Russia Sets Blaze to a 1000-Year-Old Ukrainian Monestary with a Missile, So Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Attack at... Moscow

That escalated quickly. That really took a jump.

Ukraine hit a major Moscow oil refinery for a second time in a week and disrupted commercial flights at Moscow airports in one of its biggest drone attacks since Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago, Russian officials said Thursday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attacks retaliation for a strike that damaged a historic monastery in Kyiv this week, and he said "Moscow will burn" if the Russian attacks continue.

"We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it," Zelenskiy said in a voice message sent to reporters on a WhatsApp group. "But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn."

I was wondering why Ukraine would launch such a provocative attack at Moscow, especially since they seem to actually be winning this war now. Russia's spring offensive resulted in a net loss of territory and a lot of loss of men and materiel. Ukraine is now pummeling Russian trucks and bridges with drone attacks. Attacking logistics seems to me -- and unlike a woke white woman, I'm not an expert -- a second-order priority in war, so the fact that Ukraine is now devoting so many drones and artillery to blowing up Russia's capacity to move food, fuel, and ammunition suggests to me they have their first-order priorities reasonably secured.

(I don't mean to say logistics aren't important. I've heard the adage "Amateurs think about strategy, professionals think about logistics." I just mean that if Russia were pinning down and killing Ukrainian soldiers and tanks, the first order priority would be attacking those enemy forces to spare the men. If Ukraine can spare so many drones to blow up locomotives and trucks, I assume they are not being killed by the hundreds at the moment.)

Putin will use -- or will try to use -- a nuke rather than lose. Why give him a justification for using one?

But I guess they felt they had to respond in kind to the frequent missile and drone attacks on Kyiv.

"The main thing is that the people of Russia begin to feel that it is one man, Putin, who is waging this war, while ordinary people pay the price for everything," he said.

The attack came hours after Zelenskyy said he had held "an important coordination call" with President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron that may "bring about significant change."

Some video of the dueling strikes:

How Ukrainian priests and firefighters raced to save sacred relics after a Russian drone strike set Kyiv’s historic Dormition Cathedral ablaze. 🔗 https://t.co/zSyV9jNJ4Y pic.twitter.com/QyAKjnPQMf
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 18, 2026

Smoke and flames rise from the Dormition Cathedral in the Orthodox complex of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra following a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian capital pic.twitter.com/wvRvRpOzI2
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 15, 2026

🇷🇺 🇺🇦 Ukraine sets Moscow refinery ablaze in biggest attack in years

Ukraine launches its largest drone attack on Moscow in years, sparking fires in and around the capital, hitting a major oil refinery and forcing evacuations at the country's largest airport, according to… pic.twitter.com/BiOS5bKUgQ
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 18, 2026

The moment a storage tank at the Moscow oil refinery was hit: the blast blew the tank's lid off. https://t.co/ibupq8ofJc pic.twitter.com/cptsVVywYP
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 18, 2026

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 06:50 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Putin has been fucking with US interests for some time now, and at this point I don't care if the war is brought home to him.

Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 06:52 PM (gKWVE)

2 I should care....

Posted by: It's me donna at June 18, 2026 06:52 PM (FtULh)

3 Mom always said
Don't fly drones around the house

Posted by: Skip at June 18, 2026 06:52 PM (Ia/+0)

4 Were the Ukes using the monastary to house missiles and other military equipment like the muzzies do?...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (l3cgK)

5 >>>1 Putin has been fucking with US interests for some time now, and at this point I don't care if the war is brought home to him.

I think he's actually going to lose but he can't lose because if he loses he'll be purged. So what is he going to do? I think he'll fire a nuke before he accepts that he's lost.

Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (1wjle)

6 Lotsa stuff blowed up real good.

Posted by: banana Dream at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (3uBP9)

7 Another Bag of burning Dog Shit left on the White House Doorstep by Blo Jiden for Trump to step in....

Posted by: Jackson K. at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (geT9b)

8 Russia deserves a hit back

Posted by: Skip at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (Ia/+0)

9 >>>4 Were the Ukes using the monastary to house missiles and other military equipment like the muzzies do?...

Doubt it.

Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (1wjle)

10 I just mean that if Russia were pinning down and killing Ukrainian soldiers and tanks, the first order priority would be attacking those enemy forces to spare the men.
---
If you cut off their fuel supplies, their whole army grinds to a halt. No ammo, no reinforcement, not operational mobility.

I'm guessing they are getting better targeting and advice from DoW than the blue-hairs who led Biden's military.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 06:54 PM (ZOv7s)

11 What, were these guys mad about Iran getting all the attention?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at June 18, 2026 06:55 PM (R+iUD)

12 Putin has been lobbing missiles into civilian-only areas for a long time. This isn't some new thing. As he loses on the front he starts hitting cities.

Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:55 PM (1wjle)

13 "We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it," Zelenskiy said

Can confirm. We were hoping to skip the whole "war" scenario.

Posted by: NATO Bioweapons Labs at June 18, 2026 06:55 PM (wn0/z)

14 9 >>>4 Were the Ukes using the monastary to house missiles and other military equipment like the muzzies do?...

Doubt it.

Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (1wjle)

I do to. That was more of a rhetorical question. Putin is a Godless Commie Dictator, so bombing monasteries and churches wouldn't bother him.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 06:56 PM (l3cgK)

15 >>>If you cut off their fuel supplies, their whole army grinds to a halt. No ammo, no reinforcement, not operational mobility.

i know. They're cutting the front off from the near-rear and cutting Crimea off from resupply.

Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:56 PM (1wjle)

16 Dang

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at June 18, 2026 06:56 PM (znREB)

17
They're all just drunken Slavs, but Pooty-Poot started it, and did so stupidly. I have no sympathy for the fucker.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 06:56 PM (KlGB0)

18 Zelenskyy, you've outlawed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, so STFU.

Posted by: logorof at June 18, 2026 06:56 PM (jo6FO)

19 A smart military blog should recognize that logistics is the key to warfare.

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at June 18, 2026 06:57 PM (PZDXa)

20 "Can they both lose?"

