(Image by NEIVANMADE)
The Russians opened up on civilian targets in Zaporizhzhia again. They were targeting a children’s day camp!
This is a very crowded place near the river bank. Especially on this warm summer afternoon. Can't imagine what these people went through. pic.twitter.com/6s3ZywppAw
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) August 10, 2023
They were targeting children.
The Reikartz hotel in Zaporizhzhia, which was hit by a missile attack by Russian terrorists today, is the site of a children's day camp for kids aged 6 to 13. The camp operates until 6 p.m. every day. The strike was launched at 7 p.m. One person was… pic.twitter.com/CBsw4pMJBm— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 10, 2023
They were targeting children.
The Reikartz hotel in Zaporizhzhia, which was hit by a missile attack by Russian terrorists today, is the site of a children’s day camp for kids aged 6 to 13. The camp operates until 6 p.m. every day. The strike was launched at 7 p.m. One person was killed, and 16 were injured. Only a miracle of timing saved the children from the russian killers today.
This is the price!
Svitlana and Khrystyna, the two young women killed in yesterday's Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhia. This video was taken hours before the attack that killed them.
They were just 19 and 21 years old.pic.twitter.com/JP8DK3twr9
— Jimmy Rushton (@JimmySecUK) August 10, 2023
I’ve honestly got nothing. What the fuck else is there left to say. Post the funny video of the Ukrainian Soldier ordering cheeseburgers and shawarma? Memes? The really insightful analysis of all the policy issues the EU is grappling with quietly in order to bring Ukraine into the European Union? The fourth or fifth excellent piece from War on the Rocks about how badly we’re fucking up the training of the Ukrainian military? Why? What the fuck would be the point.
Russia is committing genocide, let me repeat that more loudly RUSSIA IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE!!!! and we’re not moving our manufacturing economy to a war footing. We’re not actually providing usable training. Some secret country had to buy up some collector’s surplus supply of 100 Leopard tanks and donate them to Ukraine because our allies and partners in Europe can’t get the stick out of their collective asses!
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Ukraine must realize its historic chance for development gained by the courage of our people – address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
10 August 2023 – 22:10
I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today was a long, exhausting day. A day of briefings, discussions, meetings.
We continue to prepare the Ukrainian Doctrine, a thorough text that will serve as a basis for the transformation of our country. We do not forget our main goal – to win the war and not to lose the country. Ukraine must realize its historic chance for development gained by the courage of our people – our entire nation.
We are also preparing more defense packages for our warriors and more defense systems for the entire Ukrainian society, including air defense systems. Today I also had a conversation with representatives of the UK military leadership – a confidential conversation. But an effective one.
As for today’s meetings, which are worth mentioning publicly… I spoke with a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Metropolitan Emmanuel. We are working at all levels and with all actors in global relations to implement the Peace Formula, in particular, to return children deported from our land to Ukraine. I am grateful to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for its willingness to help.
Of course, as always, we talked about strengthening the spiritual independence of Ukraine and about spiritual peace in Ukraine. Our country is one of the historical centers of Christianity. And it will remain so. Ukrainians have managed to build a special format of religious relations in their home: our country has a Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which guarantees that all communities are respected, all communities can express their opinions to the state, and all communities can participate in solving socially important issues. The state will never allow any of the Ukrainian religious communities to be used by the aggressor state. Ukraine will endure, will preserve its independence – all aspects of independence, including spiritual one. And I am grateful to everyone in the world who supports our country and our people in this.
But first of all, I am grateful to each and every person who is fighting for our independence.
Today I would like to recognize our warriors. Those who deserve special gratitude, who show exceptional courage and give the state exceptional results. Glory to you, warriors!
Soldier Oleksandr Hryn, the 81st separate airmobile brigade. Thanks to Oleksandr, more than two dozen invaders have been killed and wounded. Soldier Oleksandr Hrinko, our “Eightieth “, airborne assault troops. Thank you, Oleksandr, for replenishing our exchange fund. Soldier Artem Aizentsimmer, the 5th separate assault brigade. Soldier Iryna Shevchenko, chief sergeant-instructor of the 1st mechanized battalion. Soldier Andriy Maksychka, the 54th Hetman Mazepa separate mechanized brigade, Bakhmut direction. He took out the wounded, was wounded himself, but returned to the frontline after recovery. Soldier Ivan Harbuz, the 36th separate marine brigade, fighting in the Zaporizhzhia direction.
