Europe War in Ukraine - Thread 4 - thread rules updated

[Gethelred]

This is the thread for discussing the War in Ukraine. Should you want to discuss the geopolitics, the history, or an interesting tangent, head over here:

Europe - Backdrop to the war in Ukraine

This is the thread for the geopolitics, history and framework around the Russia-Ukraine conflict. If you want to discuss the events of the war, head over to this thread: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/war-in-ukraine-thread-4-thread-rules-updated.1376293/page-146

www.bigfooty.com

If a post isn't directly concerning the events of the war or starts to derail the thread, report the post to us and we'll move it over there.

Seeing as multiple people seem to have forgotten, abuse is against the rules of BF. Continuous, page long attacks directed at a single poster in this thread will result in threadbans for a week from this point; doing so again once you have returned will make the bans permanent and will be escalated to infractions.

This thread still has misinformation rules, and occasionally you will be asked to demonstrate a claim you have made by moderation. If you cannot, you will be offered the opportunity to amend the post to reflect that it's opinion, to remove the post, or you will be threadbanned and infracted for sharing misinformation.

Addendum: from this point, use of any variant of the word 'orc' to describe combatants, politicians or russians in general will be deleted and the poster will receive a warning. If the behaviour continues, it will be escalated. Consider this fair warning.

Finally: If I see the word Nazi or Hitler being flung around, there had better have a good faith basis as to how it's applicable to the Russian invasion - as in, video/photographic evidence of POW camps designed to remove another ethnic group - or to the current Ukrainian army. If this does not occur, you will be threadbanned for posting off topic

This is a sensitive area, and I understand that this makes for fairly incensed conversation sometimes. This does not mean the rules do not apply, whether to a poster positing a Pro-Ukraine stance or a poster positing an alternative view.

Behave, people.

 

[Chadwiko]

Remember those pro-Russian cookers who were saying that the reports of North Korean troops on the frontlines was Ukrainian and American propaganda?

Well, they're going to lose their minds over this news, and especially because it was shared at WEF;

 

[Aussie in exile]

Ukraine opens up a new front against Russia

MSN

 

[wannabejack]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/21/europe/analysis-trump-putin-ukraine-intl-latam/index.html

Talking to reporters in the White House, he [Trump] said of Russian President Vladimir Putin: “He should make a deal. I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal.”

Trump was unprecedentedly stark, focusing on the economic damage done to Russia by the war. “I think Russia is going to be in big trouble. You take a look at their economy. You take a look at their inflation in Russia,” he added, referring to price rises edging towards 10%. “I got along with him great. I would hope he wants to make a deal.”

“He can’t be thrilled,” Trump said of Putin. [Moscow’s staggering casualty rates] “He’s not doing so well. I mean, he’s grinding it out… it’s not making him look very good… I think he would be well off to end that war.”

 

[wannabejack]

So what’s the strategy for NATO? Part one with Benedetta Berti - So What's the Strategy? with Matthew Kroenig - Atlantic Council TV

In part one of this special episode of “So What’s the Strategy?” as host Matthew Kroenig dives into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s effectiveness and strategic posture. Featuring insights from Dr. Benedetta Berti, the Head of Policy Planning in the Office of the Secretary General at NATO...

www.atlanticcouncil.tv

Discussion about russia, China, Iran, North Korea then Ukraine at approx. 08:10min mark.

 

[Couch Coach]

2/ The ‘Philologist in ambush’ Telegram channel reports that “complaints continue to come from artillerymen about the quality of ammunition, including the floating weight of gunpowder charges.”

3/ “That is, the problem with the weight of gunpowder remains, and artillerymen are forced to continue to weigh gunpowder charges in order to somehow ensure more or less acceptable accuracy.”

4/ The channel suggests that “manufacturers are tinkering with the weight in view of the general complexity of the situation with powders, which results in a variation of products.” (Russia is still reportedly dependent on foreign raw materials to make propelling charges.)

5/ "That is, the floating of the charge itself can be caused primarily by the floating characteristics of different powders. Perhaps the reason for the difference in weight in the powder charges of imported shots is similar.

6/ "However, in any case, the masses of the powder charges float not only very significantly, but also unpredictably.

7/ "Including within the batches received by the artillerymen (and this somehow hints that in addition to the variety of powder, purely production flaws are quite likely).

8/ "So, in view of the objectively existing variety of powders, it is really undesirable to try to select the mass of the charge empirically by adding or subtracting. But it is necessary to sort powder charges by more or less similar mass indicators!

9/ “Otherwise there are high risks of random dispersion. And such sorting is impossible without weighing the charges.”

