Live Conflict Ukraine-Russia War

[Soldier30]

An episode of an attempt to counterattack by a Ukrainian armored group, Russian positions in the area of the village of Novotroitskoye in the Pokrovsk direction. The column, consisting of a T-64BV tank and two armored personnel carriers of an unspecified type, was moving towards the village of Novotroitskoye. Judging by the video, the lead T-64BV tank was blown up by a mine, after which the column stopped. It is reported that after the tank was blown up, Russian artillery began to work on the column

 

[SilverMachine]

Drawing conclusions from 1 exchange is kinda silly. Also since Russia is advancing they capture more bodies that does not tell about casualties.

That's the key in all of this, that second part. Russia's advancing, at a greater rate than they have previously, and that's basically due to Ukraine being out of dudes. The equipment & cash is still coming in from overseas, but that's not much good when there's no one left to make use of them.

A manpower problem doesn't get better. Not when you want to be seen as the compassionate good guy leader, not when you're unwilling to send out roving squads of MPs to force 18 year olds kicking-and-screaming to die in the east. Zelensky could do that, but he won't, because at the end of the day he's a politician and he'd rather Ukraine ultimately partially-capitulate to Russia than the public see him personally as the guy pointlessly wasting an entire generation of 18-to-23 year olds Putin-style. He caught enough shit at home the first time when he started sending the 24 year olds.

 

[Relic]

Today the United States transferred $20 Billion usd to the World Bank, for distribution to Ukraine. The money is part of a larger $50 Billion usd loan, the remaining $30 Billion usd of which will released by the remainder of the G7.

The Biden Government promised that they would transfer the U.S. portion of the loan before leaving office, to ensure that the incoming Trump Government would not cancel the loan or attach any extra provisions, rules or regulations to it. Today the Biden Government lived up to that promise. Ukraine will now be able to use that money to purchase much needed additional military equipment, as well as pay it's armed forces.

The loan will be paid back over 30 years, using interest proceeds from frozen Russian assets in American and EU financial institutions.

U.S. Transfers $20 Billion Loan to Ukraine Backed by Russian Assets

The economic lifeline ensures that Ukraine will have economic support after President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Relic]

On the same day that USA announced a $20 Billion usd loan to Ukraine, the State Department approved a $266 Million usd foreign Military sales package for the upgrade and upkeep of Ukraine's F-16 Fighter Jets. This news comes just a couple days after Denmark announced the transfer of additional F-16s to Ukraine.

The $266 Million usd support package consists of the the following:

- Joint Mission Planning System
- Weapons Software
- Training Equipment / Munitions
- Spare Parts

These packages might not seem "sexy" on the surface, however, Ukraine is expected to receive upwards of 85 F-16s from 4 European partners. Upgrading the Jets, making them more capable and lethal, will greatly increase their survivability and Mission capability. Furthermore, a significant influx of spare parts will keep them airborne and active.

For the forseeable future Ukraine will continue to use their F-16s as long range strike platforms and airborne air defense platforms, intercepting Russian drones and cruise missiles with relatively cheap and available AIM-120 AMRAAMS and AIM-9 Sidewinders. Meanwhile, additional pilots are currently training in USA , Canada , The Netherlands , Poland and Romania . As more pilots qualify on the airframe and the current pilots build their skill sets, it's expected that Ukraine will expand the role of their F-16s, using them to support ground formations closer to the front and to provide some forms of of CAS against advancing Russian units.

What I would next love to see is USA sell an additional couple dozen units of F-16s to Ukraine. The Americans are retiring them by the hundreds over the next couple years and Ukraine could buy some of them for a reasonable price, putting a portion of that hefty loan to use. There is no immediate need for additional units as Ukraine doesn't have to the number of pilots required to fly the inventory they have access to now, but long term, it would allow Ukraine to be more aggressive with them.

