The end?
- Thread starter borolad259
- Start date
Some bits
"While nobody seems to be looking for that missing army that is somewhere along a Russian and/or Belarusian border, perhaps in Kazakhstan?
We get to go through the slow trickle of countries writing up Security Guarantees and Military Defence Agreements with Ukraine.
First out was the UK, after that came Canada, and now France has signed one.
I know Sweden signed one, but is not flagging it, and that would make me assume that all the other Nordics have done it, or are very close to, same goes for the Baltic States.
And in not that faraway future The Czechs and Poland will sing one, and the rest will trickle after.
Germany will obviously be last, and there will be some "Scholtzing", and then Germany will also sign on.
That they will do it is a given already, but Germany being Germany they need to put up a show to not be "that type of Germans".
I have spoken to enough German generals to know that they are quietly preparing things for it, and that they will send troops.
While speaking about Germany and Scholtzing, while they might be slow to the party, when they uncork the bottle they truly deliver on their promises.
Scholtz just announced yet another package for 2024, this time for 3 billion Euro, bringing their 2024 spending up to 14 billion, and we are just in January.
Scholtz has promised that Germany will pick up the slack of any coalition member that drops out, as it seems that would even include the US.
France
The news that France is giving Ukraine 40 SCALG EG Long Range is more significant than most would believe.
The EGLR comes with a 700km range, this will in turn be a strong incitement for UK to do the same, and then for Germany to release the Taurus.
Unlike UK and France, Germany never got the shortrange version of the family of SCALP/Stormshadow/Taurus.
And Germany being Germany and never going first so people will not believe that they are "those Germans again", sort of locked Germany into a mental pretzel, but now they can just point to France and Taurus away.
France also announced a second tranche of missiles and "hundreds" of Glidebombs.
Notably they never announced the first tranche.
The Glidebombs comes with an entirely French connector.
Since anyone can now figure it out, I can now disclose that Ukraine has Rafale Multirole Aircraft, and that they are partially the explanation for Russias rectal aviation pain that has erupted like an unsightly fistula.
Since it is no longer my secret to share, I can't write how many Gripens are in Ukraine until public information is made available.
Russian Security Zone
They are currently busy dismantling all infrastructure in that 15km deep security zone in Bilhorod, Bryansk and Kursk.
At the same time they are moving out every air defence, border guard unit, infantry unit, armoured unit, etcetera from the SZ, and they are blowing up bunkers and trenches.
To all points and purposes it seems like Russia is demilitarizing their own territory.
The exception is artillery, they have dragged quite a bit of it close to the border and are merrily blowing up public toilets, bus stops, children daycare centers, and medical centers. All of them obviously abandoned and evacuated by now.
Due to the Ukrainian advantage in counter-battery fire this has led to a field day for Ukraine, and they are merrily blowing up oodles of Russian artillery that's not defended by anything."
"While nobody seems to be looking for that missing army that is somewhere along a Russian and/or Belarusian border, perhaps in Kazakhstan?
We get to go through the slow trickle of countries writing up Security Guarantees and Military Defence Agreements with Ukraine.
First out was the UK, after that came Canada, and now France has signed one.
I know Sweden signed one, but is not flagging it, and that would make me assume that all the other Nordics have done it, or are very close to, same goes for the Baltic States.
And in not that faraway future The Czechs and Poland will sing one, and the rest will trickle after.
Germany will obviously be last, and there will be some "Scholtzing", and then Germany will also sign on.
That they will do it is a given already, but Germany being Germany they need to put up a show to not be "that type of Germans".
I have spoken to enough German generals to know that they are quietly preparing things for it, and that they will send troops.
While speaking about Germany and Scholtzing, while they might be slow to the party, when they uncork the bottle they truly deliver on their promises.
Scholtz just announced yet another package for 2024, this time for 3 billion Euro, bringing their 2024 spending up to 14 billion, and we are just in January.
Scholtz has promised that Germany will pick up the slack of any coalition member that drops out, as it seems that would even include the US.
France
The news that France is giving Ukraine 40 SCALG EG Long Range is more significant than most would believe.
The EGLR comes with a 700km range, this will in turn be a strong incitement for UK to do the same, and then for Germany to release the Taurus.