Posted by: Don Black at June 18, 2026 06:57 PM (FJ/Rv)

21 This is just like the Canada vs. Qatar SOCCER game that was just being talked about. I don't care who wins.

I'm curious, however. Did any of the Ukrainian Monks have a Totenkopf tattoo...because, you know ....Ukrainians.

Posted by: Orson at June 18, 2026 06:57 PM (dIske)

22 Ukraine could end the war quickly by striking and destroying Russia's vodka distilleries.

Posted by: Embarrassing Stain at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (NpJ0Q)

23 Russia firing a nuke means the taboo is over. It means we've entered the "For All Time" timeline. Every government that has a 51/49 split between the good guys and the bad guys nukes the bad guys as soon as they get a nuke.
Maybe President DeSantis decides he doesn't like Denver. Boom. The mullahs have a problem with the libs in Tehran and Tabriz? Boom, boom. Hanoi got a beef with Saigon. Boom!

Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (gKWVE)

24 >>> 10 I just mean that if Russia were pinning down and killing Ukrainian soldiers and tanks, the first order priority would be attacking those enemy forces to spare the men.
---
If you cut off their fuel supplies, their whole army grinds to a halt. No ammo, no reinforcement, not operational mobility.

I'm guessing they are getting better targeting and advice from DoW than the blue-hairs who led Biden's military.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 06:54 PM (ZOv7s)

Is this about me?

Posted by: Admiral Levine at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (R+iUD)

25 Anybody here deeply invested in the Russia/Ukraine dustup anymore?

Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (Gqar8)

26 >>.19 A smart military blog should recognize that logistics is the key to warfare.

I do, I mentioned the famous quote. I just mean they're on the offensive, not the defensive. They're hollowing out the front and Crimea. They couldn't do this if they were being pressed at the front.

Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (1wjle)

27 I'm guessing they are getting better targeting and advice from DoW than the blue-hairs who led Biden's military.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
====
Last I heard we had pulled back and it was the British that were giving Ukrainians targeting info.

But refineries are pretty big targets to hit and the Ukrainians could have used Google Earth to find them.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 06:59 PM (E4rtv)

28 i know. They're cutting the front off from the near-rear and cutting Crimea off from resupply.
Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:56 PM (1wjle)
---
I stopped paying attention more than a year ago when it became clear that both sides have their paid shills chirping away and all the tanks in all the armies have all be destroyed twice. Back then Ukraine was on the ropes, but the DoW guys may have done deeper level analysis and told the Ukes to stop fighting over territory and focus on logistical hubs.

Neither side can win and ultimately neither side will win, so now it's just about forcing a cease-fire.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 06:59 PM (ZOv7s)

29
Talk about flipping your lid.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at June 18, 2026 06:59 PM (w6EFb)

30 Anybody here deeply invested in the Russia/Ukraine dustup anymore?
Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (Gqar

---
Nope.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 06:59 PM (ZOv7s)

31 Zelinskyy is ahole
Pootin is ahole

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (znREB)

32 Maybe, some country, (not the US), should loan a couple of nukes to Ukraine. That would even things out with Russia. MAD. Nothing like leveling the playing field.

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (w3u3d)

33 This is still going on?

Could you imagine things with Iran going on 4 years? I'd just want every American journalist dead at that point.

Well, more than now.

Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (Sco7b)

34 tubal it would be easy to forget except these occasionally dust ups

Posted by: Skip at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (Ia/+0)

35 22 Ukraine could end the war quickly by striking and destroying Russia's vodka distilleries.

Posted by: Embarrassing Stain at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (NpJ0Q)

Чувак!

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (l3cgK)

36 I do, I mentioned the famous quote. I just mean they're on the offensive, not the defensive. They're hollowing out the front and Crimea. They couldn't do this if they were being pressed at the front.
Posted by: ace
====
The post was fine. The whole war is complex as it is the biggest and longest war in Euroland since WWI and II. Think it has already lasted longer than WWI.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (E4rtv)

37 Laura Loomer (whom everyone says is crazy) has noted that back in the bad woke days, American companies were deplatforming OG Maga. Which then included her. The main outfits who were allowing (actual) conservatives access to social media were the Russian outfits: RT, VKontakt, shit like that.
Which led some on the Right, not just Loomer, to ponder if Putin might have a point.

Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 07:01 PM (gKWVE)

38 Those russian missiles are almost as bad as muslim migrants for damaging churches and cathedrals.

Posted by: bob (moron inbobnitus) at June 18, 2026 07:01 PM (A8nNw)

39 >>> 31 Zelinskyy is ahole
Pootin is ahole
by: vmom deport deport deport at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (znREB)

vmom deport deport deport Johnson is right!

Also a trendsetter, the Euros are *finally* catching up to her.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at June 18, 2026 07:01 PM (R+iUD)

40 32 Maybe, some country, (not the US), should loan a couple of nukes to Ukraine. That would even things out with Russia. MAD. Nothing like leveling the playing field.
Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat

UK might be stupid enough to do it. Starmer would rather see UK nuked than loses his PM ship.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:01 PM (E4rtv)

41 34 tubal it would be easy to forget except these occasionally dust ups
Posted by: Skip at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (Ia/+0)

Oh, I suppose so. We do love to see ‘splodey stuff. Internet is Great for that.

Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (Gqar8)

42 Last I heard we had pulled back and it was the British that were giving Ukrainians targeting info.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 06:59 PM (E4rtv)
---
When I last followed event, Russia had air supremecy and Uke drone operators were being sent up the front.

My completely ignorant speculation was that Trump thought Putin would do a deal with him. Remember that big show where all the leaders gathered in Washington to broker peace and it fell through?

I can see Trump telling Hegseth to send his meanest bastards over to Kiev and make Putin suffer.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (ZOv7s)

43 Putin has been fucking with US interests for some time now, and at this point I don't care if the war is brought home to him.
Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 06:52 PM (gKWVE)

People should be reminded that the US installed the current Ukrainian regime. The regime which spent what, a decade, shelling the ethnic Russians in the SE who weren't onboard with the coup? The US that turned down Putin's repeated overtures of friendship for decades.

