Russia Ukraine Update Thread - part 3

a reply to: Freeborn

"Duck and cover"?

A lot of headlines continue even on regular news channels

About the drift between current Ukrainian President Zelensky, and his most senior military commander, Valerii “Iron General” Zaluzhny.

The open rifts between them, results in one about Zaluzhny pointing fingers at Bahkmut (which Zelensky kept vowing to defend at all costs) and losing valuable men, time and resources.

And having it affecting the upcoming Ukrainian summer offensive (which was concerning from the get go. And failed)

Alas, you had some people in complete denial, pouting around with hands over ears that “Bakhmut iz just useless piece of land” etc.


Zelensky set to announce dismissal of Ukraine’s top commander within days as rift grows over war, source says

Kyiv, Ukraine
CNN
—
Ukraine’s popular army chief Valery Zaluzhny was called to a meeting at the president’s office on Monday and told he was being fired, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, following weeks of growing speculation over tensions between Volodymyr Zelensky and his top commander.

A formal announcement has not been made, meaning Zaluzhny was still in post as of Wednesday evening, however, a presidential decree is expected by the end of the week, one of the sources told CNN, in what would be the biggest military shakeup by Zelensky since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion almost two years ago.

amp.cnn.com...

We’ll see what transpires from it coming up, but a lot of news is going on about them lately.

a reply to: Imhere

So how is Putin getting on with his Generals?

How's his Navy doing?

I don't know how they fix this entire situation. I'm all for the Ukraine to defend itself against Putin's invasion. However, I don't want to pay for it. In blood, or money as an American citizen. In fact, I have had my fill of being some kind of world police force. Let the UN handle it, or disband it as a useless organization.

a reply to: Imhere

I see that you aren't banging on about Russian Generals who have been fired for criticism of the wa.... I mean "Special Military Disaster"?

Like General Ivan Popov;


www.theguardian.com...

originally posted by: Kenzo
a reply to: Arbitrageur

The recent drone attacks to Russian oil refineries seems work :

Russia cuts gasoline, diesel exports to offset refinery outages

That's going to make an already badly suffering Russian economy even worse. More income lost means even more Russians freezing when Russia can't afford to maintain their heating infrastructure.

Also, one argument I've heard for the refinery shutdowns which happened in Q4 of 2023 even before the refinery attacks, is that those facilities needed maintenance and were built with technology and help from the west, and now that Russia is somewhat isolated from help from the west, they are having difficulty keeping those facilities running on their own without a supply of spare parts, and know-how.

This shutdown happened in September 2023 when there were no refinery attacks, presumably because Russia was already having trouble keeping the refineries going:
Russia's indefinite ban on diesel exports threatens to aggravate a global shortage

This is an analysis of that situation made the following month, October 2023:
Russia’s Fuel Export Ban Reveals Systemic Problems, Wartime Stresses

repairs at several oil refineries took longer than anticipated, likely as a result of Western sanctions making it difficult to obtain spare parts and consumables.

More news about the drift between current president Zelensky and his top general.


One potential replacement for the “Iron General” is Budanov.

Budanov, appears to align more with Zelensky's vision for pointless PR stunts over militarily sound decisions.

This includes planning multiple failed landings at Energodar and Zmeiny Island.

Sending marines to die in the hundreds for no reason at Krynki. And also Zelensky's order to hold Bakhmut at all costs which hampered the summer offensive.


While the Iron General Zaluzhny recently remarked how the war was at a stalemate and prioritized saving the lives of his men over failed offensives like the one this past summer.

It’s also noted that UA personnel respected him for saying it.

By contrast, Budanov will be more despised by UA personnel for sending them to die for PR stunts for Zelensky and co.

Potential replacements for Zaluzhny aren't anywhere near as popular as the "Iron General."

One potential replacement option is Ukraine's head of military intelligence, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov. His experience is largely in asymmetric warfare and special forces. Bringing him in as a replacement could signal a prioritization of Ukraine's drone tactics, which have played a significant role in the war and highlighted Ukraine's ability to strike Russia in a scrappy-but-effective way.

www.businessinsider.com...

My thoughts are Zelensky is probably not going to replace Zaluzhny. But we’ll see. As it would be the epitome of clown world replacing Zaluzhny with Budanov.

You can tell that Budanov strategy revolves around a theory that splashy, high profile attacks will undermine enemy morale.

a reply to: Imhere

I don’t know dude, seems on face value it’d be a mistake to get rid of him considering his apparent popularity. But then again, you don’t know what’s going on behind the scene. The west could be pressuring Zelenskyy to shake things up after the failed 2023 counter offensive… s# flows down hill and all that.

