Nearly half a million dead Nazis.
That’s a gift from Russia to the rest of humanity.

Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 14 2024 13:55 utc | 3

After following the SMO in Ukrine all these months, I guess I’ve gotten a bit numb to the import of breaking or developing news from the war front. But the very latest reports of the AFU having a drastically reduced ability to defend against Russia’s latest missile and drone attack had me rise up in my seat.
If the Ukraine’s air defense has indeed recently been markedly degraded, then I see the big question now being whether or not Russia has a sufficient stockpile of every type of missile and drone on had to take advantage of that. Because if they do, oh my, all bets are off.
It takes a missile defense system to protect ones missile defense system, and if Ukraine’s is on the ropes then Russia will want to focus on that, with the second most important targets being those that had previously been covered, and which actually produce expendables for use by the AFU.
Make hay while the sun is shining, and if the West isn’t feverishly working to get the AFU’s air defenses back up, then I can’t guess what is what. To allow Russia to have a field day fter field day blowing up high value targets within Ukraine is going to cause a major upheaval in the status of the war. And imo it’s worth noting that if Ukraine’s air defenses are down, the could mean Russian drones could start doing massive damage as well, when used longside missile attacks.
If Russia has turned a corner in gaining an upper hand over Ukraine’s air defense systems, that could mean that Russia could use its missiles to take out the lesser defenses that are used against drones. And if drones weree free to bob about overhead of Ukrainian cities and towns, that would be devastating to Ukrainian morale, as well as all kinds of smaller targets. Even supply trucks could start getting hit.
On the other hand, this could have been just a temporary glitch in the supply of defensive weapons for Ukraine, and once their resupply gets it back up to critical mass, it can be reenabled. Though that of course could also mean it was more imperative than ever for Russia to focus on degrading everything related to that air defense system, as that would be an opportunity worth pursuing.

Posted by: Babel-17 | Jan 14 2024 14:18 utc | 5

Posted by: Noam A. Larkey | Jan 14 2024 13:43 utc | 1

Mark a Maerican by their obsession with people doing strategy their way. They simply aren’t a deep thinking people. Maerica has already lost..she’s just too stupid to realize it yet. Remind me who has 23 trillion in debt and counting, while you ‘support Ukraine’ through another year of demilitarization. I guess money really grows on trees eh, too bad about the interest payments..
Bravo. Did you congratulate yourself on those limp dicked excuses for attacks on the Houthis as well? It’s almost like you cannot tolerate there are people out there with different ideas that might even.. gasp..be smarter than you.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 14 2024 14:51 utc | 7

I’m sure Lucy will let you kick the football this time. 😉
Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 14 2024 14:33 utc | 5

Russia is effectively fighting all of NATO, who are too cowardly to commit directly, instead working through proxies as with ISIS and others in the past. Even directly entering the war (with what) NATO still will lose.
Russia is winning, despite the endless amount of words directed against it, they are effectively seeing 10 to 1 or better casualty rates in Russias favor. It’s only a matter of time, time which is on Russias side. Meanwhile she demonstrates the utter inferiority of NATO hardware, their officers and their doctrines. It’s hilarious to watch you clowns spin your proxy getting its ass handed to it as some kind of NATO victory.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 14 2024 14:58 utc | 9

After following the SMO in Ukrine all these months, I guess I’ve gotten a bit numb to the import of breaking or developing news from the war front.
Posted by: Babel-17 | Jan 14 2024 14:18 utc | 4
One has to keep in mind the big picture rather than getting excited over day to day operations: available manpower, materials etc. More so in a relatively static attrition conflict like this.
If you want a WW2 comparison once the allies deployed long range escort fighters in early 1944 air defense over the Reich became an hopeless affair but still the war went on for another year.

Posted by: Satepestage | Jan 14 2024 15:10 utc | 11

Question:
Has the body of Gonzalo Lira been returned to his family as yet?
(hopefully in it’s original state of death with all it’s nominal components intact)

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 14 2024 15:28 utc | 13

Footage from another war.
The theatre changes, the times and the weapons (partly), but the men who have to do the fighting remain the same, be they Russian or Ukrainian: soldiers.
https://youtu.be/oL1Am-98B_I
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zf2YWTAxSqY
Footage – and a song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbvNwdN4n2g&list=PL9E054D80E2EA7898&index=31
Be blessed.

