Russia - threadbanned users in OP

I'm not saying that you are wrong in your thinking Wibbs (or that I'm right either) but the surprises that this war has produced are unreal, to say the least. Like the majority, I'd be rooting for a Ukrainian win, with Ruzzians pushed back into Ruzzia, and finished militarily at least for a generation (two would be better....) but I'm a realist as well and understand it may well not work out like that either. The next 3 / 4 months will tell a lot either way, a lot will depend on Zelenski of course, but at this stage, I'm pretty sure that Putin is coming under increasing pressure on the home front, and not only from the Oligarch's. In one sense, it.s becoming a race against time for both sides.

Slava Ukraini

I think it'd have to be "Davy Keogh says hello"

Seems the Wagner group don't like the idea of eu officials calling them terrorists so they sent a message to Strasbourg.

Doesn't need much explaining

Send it to Ukraine, they might be able to return it via a drone from 200m.

By springtime Putin will know what we all know today. He is lost and done for. Anyway we have Lucky Lunka from Belarus being wheeled out to demand talks we can be sure Putin is under the Kosh. I see no reason at all for Ukraine or Zelensky to feel under pressure to talk to Russia until Putin pulls out all his henchmen [they can't be called an army anymore] from all of Ukraine.

At that, Zelenskyy needs to make sure the armed forces of Ukraine have a missile system in place to guarantee Russia will never again go anywhere near it. 100 cruise missiles are all Ukraine needs to keep the Russian crazies away from her.

I was talking to an ex-Irish army guy this week, quite high up in his time, and he says the standard of officers in the Russian army seems terrible. He was one of those who bought into the idea in February that they might be a professional fighting force, but the poor calibre of the army is astonishing to him - it was all smoke and mirrors.

LGBTQ Russians Were Putin's First Target in His War on the West (foreignpolicy.com)

It would depend how they did it. Obviously if they just thunder ran their units down to the coast tomorrow they'd be placing themselves in between the jaws of two fronts, which would be a very bad idea. But they don't need to do this all in one go.

If you look at the map of the trainlines across the southern held Russian landbridge in Ukraine the key point is Tokmak, only half way to the coast. Along with the land bridge from north Crimea you only have two train lines capable of transporting heavy equipment and reinforcements to the russian troops on the west of dnipro : Takmok and Crimea landbridge. Both of which are currently within HIMARS range since Kherson was retaken. And since the Kersch bridge is currently still damaged it's dubious how much Crimea can even still supply to the southern front.

So the Ukrainians stick to their modus operandi. Hammer these supply lines for the Russians on the western bank then prod at them with artillery and methodical ground assaults until it simply becomes untenable to hold the ground. The logistically exhausted Russians to the east of Tokmak retreat to northern Crimea(currently being fortified by the Russians since they forsee this outcome themselves IMO).

The second that happens Crimea is done. Once standard HIMARS rockets can reach all Crimea, Ukraine can just pull the same stunt again. Hit supplys/command/rescource storage, rinse, repeat. If Crimea falls then Putin goes with it. There's no way he survives political backlash from that.

I could be way off the mark and there's many variables that could turn this possible reality into a dream. But honestly I can't help but feel that forcing the russians to tactically reposition themselves out of Crimea is easier than forcing the Russians out of Donbas and eastern Ukraine where they can be supplied more easily from the mainland.

Hence the oh look we suffered more than anyone else during WW2 , Nato has surrounded us and are planning to invade and force us all to enjoy democracy, freedom,and capitalism.

When you can't blame 'immigants' (because no one wants to go there) you need to target minority groups to deflect blame for bad decisions.

I had a bit of a closer look at the handle, and what I thought was the manufacturers logo turns out to be blood stains, perfectly imprinted on the wood. So finger prints for sure, and would it be possible to get a DNA sample and use it to positively identity the user /owner? And send him an appropriate "Thank You" note??