Ukraine

[Dave2002]

This is also an interesting, though disturbing, article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63137511

Curiously google maps still just about functions for some trips within the region, though how reliable it is is unknown. Some services are shown as unavailable.
There are no obvious warnings about travelling through war zones - so perhaps the routes and time estimates are based on pre-war data.

[french frank]

What to make of this reported by the BBC: 'But Andrey Kartopolov, the chairman of the State Duma defence committee, told state media that Russia needed to stop lying about what was happening on the battlefield, saying that Russians were not stupid.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63149156

Kartopolov not uncontroversial (but at least he looks human).

[richardfinegold]

Yes, they certainly have access to these, including one type called 'Excalibur'. The HIMARS rocket systems are also very effective, with highly effective guidance systems. However, the more conventional modern western-supplied artillery can also do a good job as Ukraine has become very adept at using drones for artillery spotting purposes. Ukraine's military communication system is also much more advanced than Russia's which makes counter-battery fire and other fire support more effective. Furthermore Russia's cumbersome chain of command means that their artillery fire hits targets of opportunity much less often.

The Russians have had some success with heavy bombardments of towns and cities where accuracy is less important than overwhelming weight of fire. However, Ukraine's destruction of Russian supply lines has reduced the effectiveness of this tactic, which is also heading towards a war crime even when the civilian population is not directly targeted.

The next but one series of battles in Kherson Oblast may be easier for the Russians in so far as they will have better supply lines east of the Dnipro river, at least to start with. However, Ukraine's artillery is getting stronger and more effective, while Russia's is being systematically degraded. That's not including the large numbers of artillery pieces that they have left behind as 'gifts' in the north-east.

Interesting. I am currently reading Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of August, about the first month of WW1. It is always interesting when Armies collide, frequently fighting at a location of no one’s choosing, because of unawares of the enemies location. Your post points out how cheap drones have become the calvary of today, by providing this intelligence and also being employed as offensive weapons. No more need for Artillery Spotters, which was one of the most dangerous jobs in WW1. It does level the playing field between asymmetric opponents such as we are seeing now

[Dave2002]

Kartopolov not uncontroversial (but at least he looks human).

Even the nastiest people might "look human", and some of the nicest and kindest might be ugly.

I'm not suggesting that Kartopolov may not fundamentally be a "decent" guy, but looks are no guide.

[french frank]

I'm not suggesting that Kartopolov may not fundamentally be a "decent" guy, but looks are no guide.

That was an aside to the main point - that a member of the military had spoken out and said the Kremlin was lying to the Russian people.

Add: Though I'm not sure that K is actually against the war itself:

https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/10/05/state-duma-deputy-asks-defense-ministry-to-stop-lying-about-the-war

[Dave2002]

That was an aside to the main point - that a member of the military had spoken out and said the Kremlin was lying to the Russian people.

Possibly - though how many people in Russia would notice? In the UK most people don't have a clue what politicians and others say or do, so I doubt that it'll be different in Russia.

[french frank]

Possibly - though how many people in Russia would notice? In the UK most people don't have a clue what politicians and others say or do, so I doubt that it'll be different in Russia.

The point is that he said it (on State TV), isn't it? But as I added to my post, it may just be criticism of the Ministry of Defence rather than of the war itself (cf Ramzan Kadyrov).

[Dave2002]

That was an aside to the main point - that a member of the military had spoken out and said the Kremlin was lying to the Russian people.

Add: Though I'm not sure that K is actually against the war itself:

https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/10/05...-about-the-war

If that article contains the gist of what he said, then he is also being economical with (IMO) the truth. Belgorod is somewhat distant from Kharkiv, on the other side of what was, and presumably still is, the border with Ukraine. His words are a distraction. It is possible that Belgorod has been hit by Ukrainian forces, but in comparison to the damage inflicted on Kharkiv and other towns and cities in Ukraine that seems very small - which is not to excuse it under "normal" circumstances. Sure - in the 1940s Russia had to stand firm against an invading enemy, for which many in Russia, Ukraine, and the rest of Europe must surely be grateful, but this time round many people outside Russia believe that Russia is the enemy, the aggressor, and should be stopped. In the 1940s many who lived in the USSR - in parts of what is now Ukraine - suffered badly from the Germans, and fought strongly against that invader. Russia (i.e. the Kremln and Putin) finds it convenient now to place those people, and their families and descendents on an opposing side.

