LMCane said:

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I saw some of the footage of the motorcycle attacks - it was so bizarre

three motorcycles with 2 men on each- just trying to drive through deep underbrush near a tree line until they are all wacked and then set on fire.

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Yeah in Russia you don't just die a usual bullet riddled death. It's that and then fire. Always fire.

Biden gives Ukraine permission to carry out limited strikes within Russia using US weapons

Quote:

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President Joe Biden has given permission to Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory with American munitions, though he has restricted their use so Kyiv can only hit targets over the border close to Kharkiv after Russia made significant advances around the city in the northeastern part of the country close to the Russian border, two US officials told CNN.

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Reports of strikes on the Russian port of Kavkaz near Kerch, and an attempted strike on the port in Novorossiysk. Details to come. Apparently the attack may still be ongoing.

Really hope Ukraine brings down the Kerch Bridge. Would be great, doubly so if they can figure out a way to hamper the railways in the occupied South.

One of the limited possibilities for Ukraine to disrupt the movement of trains on the new Donetsk-Mariupol railway line is to strike this bridge in Hranitne, which has been recently completed, as the @planet HR image taken on May 24th shows. https://t.co/EckupRvB0m pic.twitter.com/vqb09EISRk

— Mark Krutov (@kromark) May 30, 2024

'Worse than hell.'

“Russia is beating western capitals in securing artillery supplies on international markets, the Czech government has said, warning that delayed payments to arms companies could lead to millions of ammunition rounds being sent to Moscow instead of Kyiv.”
https://t.co/WHV94f9tL3

— Franz-Stefan Gady (@HoansSolo) May 31, 2024

During two years of war, not a single pipeline exporting Russian gas to Europe was damaged pic.twitter.com/sXwralMKdL

— senore_amore (@SenoreAmore) May 30, 2024

Sitrep:

Rybar Live: Special military operation, May 30
Mikhail Zvinchuk, head of the Russian think tank Rybar: «On the Avdiivka direction, it appears that we have leveled the front line from Solovyevo to Berdychi and managed to somewhat cut the pocket where the AFU had been» pic.twitter.com/FbJStgf4EK

— Rybar Force (@rybar_force) May 31, 2024

Big losses for orc yesterday. 14 tanks not including MLTBs.

Andrew notes the ferries damaged as rail ferries. Would like to see more info on that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1d4t75n/a_high_number_of_abandoned_russian_armored/#lightbox

"The Ukrainian General Staff released satellite imagery of what it says was a U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) strike on Russian ferries in Kerch. The ferries have been critical for transporting Russian troops and materiel heading to the front lines, especially during interruptions with traffic on the bridge." These are very large ferries, capable of loading entire freight trains, for example. Report includes other updates from the front.

Today's SITREP.

This is a big deal.

"The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," a U.S. official told The War Zone. "Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed."

"Russia is staging its forces across the border and firing from there, this includes launching airstrikes using glide bombs from Russian territory. This would presumably allow Ukraine to now fire on all these target types, taking away this safe haven for Russian forces."

This reads as the US giving Ukraine permission to use our weapons for short-range attacks into Russia in the Kharkiv region, but not long-range attacks as, for example, the UK and France have allowed. Regardless, the "Kharkiv region" can be liberally interpreted to include most of northeastern Ukraine and adjacent Russian territory. Since that region has been the focus of Russian offensive ops for some time now, this allows Ukraine to go after Russian troop assembly points and materiel depots before they move into Ukraine. We should take the gloves all the way off, but this policy adjustment is a step in the right direction.

WEAPONS
NATO

Of course we are only seeing the topside but besides the hole on top of the deck it doesn't look like it destroyed the ships, just damaged. Even damaging them is a big win, just wish they had something else that could destroy the bigger ships that don't have their own munitions on them where you get secondary explosions.

P.U.T.U said:

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Of course we are only seeing the topside but besides the hole on top of the deck it doesn't look like it destroyed the ships, just damaged. Even damaging them is a big win, just wish they had something else that could destroy the bigger ships that don't have their own munitions on them where you get secondary explosions.

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"The strike inflicted substantial damage on two ferries responsible for rail and vehicle transportation. One of the ferries ran aground, effectively blocking the entire Kerch crossing."

Another REPORT.

P.U.T.U said:

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Of course we are only seeing the topside but besides the hole on top of the deck it doesn't look like it destroyed the ships, just damaged. Even damaging them is a big win, just wish they had something else that could destroy the bigger ships that don't have their own munitions on them where you get secondary explosions.

