Ukraine Watch...

[kenneal - lagger]

is systematically bombing the city of Kherson, which his troops retreated from but still claims is part of Russia, to make it uninhabitable.

The Russians are fighting a counter-force war whilst Ukraine is trying to hold/retain land.

This means that the Russian shelling in Kherson is primarily intended to kill soldiers rather than destroy buildings.

What's happening in Ukraine is the opposite of what you said above, Vortex. The Ukrainians are trying to regain their land and the Russians are trying to destroy what they can't have. The Russian campaign now in Kherson is about punishing the Ukrainians for resisting and defeating, throwing out, the Russians. As said above the Russians are conducting a scorched earth policy as they are driven back. They have given up in most areas killing soldiers and are taking their ire out on the civilian population by shelling Kherson and rocketing the power infrastructure.

[Vortex2]

What's happening in Ukraine is the opposite of what you said above, Vortex.

* Historically, Russia destroys facilities when it retreats.

* Kherson is now essentially free of civilians - but it has drawn in Ukrainian troops, who are now being hit by artillery.

I suspect that Russia strategy in Kherson is following Clausewitz rather than raw emotion.

As for the infrastructure attacks, Russia waited until late in the day to start these.

As a comparison, the US 'Shock and Awe' attacks in Iraq took out infrastructure on Day One.

[clv101]

What did you make of the Jeffrey Sachs interview, Ken?

[invalid]

Ukraine have also unapologetically targeted russian infrastructure.

[adam2]

Explosions reported at two russian military airfields, several dead.
Not near Ukraine, which suggests either sabotage or accidents.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63857451

[UndercoverElephant]

Ukraine have also unapologetically targeted russian infrastructure.

Ah yes, all those power stations, schools and hospitals that have been bombed in Russia. Oh, wait, there aren't any.

[kenneal - lagger]

Ukraine have also unapologetically targeted russian infrastructure.

Ah yes, all those power stations, schools and hospitals that have been bombed in Russia. Oh, wait, there aren't any.

Some people's contributions seem strangely in-valid!!

[PS_RalphW]

Some of the posters here went on several anti war marches (7 in my case) leading up to the second gulf war. It was clearly an illegal war which used extreme tactics which the UN rightfully refused to sanction. On one day over a million Britons marched against the invasion, a fact the government did its best to play down. A bit like the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Past wrongs in no way justify doing wrong now. How big have the anti war marches been this time?

[PS_RalphW]

Explosions reported at two russian military airfields, several dead.
Not near Ukraine, which suggests either sabotage or accidents.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63857451

There are suggestions that Ukraine have developed long range suicide drones of their own. Sabotage that far into Russian territory is unlikely, as is two simultaneous accidents. Russian retaliatory strikes suggests they know who was responsible.

[Vortex2]

"The Polish Army sends reservists summons for military exercises. 200,000 people are expected to be called up to the army this year. They have 14 days to pack up and check in at the military unit. Mandatory military exercises require taking unpaid leave, for which they are entitled to a small cash equivalent, so they think about how to avoid being drafted into the army."

Ramping up, step by step ...

https://www.eska.pl/slaskie/wojsko-pols ... -pune.html

[invalid]

Ukraine have also unapologetically targeted russian infrastructure.

Ah yes, all those power stations, schools and hospitals that have been bombed in Russia. Oh, wait, there aren't any.

Belgorad? The Kerch Bridge? None so blind as those who don't want to see

[UndercoverElephant]

Ukraine have also unapologetically targeted russian infrastructure.

Ah yes, all those power stations, schools and hospitals that have been bombed in Russia. Oh, wait, there aren't any.

Belgorad? The Kerch Bridge? None so blind as those who don't want to see

Kerch Bridge was a military target, and its effective closure was instrumental in forcing the Russians out of Kherson. Belgorad? Are you referring to three explosions Belgorod in July? If so, then it is rather obvious how desperately you are having to scrape the barrel to come up with examples. Ukraine has almost exclusively targeted Russian military targets, for the entire duration of the war. Russia has routinely and systematically attacked civilians and civilian infrastructure.

[kenneal - lagger]

Russian apologists really have no shame. Trying to compare a few individual strikes on military targets with the comprehensive Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure really is scraping the barrel especially when those few strikes have had more influence on the conduct of the war than all the Russian carnage put together.

Despite all the provocations the Ukrainians have stuck to military targets probably partly because they don't have the munitions to waste. The shorter the Russians have got of ammunition the more they seem to be attacking civilians. If you rule by fear, as Putin has always done, that is all you can see to use as a weapon. He hasn't worked out yet that no one is in fear of him now. He is a busted flush.

[kenneal - lagger]

Perhaps we should stop referring to Russians and Russian forces because it isn't Russia's war it is Putin's war. Russia has no reason to fight Ukraine, there was manifestly no threat from Ukraine. The reason was Putin's personal desire to Make Russia Great Again and to enrich himself and his fellow oligarchs. There was also the fact that a successful, western leaning democracy on his doorstep with many people who had close familial connections across the border would have been an intense embarrassment and, as such, a threat to his and his oligarch friends' hold on power in Russia.

So this is Putin's War and not to Russia's advantage at all, in fact it is costing Russia dearly with not only the death toll of Russia's young men when the country has a very low population anyway but also the sudden rush of its young and intelligent out of the country to escape both Putin's misrule and his conscription.

So I for one will now in future make reference to Putin, Putin's forces and Putin's interests where ever possible. This will make it more difficult for the likes of Vortex and especially in-valid to criticise any contributions which take issue with Putin's attack on his peaceable neighbour.

[PS_RalphW]

There are suggestions that Ukraine have developed long range suicide drones of their own. Sabotage that far into Russian territory is unlikely, as is two simultaneous accidents. Russian retaliatory strikes suggests they know who was responsible.

Needless to say the retaliation was targeted at civilian infrastructure