The Ukrainian War IV: "And von Moltke Laughed ..."

[The Huskar Social Union]

Allegedly the Russian army has retreated out of Izium and Lyman, abandoning some equipment on the way but have to wait for confirmation. If its true though then well done Ukraine for pulling off this offensive.

[The Lone Alliance]

Bellingcat lead Russia investigator Christo Grozev reporting that Russian war/mercenary telegram channels are saying Izyum "has been surrendered."

You know it's bad when even the Russian Propaganda channels are being blatantly honest about how bad it is. I think we might be seeing a major game changer in the war now.
There's also reports that Russian collaborators are running for the border too.

[The New California Republic]

Allegedly the Russian army has retreated out of Izium and Lyman, abandoning some equipment on the way but have to wait for confirmation. If its true though then well done Ukraine for pulling off this offensive.

According to the Beeb there are still thousands of Russians in the pocket, and there are rumours that the last exit road out of the pocket is under partial Ukrainian control, so any Russians in the pocket aren't leaving.

[Pasong Tirad]

Another Telegram (or the same one as the previous ones posted? idk) is claiming Svatove has also been abandoned.

[Picairn]

Another Telegram (or the same one as the previous ones posted? idk) is claiming Svatove has also been abandoned.

Worth being skeptical of this. Svatove is 30 miles east of Kupiansk, and since the bridge is destroyed there is no way Ukrainian forces have reached there. Rybar's latest post says that the eastern part of Kupiansk is under Russian control. Another Russian channel also claims that Russian forces are still in the city. https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1568 ... d0c8g&s=19

[Picairn]

The situation is getting so desperate for the Russians that one channel is openly advocating the use of tactical nuclear weapons on Kyiv and western Ukraine to halt the onslaught.

[Sordhau]

I'm not so proud that I can't admit when I've made an error in judgement. Russia is definitely losing, and they'll most likely be driven out of Central Ukraine and potentially the Donbass. Crimea I'm less certain about.

By all accounts the Russians should have had this war in the bag, but it seems Putin is running the most disgusting bandit state of the 21st century. It's quite clear that he surrounded himself with the most incompetent and worthless people imaginable who proceeded to cover up every bit of active sabotage by profiteers in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces - selling off everything that wasn't nailed down - and living in such an air-tight bubble that he eventually started believing his own propaganda. He built himself a paper bear and had everyone fooled it was the real deal; including himself. Now he's made himself the clown.

Two decades consolidating power and the motherfucker never bothered to purge the Yeltsinite tendencies from the government and military. What a joke lmao.

[Punished UMN]

The Ukrainian offensive in Kharkiv is essentially a copy-paste of the German offensive plan for the Third Battle of Kharkov, and appears to have worked just as well.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Two decades consolidating power and the motherfucker never bothered to purge the Yeltsinite tendencies from the government and military. What a joke lmao.

I mean
Why would he when he's the one benefiting from all this shite?

[Ifreann]

Two decades consolidating power and the motherfucker never bothered to purge the Yeltsinite tendencies from the government and military. What a joke lmao.

I mean
Why would he when he's the one benefiting from all this shite?

I don't think he's benefitting much at the moment.

[Washington Resistance Army]

I am honestly astounded by how good the Ukrainians have become since 2014. They went from a standard post Soviet shithole with a paper tiger military that folded almost immediately when the Russians first showed up to one that is getting ever closer to NATO standards all in less than a decade. I know they’re getting a lot of external help, obviously, but that’s still wild.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

I mean
Why would he when he's the one benefiting from all this shite?

I don't think he's benefitting much at the moment.

Dude has a palace and billions in tax free havens lol. I'd count that as benefits.

[Picairn]

The Ukrainian offensive in Kharkiv is essentially a copy-paste of the German offensive plan for the Third Battle of Kharkov, and appears to have worked just as well.

The Germans greatly benefitted from massive air support in that battle. Ukraine doesn't have such a thing, and so used Kherson as a distraction before launching an attack against weakened Russian positions. Honestly the deception reminds me of Operation Bagration.

[Washington Resistance Army]

This should be taken with a mountain sized piece of salt and I don’t exactly believe it myself but a pro-Russian telegram channel is saying that “Ukrainian fascists took control of Donetsk airport”, which seems almost impossible to me but anything could be real right now.

[Ifreann]

I am honestly astounded by how good the Ukrainians have become since 2014. They went from a standard post Soviet shithole with a paper tiger military that folded almost immediately when the Russians first showed up to one that is getting ever closer to NATO standards all in less than a decade. I know they’re getting a lot of external help, obviously, but that’s still wild.

They do seem to have benefitted greatly from actually reforming their military, instead of doing like Russia and saying they'd reform but then going back to corruption and graft.

---

I don't think he's benefitting much at the moment.

Dude has a palace and billions in tax free havens lol. I'd count that as benefits.

Fair point.

[The New California Republic]

This should be taken with a mountain sized piece of salt and I don’t exactly believe it myself but a pro-Russian telegram channel is saying that “Ukrainian fascists took control of Donetsk airport”, which seems almost impossible to me but anything could be real right now.

There is a lot of partisan activity still happening behind the lines, so might be a partisan attack that has been blown out of proportion by rumours.

[Iskanistan]

I am receiving reports of a massive russian rout. Thousends encircles and russian troops fleeing in panic and the frontline dissolving.

I take it with a big grain of salt however. Which being said, the importance of morale in warfare should not be underestimated.

[The New California Republic]

I am receiving reports of a massive russian rout. Thousends encircles and russian troops fleeing in panic and the frontline dissolving.

I take it with a big grain of salt however. Which being said, the importance of morale in warfare should not be underestimated.

Why take it with a grain of salt? There is more than ample video evidence out there of Russian forces fleeing in such panic that soldiers are falling off the tops of the vehicles they are riding on, Russian reinforcement convoys that are trying to stem the advance being totally annihilated, and Ukrainians finding large caches of ammunition and abandoned positions and equipment.

[Picairn]

This should be taken with a mountain sized piece of salt and I don’t exactly believe it myself but a pro-Russian telegram channel is saying that “Ukrainian fascists took control of Donetsk airport”, which seems almost impossible to me but anything could be real right now.

Donetsk airport... like the Donetsk Sergey Prokofiev International Airport, just outside the city of Donetsk itself? That airport is very close to Avdiivka, which is where the frontline is. May need more information to confirm, perhaps it is a commando strike?

[Perikuresu]

How long until Izyum falls?

[Perikuresu]

I'm seeing few sources where they say Izyum has been librated, not sure on whether to trust them

[Iskanistan]

How long until Izyum falls?

Supposedly already has.

[Picairn]

Rybar literally begs Russian MoD to do anything to resolve the crisis.

Russian-installed administration in Vovchansk says Ukrainian forces are approaching from the south, residents are being evacuated.

[Washington Resistance Army]

This should be taken with a mountain sized piece of salt and I don’t exactly believe it myself but a pro-Russian telegram channel is saying that “Ukrainian fascists took control of Donetsk airport”, which seems almost impossible to me but anything could be real right now.

Donetsk airport... like the Donetsk Sergey Prokofiev International Airport, just outside the city of Donetsk itself? That airport is very close to Avdiivka, which is where the frontline is. May need more information to confirm, perhaps it is a commando strike?

Mayhaps yeah. Ukrainian SOF have been going wild in this offensive so it could be something like that.

I’m definitely waiting for further info or confirmation but if it is true I simply have no words.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Rybar literally begs Russian MoD to do anything to resolve the crisis.

obligatory popcorn gif