That's A Bit Awkward, Vladimir!

[Khandro]

Vladimir Putin's army is running out of viable tanks, missiles and fighter jets because the components they use are made in Ukraine, according to The Telegraph.

'The engines for all Russian helicopters, ships and cruise missiles and a substantial portion of fighter jet engines and ground-to-air missile and tank components are made in Ukrainian factories, which no longer supply Mr Putin’s forces.

Russian troops are understood to be running low on arms after five weeks of conflict and the heavy shelling of many Ukrainian cities.'

Should he not have thought of that (plus a thousand other things)?

Also, the supply of gas to Germany was supposed to have been switched of yesterday, but it seems to be still flowing okay. Switching off the gas would be shooting himself in the foot because it would seriously degrade the flow balance of the supply which should be continuous, - so I read. Does anyone understand more on that?

[DTCwordfan]

a week is evidently enough!

A dangerous phase now what with the Kremlin mad-sick man in there and how he could retaliate - there was a long article in the DT about how ill he is with cancer - thyroid? and how this can throw one's sanity. someone really needs to eliminate him and from within.

[ichkeria]

Yes I saw that: and bathing in blood (how appropriate)
It may be that he’s just ultra-cautious about his health of course.

[Khandro]

To the man who is allegedly so terrified of catching covid that anyone that has to go with 10feet of him must have several checks, the man who stays in warmth & comfort hundreds of Kms from where, under his orders, thousands of people (& animals!) are being slaughtered & are suffering unimaginable hardship. I have just made a postcard which is an image of a white feather & on the back I have written; трус и убийца which means, 'coward & murderer' (I hope). It's addressed to him at the Kremlin & will go with tomorrow's post.

Of course he wont see it, but someone will, & I think there will be lots of other incoming mail from around the world offering fairly similar sentiments.

[Gromit]

DTCrosswordfan’s link states the Ukrainian operatives had 2-3 weeks intensive training of the StarStreak in a neighbouring country.
The missile systems first deployment in anger seems to be a great success.

[ichkeria]

Yes but the timing of that attack, which is a week old, doesn’t leave time even for that. Even three weeks is impressive

Meanwhile tanks are on the way from allies to help in the battle for Donbas.

[ichkeria]

People still wittering on about peace based on Ukraine not joining NATO.

It’s nothing to do with that and never has been

[ichkeria]

Chernihiv oblast effectively now also liberated

[sandra4444]

11.11 Yep just an excuse to take over Ukraine. And even if he did take over Ukraine he would still have a boarder with a Nato country, being Poland. So that's why its a load of poppycock.

[Gromit]

ichkeria
// People still wittering on about peace based on Ukraine not joining NATO. It’s nothing to do with that and never has been. //

It is about Russian security. The Russian naval fleet needs access to the Black Sea which is why Crimea was annexed. Russia will settle for Mariupol as a win. That gives it a supply land bridge to Sebastopol.
NATO has expanded into 12 former Soviet countries since the fall of the wall. Ukraine joining would have seriously impede the Russian’s ability to successfully deploy its fleet.
After this invasion though, it is hard to see how Ukraine can be expected to be neutral to Russian aggression. There is talk of a UN peacekeeping presence, not sure that would work, but worth a try.

[ichkeria]

It’s not about Russian security and I’m astonished you continue to fall for that nonsense.

Look at a map and an inventory of nuclear weaponry and you show me where the security threat is.
Russia wants to destroy Ukraine as a nation, however long it takes.
Luckily most of us now understand that at least. Knowing the nature of your enemy is half the battle. It’s why Ukraine is still standing.
Ukraine already said it’s not going to join NATO. Last time I looked the genocide was still in full swing nevertheless

As for the switching off of the gas I’ve posted several thoughts on that.
Russia isn’t going to do that. The rouble payment makes no sense.
We should do it instead.

Children are turning up in Ukrainian hospitals with injuries related to vaginal and anal rape. Men have swastika symbols burned on their skin.
Russia’s “security”?
That’s a sick joke.

[davebro]

Russian invasion & war crimes are despicable. I think the free world should set about ruining Russia economically for as long as it takes to effect regime change.
If Putin is backed into a corner such that he resorts to nuclear war, well let him try. I don't think his military would obey.

[ichkeria]

The Russian fleet already had access to the Black Sea. Sevastopol was shared by Russian and Ukrainian fleets. Although Yushchenko threatened to terminate the lease (foolishly IMO) Yanukovich went the other way.
In any case, a normal country with a perceived security issue would not react the way Russia has done. The weapons in Ukraine Russia most fears are those of diversity, democracy and the ability to think for yourself, all things Russia conspicuously lacks.

[ichkeria]

I agree Dave

[Gromit]

https://www.geoawesomeness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/NATO-Russia-Warsaw-Pact-122815.png

In short, Russia is run by an autocrat and being surrounded by democracies is threatening their power. NATO and the EU have always been nervous about admitting Ukraine because they were frightened of Russia’s reaction. But Putin has invaded anyway, so their fence sitting didn’t work.
The neutrality condition for peace is a joke. It would just leave Ukraine defenceless for ever.

[Gromit]

// the free world should set about ruining Russia economically for as long as it takes to effect regime change. //

That might be a very long time. The sanctions momentarily had an impact, but the Rouble has rallied and is now back to pre war levels.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/the-russian-ruble-returns-to-pre-ukraine-invasion-levels/ar-AAVJmOt

[ichkeria]

A short exert from a quite horrifying op-ef released on RIA Novosti today:

“ Denazification is inevitably also deukrainisation – a rejection of the large-scale artificial inflation of the ethnic element of self-identification of the population of the territories of the historical Malorossiya and Novorossiya begun by the Soviet authorities"

[Gromit]

Putin wants to be the new Peter the Great. Unifying the Russian Empire.
In reality he’s Vladimir the not terribly good.
His legacy in history will be perched between Hitler and Stalin.

[Gromit]

In recent years we have used sanctions against Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Russia after 2014. And they didn’t make much difference at all
The current sanctions against Russia are impressive in their scale - 37 countries representing 55% of world GDP. But we still don’t know if they will work.

[William51]

Because Russia relies on Ukraine so much for this equipment it makes his invasion look even more daft. He probably thought his invasion would make these supplies Russian and more secure. I suspect because it is going wrong for Putin his time is slowly running out.

[Old_Geezer]

Well Ich, the rouble may be high now but sanctions are making their economy bomb so they are desperate to prop it up as much as possible. Inflation is shooting up for them. Insisting on payment in roubles ensure even greater demand, raises it's value, and helps them alleviate their economic problems. Of course that seems academic at the moment. Putin and his minister "talked tough" but when the date came they caved and pushed it back to mid month. As they are finding out, talking the talk is the easy bit, walking the walk is harder, and if you try the walk (or order your military to do so) and your fantasy vision doesn't match reality things can get very tough.