re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

March 14, 5:00 pm ET

Russian forces made small territorial gains in Luhansk Oblast on March 14 but did not conduct any major attacks toward Kyiv or in northeastern Ukraine. Russian forces continue to assemble reinforcements and attempt to improve logistical support in both the Kyiv and southern operational directions. Ongoing Russian efforts to replace combat losses with both Russian replacements and non-Russian sources, including Syrian fighters and the Wagner Group, are unlikely to enable Russia to resume major offensive operations within the coming week.

Key Takeaways

Russian forces conducted several limited attacks northwest of Kyiv on March 14, unsuccessfully attempting to bridge the Irpin River.

Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations east of Kyiv and continued to prioritize improving logistics and reinforcing combat units.

The continued ability of Ukrainian forces to carry out successful local counterattacks around Kharkiv indicates that Russian forces are unlikely to successfully bypass Kharkiv from the southeast to advance toward Dnipro and Zaporizhia in the near term.

Russian and proxy forces continue to achieve slow but steady territorial gains in Donetsk Oblast after initial failures in the first week of the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian forces halted resumed Russian attacks from Kherson toward Mykolayiv and Kryvyi Rih on March 14.

Russia will likely deploy small units of Syrian fighters to Ukraine within the week and is confirmed to have deployed private military company (PMC) forces.

Russian and Belarusian forces increased their activity near the Ukrainian border in the last 24 hours in a likely effort to pin down Ukrainian forces but likely do not have the capability to open a new axis of advance into western Ukraine.

Russia and China deny that Russia seeks military aid from China and claimed that Russia does not need additional military support to complete its objectives in Ukraine.

quote:

---

Is “soft power” the buzz phrase du jour? That one must’ve been making the rounds on tv and social media today. Even though it’s been used incorrectly, or at least inaccurately, nearly everytime I’ve seen it in this thread.

---

I want to say I don’t know why this was downvoted so much, but at this point I know. Lol.

Simple google search would show the downvotes this post is accurate.

It’s probably one of the least provocative posts I’ve made in this thread

quote:

---

It’s really a race to see if Russia can outlast the economic sanctions long enough to win the war militarily in Ukraine.

---

That, and if Russia can get enough foreign support in the way of manpower to do what will likely have to be done in Kyiv and other large cities.

I don't know that extended shelling/bombing is going to get the job done at this point. They're going to eventually have to move on the city. Can they do it successfully with primarily Russian troops? Will those forces be willing to engage in hardcore urban warfare?

Artillery and bombing runs are one thing. Infantry combat will be another game all together for Russian troops. If Russia has to squander their foreign troops on the fighting on approach to Kyiv, I'm not so sure they can completely take that city when/if it is finally cut off. Reinforcements have to be placed NE of Kyiv on the approach from Sumy. They're going to have to shore that area up if they want to cut off Kyiv.

The Ukranians have done well to hold the line and bleed the Russian forces to this point.

Keith Olbermann (in addition to the morons at the View) calls for Tucker’s and Tulsi’s arrest. “Trials are a sign of good faith.” Yeah, tell that to the thousands of people the Nazis executed after a trial or the witches burnt at the stake at Salem, among thousands of other examples. Keith Olbermann would throw half the country into ovens if he could. He’s an evil, evil and deranged man.

quote:

---

It’s really a race to see if Russia can outlast the economic sanctions long enough to win the war militarily in Ukraine.

---

I talked to some friends in Moscow in the middle of last week before WhatsApp got banned in Russia. They said that people are still protesting even though the riot police are going HAM on them. They also said that everyday the stock markets and banks remain closed more and more people start to doubt what they are being told by the Russian government. Prices are skyrocketing. Stores have not stopped taking the Rouble yet but stores especially grocery stores have started offering big discounts if someone pays in USDs or Euros instead of Roubles. However even with the discounts food has doubled in price over the last three weeks and other basic household necessities have tripled in price. The Russian stock market is going to crash hard when it finally opens back up and the longer it stays closed is just going to make the crash worse. It is going to be tough for Russia to outlast the sanctions.

Also the Russian people are really not liking the idea that Putin is going to use muslim mercenaries against Ukrainian Orthodox Christians when he claims to be fighting this war to protect Orthodox Christians from fascists. My friends who are not pro-Putin but are also not anti-Putin refused to believe that he could be stupid enough to even consider that because that would cause his support in Mother Russia to dry up.

quote:

---

Time is not on Ukraine’s side militarily.

---

Well actually it is on their side to an extent. Russia has not encircled Kyiv yet so supply lines are still open to it from the southwest and south of the city. If NATO gets off its arse and gets the soviet SAMs that are still in eastern europe into Ukraine. Trying to take Kyiv a fortified city with over a million armed civilians who are training everyday as well as 100,000+ trained fighters with equal equipment and better night vision gear than the Russians is going to take a long time. I doubt the Russians can capture and secure Kyiv or the other Ukrainian cities before the sanctions grind the Russian economy to a halt and Putin loses the support of the Russian people.

Polish citizens roll out the red carpet for US Army

quote:

---

USA should announce all aid to India cancelled.

---

And given back to U.S. taxpayers.

quote:

---

Both should say all aid is doubled - and sent to Pakistan instead along with a great amount of military equipment.

---

Are you forgetting Pakistani filth harbored Bin Laden?

They should never get a penny of American taxpayer money.

quote:

---

the hens on the view

---

Should not be allowed to talk about any serious matters.