Russia/Georgia Situation News & Updates

Originally posted by SKUNK2
75% of Russias armed forces are conscripts.......So your saying a conscript is trained better than a career soldier???

The rest of your post is just ridiculous, but i'm not going into that....

These 75% of the Russian armed forces won't be a factor if the fighting breaks out in the Caucasus, and in fact won't even be involved. Russia has special divisions stationed in the Caucasus Military District which have a high level of experience and expertise fighting in the treacherous mountain terrain of the region. Many are battle hardened veterans who have nearly a decade of fighting experience. In fact some divisions have troops who used to fight the Russians in Chechnya and then switched sides - they know the terrain and its advantages and weaknesses better than anyone else in the world.

Superior airforce, large numbers of trained volunteer soldiers, superior armor and other equipment, and extensive training - neither of these will help NATO or anyone else should they have a misfortune of fighting on the Caucasus (not that it will happen).

The key to winning a conflict in the Caucasus, is having small, highly mobile teams of experienced fighters well familiar with the region and terrain. In all recent wars there, it wasn't a large cumbersome well equiped force that pervailed, despite having every imaginable advantage. This is why the well armed and well trained Georgian troops were quickly repelled by several small battalians of Russian special forces rushed from Chechnya.

multiple post

[edit on 2-5-2009 by maloy]

reply to post by SKUNK2


I don't mean to rain on your parade, but most Russians are also extremely nationalistic! So, while they are conscripts, they are also battle hardened and itching to whip NATOs butt.

I'm not rootin' for them mind you, but I've accepted that the Russians are not the punks and pukes in the Republican Guard.

In away, they are a lot Texans and Okies, rough and tumble folk who don't mind, and perhaps even enjoy, a good scrap.

I am watching these events with a very close eye.

Maybe related to this situation, a mutiny happened yesterday in a Georgian military unit.

MoD Says Military Unit Mutinies

Sorry for the short post, I have to go to work.

Originally posted by ArMaP
Maybe related to this situation, a mutiny happened yesterday in a Georgian military unit.

MoD Says Military Unit Mutinies

Sorry for the short post, I have to go to work.

The tie-eating nutter has an approval rating below 10%, it figures that some of the 90% belong to the military. The US and its NATO Pact satellites are using the "exercises" as cover to re-arm the Harvard-indoctrinated lunatic. The 8-8-8 attacks began 24hrs after a similiar NATO Pact exercise, but the US still claims that it had no knowledge of Saakashvili's intent. US meddling and intervention is becoming synonimous with instability and misery. They have to do something about that.

Update: HR2346, which passed the senate, gave 42.5 million $ to Georgia.

www.opencongress.org...

Amendment 1188

To make available from funds appropriated by title XI an additional $42,500,000 for assistance for Georgia.

Disgusting... more money for a dictatorship.

Another Summer in Georgia (WaPo Editorial)
www.washingtonpost.com...

A YEAR AGO, Russian military maneuvers and provocations of the former Soviet republic of Georgia caused a couple of astute observers to predict that Moscow was laying the groundwork for a military invasion of its democratic and pro-Western neighbor. The warnings were laughed off -- until Russian forces poured across Georgia's borders on the night of Aug. 7, routing the Georgian army and driving thousands of ethnic Georgians from two breakaway provinces. Ten months later, with another summer approaching, Russia is once again mounting provocations on the ground and in diplomatic forums; once again it has scheduled a large military training exercise for July in the region bordering Georgia.

con't

Could Vladimir Putin be contemplating another military operation to finish off the Georgian government of Mikheil Saakashvili -- whom Mr. Putin once vowed to "hang by his balls"? Once again, the scenario is easy to dismiss: The Russian leadership, after all, is engaged in an effort to "reset" relations with the United States; it is seeking support in Europe for discussions on a new "security architecture." Another fight with Georgia could blow up both efforts.

GEORGIA: TBILISI BEING FORTIFIED FOR "POSSIBLE" MILITARY STRIKE -- REPORT

Defensive fortifications are being set up around Tbilisi in anticipation of a possible military strike on the Georgian capital, according to a Georgian media report.

Rezonansi, an opposition-minded daily, claimed that in addition to Tbilisi, fortifications are being built near the administrative border with the breakaway region of Abkhazia, where Russia has troops stationed. Defense Ministry officials were not available to confirm or to deny the June 4 report.

In interviews with the paper, independent military experts stated that defense measures are being taken to protect Tbilisi. "This step is correct and logical because occupying troops are stationed just a few kilometers away from the capital [in the breakaway region of South Ossetia - ed] and its is clear that, in such conditions, this country should make sure it tightens security measures," expert Irakli Sesiashvili was quoted as saying.

