Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[ska invita]

Washington Post suggest Prig is after the heads of Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov rather than a push on Putin.

There have long been speculations that Wagner troops use a lot of war drugs. The song Cocaine Decisions keeps popping in my mind this morning.

 

[brogdale]

So...who are the 'goodies' and who are the 'baddies', now?

 

[Cid]

Wondering because I understood the Russians were keeping their latest tank out of the fighting so far, and this one looks modern, possibly that latest model ..

It looks a lot like a T-72, which there are (or were) vast numbers of. But I was procrastinating and googled, so the wheels and exhaust ID it as a T-80. Or at least they do on the basis of 5 minutes of research.

 

[two sheds]

Is it the one they used in the Moscow fly-past?

 

[Cid]

Washington Post suggest Prig is after the heads of Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov rather than a push on Putin.

There have long been speculations that Wagner troops use a lot war drugs. The song Cocaine Decisions keeps popping in my mind this morning.

As has been said a few times, many a coup has started with 'we're just taking out the corrupt advisors'.

 

[maomao]

Is it the one they used in the Moscow fly-past?

Not a military expert but pretty sure there were 0 tanks in the fly-past.

 

[strung out]

Fuck it let's make outlandish predictions.

Going to recycle this one from last March, updated slightly.

The war will likely be settled in ten days with a ceasefire agreement and settlement on Russian Wagner terms.

 

[strung out]

Wondering because I understood the Russians were keeping their latest tank out of the fighting so far, and this one looks modern, possibly that latest model ..

The newest Russian tank is the T14 Armata, which hasn't been seen yet because it's shit, and they daren't send it into battle.

 

[brogdale]

I suppose we're seeing one pretty obvious downside risk of a state outsourcing warfare to a private military company?

 

[cupid_stunt]

I suppose we're seeing one pretty obvious downside risk of a state outsourcing warfare to a private military company?

Wow, that's a lot of vehicles and troops.

 

[brogdale]

Wow, that's a lot of vehicles and troops.

...that are no longer in Ukraine.

 

[Indeliblelink]

Seems to be some twitter chat that the Russian air force has bombed one of the Wagner convoys on the M4. Can't see a reliable source for it yet though.

 

[JimW]

I suppose we're seeing one pretty obvious downside risk of a state outsourcing warfare to a private military company?

Like the Mamluks all over again.

 

[maomao]

Voronezh about three hundred miles from Moscow so some sort of fighting today or rolling into Moscow by tomorrow morning.

 

[Cid]

Seems to be some twitter chat that the Russian air force has bombed one of the Wagner convoys on the M4. Can't see a reliable source for it yet though.

Any Bristol urbanites able to confirm?

 

[a_chap]

Seems to be some twitter chat that the Russian air force has bombed one of the Wagner convoys on the M4. Can't see a reliable source for it yet though.

Did they get Slough?

 

[brogdale]

Any Bristol urbanites able to confirm?

Leigh Delamere gonna be carnage

 

[brogdale]

After their own air cover, now...

 

[Nylock]

At least gordano will be spared...

 

[Kaka Tim]

I would guess that "personal financial gain" is the very low on Prigozin's list of motivations - hes in shit or bust terriroty, he either topples the regime or he is dead - and the odds are surely very much on the latter. egomania , greivance, lust for power presumably all in there. Going by his previous rants he clearly thinks he would do a much better job of running the war.
You have to wonder what the russian troops grimly enduring in their trenches make of all this - I would imagine his talk of the lies and of lives being thrown away will resonate very strongly. if this escaltates its the sort of thing that leads to mass mutinies and desertions. Absolute gift to the ukranians - a breakthrough now whilst the russian command are paralysed and the whole front could collapse.
Sure to be all sorts of rumours flying around - with UKR helpfully stirring the pot.

But also - WHAT THE FUCK!!! to the power of several gazillion.

 

[spitfire]

Well crikey. This is all a bit bonkers.

If you were a Russian regular army commander and Herr Wagner made you an offer you couldn’t refuse and it meant you and your troops didn’t have to go and fight in Ukraine it would definitely have to be taken into consideration. Taking into account you would know the situation on the ground behind the bullshit put out by Russian TV.

Also (if true) how do they come back from shooting down 3 helicopters? That’s not just handbags.

 

[spitfire]

Ukraine making hay with a bit of Voltaire.

 

[Rob Ray]

it meant you and your troops didn’t have to go and fight

This has got to be Wagner's best propaganda card. While he may be a mercenary nazi scumbag Prigozhin has also been the only prominent figure advocating for (his) troops over the last while, and personally linked to Russia's only recent victory. Compared to Putin who's been utterly remote, and the generals who have taken all the blame for multiple major fuckups and huge numbers of lost lives.

 

[A380]

That kebabking ‘s plans for the weekend buggered then. Hope he didn’t have Glasto tickets.

 

[teqniq]

Rostov, earlier today.



eta: transcript here

I had a funny feeling something like this might happen and Prigozhin has a way with words" Your'e just senile clowns'

 

[DaveCinzano]

Did they get Slough?

Difficult to tell

 

[zahir]

What Prigozhin has to say for himself.

 

[two sheds]

Nice that he's concerned about civilians and children being killed now that he's not doing the killing (for the moment).

 

[The39thStep]

Nice that he's concerned about civilians and children being killed now that he's not doing the killing (for the moment).

'but he looks after his own'

 

[Dogsauce]

Conflict goes nuclear on Russian soil.

Would that cross NATO’s red lines as set out a couple of days ago?