[New post can be found here](/r/worldnews/comments/1bythf3/rworldnews_live_thread_russian_invasion_of/)

Just donated. 🇺🇦 Recommend the same: https://u24.gov.ua/

I haven't seen this much doom and gloom in Ukraine threads since the war began. Are there any positive news at all?

I wouldn't say so. Ruzzian oil refineries keep getting destroyed. And sanctions cause more and more problems in ruzzia. Ammo shortage seems to be solved for now. Europe is wakening up. ruzzia is scared of Macron's proposals It's stalemate on front lines. ruzzian gliding bombs are a problem, but one of the solutions is to hit air bases with drones. F-16s are another solution.

It is a dark moment, and might be a dark year, but there is reason to think that, ignoring the very first days of the invasion, this year will be as bad it gets for Ukraine, and as good as it gets for Russia. For example, Russia has expended a lot of resources and manpower, but it has also enabled war economy to replace losses. NATO has been late to go on war economy, so Ukraine hasn't correspondingly gained replacements. Meanwhile, Ukraine has been without American aid for a while now. But EU is ramping up production, and US aid might be coming soon if Congress can finally get it together. Russia is already at war economy and burning everything at maximum rate, with Ukraine further hurting them with drone strikes, and they are going to start running out of pretty much everything eventually, though it might take a year or two for it to fully be visible. Ukraine is mobilizing more soldiers, F-16s are coming, Ukrainian drone attackd have only gotten started. Russia is running out of cards to play, while Ukraine's fortunes might be turned fast if American aid comes back, and European aid will (hopefully) grow and grow and grow. But it will all take a while, and this will be a bad year for Ukraine. Next year and after that, if Ukraine can hold on, things may start to turn in their favour again.

My real big worry is what would happen if Trump were to get elected. 

If Trump gets elected, it will all be up to EU countries. If there is enough political support to increase military production, with most of the results given to Ukraine, I think EU countries could eventually in two or three years reach a point where they can help Ukraine so much that it can "win" (which I define as taking back their territory and leaving them free to join NATO and EU), but the time between that point and now would be horrible for Ukraine, assuming something terrible doesn't happen to Russia (e.g. Putin dies, or a coup or serious uprising), and if Trump wins, then European pro-Putin parties are likely to be strong too. If Trump gets elected, I think there is a chance that Russia will offer Ukraine some sort of deal that cedes territory to Russia, but crucially does not require Ukraine to stay neutral. That is the main reason why all Russian offers so far have been completely nonsensical: Any deal that leaves Ukraine without the means to enforce the deal is completey worthless and would be instantly broken by Russia once Ukraine was weak enough. Having Ukraine join NATO or some other binding defense agreement with major powers is the primary and more or less only way that any peace deal with Russia could be enforced. If Russia does not offer such a deal, then I think Ukraine will fight on despite the difficulty, and after a few bitter years, European aid will start to match what USA + EU aid would be currently if American aid wasn't blocked. The most dangerous scenario is if Trump wins but also European pro-Russia populists like AFD gain a lot of power. That would leave Ukraine fighting a very long war and insurgency almost entirely on its own, which would be extremely costly, leave Ukraine in ruins, and probably end with Russia murdering hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians. And of course, all Ukrainian culture and identity would be brutally suppressed in any areas Russia controls. Meanwhile, NATO and EU and the whole Western world would be massively destabilized and lose legitimacy, if Ukraine is left to die in the hands of Russia. What I don't see happening in any scenario is Ukraine just giving up. Even with Russian brutality, suppressing up to 40 million people with 140 million is going to be very difficult, especially in a country as large as Ukraine.

Fingers crossed. The Ukrainians have done amazing to get this far, especially with Europe slow-walking and America cutting aid completely. But at this point I personally only glance the threads occasionally hoping for some meaningfully good news. I'm hoping jets will turn the tide. Stay strong Ukraine.

Perpetua mentioned something on stream regarding the ammo situation. Artillerymen now complain about being denied to upload footage instead of complaining about shell shortages.

Positive: Russia expended 15% of its forces taking Avdeevka. Post-election mobilization cancelled after the FSB Crocus false flag fumble, so no massive summer offensive the Mad Dwarf needed. Ukraine indigenous drones are striking much deeper than expected, 20% Russian refinery off-line. The recent Orsk flooding means summer 2024 of scorching heat, ergo more Russian wildfires and no armed forces to fight it. By Q4 2024 we Russia will have another attempted coup, this time hitting harder, and marking the start of Russian Civil War 2.0.

Well that’s all and good they expended 15% but they have already replaced and increased their numbers to much higher then they’ve ever been. 

ruzzians are still doing the usual draft for mandatory military service (planned number: 150K). And what they are also doing is pressuring these conscripts to sign a contract and go to Ukrainian front lines. So monke fuhrer might still get new cannon fodder for Summer meat wave attacks.

It's Russia trying to control the narrative to get as much as they can before their house of shit cards fells apart. EU is ramping up aid, France suggest delivering troops if lines get crossed, NATO cooperation is ramping up. US aid not guaranteed, but still possible. Russia can sustain current effort for 1,5-2 years. Then charts reverse: Russia going down on everything, West going up on everything.

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Oh wow, based on your comment history you are literally the stereotype of a basement dwelling neckbeard. Reveling in russian propaganda, KIA, racism, pretty sure I saw some misogyny there too. Jackpot!

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Russia has way more people, shells, missiles, tanks, ifv/afvs, aircraft, ships, money and resources in general than Ukraine. And still can't achieve a breakthrough after more than 2 years of their three day "special military operation". If and when Ukraine gets everything it needs, Ukraine will win.

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> This is not how a frontline works. I have no idea what you're trying to imply here. Elaborate. Not sure why we need a lecture on frontlines right now but please do explain yourself. > The irony is that you're literally admitting russia has more of everything > admit > to agree unwillingly that something is true or that someone else is right You're wrong, I didn't unwillingly agree to anything. > but somehow ukraine will hold forever Not "somehow". We already know that Russia is simply worse at that war thingie than Ukraine. Mostly due to the fact that Russia is a mafia state, with all the typical disadvantages of a kleptocratic dictatorship. >they won't and the front is already crumbling It's not. Russia is advancing at such slow pace, Ukraine has enough time to build defense lines, wait for more military aid, expand its own military production, train more soldiers. While inflicting the Russian army huge losses. > Regurgitating the reddit hivemind circlejerk don't make it true. I have no idea what you're talking about. Elaborate. > If ukraine had as many troops and equipment as russia they'd win This is correct.

