Russia - threadbanned users in OP

No, but I'd definitely keep the windows closed...and the air-con off ( it it has one.......)

This is absolutely absurd revisionism.

The Russian force that invaded Ukraine was absolutely not "comically small". It was the size it needed to be to militarily defeat Ukraine in a lightning campaign using what should've been Russia's massive advantage in equipment and technology.

It wasn't defeated just because Ukraine put up a fight. It was defeated because Russian leadership, equipment, tactical, logistical and combined arms ability are non existent, which literally no-one expected, probably least of all Putin himself.

They have suffered absolutely horrendous losses in Ukraine. Their air force, which should have established air superiority on day one, hasn't turned up despite its size, because their training and ability to work with other branches is appallingly poor. The idea that the current situation is as a result of Russia somehow holding back is utter drivel.

If the Russian Armed Forces were performing as they should have based on their annual budget, which is 10x that of Ukraine (that's even allowing for Ukraine's recent increase since 2014), they should have rolled over Ukraine in the first few days in a somewhat less-dominant, but not entirely dissimilar fashion to how the coalition utterly demolished Iraq in both Gulf Wars.

Even before any meaningful Western support arrived Russia were performing utterly horribly, due to their own colossal ineptitude.

It's actually more comparable to the massive Arab armies attacking Israel simultaneously and still getting utterly destroyed. Russian Armed Forces are rotten with corruption and nepotism and it's laid bare for the world to see in their performance in Ukraine. It's basically an enormous horde army, not a modern 21st century army as even experts expected.

Of course they're still inflicting damage, of course they're still dangerous, of course they can still make some gains potentially. But we're talking about a $5bn army fighting a $60bn army to a total attrition stalemate that's like a conflict somewhere in between the First and Second World War, an artillery and infantry grinder.

Putin has humiliated himself and the Russian Armed Forces, and set Russia on a path to utter ruin and you actually have the balls to insinuate it's part of some calculated plan, really quite unbelievable.

It's very hush hush. But I think theu called it off before it became a mass casualty event.they couldn't get enough of a foothold.

That's what I'm thinking, trying to cross a river under artillery fire and at night, you've literally no where to hide and you can't risk calling in artillery or missles on or close to a nuclear power plant,

River assaults are difficult even in near perfect conditions ,in the middle of winter under darkness and artillery and gunfire, fair balls to them for even trying

...Why do people spin stories in their head to preserve a myth of Putin the Stragetic Genius Strongman?

One type (seen on this website) seems to be people who just find democracy, the whole process and the kind of people it throws up as politicians and leaders distasteful and soiled. They are aching for the day a strong "father" like Putin the Spymaster Genius (thinking and planning 10 moves ahead) will arise to take bumbling weak woke Western countries like Ireland in hand and get things done right!

Be honest with yourself, Russia/Putin tried to conquer the whole country and f-cked up badly.

They are caught on the point of a stick now but I suppose what does it matter to Putin and co who call all the shots...to paraphrase "some of you [or many of you!] may have to die quite horribly, but that is a sacrifice I am glad to make for the glory of Russia and my legacy!"

Latest on Erdogan Turkey's Erdogan has reappeared, looking frail, after a mysterious illness. - PiPa News

A second Patriot battery is now inservice.

I've heard from a lot of people who's ability to tie their own shoes is questionable at best that this incompetence was all part of a Putin master plan and that any day now, he'll send in the elite troops that he's been saving and they'll take over Ukraine in an instant. It's one thing to hear such ideas on the internet but I've heard them from people in real life too, even from acquaintances and it's a bit jarring. I get that people can pick up bits of info from the internet and repeat it but to not think about a piece of info and compare it to stuff that you know to see if it makes sense just seems lazy. Like this idea that Putin is perfectly happy to spend so much money, people and reputation for a year just so that he can pull off some magic trick at the end... it's just bonkers.

Although, pretending not to know why there was a column of tanks on its way to kyiv is a new one.

I wrote many unpopular posts here last year about this.

Along with this description, I drew this very silly map nearly 6 months ago about positions I thought Russia would fortify. I was derided as a Kremlin-bot and Orc-propagandist for suggesting that such a thing could prove troublesome for Ukraine.

The link you've quoted from Reuters has the following image of Russian defences, six months later.

I don't understand how NATO can possibly expect Ukraine to end this war.

They forbade "modern" 50 year old F16 fighters because they might escalate the conflict.

They had to be dragged kicking and screaming until they provided a tiny number of 40 year old Leopard 2's to Ukraine.

They deny the necessary ammunition to keep Ukrainian artillery guns firing to defend positions.

All the talk is of Ukraine counter offensive but as of now Russia is the one making gains, upping the ante on widespread missile strikes and has now amassed nearly 400,000 troops in the occupied territories.

I think it's time to start seeing something from Ukraine on the battlefield soon tbh.

When the Ukrainans are ready then they will make their move,and not on the demands of anyone,

There hasn't been widespread missle strikes, once a week or Fortnite if we're lucky,

The missile strikes are a much rarer occurrence I’ve the last few months. Where did you get the 400k Russian troop figure from? RT? Tass?

Also, where exactly are these gains? A couple of streets in Bakhmut every 3-4 weeks doesn’t really count.

I think you’ve been eating the Kremlins propaganda soup. Careful there. It’s often poisoned.