More than a few MilTwitter sites are saying that this appears to be a well coordinated, multipronged attack. Quite honestly this is what I thought we'd see much earlier. Guess Putin is taking off the gloves.More video from Kyiv, where heavy fighting is happening now - NEXTA pic.twitter.com/NTaLekLlGj
— BNO News (@BNONews) February 26, 2022
Friday, February 25, 2022
Russians are making a BIG push on Kyiv right now...
war is war and hell is hell, and of the two, war is a lot worse.
war is war and hell is hell, and of the two, war is a lot worse. pic.twitter.com/zZPV4aN9KT
— Felipe (@Philm_et_al) February 25, 2022
Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter destroyed the Ukrainian Buk-M1 9A310M1 TELAR earlier today with rockets.
A Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter destroyed the Ukrainian Buk-M1 9A310M1 TELAR earlier today with rockets. https://t.co/1GlP5DVnPF pic.twitter.com/xkRoGbzogk
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) February 26, 2022
If Rob is right then we clearly are in the land of mirrors...
I don't know what to think anymore. This war is unlike anything I've ever seen. If Rob is right (and the dude is good), then why in God's name would a Ukrainian soldier do such a thing? Well at least I was right about one thing. I said 2022 would suck.A reminder to be skeptical of any initial reports or claims tonight, including from Russian or Ukrainian government sources. Many people said this was a Russian tank in Kyiv this morning, but it is a Strela-10 air defense system and is almost certainly Ukrainian. pic.twitter.com/XrmCS9Eqj4
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) February 25, 2022
And now come the wild men...Chechens are on the way to Ukraine
I don't know how to describe this war. Is it too much to say that its been polite? How about restrained? Chechens will go hard. Now Ukrainian troops are gonna have to muscle up. Chechens won't play nice.Video from today’s meeting of Chechen troops that Ramzan Kadyrov is sending to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
— Visegrád 24 🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰 (@visegrad24) February 26, 2022
Putin is viewed as the savior of Christianity by some deluded people, but he is about to send extremists to fight on the streets of Kyiv and Lviv. pic.twitter.com/lC1jnCABUw
Wait! What? There was an amphibious assault?
Geez. I hadn't seen a thing on this. Anyone have further details!As we continue to watch almost unsupported amphibious & airborne landings of Russian troops in Ukraine today, it's almost incredible that the Russian Armed Forces is continuing to ignore the principle of "Mass" it its operations. Sacrificing some of its best units in the process.
— Patrick Fox (@RealCynicalFox) February 25, 2022
Lady you need to stop chest thumping...but if you fight remember to save a round...
She's talking shit. I just hopes she saves a round cause if she's caught on the frontlines by some dudes that have gone feral she's gonna die ugly.I learn to use #Kalashnikov and prepare to bear arms. It sounds surreal as just a few days ago it would never come to my mind. Our #women will protect our soil the same way as our #men. Go #Ukraine! 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/UbF4JRGlcy
— Kira Rudik (@kiraincongress) February 25, 2022
Has anyone sussed out Putin's end game? I can't figure it out.
I hope someone is trying to suss out Putin's end game cause I can't figure it out. Let's go off what he's said, what we've observed and add in a few educated guesses...
1. He said that he does not seek to occupy Ukraine. Ok cool but its pretty clear that if he doesn't occupy it, then he's looking at an "enduring troop presence".
2. After a slow start the Ukrainians are all in when it comes to the defense of their nation. The internet is applauding. Good. The internet forgets that Putin has a pretty hefty reserve that is still not involved in the fighting (waiting just across the border). It could be that they're using the old USSR tactic of fighting a unit till its no longer considered combat capable and then relieving them, but they haven't been following any playbook or tactic that I know of from the USSR or Russia (gained by basic knowledge of reading old CIA annuals on USSR strength, field manuals and a brief or two).
3. He's signaled to Ukrainian leaders that he is ready to send a delegation to talk...if they surrender.
4. The US/NATO is putting even more forces on alert. From the US we're still looking at light fighters. Is this more symbolism or are they detecting something that they haven't publicized or are they expecting a refugee catastrophe? I just don't know.
Put just those few tidbits together and its all smoke. I can't see thru it and can't piece it together.
Any ideas?
This is damn near a civil war...when a grandmother can say this to a soldier and not get buttstroked its something we don't understand...
Such a gentle invasion (sorta...people are still dying). Imagine this dude doing this to a US Army or Marine Corps formation during an assault...