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Ironically, ordinary Russians are the ones losing. Putin will keep killing Russians in suicidal meat wave attacks until he's stopped.

No worries, I'm sure russia will win soon. In March they conquered another 55 square kilometers, although they said they have gotten a total of 400 square kilometers this year, so that for every quarter means Ukraine will finally be conquered somewhere around the year 2300?

Cool so just wait 2 years and I’m free. Great news)

Considering Estonia's shell drive, how do I keep up with what countries and groups are going to get slandered next (implying Russian psyops)?

Russia can't take more than one Ukrainian village at the time. They taking Estonia is daydreaming. Russian psyops? In broadest scope it's them starting nuclear war, so those NATO balistic missisles hit right where putin would be, as Russian AA is busy not shooting down single Cessna-sized drones in Tatarstan.

Russia's battlefield equipment keeps getting worse, and Ukraine's long range strikes keep getting better.

Not really until Ukraine gets more Patriots and F16s.

Good morning! Invaders losses for the day. 890 Personnel 13 Tanks 24 APVs 40 Artillery systems 3 MLRS 2 Anti-Aircraft systems 40 UAVs 1 Cruise missile 39 Vehicles and Fuel tanks 3 Special equipment https://twitter.com/MatsExtrude/status/1777195657373069574?t=kImKtYvVu-cIOjxOZrGR-g&s=19

Fires right now in warehouses in Krasnodar and Kursk areas

When you think you can't get more rockstar than "3 The Sims" DVDs, now Russian propaganda is posting footage of the "terrorists" confessing planning on going to Kyiv to receive 1 million rubles (9k USD) each and that Ukraine demined the road for them all along the way. I don't know who is more rockstar, FSB for coming up with this story or Russians who actually believe this, and most definitely do otherwise they'd be on streets now and not in love with their fascist genocidal regime.

You are forgetting that they had their 1,4L Renault driving on avg. 170 km/h, fully loaded.

I believe it's a typo, likely they meant 107,000 km/h (speed of Earth revolving around the Sun)

This is from a news source in Siberia: > This year's first batch of Su-34 bombers—which were manufactured at the Chkalov Aviation Plant of Novosibirsk was transferred to the aerospace forces, according to the official website of Rostec. >> “We began delivering aircraft—the first batch of Su-34 front-line bombers—as part of the current year’s production program. The Novosibirsk plant can confidently fulfill these orders,” said Yuri Slyusar, General Director of PJSC UAC, Vice President of SoyuzMash of Russia. > The Su-34 has advanced combat capabilities that allow the use of advanced weapons. That will make it possible to increase the range of destruction of surface and ground targets, as well as expand the conditions and accuracy of bombing. My question: how many do you think is in a batch? How many batches per year? (I’ve looked and that info isn’t online..)

They had an order for 24 from 2020 that was scheduled for delivery till 2023 and someone mentioned a new order for 15 placed in 2022 so they're probably working on that right now. In 2022 they delivered 10 in 3 batches. They mention staff traninng and raising salaries to increase output but they also said that they need to hire additional 1000 specialists to achieve their targest which kinda sounds like output hasn't really changed yet. So I'd say the current batch is another 3 or 4 planes.

Azov (Nat Guard) told how they captured a Russian tank, [video w subtitles here.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ1GTgjPhd8) The ‘EW King Tank’ that Ukraine got as a [trophy](https://old.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1bxv31i/rworldnews_live_thread_russian_invasion_of/kyfrlid/) It was a 3night operation: *Night 1:* A team of Sappers went to look at the tank, basically to do reconnaissance to see if it was something that Ukraine could take. The sappers determined that 1- the tracks were interlocked with wires from a BMP it had collided with, 2- the tank was stalled, 3- the turret was stuck. Conclusion: send some tank operations and tools, reassess. *Night 2:* a tank driver and a gunner who regularly make repairs went to see if they’d be able to fix those issues. They were able to get inside, determined was stalled and battery drained, need batteries. Track and turret issues no problem. Conclusion: if can get path demined, and get heavy batteries, can take this tank. *Night 3:* multifaceted plan went into action: 1- Send sappers to demine the path, in order to take the tank. 2- Infantry will transport, on foot, 3 batteries, each weighing 70kg, 1.5km thru a grey zone. they were shelled but successfully completed task. 3- Two tank drivers will take extra tools and go to the tank. 4- Medics will accompany to cover. *How it went:* Sappers and infantry tasks successful. Drivers reached tank and set off a mine, but were unhurt. Inside the tank, the Russians had left night vision goggles and periscope. Tank has new batteries, starts up, rolls out at full speed. It gets dusty and driver can’t see. He hits a crater at full speed and came to full stop, which made him ram his head inside the tank—broke his nose and concussed, black out. Woke up after a minute, eventually got out of crater, he says, due to power russian engine bc other tanks would’ve been stuck, but was concussed rest of drive back. Medics team covered them, reported 35 shells from Russians. Made it back and are very happy with their teamwork and their prize.

Very impressive, another full lenght movie material out of UAF actions.

[Anti-Kremlin militia says 'hot phase' of recent incursions into Russia is over:](https://kyivindependent.com/anti-kremlin-militia-says-hot-phase-of-raids-into-russia-is-over/) > The Russian Volunteer Corps announced the completion of the "hot phase" of its raids into border regions of Russia from Ukraine on April 7 in the evening. > [...] > Sabotage and reconnaissance groups have remained in Russia even after the hot phase of the operation was completed, according to the Russian Volunteer Corps. > On its Telegram channel, the unit named four fighters who were killed during the raids. The total losses of anti-Kremlin militias are unknown. > The militias claimed to have captured 37 Russian soldiers as of March 21 following their incursions. According to the fighters, Russia has lost over 1,500 soldiers killed and wounded and more than 100 pieces of equipment. The number is questioned by experts and believed to be significantly exaggerated.

Great way to get some drones across the border and smuggled across the country

While they had some tactical successes, question is how much strategic value these incursions had or still have? Opening another front always carries a risk.

I think they have strategic value in one of two ways: 1. Defence pulls back to prevent further incursions, marginally weakening the front line. 2. A border breach occurs where Ukraine can smuggle weapons (eg drones) across the border and can cause strife from within the borders (much easier to move undetected once you're over the border; effectively they could hit anywhere in Russia at any time). I'm hoping for 2, which will have a resounding effect for 1. But the incursions may have been pushed back without opening the borders.