Unlike UK and France, Germany never got the shortrange version of the family of SCALP/Stormshadow/Taurus.
And Germany being Germany and never going first so people will not believe that they are "those Germans again", sort of locked Germany into a mental pretzel, but now they can just point to France and Taurus away.
France also announced a second tranche of missiles and "hundreds" of Glidebombs.
Notably they never announced the first tranche.
The Glidebombs comes with an entirely French connector.
Since anyone can now figure it out, I can now disclose that Ukraine has Rafale Multirole Aircraft, and that they are partially the explanation for Russias rectal aviation pain that has erupted like an unsightly fistula.
Since it is no longer my secret to share, I can't write how many Gripens are in Ukraine until public information is made available.
Russian Security Zone
They are currently busy dismantling all infrastructure in that 15km deep security zone in Bilhorod, Bryansk and Kursk.
At the same time they are moving out every air defence, border guard unit, infantry unit, armoured unit, etcetera from the SZ, and they are blowing up bunkers and trenches.
To all points and purposes it seems like Russia is demilitarizing their own territory.
The exception is artillery, they have dragged quite a bit of it close to the border and are merrily blowing up public toilets, bus stops, children daycare centers, and medical centers. All of them obviously abandoned and evacuated by now.
Due to the Ukrainian advantage in counter-battery fire this has led to a field day for Ukraine, and they are merrily blowing up oodles of Russian artillery that's not defended by anything."
So, what is the likelihood that this fella accidentally falls from a 10th floor window anytime soon?
Some new ish thoughts to ponder...
"EU may be slow, argumentative, confusing, bureaucratic, but in the end it will get there.
It has now arrived at the station, and money is pouring out for Ukraine, both from individual members and the EU.
Hungary changed its tune when it learned that it was about to be made irrelevant by the EU and get stripped of their voting power.
In the end all they asked for is that a few Hungarians would be allowed on the team that makes the accounting for how the weapons was used.
Slovakia under Fico caved in completely, and are now allowing weapons exports to Ukraine again.
Basically the Slovakian arms industry threatened to kill Fico if they weren't allowed to export, and since the Slovakian arms industry is really big it hurt the Slovakian army quite a bit.
Slovakian arms industry had gotten huge orders, and produced a lot, when all of a sudden they weren't allowed to send the finished goods to Ukraine, and that meant they weren't paid.
A lot of it was 152mm shells and 155mm shells, so all of a sudden that situation got better.
This means that EU has by now basically covered every single dollar that the US stopped providing.
Pundits tend to say that this does not matter since Europe can't replace US produced weapons in all categories, and in volumes.
This is partially true, we are not truly there yet and we do not produce Patriots and GMLRS/ATACMS.
But, all NATO countries are per treaty able to order this from US companies freely, and are doing so for Ukraine.
On top of that the US Government are more than willing to sell directly from stock to other NATO countries.
This is fortunate, since it basically gives us that missing year to build out our own weapons industry to a level that we can carry the load entirely by ourselves, and that includes missiles for HIMARs systems and produce Patriot PAC3s.
Several countries have negotiated contracts to produce those internally, some even before the war started.
Italy and Sweden are producing their own PAC3s, and Poland among others have the right to produce GMLRS, and some are developing new missiles for that launching system.
A Chinese sidenote, the powerful Chinese military attaché to the EU has delivered the message that China is welcoming EU + Allies (we use EU + Friends) as the new Global superpower, and that China is looking forward to cooperating with EU + Friends.
It is a well-known secret that her Uncle is non other than Xi heemseelf, so I guess we can say that he just annointed EU as a Superpower.
"We thought it would take Europe a decade to become a superpower, but Russian stupidity brought the timeframe forward".
She's very direct, only important Chinese are direct.
Leningrad
Did you feel the world shift under your feet?
No?
The reason that you did not speaks volumes about how good Ukraine has become at hitting improbable targets seemingly impossibly deep inside Russia.
But the hit in Leningrad was so important that it might even be more important than it was when Ukraine blew up that tank-engine plant that constructed BMPs and BTRs.
And still Western Pundits did not feel it important enough to pundify upon, showing once again how narrow-viewed they are.
I think they might have gotten confused about the name Leningrad, and thought that it is some small rural town called Leningrad after the historic Leningrad.
