Ukraine: The Aristoblyats

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Eej: Jun 17, 2007; HEAVYARMS

https://twitter.com/maria_avdv/status/1497460496756322308

I hope everyone was in the shelter, yikes

# ? Feb 26, 2022 07:47

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 1, 2024 02:33

BIG HEADLINE: Jun 13, 2006; "Stand back, Ottawan ruffian, or face my lumens!"

Untagged posted:

"Martin Sheen (D-West Wing), has announced he will run for President."

Don't forget he was also Greg Stilson.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 07:50

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

https://twitter.com/haynesdeborah/status/1497466635669671938?t=jVPiIg0y8FGomb4qEfxY0g&s=19

https://twitter.com/haynesdeborah/status/1497467158556811268?t=ZlIlmJ3cyDk7VdasbgBAyQ&s=19

# ? Feb 26, 2022 08:16

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1497469371018588167?t=9_mwa8ozNnbv9BUERNCvWA&s=19

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1497460239196635137?t=YXPDZ5eIBpyGkrPjYST8KA&s=19

E.
https://twitter.com/polinaivanovva/status/1497483903166148609?t=mqdcTHN63tHqNPgt5NHa9g&s=19

https://twitter.com/nabihbulos/status/1497486460043284486?t=e5sh9xVBqy-Px4DjEKKKrQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/GeorgeWHerbert/status/1497484822716956677?t=_7OpjYr0gPuQ8IxyatvJuw&s=19

ThisIsJohnWayne fucked around with this message at 09:38 on Feb 26, 2022

# ? Feb 26, 2022 08:26

Wasabi the J: Jan 23, 2008; MOM WAS RIGHT

Things going a LOT like some grade school Iraq war 1.0 doodles I drew...

I can't help but feel for the poor bastards just stuck doing this poo poo to get out of whatever poo poo hole town they were in.

But Russian is definitely doing some wild poo poo so it can't be helped if it is to keep more from dying.

Wasabi the J fucked around with this message at 08:30 on Feb 26, 2022

# ? Feb 26, 2022 08:28

psydude: Apr 1, 2008

CBJSprague24 posted:

USAF saying "Hi! We're here!"

https://twitter.com/rjonesy/status/1497423812618555396

Overheard two Americans at a bar on Thursday complaining about how there's no parking at Patch (EUCOM headquarters) right now. Should give an idea about how involved the US is behind the scenes.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 08:34

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1497478435240923136?t=p5v3Q5pypF-ym5zMIsrGeQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/olgatokariuk/status/1497483953275613188?t=N91zUidwQAz7aiDiab6fVA&s=19

# ? Feb 26, 2022 09:18

psydude: Apr 1, 2008

https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...f08db56730fc94a

quote:

A UK government armed forces junior minister said Russia has failed to achieve its initial objectives � and fighting outside Kyiv was limited to Russian special forces units.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4�s Today programme, James Heappey said that aims to take key Ukrainian cities had not been realised. He added that the UK did not believe Russian claims that it had taken the south eastern city of Melitopol.

�The Ukrainian resistance to the Russian advance appears extraordinary. All of Russia�s Day One objectives of Kharkiv, Kherson , Mariupol, Sumy and even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to taken but we can�t see anything on that, are still all in Ukrainian hands.

�The fighting on the outskirts of Kyiv overnight, we understand to just be Russian spetsnaz special forces and pockets of paratroopers. The reality is the armoured columns coming down from Belarus and the north to encircle Kyiv are still way off, because they have been held off by this incredible Ukrainian resistance.�

Of course the war crimes poo poo is being perpetrated by the Spetznaz.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 09:36

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1497485623225200640?t=ejOwZDc8pWu8pVUWYD0yTA&s=19

https://twitter.com/MemeIIander/status/1497487261134426116?t=p3QF3XpcUm64-IIE0xR9dw&s=19

# ? Feb 26, 2022 09:50

Phobophilia: Apr 26, 2008; by Hand Knit

It really seems like the Russian attack is stalling out badly, building up friction as elements take longer to secure positions or even fail to do so, and the Ukrainians have time to prepare their defenses for urban combat. And since their troops seem unwilling to dismount and support their armor, this second armored advance is not likely to be much more effective. Meanwhile, so long as their supplies hold up, the Ukrainian regulars and irregulars are just going to get better at killing tanks.

In the absence of shock and awe, they're probably going to go Grozny on Kiev. But unlike Chechens, or Iraqis in Fallujah, the Ukrainian public have both media presence and have demonstrated themselves as very media savvy, so the war crimes that are going to performed on them by the occupying army as the quagmire persists is not going to be doing the occupiers any favors.

