Russia's War Against Ukraine

[Con]

I read a while back that strategically an amphib operation against Odessa was a good choice for Putin - very few options for the Ukrainians to defend against any sea power projections with a good military outcome for Russia to take Odessa.

[SirAndrewD]

I read a while back that strategically an amphib operation against Odessa was a good choice for Putin - very few options for the Ukrainians to defend against any sea power projections with a good military outcome for Russia to take Odessa.

It's what my DoD and FSO buddies were expecting.

[JasonPratt]

Wow, full court blitz (to mix some metaphors). Odessa's only, what, 50 miles up the coast from Romania? Advancing on Kharkov sounds like it could be Byelo as a springboard.

[SirAndrewD]

This guy has live feeds, looks like a lot of activity in and to the west of Kharkiv.  Shelling in Mariupol.  Live footage here...

[ArizonaTank]

CNN saying that the Ukrainians are reporting missile strikes.

By coincidence, playing a PBEM game of GMT's Red Storm...a game of hypothetical Cold War air combat over Germany in the 1980s.

Anyone who has played Red Storm, or games like Command: Modern Ops that showcase modern capabilities knows how the symphony goes.

1) Missile strikes (or Spetsnaz attacks) to take out and degrade early warning and SAM radars 

2) SEAD air strikes to take out SAM sites.

3) Air to Air sweeps to clear the sky of air opposition

4) Stand-off bomb attacks on airfields, command and control, and comms infrastructure.

5) Escorted visual bomb runs on airfields and any remaining radars / SAMs.

5) repeat until you have air supremacy.

[SirAndrewD]

Ukrainian Pravda confirms major amphibious landings at Odesa and Mariupol.

[Uberhaus]

Ukrainian Pravda confirms major amphibious landings at Odesa and Mariupol.

Want landbrige to Crimea, and linkup with Russian forces in Transdniestra, may try for parts of Moldava which has very small army. 
Any reports of airborne landings?  BBC reports gunfire at Kyiv airport but could be Spetsnaz or fifth columnists.  Reporting troops coming from Belorus.

God be with Ukraine.  Fight like the Finns. 

[Uberhaus]

This is a little late but Russian hypersonic weapons were developed not just to deal with US strategic weapons' great improvements in circular error probable (precision) but to specifically intimidate us at this time.  Read Putin's threats.  The timeframe of development and action in Ukraine is very close.

[Anguille]

 :'(

[Jarhead0331]

I've seen some videos posted to Facebook purportedly showing Russian aircraft eating SAMs. Nothing verified.

[MengJiao]

I've seen some videos posted to Facebook purportedly showing Russian aircraft eating SAMs. Nothing verified.

  Looks like a full-scale all-out attack on every part of the Ukraine.

[Jarhead0331]

^it does appear to be that, but there is a tremendous amount of misinformation on the internet. I've seen reports and videos of full-scale airborne drops which are clearly old training videos, etc.

Given the full spectrum nature of this war and the use of cyber attacks, propaganda, misdirection and misinformation, it's going to be difficult to cull truth from fact, at least for awhile.

[Jarhead0331]

There are B-52Hs on station in Poland flying figure-8s. Just crazy...

[Con]

Obviously not getting the full picture here but I am somewhat surprised that the Russians haven't gone full shock army assault mode here. Almost looks like they are probing and using small special forces action. I was estimating amphibious landings and large scale armored maneuvering with contact to take place within the first hours of the invasion. But judging from what is being reported that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Gusington]

Even with all the buildup this is still shocking. I need to catch up.