The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread

kato

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
The territories taken from Germany by force after WWII have stuck
Small caveat: Of course German borders have been "corrected" in over a dozen bilateral treaties since then, in some cases gaining hundreds to thousands of km², and also some population. The only German border to another country that is untouched is the one to Denmark. Notionally the borders are defined as "final" since the peace treaty signed in 1990 (in which Germany also relinquished rights to territories east of the Oder and Neisse river), although that hasn't stopped further border corrections going on since then.
 

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
@Feanor, to add to our previous discussion of DRG vs small assault/infiltration groups:

IMG_1805.jpeg
IMG_1806.jpeg

This is what I was talking about: these reports of DRG being here and there, I believe, are not entirely appropriate. It seems to me that these groups are actual small assault units strategically send to collapse the defense lines. They aren’t sent there for recon or sabotage, but to infiltrate, possibly wait for more units to arrive, and basically dismantle the Ukrainian defense lines to achieve small localized breakthroughs and advance quickly to and beyond the next line, likely without immediately securing the occupied positions due to the severe lack of infantry on the Ukrainian side. Rinse and repeat where it works. Something like that.


Some feedback on the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania seems to like this idea:



So why can’t Europe do just that? I am not suggesting they should, I asking why wouldn’t they? What are they even mulling over with Trump if the solution is right there and that simple?

Tatarigami seems to think that freezing the current frontline with no additional demands could be a “decent and realistic” outcome:



Not sure if there is some level of delusion involved or if this is intentional.

Some reports suggest that there is a proposal of freezing the current lines and limiting “both nations forces”. I’ll have what they are having, as the saying goes.



I don’t entirely disagree with this guy (have a very vague idea of who he is though and anyone who puts “PhD” in their handle should be treated with suspicion). I don’t think he is completely spot on, but I agree with the general idea:

 

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
Small caveat: Of course German borders have been "corrected" in over a dozen bilateral treaties since then, in some cases gaining hundreds to thousands of km², and also some population. The only German border to another country that is untouched is the one to Denmark. Notionally the borders are defined as "final" since the peace treaty signed in 1990 (in which Germany also relinquished rights to territories east of the Oder and Neisse river), although that hasn't stopped further border corrections going on since then.
Some “fine fellas” on the right of the right spectrum in Germany, nonetheless members of government, suggest this should be corrected:

IMG_1756.jpeg
 

kato

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Some “fine fellas” on the right of the right spectrum in Germany, nonetheless members of government, suggest this should be corrected:
For some orientation, the author of that post and his statements are the reason why "the fellas on the right of the right spectrum" from France, Italy and the Czech Republic kicked his party out of their European Parliament faction. He's also got "certain connections" to both Russia and China.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
@Feanor, to add to our previous discussion of DRG vs small assault/infiltration groups:

View attachment 53287
View attachment 53288

This is what I was talking about: these reports of DRG being here and there, I believe, are not entirely appropriate. It seems to me that these groups are actual small assault units strategically send to collapse the defense lines. They aren’t sent there for recon or sabotage, but to infiltrate, possibly wait for more units to arrive, and basically dismantle the Ukrainian defense lines to achieve small localized breakthroughs and advance quickly to and beyond the next line, likely without immediately securing the occupied positions due to the severe lack of infantry on the Ukrainian side. Rinse and repeat where it works. Something like that.
Yes, it does seem we might be seeing the war shift again. It will be interesting to see if this phenomena spreads, or if it's just the consequences of a local weakness. Pokrovsk itself is easier to hand-waive away, urban terrain can be hard to control. But in the northern pincer? Maybe Ukraine has re-allocated units from neighboring sectors to shore up the Pokrovsk area, creating this opening. Maybe this is the new normal, where troop densities for Ukraine have dropped below a critical level. If true, we should see this start happening in other areas too.

Some “fine fellas” on the right of the right spectrum in Germany, nonetheless members of government, suggest this should be corrected:

View attachment 53289
What he suggests isn't really possible. The German populations in those areas mostly don't exit anymore. Many were forcibly removed following WWII.

