Europe War in Ukraine - Thread 2

[Gethelred]

This is a sensitive area for some. With that in mind, I'm going to remind a few posters a few things:

• personal attacks are against forum rules. From this point, any attacks that are directed at another poster will be treated with a warning, then infractions and threadbans if it continues.
• the spread of misinformation is also against the rules. This is taken very seriously by moderation, and you will be asked to support your opinion from time to time. If you cannot satisfy this, you will be provided an opportunity to retract your post; if you do not, you will receive an infraction and a threadban on that basis.

This is a forum for adults, and I'd appreciate you all treating each other appropriately.

 

[Mobbs]

This one seems pretty unequivocal to me. Even if it was in the Sun.

Yeah I wasn't querying it. It's pretty certain they are using them.

 

[Lethality]

It sounds like they're doing a tactical retreat, which I guess is what they need to do.



Luhansk governor Serhiy Gaidai said around 50 Russian soldiers had reached the highway and “managed to gain a foothold”, even setting up a checkpoint.

“The checkpoint was broken, they were thrown back ... the Russian army does not control the route now, but they are shelling it,” he said. It was possible Ukrainian troops would leave “one settlement, maybe two. We need to win the war, not the battle,” he said.

 

[Mobbs]

It sounds like they're doing a tactical retreat, which I guess is what they need to do.



Luhansk governor Serhiy Gaidai said around 50 Russian soldiers had reached the highway and “managed to gain a foothold”, even setting up a checkpoint.

“The checkpoint was broken, they were thrown back ... the Russian army does not control the route now, but they are shelling it,” he said. It was possible Ukrainian troops would leave “one settlement, maybe two. We need to win the war, not the battle,” he said.

He must be talking about the road from Lysychansk to Bakhmut which Russia apparently did reach and hold a part of for a short time, then let it go again.

There's apparently one other road available, if this one was lost - it's more convoluted but it's usable. I am guessing that if the main road gets occupied, then they'll probably give up Severodonetsk and Lysychansk and evacuate that region.

The recent loss of 80% of Lyman (all the city except for the big railway yards and that side) spells an attempt by Russia to close in from both sides. So I think Ukraine within the last vestiges of Luhansk oblast are basically needing eyes in the backs of their heads right now. I hope all civilians are out.

Bakhmut itself has already been shelled intensely too.

Some recent info on Severodonetsk (from the same guy's channel - Serhiy Gaidai)
About the situation in Severodonetsk Alexander Stryuk, head of the city military-civil administration:

• On May 26, the enemy DRG entered the Mir Hotel - the Armed Forces resisted;
• 12 Severodonetsk residents were evacuated per day;
• During the three months of the war, about 1,500 citizens were buried - {total of both those who died otherwise and deaths from the conflict}.

 

[Nothing]

There's been numerous reports of cluster, vacuum, etc bombs used by Russia - each and every a geneva convention-breaching war crime. Of course the heavy-duty reprisals of "Ooh that's a naughty, Russia so bad. Bad Russia." should sort it all out.

According to the good folk at Reddit (combat) that footage is not vacuum bombs but just(?) regular ordinance in foggy conditions.

 

[Mobbs]

According to the good folk at Reddit (combat) that footage is not vacuum bombs but just(?) regular ordinance in foggy conditions.

To date I can't find any Ukrainian references to an attack on the Donetsk region (the news article said Novomykhailivka) with vacuum bombs, so yeah - quite probably right. I think there's been one reference to vacuum bombs used during this conflict, and it was yonks ago, when Kyiv was still under siege - unsure if there was any confirmation. Cluster bombs we've heard about more regularly, generally with some good evidence, and other no-no's such as missiles that are simply meant to be retired because their accuracy is shithouse and therefore shouldn't be used in urban assault - plenty of those.

As someone said before, kindah weird having a list of to-dos and to-don'ts when having a war - surely "don't have wars you massive *******s, ffs" should be the only rule required.

 

[Mobbs]

Afanasyev of New Focus newspaper, from detention, spoke out:

"Protection of the streets of Kyiv" and "cleansing": the Siberian National Guard told the investigation about their tasks in Ukraine
From Tayga dot info.

«Охрана улиц Киева» и «зачистка»: сибирские росгвардейцы рассказали следствию о своих задачах в Украине

Участники «спецоперации» в Украине рассказали, что о переходе в чужую страну они могли знать еще до официального объявления боевых действий 24 февраля. Часть росгвардейцев покинули расположение заранее, сославшись на болезни, узнала Тайга.инфо. Это стало известно из уголовного дела главного...

tayga.info

Participants of the "special operation" in Ukraine said that they could have known about the transition to a foreign country even before the official declaration of hostilities on February 24. Some of the National Guardsmen left the location in advance, citing illness, learned Taiga.info. This became known from the criminal case of the editor-in-chief of the Khakass site "New Focus", who is accused of "fake news" about the army.