Senior soldier Serhiy Prymochenko, spotter of the mortar crew of the 54th Hetman Mazepa separate mechanized brigade. Senior soldier Viktor Dorenskyi, airborne assault troops, the 80th brigade. Battles near Klishchiivka, very powerful! Senior soldier Maksym Makarenko, a member of the “Eightieth”, fighting for Ukraine in Donbas. Senior soldier Oleksandr Lysenko, the 5th separate assault brigade.
Senior sailor Anatoliy Lukyanov, the 37th separate marine brigade, a very brave warrior!
Sergeant Olha Voytiuk, sanitary instructor, the 1st mechanized battalion. Sergeant Ruslan Malitsky, the 38th separate marine brigade.
Junior Sergeant Mykyta Myskov, our glorious 55th artillery brigade “Zaporizhzhia Sich”.
Chief Petty Officer Andriy Skotnytskyi, our 36th separate marine brigade. Thank you, Andriy, for your heroism in repelling the Russian assaults.
Junior Lieutenant Andriy Skibin, the 10th separate mountain assault brigade “Edelweiss”. A very effective man! Senior Lieutenant Serhiy Fedchyk, the 3rd mechanized battalion.
Major Maksym Zakharchenko, deputy commander of a tank battalion.
I am proud of all of you, our warriors! Each and every one of you!
And I would like to particularly commend the units that ensure the offensive of our troops. These are the units of Ukrainian sappers. They are clearing the Ukrainian land of Russian mines, opening the way for our troops to move forward. The 808th separate support regiment, the 48th Kamyanets-Podilskyi engineering brigade, the 143rd Joint Training Center of the Support Forces – thank you all!
Glory to all who fight for the independence and freedom of Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
Here is Ukrainian Army officer Tatarigami’s assessment of what Winter 2023 to 2024 may bring. It is grim, but I think it is also accurate. For now. That’s honestly the best that can be said for every assessment, even the best ones, that it is accurate for now.
I would like to address some potential upcoming risks for the coming winter and explore avenues for their mitigation. It's essential to emphasize that this perspective is based on open-source information and analysis, rather than insider insights, and should be regarded… pic.twitter.com/yPxD1lPv15
— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) August 8, 2023
I would like to address some potential upcoming risks for the coming winter and explore avenues for their mitigation. It’s essential to emphasize that this perspective is based on open-source information and analysis, rather than insider insights, and should be regarded accordingly.
The current lack of air dominance and limited assault capabilities on both sides has brought us back to a state of attritional warfare, both in the South and the East. Artillery plays a pivotal role in this war, resulting in a higher ammunition expenditure compared to production capacity. To address this, the White House procured a substantial artillery ammunition batch from South Korea, supplemented by cluster munitions to avert shortages. I am not sure whether that can be replicated again in the coming year. Nonetheless, unless a significant operational breakthrough occurs, the situation remains tactically dynamic without producing strategic shifts. The potential liberation of Bakhmut by our forces or occupation of isolated areas near Kreminna-Svatove by Russians merely alters the map’s appearance, while exacting a toll in terms of casualties without generating significant operational changes
Russia’s ammunition supply is not solely reliant on domestic production; external sources like North Korea and China could potentially bolster their arsenal, as suggested by Shoigu’s visit to Pyongyang. This remains speculative, hinging on the provision of sufficient quantities by these nations.
Speculation arises that russia might initiate a counter-offensive in the winter, boosted by additional ammo and human reserves from another partial mobilization. Concerns heighten as their loitering munition production escalates and shouldn’t be dismissed. Comparatively, Ukraine lacks fortified defenses, with notable vulnerabilities even observable via open satellite imagery.
I am of the belief that Putin’s strategic objective is to bolster his position in the winter months, strategically accumulating negotiation leverage and demonstrating his commitment to sustaining the war of attrition. This timing is significant, particularly given the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections in 2024. It is apparent that he aims to capitalize on anti-Ukrainian sentiments during the election cycle, seeking to diminish prospects for continued assistance, as he anticipates the Russian invasion of Ukraine to be a pivotal subject in debates among candidates. This move is aimed to exert influence and potentially force West to agree with his agenda.