The US isn't the good guys in this story.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (ExV1e)

44 38 Those russian missiles are almost as bad as muslim migrants for damaging churches and cathedrals.
Posted by: bob

Guided versus unguided weapons of mass destruction. Overall, I think the Muzzies have the Russian beat in destroying a civilization.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (E4rtv)

45 25

I guess I am, to some extent. I don't want Russia to expand into what used to be called "the captive nations" again.

You do know Russia is looking at the Baltic states too, right? This should be discouraged!

Posted by: mnw at June 18, 2026 07:03 PM (RCjYY)

46 Putin will use -- or will try to use -- a nuke rather than lose. Why give him a justification for using one?

I don't think it will go that far, or hope not.

Putin is going to have to dig in where the front is and give up on certain objectives, certainly.

Zelensky and the Ukes have really gotten their crap together after Trump put the fear of God in them last year. Their drone production and deployment have only gotten better and better.

But, in the end, Russia still has them outnumbered and has much more productive capacity to win a war of attrition.

It's going to end.
The only question seems to be where on the map will Putin be satisfied enough to call it quits and sue for peace?

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 18, 2026 07:03 PM (6ydKt)

47 Russian arms cannot be permitted to acquire territory in Europe. But maybe just a little this one time.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 18, 2026 07:03 PM (RIvkX)

48 Don't really know what to think about this war anymore.

I always viewed at as Russia with its hand on Ukraine's head as Ukraine punched and flailed about, perhaps I got the order mixed up or perhaps they take turns.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (fK2qh)

49 "Attacking logistics seems to me -- and unlike a woke white woman, I'm not an expert -- a second-order priority in war"

I'm told ball bearing factories make excellent targets.

Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (w/O5Q)

50 >>> 47 Russian arms cannot be permitted to acquire territory in Europe. But maybe just a little this one time.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 18, 2026 07:03 PM (RIvkX)

Hey, that's what *I* said!

Posted by: Joe Biden at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (R+iUD)

51 Maybe, some country, (not the US), should loan a couple of nukes to Ukraine. That would even things out with Russia. MAD. Nothing like leveling the playing field.
Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (w3u3d)
---
There was a reason we got those nukes away from Ukraine back in the day, because those guys WILL use them on each other. Never break up a fight between Slavs.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (ZOv7s)

52
I have my doubts about Pooty going nuke. After the shit performance of their weapons, and the ChiCom shit they bought, the last thing he needs is to try nuking Kiev only to end up with a dud warhead.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (KlGB0)

53 Not in the mood to do Europe a solid right now. Let them figure it out for a change.

Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (Gqar8)

54 43 Putin has been fucking with US interests for some time now, and at this point I don't care if the war is brought home to him.
Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 06:52 PM (gKWVE)

People should be reminded that the US installed the current Ukrainian regime. The regime which spent what, a decade, shelling the ethnic Russians in the SE who weren't onboard with the coup? The US that turned down Putin's repeated overtures of friendship for decades.

The US isn't the good guys in this story.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (ExV1e)

The Russians were supplying arms to separatists. The Crimean plebiscite was the excuse for Russia to illegally annex Crimea and its Black Sea ports. That doesn't excuse our involvement and false promises to Ukraine.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:05 PM (l3cgK)

55 Turns out the refinery tank with the flying lid was the result of a misfire/malfunctioning Rooskie surface-to-air missile. Complete self-own by Red air defense.

Posted by: Bert G at June 18, 2026 07:05 PM (VARTN)

56 ..and I still believe, after everything that's happened over the past year, that Putin wishes he'd taken the deal in Alaska.

His position, and his global allies postions, has only steadily deteriorated since then.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 18, 2026 07:05 PM (6ydKt)

57 54 Not in the mood to do Europe a solid right now. Let them figure it out for a change.

Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (Gqar

A solid, you say?

Posted by: Amber Heard at June 18, 2026 07:05 PM (l3cgK)

58 A drone strike on Lenin's tomb would make for a great popcorn moment.

Posted by: Curly Shuffle at June 18, 2026 07:05 PM (5yDGQ)

59

Can we send Scott Pelley over there to jut his manly and virile chin out at them?

Yes!

Posted by: Rev Dr E Buzz PhD Esq at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (et1vG)

60 The US isn't the good guys in this story.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (ExV1e)

Not saying "we" were. I remember the bad woke days.
I am however saying that Putin has been meddling in other places other than the Donbass (where I agree, an argument exists).
So if he had any moral high ground, and again I am agreeing it was a level ground between him and the Ukraine like eight years ago, he has lost it in the past year. Fuck him in particular.

Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (gKWVE)

61 I can see Trump telling Hegseth to send his meanest bastards over to Kiev and make Putin suffer.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

Mebbe on EW tips but I think the Ukrainians actually, like the Israelis, are doing more themselves because the US has departed. We always had more stupid ideas about calibrating responses since Vietnam. Both Israel and Ukraine fight better unleashed.

Russian oil and industrial plants should have been targets all along with fixed military assets like bases with planes or boats.

Our biggest strike on Russia is dropping the oil prices--the Ruskis were having liquidity issues last time oil was in the 60's and 70's.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (E4rtv)

62 Little Z-man will never seriously talk peace. Peace would blow the great grift he has now.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (xvV+O)

63 Funny joke I saw: When Britain was and empire it had an emperor, when it was a kingdom it had a king. Now it's a country.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (l26NL)

64 Russian arms cannot be permitted to acquire territory in Europe. But maybe just a little this one time.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 18, 2026 07:03 PM (RIvkX)
---
The core problem is that there are no fixed boundaries in Eastern Europe. They're lines on a map written in pencil.

Not a vital American interest.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (ZOv7s)

65 >>> 42 Last I heard we had pulled back and it was the British that were giving Ukrainians targeting info.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 06:59 PM (E4rtv)
---
When I last followed event, Russia had air supremecy and Uke drone operators were being sent up the front.

My completely ignorant speculation was that Trump thought Putin would do a deal with him. Remember that big show where all the leaders gathered in Washington to broker peace and it fell through?

