RE: Russian Missile Cruiser Hit14 Apr 2022 12:15
The missile strike and reported sinking of this Flagship vessel of the Black Sea fleet irrespective of any Russian spin of munitions catching fire is a huge embarrassment and with it go any thoughts of invincibility in the Black Sea or for sea borne assaults on Odessa. No figures on casualties yet but the weather was poor and the seas choppy by all accounts. Distracted on one side by two Turkish supplied drones apparently and hit by two Neptune missiles on the other. Pity help the individual who had to deliver the news to Putin.
Kiev didn't fall, tactics were woeful, about 20,000 lives lost up until now and including a raft of high ranking officers, colonels, generals. Then an embarrassing withdrawal dressed up as being made to engender trust in the peace negotiations and followed by the sacking, sidelining and replacing of some of the key individuals involved.
Now this headliner and I think it is now the 9th ship to have succumbed in this conflict, albeit this is by far the biggest to date.
Yes adopt a public facade but all these things must be playing on the mind.
Then add in
*conscripted, Dads army and Syrian replacements
*morale
*supply route strikes by Ukranian Special Forces
*Heavy artillery, armoured vehicles, surface to air, anti ship and anti tank missiles, drones, kamikaze drones, and more sophisticated weaponry arriving to level the playing field
* US just announcing another $800M of military aid INCLUDING HELICOPTERS (Those MIG fighters will be next imho)
Don't even let me elaborate on "awkward squad" measures there also: sanctions on country and key people, diplomatic expulsions, global condemnation, war crimes... and the consequences of the conflict to date: 4 countries lining up to expedite Nato membership. Two of which directly border Russia (Finland and Sweden)
Marioupal succumbs then I'll be surprised if we don't get back to the negotiating table. Face saving deal or a Donbas fight that is going to going to lead to even higher military casualties than Kiev.
Digest the events yourself and make up your own minds.