Rumor has it that gigantic convoy is just for show. It's not moving because of no fuel. Should have bought Tesla tanks instead.
Wonder how much US $$$ wealth has been erased. A lot of ETFs are linked to Russian stock index. Even some global index products. Also all the derivatives....
Wrong, they stay there because they want to stay out of reach of the Ukrainian artillery. They will only go closer to Kiev if they start an attack. The colonne exists of 12 battle units. Each battle unit need 30-35,000 liters of fuel per day. So this colonne needs 420,000 liter (110,000 gallon) fuel PER DAY if they start to fight. Do you understand the logistic problem?
Sure my friend. What I understand is that those 'Drunken Nazis' in Ukraine have completed their full Nazification of the region just as Putin said, and are causing the woke Red Army of Russia a shit-show like Canadians landing in Dieppe. If this is how bad the 'drunks' are obliterating them Rooskies, imagine what trouble Russia will be in when those Nazis are sober?
Putin has created a situation where he is left with no off ramp.* Russia has one however via objections of the Russian People and the Oligarchs who are losing their Western Held Assets. Ordinary Russians may rally and force Putin out. But it will take way more than a few thousand protestors. It will take hundreds of thousands in the streets. Recognition of this will hopefully inform the best strategy of the Western Nations. So stay tuned. If Putin isn't removed from office soon, he will level Ukraine's Cities. He's a sociopath along the lines of Trump and Hitler. _____________ * I corrected my post to reflect the cogent observation of Terr below.
Piezoe, you're mistaken - that is not and cannot be Putin's offramp. It may be Russia's offramp, but Putin, unfortunately, created a situation where he has no offramp. I think it is pretty clear that he hugely miscalculated. First rule in politics is "don't believe your own propaganda". I think he broke that rule. I think he actually thought that he'd be welcomed in Ukraine as a liberator. He hugely underestimated Zelinskyy. He counted on the guy running away and instead got this almost mythical hero who almost singlehandedly is defeating Russians (yes, it is obviously not true, but this is the way with myths). And, most importantly, he completely miscalculated the strength of the West's response and Russia's preparedness to withstand it. You can understand the miscalculation, Europe's image of weakness, wishy-washiness, and avariciousness has been justified over multiple decades and Western businesses' reputation for willingness to betray the West's interests for money has been well earned. I am probably as surprised as Putin about just how fast and ferocious the sanctions response was. I am just as surprised at the incompetence of the campaign to prepare Russia for the sanctions. Just the fact that out of that vaunted rainy day $600+B fund access to around $400B is cut off, and the rest is in illiquid stuff like gold that is almost impossible to sell for hard currency under present financial sanctions regime. End result - enormous miscalculation left Putin no path to win. None. He has no way to save face with a withdrawal, and occupying 44 million of people who hate your guts and slaughter your soldiers every day when you don't even have enough domestic technology infrastructure to maintain your armed forces is not possible. A cornered rat is dangerous. I am just hoping that there will be someone sane enough in whatever is left of the Russian leadership to squash the rat before he destroys the world.
Yes. You are right! "Putin has no off ramp". As you correctly point out, only Russia has the off ramp. Will they take it? I will go back and Correct my post. Thank you.
I don't understand the reason why Ukraine commanders haven't dropped a few bombs at both ends of convoy, then send snipers out with rocket launchers to harass the convoy or even fighter jets. I think that'd be opportunity for easy picking.
Ukraine Air Force: MiG-29 37 Sukhoi Su-24 12 Sukhoi Su-25 17 Sukhoi Su-27 32 UAV: RQ-11 Raven 72 Bayraktar TB2 6