Conflict in Ukraine

[JohnD]

Russian bombers are currently probing UK defences
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31530840
Just to remind us.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world...=expressshowbiz&utm_campaign=outbrainfebruary

and again yesterday
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31531830

Reportedly carrying an anti-Trident nuclear missile
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/55...s-carrying-a-nuclear-missile-over-the-Channel

And a Russian warship in the English Channel
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/426077/Royal-Navy-intercepts-Russian-warship-Channel

Russia also has many nuclear submarines
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29680960

And the UK defence minister is worried about Russian expansion by military means
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31528981

"There is a "real and present danger" of Russia trying to destabilise the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, the UK defence secretary says. Michael Fallon said he was worried about "pressure" from Russian President Vladimir Putin on the ex-Soviet states, which are Nato members. Russia might use tactics there similar to those it used in Ukraine, he said"



After the Soviet Union collapsed the first time, and most satellite states quickly took the opportunity to become independent, we thought the cold war was over and took the "peace dividend" to cut military spending. Western defence was very reasonably greatly diminished.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31503859

However Mr. Putin considers that it was a great mistake to allow the Soviet empire to collapse, and has a vision to recreate it. Russian defence spending is the part that has grown massively, and is protected from budget cuts as the Russian economy declines.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31167173

Ukraine is the latest, but by no means the first, of Russia's military expansions under NATO's nose
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7555155.stm

Russia's resurgency includes "reclaiming" areas that were formerly soviet-dominated, which it feels it has the right to occupy and annex.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17839672

It is well known that, when invading and occupying parts of Ukraine, Russian forces were used to overwhelm Ukrainian police and soldiers. The Russians simply removed the insignia from their uniforms and vehicles. Mr. Putin amusingly claimed that these fit, well-trained and equipped ranks of soldiers were simply local residents who had bought their uniforms and weapons in some local shop. As far as I know, nobody ever believed this fiction.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31020283

"Surprise is a key ingredient in maskirovka and the clandestine forces which occupied Crimea last February certainly delivered that.

Pyotr Shelomovskiy, a Russian photojournalist, was there as they arrived. He had rushed down to Crimea expecting tensions to arise after Ukraine's Russian-backed president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the country - and on 24 February he watched local pro-Russian activists building a small barricade on the square outside parliament.

"They started brewing tea and distributing drinks. Some journalists, myself included, were allowed to take pictures," says Shelomovskiy, "and that was it for the night."

Or so he thought. But in the small hours, unmarked military trucks drove up filled with heavily armed men.

"They ordered those demonstrators to lie face down on the ground - until they realised they were on the same side," says Shelomovskiy. Then they made them carry ammunition into the parliament.

He was told this story by the activists the next morning. "They didn't really understand themselves what was going on," he says.

The troops which had arrived in the dark, as if by magic, with no insignia on their olive-coloured uniforms, were soon nicknamed "little green men".

"We know now these guys were Russian special forces," says Shelomovskiy. "But no-one said so at the time."

 

[mark vincent]

Russia has 800,000 soldiers and 2 million in reserve.

Most of whom probably would fold quicker than whatever-folds-quickly, if push came to shove.

Hitler thought that after the fall of the soviet union the Russians allowed the Germans to recover their dead from WW2, to date they have recovered 800,000 and have identified a further 400,000, the Germans had the best army in Europe and they to thought that the Russians would be a pushover.

 

[mark vincent]

At the end of the day putin is just standing up to the war mongering eu.

Damn, putin has discovered our plan to invade!

Russia has 800,000 soldiers and 2 million in reserve.

We have dads army in comparison and nato if thats any help.
And can't even equip a few soldiers properly who went to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Going for an award in stupidity today?

We actually have very well equipped soldiers, and good high tech equipment, not having fully suitable equipment for desert occupation is another ballgame to what we need for warfare on temperate terrain.

And note I said occupation, not war. Even just the UK had more than enough equipment to go into and flatten the Iraq army, occupation is a whole other ballgame.

And we are talking Europe, not just the UK.

Russian hardware is still stuck in the cold war era, and it is a deeply corrupt country so who knows how much of it is functional.

2 Million ill equipped and poorly trained alcaholic soldiers = 2 million targets.

This will remain true as long as Russia is led by people like putin.

Can we take it that you will be first in the queue to join up if there is a conflict between the UK and Russia

 

[Norcon]

At the end of the day putin is just standing up to the war mongering eu.

Damn, putin has discovered our plan to invade!

Russia has 800,000 soldiers and 2 million in reserve.

We have dads army in comparison and nato if thats any help.
And can't even equip a few soldiers properly who went to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Going for an award in stupidity today?

We actually have very well equipped soldiers, and good high tech equipment, not having fully suitable equipment for desert occupation is another ballgame to what we need for warfare on temperate terrain.

And note I said occupation, not war. Even just the UK had more than enough equipment to go into and flatten the Iraq army, occupation is a whole other ballgame.

And we are talking Europe, not just the UK.

Russian hardware is still stuck in the cold war era, and it is a deeply corrupt country so who knows how much of it is functional.

2 Million ill equipped and poorly trained alcaholic soldiers = 2 million targets.

This will remain true as long as Russia is led by people like putin.

RAF chiefs say we don't stand a chance against the bear. I'd take their word against yours somehow.

Flatten the Iraqi army? Are you serious? They all turned tail and ran.
Even a few guys in toyota pickups are a serious threat to them.

And then planted roadside bombs and shot soldiers in the back just like the ira.

 

[AronSearle]

RAF chiefs say we don't stand a chance against the bear. I'd take their word against yours somehow.

Because they couldn't possibly be looking for more funding, no no no.

That is also the 2nd or 3rd time now you keep restricting it to UK vs Russia, could you not find the rest of Europe on a map?

And then planted roadside bombs and shot soldiers in the back just like the ira.

War vs Occupation, you want to talk about one whilst I have very clearly talked about the other.

 

[Norcon]

Mebbe we should fire up the spitfires since we can't afford a modern airforce.
That'll put the frightners on the bear.