Self Moderated The SMO: War in Ukraine.

[Mad as Fish]

Russia is now alledging that they just detsroyed a leopard tank that was crewed by Germans. German military that is, which would mean that NATO troops are fighting in Ukraine. They say they have proof. This is a pretty major escalation if indeed it is true.

View attachment 2498
LUGANSK, September 23 – RIA Novosti. Scouts of the Russian Armed Forces destroyed a Leopard tank transferred to Ukraine with an entirely German crew consisting of military personnel of the German Armed Forces, the commander of a reconnaissance group operating in the Zaporozhye direction, with the call sign Legend, told RIA Novosti.
"
“When we stopped their next “meat assault” and captured (destroyed with the help of ATGMs. - Ed.) Leopard, we moved towards the burnt equipment in the hope of taking the tongue. And we found that the tank driver was seriously wounded, and the rest died. The mechanic, when he woke up and saw us, began shouting “nicht shissen” (don’t shoot. - Ed.)," said the group commander.
The legend emphasized that he knows German well.
"
“(The driver of the damaged tank - Ed.) said several times that he was not a mercenary, but a Bundeswehr soldier and the entire crew from one company,” the soldier added.

Translated from this Russian source:

https://ria.ru/20230923/tank-1898197755.html

Yep, I just saw that elsewhere. Russia now has the right to consider Germany a legitimate target should the SMO move up a notch to a declared war.

 

[Mad as Fish]

Has the game changed for the latest game changer? This from Twitter -




View: https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1703988467771015430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1703988467771015430%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=


It has also been reported that a Russian fighter managed to locate and track an Italian F-35 in May, meaning that the fighters are pretty much defenceless now that their operating system has been compromised.

 

[Mad as Fish]

Total amount of Aid given to Ukraine thus far. Totals 322B$. Broken down by country.

View attachment 2505
Amid the news about possible cuts in military aid to the AFU due to the grain dispute with Poland and because of disputes over the national debt in the US, we decided to calculate how much money has already been spent to help Ukraine.

The total amount of military, humanitarian and financial aid from February 2022 to September 2023 amounted to $322.8 billion.

The top three donor countries to the Ukrainian armed forces were expectedly the United States (106.8 billion), Germany (23.1 billion) and the United Kingdom (15.2 billion).

The figures given in the infographic do not take into account the costs of refugees, so the final amount will be significantly higher.

For comparison, in 2022, Ukraine's defense budget according to the Ministry of Finance was $42.9 billion (59% of total budget expenditures). And in 2023 - 45, 4 billion dollars (55% of the budget).

The total amount of military, humanitarian and financial aid from February 2022 to September 2023 amounted to $322.8 billion.

The top three donor countries to the Ukrainian armed forces were expectedly the United States (106.8 billion), Germany (23.1 billion) and the United Kingdom (15.2 billion).

The figures given in the infographic do not take into account the costs of refugees, so the final amount will be significantly higher.

For comparison, in 2022, Ukraine's defense budget according to the Ministry of Finance was $42.9 billion (59% of total budget expenditures). And in 2023 - 45, 4 billion dollars (55% of the budget).

$323bn and yet look at the state of their drones -


View: https://twitter.com/snekotron/status/1705511335314771972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1705511335314771972%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

 

[clarke-connolly]

$323bn and yet look at the state of their drones -


View: https://twitter.com/snekotron/status/1705511335314771972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1705511335314771972%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Looks like something Hunter Biden and Kamala Harris would Knock Up ! !

 

[Fishalt]

Some interesting front-line updates over the last 24 hours. Russian forces destroyed three bridges along the Kupyansk front, and severely damaged a fourth. These were the main arterial lines supplying AFU in Kupyansk. Possibly the goal of RU forces here is to push back the AFU past the Oskil before the wet really sets in. At the very least these successful assaults make it either extremely difficult or outright impossible for Ukraine to re-fuel and re-support whatever units they have in the Kupyansk oblast.


View: https://streamable.com/ulqszh

Reports emerging of Ukrainian troops surrendering en masse are starting to be confirmed with footage.


View: https://streamable.com/7lvl3c

 

[dropkickmejeebus]

Some interesting front-line updates over the last 24 hours. Russian forces destroyed three bridges along the Kupyansk front, and severely damaged a fourth. These were the main arterial lines supplying AFU in Kupyansk. Possibly the goal of RU forces here is to push back the AFU past the Oskil before the wet really sets in. At the very least these successful assaults make it either extremely difficult or outright impossible for Ukraine to re-fuel and re-support whatever units they have in the Kupyansk oblast.


View: https://streamable.com/ulqszh

Reports emerging of Ukrainian troops surrendering en masse are starting to be confirmed with footage.


View: https://streamable.com/7lvl3c

10k Ukrainian's have surrendered in the last six weeks. Russia is now getting additional ammo from NK and also their own drones are set to be in the battlefield before the end of the year.