Another analyst, Mamuka Areshidze, director of the Caucasus Strategic Studies Center, said that security zones have been set up around Tbilisi to stall any potential Russian offensive. "I do not expect an attack right now, but threats persist and we should be prepared in an appropriate manner," Areshidze said.

[edit on 6/5/09 by aecreate]

A YEAR AGO, Russian military maneuvers and provocations of the former Soviet republic of Georgia caused a couple of astute observers to predict that Moscow was laying the groundwork for a military invasion of its democratic and pro-Western neighbor.

That is a TOTAL LIE. Who the hell started the provocations, maneuvers and the war? GEORGIA.

But eh, I don't expect truth from the Washington Post...

IF the fortifications reports are true, me thinks Georgia will try to take back it's 2 provinces... And if it happens, I suggest those people to flee to Russia otherwise they will be mass murdered.

This situation could be very very very very dangerous. Last time, Russia deployed tactical nukes at the Russian-Georgian border and would use them, as it is stated in their doctrine, if high tech NATO weapons would have been used.

I still think it's BS anyway. Nothing will happen unless Georgia starts a fight like last time and IMO it's unlikely with Georgia's inside politics. And I don't want it to happen because it would be a step towards WW3.

Thanks for the news report.

[edit on 5-6-2009 by Vitchilo]

No amount of fortification would stop Russia from invading and occupying Tbilisi if it wanted too . But this is just coming from the same kind of lying georgian sources that told the world that Russia were the instigators of the war back in august last year . If they are building such fortification , it is more likely they fear some internal situation may develop where the town may need protection , maybe another more serious fracture within georgia's own army again .

Who wrote that rubbish in the washington post ? , no wonder they didn't leave a name to have the finger of ridicule pointed at .

Georgia Fully Rearmed After 2008 War, Says Top Russian General

MOSCOW (AP)–Russia’s top general said Georgia had fully rearmed its military after last year’s war with Russia, news agencies reported Friday.

The comments by Gen. Nikolai Makarov were the latest in a series of increasingly belligerent accusations between Moscow and Tbilisi, leading some analysts to warn that the two sides could be gearing up for a new fight.

Makarov, chief of the Russian military’s general staff, was quoted by ITAR-Tass and Interfax as saying that Georgia now has more weaponry than it did before the August war.

Another hot summer...

Russian NATO envoy says Georgia continues militarization

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) -- Georgia is continuing to militarize even though it clearly has not ruled out using force in regard to its former republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia’s NATO envoy said on Friday.

“We have all the necessary information, including classified, about those who continue to deliver weapons to Georgia and at what volumes,” Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio station. “This information is dispiriting.”

Although he did not identify the countries involved he said that Russia is making bilateral contact to tell them that Moscow knew of the weapons deliveries.

I wonder who it is...

More news... this time from a serious position in the Russian military

Russian Military Chief Accuses Georgia of Preparing Aggression

The top Russian military commander, the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Army-General Nikolai Makarov during the Paris air show this week said: "Georgia is saber-rattling and preparing weapons to resolve its territorial problems by any means." Makarov accused NATO of supporting Georgian aggressive intentions and E.U. observers of ignoring Georgian rearmament and war preparations. Makarov stated that the Russian army and the FSB Border Guards in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are preparing together with local forces and forming new military infrastructure. He confirmed that the defense ministry will permanently station "somewhat less combat troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia" than the previously announced 3,700 soldiers in each region (RIA Novosti, June 17).

If Moscow were indeed anticipating a possible new Georgian attack, it would have been logical to place forces in forward positions to prevent a sudden assault. But if Russia itself is preparing major military action, using the accusations of Georgian aggression as a pretext, it makes practical sense not to spend resources creating large permanent military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It is much more expedient when the time for action arrives to move combat troops from permanent bases within Russia.

This month the Russian military will stage massive exercises in the North Caucasus, "Kavkaz-2009." According to the defense ministry's official spokesman Colonel Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy the exercises will involve 8,500 soldiers, 200 tanks, 450 armored combat vehicles and 250 guns and last from June 29 to July 6. General Makarov will be directly in command. The official aim of "Kavkaz-2009" is to prepare to counter terrorists (www.mil.ru, June 11). Makarov previously told the press that "Kavkaz-2009" will be held from June 29 to July 10, and that it will be "a large-scale exercise," involving "all the brigades of the North Caucasia military district, the Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla marines brigades," as well as troops from other districts (RIA Novosti, June 5). This would seem to indicate that much more than 8,500 men will be involved. It is also unprecedented in Russian military tradition for the Chief of the General Staff to be directly in command of a routine regional exercise aimed at countering terrorism.

reply to post by aecreate


Has the US supplied Georgia with armor? Because i find it hard to believe that Georgians could have aquired a regiments MBT:s from any other source than US, to replace those that their crews surrendered to Russians. Without firing a shot...

