Ukraine War Thread Part 2
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Re the Polish farmers at the Ukraine border causing disruption... WTF is this guy in their country, let alone protesting.
He tells us exactly what’s happening behind the curtain in the Ukraine, why it’s went on for three years now and what will happen after the war is done and over with .
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The North Korean Missile that hit in Ukraine contained
So much for Western Sanctions to North Korea.
The Guidance must have been homegrown.
Of the 290 components studied: 75% were developed in the United States, 16% are associated with European companies, 9% are made by Asia-based companies.
The Guidance must have been homegrown.
In response to the NK missile forensics...
In news that is on topic: (Source = BBC)
Spoiler
At least 60 Russian troops have been killed after a training area in occupied eastern Ukraine was hit by two missiles, reports say.
Sources familiar with the situation told the BBC that troops had gathered at the site in Donetsk region for the arrival of a senior commander.
Video footage of the incident appeared to show large numbers of dead.
Sources familiar with the situation told the BBC that troops had gathered at the site in Donetsk region for the arrival of a senior commander.
Video footage of the incident appeared to show large numbers of dead.
https://www.politico.eu/article/germ...ck-zimmermann/
Germany faces a political crisis over sending Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine
BERLIN — Germany's governing coalition is splintering over whether to send Ukraine its powerful Taurus cruise missiles.
On Tuesday, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and chair of the Bundestag's defense committee, said she'll support an opposition Christian Democrat measure that explicitly calls for sending the missiles to Kyiv.
"I will personally vote for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's motion in the plenum this week, as it will explicitly include the Taurus demand," she told POLITICO.
The FDP-Greens-Social Democrat coalition is putting forward a resolution on arming Ukraine that calls for "the delivery of additional necessary long-range weapons systems and ammunition to enable Ukraine to carry out international law-compliant, targeted attacks on strategically important targets deep in the rear area of the Russian aggressor."
The capabilities mentioned in the coalition resolution "can only mean Taurus cruise missiles. However, the SPD failed to mention them by name," Strack-Zimmermann tweeted….
Strack-Zimmermann flagged her intention to also vote for the resolution put forward by the opposition on a Tuesday morning flight from Greece with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
She blamed the "stubbornness of the chancellor's office" for the absence of a Taurus reference — "it lacks exactly one word" — in the government's resolution.
The Greens have also backed sending the Taurus to Ukraine, and the party's MPs could join Strack-Zimmermann in supporting the opposition resolution later this week….
"Ukraine is fighting for our peace, our freedom and our future in Europe," Strack-Zimmermann tweeted.
Germany faces a political crisis over sending Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine
BERLIN — Germany's governing coalition is splintering over whether to send Ukraine its powerful Taurus cruise missiles.
On Tuesday, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and chair of the Bundestag's defense committee, said she'll support an opposition Christian Democrat measure that explicitly calls for sending the missiles to Kyiv.
"I will personally vote for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's motion in the plenum this week, as it will explicitly include the Taurus demand," she told POLITICO.
The FDP-Greens-Social Democrat coalition is putting forward a resolution on arming Ukraine that calls for "the delivery of additional necessary long-range weapons systems and ammunition to enable Ukraine to carry out international law-compliant, targeted attacks on strategically important targets deep in the rear area of the Russian aggressor."
The capabilities mentioned in the coalition resolution "can only mean Taurus cruise missiles. However, the SPD failed to mention them by name," Strack-Zimmermann tweeted….
Strack-Zimmermann flagged her intention to also vote for the resolution put forward by the opposition on a Tuesday morning flight from Greece with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
She blamed the "stubbornness of the chancellor's office" for the absence of a Taurus reference — "it lacks exactly one word" — in the government's resolution.
The Greens have also backed sending the Taurus to Ukraine, and the party's MPs could join Strack-Zimmermann in supporting the opposition resolution later this week….
"Ukraine is fighting for our peace, our freedom and our future in Europe," Strack-Zimmermann tweeted.
