A brief housekeeping note: Rest in the peace you couldn’t find in life Hunter, we’ll finish the mission for you. May your memory be a blessing for your family and friends.
Last night Nettoyeur asked:
I grew up during the Cold War and spent a significant part of my 50 year scientific/engineering carreer working on intl projects with and in the USSR, Japan, France, Australia, Germany…I thought the basis of the post-WWII US natl security strategy was Forward Defense, precisely because that keeps wars away from the US mainland. That’s why we have naval and air bases around the globe, rapid heavy lift capability, special ops, , and LOTS of radar and comms installations from Greenland to Australia. Are we now just going put all our assets in civil war style forts in the South and wait for the Russians, Chinese, and assorted terror groups to do a Pearl Harbor on us?
As I’ve remarked repeatedly, Trump’s senior natsec team are, at best, genteel isolationists. Hegseth may be belligerent, but he’s also an ignoramus, which is why he’s constantly saying we’re going to start matching threats to capabilities. That’s backwards. Part of every assessment of a problem set is to determine the threat, as well as challenges and opportunities, then map our capabilities to defeat the threat, turn challenges into opportunities, and capitalize on the opportunities as the plan is developed. Rubio isn’t really in charge of State. He has a political minder who reports to the White House. The real players are the folks like Colby, the other deputy and deputy assistant Secretaries of Defense and State. Those folks are all isolationists and nativists and a lot of them come out of the Koch natsec and foreign policy community. The result is that you have a highly bellicose president, a highly belligerent Secretary of Defense, but the actual US policies and strategies, for lack of better terms, are all about pulling the US back.
One of the most misunderstood concepts in US national security is what it means to be expeditionary. The bottom line is that it meant to be out and engaged with the world. Living among and working with our allies and partners. As Nettoyeur said some of this was to keep conflict away from the continental US and North America. Some of it was to maintain the rules based order the US created post World War II was maintained and sustained. And yes, I know, that order kept a lot of the global south down, which was a major flaw. The late General Odierno used to use three words to explain being expeditionary: shape, fight, win. The problem is almost everyone took that literally: we shape so we can fight in order to win. That WAS NOT what General Odierno meant! What he meant was that by being expeditionary, by being out and about and engaged, we and our allies and partners can shape the environment so that we don’t have to fight.However, if the worst happens and we and our allies and partners do have to fight, we’ve shaped the environment so we and our allies and partners can win.
We learned from today’s leaks that Hegseth’s all GOFO hands meeting next week will be for him to lecture them about lethality and the warrior ethos. Provided that’s accurate, that’s about the best outcome we could’ve asked for at this time. In addition to the previously announced reduction in the number of 4 stars, as well as eliminating billets for 1, 2, and 3 stars, I expect that they will eventually combine Northern and Southern Commands into a US Homeland Defense Command. When they do that I also expect they’ll get rid of AFRICOM divvying up its area of responsibility between Central and European Commands. And I expect them to do something to the National Security Agency and Cyber Command; most likely separating the two out completely rather than keeping the NSA Director and the Commander of CYBERCOM as the same person.
None of this, from the bellicosity and belligerence to the genteel isolationism, is going to make anyone the US, let alone anywhere else safer. There is no doubt that US foreign, defense, and national security policy and strategy need a significant review and revision. We have gotten worse and worse diminishing returns from them since the end of the Cold War. Largely because the geostrategic environment coming out of the Cold War was misunderstood by natsec, defense, and foreign policy “intelligentsia” of both parties. What is being done right now is not a thoughtful, clearheaded, multidimensional review and revision. It has already increased suffering, destruction, and death. And it will create even more.
President Zelenskyy sat for an interview with Barak Ravid for Axios. Ravis is a reporter for Israel’s Wallah News, CNN, and Axios and is one of my go to Israeli reporters.
Journalist: Trump, not very long ago, said that you don’t have the cards. What changed?
Zelenskyy: I think the situation with Putin. President Trump understood that Putin will not bring him success. American society doesn’t respect and doesn’t trust Putin.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Journalists: Ukraine, at the moment, is definitely not losing the war, but it’s also not winning.