[richardfinegold]

If that article contains the gist of what he said, then he is also being economical with (IMO) the truth. Belgorod is somewhat distant from Kharkiv, on the other side of what was, and presumably still is, the border with Ukraine. His words are a distraction. It is possible that Belgorod has been hit by Ukrainian forces, but in comparison to the damage inflicted on Kharkiv and other towns and cities in Ukraine that seems very small - which is not to excuse it under "normal" circumstances. Sure - in the 1940s Russia had to stand firm against an invading enemy, for which many in Russia, Ukraine, and the rest of Europe must surely be grateful, but this time round many people outside Russia believe that Russia is the enemy, the aggressor, and should be stopped. In the 1940s many who lived in the USSR - in parts of what is now Ukraine - suffered badly from the Germans, and fought strongly against that invader. Russia (i.e. the Kremln and Putin) finds it convenient now to place those people, and their families and descendents on an opposing side.

To be fair, there were many Ukranians who collaborated with the Nazis in WWII. Stalin and Lenin had quashed a Ukranian Independence Movement, and then Stalin's Collective Farm Policy caused a massive famine that might have killed 2 million. The Ukranians have been strongly Anti Semitic historically as noted in previous posts and many were on board with the Nazis agenda. Many Ukranians had been part of the Austro Hungarian Empire (they were called Ruthenians) and may have had some residual warm feelings towards Germans. The Ukranian Independence Leader Stephen Bandera at one time formally allied with the Nazis. Ukranians made up a rather large percentage of Concentration Camp Guards. So there is a lot of historical underpinings for Russians to utilize to call them Nazis. Of course, the Russians have not satisfactorily explained how such a supposedly modern Nazi entity picked a Jewish descendent of Holocaust Survivors to be their President...

[french frank]

The latest young Russians to flee Putin's call-up are two men who have arrived seeking asylum in Alaska.

As for Nazis, Nazi is as Nazi does and it's hard not to see Putin's policy towards Ukrainians as coming under that label.

[Bryn]

. . . As for Nazis, Nazi is as Nazi does and it's hard not to see Putin's policy towards Ukrainians as coming under that label.

Quite!

[Dave2002]

To be fair, there were many Ukranians who collaborated with the Nazis in WWII. Stalin and Lenin had quashed a Ukranian Independence Movement, and then Stalin's Collective Farm Policy caused a massive famine that might have killed 2 million. The Ukranians have been strongly Anti Semitic historically as noted in previous posts and many were on board with the Nazis agenda. Many Ukranians had been part of the Austro Hungarian Empire (they were called Ruthenians) and may have had some residual warm feelings towards Germans. The Ukranian Independence Leader Stephen Bandera at one time formally allied with the Nazis. Ukranians made up a rather large percentage of Concentration Camp Guards. So there is a lot of historical underpinings for Russians to utilize to call them Nazis. Of course, the Russians have not satisfactorily explained how such a supposedly modern Nazi entity picked a Jewish descendent of Holocaust Survivors to be their President...

Thanks for this comment - I'll have to look into that. I can't get a feeling for attitudes around 80 years ago, but I did get the feeling that in areas like Odesa the Nazi Germans were disliked, not least because of the suffering and deaths they imposed on the population, including many Jewish people. This is not a historical topic on which I have any strong insights. Possibly there has been some some considerable rewriting of history on the part of the Ukrainians to accord more favourably with current attitudes elsewhere - but really I just don't know.

The famine of 1932-33 - the Holodomor - may very well have been a factor in some Ukrainians supporting the Nazis - as they would not have wanted to support Stalin's regime. Again I have very little detailed knowledge about that, other than what I learned from watching the film about Gareth Jones, who documented the hardships during those times.

[french frank]

Fascinating quote from, I presume, the Russian equivalent of Fox News: "It's our war with total Satanism", no less, Vladimir Solovyov told viewers this week. "This is not about Ukraine. The West's aim is clear. Regime change and dismembering Russia, so that Russia no longer exists," he bellowed.'

Russia's aim is clear. Regime change and dismembering Ukraine, so that Ukraine no longer exists, surely? As for Satanism, he's singing from the same songbook as the right-wing media in the US when they describe the Democrats.

[Dave2002]

Now it looks as though one of the two bridges linking Crimea with Russia has been damaged. Actually both bridges have been damaged - the road and the rail bridge, but one seems to have collapsed. The other may still have some viable structure.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-63183435

Doesn't look as though a cause has been identified, or if there are any serious claims by warring participants.

[Dave2002]

Sad that several people died however - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63183404 - and it's claimed the railway will be back in action soon.