Posted by: Kohlenklau | Jan 14 2024 15:46 utc | 15

#8 Doctor eleven– we still have not seen warmonger LLOYD”RAYTHEON” AUSTIN …..since 01/01/24…did Dr.Kinzhal visited him?????

Posted by: sejmon | Jan 14 2024 16:07 utc | 17

@shаdοwbanned
I’ve wrote that in the yesterdays thread but got no answer.
I think it’s not just the Russians’ goal to win militarily, UKR should lose because of lack of Western help. The Russian leadership is prepared to make sacrifices to achieve this.

Posted by: schkid | Jan 14 2024 16:31 utc | 19

https://t.me/rybar/55934

#Review #Summary for the morning of January 14, 2024
Over the past week, the Russian Armed Forces carried out massive strikes on enemy territory on January 8 and 13. The use of a wide range of weapons, including Daggers, shows the increased capabilities of the Russian military industry. Another aspect that drew attention during the strikes was the confusion in the enemy’s monitoring channels, which, under time pressure, draw information from the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Virage-Tablet” software about the air situation. Apparently, the chaos in the enemy’s minds was caused by multiple false air targets, and the air defense systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, discharged by them and the Geraniums, could not cope with the flow of missiles.
Kyiv again used the facts of the strikes to beg for air defense systems, but Zelensky’s meetings with the leaders of the Baltic countries and the British prime minister were indicative against the backdrop of US statements that “the assistance has ended for now.” Providing the enemy with military-technical assistance is gradually being shifted onto the shoulders of the Europeans. The presence of many drones among the planned British assistance also attracted attention. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are already skillfully replacing the decrease in the number of artillery ammunition with FPV drones and copter-bombers (“Baba Yaga”), and increasing their number from the enemy will cause even more problems for the Russian Army. You don’t have to look far for an example: only the lazy haven’t written about the problems in organizing electronic warfare in Krynki, Kherson region.
At the same time, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine are making weapons and equipment from scrap materials and sticks, factories for the production of artillery ammunition are being built in Germany. This is happening against the backdrop of large-scale protests by German proletarians, dissatisfied with the government’s cuts in social spending to please the military. But there is no point in waiting for the overthrow of the dominance of pro-American military industrialists; the most likely outcome will be the brutal suppression of protesting workers and peasant farmers, whom the bureaucrats are already calling “Russian agents.”
The front line is generally unchanged. We are gradually beginning to notice such things as maneuvers on the front sector by our forces and means. For example, on the Zaporozhye front near Nesteryanka or south of Marinka near Novomikhailovka. The number of personnel of the Russian Armed Forces on the LBS in some areas allows them to act in a similar way on a larger scale, but one-time breakthroughs should not be expected yet. The practice of steadily completing tasks exactly in the form in which they were conceived is indicative of Sinkovka in the Kupyansky direction.
The weather had an impact on the activity of both sides last week. The channels in the Kherson direction are freezing, the operation of UAVs is difficult, and even in the absence of precipitation in the cold, the operation of batteries of all types of equipment has been reduced. Soldiers warm themselves with trench candles in positions where it is impossible to equip stoves.
Recruitment of personnel is underway on both sides of the front. In Ukraine – mass violent mobilization, work on draconian laws on this topic, the flight of men through the border rivers and mountains to the West. In Russia, after the holidays, military registration and enlistment offices also returned to recruiting volunteers for contracts, and there is renewed debate online about the differences in one-time payments “from the regions” when concluding a contract. Many active servicemen of the Russian Army are interested in the African direction (we note right away that transfer from the Northwestern Military District zone there is impossible)
Thus, the front line is still without significant changes. The very fact of its stabilization and the retention of the strategic initiative of the Russian Armed Forces after many months of bloody defensive battles is important. Both sides are preparing to fight a long war.
The summary was compiled by: Two majors

