1. #30926
    I am that guy RandomGuy's Avatar
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    Nice do entary of the Ukrainian counteroffensive so far

    Russian supporters have been saying "it's failed" since Russia's attacks culminated, and even before any real counteroffensive began.

    It is a war of attrition at this point, and UKR is winning that.

    UKR can and does rotate units off front. Russia does not.

    UKR can and is drawing on NATO support. Russia can't keep up.

    UKR can and does evac wounded from the battlefield. Russia does not to any meaningful degree.

    The big thing happening is one thing he alluded to, accurate counter-battery fire.

    Russia is blowing through the old USSR kit and once that is gone, lacks the industrial base to make it back up.

    RUS has burned through its artillery advantage, and is using s s faster than they can make them. UKR is doing the same, but has a larger industrial base to draw on for replacements, as the west slowly and painfully ramps up.

    EU is still tightening sanctions on Russian oil, and Russia is running against the depletion clock, because they do not have western oil majors to help them maintain production.

    Time is not on Russia's side.

  2. #30927
    I am that guy RandomGuy's Avatar
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    *includes the population of eastern Ukraine, which is now Russia.
    Russias demographic column is similar, and a bit worse than that of UKR. There is a reason you didn't post it here. Mr. Againstthething.

  3. #30928
    LMAO koriwhat's Avatar
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    Ukraine! all you pussy ass progressive s bags too!

  4. #30929
    Alleged Michigander ChumpDumper's Avatar
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    Nice do entary of the Ukrainian counteroffensive so far

    Look what I found in muh bubble!

  5. #30930
    I am that guy RandomGuy's Avatar
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    Look what I found in muh bubble!
    It actually isn't too bad, all things considered. Dude absolutely has his own confirmation bias, and lets that color his analysis.

    UKR is not doing as well as many hoped, and far better than Russians, and their supporters, realize.

    Funnily enough one of the biggest militants in the Russian blogosphere (the guy who shot down the Dutch airliner and had to be "retired" into propaganda) just got arrested for actually telling the truth. Which brands him an "extremist" in the Russian empire these days.

  6. #30931
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ElNono's Avatar
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    They never had a semblance of a democracy. From the Tzars to Lenin to Gorbachev to Yeltsin to Putin it's been a string of autocrats. They had a chance to diverge with Yeltsin but never did.

    The Turks and the French became democratic so anything is possible but culturally Russia seems to want their big man.
    That is what I mean. Plus, they never seem to learn either, tbh... it's like groundhog day for them. When the floor inevitably falls down, the cost, both in economic and human terms, is always high.

  7. #30932
    I am that guy RandomGuy's Avatar
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    That is what I mean. Plus, they never seem to learn either, tbh... it's like groundhog day for them. When the floor inevitably falls down, the cost, both in economic and human terms, is always high.
    The USSR was the last of the European empires. Remember it took over the territory, and army of the Zsars. While all the other empires had to face the inevitable decolonialization, the Moscovy Empire got to cling on to that imperial territory through its totalitarian dictatorships.

    Other European colonial empires had to slowly fade due to the costs of shipping troops overseas and keep them there to maintain that empire.

    The Moscovites got to do that very cheaply via their rail network, and managed to keep it together far, far longer.

    Modern Russian at udes are 100% that of colonizers, with the non-caucasians viewed as distinctly second class citizens, and pity anyone with any melanin running around Moscow. It is a fetid swamp of white nationalism, and their skinheads make very little apologies for murders and worse they inflict on anyone they come across.

    Their empire is so embedded in their culture, most modern Russians take it absolutely for granted. And because they have never had to own up to the genocides, mass murder and torture needed to keep that empire, are exactly the kinds of people you would expect. Arrogant and ignorant.


  8. #30933
    Veteran velik_m's Avatar
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  9. #30934
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    U.S.-Sanctioned Russian Millionaire Found Dead In His Office

    Millionaire Russian businessman Anton Cherepennikov, 40, founder of the ICS Holding technology conglomerate and who was subject to U.S. sanctions, was found dead in his Moscow office, Russian media reported on July 22, in the latest mysterious death of a prominent individual. The preliminary cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest. Cherepennikov in February was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for being “the ultimate beneficial owner and head of Citadel,” which U.S. authorities said developed software designed to steal financial and personal information from computer networks. Reports also linked ICS Holding To Russian security services.
    https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-mill.../32514748.html

  10. #30935
    Believe.
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    That is what I mean. Plus, they never seem to learn either, tbh... it's like groundhog day for them. When the floor inevitably falls down, the cost, both in economic and human terms, is always high.
    Cannot really disagree with that, holmes.

  11. #30936
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ElNono's Avatar
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    The USSR was the last of the European empires. Remember it took over the territory, and army of the Zsars. While all the other empires had to face the inevitable decolonialization, the Moscovy Empire got to cling on to that imperial territory through its totalitarian dictatorships.

    Other European colonial empires had to slowly fade due to the costs of shipping troops overseas and keep them there to maintain that empire.

    The Moscovites got to do that very cheaply via their rail network, and managed to keep it together far, far longer.

    Modern Russian at udes are 100% that of colonizers, with the non-caucasians viewed as distinctly second class citizens, and pity anyone with any melanin running around Moscow. It is a fetid swamp of white nationalism, and their skinheads make very little apologies for murders and worse they inflict on anyone they come across.

    Their empire is so embedded in their culture, most modern Russians take it absolutely for granted. And because they have never had to own up to the genocides, mass murder and torture needed to keep that empire, are exactly the kinds of people you would expect. Arrogant and ignorant.

