (and another one in Romania). And obviously Poland is protected by the US Air Force.

Some of this is because they are getting more sophisticated Challenger II tanks from the UK as replacements.
 
To try and get this back on topic: a post like @DT12's does actually make me wonder what the sanctions will accomplish for Ukraine right now. Long-term, they may well be crippling. But if Russia is managing to get its products in without too much extra cost and trouble, and they can continue to export and get their main sources of foreign income as well - then what's being achieved here in the short term?
Just wait a month. It's already very visible. The main issue is that Putin's biggest electorate are people who are already on the verge of poverty so the difference for them won't be as drastic, they've already in a completely disastrous state.

But yeah, mid-term, not short-term.
 
Just wait a month. It's already very visible. The main issue is that Putin's biggest electorate are people who are already on the verge of poverty so the difference for them won't be as drastic, they've already in a completely disastrous state.

But yeah, mid-term, not short-term.

I hope you are staying safe and well.
 
Just wait a month. It's already very visible. The main issue is that Putin's biggest electorate are people who are already on the verge of poverty so the difference for them won't be as drastic, they've already in a completely disastrous state.

But yeah, mid-term, not short-term.
Thanks harms. Yeah, it's just one perspective, from a metropole; I suppose the effects vary not only based on your needs and means, but also where you live. It sounds positive what you're saying - well, and sad of course...

Hope you're alright and you & yours are staying safe!
 
Just wait a month. It's already very visible. The main issue is that Putin's biggest electorate are people who are already on the verge of poverty so the difference for them won't be as drastic, they've already in a completely disastrous state.

But yeah, mid-term, not short-term.

Hello harms, I hope you are as keeping as well as may be possible. I remember you saying a while back that you were considering your possible options for leaving Russia - has this become more difficult for you now? What's your latest thinking about this?
 


The Ghost of Kyiv was real! Unfortunately he died :(


To take down over many enemy fighter jets in this day and age is just really impressive. A shame that he won't be able to tell his stories, but he will be remembered up there among top aces in the annals of air combat history, especially when air combat is now so rare.
 
With Putin threatening nukes I wonder if he has considered where the prevailing winds in Europe will push the nuclear fallout.
 
Just wait a month. It's already very visible. The main issue is that Putin's biggest electorate are people who are already on the verge of poverty so the difference for them won't be as drastic, they've already in a completely disastrous state.

But yeah, mid-term, not short-term.

Yes, those sanctions are long term. I don't think the West will accept that all of the east Ukraine is practically destroyed and thousands of people are dead and will just "forgive" Russia and continue business as usual. Those sanctions will stay for many years, perhaps decades.

And it will probably get worse in the future because the goal of the EU is to get zero gas from Russia. Sure, the EU does not seem capable of going to zero Russian imports any time soon, but I think that this is the long term goal. France already has an extensive program of building new nuclear reactors till 2050, all the EU countries have various programs for green energy... all that will be accelerated. These programs cannot be completed in a month or two, but in a year or two the whole energy landscape will be very different.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...o-14-new-nuclear-reactors-by-2050-says-macron

(This article is just before the war. This is also what Germany should do. It was stupid to close their reactors... )
 
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So, no games to even play those kids in. What was your point again? ;)

To try and get this back on topic: a post like @DT12's does actually make me wonder what the sanctions will accomplish for Ukraine right now. Long-term, they may well be crippling. But if Russia is managing to get its products in without too much extra cost and trouble, and they can continue to export and get their main sources of foreign income as well - then what's being achieved here in the short term?

I think it's also worth noting that many of the products he mentioned being shipped through middlemen in China and Kazakhstan aren't necessarily sanctioned items. They are more likely from companies that stopped doing business in Russia, but there's no mechanism for punishment for that. Coke, etc. aren't on any sanctions list. Getting computer chips, plane parts, and other sanctioned/restricted items will be much more difficult since anyone involved in flouting the sanctions risks punishment. If Kazakhstan is illegally redirecting sanctioned products to Russia, they will be on the receiving end of secondary sanctions.
 
Maybe not be on your smartphone in a war zone, lest you trigger an antipersonnel mine.

But he loved that smartphone, in fact his last action in life was to use it to upload his own death to the internet.
 
Only good when you have air superiority. Without it they are easy targets.
You are correct, but even a couple of strafing runs would yield results. Then fly low & slow back to safety.

No clue how long it would take to train UKR pilots to fly them, but the Thunderbolt seems pretty analog v late generation fighters.