[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I noticed this thread had gone rather quiet (no new posts for over a week), so I suppose now's a good a time as any to say I AM worried about this supposed Russian offensive that they're planning. We can't bank on them being as useless and as over-confident as they were last year, and as well as any tactical improvements in true Russian style they'll be more than happy to buy success with expendable troops.

I just hope that if the news is bad that Western resolve doesn't waver. Possibly why Zelensky is here, to prepare us for some setbacks.

Yes, Bakhmut will fall, but Russia will have to work hard to get much further in this region.

I think of it like this. One side in this war is about to get a massive injection of troops, but they will be comparatively poorly trained, equipped and motivated and the other side won't get more troops but is going to get a massive injection of sophisticated western weaponry, I know which side i'd back to make progress under those circumstances.

Ukraine should be focussing on retaining troops. If they have to give up land in the short term, so be it.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

President Zelensky about to address Parliament at 1pm. Live on BBC Parliament channel

 

[Igzilla]

It's generally the case the attacking force needs about 3x the number of troops than the defender, so for Ukraine to get beaten back badly would require a massive troop surge from Russia. There are signs that they are pumping more conscripts into the Donbas though not at the numbers to make success certain and they will still be low quality, poorly equipped, morale deficient troops. What is interesting is that Russia are starting to push now, in mid February, which is usually the coldest month of the year in Ukraine, so not great for offensive actions. It then leads into the mud season. I've heard speculation that the talk of modern western tanks coming to Ukraine is forcing Putin's hand - they need to gain ground now, and quickly to enable them to dig in and entrench before the tanks arrive. This is also why Ukraine is defending Bakhmut so much - they are trying to make it as costly for the Russians as possible as Russian push forward before they are really ready. I would imagine Ukraine planning a counter offensive in April/May time - watch out for lots of HIMARS action coming to your favourite Russian battalion soon...

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Zelensky holding Parliament spellbound

 

[aolstudios]

Zelensky holding Parliament spellbound

An absolute hero

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Starmer seems close to tears. Sunak is looking at Zelensky with ill-concealed awe. Even Boris is visibly moved. It's powerful powerful stuff

 

[Titanic]

"Today the King in Britain is an Air Force pilot, in Ukraine today, every Air Force pilot is a King."

 

[Igzilla]

"We have freedom, give us wings to protect it."

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Meanwhile .....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64566297 .....

But yeh we should be on the side of peace and be persuading Ukraine to give up swathes of territory so this will all go away

 

[KZNSeagull]

"Thank you for your delicious tea and thank you in advance for your powerful planes"

 

[Hamilton]

Powerful words. But backed by bravery. He is on the frontline. I just hope we don’t let him down. I hope that Ukrainians and Russians know peace.

 

[A1X]

Meanwhile…

 

[Weststander]

Meanwhile…

I blot out these arseholes, old Matt Le Tissier another look at me thicko.

 

[sparkie]

If Putin had known it would cost him 130,000+ soldiers/citizens, 3000+ tanks, his Black Sea fleet flag ship, his western oil and gas market etc. etc. he may well not have blundered so badly.

Oh well. He'll be adding his life to that long list eventually.

 

[jakarta]

I see we have 100 or so Typhoons which we could offer (presumably flown by RAF pilots)

The Septics have hundreds and hundreds of F15/F16's - no news on them being offered however.

 

[raymondo]

You’d hope India would look at this and go “yeah, maybe we’re not siding with the goodies here actually…”

But we'll keep sending them aid, whatever, I guess

 

[raymondo]

I see we have 100 or so Typhoons which we could offer (presumably flown by RAF pilots)

The Septics have hundreds and hundreds of F15/F16's - no news on them being offered however.

I can't imagine we're going to offer them

 

[A1X]

I see we have 100 or so Typhoons which we could offer (presumably flown by RAF pilots)

The Septics have hundreds and hundreds of F15/F16's - no news on them being offered however.

RAF pilots will not be flying sorties over Ukraine. I can 100% guarantee that.

 

[jakarta]

RAF pilots will not be flying sorties over Ukraine. I can 100% guarantee that.

Well what is the point in these discussions? It take years to train pilots and this will be done & dusted before a Ukraine Pilot can fly a 'borrowed' Typhoon.

 

[The Clamp]

Well what is the point in these discussions? It take years to train pilots and this will be done & dusted before an Ukraine Pilot can fly a 'borrowed' Typhoon.

According to the news today, it will take a year to train candidates to pilot Apaches and a couple of years to pilot a fighter jet. They are currently training them on Apache gunships.

I cannot see any scenario, anytime soon, in which RAF pilots fly over Ukraine to engage the Russian army.