Live Conflict Ukraine-Russia War

[Spitfire9]

The Russian approach to overhaul, repair and maintenance...

There are serious suspicions that corruption is a major factor in the ongoing problems surrounding the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, and this aspect is increasingly discussed by experts and the media. After more than a decade of delayed repairs and repeated accidents, many in Russia and beyond say the ship’s poor condition is not just due to technical difficulties and outdated technology.

Internal investigations and sources such as former Russian naval officer Vyacheslav Konovalov state that “certain elements of the modernization that cost millions were never actually implemented, and the funds disappeared into someone’s pockets.” Allegations of inflated budgets and artificially extended repair times cast a shadow over the ship’s long-term maintenance.

One of the most striking examples of possible corruption is the incident in 2018 when the sinking of the floating dock PD-50, where Admiral Kuznetsov was for repairs, caused catastrophic damage to the deck of the aircraft carrier. This was due to poor maintenance and incompetent management of the dock, with funding for key repair works believed to have not been adequately used.

Sinking and unfixed: Fate of 'Admiral Kuznetsov' carrier unclear

Admiral Kuznetsov has spent a significant portion of her operational life undergoing repairs caused by recurring technical problems and outdated infrastructure.

bulgarianmilitary.com

With money being corruptly diverted from maintenance, repair and overhaul, it is hardly surprising that Russia's armoured thrust into Ukraine in February 2022 soon ground to a halt, isn't it? I hope that corruption in Russia's MIC and armed forces remains strong: it damages Russia's military capability without Ukraine needing to do a thing.

 

[SilverMachine]

Why should the West be afraid of what Russia might do, instead of letting Russia be afraid of what the West might do?

Do you seriously think that Russia would choose nuclear war instead of retreat from Ukraine?

To the first point: because we're never setting off nuclear weapons under any circumstances, other than someone pulling the trigger first and launching them at us. They're not like us. You have NATO tanks rolling through Poland & Ukraine toward Russia, American pilots striking Russian soil, and they *would* do it. We're more powerful, they also have the will to push the button whereas we don't. It's not something to toy with, even when they're bluffing about other stuff.

Regarding the second point: circumstances would determine that. *Ukraine* somehow driving them out, themselves, with Ukrainian weapons? No, they wouldn't blow up the world over that. But that's fantasy and Ukraine can't do that. As stated above, you push the advantage we have *too far*, having it be more than just "we're funding Ukraine and providing materiel & training", sure they would. As you state, Russia's weak - they have a genuine fear of being smacked down by NATO someday. And we could. But any Russian leader - emphasis on *not just Putin* - is willing to glass the planet if it comes to that, and they have the full backing of a majority of their people on it. The "west is the big bad trying to stomp out the glorious Russians and our glorious history and our glorious yadda yadda" isn't some Putin thing, most of the normies over there buy into the notion.

Save Ukraine as best you can. But do it using Ukrainians, if they're able. If they're unable, then sucks as it may, tough shit, this isn't an apocalyptic WWII situation for us, and we're not about to turn it into one by crossing Russia's *actual* red lines.

 

[FiReFTW]

To the first point: because we're never setting off nuclear weapons under any circumstances, other than someone pulling the trigger first and launching them at us. They're not like us. You have NATO tanks rolling through Poland & Ukraine toward Russia, American pilots striking Russian soil, and they *would* do it. We're more powerful, they also have the will to push the button whereas we don't. It's not something to toy with, even when they're bluffing about other stuff.

Regarding the second point: circumstances would determine that. *Ukraine* somehow driving them out, themselves, with Ukrainian weapons? No, they wouldn't blow up the world over that. But that's fantasy and Ukraine can't do that. As stated above, you push the advantage we have *too far*, having it be more than just "we're funding Ukraine and providing materiel & training", sure they would. As you state, Russia's weak - they have a genuine fear of being smacked down by NATO someday. And we could. But any Russian leader - emphasis on *not just Putin* - is willing to glass the planet if it comes to that, and they have the full backing of a majority of their people on it. The "west is the big bad trying to stomp out the glorious Russians and our glorious history and our glorious yadda yadda" isn't some Putin thing, most of the normies over there buy into the notion.

Save Ukraine as best you can. But do it using Ukrainians, if they're able. If they're unable, then sucks as it may, tough shit, this isn't an apocalyptic WWII situation for us, and we're not about to turn it into one by crossing Russia's *actual* red lines.

