Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Spokesperson of Operation command "South": some units at Kherson frontline negotiating surrendering their weapons

Yes, I'm trying not to believe (or repost) every rumour on twitter. It would be great if it were true though. It would save the area from a lot of devastation.

And while it may come as a surprise to some, ethnic Russians are not popular in the Republics. Quite incredible though it may seem !

The one that says 'quack that, I'm not getting in that death trap' and runs across the road to get far away from it and hides in the bushes - he needs to be hunted down and eliminated before he gets back to Russia and breeds.

You don't have to look past Kasparov for someone you would like to see replace Putin:

"Their heroism is so refreshing at a time of cynicism. I wish them strength. I believe that we all owe them big. I don’t think we could ever compensate them for the sacrifices they’ve made, not just for their country, but for freedom around the world.

As a Russian citizen – though with the longest record of fighting Putin – I still feel responsible for the suffering that the Ukrainians are suffering and caused by Putin’s criminal regime. We will never be able to repay Ukraine for their sacrifices, heroism, and spirit. Ukraine is a beacon to the free world.

What Ukraine has done has reminded all of us that we had values and ideas worth fighting for – and dying for."

Kasparov himself said some kind of senate should replace Putin. End the autocracy. But yes, Kasparov would make a good politician or even president.

I did say Russia and China are "frenemies". The United States is tactically trying to tie up Chinese military resources with Taiwan, lest they be fed into the Ukraine theatre of war.

The problem with a conventional war against an opponent like Russia is both sides run down conventional weapons stocks quickly. This has been a problem for Ukraine and NATO who have raided armouries globally and shipped the weapons to Ukraine. There is limited production capacity to make new weapons. In a direct confrontation, it won't be long before both sides are down to nuclear weapons. If one side makes a breakout over a large geographical area and can run straight into your heartland, and nothing is left, tactical nukes come into play to arrest the advance.

If one side wants to do mass air raids of civilian or production centers like was done in WW II, the response will be nuclear. Aside from its inefficiency Nuclear weapons are one of the reasons this tactic is abandoned. Last time indiscriminate mass bombing from air happened was the Vietnam conflict (Rolling Thunder, Linebacker & Linebacker II).

Since modern wars tend to involve lots of movement, using geographical features to corral an enemies movement makes sense. Ukraine is currently using this to their advantage in the Kherson region by limiting Russian movement across the Dnipro river. Earlier in the Russian campaign the Russians used movement to create cauldrons and hammer the Ukrainian defences with artillery.

theres a lot going on, Im finding it hard to keep you all updated and in the loop, here's some more snippets

Heavy shelling targeting Vuhlesar for 2 days

In case you missed it ..... NATO is involved

Here's some more on it (I wonder if Kadyrov's criticisms are part of this?)

Moscow Municipal Lawmakers Demand Putin's Resignation (rferl.org)

Tactical nukes is the media term, the professionals use the term non-strategic nuclear weapons. they exist for specific purposes like clearing large marshalling yards.

Depends what airframes they lose. Lose a few Su-25's? No Problem

Lose more SU-34's? Frankly terrible- Not just because the more modern jets use western tech. It also damages export potential.

It really depends who we're talking about. Some ignorant 18 year old who doesn't have a clue what they're doing in Ukraine and is just following orders - jail is fine.

But the people responsible for the countless atrocities deserve nothing but death and torment.

Definitely. There was a systematic plan to exterminate Ukrainian individuals who would not accept or be a threat to the New Russian regime. I believe that's exactly why they brought mobile crematoriums with them.

Russians are not pleased that "African Americans" seem to have been involved in the recent Ukrainian offensive in Kharkiv.