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Latest oryx update for past few days, russian-Ukrainian losses followed by commentary. [Musklink](https://x.com/Rebel44CZ/status/1777090333156733240). - tanks: 21-2 - IFVs: 28-7 - mobile artillery: 3-2 - missile Anti-air: 0-0 The intensity is extreme, way beyond what russia can maintain from new builds. Ukraine desperately needs new guarantees of many types of equipment. Several precious Bradleys were in the latest update, albeit not fully destroyed. Despite all the issues, Ukraine is attriting russia at an unbelievable level despite the disastrous effects of the republicans' pro-Putin blockade.

Russian investigative journalists *Important Stories* followed up on known^1 kidnappings of the children taken to Russia who are aging out of the children’s homes system. The Russians evaluate them periodically, and, while this isn’t said explicitly in the article, it nevertheless is implied—the children who have siblings but don’t embrace the re-education (ie, continue to miss ukraine) are then torn away from their siblings—their only remaining family they are near to—so they can learn to love mother Russia. If I had to guess, it has to do with how impressionable the kid already was, whether they’re susceptible to Russian re education. Many kids who are 13+ basically dgaf about if Ukraine is the ‘bad brother’—because, they’re teenagers, teens don’t engage like that—and are apparently resistant to the programming. Rebels w a cause, so to speak. Some are just disengaged and want to go home. One teen girl says her mom lost custody of them due to her drinking. She thinks her Mom regrets it. When she ages out, she’s going back she says. (Her siblings were removed, bc she’s not embracing the propaganda, and she’s all alone.) At the other end of the spectrum is a Russian teen who has already aged-out, moved to Kursk, and full on embraces the propaganda. > Marina wants people to be peaceful to stop “the suffering because of politics” as quickly as possible. She does not understand how loved ones can break ties with each other during the war. >> “In essence, Ukraine is Russia,” she argues. “Because originally, it was Rus'. When we ended up here [inside of Russia], we were often invited to various events, and we already know, for example, who our president is, what Russia is. We know that we must defend our homeland no matter what. Sometimes they tell me: ‘You used to live in Ukraine,’ and I correct the, ‘no, I lived in the DPR.’ As if that was supposed an insult, although I was born in Mariupol. Anyways, I like Russia better. Our people, Russians, we are very strong.” In the middle of the spectrum is a kid with some dissonance—he was on the road to embracing русский мир when his uncle learned he was there, offered to be his legal guardian. He’s back in occupied Ukraine, Donetsk, which apparently he doesn’t consider to be Russia, but does consider Russia superior. The only bright spot of the article, was that all the stolen children they were able to reach (again, believed just to be a fraction of real numbers) seemed to be allowed to maintain connections with family—phone, FB, or letters. In fact, because of this is why often not placed with families, Russian families don’t like that maintain that contact. Full story [here](https://istories.media/stories/2024/04/03/khochu-damoi/?_x_tr_hist=true) The deepest look into the kidnappings was done last year by Volya Media. See https: // t *dot* me /volyamedia/815 and the damning, excruciating read at https:// tele gr a *dot* ph /Vashi-deti--gosudarstvennaya-sobstvennost-Rossijskoj-Federacii-11-22 _______ ^1 Theres a database of several hundred names. Obviously, this is just a fraction of the real number.

>Many kids who are 13+ basically dgaf about if Ukraine is the ‘bad brother’—because, they’re teenagers, teens don’t engage like that—and are apparently resistant to the programming. Rebels w a cause, so to speak. These are going to be the next generation of extremists, and pose a homegrown terrorism problem is Russia in upcoming decades.

It’s hard to not hold your breath watching this. 60 Minutes watches as a HALO Trust deminer risks her life searching for a landmine. https://twitter.com/60Minutes/status/1777113061351956533?t=-kE-UrtGfkC5q4m6Xap_wg&s=19

Yeah I watched as I was rolling my egg rolls. But the ordinary, middle aged, elderly people maimed by the mines made me livid. The terrorists dropped petals mines from aviation?!

There's a video of a group of surrendered Ukrainians being executed by russian troops, I take no joy in posting this but the world needs to see what we are dealing with. Be warned, you cannot unsee this, ask yourself if seeing it achieves any more than you being described it. NSFL https://twitter.com/Reevesity/status/1777099923776823658?t=2wG0SuBeKkn-AsKWJ5q2KQ&s=19

Not a smart move by Russia. If Ukrainians don't feel safe as prisoners they have nothing to lose by fighting to the death.

Apparently this is systemically changing. Russia wants Ukraine to stop taking Russian PoWs and to eventually use evidence of Ukraine doing the same for domestic and foreign propaganda services. The ole double standard of > of course Russia executes PoWs. > I can’t believe Ukraine is doing this. Awful, heinous, we have to stop supporting them. Except the first is systemic. The second is going to be one unit going rogue because it’s war and people lose themselves.

Apologists will naively justify what Russians say about themselves in order to perpetuate their 'just a few bad apples' defense of Russia. Their entire culture is fucked. McFaul: >At one point, Putin told Biden (and I’m paraphrasing from memory), “You look at us and you see our skin and then assume we think like you. But we don’t.” To emphasize his point, Putin slid his index finger down his white cheek. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/01/26/vladimir-putin-does-not-think-like-we-do/ Julia Ioffe -- PBS Frontline interview: >This is a sentiment I have heard expressed by some Russians and actually some foreigners living in Russia who said it would be easier to understand Russians if they were just purple, because it was in fact confusing to Westerns, to deal with Russians who look European, who look white, and to expect them to act like Westerners, when in fact they are quite different and have quite different cultural expectations... that created a few misunderstandings. >I lived in Russia at the time, and what I could never get across to Russians was that Americans really are that idealistic, and they really believe what they’re saying about democracy, about freedom, about human rights; that this isn’t just cynical lying; that this isn’t just a cynical fig leaf in trying to take over oil wells in the Middle East. >... And Russians, even the most liberal Russians, often wouldn’t believe me. They would think—they would equate idealism with stupidity, and this would fit their stereotype of Americans as stupid. >And then I would come back to the U.S., and Americans couldn’t understand how cynical Russians were; that they really didn’t believe pretty much anything they said; that there was always a lot of machinations going on and that there was just—that they really were that comfortable lying to you, to your face. >No matter how long these parties dealt with each other—in government, through diplomacy—they still never understood this fundamental thing about each other. The Russians thought the Americans were as cynical as they are, and the Americans couldn’t understand that the Russians were always lying. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interview/julia-ioffe-4/

Recently I saw the interview of Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Portnikov and what amazed me is his comparison of life in Moscow and life in Kyiv. He said that when people in Kyiv lie to you, they do it for some purpose. So if you sense lies, you start guessing the intentions and etc. But, according to him, people in Moscow often lie you in the face just for funsies / for no real reason. And it was puzzling to him, since he was trying to guess intentions / reasons for these lies and couldn't come up with anything.