This war was obviously stupid last week on the 22nd, and as their optimistic war plans shake out, it's getting obviously even more stupid.

Stultus Maximus posted:

Reminds me of back a decade ago when I checked to see what the local Occupy movement had devolved into and it was parroting Gaddafi propaganda. Being radical, anti-colonial, revolutionary is all well and good but anyone who tags themselves or their group with those labels is usually easy prey for tankie poo poo.

and how did killing gaddafi go

# ? Feb 26, 2022 09:51

Phobophilia: Apr 26, 2008; by Hand Knit

It also seems that alot of Russian regulars and conscripts don't seem that motivated to start out with performing war crimes on civilians with small arms fire. All these videos of Ukrainians confronting Russians in russian, they don't seem particularly aggressive. For a start there isn't a huge language barrier between the two countries. An Iraqi/Afghani could never contront a US marine in the same way, nor could a US citizen towards a police officer, not unless they wanted to beaten unconscious on the street.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 09:58

Fragrag: Aug 3, 2007; The Worst Admin Ever bashes You in the head with his banhammer. It is smashed into the body, an unrecognizable mass! You have been struck down.

Does the absence of any official visual media from the Russian government, e.g. Russian troops hoisting their flags over government buildings, indicate that cities like Kharkiv and others are still being heavily contested?

# ? Feb 26, 2022 09:58

psydude: Apr 1, 2008

Fragrag posted:

Does the absence of any official visual media from the Russian government, e.g. Russian troops hoisting their flags over government buildings, indicate that cities like Kharkiv and others are still being heavily contested?

US and British intelligence have confirmed that Russia has failed to take any major population centers so far. Ukraine's best and most seasoned troops were stationed in the east of the country; while the media is understandably focused on Kiev, the most intense fighting is in that part of the country. I've seen a lot of (unconfirmed) twitter videos of scorched Russian vehicles and troops littering the roads around Kharkiv.

We're also seeing a lot more footage of the irregular Ukrainian troops just due to their presence farther from the fighting, where more civilians are present to take footage with phones. From what it sounds like, the professional Ukrainian military and the reservists are making the Russians earn every inch of ground.

psydude fucked around with this message at 10:06 on Feb 26, 2022

# ? Feb 26, 2022 10:04

IPCRESS: May 27, 2012

psydude posted:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...f08db56730fc94a

Of course the war crimes poo poo is being perpetrated by the Spetznaz.

17k speznatz according to Wikipedia.

Wonder what the count was this morning.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 10:09

psydude: Apr 1, 2008

Cyprus has agreed to vote to remove Russia from SWIFT.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...f0873d0384b1230

This is a big deal because Cyprus is one of the biggest sources of foreign investment in Russia.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 10:50

Comrade Blyatlov: Aug 4, 2007; should have picked four fingers

Collapsing your economy to own your own army

# ? Feb 26, 2022 11:08

Comrade Blyatlov: Aug 4, 2007; should have picked four fingers

I'm not owned I'm not owned I insist as Ukrainians dunk on me over and over

# ? Feb 26, 2022 11:08

Jokers Gamble: May 31, 2013

Just gotta send one more load of paratroopers, and Kiev is ours!

# ? Feb 26, 2022 11:58

Alan Smithee: Jan 4, 2005; A man becomes preeminent, he's expected to have enthusiasms.

Enthusiasms, enthusiasms...

psydude posted:

Overheard two Americans at a bar on Thursday complaining about how there's no parking at Patch (EUCOM headquarters) right now. Should give an idea about how involved the US is behind the scenes.

watch out soldiers, that gorgeous dame's a spy!

# ? Feb 26, 2022 11:59

Kazinsal: Dec 13, 2011

Jokers Gamble posted:

Just gotta send one more load of paratroopers, and Kiev is ours!

"Wait, what do you mean we're out of Il-76es?"

# ? Feb 26, 2022 12:01

Caconym: Feb 12, 2013

This one might have been posted upthread, but I just realised this is an unarmoured engineer unit wiped out. Those probably shouldn't be front line, the Russians have armored engineer materiel for that like everyone else. So again supports that Ukrainians are able to strike in force in the Russian rear I guess?

https://twitter.com/JulianRoepcke/status/1497506655596163077?t=S6fVw_6dOwNDr9rFHzSOmw&s=19

# ? Feb 26, 2022 12:05

Burt: Sep 23, 2007; Poke.

Someone posted above about the possibility of Belarus/Russia invading Poland and I'm going to say that would not be a pleasant invasion but would be pretty short.

