Jimmy_D

Really? I’m sure you’ll be able to quote some examples of that then.

Nice strawman you’ve got there. No one’s suggested they’re running on empty or that they’re completely cut off from all supplies. Everyone is painfully aware that they’re very capable of terrorising civilians and capable of throwing numbers at Ukraine’s defence to gain some Pyrrhic victories. They are, however, taking unsustainable losses doing so. Some parts of their war machine are severely degraded now. They’re losing thousands of troops every week, having had to deploy more than 95% of their forces just to hold the front line essentially where it is. The Black Sea Fleet is essentially confined to port. Aviation losses have ticked up significantly in the past few weeks. There’s been a noticeable change in the ratio of Russia’s losses between tanks and IFVs, suggesting they’re starting to run out of tanks to drag out of storage and upgrade, as that’s where the majority of their claimed tank production has come from. In the past two months, around 40% of their oil production has been halted, likely for a minimum of 18 months. Probably longer, considering the number of different refineries that will require the same parts and Western sanctions making it extremely difficult to obtain those parts. Still, I’m sure you’re extremely informed and can tell us all how well it’s actually going for Russia.

No, the US warned Russia about this specific threat under the duty to warn protocol.

At the very least Russia knew about it. The US gave them intel about it, then made it public. A few days ago Putin was calling that Western propaganda. The question given that at the very least is whether it happened because Russia couldn’t stop it, or wouldn’t. Given Putin’s track record, I’m certainly not going to dismiss the possibility Russia has some culpability. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Russian_apartment_bombings

A lot of signs are pointing towards some sort of further mass mobilisation in Russia, on the back of some of the most visible election protests ever seen in Russia. Whether or not Russia were behind it, or could have stopped it and didn’t, trying to blame Ukraine will act as a rallying point for some if that mass mobilisation happens, and as a chilling effect for others, able to be used as a reason to crack down on protests and resistance to that mobilisation as unpatriotic. How successful that might be for Russia remains to be seen. It’s certainly not gaining much (if any) traction outside of Russia, inside as ever is extremely difficult to gauge.

It’s possible Russia are either actually behind this, or allowed it to happen despite being warned it was coming. Their response, to try and put it on Ukraine, suggests they’re at the very least trying to use it for domestic propaganda now. That’s getting very little traction outside of Russia at least, and actually just seems to be highlighting the people that are trying to push that narrative as likely on Russia’s payroll or off the deep end due to how ridiculous that is. Inside Russia it doesn’t seem to be entirely successful either, at least some are questioning why the US has better intel in Russia than Russia does.

They wouldn’t need to do much to turn it into a Ron Perlman statute.

No exaggeration to think he and the rest of the crew saved many more lives than just that flight that day. The understanding of the danger that’s posed by volcanic ash that came from being able to forensically investigate the intact plane and engines completely changed how airlines deal with it.

This is all about the flight in question, including interviews with him.

Very sad news How he dealt with losing all four engines of the plane he was flying will always be legendary. RIP

Incredibly strong position taken by Macron today, making it clear that sending in troops is an option that’s on the table and not considered a red line for France.

An Il76 crashed earlier near Moscow, apparently due to a bird strike. Unconfirmed Russian reports it was carrying a crew to one of the A50s they still have.

Significant Ukrainian counterattacks today. Widespread drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, and there are reports that (likely Ukraine backed) Russian separatists have occupied/liberated large parts of Bilhorod and Kursk in Russia.

Another A50 apparently destroyed by Ukraine, on the ground this time by long range drone strikes.

Automatics now just about technically back in our own hands, albeit it needs wins away against Ipswich, Leeds and Leicester, as well as a hefty (but not impossible) swing in goal difference with Leeds to take it out of their hands. EDIT: As NewYorkSaint had already pointed out above.

Great set of results today!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68506223 Excellent news for NATO, that’s an extremely capable military that’s just joined the alliance.

Should find out tomorrow whether it’s going ahead. Have to think they’ll make it as early in the day as possible for the sake of the Sunderland fans travelling down the day before.

Not that one!

Would depend on whether there’s toxic residue on everything in the stadium from having smoke going across it for hours.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24170078.southampton-confirm-no-fire-damage-st-marys-stadium/?ref=rss No fire damage to St Mary’s confirmed, still checking for smoke damage, and Saturday’s game still not confirmed to be going ahead.

Probably not worth it, just got a bad feeling that we’re just not going to turn up tonight…

The Sergei Kotov is one that Ukraine have been after for a while, it’s been able to survive a couple of previous attacks. Apparently it’s been used as part of what Russia have assigned to try and protect Kerch Bridge.

Russia's A-50 fleet reportedly grounded due to needing time to figure out how to prevent them being shot down. (Probably they're still trying to figure out how they were shot down.) With the loss of AEW&C capability and at least 14 aircraft reported downed in the last two weeks, seems there have been long stretches of a few hours with no Russian aircraft seen in Eastern Ukraine at all.

Football. Bloody hell.