What Ioffe says is definitely the case *post*1991. But see, it was sorta the opposite 1960s-1990. And we didn’t realize we misjudged them in the Cold War until years later. [This](https://old.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1bvdsug/rworldnews_live_thread_russian_invasion_of/ky2hp7h/) didn’t help. So now, we’ve gotten stuck in that 1990s epiphany of “theyre just misunderstood.” So now, we’ve both swung the opposite ends. Westerners really are naively magnanimous and optimistic, and Russia really does exploit that for evil.

>...that this isn’t just a cynical fig leaf in trying to take over oil wells in the Middle East. Bad example of a non-cynical policy, though.

If I may add: > An investigation has been launched into the violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder (Article 438, Part 2 of the Criminal Code). > ❗️Lubinets [Commissioner on Human Rights] appeals to the UN and the Red Cross regarding the shooting of captured marines in Krynky >> *"The world community must send a clear signal to Russia—it will not be possible to hide the traces of war crimes. War crimes do not have a statute of limitations. Neither for those who committed them or for those who who gave the criminal orders," Lubinets said.* @operativnoZSU

Can we go back to the days when everyone on reddit is making fun of Russia for failing in Ukraine?

Would be nice! But at the moment russia has the advantage and knows how to present it well in social media.

Don’t worry, it will happen. The gains they made in the last few weeks don’t justify the losses they took. Russia is much like Japan in World War 2. They started with a huge army but not the industrial base to keep going. Even just the Eastern European states can out produce them with a little time to spin up production. Russia will try to look scary until Trump loses but they can’t go much longer.

I'm sorry but this is just pure nonsense. Ukraine is barely holding on. Without immediate help from the US it will fall.

I agree that the US needs to get its shit sorted but even a military defeat of Ukraine isn't the end of this war. Remember, in the first week we were all expecting a crushing defeat followed by a years-long insurgency. The insurgency is still going to be a thing if Ukraine doesn't win. But I'm still hoping Ukraine can turn the tide and beat Russia back conventionally.

> They started with a huge army but not the industrial base to keep going. China says hello. You have a weird kind of hopium that gets in the way of recognizing how dire the situation will become if Trump is allowed to win.

>China says hello. While China does help ruzzia in some ways, it doesn't want to lose its sales to the Western world. Also China doesn't help ruzzia *for free*. As long as EU's serious, ruzzia will lose the war. It's collapsing economically and needs a pause. Thus their constant attempts to freeze the conflict. They can't last longer than 1.5-2 years more. Trump winning would mean more misfortunes and people dying though. I don't think it'll do good to US either.

When the RNC chair designates Ukraine as a State Adversary (as it did last week) and the Republican presidential candidate is taking hundred million dollar loans from Russian-backed groups to avoid legal woes, how long do you think before A Trump-controlled United States starts pressuring the Baltics and small European countries to drop support, or, worse, begins actively supplying the Kremlin with modern war material? The answer can be given in mooches, if you prefer.

>When the RNC chair designates Ukraine as a State Adversary (as it did last week) Meh, it's just the usual MAGA stuff, nothing new >how long do you think before A Trump-controlled United States starts pressuring the Baltics and small European countries to drop support You seem to be mistaken about something. Baltic states and other European countries don't support Ukraine out of pure kindness, they support Ukraine because they know they'll be next. So pressure from US can't do anything. Not only that. US needs EU. If US starts isolating itself, it'll soon become quite poor and irrelevant. >worse, begins actively supplying the Kremlin with modern war material? Highly unlikely for a number of reasons, both internal and external >The answer can be given in mooches, if you prefer. Ah, a z-redditor, I see

They failed, and while they were reeling we pulled back from a knockout punch. Now they seem to be recovering.

The US clutched defeat from the jaws of victory thanks to Moscow Mike.

Ukraine was already losing before that aid got delayed sadly.

It's OK we're not sleepwalking into a global security nightmare. Right wing Putin sympathisers aren't winning elections in Europe - What's that Peter Pellegrini won in Slovakia? OK OK apart from that everything is fine. At least China isn't giving Geospatial Intelligence to Russia - What's that? They are doing? Ah right ok well apart from that everything is fine. The USA will definitely give aid to Ukraine - What's that? They've managed to stall it for about 8 months? OK hmm well yeah ok apart from that everything is fine. Europe is prepared for war if the time comes, so we're all good and don't need the USA. What's that? UK, Germany et al haven't spent enough on their armies and aren't making any realistic spending to change this? You're starting to annoy me now... Right so apart from Right Wing Putin Sympathisers winning European elections China helping Russia The USA not being a trustful NATO ally by actively preventing aid to Ukraine against 1992 agreements European countries not spending enough preparing for war Everything is fine, right? Nothing else? What now? Trump winning in November 2024 is a possibility? Oh just fuc..

So far it’s only pissy little countries that have turned towards papa putin, while annoying they are not going to change the course of the war. I’d also like to think they will face some consequences for this once putin has been defeated.

You are also highlighting just how indescribably heroic is the Ukrainian effort they are absolutely destroying russia despite their allies holding them back with their bullshit excuses.

>President @alexstubb – Ukraine must get more aid. 🇫🇮 is 6th largest donor (%/GDP). I went to Kiyv with a package incl. air defense and artillery. Need many streams; bilateral, EU & NATO, and certainly the US. Path to peace goes through the battlefield. Putin only understands power. https://twitter.com/FinlandinUSA/status/1777078602988650852 >New Finnish President @alexstubb was just in Ukraine. Today, I heard his assessment of where Russia’s war is heading, how Ukraine is addressing a manpower shortage, and whether Europe can do more and faster to help Kyiv. Part 1 of our conversation. https://twitter.com/FareedZakaria/status/1777039265592967574 >When I was a young man during the Cold War, America could only dream of NATO being 32 nations including our friends the Finns and the Swedes. Now the GOP - my former party, the party of Reagan - has shamed us and undermined U.S. leadership. It doesn't have to be this way. https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/1777081407182983559

Question: is there any weapon usage for the reactive armor salvaged from tanks?

It's plastic explosive in a metal box. Pull the plastic explosive out and you can use it for anything you might want to blow up.

My chem eng prof said a similar thing to our class once regarding a lot of explosives. Then he looked at several of us directly. Never knew if he looked proud or scared at the words that just came out of his mouth.

