Russia Invades Ukraine | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Russia Invades Ukraine

AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
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Thanks Ant. You forgot to mention the Trump Russiagate conspiracy. Oh and the Hunter Biden Laptop conspiracy.

so many worthy conspiracies, I had to leave some out Harry. They shouldn't feel too bad though, they are just as nutty as the best of them
 
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MD Jazz

Don't understand football? Talk to the hand.
Feb 3, 2017
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Along the same lines as spooks article above in relation to food security.

Wonder how many oligarchs & Putin himself took long positions on wheat before the war? Price doubled in a couple of months.
 
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AngryAnt

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Nov 25, 2004
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Yep, super clear that Putin's goal was always to annex as much of Ukraine as possible regardless of NATOs actions or lack of.
 
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Panthera Tigris

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Apr 27, 2010
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Was reading today that Putin’s aides have been out recruiting prisoners for military duty.

Basically inmates from Russian prisons are being offered pardons if they agree to fight in Ukraine.

If we think the conduct of Russian troops has been less than honourable thus far, imagine unleashing terrifying psychopaths and sadists - the absolute dregs of Russian society - serving time for murders, serious assaults, aggravated rapes, torture etc. And letting them loose in a war zone. “Here fellas, go for your life, live out your innermost nastiness with no consequence. In fact, you will be serving mother Russia by unleashing your innermost terrifying and sadistic desires.”

Apparently that was what happened in the early 1990s Balkan conflict. Some of the Serb and Croat militias were manned by total psychopaths who should have been serving time in prison, but as society broke down, they found their way out and onto the front line. The terrifying underbelly of society. Often these blokes had no really strong political convictions. Simply, an opportunity had arisen to live out their inherent horrifying, grotesque and sadistic desires unabated.
 
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TigerMasochist

Walks softly carries a big stick.
Jul 13, 2003
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Putin on the ritz was claiming that some numpty at the base decided to have a fancy fireworks display n accidentally let off one of their own kabooms. Nothing to do with the Ukies having a long range crack at all.
 
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Baloo

Delisted Free Agent
Nov 8, 2005
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Ukraine pushing the Russian back at will now.

Can only assume that either the Russian army is now in a mess, or the Ukraine has had a *lot* of help from NATO nations by way of intelligence, tactics, and whatever else they can do without breaching too many lines in the sand.
Probably both.
 
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frickenel

Tiger Champion
Jul 30, 2003
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Hidden Valley
Ukraine pushing the Russian back at will now.

Can only assume that either the Russian army is now in a mess, or the Ukraine has had a *lot* of help from NATO nations by way of intelligence, tactics, and whatever else they can do without breaching too many lines in the sand.
Probably both.

The greatest indicator to what is going on along the front is new reports that the Russians are now going to North Korea, of all places for Artillery supply.

This is signifficant because Russia has the worlds largest artillery manufacturing capacity and by far the largest stockpile of artillery shells in the world. If they are now resorting to outside supply, then it's a massive indicator that the Russian military industrial complex is already in a state of collapse. Reports are that they are trying to source not only shells, but also artillery barrels as well which are good for between 2000 and 4000 fires depending on conditions, before needing to be replaced.

The other thing that comes out of this is that the west hasn't seen much of North Korea's military know how since 1953, so from an intelligence perspective, it gives the west a good look at their current capabilities at least in this field.

Once they have completely run their race with conventional weapons, we can only hope there are some sane heads on the Russian side to hold the finger off the red button.
 
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AngryAnt

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Nov 25, 2004
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Some analysts think the Russian nukes are so badly maintained they may not be operational. They are also running out of microchips and semiconductors.


To think that people here and elsewhere seriously suggested that Ukraine should just lie down and accept the invasion by this kleptocratic war criminal who has been flattening cities he claims to have "liberated" and murdering civilians - for shame.


Given the ramifications of pushing the button would be extreme, the Russians will either withdraw to pre-war positions and begin negotiations, or will step up mobilisation of conscripts in Russia in an all or nothing move. The latter would be extremely dumb as these forces would be even shitter than the "professionals" they have in Ukraine now, would be unpopular and would not have technological/armoured support.

Putin's days are numbered but unfortunately any replacement would probably come from the military/intelligence elites anyway.
 
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Panthera Tigris

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Apr 27, 2010
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Some analysts think the Russian nukes are so badly maintained they may not be operational. They are also running out of microchips and semiconductors.


To think that people here and elsewhere seriously suggested that Ukraine should just lie down and accept the invasion by this kleptocratic war criminal who has been flattening cities he claims to have "liberated" and murdering civilians - for shame.


Given the ramifications of pushing the button would be extreme, the Russians will either withdraw to pre-war positions and begin negotiations, or will step up mobilisation of conscripts in Russia in an all or nothing move. The latter would be extremely dumb as these forces would be even shitter than the "professionals" they have in Ukraine now, would be unpopular and would not have technological/armoured support.

Putin's days are numbered but unfortunately any replacement would probably come from the military/intelligence elites anyway.
How prophetic your paragraph on conscription has become.

The loss will be accelerated and emphatic as Putin now loses the war on the home front as well. It’s often not credited enough how the loss on the home front contributed to the Soviets withdrawing from Afghanistan. Even in a totalitarian state, losing the hearts and minds of the populace on the home front makes wars impossible to fight.
 
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tigersnake

Tear 'em apart
Sep 10, 2003
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Conscripts for a war nobody wants to fight. Putin is done, just a matter if when.
 
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TigerMasochist

Walks softly carries a big stick.
Jul 13, 2003
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Conscripts for a war nobody wants to fight. Putin is done, just a matter if when.
The big problem as always is cleaning up the mess these arseholes always leave behind.

Don't see Putinontheritz leaving in a big hurry just yet n things will get a damn sight nastier over the next six months. The whole of Europe better be prayin hard for a very mild n warm winter.
 
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AngryAnt

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Nov 25, 2004
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Yeah, apparently Germany and others have been ramping up LNG storage and there is also a pipeline coming though Iberia from Spain, so the feeling is they have enough to get through winter, if not comfortably. But a cold winter will stretch things for sure.

Russia really screwed up on this - good play to make Germany dependent on Nordstream, but now no-one will be dependent on it. Russia will have to sell to China and non-Euro countries and that means big logistical problems for a start. They could build a pipeline into China given time, but for Africa/Asia they will have to set up shipping facilities in both countries.

Finally the Russian middle classes have woken up now there is a threat their sons/husbands will be called up.


True to form though Putin is focussing on calling up ethnic minority men from former Russian colonies. White russians don't care so much if Asian Russian become crop fertilizer in Ukraine.

 
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Sintiger

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Aug 11, 2010
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This could be the beginning of the end for Putin. Hopefully it is but that also he doesn’t do too much damage in the meantime
 
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