You are wasting your time explaining this to blinded ignorant people with some deep seeded hatred towards Russia, they can't comprehend these things like you do.

 

[SilverMachine]

Pretty much. But hey, honesty has to be aired no matter how unpopular. We can leave the fantasy & messianic self-promotion to Zelenensky.

I'm sympathetic to these two guy's takes, *morally*. But the world's never been moral, it doesn't work that way. Russia's on the security council permantly like China, they hold equal veto sway as the U.S. and we can't kick them out (that'd be a horrible idea and would guarantee a WWIII anyway). They have as many (it used to be more, but think they've downsized somewhat) nukes as America does, even if like 30-40% of them are probably duds they can blow up the planet multiple times over. They may not be going to go crazy and do it over...fucking Kursk, a backwater, but if you're talking about goddamn Shock And Awe Iraq '03 over St Petersburg & Moscow, you're a suicidal clown basically.

It is what it is, reality's a thing. Israel's going to fuck up Iran in any head-to-head, Trump's an obnoxious moron, Kamala doesn't stand for a damn thing, Biden's old, Zelensky thinks he's Churchill, the sky is blue, Dr Phil's a fraud, New Zealand's irrelevant, nobody cares about Belgium, and Russians are fucking hardcore nihilists willing to turn Earth into the Moon if it looks like Russia's no longer going to be a thing.

Reality.

 

[contricusc]

To the first point: because we're never setting off nuclear weapons under any circumstances, other than someone pulling the trigger first and launching them at us. They're not like us. You have NATO tanks rolling through Poland & Ukraine toward Russia, American pilots striking Russian soil, and they *would* do it. We're more powerful, they also have the will to push the button whereas we don't. It's not something to toy with, even when they're bluffing about other stuff.

Their willingness to push the button is just propaganda and bluffing. You fell for it. They didn’t push the button when they left Afghanistan because they couldn’t hold it anymore, and they won’t push the button if they need to leave Ukraine. Why should they sacrifice Moscow and St Petersburg for Ukraine?

They are just talking about these things because they saw Westerners who actually believe them and are willing to make concessions out of fear.

Save Ukraine as best you can. But do it using Ukrainians, if they're able. If they're unable, then sucks as it may, tough shit, this isn't an apocalyptic WWII situation for us, and we're not about to turn it into one by crossing Russia's *actual* red lines.

Russia’s “actual” red lines will continue to move once they are crossed, as they have been doing for years. Putin and his oligarchy will not risk their own lives for Ukraine. They are just as cowards as Western leaders, the only differnce is that they are bluffing and posing as tough man. They are not.

Western leaders should call their bluffs and let Ukraine strike inside Russia with Western weapons. Nothing will change, except for the fact that Russia will need to adapt by moving further away their aircraft from the frontlines and getting more dispersed logistics.

The fear of nuclear annihilation is overrated. Russia won’t do it, because it would get annihilated too in the process. Also, the MAD doctrine is a big myth, because in reality the world would live on past any nuclear confrontation. There have been hundreds of nuclear detonations in the past and the world continues to thrive.

 

[UkroTurk]

UK could send troops to Ukraine on training mission

Generals consider money-saving deployment as Starmer hosts Zelensky at No 10

www.thetimes.com

 

[SilverMachine]

Their willingness to push the button is just propaganda and bluffing. You fell for it. They didn’t push the button when they left Afghanistan because they couldn’t hold it anymore, and they won’t push the button if they need to leave Ukraine. Why should they sacrifice Moscow and St Petersburg for Ukraine?

They are just talking about these things because they saw Westerners who actually believe them and are willing to make concessions out of fear.



Russia’s “actual” red lines will continue to move once they are crossed, as they have been doing for years. Putin and his oligarchy will not risk their own lives for Ukraine. They are just as cowards as Western leaders, the only differnce is that they are bluffing and posing as tough man. They are not.

Western leaders should call their bluffs and let Ukraine strike inside Russia with Western weapons. Nothing will change, except for the fact that Russia will need to adapt by moving further away their aircraft from the frontlines and getting more dispersed logistics.

The fear of nuclear annihilation is overrated. Russia won’t do it, because it would get annihilated too in the process. Also, the MAD doctrine is a big myth, because in reality the world would live on past any nuclear confrontation. There have been hundreds of nuclear detonations in the past and the world continues to thrive.

It's not bluffing though. Kursk? Bluffing. Kursk is nothing, Russia doesn't give a shit beyond it being a mild humiliation that they'll crush in due course.

