Putin's losses now stand at 2,800 troops...

[left-of-center2012]

Ukraine says it has inflicted one of Russia's heaviest ever day of losses with more than 1,000 casualties:
Putin's losses now stand at 2,800 troops, 80 tanks and 516 armoured vehicles as fightback continues.

Ukrainian forces downed a Russian fighter jet over Kyiv early on Friday and later hit an airfield in Millerovo in Rostov, southern Russia, destroying at least one Su-30SM around 10am local time (8am GMT). Meanwhile by late Thursday forces had claimed to have shot down at least six helicopters, including four Russian KA-52 Alligator attack helicopters during a battle for Gostomel air base on Thursday. A fifth helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at the field under heavy fire.

Few expect Ukraine to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a prolonged, bloody, and vicious war - but so far, Kyiv's forces have managed to inflict heavy losses on Putin's troops.

Russian officials claim that Moscow has captured more than 160 troops; destroyed 74 Ukrainian military ground facilities; downed five fighter jets and one helicopter; and destroyed 18 tanks and other armoured vehicles.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10550799/Ukraine-hits-airfield-Russia-missile-strike-blow-Putin-downing-six-helicopters.html

[Happy Hoosier]

1. Those numbers are probably inflated, but....

From what I can see, Russia is definitely getting its nose bloodied here. Russia's military prowess has, in my view, been greatly exaggerated. They still have enough to beat Ukraine in relatively short order, but Ukraine can make it hurt pretty badly. And I doubt they have enough to really withstand a prolonged insurgency.

[mahina]

5. And from there can Putin continue to re-conquer

the former USSR lands? It seems less likely now.

(((Ukraine)))

[Happy Hoosier]

7. It does seem less likely. From what I've read....

The Russians expected to control nearly twice as much territory as they have, and expected to have air dominance by now. They will no doubt continue to advance, but this has to change the calculus some. If I'm Biden, I am STRONGLY pressing our allies to hit Russia hard with more serious sanctions right now. In military operations, it is CRUCIAL to take advantage of such moments.

[lagomorph777]

33. +1000 SWIFT needs to be shut off.

[uponit7771]

16. +1, I am ***NOT*** impressed with Russians fighting ability

[Wingus Dingus]

26. I think the "enemy" they are fighting doesn't make for great morale.

I would doubt Russian troops seriously believe they are crushing a real security threat. They're doing as they're told, but I'd be surprised if they were fired up about it. Being exposed to real danger from a Ukrainian counteroffensive will only corrode morale further.

[lagomorph777]

34. And Ukraine is fighting for survival.

Pretty clear who's going to be more motivated.

[Wingus Dingus]

35. This is what I'm hoping.

[BootinUp]

2. This is insane. Eom.

[dchill]

3. +1,000,000.

[lapfog_1]

4. if they have a missile big enough

they should target the Kremlin.

This is war, that is a military command center. No different than bombing Hitler's bunker in WWII

[Dan]

6. Ukraine gave up their nukes... because of our promise to protect them, and the USSR

Promise not to invade.

The one thing that will come of this is probably every nation that can acquire/make/build nukes, will do so.

[lapfog_1]

9. I didn't say nuke

missiles carry conventional warheads too.

[Dan]

11. Yes, I know.

But if Ukraine had kept it’s nukes, then this would not be happening. That was the point I was making…

[lapfog_1]

12. yes, and when they gave them up

there were treaties signed about territorial integrity.

Russia has been involved in war crimes in Ukraine for over a decade now.

Shooting down civilian air liners, supplying arms to Russian backed separatists, inserting "little green men" into the Dombas... invading Crimea.

I'm sure they wish they had kept like 100 missile silo's and MIRV warheads.

[amaico]

8. Allegedly

Allegedly.

[lapfog_1]

10. Da tovarich...

"allegedly"

ok...

