Simplicius the Thinker has an interesting article today, covering a variety of topics. In particular he offers some perspective on the topic of siege warfare, to explain why Russian progress in Ukraine seems so slow. In fact, by historical standards—including standards for the last, say, thirty years—their progress has been fairly rapid. We’ll get into that below, but first I want to briefly point out a sanctions related story that Simplicius also discusses. I’ve seen this information referenced in a number of Western media sources during the past few weeks, but the easiest way to deal with it is to simply paste in the Tass story that Simplicius links to:
Patience isn't something we in the West do these days. Why should the Russians rush things when their current tactics are achieving a key aim of the SMO to perfection: wearing down and destroying the Ukrainian armed forces?
1) How do you lose $222B? I don't think that happens by accident. Who got that money? And we think the Ukrainians are corrupt :)
2) The Daily Mail piece linked by Simplicus is a breath of fresh air in a western world where we now can assume that the media is government controlled. True the Daily Mail is considered a tabloid and often considered to be to the right but this reporting should raise public anger in the UK that the Russian public is living so much better than the English - entirely due to the actions of UK leaders both elected and unelected.
3) Also as referenced in the Simplicus post, the promotion and propagation of the Nordstream blame nonsense is obviously purposeful albeit incredibly stupid, arrogant, and condescending. Could its purpose be a justification for shutting down western support of Ukraine? The Poles will not be happy.
3). That's what I thought too, Sir Diss. Blaming a rogue Ukrainian outfit for the NS attack would certainly prove a viable off ramp for the US. They can claim that they thought they were helping a fellow democracy in good faith and didn't realise how corrupt and underhand they were.
I fail to understand why Putin would want to accelerate progress I can see advantages in keeping up the siege indefinitely. No negotiations means no pull-back, no need to justify his operation to the world, a continual drain on our resources and most of all we are stuck with no resolution in sight. As for the sanctions they seem to be succeeding marvelously in Putin's favor.
So basically the West has stolen 300bn in largely 'funny' money from the Russians and the Russians have responded by repaying the favor by steeling actual real hard assets.....
I know which side I think has had the better deal....
This was designed by China to hurt this US, and our Manchurian Candidate Biden is just following orders. I wonder how much longer Biden will enjoy the presumption of incompetence rather than malevolence from the American public, once they realize exactly how bad this "war" has turned out for us. That point is completely aside from the nuclear potential, and I increasingly think the war is going to further expand. Ukrainian figures of military personnel losses is around 260,000 DEAD. More have been wounded and captured. Who is going to provide the next batch of 'cannon fodder', the US or Europe (or both?) Unless this war starts being negotiated over, it's going to increase. The war is another way Biden can stay in power (and divert attention to domestic catastrophes such as the 'vaccine' and the newly discovered MASSIVE censorship now being litigated in Missouri), and indeed INCREASE his power. Possibly they'll extend the 'emergency' until 2024 election if they sense that that would be advantageous
Blinded by the truth blight, deafened yes - and dumbed as well - by the propaganda blasts, they walk in darkness and don't know it. May the Lord have mercy on us, on our nation, and even on the world!
I think, as Mark and the others point out, it's because the Ukies had 8 years to build up a massive level of in-depth defences. Also, why bother expediting matters when an idiot like Zelensky is happy to funnel large numbers of his soldiers into the cauldron?
Engaging closely fixes the enemy in place and prevents easy retreat. Surrounding is not "simple" to accomplish because the Russians need to break through additional fortified locations to do that. For example, while the main goal has always been Bakhmut, they were forced to deal with Soledar to protect their flanks while moving to surround Bakhmut. Further, the Ukrainians aren't isolated in Bakhmut, they have strong hilltop positions outside the city. It's been a twofold process.
Patience isn't something we in the West do these days. Why should the Russians rush things when their current tactics are achieving a key aim of the SMO to perfection: wearing down and destroying the Ukrainian armed forces?
