OT: Putin's War in Ukraine

[swaghauler]

A panel discussion on the Operations In Ukraine by the Modern War Institute:

https://youtu.be/zXEvbVoDiU0

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[pmulcahy11b]

The sad thing is, regardless of what happens, from a decades-long insurgency to a NATO intervention (I think a no-fly zone is going to happen, regardless of Biden's words to the contrary) -- the sad thing is that Ukraine is going to be a mass of rubble for decades, dependent on outside help.

[Targan]

The sad thing is, regardless of what happens, from a decades-long insurgency to a NATO intervention (I think a no-fly zone is going to happen, regardless of Biden's words to the contrary) -- the sad thing is that Ukraine is going to be a mass of rubble for decades, dependent on outside help.

If Ukraine is admitted to the EU there will be a flood of recovery funds pouring in. It'll be a reconstruction bonanza. Nothing will bring back those killed and Russia's reputation will be in ruins for a decade or more, but if there's an intervention and the Russians are kicked out, there might be some good fortune in Ukraine's future.

[Jason]

Ukraine is already suggesting they get at least get a portion of the $400 billion in frozen Russian assets to rebuild.

[pmulcahy11b]

Ukraine is already suggesting they get at least get a portion of the $400 billion in frozen Russian assets to rebuild.

That would be justice.

[Jason]

Russia denies it, but multiple outlets are reporting that Russia has approached China for spare aircraft parts. The U.S. has warned that any country trying to evade Russian sanctions will pay a price.

China is paying lip service to Russia, but notably is NOT propping up the Rubble in relation to the Yuan, and several Chinese companies have stopped doing business in Russia. There are whispers of Russia trying to get China to move on Taiwan to take pressure off the Ukrainian war.

A third Russian general in reported to have been KIA in Ukraine.

[Jason]

Some Americans, including at least one former member of Congress are busy selling the Russian-led narrative that the U.S. has numerous secret bio-weapons labs in Ukraine. It is suspected by our intel community that Russia is using this narrative to cover their own planned use of bio-weapons, which they can then blame on 'breached' U.S. bio-labs.

[Raellus]

Polish Connection

A video of Ukrainian soldiers being trained on how to operate Polish-donated RPG-76 Komar LAWs.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1502616426783416320

Of all the LAWs, this one looks the sketchiest, but one would no doubt encounter it in a Poland-based T2k campaign.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-76_Komar

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[Bestbrian]

Some Americans, including at least one former member of Congress are busy selling the Russian-led narrative that the U.S. has numerous secret bio-weapons labs in Ukraine. It is suspected by our intel community that Russia is using this narrative to cover their own planned use of bio-weapons, which they can then blame on 'breached' U.S. bio-labs.

Putin needs to fabricate reasons for a larger war that he can sell at home. Remember, he denied that he was doing anything other than "exercises", and then invaded to "assist and protect" the two client states in the Donbas. That's not a good enough reason to explain a ruinously expensive and expansive invasion. Manufacturing fake WMD threats might be one way to try to sell this entirely unnecessary and ridiculous enterprise, and maybe gives him an accomplishment that allows him to declare victory and go home.

[Raellus]

Putin needs to fabricate reasons for a larger war that he can sell at home. Remember, he denied that he was doing anything other than "exercises", and then invaded to "assist and protect" the two client states in the Donbas. That's not a good enough reason to explain a ruinously expensive and expansive invasion. Manufacturing fake WMD threats might be one way to try to sell this entirely unnecessary and ridiculous enterprise, and maybe gives him an accomplishment that allows him to declare victory and go home.

Precisely. I hope that's his motive, rather than pre-justifying future use of Russian chemical or bio weapons against Ukrainian forces.

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[Vespers War]

A video of Ukrainian soldiers being trained on how to operate Polish-donated RPG-76 Komar LAWs.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1502616426783416320

Of all the LAWs, this one looks the sketchiest, but one would no doubt encounter it in a Poland-based T2k campaign.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-76_Komar

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It's not going to be do much of anything against a tank unless it gets really lucky and hits a vision block or something, but for APCs and minimally armored or unarmored vehicles (like all those logistics convoys), a light disposable single-shot rocket launcher that can be fired from enclosed areas isn't the worst thing to have.

[swaghauler]

It's not going to be do much of anything against a tank unless it gets really lucky and hits a vision block or something, but for APCs and minimally armored or unarmored vehicles (like all those logistics convoys), a light disposable single-shot rocket launcher that can be fired from enclosed areas isn't the worst thing to have.

I agree. They serve a very valuable role as a "bunker buster" or light AFV killer.
That's why the 66mm LAW made a return to the battlefield in Afghanistan. It was a COMPACT (fits across a soldier's shoulders on top of a patrol or assault pack), LIGHTWEIGHT, and effective bunker buster.

[swaghauler]

The Russian Perspective

Cappy at Task & Purpose tries to get a look at the Russian perspective.

https://youtu.be/Igq2fqa7RY4

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[Bestbrian]

It's not going to be do much of anything against a tank unless it gets really lucky and hits a vision block or something, but for APCs and minimally armored or unarmored vehicles (like all those logistics convoys), a light disposable single-shot rocket launcher that can be fired from enclosed areas isn't the worst thing to have.

Looks like the Ukrainians are going after the Russian where they're weakest: soft-skinned vehicles (they never did have enough jeeps/trucks/tankers). Theses would be perfect against those targets.

[swaghauler]

Looks Like The US Switchblade Is Headed To Ukraine

The US-made "loitering munition" known as the switchblade, which was introduced to much controversy during the Arab Spring era is going to be headed to Ukraine. America's "slaughterbots" are autonomous and can be programmed with a type of facial recognition software that allows them to discriminate friendly vehicles from the enemy by flags, markings, and camo. They can also be manually flown to a target. These are designed as a "swarming munition."

https://youtu.be/h5TTaNpQuWI

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