Russia invades Ukraine

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Itse

Some of the Free Russia guys are I think deserters from the Russian army (I think I've read some stories about that), so they could be from any part of Russia, and since most desertions happened (I think) at the early parts of the war, those guys most likely are not ethnic Russians and/or from some backwater far from Moscow. Because that's who they sent first.

Some are Russians who lived in Ukraine before the war and felt a need to defend their adopted homeland (there's for example an NYT article about that), and yes some are Russians who lived near the border and felt a need to stand up for Ukraine.

For those who don't know;

Free Russian Legion (also known as Freedom of Russia Legion, not sure which translation is more accurate) is part of the foreign legion command structure in Ukraine, and thus directly under Ukrainian control. They are (or were at least) an official part of the military command structure, and have already seen some probably serious action in at least Bakhmut. Although Ukrainians are suddenly "not confirming or denying" that they had anything to do with these guys showing up in Russia. The purpose of this group was originally to just fight against Russians in Ukraine. Operations in Russia are a later development.

The Russian Volunteer Corps are technically paramilitary, and aren't officially under Ukrainian control, although Ukrainian military intelligence has slipped out at one point that they are part of the foreign legion. Which the foreign legion denies (But being paramilitary, the amount of control is probably somewhat limited.) They have also seen some action in Ukraine, but taking the war to Russia has always been the primary goal of these guys, and they claim to be just a branch of an underground force inside Russia. (Which might have some truth to it. There's been quite a few "surprising" explosions inside Russia since the start of the war, and it's quite possible some of those are connected to these guys.)

Thanks for the explanation.

If the enemy is being attacked in their own country, their attention will be divided. Hopefully it gives Ukraine an advantage in their counteroffensive.

With AA systems in place (and more on the way?) maybe Ukraine can push deep into occupied territory and force a retreat.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Thanks for the explanation.

If the enemy is being attacked in their own country, their attention will be divided. Hopefully it gives Ukraine an advantage in their counteroffensive.

With AA systems in place (and more on the way?) maybe Ukraine can push deep into occupied territory and force a retreat.

While I would certainly cheer for such an occurrence, my fear would be what Putin would do in retaliation...

[Jacks]

Another smoking accident, this time at the Defence Ministry.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/24/europ...ntl/index.html

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Francis's Hairpiece

While I would certainly cheer for such an occurrence, my fear would be what Putin would do in retaliation...

The only thing he has left that he hasn't tried is nukes. Since he hasn't used them already, I doubt that this offensive that (hopefully) pushes them all the way back to the Russian border makes him launch them.

Surely by that point anyway, an Oligarch or two will see his chance and organize a coup.

[burn_this_city]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1661724151520849920

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

https://twitter.com/user/status/1661724151520849920

hard to tell the feed breaks up......

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

hard to tell the feed breaks up......

I'm guessing that they detonated it on contact.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I'm guessing that they detonated it on contact.

Fake news. No hole video, no impact......

[burn_this_city]

The feed will always break up prior to contact because it takes a moment to process and transmit the video.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I'm guessing that they detonated it on contact.

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

The feed will always break up prior to contact because it takes a moment to process and transmit the video.

it was a joke

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

it was a joke

This was the third thread I checked after the Alberta election and American threads. I can't tell anymore.

[activeStick]

Lindsey Graham is in Ukraine apparently

https://twitter.com/user/status/1662122272457359361

Edit: Some commentary on his comments in the video

https://twitter.com/user/status/1662812806259830793

[Snuffleupagus]

Well, this is nice

Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that nations who are willing “to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus” will be given nuclear weapons

“Join the Union State of Belarus and Russia. That’s all: there will be nuclear weapons for everyone.”

[Huntingwhale]

My wife and I were in Crete, Greece all of last week with her parents. Yesterday was the 81st anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the island. A military base was a few kms from our hotel, so the owner told us we should walk over in the evening and check out the airshow they were putting on in remembrance of that day.

Saw some cool acts like the parachute jumps from the choppers, boats jumping the waves, etc. But the real highlight was the F16 airshow. Given the recent of events of Ukrainians beginning training on the planes, I was super interested to get a closer look at them.

