The War in Ukraine

[kiplette 8,676]

Only 10 percent of Wagner's troops survive | Switzerland Times

 

There's an article from the Swiss Times with some info but not much to add to the above and not necessarily solid.

[Metall 14,513]

German radio claimed 10,000 out 50,000 Wagner troops remain (as in 20%).
The other 40,000 are said to have been killed, wounded, captured or plain deserted. Small wonder with mercs recruited from Russian prisons... the radio also claimed new labor  camps would be opened on Russian occupied Ukranian territory, and Wagner would recruit mercenaries there.

[Janx Spirit 11,075]

If you have access the the BBC UK website / iPlayer, (or a VPN) an interesting in depth documentary "Putin vs the West" came out today.

 

"From the 2014 seizure of Crimea to the invasion of Ukraine, this is the inside story of a decade of clashes - as told by the Western leaders who traded blows with Putin's Russia."

 

Quote

The first episode tells the story of how, when Putin first attacked Ukraine in 2014, Europe’s leaders clashed over how to stop him. Amidst massive demonstrations demanding closer ties with the EU in Kyiv, Ukraine’s president flees to Russia. Putin exploits the power vacuum to make the most audacious move of his presidency to date: sending troops into Crimea. 

 

We go behind the scenes for the critical summits and fraught phone calls as the west tries to find a way to push back. The crisis heightens as the fighting spreads to Donbas in Eastern Ukraine and Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 is shot down. Key players including David Cameron, Francois Hollande, Jose Manuel Barroso and Ukraine’s then-president Petro Poroshenko relive the EU's indecision and the all-night negotiations with the warring parties: a ceasefire is signed in Minsk, but Russian forces remain in Donbas. 

 

Putin, meanwhile, appears more confident than ever. The lesson is clear, says French president Francois Hollande: 'When we do not punish at first, we are forced to punish more severely later

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0dlz7tz/putin-vs-the-west-series-1-1-my-backyard

 

 

[yesterday 1,979]

Punished By Western Sanctions, Russia's Airlines Are Showing More Cracks And More Problems

 

Since the beginning of 2023, Russian airlines have reported at least seven incidents in which flights were disrupted, delayed, or canceled, according to Russian media. While a couple incidents were blamed on human error, most were mechanical in nature.

Nearly one year after Russia invaded Ukraine last February, turning a simmering regional conflict into the largest land war in Europe since World War II, cracks are showing in Russian aviation industry.

A plane is serviced at the Domodedovo aircraft maintenance center near Moscow. (file photo)

Russian airlines are struggling under the weight of Western sanctions that have all but cut off the already struggling industry from badly needed imported parts.

At least nine Russian airlines stopped flying in 2022, according to the newspaper Kommersant -- four of them after the national aviation regulator, Rosaviatsiya, pulled their airworthiness certificates.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-aviation-industry-problems-western-sanctions/32244641.html

[MikeMelga 7,248]

On 1/28/2023, 8:18:51, john g. said:

Me too.

Unfortunately I can't find it easily. It was a few weeks ago and now it's hard to find.

[MikeMelga 7,248]

22 hours ago, kiplette said:

Only 10 percent of Wagner's troops survive | Switzerland Times

 

There's an article from the Swiss Times with some info but not much to add to the above and not necessarily solid.

Yeah, and that includes mercenaries...

[john g. 37,685]

5 minutes ago, MikeMelga said:

Unfortunately I can't find it easily. It was a few weeks ago and now it's hard to find.

https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/podolyak-nearly-80-of-russian-prisoners-recruited-by-wagner-group-killed-injured-captured-by-ukraine

Just found this. Don't know how reliable ir accurate it is.

[Eric7 538]

1 minute ago, john g. said:

https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/podolyak-nearly-80-of-russian-prisoners-recruited-by-wagner-group-killed-injured-captured-by-ukraine

Just found this. Don't know how reliable ir accurate it is.

