Russo-Ukrainian War Thread - Page 124

On May 17 2022 11:34 {CC}StealthBlue wrote:
So what are the chances something happens to him?

https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/status/1526293852704890882

On May 17 2022 11:34 {CC}StealthBlue wrote:
So what are the chances something happens to him?

https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/status/1526293852704890882

On May 17 2022 11:34 {CC}StealthBlue wrote:
So what are the chances something happens to him?

https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/status/1526293852704890882

Three Russian military recruitment offices were attacked over the weekend amid an uptick of violence against the facilities following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The first attack took place in the early hours of Friday morning, when a man dressed in black hurled a Molotov cocktail into an enlistment building in the town of Gukovo in southern Russia’s Rostov region, just five kilometers from the Ukrainian border, local news outlet 161.ru reported.

The resulting fire was extinguished by staff members, who reported no damage or injuries.

Police are still looking for the suspect, the donday.ru news outlet reported.

Similar incidents were reported in the Ryazan region southeast of Moscow, as well as in the Volgograd region in southern Russia.

In the Ryazan region town of Pronsk, images shared by Ryazpressa.ru showed a broken window and a partially-burnt entrance door after an attack early on Saturday.

Similarly, the Volgograd branch of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry reported a fire in the basement of a military enlistment office in the city’s Sovetskiy district the following day.

Russian Telegram channel Baza, which is believed to have links with Russia’s security agencies, reported a broken glass bottle was found inside the building.

More than a dozen military recruitment offices have been attacked across Russia since the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

On May 17 2022 11:20 Falling wrote:
Pretty much the opposite of Zelensky. I'm not sure if it was an interview linked here or if I read it elsewhere, but there was some reporter that embedded with Zelensky for a bit. In the piece, Zelensky states that he sees himself as the Speaker in Chief- while he continually receives updates on the war (and had personal and ongoing contact with an officer in Mariupol), he leaves the running of the war to his generals. His job is to rally the world around the Ukrainian cause. That seems wise. Know what you are good at. Hire competent people to run what they are good at- and then let them.

The Biden administration is poised to fully block Russia’s ability to pay US bondholders after a deadline expires next week, a move that could bring Moscow closer to the brink of default.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is expected to let a temporary exemption lapse once it expires on May 25, according to people familiar with the matter. The waiver, issued shortly after the US levied sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in February, has given Moscow room to pay coupons, helping it avert default on its government debt.

The end of the carve-out could be the final straw in Russia’s debt saga after almost three months of war in Ukraine. It’s managed to make all its payments to creditors so far, weaving through the tangle of sanctions that closed off some avenues.

That includes an 11th-hour escape earlier this month, when blocked payments were eventually allowed through after Moscow tapped its domestic dollar reserves. But it’s unclear how it can sidestep the end of the US loophole.

Some Treasury officials had privately argued that allowing Russia to pay its debt would further drain its coffers and redirect resources that would otherwise be spent on weapons and military operations in Ukraine. But the administration has decided against extending the waiver as a way to maintain financial pressure on Moscow, the people said.

Another person familiar with the matter said that Treasury hasn’t made a final decision. Spokespeople at the White House and Treasury Department had no immediate comment.

With Finland and Sweden applying to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, neutral Switzerland is also leaning closer to NATO, reviewing joint military exercises with NATO member countries.

According to Reuters, Paelvi Pulli, head of security policy at the Swiss defense ministry, said on Monday that the ministry is writing a report that includes discussions on joint military exercises with NATO countries and backfilling munitions, adding high-level meetings between Switzerland and NATO commanders on a regular basis are also on the table.

Pulli said neutrality itself was not the objective for Switzerland in deciding not to participate in World War I and II, but because it was beneficial to Swiss security, adding giving up neutrality may be helpful in promoting national interest depending on the situation. Pulli went on to emphasize that there could ultimately be changes in the way neutrality is interpreted. Swiss Defence Minister Viola Amherd, who visited Washington, D.C. earlier on May 13, also said Switzerland should work closely with the U.S.-led military alliance.

Switzerland became neutral as a result of the Treaty of Paris signed between France and European countries in early 19th century following France’s defeat in the Battle of Waterloo. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, however, Switzerland is imposing sanctions against Russia, allowing the export of Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine and freezing the assets of Russian oligarchs.

Public opinion is favorable toward the move. In a recent poll, 56 percent of the respondents said they support expanding relations with NATO. Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the number only stood at 35 percent.

On May 19 2022 04:44 Simberto wrote:
Ah, the Verdun strategy.

On May 19 2022 05:20 Simberto wrote:
I think the point is more being unable to bring the war to the enemy, so the only choice you have left is killing their soldiers when they come to you.

I don't think Ukraine can threaten stuff in most of Russia, and even if they could, they probably don't want to.

On May 19 2022 05:29 Gorsameth wrote:
I think especially the latter. A Ukrainian counter-invasion of Russia would give Putin the perfect excuse to rally the population, push for a full scale war and throw the kitchen sink at Ukraine.

But from what I understand Ukraine pushing Russia out of their country is an entirely realistic option. Russian advances are making little to not headway while Ukraine keeps retaking land and now threatening supply lines. And while Russia is still burning through material Ukraine keep receiving aid.
I feel like Russia will run out of vehicles and tanks long before they run out of bodies.