The Invasion Continues...

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Thread two as thread one is complete...

@MMBaranova

Professional soldiers must surely have planned various scenarios and logisticians put things in place. The build-up leading up to the invasion must (again) surely have been accompanied by planning and not just be assembling forces. This is odd.

Not that odd really, military history is littered with planned operations that went badly wrong because flawed assumptions were made or intelligence was incorrect….

In the current conflict did the planners assume for example that they’d meet little resistance?
Did they not realise how effective the anti-tank weapons the Ukrainians have been supplied with by the west might be against their armour?

Umpteen reasons why it’s not gone as planned, as always the adage about your plans not surviving first contact etc applies

What's interesting about the video of tanks without fuel is that in the 24 hours before this, some military/logistics types on twitter have been suggesting that this kind of back up might be the army's Achilles heel.

But this doesn't have to be simple incompetence; what it means is that the campaign hasn't worked out as they thought. If they'd anticipated a quick strike into Kiev and then topple the government, petrol and back-stage support weren't going to be issues. But that's not what happened... So it's complex incompetence instead (perhaps caused by the fact that no one can tell any truths to Putin)

@Ohmnomnom

I'm so curious what is happening behind the scenes. What Nato are doing on the ground to assist Ukraine (if anything).

NATO can’t do anything on the ground for non-member states. They’re bolstering support in neighbouring states which are members.

NATO can’t do anything on the ground for non-member states. They’re bolstering support in neighbouring states which are members.

How is NATO bolstering support? I am not reading much in news about them putting troops or equipment in place in Poland, Hungary, Romania etc.

I fear Putin only will stop if there is a show of force by NATO not to push beyond Ukraine.

My Lithuanian colleague says her country is filling up with troops,equipment and vehicles. She's in constant contact with home and still gets Lithuanian news reports on her phone

She's so scared and worried for her family

Blue, troops are flooding in and equipment!

@blueshoes

NATO troops, aircraft etc have been flooding into the region for many weeks now….another tranche was announced yesterday.

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/25/nato-deploy-extra-troops-eastern-europe-ukraine-russia-war

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/25/nato-deploy-extra-troops-eastern-europe-ukraine-russia-war

Just seen some photo's on line, of hundreds of very upset people, as in families sheltering in underground stations etc,, people clutching their small children and babies, and dogs and cats, and cases and bags, all sitting on concrete floors, wondering what is going to happen to them all.

Putin will be sitting watching it all on his TV,, with no emotion whatsoever.

Watching BBC news live on the Polish/Ukrainian border. The Polish people are making vats of sweet tea and cooking pierogi for the refugees, donating clothes and making sure that pairs of shoes that have been donated are neatly organised and paired (especially children's shoes).

@Gingerwarthog

Johnson has been pressing for tougher sanctions against Russia but has not been supported by the other G7 leaders. Re Swift etc. He can't get backing from Germany or Italy as they need Russian gas and oil.

True. Much criticism re lack of harshness from U.K. but not this

Much is from a political standpoint which will always take this line, a shame it’s been dialled up over last few days

@timetochangeusername

Just woken up and read that the US had offered to get the Ukraine president out and he has refused. It's made me cry. What an incredible man.

God help us if we go in!! Boris would've given a bumbling speech. Something along the lines of go to work if you can but don't go to work. Then been on the first Plane out of here!

NATO members are not putting troops into Ukraine but they are sending loads more anti-tank weapons, ammunition and financial aid. One assumes there must also be a lot of covert assistance as well (especially intelligence-sharing).

Apparently now all of Europe is on board with SWIFT ban except Germany.

I admit I’m a bit worried about the Ukraine President and what would happen next

It’s quite different to Afghanistan takeover (which may have emboldened Putin) in terms of resistance

Italy is now in. It’s Germany holding out.

Germany are fucking pathetic. You’d think with their history they might be a little more eager to keep their hands clean.

Zelensky is appealing for anyone to go and fight and they will be given arms. Wouldn't it be wonderful if thousands answered the call and drove the Russians out of Ukraine.

@Ncwinc

Germany are fucking pathetic. You’d think with their history they might be a little more eager to keep their hands clean.

Doesn't the Swift ban just drive the Russians into the arms of China?

Its silly to think this will have any effect on him.

the only thing he and the Russians understand is strength.

It needs to be expensive for Russia to continue what they’re doing. Expensive in time, in money and in Russian public opinion. Every one of those counts.

Why are Germany against it?

Energy.

Robert Peston described expelling Russia from Swift as being the 'financial version of shock and awe'. They wouldn't be able to process dollar payments (related to their oil and gas industries).

Why are Germany against it?

They would lose a large amount of their energy supply.

@MarshaBradyo

Why are Germany against it?

Happy to be corrected but as I understand it Germany are still importing Russian gas and wouldn't be able to pay for it if Russia was booted out of SWIFT.

God I hope they come to some agreement to expel Russia. I understand the reticence but they need to understand the power that comes with this mission succeeding.