Firstly, Russia has renamed St Petersburg somewhat.
If it is hit by missiles and drones it is named Leningrad, when something positive happens it is St Pete's again.
And since nothing positive ever happens in Russia nowadays it is permanently renamed into Leningrad, and Leningrad Military District.
So, what was hit that is so important?
None other than the oil depot in the trans-shipment port into the Baltics.
There was Ivan sitting smoking, filling up a tanker-ship, sipping vodka and headbanging to Olga Pugacheva, as a blinding flash occured and the entire thing went up in flames.
Ivan obviously lit a new cigarette on the burning oil and sat down, took a swig, and uttered "blyat" and "shtool" alternatingly.
The Russians was somewhat baffled at what the hell had happened.
But, they know it happened once before, not far away at the electric powerplant as two out of four power-generating blocks was imploded.
Once more there was no traces on any radars, but the gaping very deep hole was the same, and the traces of a huge amount of tungsten was there...
By now the Russians have figured out what hit them the first time around, a hypersonic kinetic impactor.
Last time around they even found from where they had been launched from by a "lucky" overpass of a Russian satelite designed to record ballistic missile launches, and they sighed as they say those two being from Ukraine.
Seeing Ukraine launch those two hellclass missiles that are way beyond Russian abilities to produce, and most certainly beyond Ukrainian capacity, was instructive. And also confusing since Russia wasn't aware that anyone in the west had anything like.
They knew though that China had been experimenting with something similar, but seemingly failed.
So, the Russians said "Blyat" profusely, and then shrugged their shoulders well knowing that any missile like this is so exceedingly expensive that it was inconceivable that they would be hit often enough to truly matter.
After all, there are not that many targets in Russia worth more than the cost of a single such missile.
Well, except for an oil trans-shipment port...
Ouch in Putins wallet, or perhaps more...
Sad Wallet Noises!"
"EU may be slow, argumentative, confusing, bureaucratic, but in the end it will get there.
It has now arrived at the station, and money is pouring out for Ukraine, both from individual members and the EU.
Hungary changed its tune when it learned that it was about to be made irrelevant by the EU and get stripped of their voting power.
In the end all they asked for is that a few Hungarians would be allowed on the team that makes the accounting for how the weapons was used.
Slovakia under Fico caved in completely, and are now allowing weapons exports to Ukraine again.
Basically the Slovakian arms industry threatened to kill Fico if they weren't allowed to export, and since the Slovakian arms industry is really big it hurt the Slovakian army quite a bit.
Slovakian arms industry had gotten huge orders, and produced a lot, when all of a sudden they weren't allowed to send the finished goods to Ukraine, and that meant they weren't paid.
A lot of it was 152mm shells and 155mm shells, so all of a sudden that situation got better.
This means that EU has by now basically covered every single dollar that the US stopped providing.
Pundits tend to say that this does not matter since Europe can't replace US produced weapons in all categories, and in volumes.
This is partially true, we are not truly there yet and we do not produce Patriots and GMLRS/ATACMS.
But, all NATO countries are per treaty able to order this from US companies freely, and are doing so for Ukraine.
On top of that the US Government are more than willing to sell directly from stock to other NATO countries.
This is fortunate, since it basically gives us that missing year to build out our own weapons industry to a level that we can carry the load entirely by ourselves, and that includes missiles for HIMARs systems and produce Patriot PAC3s.
Several countries have negotiated contracts to produce those internally, some even before the war started.
Italy and Sweden are producing their own PAC3s, and Poland among others have the right to produce GMLRS, and some are developing new missiles for that launching system.
A Chinese sidenote, the powerful Chinese military attaché to the EU has delivered the message that China is welcoming EU + Allies (we use EU + Friends) as the new Global superpower, and that China is looking forward to cooperating with EU + Friends.
It is a well-known secret that her Uncle is non other than Xi heemseelf, so I guess we can say that he just annointed EU as a Superpower.
"We thought it would take Europe a decade to become a superpower, but Russian stupidity brought the timeframe forward".
She's very direct, only important Chinese are direct.
Leningrad
Did you feel the world shift under your feet?
No?
The reason that you did not speaks volumes about how good Ukraine has become at hitting improbable targets seemingly impossibly deep inside Russia.
