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Ukraine Invasion: Part 37

997 replies

MagicFox · 14/01/2023 15:52

Welcome all to thread 37. Thanks to everybody contributing to the backbone of these threads (extra hat tip to Ducks and Desdemona for posting daily updates) and to all lurkers too.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
129
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 15/01/2023 11:07

UNITED24 Media Telegram

Recently delivered Panthera T6 armored personnel carriers are in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Türkiye is ready to insist on a local ceasefire in Ukraine, — senior presidential adviser İbrahim Kalın

‼️The Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have weapons capable of shooting down X-22 missiles, one of which hit a residential building in Dnipro, said Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukrain

The order for missile attack on a high-rise building in Dnipro was given by the same person who gave orders for the shelling of the Amstor shopping center in Kremenchuk, — InformNapalm

The British government has confirmed that it will transfer 14 Challenger 2 tanks and about 30 AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine, — the official statement of the British government

DTEK (Ukrainian Energy Company) published a photo of the results of a missile hitting the turbine compartment of a power unit at one of the company's TPPs

This is how the Minenräumpanzer Keiler armored demining vehicle looks like, created on the chassis of American M48 tanks
This week, Germany handed over 4 such beasts to Ukraine.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 37
Ukraine Invasion: Part 37
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 15/01/2023 11:08

UK confirms delivery of Challenger tanks, artillery to Ukraine in landmark new defense package (kyivindependent.com/national/uk-confirms-delivery-of-challenger-tanks-artillery-to-ukraine-in-landmark-new-defense-package)

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed late on Jan. 14 the delivery of 14 Challenger 2 tanks and around 30 AS90 self-propelled 155mm howitzers as part of a major new package of military aid Ukraine.

Equipped with state-of-the art targeting technology and advanced armor, the Challenger 2 is considered to be superior to the Soviet-era tanks currently operated by both sides in the war.

The U.K. will start training the Ukrainian forces to use the Challenger tanks and guns in the coming days. The nation has already provided basic training to Ukrainian soldiers as part of Operation Interflex, launched in July 2022 and involving instructors from eleven other nations.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 37
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 15/01/2023 11:12

Live Ukraine Telegram

❗️Russia used only half of the "Kalibr" missiles it had prepared in the Black Sea. A second strike on Ukraine is possible - Operational Command "South"

Incompetence of NATO countries became one of the reasons for war in Ukraine, - former President of Lithuania
"We cannot stand aside and allow such a cruel state to trample, destroy and kill our neighbors. To a large extent, we are all to blame for the fact that this is happening now, and that we, NATO countries, are so slow and so insufficiently helping in the struggle for freedom and for life in Ukraine," former President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė said yesterday in the Seimas of Lithuania.

notimagain · 15/01/2023 11:34

The British government has confirmed that it will transfer 14 Challenger 2 tanks and about 30 AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine, — the official statement of the British government

There's genuine concern in some quarters that providing 30 AS90s pretty much right now, in time for the Spring, cleans out the Royal Artillery of servicable units of that weapon system and leaves the UK with a capability gap.

It may well be the right thing to do and if Russia gets beaten this year a very sensible thing to do but it comes with risk and unless the UK treasury increase defence spending very quickly some of what is being announced potentially leaves the UK with problems, and might expose HMG to domestic political pressures.

. FWIW there are also rumours in at least one British tabloid today that the UK is about to provide attack helicopters...a really massive dose of salt needed with that one.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 15/01/2023 11:34

I saw that too, and they are supposed to be the most modern sort. Seems unlikely ...

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 15/01/2023 11:41

James Cleverly🇬🇧
AT JamesCleverly
·
2h
United Kingdom government official
The UK is accelerating our support for Ukraine.

We’re sending tanks and matching or increasing military spending for Ukraine this year.

The full details
of this will be announced by AT BWallaceMP tomorrow.

MissConductUS · 15/01/2023 16:02

notimagain · 15/01/2023 10:06

By one of the main RUSI analysts - this the Observer?Guardian newspaper this AM:

www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/14/tanks-will-help-kyiv-break-deadlock-but-its-ukraine-allies-now-face-a-fork-in-the-road

I've seen the potential problems caused by the weight of some of western Main Battle Tanks discussed in more specialist fora (sp?), first time I've seen mention of it in the mainstream press.