I am equally convinced that Putin will initiate further rounds of missile and Shahed drone attacks, targeting essential infrastructure such as power plants, to undermine Ukraine’s resilience during the winter. This strategy aims to erode Ukrainian resolve, foster war weariness, and gain a stronger position for negotiation leverage.
Nonetheless, I firmly believe that there are ways to mitigate it and avoid unfavorable circumstances:
· Ukraine requires more air-defense capabilities to provide air-defense cover. In this question, we completely rely on our allies.
· To disrupt the enemy’s ability to command and sustain logistics of large force concentrations, Ukraine needs extended-range capabilities. To reach necessary effect, it would require efforts of multiple countries.
· Defense preparations and the establishment of minefields need to be escalated if significant operational breakthroughs in the South or East won’t happen
· Collaboration between Ukraine and its Western allies should prioritize hybrid training initiatives. This involves joint training exercises conducted on Western training grounds, facilitated by seasoned Ukrainian officers and NCOs alongside Western instructors. This approach will yield practical training closely aligned with the on-ground realities.
Despite these challenges, there are some optimistic prospects that require acknowledgment:
– Notable disruptions to logistical pathways connecting Russia through Crimea to the South have substantially hampered Russian supply routes in the southern region.
– The attrition ratio in the Southern region remains uncertain, and it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that russian forces might weaken sufficiently to provide our troops with a chance for a breakthrough.
– Uncertainty surrounds Russia’s potential to sufficiently replenish artillery ammunition for the upcoming winter. Additionally, the concerning depletion of artillery barrels remains unresolved, casting doubt on Russia’s ability to address this matter.
– The feasibility of another effective Russian mobilization remains unclear, as potential internal complications within Russia could impede such efforts.
– Recent Chinese involvement in Jeddah negotiations introduces the possibility that China may opt to avoid providing extensive aid to Russia, instead prioritizing diplomatic gains. This strategic approach mirrors China’s prior actions in the realm of international relations, exemplified by brokering a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
In conclusion, although the outlook may appear grim, proactive measures can prevent these scenarios. By addressing this situation with a sense of urgency and preparing for worst-case scenarios, we can avoid future challenges. While I think that certain concerns might not materialize and may remain theoretical in nature, it remains imperative that we underscore the importance of readiness for these plausible scenarios, as they still hold a significant level of realism.
Here’s a bit more on the Russian ships damaged in last week’s Ukrainian naval drone attacks:
/2. Plus a bit of the damage is visible in the hull of the Russian “Oleniegorski Gorniak” which was also damaged by a sea drone https://t.co/PaNb6KFJ0e
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 10, 2023
Moscow:
Moscow suburbs tonight pic.twitter.com/kcXLmBIo7k
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) August 10, 2023
That’s all I’ve got the bandwidth for tonight.
Sorry to have ranted at everyone.
Your daily Patron!
There’s a new slideshow at Patron’s official TikTok. They won’t embed here like the videos do, so click across and give it a watch.
Open thread!
cain
JFC – feeling deeply angst about this situation and watching this country getting hammered and countries dawdling. We owe Russian nothing. I realize that Russian energy is some bad ass narcotic – but humanity is more important.
We’ll figure it out and help each other out in a community of nations.
Fuck Putin, and fuck his goddam genocidal war.
Thanks Adam for your work on this and highlighting Russia’s genocide.
Gin & Tonic
I am grateful for your rant.
Yarrow
No apology necessary. Needs to be said. I wish action would follow.
Dan B
Do European leaders not see videos like the one of the kids screaming? That is heartwrenching
Your rant did not feel like a rant. The emotion was honest.
Jay
Belgium bought the 50 Leopard 1’s. Rhinemetal believes they will be able to recondition and up arm 30 by the end of September. The other 20 are for parts.
BTW, Belgium is the largest tank supplier to Ukraine, who hasn’t had tanks in their army in over a decade.
Germany is coming off the fence on the Taurus missile and pushing the US on ATTACM’s.
West of the Rockies
Yes, another day when a picture of a dog doesn’t begin to somehow offset the misery of Russian terrorism. The kind of day when a clip of a Russian tank packed with orcs blowing up into 47,000 pieces would be welcome.