Small caveat: Of course German borders have been "corrected" in over a dozen bilateral treaties since then, in some cases gaining hundreds to thousands of km², and also some population. The only German border to another country that is untouched is the one to Denmark. Notionally the borders are defined as "final" since the peace treaty signed in 1990 (in which Germany also relinquished rights to territories east of the Oder and Neisse river), although that hasn't stopped further border corrections going on since then.
Point taken, but in general Germany isn't seeking to reclaim the bulk of the territories. And it may be the case that an initial surrender of territory by Ukraine will be followed up by other adjustments of the new border in multiple subsequent treaties.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
View attachment 53300

Looks like a breakthrough past the hyped new defense line (meant for stopping amour).

Edit:

View attachment 53301

Different perspective:

View attachment 53302
AMK has a similar size salient. Suriyakmaps extends the grey zone to a similar scale and in the past he has used grey zone to indicate Russian penetration when actual consolidation could not be confirmed. From the pro-Russia side ZOV Pobedy reports possibly an even firmer penetration. So DS is definitely not alone in reporting this.




EDIT: Kalibrated now shows a deep Russian penetration, with a grey zone extending towards Dobropol'ye. It appears my earlier supposition was correct, they're aiming for Dobropol'ye before they even take Pokrovsk.

 
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kato

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
for example the story, that the Bundeswehr has to take Tauris into action in Ukraine, but that is wrong. The Ukrainians needs a target programming computer, and then they will doing it themselves, because they are smart people. [...] Another story is the needed permission by the USA because of some US made main components of the Taurus missile.
Actually the background for both of those "stories" is that with almost absolute certainty the target programming for Taurus requires encryption keys. And those are not leaving NATO hands.
 
That certainly doesn't look good. Such a shortage of manpower at a critical defensive position. I know people have a reasonable and understandable problem with Ukraine negotiating not to withdraw from the Donbass but with advances like this it's entirely feasible Russia is going to end up with all of it in time. They're clearly winning.

EDIT: Kalibrated now shows a deep Russian penetration, with a grey zone extending towards Dobropol'ye. It appears my earlier supposition was correct, they're aiming for Dobropol'ye before they even take Pokrovsk.

Russia certainly has a keen sense of all the issue the Ukrainians are currently having. This is another good reason not to put too much stock in the current negotiations. How many times has Trump flip flopped? Recent statements by Zelensky clearly shows he isn't on board. I think Russia might use these talks as an opportunity to try and beguile Trump with flattery. I feel like they're really banking on Zelensky(Or Europeans for that matter) to not make any concessions. That may cause Trump to at least temporarily to flail and go against Zelensky more extremely. The problem with Trump is that he is so jumbled it's hard for anyone to take too seriously, but he's too serious to be ignored as well.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
That certainly doesn't look good. Such a shortage of manpower at a critical defensive position. I know people have a reasonable and understandable problem with Ukraine negotiating not to withdraw from the Donbass but with advances like this it's entirely feasible Russia is going to end up with all of it in time. They're clearly winning.
Sometimes it's because it's a critical position that this happens. Command doesn't report their losses accurately, higher levels of decision-makers assume the positions are adequately defended, and meanwhile the delta piles up, the deserters multiple as the situation gets worse, and suddenly the one spot where the most resources are needed is being shorted. This may not be the result of an overall shortage. Then again it may be. Ukraine certainly doesn't appear to be that short everywhere. I guess if we start seeing multiple penetrations like this across many areas, my view would change. I also still allow for the possibility that Ukraine is in the act of withdrawing from the Pokrovsk area.

Russia certainly has a keen sense of all the issue the Ukrainians are currently having. This is another good reason not to put too much stock in the current negotiations. How many times has Trump flip flopped? Recent statements by Zelensky clearly shows he isn't on board. I think Russia might use these talks as an opportunity to try and beguile Trump with flattery. I feel like they're really banking on Zelensky(Or Europeans for that matter) to not make any concessions. That may cause Trump to at least temporarily to flail and go against Zelensky more extremely. The problem with Trump is that he is so jumbled it's hard for anyone to take too seriously, but he's too serious to be ignored as well.
Perhaps. It certainly would make sense.
 

glen_k

New Member
Just read about the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska – and I'm stunned. They're planning to discuss Ukraine's future...without Ukraine at the table! After all the "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" promises, how did Zelensky allow this?

We American taxpayers have poured billions into Ukraine – weapons, equipment, humanitarian aid. And now it seems decisions will be made behind closed doors while Kyiv just waits to be informed. Is this a diplomatic failure or the start of some backroom deal where Ukraine becomes a bargaining chip? Most importantly – what exactly are our tax dollars funding?
 

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