Weapons are one thing. What's Ukraine's active boot count at? How much of their fighting force is still available?
White van opportunity. Even better if they jam after the second fire. Hey militia freak . . . yes, you in the Tractor Supply camo and tactical belt buckle . . . over here!I could have a prime opportunity to buy Ukrainian capture North Korean AK kits in a few years at the rate things are going.
Weapons are one thing. What's Ukraine's active boot count at? How much of their fighting force is still available?
Weapons are one thing. What's Ukraine's active boot count at? How much of their fighting force is still available?
They can't really equip or support what they currently have deployed. What are they going to equip another 500k with? sharp sticks?
There was no mention of rifles, just 5 rounds of ammunition. The Russians can throw them at the Ukrainians.Based on what we saw with the last round of recruiting, I'm not convinced they have 500k rifles to send with them. I guess they could try the 'ol death squad march of old.
There was no mention of rifles, just 5 rounds of ammunition. The Russians can throw them at the Ukrainians.
An under appreciated part of modern industrialized war is that manpower is essentially limitless. You can overwhelm your enemy quickly so they can’t mobilize, you can destroy all their expensive equipment so they can’t effectively fight anymore, you can politically destabilize them with massive casualties, but neither Ukraine nor Russia is actually going to run out of people to fight.Weapons are one thing. What's Ukraine's active boot count at? How much of their fighting force is still available?
“Putin is betting on more delays. He must lose that bet,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis tweeted on Wednesday. “Ukraine has more than earned our support and respect. It’s time to send ATACMS and unleash the Leopards,” he added, referring to the long-sought-after German tanks that have not yet been sent to Ukraine (though Poland has indicated it plans to donate Leopard tanks to Ukraine). A deadly HIMARS strike against a Russian barracks in the occupied city of Makiivka at the start of the new year was the latest sign of Ukraine’s effectiveness using long-range weapons.
There was a huge difference in the well trained German troops that fought earlier in the war than at the end. If it wasn't for the fact that the Germans used slave labor (jews, people from captured territories) they wouldn't have had the manpower to keep pressing forward. In addition, if it weren't for the incredible competence of the professional German officer core, Germany would have bit the dust much sooner. Lastly, Hitler was a complete bozo, other than the fact that he caught Europe off guard (sound familiar?).An under appreciated part of modern industrialized war is that manpower is essentially limitless. You can overwhelm your enemy quickly so they can’t mobilize, you can destroy all their expensive equipment so they can’t effectively fight anymore, you can politically destabilize them with massive casualties, but neither Ukraine nor Russia is actually going to run out of people to fight.
I mean think of Germany and the Soviet Union in WW2. Germany suffered around 5 million casualties and while they started to run into manpower problems at the end they were still fielding millions of people.
He has a great point. Not only is Putin betting on delays, but also betting on our elections and those in other countries to move the pendulum away from support for Ukraine. Putin surely knows his western adversaries well. Sigh.
When this whole shit broke out a lot-lot of vets here were already packing their cars until decree came down that you could join the fight with no legal consequences but your active service days would be over - aka lose your job in the armed services. If gov were to reverse that decision I am sure Ukraine would have a giant influx of “foreign legionaries”.Over a million under arms IIRC.
Ukraine has doesn't have a manpower shortage but they have a trained forces shortage.
Someone linked an FP article recently. I thought this was an interesting point from the Lithuanian Foreign Minister:
He has a great point. Not only is Putin betting on delays, but also betting on our elections and those in other countries to move the pendulum away from support for Ukraine. Putin surely knows his western adversaries well. Sigh.
On the matter of attrition.
What makes us think we secured United States support for Ukraine through the rest of the year?
OurRussiansRepublicans will surely hold the debt hostage over Ukraine.
Meaning, Ukraine could lose our support THIS MONTH. Not next year.
Russian Urals crude oil was trading near $55 a barrel in January, close to levels not seen in a year, and about 35% below international prices, as the ongoing war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia left the country with a few buyers. The price also remains well below the $60 a barrel price cap imposed by G7 countries, the EU, and Australia on December 5th. Russian seaborne crude imports into Europe shrank 80% in 2022 as European refiners turned to crude grades from Norway, the US, Saudi Arabia, Guyana, and Azerbaijan, according to tanker tracking data reported by S&P Global Commodities. China and India remain the biggest markets for Russian oil, although the shipping distance pushed freight costs up and forced barrels to be discounted to compete with shipments from the Middle East.
Biden has fairly broad authority under the Ukraine lend-lease act passed in 2022, but that act expires at end of fiscal year 2023 - (that is, ending on September 30 of this year), after which he is far more constrained on any transfers.Even if Congress fails to fund weapons purchases, what's to stop Biden from just giving weapons already in the US stockpiles to the Ukraine?
As with our own intolerance for blood being spilled by our youth during the Vietnam "Conflict", I wonder when it will be that Putin's iron fisted control over the people of Russia give way to mass demonstrations that grows beyond his abilities to suppress. Should be a sight to see if it ever happens.
Well, his turn from building up capitalist Russia to Czarist imperialism worked in 2014, but turned out poorly in 2022. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for the west to screw this up. If we get the tank deal done - I’ll be more optimistic.He's gambled and lost at virtually every turn so why not roll the dice agin I guess.
Well, his turn from building up capitalist Russia to Czarist imperialism worked in 2014, but turned out poorly in 2022. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for the west to screw this up. If we get the tank deal done - I’ll be more optimistic.
Ukrainian needs to be able to take most of their land this year in order for NATO member nation citizens fully believe they are doing the right thing and more strongly back their governments, IMHO. That means a substantial scaling up of offensive capabilities. A long stalemate will lead many to question the utility of their contributions to the war effort. If Putin doesn’t lose, he wins. Russian math 😐
Fair enough :thumbsup:Besides the immediate armor and ranged weapon needs I think Europe should assume the war will last 2-3 more years and use confiscated Russian assets/funds to continue arming Ukraine out of their own revitalized defense industrial base.