Totally. It is odd that no aerial assault has been launched on that convoy when supposedly fighter jets have been donated to the Ukraine...I’m no military strategist and haven’t got a clue what sort of defensive weaponry the Russians may have in the vicinity, but I’d have thought this 40 mile convoy would be something of a sitting duck target - there is a lot of armour and troops in close proximity pretty much stationary.
If the Russians haven’t got air superiority I’m surprised some sort of attack on it hasn’t been actioned yet?
Totally. It is odd that no aerial assault has been launched on that convoy when supposedly fighter jets have been donated to the Ukraine...
You also have to wonder how the soldiers themselves are feeling about this. If it doesn’t feel right their hearts are not in it then maybe they’ll surrender easily. But that’s probably just wishful thinkingI posted on another thread that I wonder if there's some sort of power struggle going on, I'm sure that a lot of the senior leadership realize that Putin's lost the plot so maybe steps are being taken to replace him.
The Russians don't have air superiority because they've barely been using any of the 300 odd jet aircraft they have in range. I think because they don't want to risk them to anti air on the ground which Russia has failed to neutralise with missiles, which was the first thing they were supposed to do - in theory.I’m no military strategist and haven’t got a clue what sort of defensive weaponry the Russians may have in the vicinity, but I’d have thought this 40 mile convoy would be something of a sitting duck target - there is a lot of armour and troops in close proximity pretty much stationary.
If the Russians haven’t got air superiority I’m surprised some sort of attack on it hasn’t been actioned yet?
There is a problem apparently of how the aircraft are going to be delivered without NATO being compromised. Sounds like they will need to be delivered to a non-NATO country where the Ukranian pilots can then fly them back to the Ukraine which won't be strightforward. I think the Ukranians were under the mistaken belief that they could be operated out of Poland.It's one of the areas where Ukraine are weak, and the donated fighter jets probably haven't flown for 15 years and are only useful as spare parts.
You also have to wonder how the soldiers themselves are feeling about this. If it doesn’t feel right their hearts are not in it then maybe they’ll surrender easily. But that’s probably just wishful thinking
It's our best hope but then you think, who?I posted on another thread that I wonder if there's some sort of power struggle going on, I'm sure that a lot of the senior leadership realize that Putin's lost the plot so maybe steps are being taken to replace him.
Unless Putin and his inner circle of cronies are taken out, long before the Russians are moved back and the country cut off the orders for Nuclear strikes will have been given.It may well come to the point where all Russians are forced to move back to Russia. Completely cut off from the World. They will soon overthrow Putin...
i thought that or just got the fuel/supply ones if that’s possible.Surely a couple of bombs in a strategic point on that road would halt it altogether?
It doesn't seem like there's an alternative route.
What’s the betting if that convoy was attacked from the air Putin would concoct a story that it was a NATO attack?i thought that or just got the fuel/supply ones if that’s possible.
100% he would Jaf. It’s obviously a crying shame all this and equally frustrating that in relation to direct military intervention our hands are tied along with other countries of courseWhat’s the betting if that convoy was attacked from the air Putin would concoct a story that it was a NATO attack?
Surely a couple of bombs in a strategic point on that road would halt it altogether?
It doesn't seem like there's an alternative route.
Russian media is portraying it as special ops on military targets only in the SE of the country in support of the rebels.Let’s be clear, this is war, whether we like it or not and it’s not going to stop in Ukraine. Putin is shelling civilians including women and children, he’s cut off water in at least one city and food is running out. At some stage the west is going to act and for me it’s better to do it now. How would we all feel if it was here, and the world said, sorry but we don’t want to get invloved.
Interesting, fingers crossed.Some reports coming out now that the column is under attack.
But Ukraine will not risk a sally out into the countryside to attack the convoy where their vehicles and troops will be more vulnerable. Despite the horrible risk to civilians, if they are not evacuated, Ukraine soldiers with ATWs can fight best in city suburbs where there is cover.
It's one of the areas where Ukraine are weak, and the donated fighter jets probably haven't flown for 15 years and are only useful as spare parts.
Let’s be clear, this is war, whether we like it or not and it’s not going to stop in Ukraine. Putin is shelling civilians including women and children, he’s cut off water in at least one city and food is running out. At some stage the west is going to act and for me it’s better to do it now. How would we all feel if it was here, and the world said, sorry but we don’t want to get invloved.
Also if NATO got involved this would be a PR coup for Putin as thenit will become a war against the Western aggressors and the current internal Russian resistance to the Ukraine invasion will dissipate and the average Russian would unite against NATO.I know what you mean, and this is a tough watch especially knowing it could possibly be stopped quite quickly with NATO intervention. It is not necessarily and automatically going beyond Ukraine though, especially given the sheer size of the country and the spirit of the resistance.
Action now potentially automatically triggers a much more dangerous confrontation though, and even nuclear warheads hitting the West in the next few weeks.
Ukraine is being sacrificed potentially now, which was probably always the plan under these circumstances, but if the full bite of the sanctions and hopefully more stays in place it might just see Putin off, and then maybe we avoid the worst of possible repurcussions. Bad for Ukraine though whatever.
One of the six 1000MW VVER nuclear units at Zaporizhzhia has reportedly been hit by shell fire and small arms. There is a fire on site. The reactor affected is reportedly shut down for repairs but is still full of nuclear fuel assemblies which require cooling. I really hope they can keep the lid on this (literally).My big worry is the 6 x 1000MW VVER nuclear reactors on the Dnieper river, south of Zaporizhzhia. It’s the biggest nuclear site in Europe. Those reactor containment buildings will not stop a big missile or bomb, and if a reactor loses cooling systems there is the risk of decay heat causing a meltdown. The trouble is that Ukrainian cities need the electricity, but I hope they have been already shut down and are cooling.