The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
From wiki

Press gangs (or impressment) were groups of naval officers and armed men who forcibly recruited British subjects into the Royal Navy. Legalized in 1664, it was used extensively during the 18th and early 19th centuries to rapidly crew warships during major conflicts.
Yes, that’s the press-ganging I was referring to. I still can’t think of any more “recent” examples.

To be fair, there have been buckets of articles about Ukraine’s manpower shortage.
I’d say “had been”. Just googled for fun and the last article I see on the subject is dated last September and it is from Kyiv Independent. Surely there is a random one somewhere since. Probably a different choice of words to search would provide a different result too? All recent stuff is about the reform to tackle the shortage and whatnot (already discussed). To note, I am talking about news media, not think tanks and other analysts.

I don’t believe I have seen many with the collapsing part though, not since February 2022.
 

rsemmes

Active Member

For example, in February 2026, a Moscow court arrested Ksenia Grashchenkova, the company’s former director of procurement and logistics, on embezzlement charges; the following month, her former deputy director for procurement and logistics was detained on related charges.
-Look at that! Russia fighting corruption. Soon, it's going to be able to join the EU...
Ushkuynik is part of a broader state-supported ecosystem of research and production centres focused on unmanned systems development, testing, and evaluation. Overall, such efforts allow the military to address critical battlefield needs more rapidly and improve combat effectiveness.
-Ukrainian innovation, obviously...
Russia is likely to sustain a high production tempo in selected categories of weapons systems while gradually rebuilding its strategic reserves. Russia’s drone output reaching several hundreds of thousands per month, according to industry experts. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi seemed to confirm this assessment in a recent statement, in which he claimed that Russia plans to build 7.3 million FPV drones alone in 2026.
Russia maintains a large arsenal of air defence systems and related equipment while continuing to produce advanced SAM systems, including Kalibr cruise and Iskander ballistic missiles.
Performance of Russian SAM systems has also improved compared to the early stages of the war, with greater effectiveness against aircraft, drones, and Western-supplied munitions. This adaptation reflects increased operator experience, better coordination with aviation, software upgrades, and stronger EW resilience.
-Surprisingly, no collapse.

If the war in Ukraine were to conclude, Russia could rebuild some of its lost capacity within a relatively short time frame, and in the longer term, according to multiple intelligence assessments, it could, for instance, launch a military action against the Baltic NATO states, potentially gaining “regional superiority at least in the initial stages of the war.
-Now, the important part.
Russia had been building new barracks, military towns, warehouses, and equipment depots near the borders of Norway, Finland, and the Baltic states. Once completed, this will enable Moscow to station up to 115,000 troops in the north-western direction, nearly six times more than before the 2022 war.
-Being able to deploy troops at the borders of NATO countries? Unthinkable!
A model of warfare built on mass attrition, reduced reliance on armoured vehicles, large-scale use of low-cost systems (especially drones), and extensive EW use to jam NATO communications while protecting its own forces from guided strikes. Moreover, Russia’s ability to sustain casualties differs from that of democratic societies, where military losses create serious political costs.
-What it is not pointing out is... Why? Casualties... Yes, like deploying troops on other countries borders, not our MO... Unless it's to protect Greenland from an ambitious emperor, Putin.
Russia’s defence industrial base is likely to remain on a wartime footing even if the fighting in Ukraine subsides.
-Why, because there is no stress in the Russian economy? The US is increasing its production of shells and missiles... to overheat the economy?

So, Russia doesn't have enough skilled workers, has to import electronics from the West... and is going to invade NATO.
Come again?
 
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