Let's just say the show didn't disappoint from where I was standing. Seeing these machines do their maneuvers on the very beach the Nazis invaded decades ago was pretty cool. The craziest thing about them is the sound they make as the afterburner kicks in and rips through your body in a way the human body isn't meant to feel. Truly unreal the sound and feeling. My wife was pretty tensed up around the sounds, but I kept reminding her that these are the kind of planes Ukraine will be getting soon and just imagine being an Orc invader hiding in the forest and hearing these fly overheard to your position.

I'm not an avionics expert by any means and couldn't tell you the stats between MIGS, F16-35s, or what makes these planes do what they do. But I can say for sure that what I was feeling watching these planes rip overheard, doing their maneuvers, and the goosebumps as the sonic boom went through me...god damn I hope to god these smash whatever russian targets they are aiming at and smash them HARD. The russians aren't going to like it, not one bit.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

My wife and I were in Crete, Greece all of last week with her parents. Yesterday was the 81st anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the island. A military base was a few kms from our hotel, so the owner told us we should walk over in the evening and check out the airshow they were putting on in remembrance of that day.

Saw some cool acts like the parachute jumps from the choppers, boats jumping the waves, etc. But the real highlight was the F16 airshow. Given the recent of events of Ukrainians beginning training on the planes, I was super interested to get a closer look at them.

Let's just say the show didn't disappoint from where I was standing. Seeing these machines do their maneuvers on the very beach the Nazis invaded decades ago was pretty cool. The craziest thing about them is the sound they make as the afterburner kicks in and rips through your body in a way the human body isn't meant to feel. Truly unreal the sound and feeling. My wife was pretty tensed up around the sounds, but I kept reminding her that these are the kind of planes Ukraine will be getting soon and just imagine being an Orc invader hiding in the forest and hearing these fly overheard to your position.

I'm not an avionics expert by any means and couldn't tell you the stats between MIGS, F16-35s, or what makes these planes do what they do. But I can say for sure that what I was feeling watching these planes rip overheard, doing their maneuvers, and the goosebumps as the sonic boom went through me...god damn I hope to god these smash whatever russian targets they are aiming at and smash them HARD. The russians aren't going to like it, not one bit.

Your post now and your posts during this last 15 months brought a little tear to my eye to be honest. Being of Greek origin and knowing how serious they take their military and training is important. Greek NATO airforce pilots are consistently ranked amongst the best, if not the best in the world time and time again. Hopefully Greece, NATO and the west can train Ukrainian pilots to the same level.

Having read airforce analysis and commentary among pilots who have praised Ukrainian airforce personnel makes me hopeful. Without a doubt the conditions, the challenges, the heart and the will to protect their citizens will prevail. Everybody is amazed what these pilots have been able to do with what they have, challenging outdated airframes to the peak that nobody ever thought possible.

I believe with every ounce of my body that Ukraine will prevail here with the help of the West, if the west get's serious about winning this.

Greece stands with Ukraine 100%. Given the 400+ year occupation from the Ottoman/Turkish empire, Greece's official motto is Eleftheria i thanatos. Literally translates to freedom or death. Being the birthplace of democracy, they take the ability to vote for yourself as paramount. It's ingrained in their blood.

I hope you and your family enjoyed your time in Greece after a hell of a year.

Godspeed to the Ukrainian defenders in the offensive that will launch soon.

[burn_this_city]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1663221985705443331

[Street Pharmacist]

Looks like Moscow is getting to know what drone attacks are like

https://twitter.com/user/status/1663401852166127619

[Cheese]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1663419711684575232

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Looks like Moscow is getting to know what drone attacks are like

https://twitter.com/user/status/1663401852166127619

the headline of "Moscow accussing Ukraine in engaging in terrorist attack" reads like an Onion headline to me.

you reap what you sow. If I could, i'd frog march every Russia elite to Ukraine and help them rebuild that country.

[CroFlames]

I guess Ukraine is feeling pretty confident in their anti air defenses to be launching drones on Russia proper.

The enemy's likely response is increased missile strikes against major cities that the air defenses have proven to be effective at neutralizing.

Hopefully delivery of F-16 fighters is the last step in shooing the orcs back into Russia.