I can see Trump telling Hegseth to send his meanest bastards over to Kiev and make Putin suffer.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (ZOv7s)

>>> 57 ..and I still believe, after everything that's happened over the past year, that Putin wishes he'd taken the deal in Alaska.

His position, and his global allies postions, has only steadily deteriorated since then.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 18, 2026 07:05 PM (6ydKt)

Why, I'm beginning to think this Trump fellow might have some idea what he's doing.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at June 18, 2026 07:07 PM (R+iUD)

66 UK might be stupid enough to do it. Starmer would rather see UK nuked than loses his PM ship.
Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:01 PM (E4rtv)

LOL. UK ain't got the guts. Besides, if Russia attacked the UK in this case, NATO would kick in and the US would be happy to turn most of Russia into a sheet of glass. Even the US lefties say Putin is evil.

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:07 PM (w3u3d)

67 There was a reason we got those nukes away from Ukraine back in the day, because those guys WILL use them on each other. Never break up a fight between Slavs.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

By now, we (the public) don't know if the Ukes could have made a crude one by now. They have nuclear power plants after all and the older graphite type IRRC that can be used as enriching. Delivery system would be their weakness.

Ukraine is fighting an existential war, Russia, a war of choice.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:08 PM (E4rtv)

68 off sock

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:09 PM (l3cgK)

69 Boy, both are desperate to stay on the world stage and keeping the media spotlight on themselves.

The Ukes should have had some drones deploy their flag over Moskva. Really rub it in Putin's face.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:09 PM (2GVsD)

70 I do, I mentioned the famous quote. I just mean they're on the offensive, not the defensive. They're hollowing out the front and Crimea. They couldn't do this if they were being pressed at the front.
Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (1wjle)
************************************

Ukraine has been carrying out these drone attacks against vital Russian infrastructure for years now, though they've become more frequent recently. The rate of change in territorial control has been extremely slow for the past three-and-a-half years, though the Russians have usually had the better of it.

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at June 18, 2026 07:09 PM (PZDXa)

71 Trump should offer Russia Crimea with overland access in exchange for eliminating the Kaliningrad Enclave and evacuating Transnistria, which goes to Ukraine in compensation.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:10 PM (ZOv7s)

72 Rodrigo, if you're here, prayers on tomorrow's surgery.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (qx7Zg)

73 Were the Ukes using the monastary to house missiles and other military equipment like the muzzies do?...

Doubt it.
Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:53 PM (1wjle)

Why? Because they're such good guys? The same ones who have suspended all elections? The same coke riddled track suited che Guevara who, with his wife, has suspiciously been living large on our tax dollars? All while feeding his people into a meat grinder? Those guys?

Do not get me wrong, Russian side is no better but it was always Soviets vs the Ukazis here.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (G3T/K)

74 Drone history.

Over a decade ago someone tried to land a drone with some radioactive material on the Japanese Prime Minister's residence.

Oh if the Ukes got some glowing clicking powder, yeah they would use it to dose something besides Putin's tea.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (2GVsD)

75 70 I do, I mentioned the famous quote. I just mean they're on the offensive, not the defensive. They're hollowing out the front and Crimea. They couldn't do this if they were being pressed at the front.
Posted by: ace at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (1wjle)
************************************

Ukraine has been carrying out these drone attacks against vital Russian infrastructure for years now, though they've become more frequent recently. The rate of change in territorial control has been extremely slow for the past three-and-a-half years, though the Russians have usually had the better of it.

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at June 18, 2026 07:09 PM (PZDXa)

This should have been easy for the Ruskies, but now, more then 4 years later, it quite the continuing embarrassment. How many ships and generals have the Ruskies lost the last four years?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (l3cgK)

76 Ukraine is fighting an existential war, Russia, a war of choice.
Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:08 PM (E4rtv)
---
They've sold it that way, but it's not. Russia knows it cannot hold ethnically hostile terrain. It's a retarded border dispute between two irate drunken cousins.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (ZOv7s)

77 Even the US lefties say Putin is evil.
---

That's what makes me think Putin is just on this.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (xvV+O)

78 Funny joke I saw: When Britain was and empire it had an emperor, when it was a kingdom it had a king. Now it's a country.
Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (l26NL)

Heh.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:12 PM (G3T/K)

79 Why, I'm beginning to think this Trump fellow might have some idea what he's doing.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at June 18, 2026 07:07 PM (R+iUD)

He's a risk-taker.

Problem is, it takes months & years to see whether his risks pay off.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 18, 2026 07:12 PM (6ydKt)

80 There was a reason we got those nukes away from Ukraine back in the day, because those guys WILL use them on each other. Never break up a fight between Slavs.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:04 PM (ZOv7s)

Ukraine gave up their nukes because Clinton promised the US would protect them from the Russians. So Obama sat back while Russia overran Crimea in 2014.

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:12 PM (w3u3d)

81 74 Drone history.

Over a decade ago someone tried to land a drone with some radioactive material on the Japanese Prime Minister's residence.

Oh if the Ukes got some glowing clicking powder, yeah they would use it to dose something besides Putin's tea.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (2GVsD)

So much droning...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:12 PM (l3cgK)

82
Yes Boomer Cold Warriors ... maybe we just don't send our kids there. Its just so nutty it might work.

Of course, you can volunteer.
Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:03 PM (ANWza)

Did we start drafting 12 year olds when I wasn't looking?

Don't insult our troops by calling them children, they are warriors. Adults. Volunteers.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (KlGB0)

83 How many ships and generals have the Ruskies lost the last four years?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (l3cgK)
---
I think Russia's shipyards and maintainers are about as dangerous to the Russian Navy as Ukrainian munitions.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (ZOv7s)

84 76 Ukraine is fighting an existential war, Russia, a war of choice.
Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:08 PM (E4rtv)
---
They've sold it that way, but it's not. Russia knows it cannot hold ethnically hostile terrain. It's a retarded border dispute between two irate drunken cousins.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (ZOv7s)

Are they inbred cousins?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (l3cgK)

85 I'm at the point where I want Putin and Lil' Z fight with swords to determine who wins the war. To make it interesting, each leader is limited to boxing shorts during the fight.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (qx7Zg)

86 69 Boy, both are desperate to stay on the world stage and keeping the media spotlight on themselves.