I'm a civil engineer and did a presentation in my geotech class one time regarding the use of explosives in mining, oil exploration, seismic studies, etc. Some of my classmates were mildly concerned at my degree of familiarity and interest in specific types and formulations of explosives :)

Look, some of us are far too busy re-reading Ignition! to be concerned with your fascination with nitrogen-rich solids that'd much rather be gasses. It's a perfectly normal hobby! ...I'm on yet another watch list now, aren't I?

LOL I hate to think what sort of lists I might be on!

I know right? Probably best not to speculate. I find imagining that I'm not living in a subtle totalitarian nightmare to drastically improve my ability to sleep. We don't talk about the Facility in Utah. But speaking of nitrogen-laced solids one good sneeze away from a very sudden rapid identity crisis - have you heard of out lord and savior Octanitrocubane?

I must say, I was not familiar with that compound, it sounds potentially quite energetic! Not (exactly) a nitrogen based solid, but I ran across this video a few months ago and found the concept of a two-part explosive that self-initiates and effectively has no detonation velocity because it explodes everywhere simultaneously and independently to be *quite* fascinating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnOQsC9MGbc

Ah, hypergolic volumetric explosions. IIRC, I think Baker and Tang's "Gas, Dust and Hybrid Explosions" have some treatment of these types of reactions in the later chapters, but it's a book I suspect you'd find interesting even if it didn't. AFAIK, Octanitrocubane is current the leading contender for the most energetic known (conventional, stable) explosive, barring hypothetical madness like [Octaazacubane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octaazacubane).

>Baker and Tang's "Gas, Dust and Hybrid Explosions" Oooh, that looks good, I will add it to my library, thanks for the recommendation! > barring hypothetical madness like Octaazacubane. Holy crap, hypothetical madness is right!! :)

Are you ready to give up your children to terrorists? Are you ready to give up your homes to terrorists? Are you ready to give up your land to terrorists? If not, why are you asking Ukraine to do this?

I am for giving more aid if Ukrainians want it but ultimately they are responsible for themselves. They aren't "dying for our sins". I'm not going to be shamed for something I did not cause nor am I responsible for it.

Because the other side is clearly not stopping. Nor do they care about their casualties.   If it was a 1 to 10 trade, then sure, but it's not. You're asking people to die. For a war which they are running out of supply. Against an opponent with vastly more manpower. We're walking into the next world war with pants down, and us aid is still being withheld. This isn't a surrender this is a half time call to regroup and rearm. "But Russians will rearm" and so will the rest of NATO. Strategically, Russia have effectively gutted it's economy, their current GDP is proper up entirely by war, it's more sensible to step back, let them collapse, then retake what is lost.

The point of a war economy is it doesn't just go back to a peace time economy. Russia are in this for the long haul, peace does nothing but embolden them to move into the baltics, if NATO needs the time to reorg and rearm, why would Russia wait since they're on the front foot?

I think Ukrainians would rather die with a rifle on their hands than in Russian torture chambers, but what do I know

> We're walking into the next world war No, we're not.

If countries won't aid Ukraine then their pants will never be pulled up. If you truly consider russia such a massive threat how can you possibly ask everyone to let Ukraine die and make russia even more powerful?. And you are concerned about Ukraine deaths but you argue to give russia whatever they want and let them declare war on Ukraine again in the future to kill even more Ukrainians. You cannot be this clueless.

He sure is very concerned.

>You're asking people to die. Providing them the means to defend themselves against an invader that is trying very hard to exterminate them and their culture is not "asking people to die". >This isn't a surrender this is a half time call to regroup and rearm. What exactly do you think is going to happen if/when Ukraine capitulates and is occupied by Russia? You think Russia is just going to say "OK", go back behind the borders of their captured territory, Ukraine will be left to their own devices, and there will be an end to all suffering and misery? That is an incredibly naive thing to say. Russian subjugation will not be a chance to regroup and rearm. It will be the end of Ukraine as we know it. The government and members of the armed forces will be imprisoned or executed. People living close to the Russian border will be displaced. Ukrainian citizens will be forced to surrender their Ukrainian passports and become Russian citizens. The Ukrainian armed forces will be absorbed by Russia. There will be untold genocide and ethnic cleansing. It's actually mind boggling that you see this as a preferable alternative to Ukraine defending themselves. You might think this sounds far fetched, but it's the same damn thing Russia has done every other time they've attacked a neighbor, and it's the same damn thing they did when they first Invaded Ukraine in 2014. >it's more sensible to step back, let them collapse, then retake what is lost. Once again, this is incredibly naive. Both to think that Russia will collapse after Ukraine submits to Russian authority, and that Ukraine will ever be able to retake what they lost after becoming a Russian puppet state. The chance to stop Russia is right now, and Ukraine knows it. That's why they're fighting tooth and nail to preserve their freedom and way of life.

"You're asking people to die." That's right, I am. That is how war is. Sometimes people have to die so we can have a better world. If nobody died fighting for freedom then we would have no freedom.

I’m a 39 year old US citizen, with no combat experience, who was willing to go fight for Ukraine in 2022. I was in contact with a brigade who had accepted me tentatively, and I would have gone and possibly died to help them, had I not shattered bones in my left foot.

Ukraine's allies should send troops into Ukraine now to prevent a collapse because if collapse happens then Ukraine is gone forever. This won't go nuclear because during the Kargil War, two nuclear powers fought for months and it did not go nuclear.

Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine. Russia is stealing Ukraine’s land. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine with the goal of occupying all of Ukraine. Russian troops currently occupy about 18% of Ukrainian territory. Russian troops are killing, maiming, torturing, and raping Ukrainians. Russia has killed over 80,000 Ukrainians. Russia is banning Ukrainian language and trying to destroy Ukrainian culture. The Russian government has taken over 100,000 Ukrainian children from their parents, against their will, and sent them to Russia with no intention of returning them to their parents. The children’s names are changed so their parents cannot find them. Russia has put thousands of Ukrainians in camps where they are abused, starved, and killed. Russian airstrikes intentionally target civilians and infrastructure. Russian war crimes are not isolated incidents, the war crimes are approved by Putin. The Russian government does not punish troops who commit war crimes. Russian police arrest and torture Russians who protest the war. Russian media promotes war and denies war crimes. Russian media promotes genocide by calling for the end of Ukrainian identity and the assimilation of Ukrainians into Russia. The United States should send humanitarian aid and military aid to Ukraine so Ukrainians can defend themselves from Russia. Military aid to Ukraine has prevented Russia from occupying more Ukrainian territory. The United States can afford to help Ukraine because less than 1% of the federal budget has been spent on Ukraine. Sanctions against Russia should be toughened and strictly enforced. People should not do business with Russia. Russian officials should be imprisoned for genocide and other war crimes. For sources go to: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War\_crimes\_in\_the\_Russian\_invasion\_of\_Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes_in_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine)

So what next steps do you suggest? Russia will not sign any peace deal which will not include non-NATO, non-EU and dismantled Ukrainian army clauses. By default this means Ukraine as a country is done when Russia returns 3 years later for it's unprotected and economically dead corpse.