 

It's about as reliable as Tass or Russia Today John, i.e. heavily biased propaganda.

 

All of these stories about huge casualties can be taken with a huge pinch of salt. Both sides are claiming losses of between 5-1 & 10-1 in their favour and it's impossible to make a definitive judgement about it. The main reason I would be more likely to believe the (likely still exaggerated) Russian claims is that Russia's clear aim is to eliminate enemy forces whereas Ukraine is defending their territory. In other words, Russia has very little reason to throw troops into a hopeless battle (see the withdrawals from Kharkov & Kherson) but Ukraine doesn't really have a choice.

[john g. 37,685]

Dunno what to believe. We all google something and there thr " truth " is! 

All I know is humanity wastes lives.

[optimista 5,840]

I don t think for one minute anyone is counting actual bodies and keeping reliable stats in the mêlée. The mass graves will only be opened up after the war. The ones they find, that is.

They are still recovering bodies from WW1 in the forests around Moscow and burying them properly. 

It s guesswork and propaganda. 

[tor 16,880]

European Union bans all Russian refined oil products in retaliation for the war in Ukraine

 

starting Sunday

[AlexTr 19,719]

On 3/7/2022, 12:51:02, Eric7 said:

 

It can be "HappyToBeWrong" if you like.

 

What will yours be if they do?

Time for someone to change their moniker.

[yesterday 1,979]

Who will win in Ukraine? It could hinge on which side can secure enough artillery ammunition

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/will-russia-or-ukraine-run-out-of-ammo-first-rcna61539

 

The war in Ukraine has turned into a lethal artillery duel and whichever side can produce the most ammunition for the big guns on the battlefield could have the edge in the conflict, U.S. officials and military analysts say.

In its scramble for firepower, Russia is using ammunition that is half a century old and dismantling breast pumps and kitchen appliances to get microchips it needs for tanks and precision-guided weapons.

 

[Eric7 538]

1 hour ago, AlexTr said:

Time for someone to change their moniker.

 

What is it you think has happened or rather won't happen?

[Eric7 538]

46 minutes ago, yesterday said:

Who will win in Ukraine? It could hinge on which side can secure enough artillery ammunition

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/will-russia-or-ukraine-run-out-of-ammo-first-rcna61539

 

The war in Ukraine has turned into a lethal artillery duel and whichever side can produce the most ammunition for the big guns on the battlefield could have the edge in the conflict, U.S. officials and military analysts say.

In its scramble for firepower, Russia is using ammunition that is half a century old and dismantling breast pumps and kitchen appliances to get microchips it needs for tanks and precision-guided weapons.

 

 

Anyone who believes that a microchip from a breast pump can be used in a tank or in precision-guided weapons needs to give their head a wobble.

Also the idea that Russia is using 50 year old ammunition (at the same time as their factories are churning out record quantities of shells) is utterly laughable.

 

I do however agree that artillery power will be the deciding factor in the conflict.

 

 

[Krieg 14,926]

15 minutes ago, Eric7 said:

 

Anyone who believes that a microchip from a breast pump can be used in a tank or in precision-guided weapons needs to give their head a wobble.

 

If they are reprogrammable chips I don't see why not.    However, I do not know the computational requirements of a tank or a precision weapon, but since they exists since long time ago I would assume those old ones do not require that much compared to modern chips.

 

It is normally not done because it is not worth, but if you have no other option ...

[yesterday 1,979]

30 minutes ago, Eric7 said:

 

Anyone who believes that a microchip from a breast pump can be used in a tank or in precision-guided weapons needs to give their head a wobble.

Also the idea that Russia is using 50 year old ammunition (at the same time as their factories are churning out record quantities of shells) is utterly laughable.

 

I do however agree that artillery power will be the deciding factor in the conflict.

 

 

 

In the 1970's, Concorde could land on auto pilot, it was designed in the late 1950's and 60's. Do you not think microchips are a bit more powerful, than the chips used on Concorde ?