But the hit in Leningrad was so important that it might even be more important than it was when Ukraine blew up that tank-engine plant that constructed BMPs and BTRs.
And still Western Pundits did not feel it important enough to pundify upon, showing once again how narrow-viewed they are.
I think they might have gotten confused about the name Leningrad, and thought that it is some small rural town called Leningrad after the historic Leningrad.
Firstly, Russia has renamed St Petersburg somewhat.
If it is hit by missiles and drones it is named Leningrad, when something positive happens it is St Pete's again.
And since nothing positive ever happens in Russia nowadays it is permanently renamed into Leningrad, and Leningrad Military District.
So, what was hit that is so important?
None other than the oil depot in the trans-shipment port into the Baltics.
There was Ivan sitting smoking, filling up a tanker-ship, sipping vodka and headbanging to Olga Pugacheva, as a blinding flash occured and the entire thing went up in flames.
Ivan obviously lit a new cigarette on the burning oil and sat down, took a swig, and uttered "blyat" and "shtool" alternatingly.
The Russians was somewhat baffled at what the hell had happened.
But, they know it happened once before, not far away at the electric powerplant as two out of four power-generating blocks was imploded.
Once more there was no traces on any radars, but the gaping very deep hole was the same, and the traces of a huge amount of tungsten was there...
By now the Russians have figured out what hit them the first time around, a hypersonic kinetic impactor.
Last time around they even found from where they had been launched from by a "lucky" overpass of a Russian satelite designed to record ballistic missile launches, and they sighed as they say those two being from Ukraine.
Seeing Ukraine launch those two hellclass missiles that are way beyond Russian abilities to produce, and most certainly beyond Ukrainian capacity, was instructive. And also confusing since Russia wasn't aware that anyone in the west had anything like.
They knew though that China had been experimenting with something similar, but seemingly failed.
So, the Russians said "Blyat" profusely, and then shrugged their shoulders well knowing that any missile like this is so exceedingly expensive that it was inconceivable that they would be hit often enough to truly matter.
After all, there are not that many targets in Russia worth more than the cost of a single such missile.
Well, except for an oil trans-shipment port...
Ouch in Putins wallet, or perhaps more...
Sad Wallet Noises!"
Decent_Left
Well-known member
That’s a bit confusing or am I just falling for getting excited about the “official” Ukraine. explanation which was a domestically produced drone did the damage?
Either way, top bombing.
Either way, top bombing.
It might have been .... though the drone is more likely to be detected and intercepted on such a long journey I suspect. The fact that they don't know what hit 'em, so to speak, suggests something a bit more "evasive".
Decent_Left
Well-known member
You may be reading in the news that a Russian Il76 transport plane carrying Ukrainian POWs was shot down.
Yes, the plane was shot down, but only after it had dropped off the POWs in Belgorod and picked up S300 air defence missiles, which were bound for St Petersburg.
The plane was downed by a meteor, but not one from outer space.
Also, this
"Chinese Shaheed
Someone noticed that a chinese company had put up improved copies of the prop-driven shaheeds on Alibaba.
Obviously it was a mistake to put them up there by the company, and they rapidly removed the advertisement.
The collective Western punditry pundified themselves mightily over this being the smoking gun of China selling weapons to Russia.
But, mid-sentence one day the pundits became very quiet on this issue.
It turned out that these Shaheeds was bought and paid for by Ukraine on a military contract.
In the real world, China has been extremely open and diligent in selling not a single weapon or dual use technology to Russia.
It was China that gave out the data on the buyer, and Ukraine confirmed it.
I wrote "improved shaheed" above.
This is due to China having whacked in far better electronics that are EW-hardened into them.
Due to this they are more accurate, and harder to stop with electronic warfare systems.
This has obviously made Kremlin very sad.
They where already sad over the fact that China is refusing to help them, but then finding out that China was secretly sending arms to Ukraine, now openly... that hurt Kremlin a lot.
Que Unhappy Russia Noises..."
Yes, the plane was shot down, but only after it had dropped off the POWs in Belgorod and picked up S300 air defence missiles, which were bound for St Petersburg.
The plane was downed by a meteor, but not one from outer space.