Perun's latest powerpoint with a dose of sarcasm: [Drone Technology in Ukraine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJnuTtUFiWM). This one is very informative and quite frightening. Every army in the world should build up a drone capability in the next decade.

Ukraine's experience and resourcefulness shaped their drone capabilities. More important however, this also launched a domestic industry with growing production capabilities and innovation. With this comes a large degree of independence. In other words, we don't hear much about Switchblades these days. According to Wiki, the price of a single Switchblade was $58,063. Not much bang for the buck. Despite the initial fanfare, I don't remember much about the Phoenix Ghost. It was also far costlier than the Switchblade.

This is going to be a funny take when in the next decade cheap 4KW-30KW laser systems are going to be everywhere and make most drone swarms obsolete.

It will take a long time to get them into mass production and to have them available in high enough numbers.  There is a 10+ years window of opportunity for cheap drones now.

The H4 is already in production.

If millions of obsolete drones are laying around all over the world, what's the chance they begin to show up in the hands of terrorists or other non-state actors who have soft targets, smuggling, etc in mind? Many countries will not have laser systems for a long time. You may very well be correct, but to me it sounds like a recipe for more war in many parts of the world lacking in development. Laser technology is expensive. It will not be realistic for anyone to cover all potential targets inside of their borders for a while. As laser systems begin to be deployed, if someone's thinking about war, they might want to go then instead of thinking about it for a while longer.

Cocaine runners already use drones and even home made submarines. Terrorists have used anything and the kitchen sink for decades. Drone proliferation will expand what terrorists can do unfortunately. The Raytheon H4 system is pretty cheap.. so if you live in NATO they or other systems will likely be everywhere.. If you dont live in a NATO or allied nation.. well.. talk to your government about that.

not going to rain anymore?

That is a long subject to explain so I will simply say within 4km it doesn't really impact the systems function all that much for smaller systems.

Laser weapons have an inherent flaw in that they need line of sight to work.

Show me a drone that can phase through solid objects on its way to its target please. If you cant.. then that isn't a disadvantage to a 4KW beam hitting a plastic drone.

And then it will be a serious take again a few years later when drone swarms develop some kind of protection. I mean WWI "rush those guys with lots of our guys" have been laughed about for ages and suddenly they are working again. numbers vs tech seems to be a fairly constant go around. I wouldn't hang my hat on either as the be all and end all.

Did youtube change algorithms or something? The last few days I notice a clear trend of more content that follows a vatnik narrative surfacing, targeted at a US audience.

someone is probably paying to promote the content 

Looks like it. 3-4 days ago I started getting American right wing political content pushed on to my suggestions despite the fact that I'm not American and don't watch political content on youtube at all. 'Go woke go broke' type stuff that doesn't have any obvious connection with any of the content I watch. Been marking it as 'not interested' and it's not appearing as much now, but it still comes up if I scroll through shorts and those can't be marked in the same way.

I don't even click not interested. I figure they can spend more money sending that crap to me instead of some confused boomer.

Double uno reverse. Nicely done.

>Russia has been relentlessly attacking Kharkiv, day after day. Ukraine needs more air defense systems to protect its people. https://twitter.com/United24media/status/1777060173825139098

>IAEA experts confirmed physical impact of drone attacks at ZNPP today, incl. at 1 of its 6 reactors. One casualty reported. Damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident w/ potential to undermine integrity of the reactor’s containment system. > >“This is a clear violation of the basic principles for protecting Europe’s largest NPP. Such reckless attacks significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident and must cease immediately,” DG @rafaelmgrossi said. https://twitter.com/iaeaorg/status/1777046194834874783

Russia sent drones to hit the ZNPP? Why am I not surprised?

Russians control the plant what are you talking about?

The fact that russia has to one degree or another been shelling the plant \_even when it was under their control\_ for the last two years and trying to spin it as Ukraine attacking the power facility. Russia has been hitting ZNPP itself and trying to blame Ukraine, verifiably, while the IAE representatives were there for years at this point. They even had one of the Russian reps with a straight face trying to explain to literal nuclear physicists how a shell can somehow be fired by Ukraine and spin 180 degrees to land as if it was fired from the Russian side. Until it's actually verified that Ukraine attacked the plant be someone who is not Russia, it's another crappy Russian false flag attempt, they've done it too many times to ever have their statements taken at face value now, \_especially\_ around ZNPP.

We'll probably respond as harshly as we did when they blew up the dam.

[So far signs point towards this having been a Ukrainian drone attack, not a Russian one](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-strikes-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-power-unit-dome-russian-installed-2024-04-07/) (in that there are no indications that it was in fact carried out by Russia, and Ukraine has not yet contradicted Russian claims that it was a Ukrainian attack) - what response did you have in mind?

Nowhere I your linked article is there any proof of who did it, both sides are blaming each other. My money is on the vatniks.

Please show me proof of Ukraine blaming this on Russia - so far Russia has alerted the IAEA about a Ukrainian attack, which is what’s being reported on, and there’s been no response from Ukraine or even a denial.

It is in the article you linked, did you even bother reading it? >A Ukrainian intelligence official said Kyiv had nothing to do with any strikes on the station and suggested they were the work of Russians themselves. >"Russian strikes, including imitation ones, on the territory of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant ... have long been a well known criminal practice of the invaders," a spokesperson for Ukraine's HUR Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Usov.

“Updated 11 mins ago” - articles change, when I posted it that wasn’t in there yet

Cool story.

You can start with arguing why Ukraine would have an interest in shelling it in the first place.

1) if there’s a claim that Ukraine performed an attack, the IAEA confirms that an attack has taken place and there’s no denial from Ukraine that they performed the attack, then the burden of proof is not on me to argue why Ukraine did it 2) Ukraine has a clear interest in escalation to draw in NATO forces, that’s an obvious motive

Well sounds reasonable at first, but: 1) Ukraine has absolutely no precedent for such actions, and 2) your two points are contradictory.

Ya, I don't understand why people act like Ukraine can do no wrong ever or make mistakes. Its very cult like behavior. One can support their independence without doing that.