US announces $266 million in sales to bolster Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets

The State Department approved a $266 million foreign military sales package for Ukraine on Dec. 10, enabling the sustainment of services as well as repairs necessary for the upkeep of the country's F-16 fighter jets.

kyivindependent.com

 

[SilverMachine]

Hopefully their, what, half-dozen pilots who actually passed the F-16 training can make use of those additional F-16s.

 

[Soldier30]

Footage of the attack of the Russian FPV kamikaze drone "Prince Vandal Novgorodsky", controlled via fiber optic cable. In the video, the FPV drone "Vandal" attacks the Ukrainian robotic platform "Lynx", with the installed combat module "Shablya". The ground-based wheeled drone "Lynx" is produced in Ukraine, it is equipped with the combat module "Shablya" with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The unmanned platform "Lynx" can be controlled via cable or via Wi-Fi. The remotely controlled robot "Lynx" is equipped with boxes of ammunition for 250, 450 and 600 rounds. Judging by the video, at the time of the drone strike, the robotic platform "Lynx" was no longer active.

 

[blackjack]

Trumps best friend is pretty funny.

Trumps son is pretty funny to.

I am assuming this is Trump's close circle opinions on Ukraine?

 

[Woland]

Analysis: Russia lost more tanks at Pokrovsk than any country in Europe has in its army

Russia is suffering more and more losses trying to look like the side that is winning.
The dynamics of Russian losses indicate the price of the Russian offensive.

Russia had to go to a colossal increase in its losses in order to continue to look like the winning side. While in 2022 Russian losses amounted to about 200 soldiers per day (killed and wounded), in 2023 - about 500, then in 2024 Russia reached the mark of 1K and 1.5K soldiers per day. In the battles near Pokrovsk, Russian losses are close to the number of the entire Western Military District of the Russian Federation as of 2022, which was being prepared for war with NATO. And this is about 60% of the forces with which Russia planned to seize Ukraine in three days in 2022.

In October 2023, Russia defined the offensive on Pokrovsk as the main axis of its offensive campaign. Obviously, Putin is focused on the goal of completely capturing the Donetsk region as the highest priority in the coming years. But this offensive has led to colossal losses.

During the first few weeks of the offensive, Russian losses were estimated at 13,000 soldiers. In February 2024, Russian losses were estimated at 47,000 soldiers killed and wounded. The dynamics of battles in this direction did not decrease as time went on; Russia's total losses during 13 months of fighting in the Pokrovsk direction amount to about 150,000 soldiers killed and wounded. This is more than Russia's losses in the battles for Bakhmut (100,000).

Only the visually confirmed losses of the Russian army during the 13 months of fighting in the Pokrovsk region amount to 1,800 units of armor. The real losses are even greater.

How much is that? The number of Russian casualties in the Battle of Pokrovsk is close to the number of the Western Military District as of 2022, which included three armies: the 1st Tank Army, the 6th and 20th General Armies.

The Western Military District of the Russian Federation was supposed to oppose the armed forces of NATO on the territory of Europe, and the First Tank Army was Putin's greatest pride (the largest tank army in the world). Imagine if some general proposed an offensive plan that involved the loss of three armies in battles for two small cities with a total pre-war population of 95,000 (Avdiivka and Pokrovsk). Any country would recognize this as madness.

Russia lost more tanks at Pokrovsk than any country in Europe has in its army. Or more soldiers than the entire Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. Remember this when you read the news about the battles for a small town in eastern Ukraine.
Perhaps in the future historians will have to revise the term "Pyrrhic victory" and replace it with "Putin's offensive". But it does not seem that Putin and his generals are capable of abandoning the continuation of the offensive on Pokrovsk, no matter the cost to the Russian army.

It is hard to believe, but the Russian losses of armored vehicles at Pokrovsk are greater than the losses of the German army in the Battle of Stalingrad. The Battle of Pokrovsk may become one of the largest offensives in history in terms of the number of armored vehicles lost.