Yet another example of how there's more to this than just chucking kit into the theatre, and on a lighter note probably explains why a lot of armed Forces Logistics type personnel have been frequently saying "told you for years that our job was not as easy as it looks".

So many of the civilian bridges in Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged that it will be quite a challenge to move tanks around in Ukraine. Many of the temporary bridges put in place won't take the weight.

You're right about logistics. Military Airlift Command (MAC) has been really stretched, flying thousands of tons of weapons, ammunition, and supplies from the US to Europe for transportation to Ukraine.

Natsku · 15/01/2023 16:12

Thanks for the new thread

DrBlackbird · 15/01/2023 17:38

Clocking in with shock and incredulity that Russia has not been stopped and continues to target civilian infrastructure and children's and maternity hospitals. What can stop this madness?

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 15/01/2023 18:19

The Ukrainians are doing the best they can .....

Oh for tanks and ATACMS

blueshoes · 15/01/2023 18:37

@MagicFox thanks for the new thread.

The damage caused by the missile attack on the Dnipro apartment block is just appalling.

Surplus2requirements · 15/01/2023 21:17

More Russian carelessness?

www.newsweek.com/russian-soldiers-blow-themselves-careless-handling-ammunition-1773898?piano_t=1

The Baza Telegram channel reported a serviceman, located in the local village's house of culture, picked up a grenade "in order to gain authority in front of his subordinates," causing the blast that spanned 450 square meters. Firefighters spent four hours trying to put out the blaze.

Long time lurker very thankful for the info throughout this thread.

Hopefully not many more parts to come

MissConductUS · 16/01/2023 00:06

Surplus2requirements · 15/01/2023 21:17

More Russian carelessness?

www.newsweek.com/russian-soldiers-blow-themselves-careless-handling-ammunition-1773898?piano_t=1

The Baza Telegram channel reported a serviceman, located in the local village's house of culture, picked up a grenade "in order to gain authority in front of his subordinates," causing the blast that spanned 450 square meters. Firefighters spent four hours trying to put out the blaze.

Long time lurker very thankful for the info throughout this thread.

Hopefully not many more parts to come

It's actually a failure of leadership.

The Baza Telegram channel reported a serviceman, located in the local village's house of culture, picked up a grenade "in order to gain authority in front of his subordinates,"

Someone in a position of authority (likely a low-level officer) had to threaten his troops with a grenade to get them to comply with his orders. Then something happened that caused it to go off and set off other ordinance stored nearby. If the Russians didn't run their army by terror and brutal hazing, and if they had competent noncommissioned officers supervising the soldiers, this would never have happened. The official explanation is like saying that a car crash occurred when someone missed a turn while ignoring the fact that the driver was blind drunk at the time.

The secondary leadership failure is improperly storing the ammo that caused the secondary explosions. The Russians seem incapable of learning this particular lesson.

Surplus2requirements · 16/01/2023 00:54

MissConductUS · 16/01/2023 00:06

It's actually a failure of leadership.

The Baza Telegram channel reported a serviceman, located in the local village's house of culture, picked up a grenade "in order to gain authority in front of his subordinates,"

Someone in a position of authority (likely a low-level officer) had to threaten his troops with a grenade to get them to comply with his orders. Then something happened that caused it to go off and set off other ordinance stored nearby. If the Russians didn't run their army by terror and brutal hazing, and if they had competent noncommissioned officers supervising the soldiers, this would never have happened. The official explanation is like saying that a car crash occurred when someone missed a turn while ignoring the fact that the driver was blind drunk at the time.

The secondary leadership failure is improperly storing the ammo that caused the secondary explosions. The Russians seem incapable of learning this particular lesson.

I don't disagree apart from the news so far has only come from pro Russian accounts which appear so far to believe incompetence is less embarrassing than inadequate defence so who knows the real causes?

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 16/01/2023 07:55

to my mind, the Russians also seem to love blaming the victims for the disasters, eg in the huge barracks explosion where 300-600 died. Their fault apparently for using mobiles ... it seems that nothing can be the fault of The System.

If the Russians didn't run their army by terror and brutal hazing, this goes deep into the core of the problem I think. For the Russian army to improve, it would need to move away from this terror and hazing. Efficient human systems need to be structured in a way that doesn't major on blame and anger, simply because people work best in relatively supportive systems not ones based on destructive emotions and punishment. To change the entire system away from brutality to professionalism would take a profound change that doesn't seem likely at all, since Russia is moving towards repression and away from it. Initiative and flexibility just don't co-exist with repression well, specially in a society that's had most of the rebellion crushed out of it for over a hundred years, perhaps longer.

