Is Ukraine about to have a war?
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Ukraine is probing the lines for a possible future offensive.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidax...h=f2d2aa4324cc
What the Russian papers are saying about Chinas leadership visit to Moscow
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidax...h=f2d2aa4324cc
What the Russian papers are saying about Chinas leadership visit to Moscow

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A poor bear?
Russia looks more like a burning wellhead, a flaming whirlpool, with the rhetoric of these clumsy opinion-makers being allowed, given freedom to fan it, eroding the banks of decency and world order. Is Putin's assumed role to try and keep the lid on things? The rational mind boggles.
Russia looks more like a burning wellhead, a flaming whirlpool, with the rhetoric of these clumsy opinion-makers being allowed, given freedom to fan it, eroding the banks of decency and world order. Is Putin's assumed role to try and keep the lid on things? The rational mind boggles.

I must admit, I have been considering stopping posting on this thread as no one appears to be interested anymore as I feel i am probably the only poster on it these days..
It surprises me that people appear to becoming bored of it, as it is without doubt the greatest threat to the World and Europe since WW2 with the possibility of an even worse outcome for mankind..
I have been trying to keep the thread up to date and relevent, but it is hard work when you have no one seemingly interested in bouncing discussions off..
It surprises me that people appear to becoming bored of it, as it is without doubt the greatest threat to the World and Europe since WW2 with the possibility of an even worse outcome for mankind..
I have been trying to keep the thread up to date and relevent, but it is hard work when you have no one seemingly interested in bouncing discussions off..
All your efforts are really appreciated by a lot of people who read this thread, and your input in particular is invaluable.
Last edited by Bug; 21st Mar 2023 at 06:21. Reason: Grammar

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For NutLoose - I love the "paper airplanes" report! And the guy saved from 42 days in the cellar!
I do try to check the updates here every day. The lack of conversation may just be - well, I wouldn't call it a sitzkreig or stalemate, given the hellhole in Bakhmut and the civilian strikes - but something of a calm before the Spring storm (amd we only just reached the first day of Spring).
Just not a lot new on the ground at the moment to raise discussion - we are mostly in war's "hours of boredom" rather than it's "moments of sheer terror" for the time being. Most of the action right now is politics (Xi's visit, Putin's arrest warrant.)
And that's not your fault. Things will hot up again with the weather - or when Xi goes home - unless everyone really has just run out of ammo.
I do try to check the updates here every day. The lack of conversation may just be - well, I wouldn't call it a sitzkreig or stalemate, given the hellhole in Bakhmut and the civilian strikes - but something of a calm before the Spring storm (amd we only just reached the first day of Spring).
Just not a lot new on the ground at the moment to raise discussion - we are mostly in war's "hours of boredom" rather than it's "moments of sheer terror" for the time being. Most of the action right now is politics (Xi's visit, Putin's arrest warrant.)
And that's not your fault. Things will hot up again with the weather - or when Xi goes home - unless everyone really has just run out of ammo.

A poor bear?
Russia looks more like a burning wellhead, a flaming whirlpool, with the rhetoric of these clumsy opinion-makers being allowed, given freedom to fan it, eroding the banks of decency and world order. Is Putin's assumed role to try and keep the lid on things? The rational mind boggles.
Russia looks more like a burning wellhead, a flaming whirlpool, with the rhetoric of these clumsy opinion-makers being allowed, given freedom to fan it, eroding the banks of decency and world order. Is Putin's assumed role to try and keep the lid on things? The rational mind boggles.

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Norwegian Leopard 2 MBT's and engineering tanks on their way to Ukraine arriving to Poland I believe. Aviation content included.

I'd guess there are probably lots of lurkers here like me that post infrequently, but benefit greatly from the effort of others. A sincere thank you to all the regular posters.