Differing reports I have read say that a russian victory would likely mean another 10 million Ukrainian refugees, mainly fleeing West. Given that there are already 1 million in Germany, many would be attracted to go there. Germany is currently in a difficult economic and political situation - stagnant economy , government dead-in-the-water, and immigration the most pressing issue for voters: given the accumulation of these effects, Scholz's continued vacilation is just mind-blowing, especially as his Defence Minister mention the possible need for re-introducing conscription just a few weeks back.
How much would the German budget have to increase if Ukraine fell ( both for Defence ans Social Security ) ? In a recent report ( can't find it again ) it was said that when the special E 100 Bn defence budget-addition runs out in two years, then Germany will need to increase its planned defence budget by 40% annually to even reach the 2% NATO recommendation ( and which has become even more important since Trump started raving again )
EDIT: Feb 21st p.m. Scholz once again rules out deliveries of Taurus in Bundestag speech.
https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland..._57275780.html
Last edited by Tartiflette Fan; 21st Feb 2024 at 13:50.
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Its only significance is increasing pressure on Scholz: he is the only person to be able to say "GO"
Differing reports I have read say that a russian victory would likely mean another 10 million Ukrainian refugees, mainly fleeing West. Given that there are already 1 million in Germany, many would be attracted to go there. Germany is currently in a difficult economic and political situation - stagnant economy , government dead-in-the-water, and immigration the most pressing issue for voters: given the accumulation of these effects, Scholz's continued vacilation is just mind-blowing, especially as his Defence Minister mention the possible need for re-introducing conscription just a few weeks back.
How much would the German budget have to increase if Ukraine fell ( both for Defence ans Social Security ) ? In a recent report ( can't find it again ) it was said that when the special E 100 Bn defence budget-addition runs out in two years, then Germany will need to increase its planned defence budget by 40% annually to even reach the 2% NATO recommendation ( and which has become even more important since Trump started raving again )
EDIT: Feb 21st p.m. Scholz once again rules out deliveries of Taurus in Bundestag speech.
https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland..._57275780.html
Differing reports I have read say that a russian victory would likely mean another 10 million Ukrainian refugees, mainly fleeing West. Given that there are already 1 million in Germany, many would be attracted to go there. Germany is currently in a difficult economic and political situation - stagnant economy , government dead-in-the-water, and immigration the most pressing issue for voters: given the accumulation of these effects, Scholz's continued vacilation is just mind-blowing, especially as his Defence Minister mention the possible need for re-introducing conscription just a few weeks back.
How much would the German budget have to increase if Ukraine fell ( both for Defence ans Social Security ) ? In a recent report ( can't find it again ) it was said that when the special E 100 Bn defence budget-addition runs out in two years, then Germany will need to increase its planned defence budget by 40% annually to even reach the 2% NATO recommendation ( and which has become even more important since Trump started raving again )
EDIT: Feb 21st p.m. Scholz once again rules out deliveries of Taurus in Bundestag speech.
https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland..._57275780.html
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschl...ermeister.html
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
BREAKING: Iran has provided Russia with approx 400 ballistic missiles, including many from the Fateh-110 family, such as the Zolfaghar.
In contrast with North Korean BMs, Iranian made ones are known to be considerably more accurate.
This is a major escalation in Iranian material support for Russia and will strain Ukrainian's Patriot batteries even further at a time when they can least afford it.
https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-s...ay-2024-02-21/
DUBAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, six sources told Reuters, deepening the military cooperation between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries.
Iran's provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources said.
This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km (186 and 435 miles), experts say.
Iran's defence ministry and the Revolutionary Guards - an elite force that oversees Iran's ballistic missile programme - declined to comment. Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The shipments began in early January after a deal was finalised in meetings late last year between Iranian and Russian military and security officials that took place in Tehran and Moscow, one of the Iranian sources said.
In contrast with North Korean BMs, Iranian made ones are known to be considerably more accurate.
This is a major escalation in Iranian material support for Russia and will strain Ukrainian's Patriot batteries even further at a time when they can least afford it.
https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-s...ay-2024-02-21/
DUBAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, six sources told Reuters, deepening the military cooperation between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries.