Also, this
"Chinese Shaheed
Someone noticed that a chinese company had put up improved copies of the prop-driven shaheeds on Alibaba.
Obviously it was a mistake to put them up there by the company, and they rapidly removed the advertisement.
The collective Western punditry pundified themselves mightily over this being the smoking gun of China selling weapons to Russia.
But, mid-sentence one day the pundits became very quiet on this issue.
It turned out that these Shaheeds was bought and paid for by Ukraine on a military contract.
In the real world, China has been extremely open and diligent in selling not a single weapon or dual use technology to Russia.
It was China that gave out the data on the buyer, and Ukraine confirmed it.
I wrote "improved shaheed" above.
This is due to China having whacked in far better electronics that are EW-hardened into them.
Due to this they are more accurate, and harder to stop with electronic warfare systems.
This has obviously made Kremlin very sad.
They where already sad over the fact that China is refusing to help them, but then finding out that China was secretly sending arms to Ukraine, now openly... that hurt Kremlin a lot.
Que Unhappy Russia Noises..."
Jonny_Rondos_Disco_pants
Well-known member
The only thing I see in Kazahkstan has been hundreds of young Russians who crossed the border to avoid conscription
I think he was kidding around there. But yeah, I'm guessing a lot of Russia's brightest young things skipped to Kazahkstan, Uzbekistan etc. My mate was saying this morning that Kazahkstan has its eyes on closer ties with the EU now.
TeessideCleveland
Well-known member
Apparently Putin going to Konigsberg - would it have to travel outside Russia to get there?
Would fly there presumably. And it will be "a Putin". Meeting students etc.
Littlejimmy
Well-known member
'Kinell, the wires full of war talk this morning. NATO preparing for full-on war with Russia, the UK needing to build a bigger army and a citizen's force. Trump winning in New Hampshire. It's all going to *****, isn't it, or is that what they want us to think, eh, eh? I chose a hell of a time to give up sniffing glue...
So, now the reason for the uptick in talk about war with Russia has been revealed. It has taken a while for the evidence/proof to be gathered .... hence a certain amount of obfuscation from my mate (he was not at liberty to talk before). Russia has been using chemical/nerve agents on the front line ... in particular chemicals banned in 1925.
According to international law, there will be serious consequences for Russia. Xi/China not happy at all.
Will update with more when I can.
According to international law, there will be serious consequences for Russia. Xi/China not happy at all.
Will update with more when I can.
Druss_The_Legend
Well-known member
This was published at the start of the conflict. It basically says that the Soviets during the cold war had the largest chemical weapons Arsenal. Russia didn't meet deadlines for destruction of Chemical Arsenal and verbally said they had destroyed them.
Okay, my mate is in Brussels. I got a lot from him today, but this is worth posting (he was at meetings with NATO and the EU).
"Today was a first, it was the first time that China was allowed to attend a NATO-meeting.
After the meeting Chinese experts where given equal opportunity to examine the evidence.
The official comment was "Russia has gone to far".
That was it for now, but they was non stop on secure phones that they had brought, we think that Xi heemseelf was on the other end, and the Chinese did not even try to hide what they said.
Let us just say that there was Angry China Noises, and we will have to wait and see what that result in.
After this China thanked for the trust and respect given to China, and left.
I will give the Chinese experts that they where both fast and very thorough, it didn't take them more than 20 minutes to conclude that the evidence was legit and tracked with their info on Russian gas and grenade types.
They knew exactly what to look for, so it seems that their data on Russian weapons is better than ours.
I think it was a very good idea, both short and long-term to invite the Chinese.
Anyway, I will return to the response side later on.
But, I would say that Russia using gas was probably their most stupid idea in the entire war.
Oh, and by the way, expect extremely sad Orbanus noises very soon, but I will talk about that later.
For now I am off for Lunch in the EU parliament canteen.
I had the choice of McDonalds and coke in the NATO HQ, or move over to the Parliament where the next row of talks is being held, and there I will have char on plate instead of a cardboard box with a glass of wine, coffee and liqueur.
EU is so much more civilized.
"
"Today was a first, it was the first time that China was allowed to attend a NATO-meeting.
After the meeting Chinese experts where given equal opportunity to examine the evidence.
The official comment was "Russia has gone to far".
