Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

That Ukraine depends on American support doesn't mean they didn't enter this war, i.e decide to defend themselves from Russian invasion, of their own volition.

I don't know why you're always so keen to defend Russia and admonish Ukraine for their audacity to fight back against the country that invaded them and is killing them.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I’m not sure I’ve ever admonished Ukraine for defending itself. I don’t think I’ve ever defended Russian actions either.

I don’t think it’s fair to consider my view that there’s greater complexity than the romantic view of Ukrainian men fighting to the death in a conscript army in that way. I don’t think it’s fair to mislead them if the USA will eventually pull the rug from under them.

As Seph points out above if the best hope is for a coup then I’m not convinced demonising Russians wherever they are in the world benefits the domestic opposition to Putin.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

What's goin on here???

https://targum.video/v/2023/8/15/2fd...1c1bafaa6548a/

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

How bizarre. :D

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Most likely the tank has been immobilised and they either spotted the Ukrainian reconnaissance drone or else assumed there was one nearby - in either case it was a reasonable guess that they were about to get either a grenade dropped on them or possibly have an artillery round called in (the Ukrainians have got very, very good at calling in accurate artillery fire via drone).

Even if none of that was true, the Russian tank crew was probably very drunk.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Well, who'd of thought. I thought there was something else behind it.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/08/17/7416002/

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Just makes her even cooler tbh

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

:romance::romance::romance: I think I’m in love …

(Not really, you’re the only one for me missus darling wife, but you get my point :D )

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Agree entirely Chris, unlike you I'm single though.:D

I like the "Let them fear me" line!

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Netherlands. F-16, agreement on 42 jets for Ukraine.

Denmark. F-16, agreement on 19 jets for Ukraine and expansion of training missions of our pilots and engineers.

Doubt they will be supplied this year though as training is 6mths min.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

There are suggestions going around today that they may have been training for up to 3 months already.

The main constraint for Denmark and the Netherlands has been the delivery schedule for their new F-35s which they are now starting to receive in quantity. This allows them to retire their F-16s. The Biden administration is still vainly trying to play Great Powers with this crisis and is dragging its heels on its own training offer as it has on granting approval of the jets’ transfer to Ukraine. But regardless of whatever they eventually offer with regards to training, the approvals for the Danish and Dutch transfer of these F-16s has been signed, and I suspect, if they thought they had managed to delay the appearance of these planes in theatre until early next year, they are in for a surprise.

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

I certainly hope you are correct Chris. As regards the Netherlands they only have 24 in service, 18 have already been taken out, 12 of which were due to be sold to an American company but apparently the deal fell through. Perhaps Ukrainian maintainance crew are training on those to ensure they are ready for service?

https://theaviationist.com/2021/06/3...-f-16s-draken/

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

In May, it was reported that the first 20 Ukrainian pilots had entered F-16 training in UK
https://kyivindependent.com/media-fi...raining-in-uk/

Re: Russia has invaded Ukraine
 

Technically, the UK training has been preliminary Nato tactical training rather than for the F-16 specifically. The UK doesn’t operate F-16s so we don’t have any of the actual aircraft or simulators for them to train on. US government approval would have been required even to transfer a simulator to the UK from another country.

Nevertheless there is plenty we can do for them using our own Hawk jets (very similar to Red Arrows aircraft) and I suspect this is what has been happening.