Iran's provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources said.
This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km (186 and 435 miles), experts say.
Iran's defence ministry and the Revolutionary Guards - an elite force that oversees Iran's ballistic missile programme - declined to comment. Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The shipments began in early January after a deal was finalised in meetings late last year between Iranian and Russian military and security officials that took place in Tehran and Moscow, one of the Iranian sources said.
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Aviation Content:
Above is excerpted from a Business Insider article yesterday.
As regards the TBMs Iran is providing to Russia:
They had a bit of a "SCUD war" with Iraq in the 80's ... the "improved accuracy" aspect is concerning.
As Russia's ground forces pushed to capture Avdiivka, its air force appeared to establish air superiority over the war-torn town, clearing the way for critical close-air-support missions, conflict analysts assessed.Although only temporary and localized, it appears to be the first time Russia has taken control of the skies in a front-line area since their full-scale invasion began almost two years ago. And if it continues or expands, a real possibility as Ukrainian air defenses are under significant stress, it could be "devastating," war experts said.
On Saturday, Russia claimed victory in Avdiivka, a Ukrainian town northeast of occupied Donetsk. Despite it being hailed as Russian President Vladimir Putin's biggest victory since the fall of Bakhmut in May 2023 — and a timely one given the upcoming Russian presidential elections next month — it came at a high cost. Moscow has suffered severe losses of both troops and equipment since focusing its forces on Avdiivka last fall.
On Saturday, Russia claimed victory in Avdiivka, a Ukrainian town northeast of occupied Donetsk. Despite it being hailed as Russian President Vladimir Putin's biggest victory since the fall of Bakhmut in May 2023 — and a timely one given the upcoming Russian presidential elections next month — it came at a high cost. Moscow has suffered severe losses of both troops and equipment since focusing its forces on Avdiivka last fall.
As regards the TBMs Iran is providing to Russia:
They had a bit of a "SCUD war" with Iraq in the 80's ... the "improved accuracy" aspect is concerning.
A strong message from a British volunteer medic somewhere in the front. A video for everyone to see.
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"Yesterday, Russians reported about the strike on a lined up Russian infantry formation in Donetsk region. Today the similar incident happened in the Oleshky forest area of the Kherson region."
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Those preventing aid are complicit in these acts.
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The US is still shipping previously agreed munitions.
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Some good news.
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68364924
Russia is struggling to provide ammunition and weapons for its war in Ukraine, according to Western officials.
It is facing "extreme challenges" in obtaining sufficient equipment and materiel, an official said.
It comes as concerns over the provision of Western weapons to Ukraine are mounting.
As the war enters its third year, the supply of ammunition, arms and manpower looks set to be a critical factor.
"Russia's domestic ammunition production capabilities are currently insufficient for meeting the needs of the Ukraine conflict," a Western official claimed, saying Moscow has been able to increase its supply only by seeking out alternative sources of ammunition and weapons, which does not offer a long-term solution.
They pointed to the impact of sanctions as one cause.
"Sanctions are hitting the Russian military industrial complex hard, causing severe delays and increasing costs. An inability to access Western components is severely undermining Russia's production of new systems and repairs of old systems, with long-term consequences for the quality of weapons produced," they said.
Russia has made advances recently, such as taking the town of Avdiivka, and appears to have the upper hand on the battlefield.
But officials believe Moscow's ability to deliver these successes has come at a high cost in terms of casualties. Russia is firing artillery shells at a far higher rate than Ukraine - five times more by some estimates - but fewer than it was in 2022 and is believed to still not be producing enough to replenish what it is using.
The official said Russia has been having to turn to foreign sources for arms. These include drones and missiles from Iran and ammunition stocks from North Korea. Some of this is also believed to be poor quality as well as having taken extensive negotiations, including a visit from Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to North Korea, to secure.
The official also said Russia is requisitioning equipment due to be delivered by its defence industry to other countries. This includes India, which has long been reliant on Russian weaponry for its armed forces, and whose air force a year ago said it was not receiving what it expected.
