Keep them tractors busy.

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

NEW

Posted at 20:4820:48

Mariupol authorities: Russian shelling making evacuation impossible

The Mariupol City Council, which announced a ceasefire and fresh evacuation attempt this morning, has now confirmed that the plans have been aborted.

It says Russian shelling has made the safe evacuation of civilians impossible.

The city is now in its fifth day with no water, no power, no sanitation, and food and water are fast running out.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60635927

 

There's also a harrowing video in those live updates of civilians, women and children trying to flee while being shelled.

Yeah just saw those videos.

Can't imagine what it must be like to flee under such circumstances.

Two days where the ceasefire has been broken, so it's not easy for civilians to get away ???? 

One encouraging video is the interview with the young couple where they say we shouldn't fear Putin.

Hopefully good will win as he say.

10 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

I thought the Russians were using the road system and not travelling cross country?

 

You don't think that could change fast, if they see an opportunity to use both?

Weather report is not in favor of Ukraine.

Cold front moving in from Siberia could mean the various landscapes freeze over, so Russia can progress faster on land if they choose to deploy more material.

Interesting article.

Russians air force has been shockingly ineffective so far.

Thankfully...

Maybe they are not as well trained as we thought they were?

Let's hope so.

https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-defence-systems/russian-air-force-actually-incapable-complex-air-operations

3 hours ago, Berkshire said:

As an American who wants to avoid war at all cost....I almost want the US to test this statement.  So US fighters shoot down a few MiGs.  What are you going to do about it Mr. Putin?  Seriously, your move. 

I guess you are located far from Europe with a post liked that...

They might have the next best solution on it's way.

Apparently talking about that Poland can give their MiGs to Ukraine and then US give Poland F-16s in exchange.

If it happens it will for sure be an escalation, but not as big as NATO flying the jets in Ukraine.4

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

The problem as I see it is your posts are all western reports. 

 

I think the resent outburst by the Ukrainian Presendent is an indication of what's really going on. 

Seen from a communicating perspective the Ukrainian president is doing a great job.

He seems honest, shows feelings and emotions and he stands by the side of his fellow Ukrainians and are not fleeing the scene.

He touches the feelings in any sane person.

Putin on the other hand seems like a catastrophy.

Ridiculing his own ministers on national TV, denying it's a war, saying Russia are not bombing Kyiv etc.

Before this is over Putin could find himself removed from his post as president or lying in a pool of blood.

Could...

I hope the Intel is correct, and that the Russian FSB were actually the ones leaking the Intel to Ukraine about mercenaries trying to kill the Ukrainian president.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/zelensky-survives-three-assassination-attempts-in-days-xnstdfdfc

If so Putin are having huge internal issues and those could lead to his demise.

The best outcome would be if the Russians removed him, before he does anything more crazy.

Thailands vote to condemn Russia is nice but followed up by joining the sanctions and shipping weapons to Ukraine would be nicer.

The general could start his day by going through the inventory and see what he can spare......

What could be cause these 2 blasts?

The second one sure as hell lit up the sky.

Hopefully they haven't started using the vacuum fuel bombs near Kyiv.

I understand the need to help others and here in Denmark several people are heading to Ukraine to help, but they risk end up dead or as captives in Russian prisons.

So they better think twice before heading to Ukraine.

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

If Russia takes 2 weeks to encircle Kiev, so what?

 

I am amazed at the number of military analysts who assumed that the Russians would try to drive tanks into Kyiv on the first day. Anyone competent would encircle Kyiv and then starve the city into submission.

 

Otherwise, many thousands would die.

 

 

The large column near Kyiv could be used to such tactic, but thankfully it seems like it has stopped temporally due to its own problems with supplies.

That was the news this night, but can change quickly.

What i fear is such tactic would be accompanied with shelling the city itself while it's surrounded, which could mean a lot of dead civilians.

The Ukrainian forces know they are coming and so far haven't tried to hit that convoy, so i hope they have some plans when it get closer.

Hopefully new peace talks will end this soon.

I know Ukraine are saying they refuse to surrender or give up territory, but maybe Putin would accept if Crimea officially is announced Russian territory and if Ukraine agrees not to join NATO as long as Russian troops stay out of Ukraine and there is a demilitarized zone near the borders on each side, that can't be used by armed forces?