Also the truck with the AA gun was confirmed to have been a blue on blue.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 12:16

Alan Smithee: Jan 4, 2005; A man becomes preeminent, he's expected to have enthusiasms.

Enthusiasms, enthusiasms...

So what do we know about the 10,000 Chechen unit moving in? I just keep thinking about how brutal the Russians were to them and vice versa during that campaign. Are these basically just softboys from rich families loyal to Kadyrov?

# ? Feb 26, 2022 12:21

Nuclear War: Nov 7, 2012; You're a pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty girl

loyal, yes, but soft? nah, brutal murderers who've been putting down unrest for years. i dunno about actual combat experience

# ? Feb 26, 2022 12:38

psydude: Apr 1, 2008

Nuclear War posted:

loyal, yes, but soft? nah, brutal murderers who've been putting down unrest for years. i dunno about actual combat experience

Russia is probably using them as a psyop tool. Kind of like how the USSR created a mythos around certain units specifically for terrorizing civilians.

psydude fucked around with this message at 13:01 on Feb 26, 2022

# ? Feb 26, 2022 12:59

Shooting Blanks: Jun 6, 2007; Real bullets mess up how cool this thing looks.

-Blade

Alan Smithee posted:

So what do we know about the 10,000 Chechen unit moving in? I just keep thinking about how brutal the Russians were to them and vice versa during that campaign. Are these basically just softboys from rich families loyal to Kadyrov?

This was posted a few pages ago:

Cythereal posted:

The Russian-affiliated Chechen brigade may just have been wiped out before ever making it into Ukraine proper, caught in convoy by a Javelin ambush.

Warning: Graphic video of the aftermath of combat.

https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1497315893726093315?s=20&t=3NkxJp7yZ65xCin20JWF-w

I haven't seen anything other than that.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 13:01

Milo and POTUS: Sep 3, 2017; I will not shut up about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I talk about them all the time and work them into every conversation I have. I built a shrine in my room for the yellow one who died because sadly no one noticed because she died around 9/11. Wanna see it?

CBJSprague24 posted:

USAF saying "Hi! We're here!"

https://twitter.com/rjonesy/status/1497423812618555396

What's the you know whats

Marshal Prolapse posted:

The video of that is always a pro click. Mag Dumping and actually Revolver dumping since it�s GIGN. That guy flew up in the air pretty much.

Revolver?

Proud Christian Mom posted:

i mean we already knew that Kornets could severely gently caress up modern western armor, its no surprise that our answer does it just as well.

I think the first time atgm got popular there was a discussion that the era of tanks was coming to a close. Seems we might be getting close to that again

# ? Feb 26, 2022 13:49

Bored As Fuck: Jan 1, 2006; Fun Shoe

GIGN uses a kickass revolver

https://youtu.be/O0w2x3COYlk

https://youtu.be/P1zEUGck8NE

# ? Feb 26, 2022 13:52

Terrifying Effigies: Oct 22, 2008; Problems look mighty small from 150 miles up.

Milo and POTUS posted:

What's the you know whats

Where you see Stratotankers up there are almost certainly fighters that aren't transmitting on combat air patrol.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:05

MonkeyLibFront: Feb 26, 2003; Where's the cake?

If anyone's interested this guy's active service, not Ukraine but has some great guides on formations and how to recognise russian vehicles

AFV Rec twitter

Also has an instagram with a lot of good stuff.

AFV Rec Instagram

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:14

Terrifying Effigies: Oct 22, 2008; Problems look mighty small from 150 miles up.

Looks like Russia's having some social media issues:

https://twitter.com/netblocks/status/1497523148362862593

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:14

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

https://twitter.com/RihoTerras/status/1497537196282331137?t=oxwPpMbLNy6SbJtKNMItFQ&s=19

Everyone can see the first tweet when linking the second right? Want to make sure

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:16

-Anders: Feb 1, 2007; Denmark. Wait, what?

Yes

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:20

Wrennic_26: Jul 9, 2009

Google Maps sensors have allowed the Ukrainians and others to watch Russian approaches:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/on-google-maps-tracking-the-invasion-of-ukraine/ar-AAUi1EL?li=BBnb7Kz

I think Russia�s echo chamber military doctrine was just not ready for 2022 warfare. Beware elderly flag officers.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:27

pmchem: Jan 22, 2010

Hey if we�re posting tweets showing charred bodies in embedded preview is it okay if I post a tweet with two hot non-nude (neck up pic) ladies kissing for peace? Not sure where the lines are anymore