https://t.me/rybar/55938

🇷🇴🇺🇦 Romania – the new hub of Eastern Europe?
This week it became known that Romania is rapidly building a road from the Ukrainian border to the port of Constanta, bypassing Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.
The construction of the route is taking place in emergency mode: about 3,000 workers and hundreds of vehicles are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
🔻In addition, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece are working on a project that is designed to connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean.
The Constanta-Alexandroupolis highway, which crosses Bulgarian territory, should be ready within five years. In the future, it could also be used to improve communications between US military bases in the Balkans. If the initiative is expanded to the Ukrainian border, the highway will be able to ensure the exit of agricultural products from Ukraine to Romanian and Greek ports.
🔻Romanian authorities stated that the export of Ukrainian goods through their country has already increased by 50%, and the Poles thus risk losing their status as the largest transit point of the so-called. Ukraine.
Although now, frankly speaking, it is not difficult to take the place of the Poles: all major checkpoints with Poland remain blocked, only Medyka-Shegini, which has a low throughput, is open.
📌Another thing is that in this way Romanians will be able not only to participate in the supply of Ukrainian grain and other products, but to receive and transfer weapons from NATO partners. And here the port of Alexandroupolis will occupy an important place, the location of which can eliminate problem areas in logistics to the east.
The deep-sea port plus can be unloaded directly onto the railway lines passing through Bulgaria and Romania, as well as north to Poland. In addition, the developed infrastructure around it allows us to avoid additional problems in the transfer of forces to the north, right up to the borders of the so-called Ukraine and Moldova.

Posted by: anon2020 | Jan 14 2024 16:48 utc | 21

Dima says that the most modern Ukro defense lines are impossible to breach?
Why is that so, considering how many different weapons Russia has?

Posted by: Zorge | Jan 14 2024 17:14 utc | 23

Posted by: anon2020 | Jan 14 2024 16:48 utc | 21
Yes, Romania is 100% pro-America and against Russia. I wonder why; I thought the last Russian soldier left Romania somewhere in the 1950’s. You can say about Ceausescu what you want, but at least he got the Soviets out.

Posted by: Passerby | Jan 14 2024 17:50 utc | 25

“…Yes, Romania is 100% pro-America and against Russia. I wonder why; I thought the last Russian soldier left Romania somewhere in the 1950’s…” Passerby@ 25
It must have something to do with the Rumanian alliance with Germany in the World War. Rumania was also one of the two countries which, by refusing to allow Red Army transit rights, ensured that the Czechs would be easy prey for Hitler.
And then there is the jackal factor:now as then Rumania relishes the idea of Russian retreat and the possibilities for loot, territorial and other, that it would offer.
It would be surprising if Rumania’s rulers were not vassals of imperialism.There is a sense in which geography underlines, even explains, Rumania’s behaviour.

Posted by: bevin | Jan 14 2024 18:12 utc | 27

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Front #Summary for 14 Jan 2024 by 20:08⚡️
🔹In #Kherson Direction, today, exactly 3 months ago, the AFU have been taking a small area of territory in the #Krynki village under control. From 100 to 300 Ukrainian soldiers are constantly present in the center of the village, replacing each other under constant heavy fire from our army. They write that they are trying to supply them with drones. With rotation, this course, will not work for them.
🔹In #Zaporozhye Direction, our forces retook several more positions west of #Rabotino and southwest of #Verbovoye. Ours pay a lot of attention to the defeat of enemy equipment and reserves by artillery and drones.
🔹In #SouthDonetsk Direction, heavy oncoming battles continue near #Novomikhaylovka. Our military is consolidating in the recently conquered positions. Building on the success of #Georgiyevka and #Pobeda, they took some more positions.
🔹In #Donetsk Direction, our forces of the have taken control of several AFU key strongholds in #Pervomayskoye on the southern #Avdeyevka front, clearing is underway. Active fighting continues at #Nevelskoye, #Severnoye and #Tonenkoye. On the northern flank, our army entered the territory of the #Ivushka village, which is southwest of the sewage treatment plants near Coke Plant. They are also storming the AFU positions in the village of #Ivushka2. In the northeast of #Stepovoye, ours also advanced. However, our forces do not have full control over the territory of the village, moreover, the AFU have transferred well-trained squads there.
🔹In #Bakhmut Direction, on the southern flank, positional battles continue near #Kleshcheyevka and #Andreevka. The control area from #Khromovo has been expanded. On the heights, our troops took four more enemy strongholds, despite the zealous resistance of the AFU.
🔹In #Svatovo Direction, in the #Kremennaya sector, ours report the defeat of two AFU armored vehicles and a howitzer at #Dibrova. In the #Kupyans sector, there are oncoming battles at #Sinkovka and #Kislovka. Positions are constantly changing hands, most of the latter is in the grey zone.
💥It is confirmed that yesterday’s strike on western #Ukraine destroyed a batch of missiles for the Patriot air defence system. Today, our Aerospace Forces launched another attack on theAFU’s air-shell depot in #Dolgintsevo, #Dnepropetrovsk region. Systematic attacks by our army on airfields and infrastructure may cause Western countries to delay the process of transferring F-16 fighters to #Ukraine.

