Grace Mappes, Riley Bailey, Angelica Evans, Karolina Hird, Brian Carter and Frederick W. Kagan
March 23, 2024
Russian authorities claimed to have arrested the four attackers and seven others involved in the March 22 “Crocus City Hall” concert venue attack, which Russian authorities reported killed at least 133 civilians. ISW assesses that the Islamic State (IS) is very likely responsible for the Crocus City Hall attack. The Kremlin nevertheless and without evidence quickly attempted to tie Ukrainian actors to the Crocus City Hall attack but has yet to formally accuse Ukraine of involvement in the attack. Russian ultranationalists responded to the attack by reiterating typically xenophobic calls for anti-migrant policies, reflecting the growing tension in Russian society over the mistreatment of migrants and the impacts migrant disenfranchisement could have on expanding a viable recruitment base in Russia for Salafi-Jihadi groups. Russian sources accused Ukrainian actors of reportedly conducting a successful drone strike against a Russian oil refinery in Samara Oblast on the night of March 22 to 23. Russia is reportedly delaying the delivery of two S-400 air defense systems to India, likely due to limitations in Russia’s production of S-400 systems, an increased need for air defense systems to protect cities and strategic enterprises in Russia from Ukrainian drone strikes, and a reported souring of Russian relations with India. Russian forces made confirmed advances near Avdiivka and Donetsk City and in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on March 23 that will release individuals from criminal liability if they are called up for mobilization or sign military service contracts.
"Russia sucks." ---- Me, US Army (retired) 12B & 51B
Russian Admiral said, after the Moskva sank, "we have the world's worst navy but we aren't as bad as our army".
51 Russians have been murdered worldwide since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The common thread in the murders is all of the victims were vocal critics of the war against Ukraine or had defected from Russia.
Another oil refinery was struck last night causing widespread damage and fires. Ukraine drones hit the refinery located in the Samara region . No fatalities were reported.
The US supplies Ukraine with 250 M1117 armored security vehicles. The vehicles recently arrived in Ukraine after delays due to teaching maintenance procedures.
The US shipment of man portable surface to air Stinger missiles has been delivered to Ukraine to counteract Russian air operations and attacks. The number of the Stingers deployed was not specified in the report.
Russia has given up on and abandoned use of their 2100 heavy duty Chinese golf carts formerly used for transport of squads and other sized troops behind their lines. The idea of their use was for rapid response of personnel to other areas.
Ukraine Drones have wiped out those that were in use.
Russia has given up on and abandoned use of their 2100 heavy duty Chinese golf carts formerly used for transport of squads and other sized troops behind their lines. The idea of their use was for rapid response of personnel to other areas.
Ukraine Drones have wiped out those that were in use.
Why is this fuggin thread still showing up on the 1st and 2nd page? Just let it die already.
Because threads move to the top when someone adds a post. For example, when you asked why it's still on the first page, it moved to the top of the list.
I’m fairly a fairly-knowledge and well-studied student of military history and a war veteran myself, but I am not omniscient.
This is a legitimate question:
I cannot think of a single conventional major military campaign between two conventional militaries (not talking about guerrilla warfare) from the beginning of WWII until February 24, 2022 where one side did not achieve air supremacy.
Is that not correct?
And furthermore, I cannot think of one example of conventional-to-conventional where the side with air supremacy lost?
That is what makes this seem like such an aberration, but also consistent with the above.
Neither side has air supremacy (as opposed to some modest air superiority), and … it is a stalemate. Unsurprising to me.
Say what you want, but, aside from all that, Russia’s inability to dominate the skies over Ukraine suggests to me that we could put scores of F22s, F35s, and B-2s over Moscow or any battleground NATO may have with Russia. That, plus the reality that Russia has an economy the size of Texas’s economy, aside from the NATO allies, suggests that a conventional war between Russia and NATO would end poorly for Russia.
But Russia has nukes. Whether they are spending the massive amounts of money to maintain those as functional, rather than just a perceived deterrent, is curious to me.
I asked my father this question some years ago. He was a nuclear scientist in NM. All he said was: "If I knew, I could not tell you."
