Not sure why you think the Chinese TV crew would fake their own footage to UKR advantage..

Finger trouble: for of read or!

Interesting thread about that tank…

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1...539393539.html

Deliveries of the German Gepard (Cheetah) AA system have been delayed again - the first delay being due to sourcing ammunition for the system.

From Welt - apologies for the poor translation

"Germany delays arms transfers to Ukraine due to an alleged misunderstanding between the German and Ukrainian governments.

At the end of April, the German Ministry of Defence announced plans to hand over 50 Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled guns manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) to Ukraine. According to sources close to the Ukrainian Government the German Government did not inform Kyiv that the Ukrainian Government needed to order Gepard direct from KMW. The Ukrainian leadership was, instead, focused on receiving instructions from the German government for their delivery.

However, in Berlin it is claimed that from the very beginning of discussions it was stated that Kyiv would order the systems direct from the manufacturer, with the German Government only needing to give permission to the company to deliver the 50 units

According to Welt the German Ministry of Defence "does not know when the announced" Cheetahs "will be delivered to Ukraine."

What a bunch of C********* the Germans are, and that ain’t coconuts. If there was a war on at home they would be on trucks and heading to the front tonight

Do you mean rear? Armed with broomsticks and ADAC choppers and forbidden to patrol at night? Germany are the new Italians, without the flair.

At least the Italians are good cooks. (Which is not to say that I have not enjoyed, massively, bratwurst, schnitzel, bier, kraut, and goulash a plenty whilst in Germany: I have!)
As to Aviation Content:
Russian Backfire allegedly caught from a cockpit view

Our ship was overflown by a Backfire, or two, when we did FoN ops in the Black Sea back in Cold War days (mid 80's).

Apparently a lot more. Great report by the combat engineer who set up the pontoon bridge being taken out.


"After one day of combats, 9th May morning the bridge was down. Some Russian forces (~30-50 vehicles + infantry) were stuck on Ukrainian side of the river with no way back. They tried to run away using broken bridge. Then they tried to arrange a new bridge.Then, Aviation started heavy bombing of the area and it destroyed all the remains of Russians there, and other bridge they tried to make. Rumours say it's ~1500 RU dead. Their strategic objective was to cross the river and then encircle Lysychansk. They miserably failed."

Boggles the mind that Russian commanders would choose the most obvious spot for an ambush. But then again no suprise given the incompetence of the Russian army so far.

Interesting to read intelligence assessments out of Washington over the last 24 hours that Putin is settling in for a long war.
If that's the case then he plays right into Western hands.
The combined power of NATO can continue to outspend and out arm him.
Given the ratio of Russian losses to Ukrainian - and if their current incompetence continues - he's going to prolong grinding his army and the VVS up against a cheese grater...

Turkey is still secular despite the efforts of some - Mustafa Kemal Atatürk set them on that path with such force that it has lasted with the majority.

Their economy is NOT resource based and they still manufacture a lot of things from the "German" washing machine in your house through cars and helicopters to rockets capable of launching small satellites. There is a big building industry with lots of engineers, fairly good education and they spend more on defence as a % of GDP (2.8%) than the UK (and it was historically much higher) - plus they have a larger population.

I'm sorry for the digression but it's worth understanding the difference. There's a an ongoing "contest" for power between the secular west of Turkey and the religious country hicks from the east who have recently learned to read but are upset that they cannot marry their cousins anymore.

Breaking now - Finns to apply to join NATO.

During this spring, an important discussion on Finland's possible Nato membership has taken place. Time has been needed to let parliament and the whole society establish their stands on the matter. Time has been needed for close international contacts with Nato and its member countries, as well as with Sweden. We have wanted to give the discussion the space it required. Now that the moment of decision-making is near, we state our equal views, also for information to the parliamentary groups and parties. Nato membership would strengthen Finland's security. As a member of Nato, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.

I think you mean "they're very close to deciding"

that's an extract from the speech today by the Finnish president Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin. The held a joint press conference to express their personal opinions on whether Finland should join NATO or not.
To make it short, they said that they personally feel Finland should join NATO.

...however, I would be a bit surprised if Finland would not send the request to Bruxelles in the near future...

More importantly yesterday UK and Finland signed mutual security assurances. That is even more ground breaking than this announcement of the FInnish leaders personal views. That assurance didn't get much space in media.

On the ground: Invaded ground that is.
On logistics: from the people who brought empty shelves and queues for queues' sake

In the Air: (caution: aviation content)
On the Sea: See under the sea.
Under the Sea: See on the sea, except for the sunk vessels, and the Kilos.

Economics: Taking the lead from Zimbabwe
As an Arms Exporter: Get your discounted arms here! going out of business sale.
As a Federation: Togetherness.
Wistful reminiscence of the Soviet Union: The good old days.
Oil 'n Gas: Russia's contribution to greening the world.
Standing Army: The might of the fomer USSR.
Kleptocracy: Robbing hood
Russia and NATO border countries: How to force countries to join NATO
Russia's border security: Why would some country want to attack Russia?
Morale & Morals: Not happy campers
Watch for Ukraine cutting off RuAF MSRs and starting to get mass surrenders in the field. RuAF have limited capability to attack Odessa by land, and the sea remains attractive except that it has a very low probability to succeed. The window for Russia to do anything is closing fast, and the issues are all immediate, not the mid to long-term matters that can be fixed by mobilization or entering a wartime economy. The Kerch bridge still needs to go, ASAP, and Sevastopol sea lanes need to be interdicted.

To rebuild the losses, Russia needs more time and resources than exist at this time, so perhaps the best win for Putin is a negotiation ASAP, before the situation ends up with the isolation of Russian forces in Crimea, and the disruption of all Russian forces in east Ukraine. Putin is not of a mind to do anything good for Russia, so it remains of morbid interest to see what other damage he does to Russia.

Snake Island
 

BBC piece on who controls it

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61406808

That is probably is why the Russian news chat shows are all rabbiting on about the need to "take control" and put industry onto a wartime production setting.

OK as long as they don't mention the war. "Special Production Operation" acceptable, I assume?

Yeah looks like Finland made up it's mind and will take quite a lot to make u-turn away from it...

"Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay. " and "Nato membership would strengthen Finland's security"

Looks like Sweden will follow suit in a few days applying as wellp, surely not part of VP's plan earlier...

Any Idea? A big orange cloud

More on the tank rolling over the troops, from the tanks view, quite a bit of last minute adjustments going on by the troops on the ground... The last guy is lying on his back filming it on his phone lol.


Not what one would call Russian's displaying skill, the tank with the mine rollers is actually following some of the BTR's, not in front clearing a path LOL