re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

This is actually an area that I'm very excited to see what happens.

Ukroboronprom is the state-owned enterprise that has produced Ukrainian weapons and materiel. While it's certainly had some successes, I have read several times since the start of the war that the administration of its 67,000 employees has been less than ideal.

The challenge, of course, is that Ukraine's heavy industry was concentrated in the east of the country, in places such as Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Zaporizhzhia -- and factories in those places have been bombed.

But the deployment of NATO air defense has meant that much of the western part of Ukraine is mostly safe from Russian attack, and of course, new factories can also be built underground or in protected areas. Finally, Ukroboronprom can, as in this case, contract with factories in neighboring countries.

But the exciting part is that Ukroboronprom is about to officially cease to exist. Just two days ago, Ukraine's parliament passed the legislation that transforms Ukroboronprom from a government-run entity into a corporation, though of course, 100% of the stock will still be owned by the government.

For Ukroboronprom to be completely reorganized into a business corporation has the potential to substantially increase efficiency, especially when the process of setting up that corporation is under the oversight of Oleksandr Kamyshin, the new Minister of Strategic Industries.

Until last month, Kamyshin was the director of Ukraine's railway system, and he did a spectacular job. The performance of Ukrainian railways for military logistics as well as civilian transportation (especially important with the closure of Ukraine's airports) has been one of Ukraine's great success stories of the war.

I think Kamyshin is Ukraine's ablest administrator. I believe that putting him in charge of military production and weapons procurement will, in time, generate true achievements for Ukraine's military industry.

Edit: here's the link for the government decree on the Ukroboronprom transformation.

Just passing along an interesting follow on Twitter:

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Tom Shugart @tshugart3

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Tom's content is primarily focused on U.S. and China right now, specifically researching their military build up, comparing it to ours, and discussing our ability to protect our allies (Taiwan for example). I know this doesn't specifically relate to this war, but adds some context around our very own military capabilities as it relates to force and logistics. He has a lot of very informative threads that you can find yourself fully immersed in before you know it. I'd recommend some of his recent threads:

East Asia Airfields Development

Naval build up comparison between China and U.S.

I took a quick look at both links. At first glance he seems to be a little bit in the China fear porn side of things

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Tom's content is primarily focused on U.S. and China right now, specifically researching their military build up, comparing it to ours, and discussing our ability to protect our allies (Taiwan for example).

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There is a big difference between the Chinese navy and ours. Our Navy is a Blue Water navy able to project power anywhere on the globe. The Chinese navy does have a lot of tonnage but it is primarily a coastal navy. It doesn't pack any umphf much farther than beyond the South China sea. That does pose a major concern for shipping lanes from Asia to Africa, Middle East, India and even Europe.

This war has probably shown that the US military of 2022/2023 was not prepared to fight a prolonged conventional war after decades of retooling to fight asymetric forces and overpowered dictators

I would assume that is changing now and is going to be focused on China and I just dont see how China overcomes it but what do I know

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I tried reading the Political Board report but it was way to stupid.

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Yeah as always
I hope a Syria thread would be allowed to stay up on the OT so that normal people can post about it

Anyway, @NOELreports has excellent news for Ukraine that he's been asked not to share for now.

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I can be quite clear about the front. Things are happening around Bakhmut, not in favor of Russia. The front is at a standstill, and Russian troops are short of armored equipment. Without specifying a time frame. It's coming. Another more detailed update tomorrow.

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As I've said in other posts, I think Ukraine has the opportunity to roll Russia back south of Bakhmut. Ukraine has the high ground in that area and can attack downhill, while Russian logistics and maneuverability are likely compromised by the mud.

Ukraine media and military have been tight lipped around the times of their past two offenses. News has been slow again…..

If reports are true that Russia’s attack might be culminating then timing would be right

If this isn't propaganda, it is sickening how Russia is treating its soldiers.