Will Russia invade the Ukraine?

[MingtheMerciless]

This appeals to my macabre side.

https://signmyrocket.com/

[KungFooBob]

That's such a god awful thing.

Put your name on a shell that might kill a person who is essentially 'just doing their job'. It's not the grunts fault, blame the Kremlin.

Also, it's a genius way to make money for the war effort.

[Yorick]

My first thought is that the twat running the website will keep the dosh.

[Bigyin]

Russia has a population problem and Putin has reintroduced a Soviet medal (Mother Heroine) for women that have ten children. It might have helped if he hadn't driven millions of educated people out of Russia this year.

I think that worldwide, educated people have fewer children. Educated people are not going to be swayed into having more by a medal. The less well educated may well be swayed by a medal and have more children.

It wouldn't surprise me if driving educated people out of the country was a plan of Putin's.

I read an article today that estimates 3.5 million Russians between 18-35 have either left Russia for neighbouring states or having studied/worked outside Russia have decided not to return blaming the war in Ukraine and the increasingly restrictive Russian state. It demonstrates the younger generation are more internet and social media savvy and dont believe the party line being trotted out but are also aware that publicly disapproving of the invasion may result in prison time

The vast majority are the degree educated and those in the arts and tech industries and Turkey was the country with the highest number they headed for

[Hoonercat]

Russia has a population problem and Putin has reintroduced a Soviet medal (Mother Heroine) for women that have ten children. It might have helped if he hadn't driven millions of educated people out of Russia this year.

I think that worldwide, educated people have fewer children. Educated people are not going to be swayed into having more by a medal. The less well educated may well be swayed by a medal and have more children.

It wouldn't surprise me if driving educated people out of the country was a plan of Putin's.

Back in the day they'd simply execute them or send the 'Intelligentsia' to labour camps. They did it to Ukraine during the Holodomor as they thought Ukrainians were developing a national self-identity, and throughout the entire Soviet Union a few years later in the Great Purge/Terror where it is believed anywhere from 600,000 to 3 million were executed, and millions more sent to labour camps.

[Cousin Jack]

Back in the day they'd simply execute them or send the 'Intelligentsia' to labour camps. They did it to Ukraine during the Holodomor as they thought Ukrainians were developing a national self-identity, and throughout the entire Soviet Union a few years later in the Great Purge/Terror where it is believed anywhere from 600,000 to 3 million were executed, and millions more sent to labour camps.

All, of course, in the name of "the people". The history I have read suggests that, despite the educated being executed in droves, it was the peasants who were most resistant to Stalin's 'reforms'.

[irie]

Interesting.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/2 ... al-weapons

How Ukraine turns cheap tablets into lethal weapons

Army SOS, an activist-led NGO, converts Android-based tablets into smart units with automated precision guidance.

Named Kropiva (nettle), the software is part of a series of hi-tech equipment and weaponry that has helped to transform the Ukrainian military from a demoralised underdog to a serious force of resistance.

[irie]

Reported that Sergei Shoigu*, Minister of Defence, has been "sidelined" with military commanders now reporting directly to Putin.

Putin will be watching his back.

* mother is Ukrainian

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Of ... Shoigu.jpg

[JackyJoll]

When do we attack?

Oh shit it’s now!

[MingtheMerciless]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... hter-jets/

Necessity is the mother of invention, I’d love to see how they cobbled a MiG29’s systems to a US pylon and missile.

[Yambo]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... hter-jets/

Necessity is the mother of invention, I’d love to see how they cobbled a MiG29’s systems to a US pylon and missile.

Gaffer tape and pop rivets probably!

[irie]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... hter-jets/

Necessity is the mother of invention, I’d love to see how they cobbled a MiG29’s systems to a US pylon and missile.

The impossible becomes possible when someone figures out how to do it. Nice job.

[slowsider]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... hter-jets/

Necessity is the mother of invention, I’d love to see how they cobbled a MiG29’s systems to a US pylon and missile.

One of cheb's adapter plates

[Hoonercat]

The North Trade Route, or Arctic Silk Road as it's also known. This was supposed to be Putin's legacy, huge developments in the Arctic region which should add 2% to Russian GDP each year. Well, that was the idea, prior to sanctions. Russia has poured enormous financial resources into this, the big Russian energy and financial firms (now hit by sanctions) are the main Russian investors. Will western sanctions turn Russia's most ambitious construction project into a white elephant? Will the region be the next major flashpoint, given the way Russia has been militarising the region recently?

Worth watching the video just to appreciate the scale of this project, not to mention the potential impact on the environment.

[Mussels]

If this is true then it must be embarassing for a big weapons exporter like Russia.

Ukraine war: North Korea supplying Russia with weapons, say US reports

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62804825

[Supermofo]

Embarrassing but does mean they have millions more rockets/shells which is poop for the longevity of this war.

[Hoonercat]

Embarrassing but does mean they have millions more rockets/shells which is poop for the longevity of this war.

On the plus side, it will not only put more of a strain on Russia's ability to finance the war, but also raises questions about their ability to repair/replace their more technologically advanced equipment. If they can't repair a leaky pipe, what hope do they have of repairing a multiple rocket launch system?
Much of Russia's economic data reports have been classified over the past 2 or 3 months, making it difficult for analysts to get an accurate picture of the economy. While their half-year profits from energy sales have been impressive, that's set to dry up very quickly for the rest of the year as Europe turns it back and the Chinese economy falters. LNG producers across the globe are making huge profits, while Russia is burning off its gas due to lack of storage and inability to convert it to LNG.

[JackyJoll]

Has Putin asked his parishioners if they want total war yet?

[Hoonercat]

While all eyes are on the counter-offensive to the south, Ukraine has apparently identified weak points in the east and pushed 50km into previously Russian-held territory, including the capture of Kupiansk by special forces, described as a vital supply line for Russian army as the railway hub links Russia to its troops in Donbas. It remains to be seen if this was a tactical error from Russia, by sending reinforcements to the south, or if it just doesn't have the numbers to hold such a wide front.

[irie]

Ukraine has taken control of the M03 (E40) at Kupiansk near Kharkiv thus cutting a key Russian supply line.

Reported that Russia is rushing southern reinforcements northwards, which will probably help to relieve the pressure on Ukraine forces in the south trying to retake Kherson. Starting to look like "Whack-a-mole".