Russia's War Against Ukraine

[JasonPratt]

They'll rattle their nukes at literally anything for any reason anyway, and losing Crimea will be quite a good reason from their standpoint, so I'm going to guess the answer is "yes". 

[Gusington]

Hasn't been a lot of rattlin' lately...

[JasonPratt]

Didn't they do the usual thing when that massive swarm of drones lightly scorched the paint of some of their buildings? I mean, I don't recall that they did, to be honest, but I've been busy elsewhere, so I just assumed business as usual.

If they didn't this time.... hm, I wonder if I should be worried. Can't recall who said it first, but Tom Clancy used to say that a rattling sword is still in the scabbard; a drawn sword doesn't rattle.

 

[FarAway Sooner]

I think the real concern is Russia using tactical nukes to target Ukrainian troop concentrations, either before or after staging some kind of false flag operation somewhere in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.  But trying to predict the Russians in this whole conflict has been an exercise in futility.

[Crossroads]

I think the real concern is Russia using tactical nukes to target Ukrainian troop concentrations, either before or after staging some kind of false flag operation somewhere in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.  But trying to predict the Russians in this whole conflict has been an exercise in futility.

I wonder if tactical nukes truly bring any battlefield advantage as such, given the similar effect can be achieved by conventional arms. In 2014, Russia wiped out a Ukrainian mech battalion with MRLS using UAV to adjust fire. At the same time, China et al have made it very clear they don't want to see nukes used, and that in general use of nukes is always a strategic decision, given the absolute pariah status Russia would be under.

Meanwhile in the news: seems the various diversions are creating the desired effect

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1664510885249908736