What's going on in Ukraine?

[MungoMan]

Ukraine war: Russia's Wagner Group commander requests Norway asylum

A former commander with the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group has claimed asylum in Norway after deserting from the mercenary outfit.

Andrey Medvedev, 26, crossed the border into Norway last Friday, where he was detained by border guards.

He is currently being held in the Oslo area where he faces charges of illegal entry to Norway, his lawyer Brynjulf Risnes told the BBC.

Mr Risnes said his client left Wagner after witnessing war crimes in Ukraine.

If the limit of his involvement is just witness, then maybe they should give him asylum; but if it goes a millimeter beyond that, they should hog tie him, lube him up, & send him back to Mother Russia !

Doing things likely to dissuade Russian armed forces members - regular, merc or whatever - from doing a runner may not be a great idea.

[tabascoboy]

Not known how new/old this footage is

[tabascoboy]

Russians

[tabascoboy]

Distractions, distractions...if RU attempt a new offensive they want to worry UA into removing forces away from where they are actually planning.

[fishfoodie]

If the limit of his involvement is just witness, then maybe they should give him asylum; but if it goes a millimeter beyond that, they should hog tie him, lube him up, & send him back to Mother Russia !

Doing things likely to dissuade Russian armed forces members - regular, merc or whatever - from doing a runner may not be a great idea.

I draw the line at providing asylum for war criminals.

And I think if you make it clear that there will be a reckoning for them, then you give them a more compelling reason to choose desertion, over committing a war crime

[tabascoboy]

So, I think the subtext here, unironically, is that there was no problem until Russia decided to invade...

[Niegs]

Took me a second to see what the issue was here, but then realized it came from a Russian source.

[tabascoboy]

[TB63]

[Mahoney]

I'm sure they'll be OK now.

[tabascoboy]

And further proof, as if it were needed, of how RU is happy for senseless loss of life in desperate searches for some sort of win. It is estimated that some 75% of the prisoners signed up by Wagner PMC have been KIA/WIA.



and

[Sandstorm]

Accurate, but not cheap:

Each Excalibur M982 round costs around $100,000, while even unguided 155 mm rocket-assisted projectiles, such as the experimental XM1113, cost almost $15,000 each.
This compares to a few hundred dollars for a conventional munition such as the M795, the US military's standard unguided 155 mm shell.

[_Os_]

Accurate, but not cheap:

Each Excalibur M982 round costs around $100,000, while even unguided 155 mm rocket-assisted projectiles, such as the experimental XM1113, cost almost $15,000 each.
This compares to a few hundred dollars for a conventional munition such as the M795, the US military's standard unguided 155 mm shell.

Looks like excellent value to me. The US would happily spend $100k a pop to destroy every Russian tracked vehicle in Ukraine.

The general problem with the cost arguments, is they're not comparing to what they should be (total annual defence budgets), the money spent on Ukraine is not much compared to the total NATO member defence spend last year and again this year. And a lot of the "cost" is in fact stored/obsolete/due to be decommissioned equipment (the war on terror era vehicles and older anti tank stuff which has been sent), it's cheaper to ship it to Ukraine than to keep it and end up paying to get rid of it, but gets put on the books at its face value.

[fishfoodie]

Accurate, but not cheap:

Each Excalibur M982 round costs around $100,000, while even unguided 155 mm rocket-assisted projectiles, such as the experimental XM1113, cost almost $15,000 each.
This compares to a few hundred dollars for a conventional munition such as the M795, the US military's standard unguided 155 mm shell.

Looks like excellent value to me. The US would happily spend $100k a pop to destroy every Russian tracked vehicle in Ukraine.

The general problem with the cost arguments, is they're not comparing to what they should be (total annual defence budgets), the money spent on Ukraine is not much compared to the total NATO member defence spend last year and again this year. And a lot of the "cost" is in fact stored/obsolete/due to be decommissioned equipment (the war on terror era vehicles and older anti tank stuff which has been sent), it's cheaper to ship it to Ukraine than to keep it and end up paying to get rid of it, but gets put on the books at its face value.

and if you look at the way the Orcs are using their artillary; even just shelling helpless civilians; paying $100k to kill an artillary system, saves the rebuild costs of a hell of a lot of property !

I watched a video awhile ago with a guy estimating how long it would take for the orcs to replace, just the kit we know they've lost, & assuming they double or triple their existing manufacturing capacity, & do similar to their spending; & it is still >5 years.

Paying for the Ukranians to destroy the Orcs military is a shit load cheaper than any other option, & it will begger them for decades.