Nukular Biskits
@cain:
Seconded.
Kelly
You didn’t rant at us you ranted for us
Betty
You weren’t ranting at us, you were ranting on our behalf. So very frustrating to see all this senseless loss of life while knowing we could have done and could be doing so much more.
Jay
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1689694632513286145.html
Maxim
@Kelly: This.
Jay
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1689006806067200000.html
Another Scott
Thanks Adam.
On ATACMS, a couple of linkies (that many have seen before, but for completeness): TheDrive.com:
WashingtonPost.com:
Maybe those customers can be convinced to let Ukraine get at the front of the line.
But what gets me is the tiny number. The first big batch of artillery announced for Ukraine from the US included 1,000,000 155mm shells. Is even 500 ATACMS rockets (which maybe aren’t even available right now) going to make a dent given the huge requirements? I’m sure every bit helps, and every bit arriving faster helps more, but… :-(
On the PSM GovConWire.com (from today):
(Emphasis added.)
BusinessInsider.com (from April, 2022):
:-(
Slava Ukraini!!
Cheers,
Scott.
Bill Arnold
@Jay:
Shit like that could potentially cause even a dictatorship to break. Desperation move on Putin’s part, IMO.
ETA does anyone have a reliable number for the Russian Federation prison population?
https://www.prisonstudies.org/country/russian-federation
puts it at over 400K, dropping a lot since 2000.
Jay
@Another Scott:
HIMARs can only fire 2 ATACM’s every 30 minutes.
Range, precision, war head, lack of vulnerability to most air defenses and EW jamming is their “value”, not really numbers.
Even a 100 would help.
Jay
@Bill Arnold:
Yeah, they have no choice, get no pay, no military ID or documentation, so no pension, no pardon, no grave.
Ghost meatcubes.
Some go to a “training camp” prison in Rostov for 4 weeks, the rest go into the frontlines as “Storm Z”.
Grumpy Old Railroader
WTF. Only 8 Ukrainian pilots will initially be sent for F-16 training because . . . they are the only Ukrainian pilots fluent in English. Really? After all these months of planning and only “NOW” will Ukraine send additional pilots to a language institute in UK to learn English BEFORE they get F-16 training? Note that English is required because NATO is English language based and an F-16 is a single seat aircraft so the trainee needs to comprender Ingles.
Adam L Silverman
@Another Scott: This is why I keep coming back to the fact that we’re 18 months in and we haven’t shipped the military manufacturing to a war time footing. Same thing with the F-16 training. Whether we ultimately were or were not going to allow Ukraine to have F-16s, if we’d started the training in late spring or summer of 2022, they’d be ready for them. This is the type of thing that is driving me up a tree.
Sebastian
You are only expressing what we all are feeling, Adam. There is no need to apologize for righteous anger when faced with demons slaughtering the innocent and defenseless.
We all ought to raise a storm of righteous wrath that drives this Evil back into the depths of Hell it crawled out of.
Adam L Silverman
@Bill Arnold: That site is pulling directly from the Federal Penal Service of Russia, which is where all the data is pulled from. I actually scraped it all about three months back and I can tell you that what that site is reporting is accurate, but that the Russian data is weird. They do weird things with it. They provide an explanation, but it’s weird nonetheless.
Adam L Silverman
@Grumpy Old Railroader: See my comment 18.
Jay
@Grumpy Old Railroader:
as I said last, last night.
English is the language of international aviation,
certain militaries in certain branches of military aviation can get away with it,
then Aviation english is another language,
and Military aviation is another language.
Jay
https://nitter.net/NOELreports/status/1689749250958114818#m
Lyrebird
Righteous rants can be a very good thing. Sorry for my lame wording.
I am only commenting now to add to the list of people bearing witness, nothing to add.
I would not be surprised if the websites where you can donate munitions and put a message on them have a bunch of donations coming in for Svitlana and Khrystyna, but it’s cold comfort for those who loved them. And those two lives are preceded by so many thousands…
Bill Arnold
@Adam L Silverman:
Thanks. Did an earlier version of the comment say that prison stats (spreadsheets) had gone missing? That would be an interesting change.
Adam L Silverman
@Bill Arnold: I clicked across and can’t find the links to the spreadsheets. Once I realized the site you linked to had done their own scrape and posted some tables, I revised the comment.