For every kilometer of occupied territory in this direction, Russia loses 10-15 times more resources than in all other directions. This testifies to Putin's obsession with showing everyone that the Russian army does not stop, but continues to advance, no matter the cost.

It is likely that in the coming months no less brutal battles and frontal attacks by the Russian army await us. These months will be the culmination of the Pokrovsk offensive. An offensive in which Russia will lose three armies to assert the ambitions of its dictator.

https://x.com/Volodymyr_D_/status/1866583867798487225

 

[FiReFTW]

Analysis: Russia lost more tanks at Pokrovsk than any country in Europe has in its army

Russia is suffering more and more losses trying to look like the side that is winning.
The dynamics of Russian losses indicate the price of the Russian offensive.

Russia had to go to a colossal increase in its losses in order to continue to look like the winning side. While in 2022 Russian losses amounted to about 200 soldiers per day (killed and wounded), in 2023 - about 500, then in 2024 Russia reached the mark of 1K and 1.5K soldiers per day. In the battles near Pokrovsk, Russian losses are close to the number of the entire Western Military District of the Russian Federation as of 2022, which was being prepared for war with NATO. And this is about 60% of the forces with which Russia planned to seize Ukraine in three days in 2022.

In October 2023, Russia defined the offensive on Pokrovsk as the main axis of its offensive campaign. Obviously, Putin is focused on the goal of completely capturing the Donetsk region as the highest priority in the coming years. But this offensive has led to colossal losses.

During the first few weeks of the offensive, Russian losses were estimated at 13,000 soldiers. In February 2024, Russian losses were estimated at 47,000 soldiers killed and wounded. The dynamics of battles in this direction did not decrease as time went on; Russia's total losses during 13 months of fighting in the Pokrovsk direction amount to about 150,000 soldiers killed and wounded. This is more than Russia's losses in the battles for Bakhmut (100,000).

Only the visually confirmed losses of the Russian army during the 13 months of fighting in the Pokrovsk region amount to 1,800 units of armor. The real losses are even greater.

How much is that? The number of Russian casualties in the Battle of Pokrovsk is close to the number of the Western Military District as of 2022, which included three armies: the 1st Tank Army, the 6th and 20th General Armies.

The Western Military District of the Russian Federation was supposed to oppose the armed forces of NATO on the territory of Europe, and the First Tank Army was Putin's greatest pride (the largest tank army in the world). Imagine if some general proposed an offensive plan that involved the loss of three armies in battles for two small cities with a total pre-war population of 95,000 (Avdiivka and Pokrovsk). Any country would recognize this as madness.

Russia lost more tanks at Pokrovsk than any country in Europe has in its army. Or more soldiers than the entire Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. Remember this when you read the news about the battles for a small town in eastern Ukraine.
Perhaps in the future historians will have to revise the term "Pyrrhic victory" and replace it with "Putin's offensive". But it does not seem that Putin and his generals are capable of abandoning the continuation of the offensive on Pokrovsk, no matter the cost to the Russian army.

It is hard to believe, but the Russian losses of armored vehicles at Pokrovsk are greater than the losses of the German army in the Battle of Stalingrad. The Battle of Pokrovsk may become one of the largest offensives in history in terms of the number of armored vehicles lost.

For every kilometer of occupied territory in this direction, Russia loses 10-15 times more resources than in all other directions. This testifies to Putin's obsession with showing everyone that the Russian army does not stop, but continues to advance, no matter the cost.

It is likely that in the coming months no less brutal battles and frontal attacks by the Russian army await us. These months will be the culmination of the Pokrovsk offensive. An offensive in which Russia will lose three armies to assert the ambitions of its dictator.

Source:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1866583867798487225

Thats some nice western propaganda for you, lovely.

 

[Oublious]

 

[Huelague]

That's the key in all of this, that second part. Russia's advancing, at a greater rate than they have previously, and that's basically due to Ukraine being out of dudes. The equipment & cash is still coming in from overseas, but that's not much good when there's no one left to make use of them.