The Supreme Court of Khakassia upheld the arrest of Mikhail Afanasyev, founder and editor-in-chief of the Khakass online magazine Novy Focus, Novaya Gazeta.ru reported . Europe". He is accused under Art. 207.3. Criminal Code under paragraph "a" part 2 of Art. 207.3 of the Criminal Code (public dissemination of deliberately false information about the use of the RF Armed Forces using one's official position). Afanasiev was charged with publishing that 11 riot policemen from Khakassia refused to go to Ukraine. Some of the information in it allegedly did not correspond to reality.

“I do not lie and do not invent. I was just doing my job as a journalist, ”the edition quotes his message from the camera. It writes that Afanasiev is sitting "evenly", everyone in the prison understands what is happening and sympathizes: the prisoners, and the guards, and the escorts.

Taiga.info obtained the materials of Afanasiev’s criminal case, which include interrogations of current and former employees of the Russian Guard, which were conducted by the Investigative Committee of Russia. They were taken to the exercises that preceded the “special operation” in Ukraine. They confirm that part of the employees refused to execute the order, and show how the operation was supposed to go according to the original plan.

The documents are unclassified, no signing of non-disclosure of the materials of the case was taken from its participants, Novaya noted.
The editors cite the testimony of security officials with abbreviations and explanations.

Here's earlier posts on Afanasyev, the first includes the article Afanasyev was jailed for.

Europe - War in Ukraine - Thread 2

This is a sensitive area for some. With that in mind, I'm going to remind a few posters a few things: personal attacks are against forum rules. From this point, any attacks that are directed at another poster will be treated with a warning, then infractions and threadbans if it continues. the...

www.bigfooty.com

Europe - War in Ukraine - Thread 2

They wanted artillery, so it checks out. Czechia or Poland said they'd send tanks as well, I think, so probably flooding in from everywhere. I'm back to Poland next week, which has been the plan for months - the sinking of the Moscow is the first time I've felt genuine concern about going...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Mobbs]

No location given, but again mentions the Donetsk region in general, this time it's claimed there is incendiary fire blanketting the region:
From Trukha Ukraina, it's necessary to await verification with them.

The sky over the Donetsk region turned into a real hell. Rashists are firing at our defenders and local residents with incendiary shells. The footage is horrendous. We wish Rusnya the same “fireworks”.

View attachment telegram-cloud-document-2-5224384569448340623.mp4
The guy speaks only profanities.

 

[Mobbs]

And on the "Ukraine in Shock" channel, there was this (without any source):
According to media reports, Boris Johnson offered Ukraine to abandon the EU and create an alternative alliance. The basis of such an association is distrust of Brussels and Germany's response to Russian aggression. In addition to the UK and Ukraine, it may include Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Turkey

 

[Visions]

That is a long time away.....There won't be much left of Ukraine the way this is going.

Huh? Russia have less than 20% of Ukrainian territory after 3 months of battle, there is no way that in a month or two that they will take over the whole country.

Russia has had every reducing objectives as time has worn on. They started out with the thought of taking over the whole country in a few weeks, to then trying to take half of the country (everything east of Kyiv and Dnipro River), to then everything east of the town of Dnipro itself, and then east of Petrovalivka once the Kharkiv offensive didn't work out. Izyum offensive then stalled so the encirclement of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk was off the table, and now they have to make do with the two towns of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.




As you mentioned in a previous post, the Russians are slowly grinding away in the east. The whole southern and northern fronts have stalled for the last 6 weeks. This Luhansk battle is the last major push the Russians can muster and they are throwing absolutely everything at it to register a "win". They are short on manpower, and to think that they can all of sudden become a powerhouse and push across the country unhindered in the next month or two not leaving much of Ukraine is fanciful.

The biggest advantage Russia have is their artillery. If the Ukrainians can negate that, they are basically stuffed. Hence why Ukrainian officials have asked for MLRS and HIMARS guided rocket systems so that they can take not only them out, but supply depots in the battlefield.



It seems that the US might finally be heeding the call. Get these into the hands of Ukrainian forces for a counteroffensive, and Russian fronts will collapse.

 

[Visions]

This is the issue Russia will always face in wooded areas. Ambush opportunities for Ukrainian units. In this case there's one less BMP and crew to see out the war.

 

[Aussie in exile]

Sounds like Russia will have control of areas that won't be wrestled back and even difficult to unwind "post putin" with naturalisation of ukrainians

The West needs to get more arms to the Ukrainians and quick

 

[Kwality]

Honestly I wouldn't know, but it does seem to be what most of those out there, who are commenting on the situation, are saying.

There are talks of Ukrainian counter-offensives pegged for about 1 to 2 months away.

Thats IF the likes of Kissinger dont broker some form of peace:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a rebuke to the West for not doing enough to help Kyiv win the war, as fierce battles rage in the country’s east and Russian troops draw ever closer to encircling a key industrial city.

Calling for help “without limits”, specifically shipments of heavy weaponry, Mr Zelensky also blasted suggestions a negotiated peace could include territorial concessions.
Mr Zelensky echoed that plea from Kyiv. “We need the help of our partners – above all, weapons for Ukraine. Full help, without exceptions, without limits, enough to win,” Mr Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation.