[petej]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/join ... inn-pledge

A joint statement by the defence ministers of Estonia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania; and the representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Slovakia.

[Uncle fester]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/join ... inn-pledge

A joint statement by the defence ministers of Estonia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania; and the representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Slovakia.

Designed to put pressure on Germany?

[fishfoodie]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/join ... inn-pledge

A joint statement by the defence ministers of Estonia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania; and the representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Slovakia.

Designed to put pressure on Germany?

Further East !

The announcements of more artillary, & armor just have us wondering where the big attack will be; & how many Orc POWs will be cut off.

There's always the question of if the training & deployment were many months before the announcement; or if this is the start of the process.

[Uncle fester]

Germans have actually contributed quite a bit but their PR is terrible.

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

Good job Russia!

[petej]

I wondered if they were more scared of in-fighting than Ukraine hitting these.

[Random1]

We’ve given them a couple of plastic ships!

Who knew you could make a warship out of plastic and glass?!

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/two-ukr ... ish-coast/

[tabascoboy]

[Dinsdale Piranha]

We’ve given them a couple of plastic ships!

Who knew you could make a warship out of plastic and glass?!

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/two-ukr ... ish-coast/

The Royal Navy Minesweepers are fibreglass.

I used to sail past the moulds for the hull in the Solent. They were pretty big. One mould per side if I remember.

[Random1]

We’ve given them a couple of plastic ships!

Who knew you could make a warship out of plastic and glass?!

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/two-ukr ... ish-coast/

The Royal Navy Minesweepers are fibreglass.

I used to sail past the moulds for the hull in the Solent. They were pretty big. One mould per side if I remember.

Yeah, it’s the minesweepers we’ve given them.

[Uncle fester]

Might have been covered before but this fella is camping in a forest to avoid being drafted. Would be pretty certain that the authorities will be actively hunting him now.

BBC News - Ukraine war: Hiding from Putin's call-up by living off-grid in a freezing forest
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64346971

[fishfoodie]

Might have been covered before but this fella is camping in a first to avoid being drafted. Would be pretty certain that the authorities will be actively hunting him now.

BBC News - Ukraine war: Hiding from Putin's call-up by living off-grid in a freezing forest
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64346971

It's an insight into the Russian condition.

He's an IT worker, & the official line is that IT workers aren't subject to the draft; but Russians know the official line is spun by a load of lying cunts, so he heads to the woods.

So in theory, he's fine; but everyone knows it's bullshit; so he know's he can be arrested & stuck on a train heading west at any time, even though he is supposedly exempt.

If 75% of the criminals they recruited are already dead; what fucking chance does a keyboard warrior stand ?

[tabascoboy]

[Hellraiser]

Looks as if Germany will grant Poland a re-export licence tomorrow.

Also the Ramstein meeting hammered out the main details of initial Leopard transfers; 12 countries will send approx 100 tanks, which amounts to an entire brigade.

[petej]

And the leopards are free to roam across Ukraine.

[dkm57]

THANK F~CK!!

[Uncle fester]

About bloody time.
Are the Leopards tested in combat to verify their high rep?

[fishfoodie]

It would have been better if they'd made this decision weeks ago.

I'm not sure how long it will take to train up the crews, but there isn't too long to go, before the fields of Ukraine turn into muddy bogs.

The ideal scenario would be to smash thru the Orc lines, cutting off tens of thousands of their men, before it becomes impossible to move across these fields, & then fortify the new front; & prepare for the next time to use their new weapons.

[Uncle fester]

Too late for that and Ukraine would waste troops rushing. Best to hold off until summer/early autumn to do it properly.

[petej]

I think Ukraine should push the front around kreminna to gain fire control over the staroblisk rail line. If only to drag Russia away from other areas.

[Plim]

I’m lost on the tank/anti-tank balance. If UA can destroy even the best Russian tanks with shoulder-held missiles or drones or accurate artillery, could Putrid’s forces do the same or similar to Challengers or Leopards? I doubt the Rs’ weaponry is as good the West’s but aren’t all tanks vulnerable now?

[Uncle fester]

I’m lost on the tank/anti-tank balance. If UA can destroy even the best Russian tanks with shoulder-held missiles or drones or accurate artillery, could Putrid’s forces do the same or similar to Challengers or Leopards? I doubt the Rs’ weaponry is as good the West’s but aren’t all tanks vulnerable now?

Vulnerable if used unsupported.
Remains to be seen if Ukraine will do better than Russia in that regard.