Edit: just seeing the poster tried to spoiler it but Awful app on iOS ran right thru those tags and previewed the tweet in full

pmchem fucked around with this message at 14:35 on Feb 26, 2022

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:32

Milo and POTUS: Sep 3, 2017; I will not shut up about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I talk about them all the time and work them into every conversation I have. I built a shrine in my room for the yellow one who died because sadly no one noticed because she died around 9/11. Wanna see it?

pmchem posted:

Hey if we�re posting tweets showing charred bodies in embedded preview is it okay if I post a tweet with two hot non-nude (neck up pic) ladies kissing for peace? Not sure where the lines are anymore

Edit: just seeing the poster tried to spoiler it but Awful app on iOS ran right thru those tags and previewed the tweet in full

lol

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:46

Terrifying Effigies: Oct 22, 2008; Problems look mighty small from 150 miles up.

Pretty good commentary on how long standing Russian military flaws are manifesting - a couple main ones being:

- BTGs lacking the necessary intel / recon / C2 to operate effectively, leverage their artillery assets, or coordinate with CAS
- Russia committing far more BTGs than their logistics could realistically support
- Operating large number of 'full strength' BTGs means that core experienced cadres that would normally be hand-picked in smaller ops are diluted by recruits, reservists, and straight up non-existent 'ghost' soldiers who don't exist outside of the payroll
- Units getting further diluted into penny packets as they try to rush and bypass UA units leaving them open to ambush
- Trying to operate airborne CAS from field deployments in Belarus vs bases that could handle higher ops tempos

https://twitter.com/delfoo/status/1497498201527521281

quote:

1/I am going to try to explain the irrational Russian Armed Forces behavior towards strategy, common thought, or even the chances repatriated SSO that are now POW try to murder a bunch of men with stars.

2/Here's where I will start from. The Russian armed forces have never attempted anything like this. This isn't about what kind of war they're fighting it's about what they're capable of mustering.

3/Secondly it seems the decision making structrues have low opinion in general of Ukraine and their fighting abilities and sort of an ideal that there's a willing subservience in Ukranians if they get to be part of Russia. Pure racism informing their decision making process.

4/Thirdly battalion tactical groups are terrible units to support operations. They have overload the commander lack support and might not properly integrate with air or do adeqaute scouting as signals and recon are missing along with liasons with them.

5/Fourthly without standing down even if parts of the UA Nat Guard, Police, Border Guard, Territorials and Army are defeated, UA regional commands can be autonomous for days and are vast structures, short of ordering their demobilization their removal is way too costly for RuMoD.

6/And there's a lot of hidden corruption and misreporting that gets baked in into calculations but the higher you go up the chain as in a corporation, the more dimissive management is that it will be an issue. AKA Putin doesn't even remotely grasp how bad it is.

7/Based on those 5 let me try to explain the situation now. Russian units aren't stopping fire or limiting use of their kalibrs and stand off strikes. This is all they could muster south. Kalibrs are limited by launch tubes, a bit over a hundred is what they had ready.

8/We saw constant trains and movement over time moving Ru equipment and lots of aircraft being moved over to mustering points and at the end people. By then the supply was at its limit just keeping them warm and fed. They found out the hard way this was their logistical limit.

9/What people sa wasn't that troops packed spare tanks for long drives. They were carying their fuel reserves on them. The few organic refueling trucks were not enough to make up an actual reserve or depot. They had one full compliment, some spares in one truck , thats it.

10/This didn't seem that crazy in the Kremlin because the prevailing thought in the higher echelons and Putin's inner circle and the FSB was one highly dismissive of Ukraine highly hyped up by Russian army propaganda reporting. They missed that they were buying their own bullshit

11/The release of the information paralyzed them in terms of decision making. But the inherent bias remained and UA delayed mobilising so it didn't dissuade them. For 7 days they ate away supplies rather than actively trying to build them further, they were waiting a go order.

12/The limited supply meant it had to be a mad dash. BTGs were split into smaller sub units traveling on multiple roads to avoid congestion. When they met something they'd wait to coalesce or get into a fight. If the UA was suprised it would work.

13/Were the Ru troops quality ones they'd do better with just surprise on their side. But they were mostly poorly trained as full units were never called up before. Usually a brigade would send only a company and could hand pick.

14/Now it's either confess the lies about readiness or be creative. Because the corruption had created such a rot, brigade commandes chose "creative" (criminal), conscripts were added to the build up. Ghosts soldiers on the roster were hidden. That meant BTGs were far greener.

15/When these hit a city or made contact they'd deploy in unideal formations of platoon to company size. Not their fault all that much, this is what they knew. Then if a UA unit knew in advance where they were and was careful, it would anihilate the BTG splinter formation.

