Russia-Ukraine war and related tensions Megathread

[TWTown]

Is it possible Ukraine can create a Stalingrad type trap for the Russians

They'd need to halt the Russian advance and then somehow find the reserves for the counter-attack. The Red Army had a 2-1 numerical advantage on the Germans when they launched Operation Uranus.

[TWTown]

Does Ukraine have any sort of WMD’s or no

No. Ukraine had the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world (after Russia and the USA) after the dissolution of the USSR. They destroyed them in exchange for financial assistance and security assurances from Russia and the USA/UK.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/ASBMilitary/status/1496705649006333955?s=20&t=dtRgI_KEwH...

Take any unconfirmed reports with a grain of salt ofc.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/ASBMilitary/status/1496705649006333955?s=20&t=dtRgI_KEwH...

Take any unconfirmed reports with a grain of salt ofc.

If true, it's a major blow though. Mariupol is the 10th largest city in Ukraine and a valuable port/defensive city for the Ukrainian Army.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/ASBMilitary/status/1496705649006333955?s=20&t=dtRgI_KEwH...
Take any unconfirmed reports with a grain of salt ofc.

What I can see, there is only bombing of military infrastructure so far.

Yeah, I don't know how legitimate these twitter accounts are so everything is unconfirmed until it is confirmed.

https://twitter.com/lukeharding1968/status/1496708164993134595?s=20&t=MJHwQx...

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1496709533661646850

OK, this is bad, if true (needs confirmation). Russia may be attacking Moldova also, not just Ukraine.

I saw a report of this 5-10 minutes ago but assumed it must be a mistake, but this is 2nd report I saw.

If it is true, WHAT THE HELL ?? MOLDOVA ??

This was actually somewhat expected (if true). There were reports a week ago or so that intelligence was indicatin they might also attack Moldova.

However, Moldova is not in NATO.

But also this:

https://twitter.com/NATOBrazeB/status/1496706076334510080

Article 4:

The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/ASBMilitary/status/1496705649006333955?s=20&t=dtRgI_KEwH...
Take any unconfirmed reports with a grain of salt ofc.

If true, it's a major blow though. Mariupol is the 10th largest city in Ukraine and a valuable port/defensive city for the Ukrainian Army.

Indeed, and the fact that the city fell in 2 hours? I find this unbelievable, even if the Ukrainian military simply retreated without fighting and there is a lot of pro-Russian support in Mariupol. It would take more than 2 hours to just occupy the city I'd imagine.

ASB seems to just be solely disinformation so my scant trust for them seems to have been misplaced. I'll avoid posting them from now on.

[TWTown]

I'm very skeptic on Moldova since it's not exactly a pro-NATO state. I'll wait for actual confirmation on that.

[TWTown]

I'm very skeptic on Moldova since it's not exactly a pro-NATO state. I'll wait for actual confirmation on that.

Yeah, evidently it was a "misunderstanding".
https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1496712661395988485?s=20&t=tfO7oA3m0...

Transninstria makes a lot more sense. There is a Russian presence there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Group_of_Russian_Forces

[TWTown]

I don't think the Ukrainian Army would stand much of a chance, unfortunately. Not only is it outnumbered but with the current qualify of the two forces, it's also heavily outgunned. The bigger issue for Russia would be stomaching the economic consequences of an invasion.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/MattMcBradley/status/1496708286036557827?s=20&t=0QWt_Nen...

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/AmichaiStein1/status/1496717764807077891?s=20&t=1fWdcwsR...

To the surprise of no one, Belarus has joined in.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/idreesali114/status/1496718922539847683?s=20&t=qTjlVP1zm...

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1496722024709988354?s=20&t=8dCA5bS5CH37...

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1496726678982524929?s=20&t=pLucTW7JmP7YmF...

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/swarthydylan/status/1496725521958375428

I don't think that video is legit unless the shootdown happened hours ago. It's already been on twitter for hours with the claim that it was a Ukrainian UAV that was shot down. https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1496694092239192065?s=20&t=AYsTyVPXQVnKc...

[TWTown]

It could be that Putin wants to use the status of Luhansk and Donestsk to push the border up to the Dniper, thereby leaving a rump Western Ukrainian state with Kyiv still as it's capital while swallowing up the rest of Ukraine. This is just speculation though and Putin's aims are included in the fog of war.

Edit: On second thought, I can't see Putin pushing up to the Dniper and not annexing Kiev even if it's not the same bank of the Dniper.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1496728584836489224?s=20&t=8dCA5bS5CH37lV...

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1496730367881269257?s=20&t=DyOwc1hZ7lk6ub...

Rest in peace.

[TWTown]

https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1496730367881269257?s=20&t=DyOwc1hZ7lk6ub...

Rest in peace.

Not seeing it on the Wall Street Journal (and I have a paid subscription).

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news

Unless it's on the podcast gig or hasn't been updated yet....

I trust BNO but just to be sure, I checked for a second source.
https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1496707939704483847?s=20&t=DBzEzmi...