1) How do you lose $222B? I don't think that happens by accident. Who got that money? And we think the Ukrainians are corrupt :)
2) The Daily Mail piece linked by Simplicus is a breath of fresh air in a western world where we now can assume that the media is government controlled. True the Daily Mail is considered a tabloid and often considered to be to the right but this reporting should raise public anger in the UK that the Russian public is living so much better than the English - entirely due to the actions of UK leaders both elected and unelected.
3) Also as referenced in the Simplicus post, the promotion and propagation of the Nordstream blame nonsense is obviously purposeful albeit incredibly stupid, arrogant, and condescending. Could its purpose be a justification for shutting down western support of Ukraine? The Poles will not be happy.
https://celiafarber.substack.com/p/the-ukraine-off-ramp-germanwestern?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
3). That's what I thought too, Sir Diss. Blaming a rogue Ukrainian outfit for the NS attack would certainly prove a viable off ramp for the US. They can claim that they thought they were helping a fellow democracy in good faith and didn't realise how corrupt and underhand they were.
Yeah, Steghorn21, but I do think it is a much stronger offramp for the Germans (the aggrieved party) than it is for the U.S.
That's correct. But would the German investigators and the government that pays them have the stones to use it? We shall see.
I fail to understand why Putin would want to accelerate progress I can see advantages in keeping up the siege indefinitely. No negotiations means no pull-back, no need to justify his operation to the world, a continual drain on our resources and most of all we are stuck with no resolution in sight. As for the sanctions they seem to be succeeding marvelously in Putin's favor.
Armies eventually have to move or their efficiency degrades rapidly.
Peacetime armies train, but the best training is actual combat. I assume Russia's armies are mobile and maneuvering.
Of the missing money. Ten percent for the Big Guy?
Mark, didn’t Soledar and Bakhmut both have huge underground tunnel systems? If you take those into account it’s been a relatively quick operation.
I believe some of those tunnel systems linked up, too.
So basically the West has stolen 300bn in largely 'funny' money from the Russians and the Russians have responded by repaying the favor by steeling actual real hard assets.....
I know which side I think has had the better deal....
This was designed by China to hurt this US, and our Manchurian Candidate Biden is just following orders. I wonder how much longer Biden will enjoy the presumption of incompetence rather than malevolence from the American public, once they realize exactly how bad this "war" has turned out for us. That point is completely aside from the nuclear potential, and I increasingly think the war is going to further expand. Ukrainian figures of military personnel losses is around 260,000 DEAD. More have been wounded and captured. Who is going to provide the next batch of 'cannon fodder', the US or Europe (or both?) Unless this war starts being negotiated over, it's going to increase. The war is another way Biden can stay in power (and divert attention to domestic catastrophes such as the 'vaccine' and the newly discovered MASSIVE censorship now being litigated in Missouri), and indeed INCREASE his power. Possibly they'll extend the 'emergency' until 2024 election if they sense that that would be advantageous
You assume the American public is aware of anything? Deaf dumb and blind is closer to the truth.
Blinded by the truth blight, deafened yes - and dumbed as well - by the propaganda blasts, they walk in darkness and don't know it. May the Lord have mercy on us, on our nation, and even on the world!
Plus it possibly keeps American minds off the toxic mess in Ohio. I see the west loosing all the way round.
I think, as Mark and the others point out, it's because the Ukies had 8 years to build up a massive level of in-depth defences. Also, why bother expediting matters when an idiot like Zelensky is happy to funnel large numbers of his soldiers into the cauldron?
Engaging closely fixes the enemy in place and prevents easy retreat. Surrounding is not "simple" to accomplish because the Russians need to break through additional fortified locations to do that. For example, while the main goal has always been Bakhmut, they were forced to deal with Soledar to protect their flanks while moving to surround Bakhmut. Further, the Ukrainians aren't isolated in Bakhmut, they have strong hilltop positions outside the city. It's been a twofold process.
I suspect that those devilish Russians managed to get their assets out in time.
Exactly.