10/ The problem is, as the author notes, that the Russian MOD has specifically prohibited soldiers from carrying out the disassembly, weighing and selection of charge mass in the field. This is not actually a new prohibition but has been in place since at least May 2024.

11/ According to the ‘Two Majors’ channel, artillerymen measured the charges they had been given and found significant variations in weight. However, this discrepancy was blamed on soldiers tinkering with the charges, rather than on manufacturing issues, hence the prohibition.

12/ The ‘Philologist’ wrote disgustedly at the time: “All our artillerymen were essentially told: you yourselves are clumsy, you don’t know how to shoot, and don’t you dare check the powder charge yourself!”

13/ “Because with all these checks you are making the respected representatives of industry nervous, and we are already fed up with your appeals.”

14/ He insists that “the problem of ensuring the accuracy of artillery fire due to the variety of gunpowder and its weight differences definitely exists, and it is (suddenly) not solved by prohibiting the weighing of gunpowder charges.”

15/ “Moreover, the variety of gunpowder and its weight differences obviously do not allow for stable accuracy of destruction even with well-trained personnel, rebarreled guns and a normal reconnaissance and fire profile.” /end

Sources:

t.me/philologist_zo…

t.me/philologist_zo…

t.me/dva_majors/429…

 

[Visions]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/21/europe/analysis-trump-putin-ukraine-intl-latam/index.html

Talking to reporters in the White House, he [Trump] said of Russian President Vladimir Putin: “He should make a deal. I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal.”

Trump was unprecedentedly stark, focusing on the economic damage done to Russia by the war. “I think Russia is going to be in big trouble. You take a look at their economy. You take a look at their inflation in Russia,” he added, referring to price rises edging towards 10%. “I got along with him great. I would hope he wants to make a deal.”

“He can’t be thrilled,” Trump said of Putin. [Moscow’s staggering casualty rates] “He’s not doing so well. I mean, he’s grinding it out… it’s not making him look very good… I think he would be well off to end that war.”

Trumps brilliant plan to end the war in 24 hours by adding more sanctions. Putin must be quaking in his boots…..

Donald Trump threatens Russia with tariffs, sanctions if it fails to end Ukraine war

The US president stepped up pressure on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "settle now and stop this ridiculous war" or face tougher economic measures.

www.sbs.com.au

 

[wannabejack]

Trumps brilliant plan to end the war in 24 hours by adding more sanctions. Putin must be quaking in his boots…..

Donald Trump threatens Russia with tariffs, sanctions if it fails to end Ukraine war

The US president stepped up pressure on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "settle now and stop this ridiculous war" or face tougher economic measures.

www.sbs.com.au

From another article.
"If we don't make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," Trump said.

Trump's post did not identify the countries that he considered participants in the conflict, or how he defined participation.

You would think that the “various other participating countries” would be China and India who import a large amount of oil from russia. The question is whether he means sanctions (etc.) against these countries as well.

 

[wannabejack]

Russia could challenge EU's defense readiness within 5 years, Kallas says

Speaking at a European Defense Agency meeting on Jan. 22, EU's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas stressed that the bloc must act decisively to counter Russia's growing militarization. "We are running out of time. The Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom and ours. They are buying us time."

kyivindependent.com

"This is a heavily militarized country that presents an existential threat to us all," Kallas warned, citing intelligence reports suggesting that Russia is preparing for further provocations. "We are running out of time. The Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom and ours. They are buying us time."

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoes Kallas' concerns. Speaking with journalists in Lithuania, he has cautioned that Russia could be capable of attacking NATO territory within the next five to six years due to its rapid military industrialization.

"Ukraine is Europe’s front line for defense," Kallas said, ….... "We need more, faster, and stronger support for Ukraine because the only language the Kremlin understands is the language of strength."

 

[Zidane98]

Putin's gonna love the part about Russia needing America's help to win WW2.

 

[jatz14]

Trumps brilliant plan to end the war in 24 hours by adding more sanctions. Putin must be quaking in his boots…..

Donald Trump threatens Russia with tariffs, sanctions if it fails to end Ukraine war

The US president stepped up pressure on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "settle now and stop this ridiculous war" or face tougher economic measures.

www.sbs.com.au

I think the important part is, he isn't threatening Ukraine, he is threatening Russia. Pathetic threats, but threats non the less.

So, if Putin was gambling that Trump would make it impossible for Ukraine to not concede, he may be getting worried.

