Ukraine

Jens reckons the war is likely to go on for years and that the West must continue to provide weapons for the long term. Who would have guessed? Putin is not going to back down.

Putin has already lost - he just can see it yet - too many 'yes' men around him - telling him what he wants to hear. As we pump in more modern heavy duty weapons systems into Ukraine - Putin is using up all his weapons and will no doubt be finding it difficult to make or purchase new. Apparently he is now using USSR era rockets - what next - sharp sticks? More money from oil does not translate into more weapons - you have to have someone who is willing to sell them to you.

Apart from rampant inflation (ours is bad but I wouldn't swap it for Russian inflation) they are finding it more difficult to manufacture home made goods. There is an interesting article on the beeb website - Lada cars now being manufactured with no airbag, no anti-lock braking system, no Electronic Stability Control and no seat-belt pretensioners.

This is just the start of the impact of sanctions. What has been his response? Open up fake McDonalds stores - what an utterly evil 'man' he is. He will be judged just like everyone else.

 

As far as I know Russia is capable of making their own weapons, their strategy seems to be flatten everything, and you don't need anything particularly high tech to do that.
I think it gets forgotten that this war actually started 8 or 9 years ago, it's just the special military operation that started earlier this year.

 

The new head of the British Army has issued a rallying cry to troops - telling them they need to be ready to face Russia on the battlefield. Of course, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders wants a bigger army and more money for weaponry (Ajax armoured vehicles and ear defenders), but I think that could be the way this war will end.

 

Russia will buy off China and N Korea, all mates together.
I can see WW3 coming along after some mistake takes out a EU or NATO bit, but then again it’ll be us bombing ourselves he’ll say

 

Russia has warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences after it banned the rail transfer of some goods to the Russian territory of Kaliningrad.

And what would that be Putin? Lithuania is a member of NATO and doesn't use any Russian energy. You can't do anything short of an all out war with NATO.

Be patient a little longer - the sanctions are starting to bite. Not long now and you'll have a load of cool retro cars driving around Moscow - just like Cuba.

 

Putin said what’s a world without Russia, he wants it all but if he pushes a button no one will have it

 

He's all bluster. I read that in Russia it takes 18 people to agree to launch a nuke. One of them will stop him. All you have to do is look at the faces of the generals he asked to get nuke ready - they were not impressed at all - in fact I reckon they would have had a go at him but for the fact he was sitting at the other end of a 10 meter long table.

Look at this youtube video - there are plenty of good people to counter the evil of Putin.

 

If you don’t press the button I will make you disappear until I get a yes, it’s the Russian way

 

I see that the modern US mobile rocket systems are now with the Ukrainian army. Let's see what difference this makes - pull back the troops and pummel the occupiers from a relatively safe distance. Time that Putin tasted some of his own medicine.

 

It is no surprise then that Kyiv orders forces to withdraw from Severodonetsk.

 

Volodymyr was looking to avoid the Ukrainian military getting surrounded whilst protecting civilians - as happened in the Azvostol steel plant.

I should imagine that Volodymyr will now wait for Russia to take up position in Sievierodonetsk and then will send in the new US missiles. Any Ukrainian civilians will have left with the Ukrainian military.

Russia have fought so hard and lost so much - to occupy a very dangerous pile of rubble.

 

Russian and Russian proxy forces in the Donetsk region of Ukraine have suffered heavy casualties, according to UK intelligence officials.

They estimate the Donetsk militia alone has lost 55% of its original force.

 

This is the eye of the storm for Russia. In the next month of so, the US lend-lease weapons will start flooding into Ukraine.

I heard this morning that Boris is slinging another 200 million GBP into the Ukrainian pot - which I suspect is more heavy duty weapons.

Putin - you ain't seen nothing yet.

 

I am concerned that if Boris gets the heave the UK government's resolve will go with him.

 

Here you go:

The Russian leader claimed his side had barely started its offensive in earnest - I'm afraid it's a simple numbers game. Those who have the capacity to manufacture and supply advanced weapons systems will prevail. The last time I looked, Russia was the 11th largest economy - and it's getting weaker as the sanctions bite. US GPS guided missiles blowing up Putin's ammunition stashes and they ain't cheap.

There are some rumors that Putin is introducing legislation which will 'require' Russian manufacturers to make weapons and which will 'require' the population to enlist in the army.

This recent lull in fighting - excellent opportunity for the Ukrainians to get the western weapons in place.