The Ukes should have had some drones deploy their flag over Moskva. Really rub it in Putin's face.
Posted by: Anna Puma
======
If it burns or bleeds, it leads (traditional media quote). Ukraine is using asymmetric tactics to hurt Russian logistics and longer and longer range drones are part of that. Cheaper than missiles and every missile that Putin fires, he is in the same shape the US is--they are more expensive than what Ukraine will use to retaliate. And the joy is gone from the Soviet periphery about sending their boys into the meat grinder for money.

Territorial gains by the Russians in Donestk primarily have been less at times than the Battle of the Somme for the Allies.

Both Zelensky and Putin should have a cease fire but it may be that both are riding the tiger internally that will eat them if they stop.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:14 PM (E4rtv)

87 The post was fine. The whole war is complex as it is the biggest and longest war in Euroland since WWI and II. Think it has already lasted longer than WWI.
Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:00 PM (E4rtv)
***************************************

Longer than the entirety of WWI and also longer than the period from the onset of Operation Barbarossa to Victory over Japan. We'll see if Russia can keep going for another two years, to make it longer than the entirety of WWII.

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at June 18, 2026 07:14 PM (PZDXa)

88 We could just stay out of it. You know ... not offer up a few of our own kids. Granted - the opportunity costs would be awful for folks like Raytheon.

Just a thought.

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:15 PM (iZIzw)

89 I'm at the point where I want Putin and Lil' Z fight with swords to determine who wins the war. To make it interesting, each leader is limited to boxing shorts during the fight.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (qx7Zg)

Odd fantasy you have there...

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:15 PM (G3T/K)

90 Even the US lefties say Putin is evil.
---

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (xvV+O)
---
Lefties change sides in an instant. Clinton and the "reset" button, Uranium One sales to RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA.

Then the heel turn and lying about Trump. It's just so tiresome.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:15 PM (ZOv7s)

91 This should have been easy for the Ruskies, but now, more then 4 years later, it quite the continuing embarrassment. How many ships and generals have the Ruskies lost the last four years?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:11 PM (l3cgK)

They were fighting a 2020s war with 1980s equipment and tactics.

It bit them in the ass .

They're getting it together with drones, etc., now, but it really has cost them not realizing what time it is.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 18, 2026 07:15 PM (6ydKt)

92 26 >>.19 A smart military blog should recognize that logistics is the key to warfare.

Was watching a documentary about Eisenhower once, and after he graduated West Point during WWI his commanders refused to send him into combat because they thought he was brilliant and didn't want to risk losing him. Turns out they were right because we won WWII with logistics, and a side of nukes. Another tidbit was that at the time he became the first four-star general who'd never been in combat, but I'm sure that's changed by now with gay trannies getting a star for cross dressing.

Posted by: the dandy at June 18, 2026 07:16 PM (8l8nW)

93 Rodrigo Borgia - if you're here good luck with your surgery tomorrow. I hope it is a resounding success

Posted by: 496 at June 18, 2026 07:16 PM (KJYe0)

94 Both Zelensky and Putin should have a cease fire but it may be that both are riding the tiger internally that will eat them if they stop.
Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:14 PM (E4rtv)
---
Putin is the moderate alternative in Russia. If he goes down, it's carpet bombing and tactical nukes.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:16 PM (ZOv7s)

95 Some Qatari badly fouled a Canook and likely sent him to the hospital and out of the cup. The BC crowd is baying for blood. I think they're right.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:17 PM (l26NL)

96 89 I'm at the point where I want Putin and Lil' Z fight with swords to determine who wins the war. To make it interesting, each leader is limited to boxing shorts during the fight.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (qx7Zg)

Odd fantasy you have there...

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:15 PM (G3T/K)

That mirrors a quote from "All Quiet on the Western Front", where the protagonist fantasized/wished the Kaiser and the leader of the Allies would duke it out in a coliseum and club each other to determine the winner...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:17 PM (l3cgK)

97 >>>Anybody here deeply invested in the Russia/Ukraine dustup anymore?

Posted by: tubal

>It wasn't so long ago that all of the bandwagon yipsters were waving the Ukraine flag in support of this farce. Meanwhile, NATO is still shitting the bed.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at June 18, 2026 07:17 PM (9SpJJ)

98 Russia - Opposed to GloboHomo and Wokism in general. But their boss is a bastard.I think he’s pining for the Politburo.

Ukraine - Well, we egged them on to act. Their boss is a bastard. A penis piano playing comic.

Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 07:18 PM (Gqar8)

99 They've sold it that way, but it's not. Russia knows it cannot hold ethnically hostile terrain. It's a retarded border dispute between two irate drunken cousins.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

Not sure the Ukrainians see it your way--at a certain point, it becomes like France and Germany in 1916-17--both have lost so much and hurt their populace that neither have the will to stop the war. Sunk cost avoidance. Ukraine refuses to recognize Russian control of its occupied regions and Russia refuses to not try at least to conquer every last bit of the two oblasts it claimed at the get go.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:18 PM (E4rtv)

100 Now red card for the Qatari. He's gone. Canada is already up 3-0. This won't help the Qatari cause.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:18 PM (l26NL)

101 We have enough of our own problems to deal with. About tired of being the world's policemen. We need to close our borders to foreigners and get rid of these illegals. Maybe Russia and the Ukes can use them.

Posted by: Case at June 18, 2026 07:19 PM (IY9No)

102 Russians will nuke London before they let go of Kaliningrad. Or Crimea. I keep looking at the map, and Russia still has the 20%+ of Ukraine it had a year ago. I do not see any significant moves from either side, other than the drone nuisance, fires , hits on refineries.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:19 PM (GD0B3)

103 Does the USA have any holy sites?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (Cqx++)

104 The whole business just seems odd to me. And all the stories smell like bullshit.

So, supposedly Ukraines drone tech is so cutting edge and so dominant that they are selling it to all sorts of countries. So where is that money going? How much of the capacity and tech was given to them by us?