That was it for now, but they was non stop on secure phones that they had brought, we think that Xi heemseelf was on the other end, and the Chinese did not even try to hide what they said.
Let us just say that there was Angry China Noises, and we will have to wait and see what that result in.
After this China thanked for the trust and respect given to China, and left.
I will give the Chinese experts that they where both fast and very thorough, it didn't take them more than 20 minutes to conclude that the evidence was legit and tracked with their info on Russian gas and grenade types.
They knew exactly what to look for, so it seems that their data on Russian weapons is better than ours.
I think it was a very good idea, both short and long-term to invite the Chinese.
Anyway, I will return to the response side later on.
But, I would say that Russia using gas was probably their most stupid idea in the entire war.
Oh, and by the way, expect extremely sad Orbanus noises very soon, but I will talk about that later.
For now I am off for Lunch in the EU parliament canteen.
I had the choice of McDonalds and coke in the NATO HQ, or move over to the Parliament where the next row of talks is being held, and there I will have char on plate instead of a cardboard box with a glass of wine, coffee and liqueur.
EU is so much more civilized.
"
Decent_Left
Well-known member
Sad Hungarian noises are starting to emerge
Ravs
Well-known member
Very quiet on this thread this week?
CNN were today reporting upcoming changes at top of Ukraine military…
CNN were today reporting upcoming changes at top of Ukraine military…
Yes, I have had lots of stuff but not posted it here.
Re- Zaluzhny, yes, he and Zelenskyy have their spats, but the real reaon for the change, which is coming, is rotation.
A few brief words on my mate's take .... there's much more, but too sensitive to share.
"Zaluzhnyy
In about a month his contract as Chief of the Ukrainian Defence Forces ends.
It is debatable if that will be renewed.
And let me here be perfectly clear, it is quite common to change the head general during large wars, the strain is immense, and you tend to want fresh perspectives over time.
Every general knows that with time they will be moved to a new position.
I agree on the rotation, it is time to do it, but it is always about how you do something, not what you do.
I do not agree with the general populations view that Zaluzhnyy must stay at all cost on the post.
Nor does he in fact.
Furthermore, I would say that Zyrskyi is tired and have grown "stale" where he is and that the Luhansk front need a shake up.
We all grow stale after a while, especially in high pressure environments.
Same goes for Zaluzhnyy.
I would go even further and say that most of the front would do well with switcharoo's among the commanders.
Fresh eyes see new opportunities and all that."
He was also saying yesterday that there has been a step change in the war this week, with the arrival of GLSDBs (which have now had their "bugs" sorted).
"Boomus Maximus
It all began in Kherson as 4 Himars hove into view, the launcher cassettes erected with two missiles in each cassette, and 8 rockets fired off within just seconds of each other.
At the same time 4 HAARM missiles launched from airplanes East of Crimea.
As two GLSDBs each hit Henichesk, Razdolne and Chornomorsk 3 different radar complexes seized existing.
In Yevpatoria two more GLSDBs hit a radar station at the Balbek airfied, and the 4 HAARMS took out two more radars, one in Yevpatoria and the other in Sevastopol.
One heck of an opener, but here comes the big guns.
The follow up was SCALP EGs taking out targets in Balbek Airfield , Dzjankoi, Saki Airfield, Yevpatoria, Sevastopol, Simferopol and Feodosia.
At this point two BU-64 AASM 1-ton Seismic Glide-bombs hit the underground Black Sea Fleet Command Bunker just north of Sevastopol.
At this point one of the escorting fighters noticed a target 90 nautical miles below, locked on and fired an RBS-15 Gungnir toasting the R-334 Tarantuul-3 Ivanovetsk missile corvette, which was already under attack from marine drones (somewhat overkill).
It is now on a Special Submarine Operation at the bottom of the Black Sea.
Russia is claiming that they shot down 20 missiles and that only 3 airplanes was destroyed.
In the real world all targets was destroyed.
It was the first time during the war that Ukraine could perform a combined strike of ground based missiles (technically the GLSDB is not a missile, but seriously who cares), air launched cruise missiles, and seismic bombs.
It speaks volumes what Ukraine can do when they get real weapons, and weapons systems.
It was never about lack of skill, it was always about missing kit to perform the job properly.