One of the more perceptive analysts commented that initiative is a threat to the authorities, which is why it's crushed and even Russia-supporters can be killed eg the deputy chief in the occupied Kherson territory who was blown up, seemingly by Russians, during the retreat.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 16/01/2023 08:05

Key inflections in ongoing military operations on January 15:
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-updates

It is very well worth reading today's update in full as they cover the future Lines of Effort, possible Courses of Action and Most Dangeorus Courses of Action

Ukrainian officials specified that a Russian Kh-22 missile struck a residential building in Dnipro City on January 14, killing at least 25–30 civilians.[29] Ukrainian officials clarified inaccurate reporting that Ukrainian air defenses may have caused the destruction to the building, noting that Ukraine does not have the capability to shoot down Kh-22 missiles.

Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin awarded medals to Wagner Group forces for the capture of Soledar, likely in an ongoing effort to frame the capture of Soledar as a Wagner accomplishment rather than a joint effort with the Russian Armed Forces, as the Russian Ministry of Defense previously claimed.[30]

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian ground assaults near Makiivka and Bilohorivka, Luhansk Oblast.[31] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces are transferring Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) off-road vehicles from Russia to Luhansk Oblast, possibly for use in combat.[32]

Russian sources claimed that Russian forces finished clearing Soledar and attacked Ukrainian positions to the north, west, and southwest of the settlement.[33] A Ukrainian source reported that Russian forces captured a mine west of Soledar near Dvorichchia on January 15.[34]

Russian forces continued to attack Bakhmut and areas to the north, east, south, and southwest of the city.[35] Russian forces made marginal territorial gains southwest of Bakhmut near Andriivka.[36]

Ukrainian Kherson Oblast Military Advisor Serhiy Khlan stated that Russian forces increased their presence in occupied Kherson Oblast and that some Wagner Group forces arrived in Kherson Oblast.[37] Russian occupation head of Kherson Oblast Vladimir Saldo claimed that the restoration of the Henichesk-Arabat Spit bridge improved Russian logistics into occupied Kherson Oblast.[38]

A Russian servicemember reportedly detonated a grenade in a building where Russian soldiers quartered in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, possibly in a fratricidal act of resistance against mobilization.[39] A Russian source reported that the grenade attack killed three and injured 10 mobilized personnel.[40]

Ukraine Invasion: Part 37
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 16/01/2023 08:17

Kyiv Indep Telegram

⚡️ Russian troops 'highly likely' (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukraines-military-russian-troops-highly-likely-preparing-to-repel-ukraines-offensive-in-south) preparing to repel Ukraine’s offensive in south.
Russian troops have been increasing their presence along the front line in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to a spokesperson for the southern command of Ukrainian forces.

⚡️ Update: 35 people killed (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/update-25-people-killed-73-injured-in-russian-strike-on-dnipro), 73 injured in Russian strike on Dnipro.
Search and rescue mission continues – now in its second day – as authorities fear 30 people are still trapped under the rubble.

⚡️ Bild: Germany’s leading defense manufacturer Rheinmetall can’t deliver (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/bild-germanys-rheinmetall-cant-deliver-leopard-tanks-before-2024) Leopard tanks before 2024
Rheinmetall has 22 Leopard 2 models and 88 Leopard 1 in stock, but preparing the decommissioned tanks for battle will take “just under a year,” the CEO told German media. [so stop refusing permission for Poland to send theirs, Scholz!]

⚡️ Zelensky imposes sanctions (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukraine-imposes-sanctions-on-198-high-profile-pro-kremlin-russians-ukrainians-belarusians) on 198 high-profile pro-Kremlin Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians.
The list covers many celebrities who support Russia’s war against Ukraine, ranging from TV personalities to popular singers.

⚡️ Stoltenberg: Ukraine to receive (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/stoltenberg-ukraine-to-receive-more-heavy-weapons-in-near-future) more heavy weapons in near future.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt on Jan. 15 that Ukraine can expect more deliveries of heavy arms from Western partners in the near future.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said on Jan. 15 that only Russia’s 52nd Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment is capable of having launched the Kh-22 missiles that hit the apartment building in Dnipro on Jan. 14.