[edit on 19-6-2009 by northwolf]

Originally posted by traderjack
I don't mean to rain on your parade, but most Russians are also extremely nationalistic! So, while they are conscripts, they are also battle hardened and itching to whip NATOs butt.

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but the Russian armed forces are riddled with bullying and low morale. Conscript armies are just not an equal to a professional army and the problems the Soviets had in Afghanistan and Chechnya and the US in Vietnam highlight this fact.

Conscript armies = canon fodder. Don't delude yourself that there is any other outcome.

That said, I believe the Russians are reducing conscription which may be a fore-runner to an eventual move to a fully professional military.

Regards

reply to post by paraphi


Majority of the Russian frontline forces are converting into fully professional units. Border troops are allready professionals as are the airbourne troops of the 76th division and Marine Brigade in Kola. Probably several regiments are now 90% professional (Fighting components, conscripts are only serving on home bases)

UPDATE: US destroyer to join maneuvers in Georgia

As Washington continues to maintain its presence in the Caucasus, the US Navy is to send its USS Stout (DDG-55) into joint maneuvers with the Georgian armada.

According to RIA Novosti, the guided-missile destroyer is to berth at the port of Batumi in southwestern Georgia tomorrow for exercises which test joint cooperation against unpredicted complexities at sea.

The warship will then depart for Georgia's western port of Poti.

Similar US moves have trailed Georgia's August 2008 invasion of its independence-seeking republic of South Ossetia. The attacks were responded by the Russian army.

I really think we shouldn't be provoking Russia like this. It's going too far.

Let's see where Saakashvili's provocations will end up this time.


Saakashvili promised peace to the South Ossetians, next day, he fired Grad rockets at their houses. Why? Because the South Ossetians and Abkhazians, like the Kurds in relation to Saddam's Iraq, do not accept Saakashvili and Georgian rule over them.


Saakashvili is a nasty, pathetic little nationalistic grandstanding dwarf, who last year waged a war of a aggression on people who wanted to live free from Georgian rule.


He knew Russia would not tolerate this, not with Russian peacekeepers there, indeed Russian peacekeepers were killed by Georgian fire before Russian forces began to arrive from North Ossetia.


Saakashvili last year, by his actions, thought he was safe.


Why?



Because he seriously believed NATO would come to his aid if Russia came to South Ossetia and Abkhazia's aid, that is why he had the gall to launch his war in the first place!



Saakashvili is a dangerous man, a power-mad warmonger and a chauvanistic thug. He is a s*** stirrer alright, and NATO should cut off all dealings with him instead of supporting him covertly and giving him ideas.



Saakashvili can stir it up again if he wants, but in Putin and Medvedev, equally known for their ruthlessness towards opponents, he is messing with the wrong people.


Let Saakashvili dig his own grave, NATO needs to back off.


It's the Georgian people I feel sorry for.






[edit on 14-7-2009 by Regensturm]

[edit on 14-7-2009 by Regensturm]

They are crazy... both of them...

Russia test launches second Sineva ballistic missile in two days

Russia has test-launched a second Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine, the chief of the General Staff said on Tuesday.

The first launch was conducted on Monday from a Delta IV class strategic nuclear-powered submarine of Russia's Northern Fleet.

Army Gen. Nikolai Makarov also said that a Bulava SLBM would be launched in the near future.

"Just you wait a little, and it will be launched," he said.

The RSM-54 Sineva (NATO codename SS-N-23 Skiff) is a third-generation liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile that entered service with the Russian Navy in July 2007. It can carry four to 10 nuclear warheads, depending on the modification.

U.S. ship, Russia jets set for rival war games

Both countries display military might near Russia's southern border

BATUMI, Georgia - A week after a Moscow summit intended to smooth over the differences between Russia and the U.S., both countries on Tuesday engaged in displays of military might near Russia's southern border.

A U.S. warship anchored off the Black Sea coast of Georgia in preparation for joint naval maneuvers with the ex-Soviet nation, which was trounced in a war with Russia last August. Russian warplanes, meanwhile, conducted mock bombing runs in exercises just a few hundred kilometers northwest.

The maneuvers and countermaneuvers marked a stark change from July 6-7, when U.S. President Barack Obama dined in the Kremlin with Russia's Dmitry Medvedev and both countries expressed hope for repairing relations that in recent years have sunk to a post-Cold War low.

This is really dangerous.