re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

quote:

---

they are somewhat geographically isolated

---

They are not.

There's trade and mutual cooperation (to the annoyance of Azerbaijan) in the Caspian Sea, and Russia has a major base at Gyumri in neighboring Armenia (which is an ally of Iran due to mutual dislike of Azerbaijan).

Azeris are the largest minority in Iran, something like 16-25% of the overall population, and their language and culture are actively suppressed, with the result that there are separatist sentiments expressed by some, which the government of Azerbaijan has sometimes clandestinely supported.

There are a number of very significant disputes between Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia over mineral rights to the massive oil deposits in the Caspian. The fall of the "Islamic Republic" would change the balance of power in the area.

quote:

---

They are not.

There's trade and mutual cooperation (to the annoyance of Azerbaijan) in the Caspian Sea, and Russia has a major base at Gyumri in neighboring Armenia (which is an ally of Iran due to mutual dislike of Azerbaijan).

Azeris are the largest minority in Iran, something like 16-25% of the overall population, and their language and culture are actively suppressed, with the result that there are separatist sentiments expressed by some, which the government of Azerbaijan has sometimes clandestinely supported.

---

I thought that Russians pulled out of Armenia. The dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan is over and now connected by the new Donald Trump Highway, named for him but both nations.

The Azeri segment is in protest too. Previously it was to separate from Iran but not so far this time, they are calling for the Shah to return just like everywhere else. Protests in Tabriz is what tipped a Persian friend from thinking the protests would fail miserably again to it's like to succeed.

quote:

---

Armenia basically told Russia GTFO because Russia couldn't come to their aid.

---

Smart divestment by Putin. Armenia is a burden nobody wants to carry.

Some nations are an ally, others are a net burden.

Russians are crapping their pants right now, or at least one of Putin's main media mouthpieces is. Also, Armenia's loss is the biggest blow per him

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

quote:

---

Russia used the new strike UAV “Geran-5” for the first time during combined air attacks against Ukraine. The design shows strong similarity to Iran’s Karrar UAV.

The drone is ~6 m long, wingspan up to 5.5 m, uses a conventional aerodynamic layout, and shares many components with earlier Geran models. It features satellite navigation (12-channel), cellular data links, and a jet engine with increased thrust, carries a ~90 kg warhead, and has a range of about 1,000 km.

---

On the other hand...

quote:

---

Footage likely showing the Tempest surface-to-air missile system armed with AGM-114L Longbow missiles in Ukrainian service.

The system itself was first demonstrated by the U.S. company V2X at the international defense exhibition AUSA 2025 in Washington. Its transfer to Ukraine has not been publicly announced.

---

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

Reports are that the New Orleans PD has purchased a few of these for use on the Westbank... They may need to be up-armored for that neighborhood though.

Broken Arms Contract: Arbitration Orders US Company to Return Over $18 Million to Ukraine

Baw took a shot at the big time and found out what 'big time' means.

quote:

---

On December 17, 2025, the arbitration tribunal of the Swiss Arbitration Center ruled in a case brought by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine against an American supplier. The tribunal satisfied all the claims of the Ukrainian side in full and ordered the return of more than USD 18 million to Ukraine.

The arbitration proceedings were initiated in connection with the failure of the American company to deliver ammunition. Under the contract concluded at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the supplier was obliged to supply the Ministry of Defense with a batch of artillery ammunition in a short time.

The Ukrainian side made a 100% prepayment for the goods, but the supplier delivered only a third of the ordered ammunition with a significant delay in delivery and other violations of the contract.

---

But then it gets weird -

quote:

---

Based in an Arizona strip mall and boasting ‘reasonable prices’, OTL Firearms landed an order for vast quantities of rockets and other Soviet-standard munitions. It never delivered

---

quote:

---

the retailer OTL Firearms, based in a dusty single-storey building on the edge of Tucson, had no export record, no large storage facility, and no expertise to take state-scale orders. Ukraine wired €17mn upfront, but never received a single round of ammunition from OTL’s then 30-year-old owner.

---

quote:

---

Now a US federal judge has ordered OTL to repay the full sum, plus interest and legal fees, bringing its liability to more than €20mn. The ruling is the first legal consequence of one of the most bizarre arms procurement efforts of the Ukraine war, offering a rare glimpse into the haywire world of battlefield logistics, where urgent demand meets uncertain supply. The June 2022 contract, seen by the Financial Times, called for the delivery of a vast quantity of ammunition: 10mn rounds of 23mm anti-aircraft shells, 56,000 Grad rockets, 24,000 mortar bombs and a vast inventory of other Soviet-standard munitions.

---

The retailer OTL Firearms, based in a dusty single-storey building on the edge of Tucson, Arizona © Google Streetview

LINK
LINK

Regions of Russia are already collapsing financially.

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

C'mon, man. Why are you spamming the board with truly insipid crap?

They are radicals with no real fundamental worldview beyond "Ukraine good", but mostly "Russia bad". Their like or dislike of people or policies only applies as long as they support this one issue in the way they see fit.

Imagine posting about someone being a pedo, then once it looks like they are going to be beneficial toward your "cause" you completely go radio silent on it, then when the tune changes again now you're back to "Trump is a pedo" posting. If you truly think someone is a pedo, it shouldn't matter their position on any issue. It's honestly gross.