Anything meaningful? They totally will. You can't have it both ways, either Putin's Evil Stalin II or he's not, it's not both. You miss the fact that a guy like Putin, or Medvedev, or Shoigu, or Kadyrov, they *don't* give a shit about continuing to live, if it's a world without Russia as Russia is now. We're not that. Biden, or Obama, or Bush or Clinton or Trump, none of those guys would ever let a hundred nukes off the chain unless Russia or China did it first. Russia won't under normal circumstances either, but *western/NATO* troops specifically on their territory they totally fucking would. It's not that complicated. We're strong, they're weak. The guy with his back against the wall and someone trying to strangle him, if he has a gun in his pocket he's totally pulling it.

This isn't some "Russia's right, Ukraine's wrong" thing. Ukraine deserves all its territory. Thing is, this war's going to end without Ukraine keeping all its territory, and the only way we're going to change that is a full-on existential WWIII. You might think you want that, wiser people know better, and thus won't pursue it. End of story. Ukraine's entitled to all their land. Normally. Ukraine's also not going to get all their land, if they want to go down a route of tens of millions of dead to defend it, fuck 'em. Most Ukrainians will feel the same way in 12 months, 18 months time. Inevitability has a way of that.

 

[Soldier30]

Unique footage of simultaneous combat operations of the Ukrainian Patriot air defense system of American manufacture and the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system of Russia has been published. The Patriot air defense system division was deployed in the area of the settlement of Pashena Balka in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine. It is worth noting that the Patriot air defense system was deployed with violations; the system should have been covered by other air defense systems to operate against small targets. Due to the lack of cover, the Russian Orlan-M UAV conducted unimpeded reconnaissance and guided missiles to the target. The Patriot air defense system crew detected the Iskander missiles and launched two interceptor missiles. The Patriot missiles went to the target, but due to the fact that the angle of approach of the Iskander-M missiles to the target exceeded 80 degrees, the guidance radar lost the target, and the guidance of the interceptor missiles ceased. As a result of the battle, Iskander missiles, using the air burst method, hit the AN/MRO-65 radar, the AN/MS0-104 combat control station and one Patriot SAM launcher. The extent of the damage is unclear, since the filming was done from a great distance.

 

[contricusc]

Anything meaningful? They totally will. You can't have it both ways, either Putin's Evil Stalin II or he's not, it's not both. You miss the fact that a guy like Putin, or Medvedev, or Shoigu, or Kadyrov, they *don't* give a shit about continuing to live, if it's a world without Russia as Russia is now.

Putin is a pigmy compared to Stalin. He would like to be perceived like the evil Stalin, but he is just a schoolyard bully type that would go in hiding the first time he gets slapped back. He is evil, but also a coward. He and his gang of thugs don’t give a damn about Russia, they only care about them staying in power and wealthy.

Putin would sell half of Russia in a heartbeat if he had to do it to save his life. The same goes for Medvedev, Shoigu or Kadyrov. The last one, the criminal Kadyrov sold his own people to Putin just for his own wealth and power.

We're not that. Biden, or Obama, or Bush or Clinton or Trump, none of those guys would ever let a hundred nukes off the chain unless Russia or China did it first.

The same goes for Putin. He would not start a nuclear war as long as his own life was not in danger, Russia be damned.

Russia won't under normal circumstances either, but *western/NATO* troops specifically on their territory they totally fucking would. It's not that complicated.

You really fell for their propaganda. You really think Putin cares about Russia. He is not. He only cares about his wealth, power and regime. If Putin would see Russia’s military crumbling against the West, he would immediately come to negotiate a peaceful resolution, and he would give up Ukraine immediately.

His nuclear weapons are just an insurance policy that the West will not go for regime change or direct invasion of Russia. As long as the West will not ty to invade Russia proper and annex territory, or try to do a regime change move inside Russia, the nukes will be kept as an insurance policy.

I would bet that even an invasion of Kaliningrad would not result in nuclear war. Putin would be willing to give up that territory if the alternative would be his end.

Remember that he’s a coward, not a tough guy. He is like Trump, only talk and bluster with zero substance.

 

[SilverMachine]

Agree to disagree, I guess. You're reckless as fuck, I'm not, hakuna matata. World War III is the type of thing we should be "we do it if there's no other choice" on, not actively pursuing. This is basic stuff. Oh yeah, Ukraine's nothing on any macro-scale measure. Russia gets it? That sucks. Life also goes on.