At this point, Russia can only win if they go for a total war. They have to go for tactical nuclear strikes on airports, transportation hubs and training centers in western Ukraine to turn the tide. Otherwise, Ukrainians will launch endless counterattacks and Russia will have to retreat ultimately.
Ukraine - Russia Conflict
- Thread starter randomradio
- Start date
The strike on the island is still quite impressive in its precision... clearly we see 2 bombs dropped by each su27 (almost certain that they are su27) it looks like braked bombs but at this speed and this altitude the pilots could not have a visual on the target so they were dropped at the estimated time and the wingman also hits while passing in the explosions of the leader!
In any case, hats off to you!
In any case, hats off to you!
What is important about the battle of Kharkiv is what it shows about Ukrainian military behaviour compared to what the battle of Donbass shows about the Russian army.
What has Ukraine been doing around Kharkiv in recent days? It seems to have set a clear objective (to keep the Russians away from the city to protect it and give options for future operations). They have identified a weak part of the Russian lines (which were focused on the Donbass). The forces gathered were appropriate for the operation. They waited until they were ready and methodically took all the right towns to reach their goal. In 4 days they achieved their objective, the Russians seemed surprised and unable to react at all.
Compare this to the battle of the Donbass. Stinking with unprofessionalism and failure. The Russians essentially telegraph the operation to the Ukrainians (you know we are coming). They then rush seemingly haphazard forces into the theatre. Many were exhausted from Kiev, others had no idea what they were doing. Their supply lines were well exposed to attack. When they attacked, it was before they were ready, they didn't have enough strength. Instead, they seemed to engage their forces in small groups. They have taken almost no territory; suffered huge losses and have not moved for almost a week. Their logistics are still uneven, their soldiers show great hesitation, and their attacks seem uncoordinated. Now they are preparing to launch exhausted troops from Mariupol to attack from the south.
Let's summarise. One side is professional, setting important and achievable goals and concentrating the force necessary to achieve them. The other is pompous, unprofessional, attacks when it is not ready and wastes its own strength. When you look at the facts from this perspective, it is not difficult to understand how the war has developed so far.
The strike on the island, that explains the strikes on the air defence systems. Suppression followed by a real air strike, unstoppable as the SAM picket is at the bottom of the water (Moskva) and the land-based systems are destroyed. As it is far to the West, there is little or no air cover.
As for the reason for this relentlessness, the island has a view of the entire western basin of the Black Sea
Its neutralisation would allow the passage of ships from Romania to the south-west Ukraine
And it is a symbol.
What's amazing about all that you described is that Ukraine has been able to do it without US/NATO heavy offensive weapons. No towed artillery, no self propelled German and French artillery and no Himars/MLRS. Ukraine has been hitting Russian positions with pinpoint accuracy using soviet arty but that is all changing in the coming weeks...
Russians are in deep der'mo!
Russia's Grave Miscalculation: Ukrainians Would Collaborate
KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine — The solicitation to commit treason came to Oleksandr Vilkul on the second day of the war, in a phone call from an old colleague. Vilkul, the scion of a powerful political family in southeastern Ukraine that was long seen as harboring pro-Russian views, took the call as...
Ukraine is way better equipped that Afghanistan. This is not a war of insurgency, its straight warfare. Russia has already lost more than what they lost in Afghanistan. 1 week in Ukraine War = 1 year in Soviet-Afghan War.
^That's just the war, not the sanctions. After this they'll belong to the central bank of the CCP.
What surprises me the most is that the shape of the borders down in the Donbass actually heavily favour the attacker as regards encirclement options, but Putin is still failing admirably.
Russia continuing to put stuff on that island at this stage is just stupidity. I'm sure their planners aren't seeing the same war I'm seeing even. That's pretty much target practice island at this point.
That will start a wider war, it would also see Russia booted from the UN.
That could be the tipping point where US declares a no fly zone or enters Ukraine with "humanitarian" aid protected by NATO military. Either way that would get US/NATO into the conflict in some capacity. Very likely scenario since Biden and his party are drowning and this could be the distraction they are looking for.
The Russians are done on that island, they should have taken the original advice that was offered.