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It's possible it minor, but that sure looks like the warhead detonated down below after passing through the deck to me.

74OA said:

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P.U.T.U said:

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Of course we are only seeing the topside but besides the hole on top of the deck it doesn't look like it destroyed the ships, just damaged. Even damaging them is a big win, just wish they had something else that could destroy the bigger ships that don't have their own munitions on them where you get secondary explosions.

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"The strike inflicted substantial damage on two ferries responsible for rail and vehicle transportation. One of the ferries ran aground, effectively blocking the entire Kerch crossing."

Another REPORT.

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That is a win, now destroy the tugs that come get them

When we lead, others follow. We just have to muster the courage to lead. "Germany has said Ukrainian forces can use German-sent weapons against military targets inside Russia, following a similar decision from the US."

UPDATES

Haven't kept up with this in many months, who is deemed to be winning, if either?

one safe place said:

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Haven't kept up with this in many months, who is deemed to be winning, if either?

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Neither side can do a lot, though Russia has the initiative at the moment. With F16s, other aid, and doctrine changes, this could shape up to be an interesting year.

one safe place said:

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Haven't kept up with this in many months, who is deemed to be winning, if either?

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Neither.

Ukraine is holding its own in a war of attrition with the supposed second most power army in the world despite our politicians forcing them to fight under stupid rules of engagement.

AgLA06 said:

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one safe place said:

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Haven't kept up with this in many months, who is deemed to be winning, if either?

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Neither.

Ukraine is holding its own in a war of attrition with the supposed second most power army in the world despite our politicians forcing them to fight under stupid rules of engagement.

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and there is a reason for this. Draw it out and grind Russia's war machine to dust. We are sending 30 year old military surplus to Ukraine and they are still stalemating RU. If the West went all out from the beginning, Ukraine would most likely have much of the territory they lost including Crimea.

We want RU to bleed and are using Ukraine to do it.

This is where I knew that Doctorow guy was a schill. Putin sending meat waves says "I love you…"

DCPD158 said:

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AgLA06 said:

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one safe place said:

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Haven't kept up with this in many months, who is deemed to be winning, if either?

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Neither.

Ukraine is holding its own in a war of attrition with the supposed second most power army in the world despite our politicians forcing them to fight under stupid rules of engagement.

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and there is a reason for this. Draw it out and grind Russia's war machine to dust. We are sending 30 year old military surplus to Ukraine and they are still stalemating RU. If the West went all out from the beginning, Ukraine would most likely have much of the territory they lost including Crimea.

We want RU to bleed and are using Ukraine to do it.

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More specifically, we want RU to bleed, but not at the cost of a miscalculation that widens the war to NATO or potentially starts WWIII. There is still plenty about this fight with a nuclear armed nation that calls for caution, particularly now that Putin's back is slowing getting pushed against the wall after two years of failure.

Above all else, we want Ukraine to survive as an independent nation with our support so that other dictators learn that aggression carries a heavy price and are deterred.

Russians can't be too careful these days ...

Quote:

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"Russians are claiming they made a column of armor and began to march forward from Kursk. During the march, they were struck, they say the first and last vehicles were destroyed, and then the middle was systematically destroyed. They say the manner of their march was in the style of 2022, and that the damage was catastrophic. Ukrainians aren't saying this, Russian milbloggers are."

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pic.twitter.com/DOhihI70Jd

— Andrew Perpetua (@AndrewPerpetua) June 1, 2024

Russian casualties hit a record high in May, according to Kyiv, after Ukraine reported the highest daily number of losses since Moscow launched its invasion effort in February 2022.

Russian forces in Ukraine lost 38,940 fighters last month, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Saturday, marking what Ukraine described as the "highest monthly number since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

PJYoung said:

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Russian casualties hit a record high in May, according to Kyiv, after Ukraine reported the highest daily number of losses since Moscow launched its invasion effort in February 2022.

Russian forces in Ukraine lost 38,940 fighters last month, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Saturday, marking what Ukraine described as the "highest monthly number since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

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I'd take that with a grain of salt. Both sides have plenty of reason to embellish. I think the Russian MoD said something like 35,000 Ukrainian losses.

It's another record 🔥
1160 russian artillery systems were destroyed in May.

