Three elevators in the tower fell from a height of 1,509 feet because of the fire, igniting another fire on the ground floor,
What the hell?
Three elevators in the tower fell from a height of 1,509 feet because of the fire, igniting another fire on the ground floor,
INDEEDWhat the hell?
I ain't going to lie, jward, but reading that made me freak out a little, but a few seconds later, my brain was thinking "there is no way".
Shashank Joshi
@shashj
4h
“A [Ukrainian] military-intelligence officer says that forward units are now within sniper range (a kilometre or so) of Kherson’s outer suburbs. “The next week or two will be even more interesting,” he promises.”
View: https://twitter.com/shashj/status/1543724663519559682?s=20&t=miVzr4DIZnPa-yH1I-KSiA
Perhaps a classic example of a rather Pyrrhic "victory" for the media. But the bleeding grunts and displaced citizens (who have finally been getting their lives put back together recently with functioning administrations despite assassinations) will most likely have a much different point of view.My only military service was as a rifleman (NCO qualified) in a foreign army, though I also did some work as a war correspondent. None of that qualifies me as any sort of military 'exspurt' though I've followed and studied these things for many decades. Maybe I know a little more than the average bear.
Having followed the Russo-Ukraine war rather closely - and trying desperately not to be partisan - I think Ukraine is losing rather badly. On the other hand, I think they've put up a much stronger showing than the Russians expected. The offensive on Kherson illustrates the major reason the Ukes are failing: Even if we are to assume that the Ukrainians will be successful, we then have to ask, "So what?"
Taking Kherson - which they are certain to subsequently lose - offers absolutely no strategic benefits and will be achieved only with an extreme expenditure of blood and treasure. It would only be a temporary and quickly forgotten victory. Additionally, it will only play to Russia's strengths, as the inevitable manpower losses are more easily replaced by the Russians than the Ukrainians.
The Ukrainians often to seem to play more to the western press than they do to battlefield realities and an assault on Kherson would be yet another example of this.
Best
Doc
What do you consider the entire eastern Ukraine?Jward, the ukies are trapped in their own propaganda. They see snipers on the outer perimeter of Kherson as a good thing, and a sign of strength. I see it as a sign of reacting to a shattering and decisive ukie military defeat. The ukies just lost the entire eastern ukraine, except for a few scraps. Russia will be rolling up to this new Ukie sniper bastion atvkherson and shell it for a week and roll towards liev.
The war is over and the ukies are sending snipers to fight artillery brigades. Zippy will now get even more 15 year old kids killed off in his jihad. One maßacre of kherson coming up.
China is poking both sides. I believe Xi is the one that was whispering in Putins ear about NATO and the Ukraine. Played his ego. They use their agents in the West to push harder and spend more material and treasure. China wants Taiwan and needs resources. Cant take Taiwan without a significanr reduction of US air and naval power in the region. Easiest resources to take are to the north of China in the Russian Far East and Siberia.Just tossing this out - China plays a long game - would not be surprised if they are not indirectly influencing and pushing the West to keep this going. The US/UK/NATO are running through the bulk of their ammo and weapons reserves. When China makes its move the West will be hard pressed to engage them.
The West thinks they are weakening Russia - China knows that actually it is Russia that is draining the blood from the West.
Coincidence no doubt that the cameraman was handy for the "display".
IMHO the dividing line between east and west would be the Dniper River, everything east of that is....eastern Ukraine. It's also the dividing line between eastern and western Slavs. Who have fought each other for thousands of years.What do you consider the entire eastern Ukraine?
Coincidence no doubt that the cameraman was handy for the "display".
What the hell?
You have a very interesting point. Keep in mind I am no expert in any sense of the word, but the grid consists of power plants and the host of high voltage power transmission lines that string this electricity to cities, farms, businesses and homes.Hell, they can't even take down the grid in ukraine.
Putin is purposely not targeting the grid, etc. He could have shut the country down in a week if he wanted too.You have a very interesting point. Keep in mind I am no expert in any sense of the word, but the grid consists of power plants and the host of high voltage power transmission lines that string this electricity to cities, farms, businesses and homes.
Natural storms take down small and large sections of the grid all the time. Crews are typically out there repairing the damage within hours or days. My point is, for the grid to be taken out completely would take either multiple (as in hundreds or thousands) of attacks with conventional weapons, or the EMP.
The Uke's have obviously suffered hundreds of attacks on their various electrical grid components either by purposeful targeting or unintended consequence of Russian attacks. And they still have much of their grid alive as well as cell towers depending on the grid so they can use their phones.
IMHO the dividing line between east and west would be the Dniper River, everything east of that is....eastern Ukraine. It's also the dividing line between eastern and western Slavs. Who have fought each other for thousands of years.
In tracing my 2X G grandmother's line/genealogy it traces to rulers in Kiev, and Poland who married to form alliances and fight the eastern Slavs, on the other side of the river. Reading the history of that area from the 700's through to now is fascinating.
Biblical: "...nothing new under the sun...." comes to mind.
Hell, they can't even take down the grid in ukraine.
Well said, Doc. It's pretty amazing that there are any functioning utilities happening in the battle zones, but there it is for anyone who cares to see. It speaks of tremendous restraint, yet everyone likes to say how the Russkies are just incompetent and couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag. I commend the restraint; we also see the other side when restraint fails and it's wartime typical ravaging.The Russians have intentionally allowed the Ukrainian grid to remain standing. The same is also true of the cell networks and other utilities.
Despite the refusal of some on this board to credit Mr. Putin with any humanitarian inclinations, he has in fact attempted to minimize civilian casualties. This is difficult to do in any war, not matter how benevolent its leaders might be. Members of this board should recall that all of our military adventures - Korea, Vietnam, various Middle East wars, etc. - resulted in huge civilian casualties. This post is in no way an effort to either justify or vilify civilian casualties, but only to illustrate that they are a sad reality of warfare, irrespective of who's pulling the strings..
The Russians' restraint - thus far - in taking out public utilities, indicates to my mind a genuine desire not to create mayhem and a (greater) humanitarian crisis. They certainly aren't being given any credit for it. Imagine if the remaining large Ukrainian cities, such as Kiev, Lviv, Kharkov and Odessa suddenly went dark. It's not totally selfless. The Russians gain valuable intel by allowing the communications networks to stand, but this advantage is more than outweighed by the disadvantages the Russian military suffers by allowing a functioning electrical grid to remain to the Ukrainians.
There would be almost instantaneous hunger and medical emergencies, followed immediately by true starvation and an indescribable refugee crisis. Such a scenario would cause the Ukrainian military effort to be even more of a mess than it currently is. Can you imagine the Ukrainian authorities attempting to manage the war effort while simultaneously trying to feed and accommodate millions of starving and ill civilians?
As difficult as it is to believe, there are many in Russian leadership circles who believe that Putin is too soft and that he should target the civilian infrastructure! The hardliners believe, quite correctly, that dropping the electrical grid would play havoc with Ukraine's military efforts and would save Russian soldier's lives.
The idea that Russia is incapable of dropping the Ukrainian grid is ridiculous. It could be done in twenty minutes or so without breaking a sweat.
Best
Doc