 

In 1969, man went to the moon and back, using basic computers, that's 50 years ago. Is it not reasonable to assume micro chip computers are better than that today ?

 

Look at this https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333538294_PID-based_temperature_control_device_for_electric_kettle

 

Explains how a Kettle is programmed, its even in a high level language, not even assembler. 

 

It a relatively simple task, to steer a rocket, get GPS coordinates, take them away from target coordinates, STEER Missile, when getting close dive.

 

 

[Eric7 538]

26 minutes ago, Krieg said:

 

If they are reprogrammable chips I don't see why not.    However, I do not know the computational requirements of a tank or a precision weapon, but since they exists since long time ago I would assume those old ones do not require that much compared to modern chips.

 

It is normally not done because it is not worth, but if you have no other option ...

 

17 minutes ago, yesterday said:

 

In the 1970's, Concorde could land on auto pilot, it was designed in the late 1950's and 60's. Do you not think microchips are a bit more powerful, than the chips used on Concorde ?

 

In 1969, man went to the moon and back, using basic computers, that's 50 years ago. Is it not reasonable to assume micro chip computers are better than that today ?

 

Look at this https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333538294_PID-based_temperature_control_device_for_electric_kettle

 

Explains how a Kettle is programmed, its even in a high level language, not even assembler. 

 

It a relatively simple task, to steer a rocket, get GPS coordinates, take them away from target coordinates, STEER Missile, when getting close dive.

 

 

 

Right, so we are talking about reprogramming chips, well yes theoretically anything can be re-purposed with enough of an effort.
If these chips are presumably so simple, why do you think it is beyond the Russian capabilities to manufacture them themselves? And even if these super simple chips were beyond their capabilities, why would they not source them from the multitude of friendly-to-Russia countries which have easy access to them?

 

To anyone who thinks sanctions have disrupted the flow of tech into Russia... don't believe the hype.

 

The report revealed that Chinese companies play a role in the export as they obtain Dutch chips and export them to Russia each month.

[Krieg 14,926]

2 minutes ago, Eric7 said:

 

 

Right, so we are talking about reprogramming chips, well yes theoretically anything can be re-purposed with enough of an effort.
If these chips are presumably so simple, why do you think it is beyond the Russian capabilities to manufacture them themselves? And even if these super simple chips were beyond their capabilities, why would they not source them from the multitude of friendly-to-Russia countries which have easy access to them?

 

To anyone who thinks sanctions have disrupted the flow of tech into Russia... don't believe the hype.

 

I don't know man, I am not a Russian expert and I have no idea how Russia buy stuff of how they manufacture things.  But if I had to say something, probably because there is a big difference between knowing how to use them and knowing how to manufacture them and having the raw materials and the infrastructure to make them.   It is the same reason why European and American companies can't find enough of them at the moment, the production of plenty of electronics is limping worldwide because of the general lack of chips, and it the USA and Europe can't simply "make more chips themselves" having complete access to the free markets is because it is not an easy task.

[yesterday 1,979]

4 minutes ago, Eric7 said:

 

 

Right, so we are talking about reprogramming chips, well yes theoretically anything can be re-purposed with enough of an effort.
If these chips are presumably so simple, why do you think it is beyond the Russian capabilities to manufacture them themselves? And even if these super simple chips were beyond their capabilities, why would they not source them from the multitude of friendly-to-Russia countries which have easy access to them?

 

To anyone who thinks sanctions have disrupted the flow of tech into Russia... don't believe the hype.

 

Watch this video on YouTube, about Russia's attempts to manufacture chips

 

 

 

This guy does an is brilliant, I have watch so much of his stuff, OK its a bit off topic, the video, but it shows how far Russia is behind in chips generally.

 

I think they could manufacture chips, but well behind western standards, and may not even work for that long either - and why bother when when they can buy them from the West in return for Oil. But hang on a second, did that not change last February.

 

I am sure Russia can get hold of chips, but they will be old and cost alot, and maybe the supply will not meet demand