From Zelenskyys point of view having the full support of the west is far more important than what general is in charge. They need to just hold on and secure enough aid to keep the lights on long enough to bleed the Russian economy dry… it’s the only way they’re going to win this war.

a reply to: Arbitrageur


I did not know they had problems also earlyer , yes it seems the Western technology is still important to them for refineries .

There is so many dark clouds coming there, yet they just push forward this Z operation .....to bitter end i guess .

UPDATE: #Russia's naval losses in the Black Sea as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian war as of 31/JAN




4-6 ships destroyed/damaged per year with this speed....

1 February Update

Ukrainian forces successfully struck and sunk a Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) vessel in the Black Sea near occupied Crimea on the night of January 31 to February 1. The Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) published footage on February 1 showing Ukrainian maritime drones striking the Ivanovets Tarantul-class corvette (41st Missile Boat Brigade) near Lake Donuzlav in occupied Crimea.

The European Union (EU) unanimously approved a financial support package for Ukraine for 2024 – 2027. European Council President Charles Michel announced on February 1 that all 27 EU member states approved a support package for Ukraine worth 50 billion euros ...

Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Kupyansk, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City amid continued positional engagements along the entire line of contact on February 1.

Turkish banks have reportedly started closing Russian companies’ accounts due to the threat of US secondary sanctions.

More at URL above.

Cheers

originally posted by: gortex

originally posted by: Freeborn
a reply to: Maybenexttime

Why is the US sending 'nukes' to the UK?
What purpose?

Remember in the 80s during the Cold War we were America's biggest aircraft carrier ?

US Nukes are being sent here.

Yanks doing similar in Australia too. Preparing to take out China at the same time..................

"US military stockpiling supplies in Australia in readiness for any confrontation with China" www.theguardian.com...

a reply to: Imhere

"You can tell that Budanov strategy revolves around a theory that splashy, high profile attacks will undermine enemy morale."

That can work in war.

The Dambusters in WW2, the UKs Vulcan raid on the Falklands?

The former was certainly"splashy".

originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: Imhere

"You can tell that Budanov strategy revolves around a theory that splashy, high profile attacks will undermine enemy morale."

That can work in war.

The Dambusters in WW2, the UKs Vulcan raid on the Falklands?

The former was certainly"splashy".

Not following how WW2 UK raids are compared to this current particular topic where it’s referring to Ukraine sending out multiple ill advised failed raids with 100s getting wiped like in the south to gain nothing else but some PR points.

Establish a tiny foothold with pathetic gear and where it’s known to be zeroed in and completely eliminated shortly after.

You can say some of those failed boat raids objectives were to locate launches from the Russian side, however some of the trade offs didn’t have much effect in return.

Anyway, in this topic it’s clearly discussing on the drift between Zelensky and his top general Zaluzhny on Bahkmut and the unsuccessful summer Ukrainian offensive etc.

a reply to: Imhere

The Falklands war was not part of WW2.

You raised the issue of tactics.

The title of the thread is pretty general.

originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: Imhere

The Falklands war was not part of WW2.

You raised the issue of tactics.

The title of the thread is pretty general.

The topic in the links are clearly related to the drift between Zelensky and his top general. And the differences between General Zaluzhny and his potential replacement Budanov.

You’re comparing UK’s WW2 raids and Falkland, to Ukraines failed raids.

You can try to put a bandaid on the topic regarding the drift between Zelensky and his top general. But multiple sources are talking about this recently. I even said, I don’t think General Zaluzhny will be let go. And looking at the potential replacement it wouldn’t be the favorable move. And according the popularity polls in favor of Zaluzhny.

More on the latest Russian ship loss.

In the course of special (active) measures in the period from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, the department planned and carried out the destruction of" the Ivanovets "on the raid of Lake Donuzlav,” Budanov told us. “During the destruction of the specified ship, six direct hits by naval drones were made to the hull of the ship. As a result of the damage, the ship rolled astern and sank. According to preliminary data, the search and rescue operation conducted by the enemy was not successful.

The Ivanovets goes down:

www.twz.com...

Cheers

a reply to: Imhere

I responded to your post, the part that I directly quoted.

You don't get to tell me what I can and can't post.

"Band aid"?!!!

I note you have nothing to say about Putin's much larger problems with his own military, like an actual real major armed insurrection.

As has been pointed out to you, history is full of political leaders who have fallen out with and replaced their generals.

This is just a convenient stick for you to use to beat Zelensky with.

Your propaganda is transparent, as are your double standards.

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

youtu.be...

Achtung! Achtung!

Attention, Germany! Russian propagandists threaten to attack Berlin.