⚡️ Ukraine faces (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukraine-faces-major-electricity-production-deficit-after-russias-mass-attack-on-jan-14) major electricity generation deficit after Russia’s mass attack on Jan. 14.
Ukraine’s energy system is facing a “huge” power generation deficit following Russia’s Jan. 14 mass attack, Serhiy Kovalenko, the CEO of energy supplier Yasno, said on Jan. 15.

⚡️ Podolyak: Nearly 80% of Russian prisoners (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/podolyak-nearly-80-of-russian-prisoners-recruited-by-wagner-group-killed-injured-captured-by-ukraine) recruited by Wagner Group killed, injured, captured by Ukraine.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the President’s Office, said on Jan. 15 that 77% of the Russian convicts recruited by the Wagner Group have been killed, injured, or captured by Ukrainian forces.

⚡️Ukrainian military source: Russia controls (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukrainian-military-source) administrative territory of Soledar
Russian forces have occupied the last industrial zone in Soledar's farthest western outskirts held by Ukrainian troops, Ukrainian drone unit commander Robert “Magyar” Brovdy reported on his Telegram channel.
[this makes things more difficult for holding Bakhmut]

Very high personnel losses again and considerably more hardware losses.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 37
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 16/01/2023 08:26

UNITED24 Media Telegram

~Switzerland has begun work on a reform that would allow some countries to export Swiss-made munitions to Ukraine after international criticism of its restrictive arms export law, reports NZZ am Sonntag.~ [Hope this is true!!!!]

Today in Davos, at 17:00 Kyiv time, the World Economic Forum will begin
The event will run January 16-20, with the main discussion panels starting on Tuesday, January 17.
The main difference from previous years will be the absence of Russian representatives.
Bloomberg, focusing on the absence of Russians, concluded that the main reason was the Kremlin's aggression in Ukraine and Russia's sanctions ostracism from the West, these factors actually expelled Russian oligarchs from the annual meeting of the capitalist elites.
The brutal war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine again directly affects Moldova, said Moldovan President Maia Sandu

Ukraine and Russia are discussing the creation of a humanitarian corridor for the return of thousands of Ukrainian citizens, – Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets
The corridor should extend to all Ukrainians without exception, not only military personnel but also civilians and children were taken to Russia. Türkiye should act as a mediator.
“The Turkish side has certain opportunities to influence Russia's position on certain issues so that it fulfills the agreements and intensifies the processes. When the idea of a corridor arose, of course, we agreed to it,” says Lubinets.

❗️ Kherson under fire
The Russians shelled the city again. Their shells hit the premises where representatives of the Red Cross work

Molfar (www.molfar.global/en-blog/dnipro-14-01-2023) investigators identified 44 people involved in the rocket attack on a high-rise building in Dnipro
The goal was to identify the crew commanders of the strategic bombers that launched the missiles and the pilots who were at the controls at the time of launch.

The ingenuity of the Ukrainian military on the battlefield has impressed US officials, and Ukraine has become a combat laboratory for finding cheap but effective solutions, — CNN
The publication notes that during the full-scale war, Ukraine has developed dozens of innovations on the battlefield, "often finding cheap solutions to expensive problems."

Switzerland has begun work on a reform that would allow some countries to export Swiss-made munitions to Ukraine after international criticism of its restrictive arms export law, reports NZZ am Sonntag.

🇺🇦🇰🇿 The Yurt of Invincibility has appeared in Kyiv

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 16/01/2023 08:34

More reports of explosions in Sevastopol

notimagain · 16/01/2023 08:38

Switzerland has begun work on a reform that would allow some countries to export Swiss-made munitions to Ukraine after international criticism of its restrictive arms export law, reports NZZ am Sonntag.~ [Hope this is true!!!!]

Likewise.

*Molfar (www.molfar.global/en-blog/dnipro-14-01-2023) investigators identified 44 people involved in the rocket attack on a high-rise building in Dnipro
The goal was to identify the crew commanders of the strategic bombers that launched the missiles and the pilots who were at the controls at the time of launch.
*

Interesting..identifying crew or senior crewmembers is one thing, proving they actually knew that their missile was aimed at a target that was off limits according to the LOAC is another matter.

strawberriesarenot · 16/01/2023 09:47

MagicFox · 15/01/2023 07:35

It's hard to imagine any outcome where Ukraine would ever be in a position not to fear Russia, not to be vulnerable. Russia consistently demonstrates its cruelty, its ability to hit no matter what. To hit dirtily. That capacity will never go away

Yes, it does seem that there can be no stable peace without the will of the Russian people to support it. And that seems a generation away .
I keep looking back to WWII history, but it's not comparable because of nuclear weapons.