Zelenskyy: We don’t have enough weapons. We are not comparable in the numbers of weapons, drones, artillery, and missiles. But the biggest problem is we don’t have enough air defense.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Here’s the full interview:
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Putin Lies to the Leaders Who Still Talk to Him When He Says That the Occupying Forces Are Achieving Some Kind of Their Goals – Address by the President
26 September 2025 – 20:41
I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today has been packed with military matters. I received reports from the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of the General Staff. I also spoke with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. I thank everyone. I thank all our warriors, primarily in the Dobropillia, Pokrovsk, and Kupyansk areas. It’s extremely important that you are delivering results and defeating the occupiers. In just our Dobropillia counteroffensive operation, Russian overall losses have already exceeded 3,000, most of them irrecoverable. This was the area where the Russians aimed to achieve one of the major breakthroughs on the front, but our forces are neutralizing them. And that is important. Putin lies to the leaders who still talk to him when he says that the occupying forces are achieving some kind of their goals. For years now, they have been forced to come up with new and new reasons why the deadlines set for them keep being pushed back. And it is telling that despite everything the world says to Russia, they still respond only with new attempts at assaults and new strikes on Ukrainian cities and our infrastructure. They are truly sick with war – and whether they can be cured is an open question. The only thing that can force this Russian virus of war to stop is strength: strong decisions and strong assistance.
We discussed this in New York with many of our close partners, and, of course, we discussed it with President Trump. President Trump is very well informed about the situation on the front, what the Russians are doing, and how they are trying to deceive everyone. We are discussing with the U.S. specific measures that can stop this war. The solutions exist. It is crucial that the agreements we have reached be implemented. These past few days, the Russians continued to inflict heavy strikes on our cities: Chernihiv, Kharkiv and the region, Odesa and Dnipro regions. They constantly strike the Donetsk region. Kherson is under severe artillery fire and bombing. Russians must be held accountable for all of this. Without a doubt. Today, there were also reports on deep strikes carried out by our forces. Efficiency, drone production and missile production – we will increase output volumes.
I held a Staff meeting, including on contracts in our army: I instructed to expand the contract component. There were also reports from Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service and the Defense Intelligence on Russian weapons production, their industry in general, and the fuel sector. We outlined new tasks. Now is the time when the world sees that Russia has entered a stage where the war will bring more and more problems for the Russian system itself, the Russian economy, and Russian society. The critical point is not to ease pressure on Russia for this war. Sanctions, restrictions on trade with Russia, restrictions on the schemes they exploit and profit from – all of this will work. We expect the approval of the 19th EU sanctions package. We expect steps from the United States. We value President Trump’s stance toward those in Europe who still buy Russian oil and continue a policy of dependence on Russian schemes. We hope Hungary listens to a key NATO ally and respects the President of the United States – right now, no one in Europe sees such respect from Hungary. America is ready to fill the European market with energy resources so that no one will even need to look in Russia’s direction. The Middle East is ready to work with Europe. Every nation in Europe can become stronger – without Russia.
There was also a report from our military on, frankly, very unusual events along the Ukraine–Hungary border. Our forces spotted drones, and those were reconnaissance drones. I instructed the military to conduct a full check, and if such drones appear again, to respond appropriately for the defense of our state. Ukrainians are currently the best in Europe at defending against any drones. We are ready to share our experience with other nations that need reliable protection against drone threats. Negotiations are underway with dozens of countries in Europe and the Middle East, and we have proposed a strong deal to the United States – one of the most promising. We now see constant incidents with Russian drones in Denmark, Norway, and the Baltic states. According to intelligence, Russia may be using tankers to launch these and similar drones – as platforms for launch and control of drones. And it is not easy to prevent, but it is possible. And this must be learned, it must be built into the relevant capacity.
Today I spoke with the Prime Minister of Denmark, and one of the topics was exchanging details on drones and all these incidents – which are obviously not accidental. Russia is trying to reshape Europe to suit itself – in line with its own vision of life. And that vision is one no European would ever embrace – except, of course, those whom Russia has corrupted. Therefore, counteraction is necessary. Joint action is necessary. Collective defense is possible. I thank everyone who is helping us! I thank everyone who knows that life must prevail!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Today Moldova denied entry to Georgian propaganda TV channel Imedi. Naturally, the Moldovan flag is front and center tonight on Rustaveli Avenue, which protesters have blocked for the 303rd consecutive night. 🇲🇩🇬🇪
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 1:11 PM
For the 303rd night in a row, Rustaveli Avenue is blocked. Protests continue in 8+ cities across Georgia. ✅🇬🇪
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
No intimidation tactic worked for suppressing #GeorgiaProtests, even getting jailed has lost its intimidating value, so now the regime has resorted to threatening to seize family properties of activists. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Our Droa party member Natia Letodiani’s family property apparently risks confiscation over Natia’s unpaid dictatorial protest fines.
The National Bureau of Enforcement said they must assess the value of property at her place, and that they’d be back on Monday. 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Natia has no property of her own and her accounts are frozen due to unpaid draconian fines.