[gab13by13]

13. Send them more Javelins

[Goonch]

14. ;-{)🖖‍

[uponit7771]

15. That could INCLUDE injuries but it STILL a good number. Any other unique sources on this number?

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

17. Putin don't give a shit about his troop body counts, expendables, less about civilian casualties

The tanks are rolling, it's going to be a bloodbath

[RAB910]

18. I am surprised the Ukraine hasn't adopted the Iranian tactic of IEDs

they had plenty of time to plant them along likely invasion routes and that would inflict massive damage (and sap moralle) just like it did to the US

[relayerbob]

19. They probably have

A news report early in January explicitly quoted a US military report saying we were sending explosives for just that purpose

[RAB910]

21. That makes sense because IEDs are deadly, cheap and effective against an invading force

[padah513]

20. Malcolm Nance says IED's are coming

[peggysue2]

22. Yes, I heard Nance predict that as well

Also, put to rest that this bloody incursion will be over in a week (Putin's reported boast). Nance predicted (and he's been on the nose thus far) that Putin's actions have ensured a long, costly insurgency against the Russians, a War of Attrition that Russia will ultimately regret.

[Happy Hoosier]

23. Ukraine is still defending with conventional military tactics, mostly....

Although the broadly distributed video of the attack on the Russian truck clearly shows a civilian fighter.

I expect as Russia grinds down the Ukrainian military, we see a transition to Guerilla warfare and the use of IEDs. I would be VERY, VERY surprised if there weren't U.S. Special Operations forces already on the ground there providing training and even more direct assistance.

In my view, we should have provided Ukraine with Javelins and MANPADS out the wazoo. Those things can HURT.

[RAB910]

28. To me, IEDs don't need to be used strictly in Guerilla warfare

It could be seen like land mines and other boobytraps and part of regular defensive tactics. Few innovations have been more surprisingly effective against modern ground forces as IEDs. I doubt Russia has the vehicles (like America's MRAPs) that could counter such a threat

[Happy Hoosier]

29. Well, the military itself....

doesn't typically have to use IMPROVISED Explosive Devices. They usually have quite a few of purpose-built explosive devices on hand!

I have no doubt the Ukrainians are employing mines against the advancing Russians.

[Cosmocat]

37. I imagine this will be a thing if there is an extended occupation

nm

[SWBTATTReg]

24. Probably underestimated, being that Putin bought in his own crematoriums too, to dispose of

too many bodies, to hide the bloodshed. Who else brings in their own dead body disposal units, crematoriums (and most importantly, why)?

putin, wanting to hide the bloody truth from his own people on just how many deaths putin's fantasies are truly costing the Russian people.

We're yet to see the full cost of this whole bloody engagement.

I already see some efforts to sidestep gas shipments from Russia via the pipeline that is IP of being developed (from European buyers, there are other sources of gas), and also, more importantly, these buyers are seeing just how easily ties w/ Russia could be broken and gas shipments could be curtailed, because putin has a fit on something or other that bugs him. Other sources of foreign income are being disrupted across the entire European theater, as more and more turn away from Russian suppliers and their goods, and go to other sources.

With someone who is so undependable from an economic viewpoint, this will plunge the Russian economy into a tailspin, mainly because buyers don't like unpredictability.

At least one truth is now in the open, that putin is a murderer and a warmonger, and will attack any part of Russia (and maybe others) that he feels isn't up to snuff.

This should (and probably already is) be a scary thought in any Russian's mind (and is probably already in those in the NATO command).

[Wingus Dingus]

25. I honestly don't believe either side's numbers--

they have so much reason to inflate or minimize losses and kills. Both sides are in vital need of positive morale-building messaging.

[radicalleft]

27. I'm with you

I don't believe these numbers at all...

edit to add:

Our losses in both Iraq and Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of fighting stands at a little over 7k...1000 in a day seems like a stretch.

[Happy Hoosier]

30. Well, Russia can be assumed to be lying....

... but even if Ukraine is not, is is pretty typical for forces to overestimate the casualties they inflict.

In the U.S. military, Post-attack recon and bomb damage assessment is given high importance for that very reason. Historically, military forces havce drastically overestimated their own effectiveness.

[Wingus Dingus]

31. Yep. We'll know what's going on by their actions, not so much

by their unreliable stats--that's more intended for the folks at home, to support the mission.

[Happy Hoosier]

32. Agreed.. it is CLEAR...

That things are not going as well for the Russians as they had hoped and expected and that's something. But we don't known to what extent that is true.

[Chainfire]

36. All the dead on both sides can be attributed to Puntin's

small man syndrome. It is a shame that so many people have to die for one man's ego.