Sally
The Telegraph (yes, I know) daily podcast, Ukraine: The Latest, is very good, I highly recommend it. Also their Defence in Depth weekly video cast is also excellent. Two podcasts ago they did an even more electrifying one, Day 530. Dom Nicholls has a few choice things to say on Dr Silverman’s concerns, as does the interview with Frederick Kagan (stopped clock and all). Both free, unpaywalled.
YY_Sima Qian
I think Tartarigami_UA is correct on all of his points. NK supplying Russia w/ substantial amount of artillery shells is the bigger concern, since the NK still uses most of the Soviet calibre, & the autarkic regime has little to lose. It surely has a huge stock, since it has been preparing for war (or waging war) for the entirely of its existence, & massed artillery has been its key advantage over SK. The question is if NK is actually willing to substantially draw down its inventory to sell to Russia, & the quality of the shells NK is willing to sell.
The PRC’s fundamental interest in the Ukraine war is preservation of the Putin regime (or failing that, a China-friendly regime) on the one hand, & not rupturing relations w/ the West on the other. I don’t think the Chinese government, like all of the “Straddlers”, is particularly invested in either Putin achieving his ends in Ukraine, or Ukraine recovering all of its territories (despite the announcements out of Jeddah); nor is it particularly invested in preventing either outcomes. China has not sold significant amount of lethal weapons or munitions to Russia due to the fear of rupture w/ the West & lack of investment in Russian “victory”. As long as relations w/ the West is not completely broken, Chinese calculations likely won’t change.
China also shares many artillery calibres w/ Russia, has both a huge inventory & huge industrial capacity to continually produce more (likely more than all of the West combined), particularly in the precision guided munitions that Russia sorely lacks. The PLA no longer uses the 152 mm calibre for heavy howitzers, having shifted to Western 155 mm standard, but still has abundant stock & still makes them for export. China also has a much wider selection of ballistic & cruise missiles, potentially better performing, a much larger inventory, & a far larger industrial capacity to build more, than Russia. Ukraine & the West have been right to be concerned about the possibility of China going all in to support the Russian war effort, which could meaningfully change the balance on the battlefield, especially in the attritional war context.
However, given the recent subtle shifts (I would not call it a thaw, & possibly temporary) in the tenor of Sino-US relations, & the somewhat more positive (or at least less negative) relations w/ the EU, I think Tartarigami_UA is right that China’s calculation may be that facilitating peaceful resolution is better for improving relations w/ the EU & increase influence in the Global South. That would preclude sending lethal aid to Russia in the meantime.
Bill Arnold
@Adam L Silverman:
The internet archive has a few archives per month for https:/ /fsin.gov.ru/statistics/ and it looks like spreadsheets went missing around May/June 2023. (And the list was longer in 2021.) ETA broke link so that people don’t click on unless they want to. Am using a VPN + a jailed browser. )
Also, in the last several days, Russia Starts Blocking VPN Protocols (August 8, 2023, Dejan Cvetnarevic)
That may mean that there are protocol analyzers in place in Russia that can be used to block specific types of traffic (and more importantly for some users, record it for analysis). Though it could also be done more crudely.
(I once wrote a patent (like 15-20 years ago, for a corporation) about methods to evade detection by such monitoring. (“protocol hopping”, published in open literature by somebody like a year later). It was eventually withdrawn; don’t know why.)
NutmegAgain
All I can say is I really hope the parents of those 2 young girls singing in the short clip can find some comfort in watching it, in time. Assuming of course that they live through all the horrors. Russia is committing genocide.
Draco7
@Adam L Silverman:
I’m good with a rant – not being able to directly affect these issues is frustrating.
I have read (almost, not sure) every one of these posts and find them of real value. Thank you, Adam. As I read them I have a recurring train of thought in regard to State Department leadership, policy, and worldview. I’m certainly in agreement regarding your “too cautious” perspective, but what nags at me is the seeming lack of a clear vision or strategy. Beats me if I can discern any overarching strategy re this issue or any other international stress points. What I see looks to be primarily reactive decision making – perhaps this is considered a “big dog” perk, but in the long run this approach has hurt every organization I’ve worked with and I can’t think there will be an exception in this case.