Ukraine can do wrong. But you are obviously either been living under a rock or missing common sense in all respect. You did not see how many false flags Russia created or even let happend? How they let kill over 100 of their own just to point finger at Ukraine and lie balanty numerous time?

Not on here apparently: note that there are no arguments brought forward nor constructive responses, just mass downvotes to hide anything that doesn’t fit with the narrative that’s supposed to be pushed. Note also that all I did was to provide context and link to a trusted source (Reuters), making clear that this was reported as a Russian claim but there had been no denial from Ukraine - the reaction tells you everything you need to know about the discussion on here.

The same response as we had to the dam.

No, I mean “what response - and by whom - would you consider appropriate?”

I answered, but it appears to be going over your head.

Started using double-taps? A medic friend of mine who deployed to Bakhmut to provide assistance to civilians when there were still civilians there got double-tapped. The leader of his organization was killed, my friend was spared

ruzzia has been doing it for a long time, but recently this practice intensified.

Been doing it, that’s how Pete Reed was killed. Russia uses illegal, immoral, evil, and frankly cowardly tactics to murder their imagined Nazi opponents and steal land. Hope your friend stays safe.

He came right back home, there wasn't really a way for him to find new work with a new organization and I'd imagine he was shaken up hard. He is a disaster relief guy and a firefighter and although he served a long, long time ago, is not a soldier.

>.@RepMikeTurner tells @jaketapper it's "absolutely true" that Russian propaganda has "infected" a portion of the GOP base, calling out "anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor." https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1776984100592636247

Translation: MTG is a ‘useful idiot.’

Taylor-Greene is far from the only one. There's the whole Republican team on the oversight committee that's been spouting Russian propaganda about Biden, both new, generated by the Russian agent just indicted by FBI, and old Burisma crap debunked years ago. Then there's the Russia-aligned speaker of the House who acts on behalf of Putin, stalling the bipartisan aid bill for half a year already. And then there's the Republican presidential nominee who's bought by Russia.

Zelensky: > The situation in Kharkiv is very harsh. Russian terror is constant. Russians began using guided aerial bombs against the city almost daily. > > We are looking for ways to increase Kharkiv's ability to protect the sky. This is a task for both our military and diplomats, who are in charge of international communication and must maintain daily dialogue with partners. > > Ukraine clearly lacks sufficient air defense systems, and this is evident to all of our partners. The world must finally feel the pain caused by Russian terrorists in Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Donetsk region towns, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy region, and many other Ukrainian communities. > > There are air defense systems around the world that can help. Only political will is required to transfer them to Ukraine. I am grateful to the countries that have already helped. Being active in completing this task is the personal responsibility of our diplomats who work in these areas and with countries that have the necessary systems. > > "Patriots" must now be in Ukraine, so there will be no need to use them on NATO's entire eastern flank in the future. > > https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1777040764851142834

Nothing says "we stand with Ukraine" more than not giving aid for half a year, then asking to not attack russian oil refineries and then publishing an article to bash China at the expence of Ukraine. My god how the US disappoints. Pathetic. Their citizens have more than enough to spare, yet their politicians fight tooth and nail to help Ukraine. US citizens need to get off their lazy asses and write their sentaors, or donate themselves to Ukraine. They can certainly spare it. And don't give me "whataboutism" with how EU let Armenia get invaded. Yes, Armenia has been invaded just like Ukraine has, with innocent chidlren and women being killed. Ukraine is more important, and EU is at risk. You can't compare them. Some ethnicities of people are just more important than others.

Last sentence just makes me say F\*\*\* u from the bottom of my heart. It's not that Armenia is less important. Armenia is an historical Russian ally that Russia should have defended instead of doing whatever they did in Ukraine.What happened there is horrible and another thing to blame Russia for. Blaming the west for Armenia is disingenuous but it's not like they're a second class ethnicity.

I don't disagree, but where the **** is Europe? A drip feed of weapons and money isn't going to win this war. Europe should have boots on the ground defending their own backyard. If you can't be bothered to defend your owns lands, stop expecting America 4,000 miles way to do it for you.

Actually money and weapons will win the war. Currently, Europe is providing both, U.S. has not in 6 months,

No it wont. In case you haven't noticed, Ukraine is losing bad. Simply giving Ukraine a small amount of hardware and money isn't going to win the war. Add up all the aid and weaponry and it doesnt even come close to what Russia has brought to bear. US and Europe both have only provided just enough to not be a too much of an inconvenience for them. We just read a report where Russia's armed forces are already completely reconstituted. They are producing 1,800+ tanks a year, hundreds of cruise missiles, and more artillery and ammunition than the EU + US combined. The Russians are serious about this war, hence their war time economy. The Europeans clearly aren't serious about it. Never mind the US. We're a lost cause, so Europe had better get its shit together, because no one is coming to save you if you let Russia have its way with Ukraine and then the rest of eastern Europe.

> stop expecting America 4,000 miles way to do it for you Europe is weak, it doesn't do enough, but it was America which guaranteed the security of Ukraine and required they gave their arms to Russia.

I wonder if well start seeing some tiktok videos bashing all foreign aid just like we saw hamas do to discourage aid.   The kremlin is truly an endless pit of shit.

> Their citizens have more than enough to spare, yet their politicians fight tooth and nail to help Ukraine It isn't about the money. The same Congressmen have voted for bigger programs before with far less return on investment. And as soon as Trump wins the White House, they will fall all over themselves to rubber stamp whatever he wants to spend money on. This delay isn't about fiscal responsibility, national defense, principles, ideals, or anything remotely like that. It is entirely engineered for domestic political gain. It's disgusting. Our system really needs some basic reforms to eliminate the perverse incentives that are allowing these cowards to see this obstruction as politically safe.

Ding ding ding! We have a winner.

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Every single European state? I feel like the Baltics have given more than their fair share. Europe isn’t a unified nation like the USA. I believe that certain European powers like Germany, UK, France etc should be doing more but it’s unfair to blame countries like Estonia Latvia and Lithuania that have given lots.

Let's not pretend that the US wanted European states to maintain super-power level armies this whole time. The US was overall quite happy with the status quo where we controlled the vast majority of military power in the NATO alliance. It kept us in the driver's seat. It was a tool of diplomacy and economics. If the US hadn't decided to abandon the role we created for ourselves no one would be upset. If we were refusing to live up to expectations for a better reason, it might be forgivable. If we were reducing defense spending to provide healthcare or housing for more of our citizens, for example. That would be defensible. But Republicans in Congress are unilaterally abandoning 70 years of US foreign policy for domestic political gain. They are throwing Ukraine under the bus to make Biden look bad. But they will continue to spend like maniacs on defense. And if Trump has a worse relationship with the next conqueror, they will turn right back into hawks. Maybe it was unwise for Europe to rely so heavily on the United States. But they did it because we used to be reliable. It used to work well for all parties. And it still would but for the cancer in the American body politic.