It’s worth noting that Natia’s family is internally displaced from Sokhumi, Abkhazia, and that his father lost sight due to the brutal Gavrilov’s Night crackdown of anti-Russian protests in June 2019. 3/3.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
1/ 🚨 On Sept 26, the Georgian Dream–linked propaganda channel POSTV claimed that the “Coalition for Change” held a meeting at TV Pirveli to “discuss radical plans for Oct 4.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
2/ TV Pirveli responded, warning that this disinformation campaign may serve a larger purpose.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
3/ According to TV Pirveli: “The spread of lies and the statements of GD’s parliamentary defense & security committee deputy chair appear to be preparing the ground for Georgian Dream to enter the television premises and stop broadcasting.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
4/ TV Pirveli has long been a target of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party. The channel has faced sustained pressure, intimidation, and attempts to silence its reporting.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
5/ In their statement, TV Pirveli added: “When restrictive laws failed to disrupt broadcasting, these new attacks look like a direct move against television – aiming to shut us down completely.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Ivanishvili’s mouthpiece Zaza Shatirishvili says people should just go into exile and come back after a generation or so.
Which means they admit they can’t suppress us, and are frustrated that we aren’t burning out either.
The host also remarked: “They are all in.”
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 5:22 AM
⭕ Propagandist Zaza Shatirishvili claims that part of the youth is “redundant” and should leave #Georgia – “just as the communists left the Basque Country during Franco’s regime”.
He praised the dictator and said that GD likewise defends religion.
🔴 batumelebi.ge/articles-in-…
#TerrorInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 26, 2025 at 12:19 PM
GD’s Russia ties and how Ivanishvili managed to make enemies in the criminal world👇🏻
Otar Partskhaladze is a former GD Prosecutor-General and most likely Bidzina Ivanishvili’s main channel to Russia. It’s through Partskhaladze that Ivanishvili got sanctioned by the US for Russia ties. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Partskhaladze was sanctioned by the US as a Russian asset in 2023 (and by the UK in September 2025). In 2023, the National Bank of Georgia quickly came up with a way to exempt him from sanctions regulations and didn’t restrict his finances or flow. 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 4:20 AM
He took up an additional surname of Romanov in a clear attempt to associate himself with the Russian royalty.
Now, he’s suspected of having taken millions from the grandson of “Grandpa Hassan” to kill Levan Jangveladze, the brother of thief-in-law Merab Jangveladze. 3/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 4:20 AM
This caused serious friction between Jangveladze and some criminal authorities on the one hand and Ivanishvili on the other.
Partskhaladze and the Mikadze brothers, who also took the USD 5 million to kill Levan Jangveladze, had bad relations with Levan over tobacco and alcohol export in Russia. 4/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Russian business, Russian royalty, state-orchestrated sanctions exemption, mafia world, killing… 5/5.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 4:20 AM
🔴Armenia’s Appeals Court refused to free Georgian citizen Giorgi Kinoiani, w anted by #Russia for alleged involvement in the war in #Ukraine.
He was detained on Sept 3, placed in 40-day extradition custody & now faces extradition to Russia.
#Georgia #Armenia
batumelebi.netgazeti.ge/articles-in-…— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 26, 2025 at 7:46 AM
🔴 258 days of unlawful imprisonment for journalist & media founder Mzia Amaglobeli
🔴 258 days without justice for police abuse and inhuman treatment
🔴 258 days of disinformation & smear campaigns by GD officials
🟢 But also 258 days of strong, united public support – #FreeMzia.
#RepressionInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 26, 2025 at 2:55 AM
For almost a year, Georgians are protesting every single day.
Just two years ago, people would laugh at you if you suggested that Georgians can be enduring in discipline.
Yet, this is the most enduring daily protest in the world history, from what I know. 1/2
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 7:07 PM
And this is despite torture, extortionate fines, financial terror, imprisonment, sweeping crackdowns on communities, etc.
Once we crown it with victory, it will be a new global playbook of democratic resilience. 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Denmark:
Reuters reports that Denmark closed the airspace over Aalborg due to a suspicious object resembling a drone. Flights had to be redirected to other airports while the police inspected the area.
www.reuters.com/business/aer…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The US:
Despite earlier reporting today, Trump is not giving Tomahawks to Ukraine:
Axios reports that Trump refused to give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
www.axios.com/2025/09/26/z…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Back to Ukraine.
Footage shows russian war crime as russian troops deliberately target rescue workers
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Kherson:
Horrific indiscriminate artillery strike on Kherson today by fascist Russia’s forces. No military sense – simply terrorizing civilians in the city.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Kherson comes under fire again: one person has died today as a result of the latest Russian shelling of the city.