On SM-A346E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Jello_B]

Russia could challenge EU's defense readiness within 5 years, Kallas says

Speaking at a European Defense Agency meeting on Jan. 22, EU's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas stressed that the bloc must act decisively to counter Russia's growing militarization. "We are running out of time. The Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom and ours. They are buying us time."

kyivindependent.com

"This is a heavily militarized country that presents an existential threat to us all," Kallas warned, citing intelligence reports suggesting that Russia is preparing for further provocations. "We are running out of time. The Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom and ours. They are buying us time."

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoes Kallas' concerns. Speaking with journalists in Lithuania, he has cautioned that Russia could be capable of attacking NATO territory within the next five to six years due to its rapid military industrialization.

"Ukraine is Europe’s front line for defense," Kallas said, ….... "We need more, faster, and stronger support for Ukraine because the only language the Kremlin understands is the language of strength."

Russia can’t take Ukraine not sure why NATO would be concerned.

 

[jatz14]

Russia can’t take Ukraine not sure why NATO would be concerned.

They havent beaten Ukraine, but they sure as hell caused it a lot of problems.

The issue isn't beating Russia, the issue is making them not do anything at all.

 

[Jello_B]

They havent beaten Ukraine, but they sure as hell caused it a lot of problems.

The issue isn't beating Russia, the issue is making them not do anything at all.

"This is a heavily militarized country that presents an existential threat to us all," Kallas warned, citing intelligence reports suggesting that Russia is preparing for further provocations.

Seems like hyperbolic war mongering bullshit to me.

 

[Johnny_Dogg4]

 

[wannabejack]

Russia can’t take Ukraine not sure why NATO would be concerned.

russia can’t take Ukraine because of assistance from NATO.

 

[Zidane98]

"This is a heavily militarized country that presents an existential threat to us all," Kallas warned, citing intelligence reports suggesting that Russia is preparing for further provocations.

Seems like hyperbolic war mongering bullshit to me.

What's hyperbolic? Russia does present a threat to all, not just those who border it.


Just ask Netherlands who lost 193 citizens to Russian malice. And Azerbaijan who lost citizens to Russia similarly. UK citizens poisoned inadvertently by Russian spies attempting to assassinate Russian dissidents on UK soil.


The difference with Russia to European states is Putin has the power to spend what he wants on war. If that means obliterating the economy, so be it. What I find ironic is you get the vatniks who complain about Ukraine receiving military aid (which comes out of department of defense budget, not general revenue) are completely silent when Putin ramps up defense spending on a needless war to nearly 40% of the Kremlin's budget.

 

[wannabejack]

A significant portion of Russia’s oil tanker “shadow fleet” must find new flags to sail under as Western sanctions intensify pressure on Moscow’s shipping network, as Barbados and Panama maritime registries are set to de-list 114 Russian vessels, Bloomberg reports.

 

[Visions]

I don't understand why is Ukraine wasting money on missiles. Surely they can just save money and fire debris at Russia?

 

[Mobbs]

I don't understand why is Ukraine wasting money on missiles. Surely they can just save money and fire debris at Russia?

They say its a new record for the number of attacks on the Russian military industry. Ryazan is the most sensational strike, although facilities in Bryansk was struck again.

Meanwhile Russia again attack civilian infrastructure, across 7 oblasts, 8+ dead.

 

[jatz14]

"This is a heavily militarized country that presents an existential threat to us all," Kallas warned, citing intelligence reports suggesting that Russia is preparing for further provocations.

Seems like hyperbolic war mongering bullshit to me.

Or, maybe Russia has the largest military in Europe, because it's heavily mitarised, and is constantly preparing for war?

On SM-A346E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Mobbs]

Russian Oil Refinery (and/or storage, I dunno) bingo card. For info, the bilo/stalo tank in the legend refers to "before" and "current". I believe the dates bottom right of each facility depict occasions that facility was struck, but can't confirm. Ryzanski is the one centre top with the red arrow. Blue one is at Orsk and represents flooding, not fire (whispers: I don't think Ukraine did that one)

 

[Visions]

Blue one is at Orsk and represents flooding, not fire (whispers: I don't think Ukraine did that one)

No that was the NATO loving US Democrats, as apparently they can manifest things like hurricanes out of thin air.

 

[Zidane98]

 

[Mobbs]

Interesting footage of Ukrainian drones taking out numerous vehicles, from Denys Davydov's "Rumble" channel, which he's testing out for potentially less censorship compared to Youtube.

Content warning: While the imagery is not clear, Russian troops are killed in some of the night footage.

 

[Millky95]

Putin's loses total 840k as more than two million Russians wounded in invasion

Russian president Vladimir Putin has lost 840,000 soldiers, while two million more have been injured in his war in Ukraine

www.dailystar.co.uk

Not sure how legit though