Crosswords2 mins ago
Snake Island
'With Snake Island in Ukrainian hands, the threat to Russia’s Black Sea fleet will go up, the risk of an amphibious assault on Odesa will go down, the chances of the Kremlin smashing Ukraine’s economy is reduced and Putin’s stranglehold over the provision of grain to the world’s poorest regions, and indeed food prices globally, is weakened - as will his economy be when prices settle.
Tactical actions can sometimes have strategic effects. Wars can be won or lost over the smallest details.
Whether that blasted chunk of rock in the Black Sea is one such detail will be revealed, probably sooner than later.'
Telegraph
Some good news at last ?
Tactical actions can sometimes have strategic effects. Wars can be won or lost over the smallest details.
Whether that blasted chunk of rock in the Black Sea is one such detail will be revealed, probably sooner than later.'
Telegraph
Some good news at last ?
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The Russians are saying it is a 'goodwill gesture' ...ahem!
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Thank you Gromit :-). I don’t claim to be an expert on this I can assure you.
Plainly this is no goodwill gesture by Russia. This tiny island has been pounded - its believed chiefly by French Cesar howitzers which have a range of up to 55km (the island is 40km from the coast) by shells, targeted by drones and aerial bombardment for days now.
And Russian relief vessels have been sabotaged for even longer.
The island became even more important when after the sinking of the Moskva the Russian Black Sea fleet retreated from the coast near Odesa. The Russians were going to use it as a missile base to provide air defence for its naval operations. But they were horribly exposed as the island is literally a grassy lump of rock with no cover.
Whether it’ll help ease the blockade unclear. It won’t do any harm.
It’s also not clear what if anything I’d Russia’s long term plan with the grain. Causing a refugee crisis in the west due to famine is one idea but the blockade also assists them in muscling in on extra sales of stolen Ukrainian grain at inflated prices and there’s thought to be a power struggle going on between those who’d like to profiteer from this theft estimated at 800,000 tons so far.
Don’t forget it was Putin who back in the day facilitated the takeover of St Petersburg’s oil port by the Tambov mafia group. They are at heart organised state criminals interested in making a lot of dosh.
Plainly this is no goodwill gesture by Russia. This tiny island has been pounded - its believed chiefly by French Cesar howitzers which have a range of up to 55km (the island is 40km from the coast) by shells, targeted by drones and aerial bombardment for days now.
And Russian relief vessels have been sabotaged for even longer.
The island became even more important when after the sinking of the Moskva the Russian Black Sea fleet retreated from the coast near Odesa. The Russians were going to use it as a missile base to provide air defence for its naval operations. But they were horribly exposed as the island is literally a grassy lump of rock with no cover.
Whether it’ll help ease the blockade unclear. It won’t do any harm.
It’s also not clear what if anything I’d Russia’s long term plan with the grain. Causing a refugee crisis in the west due to famine is one idea but the blockade also assists them in muscling in on extra sales of stolen Ukrainian grain at inflated prices and there’s thought to be a power struggle going on between those who’d like to profiteer from this theft estimated at 800,000 tons so far.
Don’t forget it was Putin who back in the day facilitated the takeover of St Petersburg’s oil port by the Tambov mafia group. They are at heart organised state criminals interested in making a lot of dosh.
They’re unlikely ultimately bomb it. They daren’t fly bombers over Ukraine since they lost seven bombers in which successor over Kyiv some while back. Out of range of artillery which leaves rockets and missiles but I reckon they’re unlikely to try that. Their missiles aren’t that accurate and if they miss they’ll go in the sea, rather than conveniently wipe out a shopping centre or apartment block
//Their missiles aren’t that accurate and if they miss they’ll go in the sea, rather than conveniently wipe out a shopping centre or apartment block/
From what I hear, this is true; all NATO weapons have a 'use by date' & are periodically renewed, but it seems that Russia isn't so meticulous about this, & many of its weapons have been around 'on the shelf' for too long & their propellants for example, have deteriorated, leading to their inaccuracy, which it is believed is why the shopping centre was hit rather than the real intended target.
From what I hear, this is true; all NATO weapons have a 'use by date' & are periodically renewed, but it seems that Russia isn't so meticulous about this, & many of its weapons have been around 'on the shelf' for too long & their propellants for example, have deteriorated, leading to their inaccuracy, which it is believed is why the shopping centre was hit rather than the real intended target.
// their propellants have deteriorated… which why the shopping centre was hit rather than the real intended target. //
Nah. The explosives may chemically go out of date, but hitting a shopping centre is nothing to do with old ingredients. The guidance and targeting systems is what landed a bomb in a shopping mall.
The mall was several miles away from any legitimate target, so it was most likely deliberate. No bombs these days miss by 15 miles, especially those dropped by planes. They are laser guided, and the pilot knows exactly what the target is.
The mall bomb wasn’t an accident, it was deliberate, intended to terrorise the Ukrainian public.
Nah. The explosives may chemically go out of date, but hitting a shopping centre is nothing to do with old ingredients. The guidance and targeting systems is what landed a bomb in a shopping mall.
The mall was several miles away from any legitimate target, so it was most likely deliberate. No bombs these days miss by 15 miles, especially those dropped by planes. They are laser guided, and the pilot knows exactly what the target is.
The mall bomb wasn’t an accident, it was deliberate, intended to terrorise the Ukrainian public.
thought WW2 in Europe would be over by Christmas 1944. People can be knowledgeable and still wrong.
all the men in the POW camps did: my father noted ( diary) of the battle of the Bulge: "The serbians pointed out that this ( German fight back) really could be something"
Serbians in a german POW camp: you never hear of them now
by this time my father had started working with the Russians ( and learning Russian)
all the men in the POW camps did: my father noted ( diary) of the battle of the Bulge: "The serbians pointed out that this ( German fight back) really could be something"
Serbians in a german POW camp: you never hear of them now
by this time my father had started working with the Russians ( and learning Russian)
Snake island is in Ukraine territorial waters and internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. Before Feb 24 it had only a coastguard station.
The key thing now is there’s no longer a Russian missile base on it defending their fleet.
They also lost a helicopter shot down flying in to evacuate survivors, so the area is completely unsafe for them.
On the Kremenchuk attack, one missile did hit a nearby factory but only slightly damaged it.
It’s odd how shopping centres and apartment blocks very close to alleged targets take direct hits. Twice now in Kyiv buildings near the Artem military factory have been hit but miraculously the factory itself has survived intact.
The key thing now is there’s no longer a Russian missile base on it defending their fleet.
They also lost a helicopter shot down flying in to evacuate survivors, so the area is completely unsafe for them.
On the Kremenchuk attack, one missile did hit a nearby factory but only slightly damaged it.
It’s odd how shopping centres and apartment blocks very close to alleged targets take direct hits. Twice now in Kyiv buildings near the Artem military factory have been hit but miraculously the factory itself has survived intact.
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