I'm just a dumb civilian with no military training, but something has to be done to stop this.

9 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Russia has been accused of using 'vacuum bombs' in Ukraine. What are those?

 

"Russian forces have been accused of using the widely banned and dangerous weapons known as vacuum bombs that "obliterate" their victims. 

 

Amnesty International accused Russia of using the vacuum bombs, or thermobaric weapons, to attack a preschool in northeastern Ukraine while civilians took shelter inside. While CNN reported that one of its teams had spotted a Russian thermobaric multiple rocket launcher near the Ukrainian border early on Saturday afternoon.

 

Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, told reporters after meeting with members of the U.S. Congress on Monday that Russia had used a thermobaric weapon. The thermobaric weapon, also known as a fuel-air explosive... is fired or dropped in an area and the first explosive charge spreads the fuel in a cloud that sucks up oxygen and then flows "around objects and into structures." As the fuel cloud spreads, the second charge detonates it. Once detonated, it creates a "massive blast wave" that is most destructive in enclosed spaces, buildings and foxholes. 

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-has-been-accused-of-using-vacuum-bombs-in-ukraine-what-are-those/ar-AAUsS0G?li=BBorjTa&ocid

 

If they use those in the cities they have no control if it's soldiers or civilians they are killing.

Some of those bombs have quite a large kill radius, and it could be considered a warcrime to use such weapons in populated cities with civilians.

44 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

I just read that fighter jet donations to Ukraine will be stationed in Poland and be able to fly missions from there, hope that is the case!

I think something got lost in translation, or some Ukrainians posted a tweet to fast.

I can't imagine Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia will give away most of their MIGs.

Has it been confirmed by those 3 countries that they will support Ukraine with fighters jets?

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Putin was told point blank that if he invades Ukraine he would face sanctions, he lied through his teeth saying he would not invade and now he has invade he’s discover Western nations were not lying when they said he would face sanctions.

 

Putin painted himself into the corner, the Russian economy is responding accordingly.

Danish Maersk also suspends new shippings to and from Russia except food, medical and humanitarian supplies.

Hopefully that too will cause some issues for Russia, since Maersk are the second largest shipping company in the world.

https://www.thelocal.dk/20220301/danish-shipping-giant-maersk-to-stop-deliveries-to-russian-ports/

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

I've just watched the latest update on BBC news, that convoy is 40 miles long not 40 km and it is now just 30 km from Kyiv. Its early morning there currently. Lets hope something can be done before it reaches there! 

Russia might not have such a large convoy without massive support from helicopters and fighter jets, so maybe it's not an easy task to attack it.

I just hope things are solved before the convoy reach their goal or else both sides have to order a lot of body bags.

Just now, ExpatOilWorker said:

The Russians will need a lot of tow truck for the return trip!

I hope they somehow are capable of taking out the front and back and pin in the rest so the Russians will surrender, but there are a lot of side ways on a 64 kilometer road.

I don't know how the morale are amongst the Russians, but i think a lot of them are in a place they wish they were not, so maybe they are willing to surrender if pinned in?

You can probably hear I'm just a civilian with no military training, but i still hope this will stop with the lowest possible deaths on each side.

I bet most of the Russians are not interested in invading Ukraine but just have to follow orders.

3 minutes ago, Thailand said:

A forty mile column of tanks etc on the way to Kiev, looks like an awesome target if the Ukranians have the firepower.

I hope they have something left that can attack columns like this.

If they don't, it looks like they are in lot of trouble and that the weapon supplies arriving from all over the world are coming to late.

Just on the below picture are almost 100 vehicles in what looks like a few hundred meters.

So we're talking about several thousands if not 5000+ of vehicles close to their capitol.

Other pictures also show a lot of artillery and tanks so it's not looking promising and it's going to cost a lot of lives on both sides if this is not stopped.

MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/REUTERS/RITZAU SCANPIX

4 minutes ago, farmerjo said:

Be interesting to know how all this works money wise.

We know the russian currency is falling.

What about Ukraine,all these other government pledges.

Will all these weapons come at a cost,have to be paid for?

 

 

 

I hope most of them are given to Ukraine for free.

EU also considered giving Ukraine fighter jets.

https://euobserver.com/world/154450