https://t.me/sitreports/21120

Posted by: Down South | Jan 14 2024 18:19 utc | 29

from the old thread (Posted by: unimperator | Jan 14 2024 11:01 utc | 147)
“-Task is to attract AFU manpower and equipment close to the line and destroy them
-‘Capturing’ cities is the most complex type of warfare – two approaches: either like Israel, destroy the city completely, or blockade and starve it out (could take up to 9 months)”
Yes, finally someone said it. All those talks about “Russia absolutely needs to conquer territory” or “big arrow movements” is wishfull thinking. Let’s imaging Russia advancing, sacrifing loads of soldiers as well as material, until the next big city looms ahead. And then what? Remember how Mariupol looked like after the front walzed over it? Do you really want Odessa/Nikolaev/Charkov look like Gaza? With hundreds of thousands of Russians dead on both sides? The West would have a field day.
No, the front will stick at the current location. All Russia needs to do is “attrack AFU manpower” by looking weak when they appear to strong. The options of the West are limited, they will take potshots at anything too static (e.g. ships in docks or cities in arty range) and they will ambush anything too bold (e.g. SU34), as long as Russia does not take the bait and escalates, this will go on as long as there is something to shoot with and somebody there to pull the trigger.
On the topic of censoring fellow posters: I do not mind other opinions, better than sit in a comfy self-affirmation bubble.
(sorry for first posting in the wrong thread)

Posted by: Gonzo | Jan 14 2024 18:19 utc | 31

“Nearly half a million dead Nazis.
That’s a gift from Russia to the rest of humanity.”
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 14 2024 13:55 utc | 3
To be fair the Ukrainians that died were not all Nazis. I don’t what the percent5ages would be , I would guess less than 20-30% are true blue Nazis. The rest are poor cannon fodder betrayed by their Nazi Uke guv.
Thinking like that, all Ukes are Nazis, will make it more difficult for the Russians to work, and integrate with Ukrainians after the SMO.
In 5 or 10 years Ukraine or what is left of it will be neutered/controlled by Russia so to denigrate the whole population now is foolish and, of course, unproductive.

Posted by: canuck | Jan 14 2024 18:50 utc | 33

canuck | Jan 14 2024 18:50 utc | 33
You are right. As election results have shown, in most of Ukraine a Svoboda or Right Sector candidate rarely gets more than 3% of the vote. It is only in the west and Galicia in particular that support for outright fascists is significant.
And this is despite thirty years of hyper anti-communist, anti Russian education much of it financed by a Canadian government with nothing better (because most of its policies are determined in Washington) to do and only Canadians to spend the money on which, they feel, is better spent promoting lies and organising pogroms in Ukraine than, for example dealing with the homeless crisis.

Posted by: bevin | Jan 14 2024 19:51 utc | 35

Ukraine Weekly Update 12th Jan 2024: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-cf0

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Jan 14 2024 20:45 utc | 37

You side with the Nazis or fight for the Nazis, you’re a Nazi. Simple as that.
Now, a Nazi might change their mind about their affiliation. I’ll bet most do as they are bleeding out in the snow, and they all repent their nazism when they become POWs, but so long as they remain in the trenches trying to kill Russians, they’re Nazis.

Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 14 2024 21:03 utc | 39

Posted by: Zorge | Jan 14 2024 17:14 utc | 23
have you tried asking dima that?
Posted by: Justpassinby | Jan 14 2024 17:23 utc | 24

No, I do not dare to do that as he is a very busy man.

Posted by: zorge | Jan 14 2024 21:13 utc | 41

Posted by: zorge | Jan 14 2024 21:13 utc | 41
He also, self-admittedly, has large gaps in his knowledge about military affairs, as his commentary on the M2 v T-90 footage showed. So maybe not the first person to go to.

Posted by: Milites | Jan 14 2024 21:22 utc | 43

Posted by: canuck | Jan 14 2024 20:54 utc | 38
Certainly Canada seemed to be ideologically twinned with New Zealand and Covid revealed both to be Petri dishes for the WEF experiment in creating a techno-feudal state.

Posted by: Milites | Jan 14 2024 21:31 utc | 45

Posted by: Justadiode | Jan 14 2024 21:23 utc | 44
Must be some good shrooms youre on man, share the source please!

Posted by: alek_a | Jan 14 2024 21:32 utc | 47

You side with the Nazis or fight for the Nazis, you’re a Nazi. Simple as that.
…
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 14 2024 21:03 utc | 39
One characteristic of National Socialism is totalitarianism. “Anyone who is not for us is against us.”
Everyone should remember that.
According to your definition, the entire “West” is Nazi.
In any case, it supports Ukraine and takes its side. The conditions there are the result of the foreign policy of Western states.
Anyone who is familiar with the discrepancy between the will of the majority and government practice in Western states will also recognise a certain powerlessness in the average citizen of Ukraine.
If the citizens of the Ukrainian supporting states were to ensure a different foreign policy, Ukraine would not be able to exist as it does. “Bandera’s country” is financed by tax money from abroad.

Posted by: 600w | Jan 14 2024 21:41 utc | 49

Johann von Oberndorf | Jan 14 2024 22:16 utc | 50
So the Wehrmacht although complicit in attempted genocide of ethnic Russians and are now fighting for the rights of the nazis to genocide Russians are the good guy innocents. Taking orders is no defense and stupidity and group think are no defence. They only become good Germans when they refuse to fight or they surrender. Until then, they are vermin to be eradicated.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 14 2024 22:33 utc | 51

This might give you a laugh:
“The Bundeswehr is preparing for an attack by Putin after the defeat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” – Bild
The German army is preparing for war with Russia, “follows from a secret document” of the German Ministry of Defense.
“An escalation between NATO and Russia could occur as early as February. This is a training scenario that describes, step by step, month by month, how Putin will act and how NATO will defend itself. In the Bundeswehr scenario, escalation will begin in just a few weeks. Combat will soon begin Tens of thousands of German soldiers will depart,” writes Bild.
According to the described scenario, Russia launches a new wave of mobilization and conscripts another 200,000 into the army in February 2024.
In the spring, the Kremlin will launch a large-scale offensive in Ukraine and, against the backdrop of insufficient Western support, will defeat the Armed Forces of Ukraine by June 2024.
Next, according to the scenario, ethnic clashes will begin in the Baltic states, Russia will begin large exercises “West 2024” in September with the involvement of 50,000 soldiers in western Russia and Belarus.
In October 2024, Russia will transfer troops and medium-range missiles to Kaliningrad to strike the Suwalki corridor (connecting Kaliningrad with Belarus through Lithuania).
In December – immediately after the elections in the United States – a border conflict and unrest may begin there. The Russian Federation will try to take advantage of the possible paralysis of the US political system.
In January 2025, Poland and the Baltic countries will convene a meeting of the NATO Council and announce the growing threat from the Russian Federation, which in March will transfer additional troops to Belarus and to the borders of the Baltic states.
In May 2025, NATO will decide on “measures for credible deterrence” to prevent a Russian attack on the Suwalki corridor from Belarus and Kaliningrad.
On “Day X”, according to the Bundeswehr’s secret plan, the NATO commander will order 300,000 soldiers, including 30,000 Germans, to be transferred to the eastern flank.
This scenario is the “legend” of NATO exercises, writes Bild (the largest post-Cold War Alliance exercises will take place in the Baltic region in 2024).
Bundeswehr Bild stated that “considering different scenarios, even extremely unlikely ones, is part of everyday military affairs.”
RVvoenkor
https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2024/01/french-soldiers-epiphany.html#comment-6366725261

Posted by: rpst | Jan 14 2024 22:39 utc | 53

https://t.me/boris_rozhin/109626

The governor of the Kursk region reported that 3 Ukrainian missiles were shot down by air defense systems in the Kursk region. Actually, the residents of Kursk could observe the air defense work against these targets.
We will find out in the morning whether there was any damage from the debris.