This has always felt like a proxy war (except with us in the seat of Societs/china in vietnam.)

But the whole thing, all of it, just reeks of deception to me. Hard to articulate why.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (G3T/K)

105 Holy cow, Qatar is down to NINE players. They must be really dirty.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (l26NL)

106 They were fighting a 2020s war with 1980s equipment and tactics.

It bit them in the ass .

They're getting it together with drones, etc., now, but it really has cost them not realizing what time it is.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 18, 2026 07:15 PM (6ydKt)
---
No, it's nothing like that. Russia has constraints on its force generation that most people don't know about. Absent a state of war, conscripts cannot be used in combat, and so Russia was using "contract" (volunteers) instead. When the initial invasion took place, Russia actually was outnumbered overall, but had surprise and momentum, so they made huge gains.

Ukraine mobilized its reserves, and was able to overwhelm the quick-moving tank-heavy Russian columns. The Russians fell back, trading ground for high Ukrainian losses. Attrition followed, and then Ukraine launched a summer offensive that failed utterly. Then Ukraine attacked into Russia.

So a mini-mobilization happened, and that's when Russia began a strong press. And that's when I stopped caring.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (ZOv7s)

107 Don't insult our troops by calling them children, they are warriors. Adults. Volunteers.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (KlGB0)

18. 17 if Mom and Dad sign the papers.

We can argue about this. Combat is not a football game. Not the Modern American Way. Its mostly teens with an NCO trying to direct the circus.

Insult my ass. Its what it is.

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:21 PM (iZIzw)

108 I'm at the point where I want Putin and Lil' Z fight with swords to determine who wins the war. To make it interesting, each leader is limited to boxing shorts during the fight.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (qx7Zg)

Odd fantasy you have there...
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:15 PM (G3T/K)

I want the victor to bleed for his country. No armor protection, but not naked. None of the 'ettes deserve that punishment.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at June 18, 2026 07:21 PM (qx7Zg)

109 Does the USA have any holy sites?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

The Alamo.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:21 PM (l26NL)

110 103 Does the USA have any holy sites?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (Cqx++)
The location of the Stonewall Riots for the gays?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:21 PM (l3cgK)

111 Russia has disproportionately used its own ethnic minorities as conscripts. Mostly from the 'Stans, as well as convicts of course.

Russia has been wise enough not to send Great Rus draftees into the meat grinder. Not too many Muscovites and Saint Petersburg boys in harm's way, from what I've read.

Posted by: mnw at June 18, 2026 07:21 PM (RCjYY)

112 105 Holy cow, Qatar is down to NINE players. They must be really dirty.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (l26NL)

Just imagine how the camels feel...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:22 PM (l3cgK)

113 Putin is the moderate alternative in Russia. If he goes down, it's carpet bombing and tactical nukes.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
-----
Predicting succession in authoritarian regimes is a mugs game, we don't know the players and we don't know the rules. Same as what comes after Xi.

One of my old profs in grad school was a top Kremlinologist at the time and I talked to him after the Sov Union disintegrated. He mentioned that all of his study on the regime top men left him adrift in the new Commonwealth era. Incremental and piecemeal changes became wholesale regime replacement.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:22 PM (E4rtv)

114 Did we start drafting 12 year olds when I wasn't looking?

Don't insult our troops by calling them children, they are warriors. Adults. Volunteers.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (KlGB0)

Agreed. Adam Baldwin had a great line in Leverage that mentioned him happily dropping a helicopter full of pissed-off 19-year-olds to open a can of whoop-ass.

Posted by: pookysgirl, wrestling Lil Pooky for the keyboard at June 18, 2026 07:22 PM (Wt5PA)

115 But the whole thing, all of it, just reeks of deception to me. Hard to articulate why.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (G3T/K)
---
That's why I'm not interested in it. Accurate info is impossible to find, everyone commenting on it is on the take, and it's really just a horrible situation with no upsides for anyone. These are two Eastern Orthodox nations massacring each other for clods of dirt.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:22 PM (ZOv7s)

116 25 Anybody here deeply invested in the Russia/Ukraine dustup anymore?
Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 06:58 PM (Gqar

No, because the comic actor has no sense of realpolitik, so a diplomatic solution is impossible. Might as well just ignore it and wait and see who wins the attrition warfare and forces an unconditional surrender, then.

When the other country is bigger, you can't just ignore their express interests in their co-ethnics and harrumph over yesterday's borders. There's a certain kind of brittle ego that would rather see the entire country burn around him than take the 'L' and accept that history books will write his name with the loss of territory, and Zelensky seems to be one.

Posted by: SciVo at June 18, 2026 07:22 PM (Sy6m/)

117 Does the USA have any holy sites?

==

Fort Knox!

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:23 PM (GD0B3)

118 The US isn't the good guys in this story.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 18, 2026 07:02 PM (ExV1e)

That is a fact. Kiev was the new Berlin.

Posted by: Reforger at June 18, 2026 07:23 PM (wjnjX)

119 Impressive oil tank explosion with the lid flying off.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 18, 2026 07:23 PM (jehhT)

120 63 Funny joke I saw: When Britain was and empire it had an emperor, when it was a kingdom it had a king. Now it's a country.
Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:06 PM (l26NL)

So now it has...oh! Oh, I get it!

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at June 18, 2026 07:23 PM (zYpTz)

121 A minor point: the "1000-year-old monastery" was destroyed in the Second World War.

Reconstruction of the monastery was completed in 2000.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (aD4fx)

122 Did anyone notice that Wikipedia has Iran is the victor of the 2026 Iran War?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war
"Result Iranian victory"

Not only are the mullahs crowing about their "victory," Wikipedia is too.

Posted by: Richmeister, the Office Scribe at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (cWLG3)

123 Howdy - I asked in an earlier thread (serious question) you didn't happen to grow up in VT did you?

Posted by: 496 at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (gEnkT)

124 121 A minor point: the "1000-year-old monastery" was destroyed in the Second World War.