It's the biggest number of artillery losses in two years of the war. And Ukrainian warriors continue to transform russian weapons into scrap metal. pic.twitter.com/86YXj1a38U

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 1, 2024

Those are doubtful figures, imho, if for no other reason than that there has been no reported decrease (including by the Ukrainian outlets) in Russian rates of artillery fire, to my knowledge. One of today's sitreps:

⚡️🚨‼️ Latest report is here, get it while it's hot: https://t.co/6t0D6WSyEj#war #russia #ukraine #geopolitics #politics #nato #putin #zelensky pic.twitter.com/B1hB1h7Wn2

— SIMPLICIUS Ѱ (@simpatico771) June 2, 2024

The glide bombs are also very devastating and being employed more weekly:


The putative/rumored response to the OTH radar attacks makes sense, would of course be better than a tactical nuclear one:

nortex97 said:

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The putative/rumored response to the OTH radar attacks makes sense, would of course be better than a tactical nuclear one:

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Well, they may TRY to attack those US assets...

Ag with kids said:

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nortex97 said:

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The putative/rumored response to the OTH radar attacks makes sense, would of course be better than a tactical nuclear one:

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Well, they may TRY to attack those US assets...

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Then all restrictions on Ukraine should be removed.

AgLA06 said:

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Ag with kids said:

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nortex97 said:

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The putative/rumored response to the OTH radar attacks makes sense, would of course be better than a tactical nuclear one:

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Well, they may TRY to attack those US assets...

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Then all restrictions on Ukraine should be removed.

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Ok.

And, remember than Russia attacking them would be Russia attacking the US directly - not US assets being used by Ukraine.

Don't think Russia wants to cross that line...at least not yet.

Latest campaign assessment from ISW.

"Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces conducted a large-scale drone and missile strike mainly targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the night of May 31 to June 1.
• The current lack of clarity about US restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russian territory misses an opportunity to deter further Russian offensive efforts across the border into northern Ukraine.
• Individual Western governments are stipulating disparate policies about Ukraine's future use of Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that some Ukrainian reserve brigades remain understrength and stated that the slow arrival of US security assistance is complicating Ukrainian efforts to effectively commit reserves to ongoing defensive operations.
• Russian forces recently marginally advanced near Kupyansk, Chasiv Yar, and Avdiivka.
• The Russian Ministry of Justice designated the "Way Home" social movement, a movement of relatives of mobilized Russian servicemembers that has been calling for their relatives' demobilization, as a "foreign agent" on June 1."

UPDATE

Ag with kids said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Ag with kids said:

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nortex97 said:

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The putative/rumored response to the OTH radar attacks makes sense, would of course be better than a tactical nuclear one:

---

Well, they may TRY to attack those US assets...

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Then all restrictions on Ukraine should be removed.

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Ok.

And, remember than Russia attacking them would be Russia attacking the US directly - not US assets being used by Ukraine.

Don't think Russia wants to cross that line...at least not yet.

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They already splashed one in jet fuel and the houthis have shot down multiple wo any response effective in deterring any further shoot downs.

I am surprised russia hasn't shot any down yet, wont be surprised when they do, and convinced our response will again be wishy washy enough that the only benefactor is General Atomics or whomever MIC that is making these now.

They collided with one which downed it. Iran shot down a global hawk years ago without any direct response.

Chances are we wouldn't do anything but think that's the wrong way to go.

JFABNRGR said:

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Ag with kids said:

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AgLA06 said:

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Ag with kids said:

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nortex97 said:

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The putative/rumored response to the OTH radar attacks makes sense, would of course be better than a tactical nuclear one:

---

Well, they may TRY to attack those US assets...

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Then all restrictions on Ukraine should be removed.

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Ok.

And, remember than Russia attacking them would be Russia attacking the US directly - not US assets being used by Ukraine.

Don't think Russia wants to cross that line...at least not yet.

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They already splashed one in jet fuel and the houthis have shot down multiple wo any response effective in deterring any further shoot downs.

I am surprised russia hasn't shot any down yet, wont be surprised when they do, and convinced our response will again be wishy washy enough that the only benefactor is General Atomics or whomever MIC that is making these now.

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Eh...the Houthis have shot down what, 5-6, since 2014...and all were OVER Yemen and engaged in either recce or strike. That's a considerably different situation than Russia shooting down one over International Waters.

Russian harassment of NATO flights, manned or unmanned, over International Waters is not terribly uncommon and has been going on for decades.

Global Hawk/Triton etc. is a lot different than a predator/avenger (MQ-9) type platform with hellfires. And Russia has A2A assets and launch platforms that are simply not analogous to the Houthi rebels.

This would by definition be a bloodless retaliation. It seems probable they will at the least attempt it. Notably, the range of the APG-66 radars on the MLU block 20 F-16's won't really help the UAF folks out with this threat, and it's not clear if the Saab platform will either.