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Jan 14 2024 22:50 utc | 55

shаdοwbanned | Jan 14 2024 21:22 utc | 42
More trolling. From the ghost of Kiev to the majic qualities of the Patriot and all the lies in between, before for and after. A more apt username would be Tranny Cirillo.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 14 2024 22:46 utc | 54

With all due respect, either reenter the real world, or go somewhere where you won’t make too much of a mess and off yourself.
Highly reliable Russian sources are reporting it now.
Instead of denial, you should be asking:
1) How was that done technically (because most of the ways this could have been done are acts of outright war by NATO)
2) What the Kremlin will do about it.
And again, I know that nuclear strategy shit is way too hard on the brain, but make some effort to learnt it. It permeates the whole conflict.
In this case these are strategic assets, and much more strategic to Russia than the equivalents are for NATO.
Because literally hundreds of billions were spent on yachts, mansions, limousines and cocaine, but only this year did the first new AWACS plane in 30 years enter service. You know, priorities, and firm enlightened dictatorial rule in the interest of the country, etc.
There was a dire shortage of these things *before* this one was shot down, and each loss of them has direct implications to strategic defense from a first strike.

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Jan 14 2024 22:55 utc | 57

Posted by: Honzo | Jan 14 2024 21:03 utc | 40
US national debt…
You are correct:
https://www.usdebtclock.org/
Tic tac tic tac…
But look at the us total debt…
Tic tac tic tac…

Posted by: Naive | Jan 14 2024 22:59 utc | 59

” You side with the Nazis or fight for the Nazis, you’re a Nazi. Simple as that.
Now, a Nazi might change their mind about their affiliation. I’ll bet most do as they are bleeding out in the snow, and they all repent their nazism when they become POWs, but so long as they remain in the trenches trying to kill Russians, they’re Nazis.
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 14 2024 21:03 utc | 39 ”
*****
So if you we’re born as an Ukrainians, you would be also a Nazi.
Emphaty is not a part of yourpersonality.

Posted by: Johann von Oberndorf | Jan 14 2024 23:08 utc | 61

” Until then, they are vermin to be eradicated.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 14 2024 22:33 utc | 51 ”
*****
Netanjahu: All Palestinians are human animals and must be eradicated.

Posted by: Johann von Oberndorf | Jan 14 2024 23:15 utc | 63

the nazis who will be tried for war crimes and most likely terrorism.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 14 2024 23:19 utc | 64
The trials already began. Sentences from 15 years to life.

Posted by: Naive | Jan 14 2024 23:23 utc | 65

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Jan 14 2024 22:55 utc | 57
BNGO!
Todays call for a nuclear strike from shadowspammer, unable to hide his glee at the reported loss of a Russian plane. Just to confirm, you’ve pressed your nuclear button (again) before any losses have been officially confirmed.
Now a dilemma for you until facts are confirmed. Do you go back from glee to faux concern, and even say “I hope that I’m wrong about this and I’m over enthusiastically reporting more social media bullshit”, or do you go off on a massive rant against Putin, The Kremlin, Russian MoD?
Please don’t answer.