Reconstruction of the monastery was completed in 2000.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (aD4fx)

Ship of Theseus meets Monastary of Kiev...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (l3cgK)

125 Predicting succession in authoritarian regimes is a mugs game, we don't know the players and we don't know the rules. Same as what comes after Xi.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:22 PM (E4rtv)
---
This isn't neo-Kremlinology, it's a historical fact. In Russia, nice guys finish last. Anyone strong enough to take down Putin is not going to be an enlightened fan of democracy.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (ZOv7s)

126
Another tidbit was that at the time he became the first four-star general who'd never been in combat, but I'm sure that's changed by now with gay trannies getting a star for cross dressing.
Posted by: the dandy

Every police chief in America has four stars.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (Cqx++)

127 Tanya the Evil on why killing Commies is fun

https://youtu.be/uKB-xFRkYQY

If Z gets any ideas, not my problem

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:25 PM (2GVsD)

128 Does the USA have any holy sites?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

The Alamo.
Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:21 PM (l26NL)

Arlington National Cemetery.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at June 18, 2026 07:25 PM (G3T/K)

129 Holy cow, Qatar is down to NINE players. They must be really dirty.

Posted by: Blutarski

What I saw of that tackle injury looked like a broken lower leg. Could've been the shin guard, but the player looked pretty shocked.

Posted by: Lindsey Graham as Luanne Platter at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (yFLFB)

130 122 Did anyone notice that Wikipedia has Iran is the victor of the 2026 Iran War?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war
"Result Iranian victory"

Not only are the mullahs crowing about their "victory," Wikipedia is too.

Posted by: Richmeister, the Office Scribe at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (cWLG3)

Like that boxer that got into a scuffle with Mike Tyson doing an interview, with bruises and a black eye, saying he hit Mike Tyson and Tyson ran off like a pussy...Mike showed no damage...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (l3cgK)

131 Britain never had an emperor. Victoria was empress of India.

Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (gKWVE)

132 Willowed:
he's a great guy and respected successful executive nearing retirement. He just won our annual clay pigeon shoot and picked up a nice new double barrel.... that sob. I catch a whiff of it second hand and I'm heading for Taco Bell and the couch. Amazing. Imagine what that dude would have done staying sober.
Posted by: Checkdown

Why do you assume sober he would have done any better? While you get munchie-couchlock, maybe he loves what he's doing even more. Maybe sober he would've just sat around commenting on AoS all day....

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (DZ9Lv)

133 ***"We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it,
----

Liar, your masters in USA did everything possible to provoke Russia and you jumped on it thinking it would be quick and you would be a star. Instead you are buttfucked asshole.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (51ygH)

134 102 Russians will nuke London before they let go of Kaliningrad. Or Crimea. I keep looking at the map, and Russia still has the 20%+ of Ukraine it had a year ago. I do not see any significant moves from either side, other than the drone nuisance, fires , hits on refineries.
Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:19 PM (GD0B3)

People seem to miss the point. Russia cannot nuke the UK. Invokes Nato obligations. The US will defend the UK, despite some of its current leanings politically.

Russia knows it can't survive a nuke war with the US. There are people in control in Russia who want to survive.

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (w3u3d)

135 Did we start drafting 12 year olds when I wasn't looking?

Don't insult our troops by calling them children, they are warriors. Adults. Volunteers.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 07:13 PM (KlGB0)
---
He said "kids." One of my kids just mustered out.

And no, I didn't want her going to Ukraine.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:27 PM (ZOv7s)

136 127 Tanya the Evil on why killing Commies is fun

https://youtu.be/uKB-xFRkYQY

If Z gets any ideas, not my problem

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:25 PM (2GVsD)

I've read it. Pretty good.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:27 PM (l3cgK)

137 Howdy - I asked in an earlier thread (serious question) you didn't happen to grow up in VT did you?
Posted by: 496 at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (gEnkT)

Not by a long shot. The Ohio Valley. Southern Indiana / Kentucky / Tennessee.

Which is odd. Because there are no pro sports here. So some people get really pissy about IU / UK / UL / WV.

Its odd what people fixate on. Some fixate on the GOP. Some on Church. All looks about the same to me.

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:27 PM (iZIzw)

138 This has always felt like a proxy war (except with us in the seat of Societs/china in vietnam.)

But the whole thing, all of it, just reeks of deception to me. Hard to articulate why.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone
======
Possibly. We provide arms quite openly and advisors too before allegedly Trump pulled them back in exasperation due to Zelinksy refusing to accept status quo in Crimea and where Russia has currently occupied in the Donetsk.

But you had British, French, Canadians, and others less willing to be spotlighted as advisors and the Brits gave Ukraine its longer range tactical missiles (Storm something) among other things.

Euroland is all in on Ukraine, since Trump II, we have been a lot less publicly involved. Behind the scenes, who knows.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:27 PM (E4rtv)

139 Does the USA have any holy sites?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (Cqx++)
---
Lots of them, if you are Catholic.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:28 PM (ZOv7s)

140 What I saw of that tackle injury looked like a broken lower leg. Could've been the shin guard, but the player looked pretty shocked.
Posted by: Lindsey Graham as Luanne Platter

They'd gone to a hydration break and I switched over to Beat Bobby Flay. When I came back the poor guy was already on the stretcher. That's soccer.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:29 PM (l26NL)

141 He said "kids." One of my kids just mustered out.

And like I said ... for some ? War is just Football on a bigger scale.

If there are bullets flying ? By God they want to see their team on the field.

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:29 PM (iZIzw)

142 Hope Donald keeps Administrative State and our materiel out of this escalation. Let Zelensky's bunk buddies Starmer and Boris dig him out.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:29 PM (51ygH)

143 131 Britain never had an emperor. Victoria was empress of India.
Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (gKWVE)

I beg to differ. Edward VII, George V and George VI held the title Emperor of India.
George VI gave it up.

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:29 PM (w3u3d)

144 People seem to miss the point. Russia cannot nuke the UK. Invokes Nato obligations. The US will defend the UK, despite some of its current leanings politically.

Russia knows it can't survive a nuke war with the US. There are people in control in Russia who want to survive.
Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (w3u3d)

..which shows how improbable it would be for Russia to let go of Crimea, see ?