Several cars in a residential neighborhood burst into flames when they were struck by munitions.— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Emergency crews promptly put out the blaze, but tragically, they found a body while extinguishing the fire
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Kharkiv:
Russia struck a furniture store in Kharkiv a little earlier today, injuring at least 4 people‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Zaporizhzhia:
Russia struck a civilian infrastructure facility in Zaporizhzhia. Local authorities report that there are casualties.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Daily life in Ukraine: Russian drone crashed into the roof of Kharkiv shopping centre today. Hole in the roof, water covering the furniture. The sign outside says: ‘We are working’ in Ukrainian – you’ll see a lot of signs like this in Ukraine outside of stores and cafes hit by Russian attacks.
— Margo Gontar (@margogontar.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The Pokrovsk front:
Combat operation of the Leopard 2A4 crew of the 155th Brigade on the Pokrovsk front
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Dobropillia:
“Since the beginning of the Dobropillia counteroffensive, 168.8 km² of territory have already been liberated, and another 187.7 km² have been cleared of Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups. The total Russian losses within this operation alone are already nearly 3,000 personnel.” – Zelenskyy.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Russia:
/1. The fuel crisis is rapidly spreading to more and more cities and regions across Russia.
Every day, one can find not just one, not a few, but dozens of reports that the fuel crisis is spreading or worsening.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 5:29 AM
/2. At many stations where fuel is available, gasoline is being dispensed in quantities of either no more than 10-20 liters per vehicle or only for specialized vehicles.
This is the clearest indication that the attacks on Russia’s fuel infrastructure are working and should continue and intensify.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Smolensk Oblast, Russia:
Russian fuel train carrying 18 fuel tanks crashed in a truck which was crossing a railroad on a red light. Between the settlements of Rudnya and Golonki, Smolensk region.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 26, 2025 at 2:33 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
They Are Sounding the Alarm, Are We Listening?
Nukular Biskits
Did I miss something today?
Ruckus
What is being done right now is not a thoughtful, clearheaded, multidimensional review and revision.
How could it possibly be? Look who is “in charge.”
A deranged 79 – going on 109 yr old who doesn’t know military from a clafoutis. And seems to be aging rather rapidly while growing a case of very old fartitus. Much more rapidly than most, and an extremely strong case at that.
eclare
@Nukular Biskits:
Yeah. Who the fuck is Adam talking about? This sent me in a tizzy all over the internet worried about Hunter Biden.
Adam L Silverman
@Nukular Biskits: Lost an E7 a month or so back. Suicide. Memorial service was today. Not anyone who commented here.
tokyocali (formerly tokyo ex-pat)
Thank you, Adam. I think a few of us are wondering who Hunter is. It was a lovely tribute to him. (ETA: See you answered above in #4)
I know little of the military world beyond what I have read. If Hegseth does what you suggested could be on the table, can we reverse the changes in time if the Democrats take the presidency in ’28? Also, is there any way to resist these changes? This must be so demoralizing for the men and women who dedicated their lives to the service of our country.
Adam L Silverman
@tokyocali (formerly tokyo ex-pat): You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@tokyocali (formerly tokyo ex-pat): The issue won’t be reversing, it’ll be figuring out how to build something new and better. You can’t go back and reestablish what existed prior to it being broken.
pieceofpeace
Thanks, Adam.
So if DJT approved selling Tomahawks that could be used by Ukraine, this kind of negotiation must be DJT’s biggest anxiety point, even though Zelensky noted that it might not be used, yet Z. considers it’s crucial as a negotiation tool. Are weapons, especially in that caliber, used often as a tool for negotiation and if so, successfully?
Westyny
Thank you, Adam. Sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing.
Chetan Murthy
I once read a description of how “expeditionary” military forces works.
(1) you have geopolitical adversaries in the world
(2) In order to defeat them, or at least keep them in check, you at least need to make sure that they cannot meddle outside their neighborhood — that is, so -you- can meddle to your heart’s content! And this includes in your -own- neighborhood, of course!
(3) To achieve this, you need to cultivate clients and allies in the neighborhood of your adversary. You get them on your side, and this means that your adversary has to expend resources dealing with these now-hostile (or at least, not friendly) actors in their neighborhood. That’s going to be resources they can’t expend fucking with you in your own neighborhood!
There endeth the lesson.
