Ukraine

[Dave2002]

Re msg 1830, that kind of strategy has also been used by the Ukrainians. The ship sinking mentioned in post1829 was not just a result of a few missiles getting through, but a rather more coordinated attempt. One thing to note though is that when the Russians mount large attacks, as in the ones today, they often use very expensive kit, which of course is not immediately replaceable. This also applies to the Ukrainian strategies, but on the whole they do seem to be adopting a more targetted approach, and don't use the most expensive weapons and equipment unless absolutely necessary.

[HighlandDougie]

OK - it's not about Ukraine this time but, as I am loath to start a new thread on the Gaza situation, here are the latest musings of Sir Lawrence F:

https://samf.substack.com/p/israelgaza-retrospect-and-prospect?utm_campaign=email-post&r=w1xt&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[Frances_iom]

OK - it's not about Ukraine this time but, as I am loath to start a new thread on the Gaza situation,...

you are likely to get removed if you did so - I have restrained from much posting - my own moral compass is that there is no difference between the Hamas violence and that by the Israeli airforce in deliberate bombing of civilian infrastructure - both have the aim of killing + maiming non-combatants to push a political goal - Sir Lawrence maybe correct but my own estimate is that the actions in Gaza will be remembered - yea, unto the third generation.

[HighlandDougie]

As usual, a well-written and dispassionate contribution from Sir Lawrence:

https://samf.substack.com/p/ukraine-through-the-gloom?utm_campaign=email-post&r=w1xt&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[Frances_iom]

Waiting for Sir Lawrence's comments on changing Generals mid war - especially as ammo is running short

[french frank]

Waiting for Sir Lawrence's comments on changing Generals mid war - especially as ammo is running short

Putin sacked Gerasimov mid-war too.

[Frances_iom]

Putin sacked Gerasimov mid-war too.

Ah, but that was only a special military operation - that's apparently very different from a war

[Retune]

Horribly predictable but still shocking when it actually happens:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/16/russian-activist-and-putin-critic-alexei-navalny-dies-in-prison

'In a statement, the federal penitentiary service for the region where Navalny was incarcerated said that he had “felt unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness”.
“All necessary resuscitation measures were carried out but did not yield positive results,” the statement read. “The paramedics confirmed the death of the convict.”'

[richardfinegold]

R.I.P.

[Frances_iom]

just a tidying up exercise in advance of the publication of the 90% vote for Putin after the tedious business of putting on a facade of democracy - after all if he can't stand against a retired civil servant then he certainly didn't want Nevalny issuing a 'congratulatory' missive post event.

[HighlandDougie]

Again, not about Ukraine but dealing with France, the UK, NATO and Trump. As Sr L says, "Hopefully Trump will not get a second term and a transatlantic crisis can be avoided" - see for the full version https://samf.substack.com/p/trump-na...m_medium=email

[french frank]

Again, not about Ukraine but dealing with France, the UK, NATO and Trump. As Sr L says, "Hopefully Trump will not get a second term and a transatlantic crisis can be avoided" - see for the full version https://samf.substack.com/p/trump-na...m_medium=email

I thought this might have been LF's comments on the latest from Avdiivka. No doubt they will follow.

[HighlandDougie]

More about Mad Vlad than Ukraine but interesting nonetheless:

https://samf.substack.com/p/putin-the-fanatic?utm_campaign=email-post&r=w1xt&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[Dave2002]

More about Mad Vlad than Ukraine but interesting nonetheless:

https://samf.substack.com/p/putin-th...m_medium=email

The book can indeed be downloaded for free - over 300 pages. Presumably different points of view - so not just LF's.

[Frances_iom]

Freedman's comment "The problem is not that he is irrational but the way that he has framed his Ukraine problem obliges him to act in ever more unreasonable ways, because to do otherwise would require giving in to forces that challenge his idea of the Russian nation and what is stands for." makes him the more dangerous in that he may well actually use a nuclear device rather than to face a defeat of a surviving, though heavily damaged, Ukraine. However there are equally blind fanatics in the USA who will not help Ukraine but stoke up middle east problems by arming Israel to make Gaza a wasteland and now to carry the war to Iran.