Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

Germany gave 500 Stingers and 1000 PzF 3, and German government claims, that they arrived to Ukraine on Wednesday (2 March). I guess there are no complaints concerning them.

Just about that time it was announced, that Germany would give also 2700 ex-DDR Strelas (I assume Strela-2M?), but German press revealed, that according to Bundeswehr reports, only around 2000 are still useful. Sadly, Germany is unjustly criticized for this decision in some scandal-seeking media, which do not mention Stingers... :mad: Anyway, I think, that it's better to have extra 2000 Strelas at hand, than nothing (even with its mediocre hit probability, and limited rather to running out aircraft, showing exhaust).

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

Well, for last 10 days I almost do nothing but check battlefield news and read analyses, especially, that it is neighbour country...

In short, most analytics here agree, that it was not the war, that the Russians expected. Possibly trying to make it relatively "peaceful", and counting on little opposition, there were only weak missile and airforce preparation strikes. Southern direction actions were well prepared and trained, but surprisingly, on Kiev direction there were thrown two armies from Far East and Middle Asia, with worse training, older equipment and high conscript ratio. Elite 1st Tank Army was supposed to take Kharkiv, but met with strong and well prepared opposition there. Very important factor is, that most Russian conscript troops evidently had no "heart" for real war, especially that they were told, that it was basically a peacekeeping operation with people's support against the corrupt government, whose army would probably decompose. None of it appeared even close. And the people were former "brothers", speaking similar or the same language. Russian army did not evolve far from Warsaw Pact tactics, especially with little combined operation capability, while Ukrainian one was professionally trained according to NATO standards. And of course, if Russian leading columns were able to move into the country, there started problems with logistics - which was never strong and well-organized in USSR/Russia (supply convoys, protection and recovery of broken down equipment). Huge books will be written someday on this war... (provided, that it would not lead to mankind destruction).

Of course, Ukrainian side, trying to gain support and raise morale, publishes films of capturing or burning enemy equipment. They are mostly taken by National Guard territorial army, which makes ambushes in vast country. On the other hand, it is overlooked, that main burden of halting Russian advance is carried by regular Ukrainian army, with tanks and BMPs - there were reportedly fierce tank battles around Kharhkiv, Chernihiv and north of Kiev, but no reports are revealed to public. And regular soldiers are forbidden to carry mobile phones. Surely Ukrainian ground forces lost a couple thousand soldiers as well. Irregardless if there were any US interests or not, one thing is sure: noone in the 21st century is entitled to invade a neighbour in order to overthrow democratic government which does not violate human rights, or to dictate if sovereign country can be a member of some alliance, and this "special military operation" may not be justified.

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

War is going to happen and no rules or "you can't do this or that because it's the 21st Century" is going to change that. Pretty sure the same comments were made all the way back to when there was peace between most countries and then well a history book will tell you how that turned out.

War is never going to go away. Not unless humanity is removed from the picture.

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

I hope you not consider it spam, here's a video of Russian D-30 howizter battery near Nikolaiyv, probably attacked with cluster munition, if you haven't seen it... Impressive counter-battery work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk98HKJuoCI

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

Do you know if that was a Ukrainian speaking or Russian? I must confess I cannot tell the difference

I assume this was recorded well after the event as the scene is devoid of any evidence of casualties

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

Ukrainian, though the difference is subtle. The narrator speaks, that "it was what remained of our brothers, who came to save us" (Ukrainian: "spasaty" instead of Russian "spasti"). "In such way Ukrainian artillery hits", he says.

Reportedly there are films on twitter (or wherever) with casaulties...

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

potentially dumb question alert

Maybe you know, maybe someone else does

Is Ukrainian to Russian ( the languages..... ) similar to the similarities and differences between High German and German Dialects?

( English, as spoken in the south of England and the Scottish northern highlands also comes to mind )

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

another one

https://twitter.com/i/status/1500513612661760000

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

There are no dumb questions ;)

I don't know the difference between German dialects, but I believe that Ukrainian and Russian are more different. Knowing Russian, I don't know Ukrainian and can hardly understand it, though more words are similar to Polish. A lot of words are different and there are slightly different grammar forms. Some Cyrillic letters are pronounced in a different way, which is a false friend. In writing, the easiest way to tell Ukrainian are letters "і" and "ї".

Re: Ukraine 2021(?)
 

I finally remembered my password, yippee. While trawling around the hellscape that is twitter I came across this map by an account called 'Jomini'. I have absolutely no clue how accurate it is, but I do hope that the divisional organization can help folks make more accurate maps.

With that in mind, any idea what the 20th Guards Motor are rocking? They were recently reformed apparently, so I assume they're rolling with some decent kit. Thinking about doing a scenario down there about the (theoretical) breakout from Kherson.

Apologies that this is a link. Been trying for the past few minutes to get it to work, but I'm far too tired and inebriated to keep it up. I promise it works if you click on it, though!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNOCaZeX....jpg?name=orig