I also remember Sarah C.M. Paine (full prof w/named chair in military history & grand strategy at US Naval War College) talking about how the goal of a military is not to -fight-, but to get others to fight on our behalf. So we spend time training, coordinating, etc, not -fighting-. We spend time keeping our allies and clients from fighting -with each other- (e.g. Japan & South Korea), so we can point them all at the same adversary.
Sigh.
Adam L Silverman
@pieceofpeace: I have no idea.
eclare
@Adam L Silverman:
You could have mentioned that.
Adam L Silverman
@eclare: You’ve got a hell of a lot of nerve. Your tone and your comments are out of line.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: Thank you. And you’re most welcome.
Carlo Graziani
According to this War on the Rocks piece detailing the history of Cyber Command, some small good may be served by this fecally bad outcome.
eclare
@Adam L Silverman:
I said you could have mentioned who the suicide victim was, that’s all.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
nitter.poast.org/MaxRTucker/status/1971505347534971061#m
Carlo Graziani
@Jay: So, I could use a tactical read on this.
I have seen a number of news pieces recently about changes in Russian tactics, wherein they use infiltration by small units (as in 5-10 guys) to penetrate Ukrainian lines and “gain ground”. I’ve been unable to understand how such “gains” have any durable value, as it seems to me that even a platoon of responders could wipe it out in short order. And yet this novel tactic seems to be attracting the attention of tactics-minded folks. So, what, if anything is its value?
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Jay
@Carlo Graziani:
So the “front lines” are thousands of km long, with lots of small villages, forest belts, etc, scattered along the lines.
Ukraine can’t “man” the entire frontline. It’s not WWI with fortified trenches sea to sea. So Ukraine sets up defensive positions in strategic places, not connected to others.
ruZZia sends small “suicide squad” assaults using various transpo to a). find fields of fire around Ukrainian where a larger assault can come through. 15 men leave, 3 live, good spot to attack. b) find places in the verge/villages where the Ukrainian’s aren’t, then zerg rush troops in, ignoring the strategic value of a place. It’s a Ukrainian Place, so raising the ruZZian flag get’s the KKKommander a 500,000 ruble bonus.
So, given the Ukrainian’s are strategically minded, and the ruZZian’s are not, the 40,000 troops that Ukraine redeployed have been using “mutti” tactics to cut off and isolate in “pockets” of various sizes the 120,000 troops the ruZZians “flooded the zone” with;
Some villages and forest belt’s aren’t worth holding. They aren’t “high ground”, don’t have an exploitable road, don’t have clear fields of fire. Don’t threaten supply/reinforcement corridors for “the enemy”. As in France in WWI, holding a hill 150 feet higher than the surrounding area, turns it into a fortress.
So the ruZZians pushed in at great cost, both in man power, internal bribes an bonus’s for grabbing strategically worthless real estate, and the Ukrainians countered by taking the strategic grounds and isolating the ruZZians into various sized “pockets”, the Finn’s called “mutti’s”. Eating an elephant one bite at a time.
Ukraine has sent some of their best, experienced and aggressive forces in as a counter, against exhausted moblik’s, contract soldiers and “disposables”.
Jim Appleton
Thanks Adam. Your take on our leadership is appreciated.
Curious if you have thoughts on a comment here appending a substack speculating in part that the GOFOR hoedown could really be about a loyalty oath cum purge.
My sense, very far removed from this realm, is that such a purge would be a catastrophe for the purgers.
But that their dim wits do not exclude the possibility of them eager to execute.
Carlo Graziani
@Jay: Huh. Thanks. Digesting. The Finnish Winter War Mottis are an interesting rabbit hole to go down.
If I understand what you are saying, the significance of this tactic is that the Russians have attempted very small unit infiltration on a colossal scale—120k troops—but the results are mixed, because many of those infiltrations capture irrelevant ground, and are as ignorable as Japanese-held bypassable islets in McArthur’s WWII Pacific advance (to choose one possible analogy). The remaining infiltrations that hit some kind of tactically neuralgic points can be dealt with rapidly by Ukrainian force concentrations.
The bottom line being that the new Russian tactics are offensively ineffective. Yes?
Mea
Thank you, Adam. May your friend Hunter’s memory be a blessing.
bjacques
@Jay: that great Russian summer offensive is going swimmingly, then. Berlin by Christmas!
SW
The most convincing evidence that the tide has turned in favor of Ukraine is Trump’s flip flop. Has his support really changed? I doubt it. But he does get an outstanding intelligence briefing when he chooses to read it or have it read to him. And his change shows that he has been told that the tide has turned and Russia is in trouble. Trump doesn’t give a shit about Ukraine but he doesn’t want to be associated with a loser.