Posted by: Lev Davidovich | Jan 14 2024 23:24 utc | 67

Dmitry Orlov wrote a good piece in his blog (his entry subscription fee of “spare change” level is 1.41rubles a month)
Here is the first bit:
Numerous analysts have pointed out that Russia’s military strategy in the former Ukraine swiftly shifted from offense in the initial phases, leading up to the İstanbul peace agreement, negotiated and provisionally agreed to in March of 2022, to defense once the Kiev regime (or, rather, its American and British masters) reneged on the deal. This was an obvious and, as far as it went, accurate observation: prior to that change in strategy, the Russian forces seized control of some 100.000km2 of territory; past that point, they erected fortifications along a relatively straight 1000km line, which they have held ever since, making scant efforts to occupy new territory except to move Ukrainian artillery farther away from the thickly settled Donetsk in an effort to save the lines of civilians. But there is more to it than just offense and defense. Russian military science defines two paths to victory and neither mindless offense nor mindless defense happens to be either one of them.
Although one of Russia’s greatest generals, Alexander Suvorov (1730-1800), titled his book “The Science of Winning,” there is far too much chance to war to make military science a true hard science. Nevertheless, military men always try to generalize the experience of various campaigns in order to formulate simple laws, which they then attempt to apply in campaigns that follow. A crowning achievement along these lines is the book “Strategy” by general Alexander Svechín (1878-1938), who is often quoted by general Valery Gerasimov — who is someone whose name you should definitely remember when thinking about current Russian military strategy. Gerasimov is Chief of the General Staff, First Deputy Minister of Defense, member of the Security Council, decorated Hero of the Russian Federation.
Svechín’s book is about various ways of achieving victory (Russian military men aren’t interested in much else) and the two main ones are through devastation (сокрушéние) and exhaustion (измóр). These are only vaguely related to offensive and defensive strategy, since there is much more to them than that, and since a purely defensive strategy is rarely thought of as a path to victory.
Devastation is a strategy of chaining successive victories with the goal of completely destroying the enemy. The approach is to gather all your strength, attack with all your might, smash and defeat the armies, then set the conditions for peace. Svechín draws a simple conclusion: in a war between peer adversaries, pursuing the strategy of devastation almost always leads to defeat. The example of Napoleon’s Russian campaign is a case in point, as is Hitler’s, but now we can add to this list the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their recent statements along the lines of “we have no further plan for Ukraine,” heard more and more often, are indicative of their defeat in the former Ukraine. Devastation, you see, didn’t work; exhaustion is not even possible; the final two alternatives are escalation and defeat, and since escalation leads to death (Russia’s nuclear deterrent is there to deal the coup de grace), then defeat it shall have to be.
A war between equal forces is, according to Svechín, always won by the method of exhaustion: the destruction of the enemy’s key forces not through a chain of defeats but by a consistent arithmetic advantage in the ratio of losses such that the enemy cannot win. The much better than 10:1 kill ratio between the Russian and the Ukrainian forces, quite copacetic according to Russian military doctrine, never gave the Ukrainian side any chance of victory — ever, at all.
The difference between the strategies of devastation and exhaustion is quite stark.
https://boosty.to/cluborlov

Posted by: comrade simba | Jan 14 2024 23:30 utc | 69

@ shаdοwbanned | Jan 14 2024 23:27 utc | 68 who is outing themselves as a Might-Makes-Right type with the phrase
”
In nuclear strategy, the first strike is everything.
”
In our current MAD world, first strike is stupid if it thinks it can be successful….are you really that ignorant or just paid to be?
And all the while coming here to make Russia look bad with your nuke ranting.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 14 2024 23:39 utc | 71

Nearly half a million dead Nazis.
That’s a gift from Russia to the rest of humanity.
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 14 2024 13:55 utc | 3
When we reach the stage that we celebrate 500,000 people being killed, we really need to question if we are actually part of said humanity, as that can never be a gift but a tragedy.
We are looking at the pawns who have been manipulated and indoctrinated being wiped out, while those that created them escape scott free to enjoy their spoils. Not suggesting it was unavoidable but let’s not enjoy the massacre but be saddened that we pawns have again been conned.

