Russia and Ukraine

[The Architect Of Fate]

The Wall Street Journal reported a few days ago that the Pentagon just gave Ukraine permission to strike Crimea with US-supplied weapons.

In case there's any doubt about who's calling the shots.

Saying you will back your ally up if they attack Russian occupied Crimea is not calling the shots and supplying them with weapons to defend themselves  is not calling the shots.

[Belacqua]

Actually, what it did achieve is to show Russians that their haven in the stolen Crimea are not safe and that the Ukrainian resistance can reach them, especially now that the Russian army is getting their arses kicked.

Since the Ukrainians recently acknowledged responsibility for the car bombing in Moscow that killed the daughter of a nationalist writer, I expect it's been clear for a while that terrorists can "reach them" pretty much anywhere.

[The Architect Of Fate]

Since the Ukrainians recently acknowledged responsibility for the car bombing in Moscow that killed the daughter of a nationalist writer, I expect it's been clear for a while that terrorists can "reach them" pretty much anywhere.

This just reinforces the idea Russia isn't safe in its occupied lands. Also, it isn't terrorism to kill members of the Russian regime and his daughter was no less guilty than him.

[The Architect Of Fate]

This is what this so-called "author" (regime propagandist) believed and his daughter was no different 

https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-...an-empire/

Dugin, 60, has long advocated the unification of Russian-speaking and other territories in a vast new Russian empire, which he wants to include Ukraine.

He is as responsible for the war as any general.

[The Valkyrie]

Actually, what it did achieve is to show Russians that their haven in the stolen Crimea are not safe and that the Ukrainian resistance can reach them, especially now that the Russian army is getting their arses kicked.

Since the Ukrainians recently acknowledged responsibility for the car bombing in Moscow that killed the daughter of a nationalist writer, I expect it's been clear for a while that terrorists can "reach them" pretty much anywhere.

Didn't this woman advocate slaughtering Ukrainians and support Russian troops raping women and children?

Frankly, I don't agree with the action, but she was no loss to humanity.

[downbeatplumb]

It's appropriate that the bridge attack would be used in memes. And that Ukraine would troll about it on the Internet. That was its purpose.

The bridge is open again for traffic both ways. The attack didn't accomplish any military or strategic goal -- no supply lines were cut. Like so many things in this war, it was done as a media event. A big explosion looks like a win, and we know that people forget things almost immediately, so it doesn't matter if there are long-term consequences or not.

One thing it has accomplished: the very civilized people who oppose Russian barbarism are applauding and joking about suicide bombs that kills civilians. That's who we are now.

In other news (that won't get reported in Anglophone media): tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Paris today demanding that France get out of NATO, which is increasingly seen by Europeans as a force for oppression.

Images of the bridge show a at least one part of it proper fucked.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It's appropriate that the bridge attack would be used in memes. And that Ukraine would troll about it on the Internet. That was its purpose.

The bridge is open again for traffic both ways. The attack didn't accomplish any military or strategic goal -- no supply lines were cut. Like so many things in this war, it was done as a media event. A big explosion looks like a win, and we know that people forget things almost immediately, so it doesn't matter if there are long-term consequences or not.

One thing it has accomplished: the very civilized people who oppose Russian barbarism are applauding and joking about suicide bombs that kills civilians. That's who we are now.

In other news (that won't get reported in Anglophone media): tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Paris today demanding that France get out of NATO, which is increasingly seen by Europeans as a force for oppression.

Images of the bridge show a at least one part of it proper fucked.

The damage is worse than Bel (and Putin) would have us believe. The bridge is only partially open; various estimates place it as running at 40-60% of pre-explosion capacity. This makes supplying Crimea problematic (to put it mildly). Furthermore, lorries aren’t using the bridge - they’re being taken across the strait on ferries. You know what ferries are? Big, fat, slow targets.

Material aspects aside, this is HUGELY important to morale - it’s an ego-booster for the Ukrainians, who have always hated this structure, and damaging to already low Russian morale, since just three months ago, they declared the bridge un-attackable (and, for morale purposes, it doesn’t really matter if this was an actual attack or an accident).

Lastly, this bridge is Putin’s pride and joy - he was present at the opening of the bridge and drove a truck across it. Damage to it is likely to upset him enough that it’s going lead him into even more bad decisions.

Boru

[Belacqua]

Images of the bridge show a at least one part of it proper fucked.

As Valkyrie said, it was intended to send a message, so it's more than enough damage to accomplish that.

It's also likely to achieve the intended result, and provoke Moscow to respond with increased violence.

[Deesse23]

It's also likely to achieve the intended result, and provoke Moscow to respond with increased violence.

[Thumpalumpacus]

The bridge is open again for traffic both ways. The attack didn't accomplish any military or strategic goal -- no supply lines were cut. Like so many things in this war, it was done as a media event. A big explosion looks like a win, and we know that people forget things almost immediately, so it doesn't matter if there are long-term consequences or not.

You're ignoring the fact that 7 tanker cars full of fuel oil went up -- roughly 210,000 gallons. That's a lot of immobilized vehicles. Russian fuel stocks on Crimea are reported to be worth about two weeks' at standard usage. That is most certainly a military goal. And though the bridge was only put out of action for a few hours, had the attack been more successful, Russian reinforcements and supplies to Kherson would have been forced into traversing the Donbas, putting them within HIMARS/MLRS range. That is most certainly a military aim. That it was ultimately unsuccessful is sad, of course.

One thing it has accomplished: the very civilized people who oppose Russian barbarism are applauding and joking about suicide bombs that kills civilians. That's who we are now.

Uh, no. Maybe this is who you are, but I certainly haven't given you permission to speak for me. I personally find the entire war a tragedy made up of hundreds of thousands of small tragedies. I also understand that in defending one's country against invasion, innocent people are going to get killed by both sides.

This is a war. Civilians are going to get killed. The bridge is a vital strategic target. How would you approach preventing its use as a corridor for Russian troops and supplies to Kherson?

Odd that you only show up now when this happens. It's almost as if the only atrocities which interest you are ones which may have been committed by Ukrainians. Meanwhile, this happened overnight:

KYIV, Oct 9 (Reuters) - A Russian missile attack early on Sunday struck an apartment block and other residential buildings in Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 13 people and wounding 87 others, including 10 children, Ukrainian officials said.

[...]

The pre-dawn fusillade in Zaporizhzhia on Sunday was the second of its kind against the city in three days.

Russian aircraft launched at least 12 missiles, partially destroying a nine-storey apartment block, levelling five other residential buildings and damaging many more, Oleksandr Starukh, governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, said on state-run television.

At least 13 people died and 87 others were wounded, 60 of whom were hospitalized, regional officials said. The wounded included 10 children.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/rus...022-10-08/

Surely this too stokes your sanctimony?