So, the bunker.
We do not know if someone truly special was in it, but after the HQ in Sevastopol and the spare facility in Fruktove was destroyed, the only fully operational command center left was the old Soviet monster-bunker.
It was designed to be able to take a nuclear aerial detonation in the sixties, so it is a hard-target.
But, the energy transfer from an aerial detonation, even nuclear, is not the same as from a bomb that slams down 30 to 50 meters into bedrock and then detonates.
We will probably not know how effective the bombs truly was until after the war, but the level of confusion seems to indicate that there was at least some damage done there.
But, with a bit of luck significant parts was caved in for good.
As the telemetry came in, we had a bit of a moment all of us.
Russia
As a cold and dark morning dawned in Moscow, the citizens took great rejoice and comfort in the bright lights of the Kremlin, after all Papa Putin was warm and had lights they thought as they muddled to work in a cold and dark office.
They particularly took joy in the electrical station that had exploded during the night, cutting incoming electricity coming into the city from afar into Moscow.
"That will hurt NATO" they cheered to themselves while queuing for a a cold cup of tea without the egg sandwich.
In St Petersburg the residents jubilatingly fell down on their knees and sang hymns of praise to Shoigu and the Russian Air Defence as their final refinery burst into joyful fire to celebrate their dark and abysmal day.
In Kremlin they looked at what they had wrought, and felt pride over their accomplishments, and accepted the joy of the population over them being warm, lighted, and toasty footed.
All is well in Russia, in a week or so the internet will be restored, and the banks will open up for business, that is what the government promised, and as all Russians know, trust in the government, they truly work in mysterious ways to take care of Ivan and Ivanna.
And, if all is well, sometime towards the summer they will be able to call Uncle Vova in Novosibirsk again, Putin himself promised that.
All is well in Russia."
Some thoughts about the Russian politics
"Russia's political pain is completely different and far more widespread and varied.
At least 5 different protest movements from 5 different angles.
Economic political pain.
A bunch of various resistance movements blowing **** up gloriously across all of Russia.
A hungry and cold population.
And to top that they are having an internal power struggle in Kremlin that make the MAGAs in the House of Representatives look like kittens.
Previously they have mainly been jockeying for positions, but now there are true battles fought for the power.
Originally there was 3 distinct sides.
The pro-peace doves.
The war-hawks.
And the Putinists that wanted status quo, or a new Putin type.
The last bunch is gone, we know that since none of their Big Names is running in the race.
Oddly enough we only have "Putin" as a war-hawk in the race, the real one or not.
Instead we have a highly confrontative Nadezhdin representing the "Change and Peace" grouping within Kremlin.
What I find interesting is who is in which group, because the rift goes through groups the usually stick together in their groups.
The Siloviki are clearly split between Naryshkin's peace-doves and Patrushev's war-hawks.
Soyghurt seem to have taken the "I am just bureaucrat and follow the politicians" approach and seem neutral, and with Gerasimov in the looney bin again the army is leaning no way whatsoever.
Same goes for the circle around Putin with Peskov, Zakharova, Lavrov, etcetera.
Either Peskov or Zakharova seems to continue the war-hawking, Lavrov seems to take a neutral stance, and with the entire Finance Department being doves.
There's definitely a dispute between Peskov and Zakharova since the propaganda now is split too into two groupings.
While Simonyan, Skabaeva, Popov and Mardan are taking a destinctly neutral tone in regards of all the candidates including Nadezhdin, Solovyov have gone off on a separate track calling Nadezhdin a traitor and spewing oodles of vitriol.
Skabaeva and Popov even went so far to put up graphics with Putin and Nadezhdin sharing equal sized rectangles, with all the others in a row below with far smaller rectangles for their portraits.
One should obviously not take the election seriously as a democratic tool.
But, there are interesting things to read out from it still.
And, we should remember that IF Nadezhdin is allowed through into the third stage, he is an official Kremlin candidate for the peace-doves.
Somehow I am getting the very weird feeling that Naryshkin and Patrushev has sat down and hashed out that instead of going into coups, or a civil war, they will hash it out via a giant arsed public poll about the war.
And that regardless of who wins, the real figures will form the basis for the new political direction.
This is just me speculating wildly mind you."