"The 1980's are calling to ask for their foreign policy back."

If so, that's a big concession from Russia.

Just to put things in perspective.

In World War II, at the Battle of Kursk--which the Soviets won--they lost 7000 tanks.

Not saying they could sustain those kind of losses today (for certain, they could not), but pointing out the scale of things is very different from prior wars.

I wonder if we will see anything on the scale of the Eastern Front ever again. Between nukes and drones I don’t know if it is possible.

The numbers are near inconceivable. The Battle of Stalingrad had FOUR TIMES more deaths than the US Military has suffered in our history. All wars combined. Two and a half centuries (and not exactly peaceful ones). One battle. Four times.

Fuck…

https://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-ghosts-ostfront-series/

If you (anyone reading) has nine bucks and six hours to spare this is a great series.

During Iraq and Afghanistan, I didn't directly (IRL) know any one who served, let alone died. (I think one of my cousins was over there, I'm not sure.)

If you were a Russian in 1945, you knew someone who died in the war, probably someone in your own family.

I don't know, but if Putin does manage to hang on to power then I can't imagine that this will be a good thing for anyone.

Interesting thread:

And the next guy could be worse.

It depends upon how Kevin Bacony you want to get. Not only do I know, via the web, a number of folks who served in Iraq (both 1.0 and 2.0) but also Afghanistan. IRL, I've known folks who've served in every US military action since WWII (possibly even WWI, but the subject never came up, though they were certainly old enough to have served during that time, my maternal grandfather knew Civil War vets).

The Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan for 10 years and suffered at least 90,000 casualties. In the month since the Russians have invaded Ukraine, they admit to almost 30K casualties. That's a pretty fucking high "burn rate." I can't see it lasting very long.

That depends upon what the rest of the world does after Putin's deposed.

Hopefully a better result than when Sadamm and Qaddafi were executed.

It says hardcore in the title, so I’m in!

Hopefully he’s been sent to the Donbas front.

With so many high-ranking officers meeting their demise, leadership within the Russian army has to be in total chaos.

His usefulness may have expired.

I’ll be in my bunk.

Yep.

Even more than a comparable NATO/5 Eyes military. The reason these high ranking officers have to put themselves into danger is that Soviet/Russian doctrine is EXTREMELY top-down. Their shitty Comm and moral situation means that basically nothing is happening WITHOUT full birds and generals being there to whip the troops into shape.

Ma Deuce! Мама Дует!

Conveniently in range of UA snipers.

Clearly didn’t read Snowden’s last tweets, which were him basically saying “well, I was obviously wrong, Putin did invade after all, gonna shut up about it now, I don’t deserve a voice to comment on this further.” Also, isn’t Twitter blocked in Russia now?

Yes and yes.

But I bet Snowden could figure out how to use a VPN if he set his mind to it.

I was going to say, sure, Snowden's usefullness to Russia might have expired, but I think it's just Twitter et al pulling the plug on Russia and making Tulsi Gabbard and co. scream censorship.

Advancing to the rear.