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2022-04-18 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Day 53 impending still not started Battle of Donbas

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Posted by Lord Garth 2022-04-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 The main event has not started but there seems to be a lot of practice fighting going on.

Mariupol may be a hollow victory in the media wars, but it is a necessary part of the land corridor to Crimea.

Posted by SteveS 2022-04-18 08:53|| 2022-04-18 08:53|| Front Page Top

#2 Mariupol may have chewed up some valuable Russian infantry but it (1) cleared the land route to Sevastapol, and (2) frees up the rear of any subsequent northern push in the Donbas.

I am expecting a Pincer Attack on the Donbas Salient with the supporting attack coming from the south at Donetsk (troops that were fighting at Mariupol) and a strong northern thrust from Izium (troops that were concentrated from the abortive Kiev attacks). Mostly the Russians waiting for the ground to get better and concentrating things for a good, old fashioned "stop us if you can" WW2 Soviet armor and artillery thrust from Izium. It has taken them, so far, from Day 33 to rearrange their troops and get their logistical house in order -- one central push at a time may be all they can efficiently supply.

Posted by magpie 2022-04-18 09:54|| 2022-04-18 09:54|| Front Page Top

#3 Where's the Navy?
They're not waiting for the ground to dry.

Russia Expands ‘Powerful’ Cruise Missile Strikes to Western City of Lviv

Posted by Skidmark 2022-04-18 13:18|| 2022-04-18 13:18|| Front Page Top

#4 /\ :Meh: Remember Clinton launching cruise missiles?

Posted by magpie 2022-04-18 19:34|| 2022-04-18 19:34|| Front Page Top

#5 "a hollow victory" - LOL

The #1 stated objective of the war was to prevent NATO from using Ukraine as a bulwark ("demilitarize"). The completion of the land bridge to Crimea has extinguished that possibility.

The #2 objective was to destroy the Azov Battalion and other neonazis regiments that had terrified the Russian-speaking Donbas for 8 years. That too is about to be completed in Mariupol.

The third (unstated) objective has been to devastate Ukraine and make it even poorer than it was before the war -- to reduce it to subsistence status so that it will be dependent on foreign aid for another 30-40 years. In process.

Posted by Angavirong the Limber5428 2022-04-18 20:25|| 2022-04-18 20:25|| Front Page Top

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