They're doing it with kid gloves (and probably an aim toward relations after the fight). Can you imagine this dude doing this to a US Army or Marine Corps formation during an assault? The French? The French can be brutal. He'd be road trash. Certain Brit units too. I don't even want to think about what the Poles would do. The Netherlands? One of their 6'8" tall soldiers would have grabbed him up quick. Germans? They'd probably swerve and offer him sauerkraut.Video shows a Ukrainian citizen attempting to block a large convoy of Russian vehicles. pic.twitter.com/pwOU5S9jQy
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) February 25, 2022
Book Recommendation. WAR IS A RACKET!
You've heard me shout it from the rooftops. We have so many problems at home that we don't have time (or really the capacity) to safeguard the "freedoms" of others.
Except for poor nations they have the ability to safeguard their own futures (unless they're lazy).
In our day and age we have it reversed. We provide security for those that can do it themselves and ignore those that actually need assistance (assuming they want it...which many don't).
In other words WAR IS A RACKET!
Now the circle is complete. Congressman demands Biden send bill for more defense spending...
War is a racket.Sasse just called for Biden to send to Congress today an emergency supplemental defense spending bill. (Wicker made same call yesterday) @Morning_Joe
— Kevin Baron (@DefenseBaron) February 25, 2022
Destroyed air defense system "Buk" of the Ukrainian armed formations near Kiev
Damn. Killed on transports. Definitely needed these operational. I do NOT understand Ukraine's battle plan.
Уничтоженный ЗРК "Бук" украинских вооруженных формирований под Киевом. pic.twitter.com/yKJNe1dM9d
— Станислав Валерьевич (@PussyRobbery) February 25, 2022
The assault on Mariupol has begun. Now we shall see if AZOV Regiment can walk the talk...
Thanks to Victor BMR for the link!
Unconfirmed reports that Russian forces have begun their assault on Mariupol
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) February 25, 2022
This one should be bloody (assuming AZOV lives up to its reputation).
Putin identified de-nazification and de-militarization as one of his goals.
Well he can (literally) kill two birds with one stone if AZOV is actually hiding out there (as many are saying). AZOV is a Nazi Regiment that got pulled into the Ukrainian armed forces and has quite the reputation for graft, corruption, debauchery and other vile type behavior.
The US Congress blocked aid and training to Ukraine because of this unit (national security hawks and the Ukrainian govt got our Congress to roll over and reinstate it) so they're apparently highly valued by the Ukrainian MoD.
Additionally, I believe (hope someone can verify) that Russian Marines are in the area so it will be instructive to see how they perform in combat.
Pass the popcorn. This battle will have my full attention.
Russia is conducting a Western style invasion.
I don't understand what some of you are thinking.
The Russians have made it to the outskirts of Kyiv in a day and you think things are going badly?
Let me give an analogy.
When you're shooting you not only identify the target (talking about close quarters) but you're also aware of what's behind the target.
You're going as smooth as you can because a rushed shot will lead to ruin.
You guys are rushing your shots.
Look beyond your target and see what's behind.
What do I see?
I see less than a 3rd of Russia's Battalion Tactical Groups being deployed and with many more sitting back.
Quite honestly (especially since we've heard everything the intel agency is putting out) if I didn't know better I'd be worried that they were looking to expand the war and was considering the taking of Ukraine as a jumping off point to make a huge push into Poland.
Meanwhile we're finally seeing the full activation of the Ukrainian military and they're putting up SOME resistance.
Additionally it should be obvious to ALL that the Russians are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs.
Massive cyber warfare? We haven't seen it although they're capable.
Massive electronic warfare effort? We haven't seen it although they're capable.
Full bore artillery and missile strikes? We haven't seen it although they're capable.
Tanks making civilian structures rubble? You know the deal.
My point is this. Everything about this conflict so far points to EXTREME restraint.
How do I know?
The body count. A full fledged mechanized assault into an urbanized nation should see magnitudes greater dead and injured.
Russia is conducting a Western style invasion. They're doing their best to limit casualties and (by their standards) infrastructure damage.
My take? They're actually trying to destroy the Ukrainian military and little else. Civilians ARE NOT the target of their forces (to include infrastructure).
I asked about the AZOV Regiment because demilitarization and denazification means that unit should be pulverized when found.
French Forces are involved in a networking revolution
Grâce à des ressources croissantes, l’@armeedeterre conduit un renouvellement majeur de ses capacités de combat aéroterrestre. Cette "révolution de la mise en réseau" garantira sa supériorité #OPS face à un adversaire à parité. #CapaciTerre pic.twitter.com/ElusmdNUQY
— Chef d'état-major de l'armée de Terre (@CEMAT_FR) February 23, 2022