    What I mean is that their ambition always severely outmatched their actual capabilities. Happened to Stalin, the cold war, Afghanistan and now Ukraine. Their autocratic government let's corruption fester as well.

    It's always a matter of time until it all comes crashing down. They had a shot with Yeltsin to get out of that futility loop, but they didn't take it.

  12. #30937
    Alleged Michigander ChumpDumper's Avatar
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  13. #30938
    Believe.
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    What I mean is that their ambition always severely outmatched their actual capabilities. Happened to Stalin, the cold war, Afghanistan and now Ukraine. Their autocratic government let's corruption fester as well.

    It's always a matter of time until it all comes crashing down. They had a shot with Yeltsin to get out of that futility loop, but they didn't take it.
    Fortunately, 18-19th century France is a decent analog. They had a revolution beheaded the king and all that. They then had a rough go at their first democracy so turned to Napoleon and made him monarch. That lasted until Waterloo and they realized this whole monarchy thing was not a good idea when he lost, returned to the democratic track and never looked back.

    France is even similar given their proximity to their African colonies much like Russia is with all of it's colonial occupations in Asia.

    There is a path forward, Putin just needs to lose in embarrassing fashion and he is well upon his way.

  14. #30939
    Veteran velik_m's Avatar
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    Fortunately, 18-19th century France is a decent analog. They had a revolution beheaded the king and all that. They then had a rough go at their first democracy so turned to Napoleon and made him monarch. That lasted until Waterloo and they realized this whole monarchy thing was not a good idea when he lost, returned to the democratic track and never looked back.

    France is even similar given their proximity to their African colonies much like Russia is with all of it's colonial occupations in Asia.

    There is a path forward, Putin just needs to lose in embarrassing fashion and he is well upon his way.
    France went back to monarchy after Napoleon, and then there was another Napoleon, the French are now on their 5th republic, so it hasn't been all smooth sailing for France...

  15. #30940
    Veteran velik_m's Avatar
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  16. #30941
    Believe.
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    France went back to monarchy after Napoleon, and then there was another Napoleon, the French are now on their 5th republic, so it hasn't been all smooth sailing for France...
    No doubt. And the Russians went from the Czars to Stalin in short order. I am just saying that there is a possibility of a representative republic despite all the backsliding.

  17. #30942
    Veteran velik_m's Avatar
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  18. #30943
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    Ukrainian air force spox explains that the Pantsir system installed on the roof of the Russian MoD could not shoot the Ukrainian drone 300 m away that attacked the military intelligence building in Moscow this morning.



  19. #30944
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    Jaga Jaga!!!!


  20. #30945
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    C'est la vie


  21. #30946
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    Can't outrun a Javelin in a tank.


  22. #30947
    Veteran velik_m's Avatar
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    Commission pays a further €1.5 billion in Macro-financial Assistance to Ukraine
    The Commission has today paid a sixth tranche of €1.5 billion under the Macro-financial Assistance (MFA) “Plus” package for Ukraine worth up to €18 billion. With this instrument, the EU seeks to help Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs, with stable, predictable and sizeable financial support in 2023. With today's payment, Ukraine has received €10.5 billion this year under the MFA “Plus”.

    This support will help Ukraine to continue paying wages and pensions, and keep essential public services running, such as hospitals, schools, and housing for relocated people. It will also allow Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia in its war of aggression, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks, roads and bridges.

    Today's payment comes after the Commission found on 25 July that Ukraine continued to make satisfactory progress towards implementing the agreed policy conditions and complied with reporting requirements, which aim to ensure the transparent and efficient use of the funds. This finding will also unlock the payment of two further tranches worth €1.5 billion each, in August and September this year. Ukraine has notably achieved important progress to enhance financial stability, strengthen the rule of law, improve its gas system, encourage energy efficiency and promote a better business climate.

    President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today we unlocked another €4.5 billion for Ukraine, to be paid over the next three months. As Ukraine faces the consequences of Russia's brutal war of aggression, we continue to provide the country with steadfast financial support. And we will continue for as long as it takes. We have proposed up to €50 billion between next year and 2027, to finance transformative reforms and investments in Ukraine.”

    Overall, since the start of the war, the support to Ukraine and Ukrainians amounts to €76 billion. This includes financial, humanitarian, emergency budget and military support to Ukraine from the EU, Member States and the European financial ins utions, as well as resources made available to help Member States cater for needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war. More information is available in this factsheet.

    Furthermore, on 20 June, the Commission proposed to set up a dedicated Facility providing coherent, predictable and flexible support to Ukraine for the period 2024-2027, for an overall amount of up to €50 billion.
    https://ec.europa.eu/commission/pres...en/mex_23_4002

  23. #30948
    Veteran velik_m's Avatar
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    Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine
    July 25, 2023 |

    Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs. This authorization is the Biden Administration’s forty-third drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021 as the U.S. government has continuously provided Ukraine with the weapons and equipment it needs for the battlefield. Today’s commitment in security assistance, valued at up to $400 million, includes additional air defense munitions, artillery and other ammunition, armored vehicles, anti-armor weapons, and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia’s ongoing war of aggression.

    The capabilities in this package include:

    1. Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
    2. Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
    3. Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
    4. 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
    5. 120mm and 60mm mortar rounds;
    6. 32 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers;
    7. Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
    8. Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets;
    9. Hornet Unmanned Aerial Systems;
    10. Hydra-70 aircraft rockets;
    11. Tactical air navigation systems;
    12. Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing;
    13. Over 28 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;
    14. Night vision devices and thermal imagery systems; and
    15. Spare parts, training munitions, and other field equipment.

    The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements.
    https://www.defense.gov/News/Release...e-for-ukraine/

  24. #30949
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  25. #30950
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