16/Because the timetable had to be kept, supplies were already short with the delay Ru troops would go a step further. They'd keep one sub unit to block and redirect subsequent units, the rest would continue on parallel roads. Again timetable meant usually more major roads.

17/After a couple of road blocks, BTG'd be diluted, lost a bunch of units and fighting to standstill. You'd expect that there would be air or artiller support. But BTGs aren't suited for that, when they move in chunks in parallel the artillery spotters could be in another group.

18/As we said also there was a problem stocking supplies but still CAS should probably not be as limited? Yes but Russian SSO more used to directing it had other tasks and Russia doesn't have a platform like the US surveilance planes and drones that can operate in contested air.

19/And the air was contested because of the limited early strikes due to the small build up + limited recon of where UA AF & AD were prior to this. Satelites take pics at known times, moving equipment often can dissuede strikes as it's uncertain anything will be in place.

20/What then was struck were major stationary objects, depots in main areas, radars, major command and control but again limited by number of reloads. So then Ru MoD started rolling the columns with heavy support of helicopters and planes ahead.

21/This works on day 1 when you know where your guys start & can track where they are easily and you know beyond that point it's all enemy. Once you land and refuel, it's less easy especially because as we mentioned, a BTG splitinter lacks a signals unit, just has a few officers.

22/Then comes the air asault. Becuase you have to be quick you also have to do risky stuff. The problem of course is that because your helicopters are parked in fields, ready for one load with some trucks and one set of ammo, you can do it once a day with each group.

23/That's why you wait till the end of the assualt attempt to see if it works. If you have to refuel and prep for a second go, your trucks have to go to a depot and reload and then come back. And only then try again.

24/You still have to try to take the airport fast and get guys in because if the operation takes too long and you haven't kept them(the UA) on the back foot your green troops are still moving piecemeal on roads, don't have much with them, any small village could be their end.

25/So the air assault fails, part of the pincer moves fail, you can't budge most of the UA troops what do you do? You go for broke, hope you win the race between entrechment in Kyiv and you just throwing all you have and hope if you decapitate UA, regional commands lose faith.

26/Otherwise becuase what remains of your force is split in small groups moving on main roads UA can mobilize move via back roads and just recapture most of the towns as you have few troops for actual 24/7 duties and to even spot them moving back into the town.

27/Can it work? I don't know. Is it a good plan. Hell no. Could they execute anything else, without the entire structure confessing the army has corruption,which yes the boss expected, but it's such a rot it might cost him his throne, yeah not when he's in this mood.

28/ So the spineless bunch decided to throw away 18-19 year old conscripts and veterans and pray they get lucky. Also that Putin hasn't noticed how nuts this is shows that he's either delusional or is completely inept when it comes to military affairs.

PS/ A lot of the commentary prior missed the readiness of the Russian forces and the poor state of affairs. Overreliance on official statements and major military pages missed tons of low level testimonials and regional investigative pieces on how big the rot was.

PPS/ Aggregation of Zvezda and VK mil informing pages and MAKS show sales pitches should be tempered by what we can find on the ground and regional and smaller outlets, forums and blogs were servicemembers were pissed were abundant to the point they shouldn't have been dismissed.

PPPS/ We saw lots of evidence for that and even then a part of the community of analysts dismissed it assuming once it's about having a war footing RU structures will take it serious. But that's not how bad habits work.

PPPPS/ And in the minds of the Kremlin they have been continuously on a war footing. So if during that time they left arms companies bankrupt sometimes even more than once, the habit was not going to break most likely.
To quote Nemtsov here:
<<Он ёбнутый... чтоб вы поняли?>>

And huge thanks to @ain92ru
who knows a lot more than me about this but due to the situation in Russia has posted a lot less.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 14:52

psydude: Apr 1, 2008

Turkey just cut Russian access to the Black Sea.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...f0873d0384b1494

# ? Feb 26, 2022 15:01

MA-Horus: Dec 3, 2006; I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.

psydude posted:

Turkey just cut Russian access to the Black Sea.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...f0873d0384b1494

Whoa, that's a big step. gently caress Erdogan but this is a big move.

# ? Feb 26, 2022 15:04

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 1, 2024 02:33

Cythereal: Nov 8, 2009; I love the potoo,
and the potoo loves you.

I'm guessing this has to do with a Russian rocket hitting a Turkish-flagged ship in the Black Sea yesterday (in addition to the Japanese and Moldovan ships).

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1497564078897774598

# ? Feb 26, 2022 15:06

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Internet VFW > Ukraine: The Aristoblyats

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