A manpower problem doesn't get better. Not when you want to be seen as the compassionate good guy leader, not when you're unwilling to send out roving squads of MPs to force 18 year olds kicking-and-screaming to die in the east. Zelensky could do that, but he won't, because at the end of the day he's a politician and he'd rather Ukraine ultimately partially-capitulate to Russia than the public see him personally as the guy pointlessly wasting an entire generation of 18-to-23 year olds Putin-style. He caught enough shit at home the first time when he started sending the 24 year olds.

Give them deep strike capabilities and we will have a balanced exchange rate.

 

[Huelague]

Thats some nice western propaganda for you, lovely.

Can you show us, where he is wrong?

 

[blackjack]

Can you show us, where he is wrong?

-I mean for starters Zelensky said 43,000 Ukrainians died 2 days ago.
-2 days ago he said the Whitehouse told him to lower the draft age to 18.
-keep in mind this country had like over 40 million people before the war started.
-On that same day 2 days ago, he said there are currently 800,000 Russians in Ukraine.

The only reason users like Woland and others still put up Ukrainian statistics is for us to have a good laugh out of it, because Zelensky and Ukrainian military personnel contradict their graphs. I mean yeah whatever Russia lost over 700,000+ soldiers, but they got 800,000+ more in Ukraine, that is way over the 1.5 million active duty goal the Russians still have to finish, because that announcement was 3 months ago

Ukrainians worst enemies are not the Russians, but themselves whenever they open their mouth

 

[Relic]

Hopefully their, what, half-dozen pilots who actually passed the F-16 training can make use of those additional F-16s.

Lol you do realize that infrastructure has to be built in a country to support a capability before it can be used readily, right?

Yes, there are a limited number of Ukrainian pilots trained to fly the F-16 in combat missions right now, but time doesn't standstill. Do you realize that there are approximately 6 more Ukrainian pilots training on the F-16 right now in Arizona, 6 training to fly the F-16 with Top Aces in Montreal right now, and a further undisclosed number training to fly the F-16 in The Netherlands, Romania and Poland as we speak? Not to mention, there are are another 12+ pilots previously qualified to fly Mig-29s and Su-27s, undergoing English language training and lead in fighter training on the Hawk in the Britain, which will significantly decrease training time required for the next cohort of Ukrainian F-16 pilots that are course loaded after the current batch.

So yes, there might be a handful of qualified pilots at this moment in time, but before long (weeks / months) that number is slated to 4-5x the current number and by the end of 2025, that number will double again.

Not every capability is about this exact moment in time. The F-16 and Mirage 2000-5 was always a multi year plan, requiring layers of logistics and support. The bigger point is that later this year, Ukraine's air combat capability will close start to close the gap on Russia's for the first time in the war, because they'll be flying decent aircraft, with quality weapons for the first time in the 3 years since the war started.

Denmark's transfer of additional F-16s for Ukraine is not accidental. It's a response to the imminent addition of more pilots to their cadre and, thus, the ability to operate more aircraft. That's why they've been moved into the theatre at this time.

As for the United States, all they're doing is upgrading the systems on board the European F-16s, increasing the lethality of them and making them not only compatible, but ideal for a greater suite of American weapons. Keep in mind that Ukraine is about to get $50 Billion usd in cash. USA wants to guarantee that they'll be earmarking a huge chunk of that for weapons purchases direct from American manufacturers.

 

[Relic]

Canada announced new funding for Ukraine today, after Parliament approved a significant spending package. The aid is broken down into three parts including $587 million usd in military aid, $307 million usd in macro financial aid and $45 million in humanitarian aid.

The military aid will largely consist of the following:

- Ammunition of various calibers
- 155mm artillery shells
- Observation and attack drones
- Pilot training for F-16s

Canada approves $587 million in military aid for Ukraine

Canada’s House of Commons has approved 764 million Canadian dollars (approximately $587 million) in military aid for Ukraine, Ukrinform reported on Dec. 11.

english.nv.ua

 

[Woland]

-I mean for starters Zelensky said 43,000 Ukrainians died 2 days ago.
-2 days ago he said the Whitehouse told him to lower the draft age to 18.
-keep in mind this country had like over 40 million people before the war started.
-On that same day 2 days ago, he said there are currently 800,000 Russians in Ukraine.