Alexandra2001 · 16/01/2023 09:53

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 15/01/2023 11:12

Live Ukraine Telegram

❗️Russia used only half of the "Kalibr" missiles it had prepared in the Black Sea. A second strike on Ukraine is possible - Operational Command "South"

Incompetence of NATO countries became one of the reasons for war in Ukraine, - former President of Lithuania
"We cannot stand aside and allow such a cruel state to trample, destroy and kill our neighbors. To a large extent, we are all to blame for the fact that this is happening now, and that we, NATO countries, are so slow and so insufficiently helping in the struggle for freedom and for life in Ukraine," former President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė said yesterday in the Seimas of Lithuania.

Very true, we are always behind the curve, always too cautious... then eventually providing a minimal amount...

14 tanks? Poland similar number of P2's..... (if allowed) Germany still on the fence.. plus could apparently tank many months to be able release significant numbers.... Ukraine needs a couple of 100, UK is updating around 2/3rds of c2's to c3, so could easily offer more... and, i maybe wrong about this but don't they use a specific round?

30 x AS90s? probably the same as the 125 AA guns promised.

ATM it seems like Ukraine is in the worst of both worlds, being slowly destroyed, Russia regroups/mobilises but Ukraine cannot push back and even if they did, Russia can launch and manufacturer older missiles and artillery forever more, they don't care what or who they hit.

Feel quite depressed about the the situation they are in and v. angry about the stupid NATO & western govt's.... imho we should open up the Black Sea and fuck the Russians and their threats... otherwise we may as well let them do as they pls.

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 16/01/2023 11:32

Day 325, January 14th. Summary of Arestovych and Feygin broadcast
Posted on 15 January 2023

Missile attack:
Total 33 missiles launched, 21 intercepted. In the morning Kyiv and Kharkiv were shelled by modified S-400, total 4 explosions. Then 10 Kalibr missiles and 21 winged missiles, from which 5 Kh-59 (tactical level, 200-300km) and 5 Kh-22 (600km).

One of those Kh-22 then hit an apartment building in Dnipro. 72 apartments in that section.

This shows, 🇷🇺 russia is having shortage of accurate missiles, yet missile attacks won’t stop – they will be smaller. This is a significant decrease from 100/70/50 previously.

The interception rate is less than usual today, because 🇷🇺 attacked unusual targets. Everything launched at Kyiv was intercepted.

Ballistic missiles (S-300/S-400) weren’t intercepted, their flight time is about 40 seconds, however 🇷🇺 has very few launchers and few modified missiles for land-land attacks. Distance is also a significant factor, so Kharkiv will get more attacks, Kyiv less, but they will continue.

Too early to see if a change of 🇷🇺 military command would change anything in missile attacks, this attack was prepared for 2 weeks.

🔥 Soledar:
Battles ongoing. Wagner makes up 1/3 of the attacking forces, another 1/3 is paratroopers (including 50% draftees), last 1/3 of draftees are from Donetsk and Luhansk.

If Soledar gets captured, 🇷🇺 will continue on Krasna Hora and Paraskoviivka to cut off the road from Sloviansk. Then 🇷🇺 would move on Yahidne, and from Klishchiivka to Ivanivske to encircle Bakhmut. This is a well-known method and doesn’t bring any surprise to 🇺🇦 Ukraine. 🇷🇺 doesn’t have enough forces to put identical pressure on both Bakhmut and Soledar, despite them being 10km apart, while 🇷🇺 is focusing on Soledar, Bakhmut defense is easier. If NATO would join the war now, 🇷🇺 army would last for 3 hours.

🔥 Battlefield update:
Kherson: artillery duels, 🇷🇺 slowly reinforcing

Tokmak and surroundings- Mykhailivka, Vasylivka, Melitopol slowly reinforcing .

Vuhledar – positional war.

Marinka, Opytne – 🇷🇺 unsuccessfully attempting to advance.