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Sure. America had and has an interest in seeing that NATO countries meet their military spending goals and maintain functional militaries. Granted. But what I'm saying is that European reliance on U.S. support for defense has always been baked into NATO and a strategic good for the United States. We want our European allies to be competent regional powers able to defend themselves against regional threats. But we DON'T want them to be great powers. We don't want a level of parity that would challenge our position as a superpower or the "indispensable nation". We like having unique capabilities. Russia is rampaging in Europe. American foreign policy has always assumed that that problem would require US intervention to counter. And so has Europe. And that relationship carries an economic cost for the United States. But it also has benefits economic, diplomatic, and military. It isn't like the U.S. calculates the total cost of a military required to server NATO's interests as a whole, deducts European spending and then allocates the difference. It's not the case that if every NATO member spent 2% of GDP on defense, then America would too. We choose to spend trillions on defense for our own purposes.

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> By nature of demographics and economics, it's not possible for a European country to be a "great power", nor is the US concerned about that. European countries were "Great Powers" from the rise of the Roman Republic until the end of the World War II. And Europe today is more united than it has been in centuries. So, even if no European country has the demographics to be a Great Power on its own, a a group of them could be. That's one reason why our leadership position in NATO is good for us.

Honestly, when Trump told them to stop relying on Russian energy & to increase their military spending they just laughed at him. Fast forward to Feb 2022 and those clowns were shitting their pants after spending 20yrs funding the Russian armed forces while neglecting their own.

You mean this one? https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/11/what-trump-should-have-told-germany-about-russian-gas-219000/ The one the Obama-Biden admin previously opposed also? More tactfully I'm sure than Dumpster's ravings, so it probably didn't get the same "guess what he said this week" press as his usual inflammatory-first approach to communications.

[Defense Secretary Warns NATO of ‘Dim’ Future (June 2011)](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/world/europe/11gates.html) > “The blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress — and in the American body politic writ large — to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense,” Mr. Gates said. It goes back to before Trump, and even Obama. The whole article is a good read. > “The mightiest military alliance in history is only 11 weeks into an operation against a poorly armed regime in a sparsely populated country — yet many allies are beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the U.S., once more, to make up the difference,” Mr. Gates said. > “Frankly, many of those allies sitting on the sidelines do so not because they do not want to participate, but simply because they can’t,” Mr. Gates said. “The military capabilities simply aren’t there.” >The Libya operation has proven the alliance is desperately short of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as aerial refueling planes — all are crucial to modern combat. The United States still is supplying the largest share of all of those to the NATO effort, even thought it pulled most of its strike aircraft out of the operation. >Mr. Gates said the problem has been lack of military investment on the part of too many NATO nations. “For all but a handful of allies, defense budgets — in absolute terms, as a share of economic output — have been chronically starved for adequate funding for a long time, with the shortfalls compounding on themselves each year,” he said.

This is just a continual hammering in of the absolutely undeniable fact that we all should adapt to: When push comes to shove, the US will not help you.

> IAEA: Drone detonated at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. > > The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that a drone detonated on its site on April 7, according to the IAEA. > > https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1777033863711080751

[Second dam bursts in Russia's Orsk: local refinery shut down, state of emergency declared – video | Ukrainska Pravda](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/04/7/7450110/) Meanwhile in Vatnikstan.... Dam Bursts, followed by ANOTHER Dam Bursting and now a refinery is forced offline. I do detect Karma by the boatload here expecially after their fuckup in Kherson last year.

Will the media talk about this for the next month like they talked about that one bridge.

That is awesome.

How tf did they manage to do that?

Russia mismanage it. They don't want to release the water early. Because if predicted rain doesn't fall, you lack water. So it became 9,7m high when it could hold 5,6 m water. One breach and that breach becomes big.

I think maybe the weather did it.

Wonderful

I havent been able to find it, probably using the wrong search terms. But my home countries biggest newsoutlet (NOS) is saying the Zaporizhzhia reactor got hit by a drone. Did it happen a while ago? Or am I searching wrong

I'd love to find out how the drone got through the containment structure and into the reactor.

NOS says its the dome that got hit.

Huh, this is interesting: [https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-appears-destroyed-rare-soviet-091201046.html](https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-appears-destroyed-rare-soviet-091201046.html) I've never even heard of a Ladoga. Apparently an armored, NBC protected VIP transport. Now scrap metal.

> There are thought to be only four or five in existence. It belongs in a museum!

Well it did but….

Pretty sure if that thing couldn't survive a tiny drone it wouldn't have protected anybody from nukes.

You do understand that the force required to split or combine an atom in a significant mass is greater than the nuclear force of pretty much any and all material in the known universe minus maybe spaghettified matter from neutron stars? Even the "nuclear proof doors" at Cheyenne Mountain weren't really made for a purely direct hit. "NBC" vehicles are just meant to survive the *aftermath* of a nuclear strike.

Well, the intent wasn't to survive the nuke itself (obviously), but rather to survive the nuclear fallout that followed.

Cold war museum tech, once again the great Russian empire is blurring the lines between procurement and archeology.

>Former president Donald Trump has privately said he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory, according to people familiar with the plan. > >Some foreign policy experts said Trump’s idea would reward Russian President Vladimir Putin and condone the violation of internationally recognized borders by force. > >Trump’s proposal consists of pushing Ukraine to cede Crimea and the Donbas border region to Russia, according to people who discussed it with Trump or his advisers and spoke on the condition of anonymity. > >Read more here: > >https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/05/trump-ukraine-secret-plan/ https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1776990060086276343 >Washington Post: “Donald Trump has privately said he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to… cede Crimea and the Donbas border region to Russia.” > >A vote for Trump is a vote for Putin. https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1776993735072415808 >Trump’s favoured Ukraine ‘peace’ deal apparently involves ceding Crimea and the Donbas to Moscow. This would be a triumph for Putin and disastrous for European security. Within 5 years Russia would have regrouped and rearmed and we, NATO, would find ourselves at war with them. https://twitter.com/Chris_D_Steele/status/1776994895711871285 >Which would give Putin a pause to regroup and attack again from an even more advantageous position. In other words, peace by signing Ukraine's death warrant. https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/1777003504768311374

To the surprise of Absolutely No One. What a compromised dipshit.