Posted by: Organic | Jan 14 2024 23:48 utc | 73

In Chechnya, all Chen militias that had not converted to CIA Wahhabism were offered amnesty. Many accepted this and parted with the terrorists.
Russians leveled Grozny and then played the whole War on Terror bs.
It’s funny how we do revisionism when it comes to history.
Putin was a big staunch supporter on the War on Terror ironically

Posted by: John | Jan 14 2024 23:53 utc | 75

John | Jan 14 2024 23:53 utc | 75
Without b policing the threads any more these threads are just swamped with fucking trolls such as yourself.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 15 2024 0:04 utc | 77

Hysterical twink: ”OMG! So all Ukrainians are Nazis?”
Do all Ukrainians support and fight for the Nazis? Do they all want to kill Russians? If so, then they are all Nazis. At least right now. Maybe they can get better. Until then, extermination is the only option.
Hysterical twink: ”… they’re just pawns who have been manipulated and indoctrinated!”
What, they are not sentient beings who are responsible for their own behavior? Then what does it matter if they die? If they are nothing more than meat robots programmed to kill Russians, then nothing is lost by their extermination. It’s sad, like having to kill Old Yeller when he got rabies, but the world doesn’t need rabid dogs, or Nazis (same thing).

Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 15 2024 0:05 utc | 79

Without b policing the threads any more these threads are just swamped with fucking trolls such as yourself.
So address my point.

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 0:08 utc | 81

Organic | Jan 14 2024 23:48 utc | 73
While I don’t celebrate the suicide of the brain dead I have zero empathy for them. Australia turn will come soon, perhaps simple self inflicted economic destruction such as Germany, or perhaps as cannon fodder like Ukraine – family and friend have all made their choice to believe the empire narrative that China Russia are now the ultimate evil to be fought and facts to them are like water of a ducks back.
At Nuremberg, aggression was declared as the greatest crime. My family and friends have now all chosen to side with the aggressor. Also it will be sad, I will have no empathy for them whatever happens as they all sane adults and have made their choice.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 15 2024 0:14 utc | 83

It’s the CIA that made the Chechens rebel and want Independence and not the brutal oppression of the Soviet Union/Russian Federation.
Makes perfect sense.

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 0:19 utc | 85

John | Jan 15 2024 0:19 utc | 85
You trolls haven’t a clue. Do you know the difference between the first Chechen war and the second Chechen war and what occurred in between. Do you understand the difference between the block that is now the Russian federation and what were the SSRs?

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 15 2024 0:24 utc | 87

My issue with people like Peter is that Russia/China are the good guys and the Americans and the west are the bad guys.
Why can’t we just admit all these guys aren’t immoral actors.

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 0:30 utc | 89

When anyone displays such geopolitical ignorance yet find their way to this site, it is because they have been paid to find their way to this site. With the SMO, many geopolitical ignoramus such as you have ‘found their way to this site’.
I’m must be CIA as well huh?

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 0:38 utc | 91

There are people here who have an excellent knowledge of Russia Chechnya conflict. If you’re lucky they might respond to you, but you may want to do your own research as you appear ignorant of the Beslan School massacre and the Moscow theatre attack for starters.
Google the Novye Aldi massacre buddy and stop with the patronizing talk.

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 0:54 utc | 93

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 0:40 utc | 92
Kind of blown your cover there John. As a troll, not a. CIA man, even they have standards I guess. You may have also blown any chance of getting an in depth answer from an expert. From memory the war on terror bs was your president bush junior. Circa 2002. Direct all complaints to the White House.
PeterAu1. had you marked from your first comment.

Posted by: Lev Davidovich | Jan 15 2024 0:55 utc | 95

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 0:40 utc | 92
Not really, a coup-de-main is always a risky move, but often made because of the potential pay off. Putin might have wanted a quick end to the conflict to forestall any damage to the economy, don’t forget Russia had been building mechanisms to weather any sanctions and Western financial smart weapons, but there was no guarantee they’d work, or that the Russian’s hadn’t considered a particular move. We now know the financial attack was as predictable as the Western military response, but at the time it was a mixture of known unknowns and possibly, unknown unknowns.
Also remember the Russians tried to use their military operations to quickly force Zelensky to the table, it nearly worked but for direct Western political intervention, with promises of massive military and financial aid, in return for Ukraine to keep on fighting. The rest, as they say is history.

Posted by: Milites | Jan 15 2024 1:01 utc | 97

Also remember the Russians tried to use their military operations to quickly force Zelensky to the table, it nearly worked but for direct Western political intervention, with promises of massive military and financial aid, in return for Ukraine to keep on fighting. The rest, as they say is history.
You make a lot of good points tbh
It will be interesting to see how this ends

Posted by: John | Jan 15 2024 1:04 utc | 99