I’m sure the abilities and acumen of Bismarck, Metternich, Talleyrand, etc. are somewhat mythological, but I’m not even seeing that potential waiting in the wings (for the United States specifically) – and that’s frustrating as well.
YY_Sima Qian
@Adam L Silverman: Definitely take a day or two off if you need it, & get away from it all for a bit.
pieceofpeace
Adam,
I really, really admire and have no clue of the strength you have to immerse yourself in this insane and meritless carnage by Russia, and then make these reports!, or daily roundups!, or whatever wording provides this rant that you generously shared with us.
If not for you, not sure where I’d turn to for quality reporting about this dogdamn outrageous horror show. Rant is appreciated…
YY_Sima Qian
@Jay: ATACMS are non-stealthy & follow a predictable ballistic trajectory, they will likely be vulnerable to interception by Russian S300/S400 SAMs.
Ukraine needs more of everything, preferably w/ high accuracy, long range, & some combination of stealth, very high speed, & unpredictable trajectory. NATO countries should be emptying their inventories, rather than sending 20 or 40%. The US may need to stay prepared for the contingencies of the PRC suddenly attacking TW or NK suddenly attacking SK, however unlikely these scenarios may actually be (& these attacks would be preceded by months of detectable preparation/mobilization). What land war are the other NATO countries sitting on their stocks for?
dr. luba
@Adam L Silverman: Thanks for your righteous rant. The foot dragging on the part of the west costs Ukrainian lives. Like the two buskers. Or civilians whose homes are being blown up. Or soldiers at the front.
I watched all those videos earlier today, when I saw Zaporizhia had been targeted again today. I have family there–cousins of various degrees on my dad’s side. To be fair I have relatives or friends in most major Ukrainian cities, so….. Checked in, everyone safe so far. I also have friends and family at the front, fewer updates, but seem to be OK….Many amy hate Zuck, but FB keeps us connected.
Ukrainians know we need to liberate ourselves. But we unfortunately depend on our friends for the military technology needed to do this.
Sebastian
@YY_Sima Qian:
Interesting. I did not know that China has switched to 155mm. Can those be fired from NATO artillery?
YY_Sima Qian
@Sebastian: Yes, they are designed to be compatible. China has been exporting 155 mm systems & shells to countries that also operate older Western (or newer Korean) 155 mm systems. However, the exports have chiefly been to countries in MENA, sub-Saharan Africa, & parts of S/SE Asia, not the type of countries that are strongly motivated to donate their stocks to Ukraine. In fact, Russia may be getting Chinese made artillery shells from some of these countries (think Myanmar, Sudan, Algeria, Venezuela, etc.)
However, some of them may be persuaded to sell their Chinese made (or locally made under Chinese license) shells to Ukraine, as Pakistan supposedly has done in 2022. It would require some out of the box thinking & adroit diplomacy by DC & Brussels. China is not likely to actively facilitate such deals, but probably will not stand in the way, either.
way2blue
Correct me if I’m wrong—but with the targeting of hotels & restaurants over the past several weeks that journalists hang out in—it seems that Russia has locals feeding tips on popular gathering places to hit. (On top of the schools, hospitals, apartments, museums… which are better known & more obvious targets for their war ‘criming’.)
Sebastian
@YY_Sima Qian:
Russia has pretty tight political control of Africa, this might indeed be difficult.
I still don’t understand why the West hasn’t launched a massive effort to ramp up shell and missile production. The demand is obviously there.
Origuy
@Jay:
Wait until they go for the kids at Pushkinskaya Polytechnic in Moscow.
YY_Sima Qian
@Sebastian: Cost. The Western MIC demands guaranteed orders for a long period of time before doing any expansions, while still maximizing profit margins & shareholder value. They are in this to milk teet of government defense spending, not to help Ukraine, or maximizing the efficiency of domestic defense expenditure (in fact, it is contrary to their interests for efficiency in defense expenditures to improve).
In war time footing that Adam has mentioned, the MIC would be very tightly regulated & managed, if not outright nationalized (in effect if not in name).
YY_Sima Qian
@Sebastian: Only parts of the Sahel & Central Africa, they are just another player in most of Sub-Saharan Africa & S/SE Asia, & not a very important one. China has sold 155 mm artillery systems to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Thailand, they may be persuaded to sell 155 mm shells to Ukraine.