The only reason users like Woland and others still put up Ukrainian statistics is for us to have a good laugh out of it, because Zelensky and Ukrainian military personnel contradict their graphs. I mean yeah whatever Russia lost over 700,000+ soldiers, but they got 800,000+ more in Ukraine, that is way over the 1.5 million active duty goal the Russians still have to finish, because that announcement was 3 months ago

Ukrainians worst enemies are not the Russians, but themselves whenever they open their mouth

The post focuses on OPSEC visually confirmed losses of tanks, armored vehicles and artillery, rather than Ukrainian statistics. Furthermore, while claiming to show where I'm wrong, none of what you said in any way contradicts my post.

 

[Relic]

-I mean for starters Zelensky said 43,000 Ukrainians died 2 days ago.
-2 days ago he said the Whitehouse told him to lower the draft age to 18.
-keep in mind this country had like over 40 million people before the war started.
-On that same day 2 days ago, he said there are currently 800,000 Russians in Ukraine.

The only reason users like Woland and others still put up Ukrainian statistics is for us to have a good laugh out of it, because Zelensky and Ukrainian military personnel contradict their graphs. I mean yeah whatever Russia lost over 700,000+ soldiers, but they got 800,000+ more in Ukraine, that is way over the 1.5 million active duty goal the Russians still have to finish, because that announcement was 3 months ago

Ukrainians worst enemies are not the Russians, but themselves whenever they open their mouth

Anybody with half a brain knows that the statistics that both Russia and Ukraine release are BS. They're incredibly inflated / deflated to fit their respective narratives.

That's why I routinely post third party / open source information supported by visual evidence and / or documentation. It's far more accurate and gives us a much better indication of what's really happening in the war and how to analyze those happenings.

Anybody operating from a place of honesty will concede that both parties have sustained hundreds of thousands of casualties. How many have been KIA, WIA or captured is up for debate, but the fact that there have been a horrendous number of casualties on both sides is not. In the same line of thinking, both sides have suffered immense attrition among their military equipment and both sides continue to suffer losses of equipment far beyond the rate of replenishment. Finally, both sides are struggling mightily to finance this war at this point. Ukraine requires international cash injections to keep their government afloat and Russia is selling bonds ands coupons to banks at rates in the 20% range, meaning that Russians are going to suffer financially in the coming years while the Kremlin tries to pay down it's quickly accumulating debts. It's a terrible financial situation for both sides and probably slightly worse for Ukraine because they rely on international help that could stop at any minute, while Russia at least can still operate fiscally, within it's own system.

As for the Whitehouse encouraging Zelensky to draft younger people, it's not because Ukraine has run out of soldiers. It's because the West acknowledges that Russia is willing to pay an astronomical human price to win (or at least not lose) this war. The West is selfish and wants Russia's military degraded and doesn't particularly care about the Ukrainian loss of life while achieving that end. Meanwhile, Zelensky is tasked with managing the war effort, without his country sustaining so many casualties that the population becomes demoralized and he has to ensure that there is a young workforce / tax base left in his country post-war, to help rebuild the economy and the country in general. Therefore, Zelensky wants to deploy western technology, instead of more Ukrainian soldiers... But that technology is expensive and Ukraine is short on money, so western leaders would rather Zelensky tackle the problem with the cheaper solution... Throwing more humans into the meat grinder.

It's a genuine problem because the interests of the West and Ukraine (both short and long term) are only partially aligned. But one thing is painfully obvious. There are extremely complicated geopolitical factors at play.

 

[blackjack]

The post focuses on OPSEC visually confirmed losses of tanks, armored vehicles and artillery, rather than Ukrainian statistics.

