Putin and the West

[Kwacky]

There's allegations of sabotage happening to the rail lines in Gomel, Belarus. That's where the rail transport is to take vehicles in to Ukraine.

Russia appear to be making very strong advances in the south of Ukraine. Mykolaiv looks next to be taken.

[Kwacky]

There's a few people tracking vehicle losses on both sides. This includes destroyed, captured or abandoned.

Russia have lost 581 pieces of hardware compared to Ukraine's 185.

[Cav]

I didn't realise Belarus revoked their non-nuclear status.... I think it was 4 days ago. Russia could therefore launch weapons from there. I suppose that means retaliation would be to an Allie and Russia would then have authority to start fighting other countries (although why it would want to do that I have NO idea). Of course it further surrounds Ukraine with artillery primarily, but Russia are chess players and surely that isn't the only purpose.

[D41]

If Putin's a chess player then I'm Bobby-fcuking-Fischer..

[Cav]

There are all sorts of moves in chess where you sacrifice pawns to test your opponent and make ground. It's the long game.

[Cav]

FWIW, the same happens in hands of poker. You can under play your hand to devastating consequences for your opponent.

[D41]

STOP SAYING "THE LONG GAME"!!!;
STOP SAYING "THE LONG GAME"!!!!!

[Cav]

Sorry, does the word long make you feel inferior?

[D41]

I've never had any complaints.

[Kwacky]

Russia doesn't need authority to attack other countries.

[Kwacky]

Russia have lost a few aircraft today. At least 6 pilots have been captured.

[StMarks]

Russia have lost a few aircraft today. At least 6 pilots have been captured.

With the current state of development of drone technology, I find it striking that there have not been substantially more up to this point.
It seems likely that the countries of NATO would be prepared to "share" almost unlimited volumes of that technology with the Ukrainians, and the impact against (eg huge convoys, artillery emplacements etc,,,) would make the Russian's control of the air space less critical.?

[Kwacky]

Let's hope not

[Kwacky]

https://twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/ ... 9V5KQ&s=19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[D41]

I read something that the 'Z'-symbol is used to distinguish Russian military vehicles from those of Ukraine, as both sides use similar equipment. No idea if it's true, but it sounds plausible enough.
The fashion-setting Russian public has jumped on the bandwagon with it.

[Kwacky]

They do use the z for that reason and to indicate which direction they're from. O and V have been used as well.

[Monty]

https://twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/ ... 9V5KQ&s=19

That worries me the most. We have seen outbreaks all over the world in Bulgaria, Armenia, Venezuela, Bolivia, France, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Holland, Hungary etc.

We just don't seem to be able to learn anything from history.

[Monty]

[StMarks]

I feel as though I've seen that lad somewhere before.?

[Cav]

I thought the same.

I found it rather interesting listening to an interview with an ex Air Marshall who said Putin's personalisation of the invasion has made it much more difficult for the West to intervene. He doesn't support a no-fly-zone over Ukraine and also said that Putin has backed himself into a corner but hopes that even the yes-men that surround him don't advise launching localised nuclear attacks. Putin severely underestimated the Ukrainians.