Russia's War Against Ukraine

[JasonPratt]

Meanwhile, out of curiosity, what's the current status on theories for who blew up the bridge? I think video evidence clearly shows something edging up under the detonated area moments before the explosion, but I'm unsure how clearly the actual detonation fits that vector (i.e. was that coincidentally something else? Or multiple explosives potentially or actually?)

[Jarhead0331]

[Gusington]

^Excellent 

[Sir Slash]

I'm thinking for the right price, we could hire this Summ-Bitch to fight for us. Everybody who hates Putin, imagine what it'd be like if this guy was in the Kremlin. 

[Windigo]

And now they are publicly stating they are giving up on Bakhmut????

[SirAndrewD]

And now they are publicly stating they are giving up on Bakhmut????

It might not be so much of a trap. 

They were being paid, by the mile to capture Bakhmut.  They will by May 10 accomplish that, they have functionally done so already. 

Wagner has by all measures accomplished what it was contracted to do and I feel Prigozhin wants to preserve his personal Army for the coming upheaval post Putin's death.

Of course it's also a play to get a new contract, more power, more logistical support ect. 

It also is a very public demonstration that Prigozhin doesn't do what anyone tells him, and he's not afraid of window adjacency. 

So, while I don't expect Wagner to be truly done with the war effort, I don't think this is some master strategy by the Russian high command either.

[Gusington]

Window adjacency?

[Crossroads]

Window adjacency?

In Russia, drinking tea, or being in a high-rise building with windows can prove fatal.

[Gusington]

Ah

 

[JasonPratt]

Also being on a yacht, as a popular recent retirement alternative.

Thus my occasional joke about how some Russian klepto-gang leader better watch out being near a window on his yacht!

[JasonPratt]

Associated Press weighs in on Pig'ozhin's mission accomplished position:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/why-is-russia-s-wagner-threatening-to-withdraw-from-bakhmut/ar-AA1aN1sN?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=33dcf02530d745cf8224b5a44abbc852&ei=39

[JasonPratt]

Business Insider has more information on the remote-controlled armored Ukrainian minesweeping tractor:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-ukrainian-farmer-stripped-pieces-off-wrecked-russian-tanks-to-make-an-armored-remote-controlled-mine-sweeping-tractor/ar-AA1aN43Z?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=d436a13ac0a548e8ab9f122b2247f4c1&ei=41

[FarAway Sooner]

The Public Prigozhin Spat is interesting to see, at the very least.  It's too early to tell what (if anything) it really signifies, but it sure is fun to speculate.  I have no idea how many Wagner troops are currently in Ukraine.

Gus, as for your earlier question, we've noticed a high correlation among Russian public figures between window adjacency and altitudinal defenestration.

Even as these guys all take shots at each other, nobody's taking shots at Putin and nobody's taking shots at the justification for the war in Ukraine.  That suggests that there is still rigorous control of the Russian information space, even if it is being a bit more critical of the conduct of the war. 

[SirAndrewD]

I have no idea how many Wagner troops are currently in Ukraine.

Estimates are around 50k.  They likely are down to a 30k or so that are actually able to fight.

That number however mostly consists of conscripted prisoners.  The actual, capable, trained Wagner troops that have years of practical combat experience is around 6k.

So, if he pull his people off the line, that's significant.

[Tripoli]

Just a thought, but could he be negotiating for a higher contract price rather than pull his troops off the line before an expected Ukrainian offensive?