I dont think I have seen that here lately, although it shouldn't be that hard for Ukrainians to show visual confirmed losses with dates because I dont see users doing it here anymore like they use to or they gave up. This user has no problem showing Ukrainian losses though 24/7.


But of course, you, me, everyone and everyone's grandma knows why users here stopped posting claims of what Ukrainians consider as Russian losses because single day they do it does not compare to their own losses. Like if someone decided to post that Ukraine in 24 hours destroyed up 2 Russian armored vehicles, someone else(Tam from sino defense) would post that Russia destroyed 10-12 armored vehicles and if that kept happening every single day on this thread it would definitely discourage pro-ukraine users from posting Russian losses which is why most users have given up here already(I know users here use to do it before when this thread started).

Furthermore, while claiming to show where I'm wrong, none of what you said in any way contradicts my post.

Ukrainian soldiers do, like one saying in the offensive they would lose 5 soldiers just for 1 soldier and the body exchange according to the red cross organization that Russia wants to trade 10 times the Ukrainian bodies for each Russian body. You have only posted graphs in that post no visual losses because you personally know you don't have the sources from pro-ukraine sources to visually show how much Russian shit gets destroyed. The graphs you posted could be as accurate as Zelensky stating only 43K Ukrainians died but for some reason they have to lower the mobilization age to 18 because the US said so.

Even some common sense can help you troubleshoot that the losses are not comparable or support Ukraine.
1.Western officials say they produce 4 times armoured vehicles NATO does, 10 times more artillery than what they can give to Ukraine.
2.Ukraine admitting their manpower shortage by not finding a time window for the next counteroffensive.
3.Ukraine admitting they will have to start mobilization laws lowering the age to 18.
4.Ukraine soldiers in western sources like Washington post admitting how much they lose in manpower in comparison to russians.
5.Red cross stating how much bodies each side trades.
6. Ukraine getting themselves in cauldrons all the time which makes their positions take hits from all directions offering no cover.
7. Saying that there are 800k Russian soldiers which makes it look like you have 4 years to deal with that with funding only coming from Europe.

Its like we already know the end results of the war unless some other powers want to intervene and no one wins giving the earth a good reset. But it's just straight delusion at this point to at least say Ukrainian losses are very comparable or lesser to Russian losses.

 

[Relic]

I dont think I have seen that here lately, although it shouldn't be that hard for Ukrainians to show visual confirmed losses with dates because I dont see users doing it here anymore like they use to or they gave up. This user has no problem showing Ukrainian losses though 24/7.
View attachment 72631 View attachment 72632 View attachment 72633 View attachment 72634 View attachment 72635
View attachment 72636 View attachment 72637 View attachment 72638
But of course, you, me, everyone and everyone's grandma knows why users here stopped posting claims of what Ukrainians consider as Russian losses because single day they do it does not compare to their own losses. Like if someone decided to post that Ukraine in 24 hours destroyed up 2 Russian armored vehicles, someone else(Tam from sino defense) would post that Russia destroyed 10-12 armored vehicles and if that kept happening every single day on this thread it would definitely discourage pro-ukraine users from posting Russian losses which is why most users have given up here already(I know users here use to do it before when this thread started).

Ukrainian soldiers do, like one saying in the offensive they would lose 5 soldiers just for 1 soldier and the body exchange according to the red cross organization that Russia wants to trade 10 times the Ukrainian bodies for each Russian body. You have only posted graphs in that post no visual losses because you personally know you don't have the sources from pro-ukraine sources to visually show how much Russian shit gets destroyed. The graphs you posted could be as accurate as Zelensky stating only 43K Ukrainians died but for some reason they have to lower the mobilization age to 18 because the US said so.