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Moscow Times: Russia is sending female prisoners to the front.
Makes one wonder when do the Z-ombies start clearing orphanages to be sent to the meat grinder.
Makes one wonder when do the Z-ombies start clearing orphanages to be sent to the meat grinder.
Russia has resorted to recruiting inmates from women's prisons to serve in the Russian military in a bid to make up for its growing losses in Ukraine, according to both Ukrainian officials and an independent Russian prisons watchdog.
“Last week, a train with sleeping cars for the transfer of prisoners was spotted moving towards the Donetsk region. One of the cars [had] female convicts [in it],” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said in an update published on Monday.
Olga Romanova, the co-founder of prisoners’ rights organization Russia Behind Bars, confirmed the ministry's claims to independent news outlet iStories, noting that Russia had likely been using female prisoners to aid its invasion efforts since at least the end of last year.
“They were taken from penal colonies in southern Russia. I don’t know the exact ones, but they worked in Kushchevka [in the southern Krasnodar region],” Romanova told iStories.
As many as 100 female prisoners are believed to have been transferred to fight in Ukraine so far, according to the human rights defender, though it remains unclear if the recruitment was carried out on a voluntary basis or whether the inmates had been press-ganged into the Russian military.
In February, Ukrainian military officials said that Russia had recruited as many as 50 female prisoners from a penal colony in the Russia-occupied city of Snizhne in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The recruits were sent for “training” in Russia before being returned to Ukraine to fight, they said.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/...reports-a80470
“Last week, a train with sleeping cars for the transfer of prisoners was spotted moving towards the Donetsk region. One of the cars [had] female convicts [in it],” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said in an update published on Monday.
Olga Romanova, the co-founder of prisoners’ rights organization Russia Behind Bars, confirmed the ministry's claims to independent news outlet iStories, noting that Russia had likely been using female prisoners to aid its invasion efforts since at least the end of last year.
“They were taken from penal colonies in southern Russia. I don’t know the exact ones, but they worked in Kushchevka [in the southern Krasnodar region],” Romanova told iStories.
As many as 100 female prisoners are believed to have been transferred to fight in Ukraine so far, according to the human rights defender, though it remains unclear if the recruitment was carried out on a voluntary basis or whether the inmates had been press-ganged into the Russian military.
In February, Ukrainian military officials said that Russia had recruited as many as 50 female prisoners from a penal colony in the Russia-occupied city of Snizhne in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The recruits were sent for “training” in Russia before being returned to Ukraine to fight, they said.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/...reports-a80470

To Nutty, ORAC and others more knowledgeable than me:
Thanks - this is a 'go to' for catching up on all the latest, kindly gathered into neat pile by you chap/esses.
If I had anything useful to contribute, I would. My lack of contribution isn't lack of interest; rather, it leaves room for you guys to post, without me reducing the 'Signal to Noise' ratio. I'm sure I speak for 100s of others who are similarly appreciative of your sterling efforts.
Out.
Thanks - this is a 'go to' for catching up on all the latest, kindly gathered into neat pile by you chap/esses.
If I had anything useful to contribute, I would. My lack of contribution isn't lack of interest; rather, it leaves room for you guys to post, without me reducing the 'Signal to Noise' ratio. I'm sure I speak for 100s of others who are similarly appreciative of your sterling efforts.
Out.

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"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Like a lot of others, Nutty, I appreciate the efforts you, ORAC and others put in. This is the best site for the story, from both sides. Also, thanks to the mods for keeping it open, even if it strays from "aviation".

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Since troops are still training on Challengers, Bradleys, Leos and other systems, it would make no sense to send this equipment into Ukraine to be a massive, stationary target when the operators are still in-training outside the borders.
That's just my opinion, expressed - I believe - in a completely reasonable fashion. If you believe that it is designed to limit discussion, then you must be a really precious flower.

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If I had anything useful to contribute, I would. My lack of contribution isn't lack of interest; rather, it leaves room for you guys to post, without me reducing the 'Signal to Noise' ratio. I'm sure I speak for 100s of others who are similarly appreciative of your sterling efforts.
.

Here's a surprise, and a pretty strong diplomatic statement by Japan.
"Kishida will offer solidarity and unwavering support to Ukraine during his visit, Japan's foreign ministry said."
I would imagine that this will have impact among educated Russians.
And IMO that's where this war will be won or lost - in the minds of educated Russians.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made an unexpected visit to Kyiv on Tuesday to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-update...yiv/a-65055997
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-update...yiv/a-65055997
I would imagine that this will have impact among educated Russians.
And IMO that's where this war will be won or lost - in the minds of educated Russians.

Sad news - it looks like the Kiwi mentioned in Nutty's post below has been killed in combat.