Krasnohorivka, Vesele, Kamianka – at this speed 🇷🇺 should keep for 150 years.

Bakhmut, Soledar – 🇷🇺 advancing.

Spirne, Berestove, Lower Bilohorivka – the same actions as before (nothing significant)

Kreminna – opposing actions, 🇷🇺 attempting on Dibrova, while 🇺🇦 pushing on Kreminna.

🔥 Weapons:
🇺🇦 MFA Kuleba: 5 countries want to provide Leopard 2 tanks to 🇺🇦 Ukraine.

Likely 🇩🇪 Germany just doesn’t want to be first to allow Main Battle Tanks to be sent to 🇺🇦 Ukraine.

🇬🇧 U.K. providing Challenger 2 tanks, other countries expressing the will to participate. The likely main force will be Leopard 2, as it’s best suited and easy to maintain.
There are various numbers rumored, from battalion (30 tanks) to brigade (70-100 tanks). A tank brigade arriving at any direction of front does change situation there radically.
Unfortunately, there are commanders that like to split brigades and assign 2 tanks to each platoon, not making any significant difference. There is even a military term – concentration of forces.
Leopard 2 has an excellent fire-control system, night-vision for everyone including the driver.
All western vehicles (Leopard 2, Marder, Bradley) are well equipped for night battles, much better than 🇷🇺 Russian tanks.
After initial supplies, training, and creation of service infrastructure – there will be expansion.

🔥 Ramstein meeting:
Weapon supplies are done in a planned manner. Large emotional tragedies, like Dnipro, only help to swing decisions in case of doubts.

🔥 U.N. General Assembly:
Unknown if Zelensky will attend in person. There will be speech, if not in person, then online. Even if Zelensky attends, he will want to return fast, there are fierce battles expected at this time.

🔥 New command:
Only 2 days under new command, no new plans were noticeable. Possible attack on Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia as flanks of Donetsk/Luhansk. Possible some provocations in the north, just to scare everyone of a possible offensive, and force 🇺🇦 Ukraine to deploy more forces in the north.

🔥 Next mobilization:
🇬🇧 U.K. intelligence reports that 🇷🇺 could draft 500k solders. Unclear where to obtain 70k sergeants and 60k junior officers. Weapons, food, equipment, and training would be significant issues. All this in parallel with using the current 200k draftees could be too complicated for 🇷🇺 Russian military.
All this is typical 🇷🇺 Russian bluff. Currently, a typical 🇷🇺 brigade looks like this: instead of a tank battalion, there is a tank company. Instead of 30 APCs, there are 10. Much other equipment is missing. The intensity of 🇷🇺 shelling has decreased by at least 1/3rd, ammo supplies are very limited.

🔥 Turkey:
🇹🇷 Erdogan intends to push for a local cease-fire in 🇺🇦 Ukraine, but not in the next couple of months. Various other announcements, denial of sending cluster bombs. 🇹🇷 Turkey receives a significant discount for natural gas, with options to delay payments for up to a year, so this rhetoric is to keep getting those discounts. There are elections soon, and Erdogan needs to keep image of protecting national interests. 🇹🇷 Turkey’s assistance to 🇺🇦 Ukraine is visible in the grain deal, prisoners exchange, significant military aid. 🇺🇦 Ukraine respects 🇹🇷 Turkey defending their national interests and assistance.

🔥 Anti-war attitude:
Actor Dmitry Nazarov has been fired from theatre after an anti-war speech. On the 28th of February anti-war protests had 136k participants. There have been many actors opposing (and some supporting Putin), this is a choice of conscience. Those people are very brave, choosing to oppose, even knowing that they will lose everything.
Even after 22 years in Putin’s regime, there are people standing up and saying that he is not right. Many have not survived this, yet every time there are people standing up.
Live streams are now approximately every other day, the next broadcast on Tuesday, January 17th.

Alexandra2001 · 16/01/2023 12:05

Haven't the makers of Leopard said that they don't have the spares to maintain or equip the tanks Germany has that it doesn't need? as its banned in law from keeping stock.
That it will take until 2024 to get production lines up to speed.

So were will these 70 to 100 tanks come from? the UK could supply many more, it is not upgrading all its chal 2's to chal 3 spec, so has many more it can give.

Lord Dannatt has said the could (& should) give 50.... that would make a real difference.

Stevenlincs · 16/01/2023 12:33

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