Russian invasion of Ukraine

Don't have a English language source, but credible reports of mutinous tendencies inside the Russian 205th brigade. (These are the cunts who blew up the Khakova dam.) Sadly, it seems that the unrest has been firmly dealt with by now, but it follows quite soon after the Wagners march on Rostov and Moscow so one can always hope we're seeing the start of a trend? If so, I reckon it's not impossible that we'll see breaking point for the Russian army as whole in the not too distant future. That being said, the frustration from the soldiers on the ground are filtered through, and promoted by, the far right military bloggers, meaning a collapse of the Russian army wouldn't automatically lead to a chill and liberal post war Russia.

https://kyivindependent.com/new-brigade-bears-heavy-brunt-of-russias-onslaught-in-kharkiv-oblast/

Sobering account.

The Russians are covering parked aircraft in tyres to hide them from drones https://twitter.com/Tatarigami_UA/status/1698302027552436366

Apparently not a meme - verified by intel people

I suspect they're not trying to hide them but add some easily removable/accessible protection that can absorb some of the ball bearings that get released from the cardboard drones when they explode 100ft above the planes.

You're right. It's armour for planes.

Tyres do burn well…

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/03/us/cluster-weapons-ukraine-troops.html

Sounds like cluster munitions are worse than landmines.

Couldn't see Sunak telling a gag like this:

https://twitter.com/tendar/status/1698409181387112602?s=46&t=2PATd_OtsVdKlFqH4sTWPQ

Very good

Much giggles

The hermit king might visit the mad king.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/us/politics/putin-kim-meeting-russia-north-korea-weapons.html

Hadn’t seen that scar on KJu’s head depicted for a couple of years. Still no explanation for how he got it. Somewhat shocked to learn today he’s only 40.

CNN breathlessly reporting Elno was geofencing Starlink around Crimea about six months after it was being reported in real time is odd.

New book and it's in lots of news media today. I think previously, there wasn't a lot of precise detail but he supposedly did it to stop a specific set of drone attacks on the Russian navy to avoid inflicting "strategic defeat" on Russia. Supposedly he thought he was preventing a nuclear war... equally likely tho, is he likes Putin.

It's unlikely that Musk could have given that order without the knowledge of the US government. This then begs the question: was it Musk's idea or was he acting on an order from the White House, fearful of the consequences of attacking Crinea?

It's unlikely that Musk could have given that order without the knowledge of the US government

SpaceX is a private company and Elol is just a businessman providing service.

Wouldn't be very "land of the free" of US government to tell him what to do?

He who pays the piper etc

It's unlikely that Musk could have given that order without the knowledge of the US government.

Please don't devalue the thread by venturing into conspiraloonery.

Agreed with the sentiment but how’s it conspiraloonery? It’s public knowledge he was on the phone with concerned White House and pentagon officials that day.

The relationship between Musk and the US government including his discussions with officials vis-à-vis Starlink is covered in some detail in this very long but interesting New Yorker piece:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/08/28/elon-musks-shadow-rule

The US government are now paying him to provide Starlink in Ukraine, so they're definitely telling him what to do now.

The idea that Biden has a secret agenda to help Russia win is absurd conspiraloonery. Plus the idea that six naval drones, which might sink one ship if they're lucky, constitute an escalation which could provoke a nuclear response....that's also bonkers conspiraloonery. These theories are just the result of overthinking about Musk. He's addicted to the attention and status. He has psychological/psychiatric problems. That's the end of it.

Not sure how you read that from OP’s post tbh.

I disagree about the naval drones. We don’t know their full capabilities, and the Ukrainians have proven very creative in using whatever tools they have. The concerns about escalation, in my understanding, stem from the assessment of Putin as a strongman who doubles down instead of losing face, and readily uses violence to send a message. If the US assessed that Ukraine rapidly destroying the ‘famous’ Black Sea Fleet would cause Putin to react with nukes, they’d probably pressure Ukraine to consider other ways and means.

Weeping dicks.

Right, I absolutely forgot this

Read that Antonov are leading the charge to make Ukraine the world’s foremost military drone manufacturer. Presumably more quadcopter than Reaper, at least initially.

They didn’t take the loss of their big plane well.