Ukraine Invasion - Please do not post videos showing attacks/similar

[The Funktopus]

I have no idea how popular he actually is but I'm always under the impression that the vast majority love the little scoundrel and his Russian strong1! narrative no matter what mischief he gets up to.

There’s quite a few Russian officers in the company I work for, and those that have spoken about it have described going through their training to work at sea at military run academies, where nationalism and a love of Putin and mother Russia was battered into them. Yet most, describe Putin as either a gangster or an idiot. And that includes a range of ages, from those who grew up in the USSR, some even having served in the Soviet Navy before working in the civilian shipping industry, and those born in modern Russia and forced to attend the Patriotic youth movement.

The only one’s I’ve met who speak in terms of Putin making Russia great again etc have been the really young, newly qualified guys fresh out of the academy and lacking in experience, and represent a minority.

 

[Minusorange]

Well Vlad ain't messing around

 

[alchal]

Apparently he is going to ask for troops to intervene in Belarus

There’s quite a few Russian officers in the company I work for, and those that have spoken about it have described going through their training to work at sea at military run academies, where nationalism and a love of Putin and mother Russia was battered into them. Yet most, describe Putin as either a gangster or an idiot. And that includes a range of ages, from those who grew up in the USSR, some even having served in the Soviet Navy before working in the civilian shipping industry, and those born in modern Russia and forced to attend the Patriotic youth movement.

The only one’s I’ve met who speak in terms of Putin making Russia great again etc have been the really young, newly qualified guys fresh out of the academy and lacking in experience, and represent a minority.

Thanks for the insight, would never have thought he was not that popular.

 

[Mr Jack]

Thanks for the insight, would never have thought he was not that popular.

I think there's a fair amount of self selection in people who move abroad.

 

[VincentHanna]

Looks like Russia are pulling them back: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56842763

 

[Rroff]

Looks like Russia are pulling them back: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56842763

Be interesting to see what happens - several commentators are claiming it will only be personnel with heavy equipment left in bases in districts nearby.

 

[EddScott]

Thanks for the insight, would never have thought he was not that popular.

Probably not unsurprising, but in Kiev the street vendors do a good trade in toilet paper with Putin's face on every sheet

 

[Rroff]

Comment I've seen on this situation LOL - people in Europe would act with more anger and alarm to the European Super League than if Russia built up to make a push into Europe.

 

[alchal]

Comment I've seen on this situation LOL - people in Europe would act with more anger and alarm to the European Super League than if Russia built up to make a push into Europe.

Sad but true.

 

[Minusorange]

Looks like Vlad is now backing down and moving everything from the border with Ukraine

 

[Rroff]

Looks like Vlad is now backing down and moving everything from the border with Ukraine

I'd want to see evidence of it before putting too much faith in that - unfortunately it is less reported on than when movement is the other way.

 

[arknor]

Well Vlad ain't messing around

well the west leaders are so weak, he probably sleeps so easy at night these days.
it's almost unbelievable.


whenever you see travel bloggers go to soviet countries and start asking the old people if it was better under the USSR they all miss it lol
I bet they love putin

 

[Enkore]

I'd want to see evidence of it before putting too much faith in that - unfortunately it is less reported on than when movement is the other way.

I wonder why... Maybe its same reason why we did not report massive Ukranian troop build up on the frontline - about 2 weeks prior to Putin moving forces on the border?

It does not fit our narrative over here.

 

[alchal]

I wonder why... Maybe its same reason why we did not report massive Ukranian troop build up on the frontline - about 2 weeks prior to Putin moving forces on the border?

It does not fit our narrative over here.

Would you like to know more?

I would.

 

[Minusorange]

Would you like to know more?

I would.

Are the Russians the bugs or are the Ukrainians the bugs ?

 

[Rroff]

Maybe its same reason why we did not report massive Ukranian troop build up on the frontline - about 2 weeks prior to Putin moving forces on the border?

Hardly a massive Ukrainian build up - Russians are talking up 30K but it was more like 2 brigades worth 7-12K about.

Meanwhile despite talk of pulling back and some limited personnel movement seen Russia is still sending heavy equipment towards Ukraine.

 

[Enkore]

Hardly a massive Ukrainian build up - Russians are talking up 30K but it was more like 2 brigades worth 7-12K about.

Which is a huge amount when considering the size of UA army. I am not saying anything, I just believe that both these should have been broadcasted equally so we could get a more or less un-biased news. I'm not defending Russia by any means. I am simply for a fairer news coverage and letting people draw conclusions rather than it be biasedly present.

 

[Rroff]

Which is a huge amount when considering the size of UA army. I am not saying anything, I just believe that both these should have been broadcasted equally so we could get a more or less un-biased news. I'm not defending Russia by any means. I am simply for a fairer news coverage and letting people draw conclusions rather than it be biasedly present.

TBH kind of laughable that it was a threat to Russia - a few dozen ageing BMP-1s/BTR-80s, Grads and a small number of T-12s and the odd T-64. Moderately effective in a defensive posture, utterly vulnerable on the offensive.

 

[Enkore]

TBH kind of laughable that it was a threat to Russia - a few dozen ageing BMP-1s/BTR-80s, Grads and a small number of T-12s and the odd T-64. Moderately effective in a defensive posture, utterly vulnerable on the offensive.

Laughable to Russia, not laughable to rebels. The numbers of Russians at border are all over the place as well. Ukranians Say what 150k? EU 100k, some US sources say couple tens thousands.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...mbers-more-than-150000-troops-eus-2021-04-19/

 

[Rroff]

Laughable to Russia, not laughable to rebels. The numbers of Russians at border are all over the place as well. Ukranians Say what 150k? EU 100k, some US sources say couple tens thousands.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...mbers-more-than-150000-troops-eus-2021-04-19/

Russia moved up around 25K frontline forces (possibly a bit more now) along with ~100K regular army/support, etc. (~70K of which was already attached to the nearby military districts anyhow) and a few thousand (sub 10K) irregular type forces. About 1/10th what would be needed, minimum, realistically for an invasion of Ukraine.

EDIT: That is largely based on the equipment and units it came from that has been seen - impossible to know how many of the actual personnel were moved with it.

For instance with some of the heavier artillery which got pulled out of storage it is possible none of the actual man power to operate that many units of equipment was moved with it.