O/T:- Ukraine [Incorporating 'Congrats to Russia' thread]

[Old_pie]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63573387

Russia's announced they're withdrawing from Kherson.

Might not be true. They don't always follow through on their announcements, but it would be unusually dim, even for Russia's military leadership, for people so high up to be announcing it if it's a lie.

You mean like "we're not planning to invade" with all these tanks on the border up to Feb 23rd?

Or is the withdrawal a mere repositioning? Can't see that the Ruskis want to be so publicly ceding ground. Maybe they are going to blow up the dam.

[Jampie]

You mean like "we're not planning to invade" with all these tanks on the border up to Feb 23rd?

Or is the withdrawal a mere repositioning? Can't see that the Ruskis want to be so publicly ceding ground. Maybe they are going to blow up the dam.

Indications are that the withdrawal is happening, but it seems to be going rather poorly for the Russians. Reports from both sides of thousands of troops trapped while the Ukrainians pound them with HIMARS etc. Oops.

The withdrawal does actually make sense, although it made sense by about April 17th, let alone today. I don't think it was viable for Russia to hold anything west of the river without full mobilisation a lot earlier, and for the past several months they've had enormous supply problems with both roads and railway over the bridge within HIMARS range and largely (but not completely) cut.

Trying to keep tens of thousands of troops with supporting vehicles and arty supplied with a few ferries and some dodgy dam crossings was idiotic and they're paying a heavy price for it now.

However, it does make strategic sense to pull out. Doing so shortens the front line a great deal (down to something like 500km, I haven't measured it in a while but it's around there), which Russia needs to do because they are now outnumbered by the Ukrainians who are now noticeably better equipped.

Once Dumbkirk is finished, Russia will have more troops on a shorter front and be better placed to hold onto their remaining stolen land, although I imagine the Ukrainians will continue to find weak points and attack there, as well as smash supply lines with longer range activities.

[i961pie]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63573387
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Russia's announced they're withdrawing from Kherson.

Might not be true. They don't always follow through on their announcements, but it would be unusually dim, even for Russia's military leadership, for people so high up to be announcing it if it's a lie.

So, nine months into the three day war to seize Kyiv, things seem to be going well. For the Ukrainians.

Lets hope so.

[BanjoPie]

Fu*k the Russians and anyone that supports them!!!! - especially 6025

[Jampie]

Ok Andy, show me the evidence of the "Deal"?

You can attempt ridicule all you want but you've been cheerleading Russia, war crimes and all, in this war for months, denying that they're losing, denying any evidence they've been taking significant losses and this time they've made a fool of you by fleeing from "annexed" "Russian" territory.

By all means feel free to flail about with Kremlin lies or whatever. You can't talk your way out of a defeat this enormous.

[i961pie]

Fu*k the Russians and anyone that supports them!!!! - especially 6025

Ditto

[Soccerman166]

Ditto

Double ditto.

[BigFatPie]

Double ditto.

You must be furious at Boris Johnson for putting one in the House of Lords then.

[Elite_Pie]

You must be furious at Boris Johnson for putting one in the House of Lords then.

Didn't you read all Soccerman's posts criticising Boris Johnson's lying and cheating?

No, nor did I.

[BigFatPie]

Didn't you read all Soccerman's posts criticising Boris Johnson's lying and cheating?

No, nor did I.

That would require Soccerman to think so no me neither. The ironic thing about the Russian sympathisers is that they encompass people from the British far left (and Canadian it seems) and the US far right.

Guess it goes some way to proving the horseshoe theory of politics.