The claims about Russian weapons supply come ahead of the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. The assessment from Western officials is that Russia has not given up on its original goals of "subjugating" Ukraine.
But they said Russia does not have a clear plan to bring that about other than hoping that in the long term its superior manpower and resources will make the difference by grinding its neighbour down.
Russia is currently producing more ammunition than Ukraine is receiving. However, Russia may be close to its limits of supply while there remains the possibility that Ukraine could still get more from its allies.
That makes clear that Western support and its supply of arms to Ukraine looks set to be a critical factor in the war's outcome. And with a US package, which includes $60bn (£48bn) for Ukraine, currently stalled in Congress, the concern is that even with Russia struggling over its supply, it may still be able to outlast Ukraine if Western support does not come through.
It is facing "extreme challenges" in obtaining sufficient equipment and materiel, an official said.
It comes as concerns over the provision of Western weapons to Ukraine are mounting.
As the war enters its third year, the supply of ammunition, arms and manpower looks set to be a critical factor.
"Russia's domestic ammunition production capabilities are currently insufficient for meeting the needs of the Ukraine conflict," a Western official claimed, saying Moscow has been able to increase its supply only by seeking out alternative sources of ammunition and weapons, which does not offer a long-term solution.
They pointed to the impact of sanctions as one cause.
"Sanctions are hitting the Russian military industrial complex hard, causing severe delays and increasing costs. An inability to access Western components is severely undermining Russia's production of new systems and repairs of old systems, with long-term consequences for the quality of weapons produced," they said.
Russia has made advances recently, such as taking the town of Avdiivka, and appears to have the upper hand on the battlefield.
But officials believe Moscow's ability to deliver these successes has come at a high cost in terms of casualties. Russia is firing artillery shells at a far higher rate than Ukraine - five times more by some estimates - but fewer than it was in 2022 and is believed to still not be producing enough to replenish what it is using.
- Russia accused of executing prisoners of war in Avdiivka
- Dozens of Russian troops 'die in Ukraine air strike'
- Zelensky warns of 'artificial deficit' of weapons
The official said Russia has been having to turn to foreign sources for arms. These include drones and missiles from Iran and ammunition stocks from North Korea. Some of this is also believed to be poor quality as well as having taken extensive negotiations, including a visit from Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to North Korea, to secure.
The official also said Russia is requisitioning equipment due to be delivered by its defence industry to other countries. This includes India, which has long been reliant on Russian weaponry for its armed forces, and whose air force a year ago said it was not receiving what it expected.
The claims about Russian weapons supply come ahead of the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. The assessment from Western officials is that Russia has not given up on its original goals of "subjugating" Ukraine.
But they said Russia does not have a clear plan to bring that about other than hoping that in the long term its superior manpower and resources will make the difference by grinding its neighbour down.
Russia is currently producing more ammunition than Ukraine is receiving. However, Russia may be close to its limits of supply while there remains the possibility that Ukraine could still get more from its allies.
That makes clear that Western support and its supply of arms to Ukraine looks set to be a critical factor in the war's outcome. And with a US package, which includes $60bn (£48bn) for Ukraine, currently stalled in Congress, the concern is that even with Russia struggling over its supply, it may still be able to outlast Ukraine if Western support does not come through.
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RU imports hundreds of ballistic missiles. Yet the West won't provide ballistic missiles. Out of fear of what exactly? Every restraint by the West is interpreted as weakness by Vlad.
At this stage, time is on Vlads side.
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4481737-russia-broken-stalemate-ukraine-gates/
Last edited by wondering; 22nd Feb 2024 at 06:27.
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Medvedev: the goal of the SMO is not achieved until Kyiv is taken.
It's the first time the Russian administration says out loud the specific goal of the SMO.
Now is the time to wake up and realize that Russia must be stopped and pushed back to its corner.
It's the first time the Russian administration says out loud the specific goal of the SMO.
Now is the time to wake up and realize that Russia must be stopped and pushed back to its corner.
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