Even some common sense can help you troubleshoot that the losses are not comparable or support Ukraine.
1.Western officials say they produce 4 times armoured vehicles NATO does, 10 times more artillery than what they can give to Ukraine.
2.Ukraine admitting their manpower shortage by not finding a time window for the next counteroffensive.
3.Ukraine admitting they will have to start mobilization laws lowering the age to 18.
4.Ukraine soldiers in western sources like Washington post admitting how much they lose in manpower in comparison to russians.
5.Red cross stating how much bodies each side trades.
6. Ukraine getting themselves in cauldrons all the time which makes their positions take hits from all directions offering no cover.
7. Saying that there are 800k Russian soldiers which makes it look like you have 4 years to deal with that with funding only coming from Europe.

Its like we already know the end results of the war unless some other powers want to intervene and no one wins giving the earth a good reset. But it's just straight delusion at this point to at least say Ukrainian losses are very comparable or lesser to Russian losses.

I'm not hiding anything. Here is Andrew Perpetua's visually confirmed and geolocated losses for both Russia and Ukraine over the last 3 days. Both sides continue to face significant attrition.

Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social)

Here are losses I could identify for yesterday. 162 💀 10337 👻 in 108 past days #SkullThrone Sources: losses.ukrdailyupdate.com

bsky.app

Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social)

Here are losses I could identify for yesterday. 108 💀 10175 👻 in 107 past days #SkullThrone Sources: losses.ukrdailyupdate.com

bsky.app

Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social)

Here are losses I could identify for the December 7th 112 💀 10067 👻 in 106 past days #SkullThrone Sources: losses.ukrdailyupdate.com

bsky.app

And below is the updated link to the Oryx list of destroyed, damaged and captured Russian and Ukrainian equipment. They continue to update their lists for both sides regularly.

Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

www.oryxspioenkop.com

Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

www.oryxspioenkop.com

 

[SilverMachine]

Lol you do realize that infrastructure has to be built in a country to support a capability before it can be used readily, right?

Yes, there are a limited number of Ukrainian pilots trained to fly the F-16 in combat missions right now, but time doesn't standstill. Do you realize that there are approximately 6 more Ukrainian pilots training on the F-16 right now in Arizona, 6 training to fly the F-16 with Top Aces in Montreal right now, and a further undisclosed number training to fly the F-16 in The Netherlands, Romania and Poland as we speak? Not to mention, there are are another 12+ pilots previously qualified to fly Mig-29s and Su-27s, undergoing English language training and lead in fighter training on the Hawk in the Britain, which will significantly decrease training time required for the next cohort of Ukrainian F-16 pilots that are course loaded after the current batch.

So yes, there might be a handful of qualified pilots at this moment in time, but before long (weeks / months) that number is slated to 4-5x the current number and by the end of 2025, that number will double again.

Not every capability is about this exact moment in time. The F-16 and Mirage 2000-5 was always a multi year plan, requiring layers of logistics and support. The bigger point is that later this year, Ukraine's air combat capability will close start to close the gap on Russia's for the first time in the war, because they'll be flying decent aircraft, with quality weapons for the first time in the 3 years since the war started.

Denmark's transfer of additional F-16s for Ukraine is not accidental. It's a response to the imminent addition of more pilots to their cadre and, thus, the ability to operate more aircraft. That's why they've been moved into the theatre at this time.

As for the United States, all they're doing is upgrading the systems on board the European F-16s, increasing the lethality of them and making them not only compatible, but ideal for a greater suite of American weapons. Keep in mind that Ukraine is about to get $50 Billion usd in cash. USA wants to guarantee that they'll be earmarking a huge chunk of that for weapons purchases direct from American manufacturers.

All of that's great if the war drags out another 2 years or whatever. It won't, so...Ukraine needs pilots fucking pronto, right? The airframes aren't anything when you've got somewhere slightly north of a mere 12 guys training overseas, the success/pass rate of the last batch of Ukrainian pilots training in the west was...not high, and two of the three most senior of that last batch died basically the second they actually got into combat. A-grade Uke badass boss-level Tom Cruises.

This ain't it, chief. Wave keeps on-a-comin' crashing through regardless.