Saying the world had been unprepared “for Ukrainian bravery”, Mr Zelensky called out the international community for paying too much attention to Russia’s interests and too little to Ukraine’s. He took specific aim at former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and the New York Times for suggesting territorial sacrifices might be necessary to end the conflict.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/volodymyr-zelensky-delivers-rebuke-to-henry-kissinger/news-story/71bf15994fce034e36f64f55e1976ac8

 

[wannabejack]

Thats IF the likes of Kissinger dont broker some form of peace:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a rebuke to the West for not doing enough to help Kyiv win the war, as fierce battles rage in the country’s east and Russian troops draw ever closer to encircling a key industrial city.

Calling for help “without limits”, specifically shipments of heavy weaponry, Mr Zelensky also blasted suggestions a negotiated peace could include territorial concessions.
Mr Zelensky echoed that plea from Kyiv. “We need the help of our partners – above all, weapons for Ukraine. Full help, without exceptions, without limits, enough to win,” Mr Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation.

Saying the world had been unprepared “for Ukrainian bravery”, Mr Zelensky called out the international community for paying too much attention to Russia’s interests and too little to Ukraine’s. He took specific aim at former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and the New York Times for suggesting territorial sacrifices might be necessary to end the conflict.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/volodymyr-zelensky-delivers-rebuke-to-henry-kissinger/news-story/71bf15994fce034e36f64f55e1976ac8

Zelensky condemns Kissinger idea for negotiations with Russia as 1938-style appeasement

"Fierce battles" are taking place around Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, as Russian forces intensify efforts to take full control of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Follow live news updates here.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Mobbs]

Yep there's always a background hum of "omg the senseless slaughter of wheat and oil, how do we put an end to the senseless slaughter of wheat and oil?"

 

[Mobbs]

Howitzers coming from Canada.
M777 howitzers for Ukraine are being loaded in Canada. “Today, time is very important for us. Every day matters, and the sooner we get weapons, the stronger our Armed Forces will be at the front,” writes the head of the OP Andriy Yermak in the caption to the video.

 

[Mobbs]

And a Russian TV host hyperventilating threats of nuclear war against Germany, while German TV shares the outburst.

 

[Mobbs]

Activists in St Petersburg.

 

[Mobbs]

Jbudds , Nothing

Ukrainian news source "Country Politics" or "National Politics" (I don't know the language sorry) posted on their TG that this ordinance was from what is translating as "a heavy flamethrower system "TOS-1A "Solntsepek"

Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Presidential Administration, showed a video of the work of the Russian heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A "Solntsepek" on the positions of Ukrainian troops.

According to Podolyak, this is the heaviest non-nuclear weapon of the Russian Federation.

"On the video of the work of the Russian flamethrower system" Solntsepek ". Some partners hesitate to give the necessary weapons, fearing an escalation. Escalation?! The Russian Federation is already using the heaviest non-nuclear weapons against Ukrainians, forcing people to burn alive. Maybe it's time to give an answer to non-humans and pass Ukraine MLRS? - wrote Podolyak.

TOS-1A "Solntsepek" - adopted in 2001, a heavy flamethrower system of salvo fire of 220-mm caliber based on the T-72 tank. It is a modification of TOS-1 "Pinocchio".

I guess it doesn't specifically say it's a vacuum bomb or thermobaric weapon, that was used at Novomykhailivka. The Pinocchio reference in the post text (aka Buratino), did get Russia blamed for Geneva Convention breaches when they were used in Chechnya.

 

[Lethality]

I don't know why they can't use their drones to target Russian artillery. Those things have been effective against tanks, and artillery should be the primary target.

But anyway apparently USA are sending some MLRS in the 70km range.

 

[mighty tiges]

 

[CD Xbow]

This article from the Warzones describes the use of western silicon in Russian Weapon systems - Captured Russian Weapons Are Packed With U.S. Microchips Most of the chips are all consumer grade stuff which can be bought in any computer store, or online very easily. While no one is shipping to Russia, but I'm sure that can be circumvented. I don't know how much difference there is between civilian grade chips and mil spec ones. Still, I'm sure Western intelligence services will be pouring over them, hopefully they will find a few back doors.

 

[Mobbs]

Just take it off them. Seriously, * them. Right in the existhole.



Or sink it. Either/or.

 

[TedDougChris]

Just take it off them. Seriously, duck them. Right in the existhole.



Or sink it. Either/or.

Everyone should be putting pressure on Turkey to seize these vessels or at least the contents…

 

[Mobbs]

Everyone should be putting pressure on Turkey to seize these vessels or at least the contents…

Precisely.

 

[Mobbs]

No point in responding to people who clearly couldn't believe what they say but simply want to get a rise out of you. Not everybody has access to education.

Edit: Oh by the way a lot of the strangest comments on this thread seem to come at weekend times. Don't forget we have a culture of willing alcoholism in Australia that would rival if not outdo even Russia's. Most of the dumbest posts probably arise out of this.