Not only the West didn't react, the US increased the crisis in the home defence industry. The US didn't have TNT production before last years. Ukraine produced and sold 500 tons of TNT to the US in 2021. Ukraine had the TNT plant in Rubizhne Luhansk Oblast. It's only 35 km away from the DNR. As for me, this reason was so essential for why the Russians conducted the first strike in this direction.
The West to react? Just see what is happening in Germany - as soon as Merz proposes big spending on defense, the most hawkish up-to-now Greens rejected it, so it wouldn’t pass. How to rearm? With plant-based polymer tanks on lithium-ion batteries and carbon prices on ammo !? With the Green talibans that are all over the West demanding more and more sacrifices to the gods of climate change (most of the policies are costly but hust futile), sorry Europe can’t support neither Ukraine nor its own economy.
A friend is housing a Ukrainian woman. I asked him what she thought of Trump. He tells me she is terrified someone will knock on the door and take her away. Just another data point for you.
I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but I think the 155th Brigade alone had something like 2,000 deserters.
I also haven't seen a percentage, but many Ukrainians that desert do so because they don't trust the leadership and capabilities of the unit they're in and they want to go to a better unit to increase their chances of survival. Some desertions are people that just don't want to wait for the transfer process to be completed, to Ukraine tried to speed up the transfer process.
And then there are those that desert for other reasons, as well.
I doubt there is "official policy" of executing prisoners, because the goal in any war is to get enemy soldiers to surrender rather than fight. That said, there is such a thing as soldiers' justice. In past wars, snipers were usually killed on the spot. Same with machinegunners who were rude and kept shooting until the last minute (if a gunner surrendered at a polite distance, the attacking troops would probably spare him). Drone operators are the least popular people right now, so it is no surprise that there is a tendency to kill them, whether or not the act is officially sanctioned.
If you were trying to influence Ukrainian soldiers to surrender, that would make sense. If you were trying to terrorize, or if you didn't care, then that isn't even a factor. Maybe you're not even trying to terrorize Ukrainian soldiers but rather intimidate your own soldier into not surrendering. Between killing enemy prisoners and trying to kill your own soldiers that try to surrender, maybe fewer of your own soldiers surrender. There have been quite a few Russians that were worried about being shot and tortured. There have been a lot of Russian soldiers that committed suicide.
We know in some cases there have been orders given over the radio to execute prisoners, so it's a policy of some units. Whether it is a policy at a higher level or there is just indifference at that level is unknown. The killings are at least being tolerated.
Ukrainian soldiers have also committed suicide. When a soldier is lying in the gray zone with his legs ripped up, he might elect a quicker way out. Or alternatively, not want his comrades to risk themselves in a rescue.
Well, if Trump is so crazy to oust those Ukrainian refugees from USA, I ask them to relocate into Greece. We are losing population, and we would easily accommodate them (western values, mostly orthodox Christians, hard working people, etc.)
Thanks for the updates. You write: «Governments should do their planning based on capabilities, not on intentions. Intentions can change in an instant.» Yes, ideally so, but the electorate doesn’t. It focuses on intentions. That EU is now trying to do something about its capabilities after «only» three years is actually a wonder.
Not only the West didn't react, the US increased the crisis in the home defence industry. The US didn't have TNT production before last years. Ukraine produced and sold 500 tons of TNT to the US in 2021. Ukraine had the TNT plant in Rubizhne Luhansk Oblast. It's only 35 km away from the DNR. As for me, this reason was so essential for why the Russians conducted the first strike in this direction.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-artillery/
"Governments should do their planning based on capabilities, not on intentions. Intentions can change in an instant."
Couldn't agree more 👍
The West to react? Just see what is happening in Germany - as soon as Merz proposes big spending on defense, the most hawkish up-to-now Greens rejected it, so it wouldn’t pass. How to rearm? With plant-based polymer tanks on lithium-ion batteries and carbon prices on ammo !? With the Green talibans that are all over the West demanding more and more sacrifices to the gods of climate change (most of the policies are costly but hust futile), sorry Europe can’t support neither Ukraine nor its own economy.
A friend is housing a Ukrainian woman. I asked him what she thought of Trump. He tells me she is terrified someone will knock on the door and take her away. Just another data point for you.
Tell that good women to go to GB or EU. We cannot say it loud because of russo-fasco-pop parties, but our business welcomes UA refugees.
https://antikor.com.ua/ru/articles/739047-bloomberg_kolichestvo_dezertirov_v_ukraine_prevyshaet_100_tysjach
Thanks Don. If the number of Russian deserters you stated, 50,000 people, is true, then there are twice as many in the Ukrainian army.
I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but I think the 155th Brigade alone had something like 2,000 deserters.
I also haven't seen a percentage, but many Ukrainians that desert do so because they don't trust the leadership and capabilities of the unit they're in and they want to go to a better unit to increase their chances of survival. Some desertions are people that just don't want to wait for the transfer process to be completed, to Ukraine tried to speed up the transfer process.
And then there are those that desert for other reasons, as well.
True, but given their manpower issues, Ukraine chose to accommodate. They've even given soldiers that deserted to a new unit a one-time pass.
I doubt there is "official policy" of executing prisoners, because the goal in any war is to get enemy soldiers to surrender rather than fight. That said, there is such a thing as soldiers' justice. In past wars, snipers were usually killed on the spot. Same with machinegunners who were rude and kept shooting until the last minute (if a gunner surrendered at a polite distance, the attacking troops would probably spare him). Drone operators are the least popular people right now, so it is no surprise that there is a tendency to kill them, whether or not the act is officially sanctioned.
If you were trying to influence Ukrainian soldiers to surrender, that would make sense. If you were trying to terrorize, or if you didn't care, then that isn't even a factor. Maybe you're not even trying to terrorize Ukrainian soldiers but rather intimidate your own soldier into not surrendering. Between killing enemy prisoners and trying to kill your own soldiers that try to surrender, maybe fewer of your own soldiers surrender. There have been quite a few Russians that were worried about being shot and tortured. There have been a lot of Russian soldiers that committed suicide.
We know in some cases there have been orders given over the radio to execute prisoners, so it's a policy of some units. Whether it is a policy at a higher level or there is just indifference at that level is unknown. The killings are at least being tolerated.
Ukrainian soldiers have also committed suicide. When a soldier is lying in the gray zone with his legs ripped up, he might elect a quicker way out. Or alternatively, not want his comrades to risk themselves in a rescue.
Thank you so very much.
Well, if Trump is so crazy to oust those Ukrainian refugees from USA, I ask them to relocate into Greece. We are losing population, and we would easily accommodate them (western values, mostly orthodox Christians, hard working people, etc.)
the way things are going, the men at least will be re-located straight to the frontline.
"China's approach, which is peace, friendship, goodwill and win-win cooperation."
There is no win-win with peace, friendship, goodwill or aid from China. The CCP always looks to the future geopolitical benefits to China.
Thanks for the updates. You write: «Governments should do their planning based on capabilities, not on intentions. Intentions can change in an instant.» Yes, ideally so, but the electorate doesn’t. It focuses on intentions. That EU is now trying to do something about its capabilities after «only» three years is actually a wonder.