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:29 PM (GD0B3)

145 I got Pooky a shirt with Tanya The Evil saying, "It's not a war crime if you win."

Posted by: pookysgirl, wrestling Lil Pooky for the keyboard at June 18, 2026 07:30 PM (Wt5PA)

146 Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:27 PM (iZIzw
-------
Thanks. I knew a guy in VT who went by Howdy. Went to west point, retired military now. That's all

Posted by: 496 at June 18, 2026 07:30 PM (aJ8q5)

147 This isn't neo-Kremlinology, it's a historical fact. In Russia, nice guys finish last. Anyone strong enough to take down Putin is not going to be an enlightened fan of democracy.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
=====
Usually it is a committee until they sort out who is who after the body is cold. But a hot war requires a decisionmaker right off. And there we would be guessing as to what they plan and how they plan to do it.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:30 PM (E4rtv)

148 Howdy == Scogg

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:31 PM (GD0B3)

149 Zelenskyy operates as a proxy manager whose primary function is to secure continuous foreign funding and military hardware. His constant appeals to the U.S. and NATO are designed to keep Western taxpayers locked into subsidizing Ukraine's government, economy, and military.

From this viewpoint, his leadership prolongs a conflict that serves Western defense contractors while shielding his own administration from domestic political accountability and economic collapse.

And, he was a rat bastard for O&Joe.

Can you tell how I feel about him? 🤷‍♀️

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at June 18, 2026 07:31 PM (NFX2v)

150 Does the USA have any holy sites?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (Cqx++)

Grand Old Opry?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 07:31 PM (KlGB0)

151 Before I forget, William IV , (Victoria's uncle) held that title as well.

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:31 PM (w3u3d)

152 Did anyone notice that Wikipedia has Iran is the victor of the 2026 Iran War?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war
"Result Iranian victory"

Not only are the mullahs crowing about their "victory," Wikipedia is too.
Posted by: Richmeister, the Office Scribe at June 18, 2026 07:24 PM (cWLG3)
---
Those goal posts have moved into an entirely different continent.

What has Iran gained? Nothing. It's going to get to trade oil again. Without an air force. Or a Navy. Most of its leaders are dead and the Supreme Gay Leader is in a coma.

Their missiles are gone, their radars are gone, and their nuclear materials are in a deep hole, impossible to extract without drawing Arc Light strikes. Such winning!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:32 PM (ZOv7s)

153 Runner - you could be right. He doesn't sound much like the guy I knew but I hadda ask

Posted by: 496 at June 18, 2026 07:32 PM (n96oa)

154 The guy to take over after Putin will have an KGB/FSB background. Naryshkin most likely.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:33 PM (GD0B3)

155 Canada up 4-0 with twenty minutes plus stoppage time left. Yeesh.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:33 PM (l26NL)

156 Howdy == Scogg

You don't like the message. So you shoot the messenger.

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:33 PM (iZIzw)

157 And Naryshkin is more insular than Putin.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:34 PM (GD0B3)

158 Jim and Pooky's Girl

Well rejoice, there is going to be a season two of The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime.

Lt Col. Tanya in charge of Kampfgruppe Salamander.

And she is still too young to drink.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:34 PM (2GVsD)

159 131 Britain never had an emperor. Victoria was empress of India.

Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 07:26 PM (gKWVE)

Chuckie may play Empress with Camila...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:34 PM (l3cgK)

160 Not by a long shot. The Ohio Valley. Southern Indiana / Kentucky / Tennessee.

Which is odd. Because there are no pro sports here.

Say what?

Posted by: The Colts and The Titans at June 18, 2026 07:34 PM (ceJ0R)

161 ..which shows how improbable it would be for Russia to let go of Crimea, see ?
Posted by: runner

Ukraine or more to the point Zelinsky is probably figuring he will be shot while escaping if he gives Crimea and the rest of the occupied Russian areas in order for peace. Russia too wants what it can't have--control again over Ukrainian politics--they pissed in their cornflakes too much for that to happen in the remainder. So here we are, both sides killing each other, slaughtering their young males, and wasting their treasuries.

Iran-Iraq war all over again except Russia won what it sought in territory but demands Ukraine accept it. Don't think that is in the cards so the war goes on.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:34 PM (E4rtv)

162 USA is a holy site anointed by Pilgrims when they landed. Invaders should tread lightly and leave in peace while they can.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:35 PM (51ygH)

163 As a public service to this Smart Military Blog, I want to expand a bit on how badly Iran got hammered. There is a belief that Iran can use the truce to rearm and re-quip - that they can recover from their losses.

This is false. Iran lost a generation's worth of military equipment. It will not come back easily. If you think we have supply constraints, imagine being a country with no intact production facilities and no foreign countries willing or able to meet your needs. Russia is kind of busy. So is China.

So the first trivial obstacle is finding a country willing to run its factories at full tilt just to serve Iran's needs.

The second is getting it there.

The third is keeping us from blowing it up the instant it arrives.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:35 PM (ZOv7s)

164 You don't like the message. So you shoot the messenger.
Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:33 PM (iZIzw)

You have no message, just trash, and no one likes trash. It stinks.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:35 PM (GD0B3)

165 I remember the Scogg Dog days. He ran afoul of a couple of people, but I don't remember if he was banned or just went away. Lot of details elude me.

Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 07:36 PM (Gqar8)

166 Bluto

Based on your awesome performance in the "best lines from movies" thread, I'd be curious to know what your own favorite films are.

If not here, then another movie-related thread.

Posted by: mnw at June 18, 2026 07:36 PM (RCjYY)

167 After Callahan’s advice on carrying a match gun the next best screen clip is Senator Thompson in character, “This business could get out of hand and we’ll be lucky to get out alive.”

But the mullahs _______ ________ and ____ _______ _______ like the rest of us.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at June 18, 2026 07:36 PM (AVBLL)

168 158 Jim and Pooky's Girl

Well rejoice, there is going to be a season two of The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime.

Lt Col. Tanya in charge of Kampfgruppe Salamander.

And she is still too young to drink.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:34 PM (2GVsD)

I'm interested in finding out why and how she was written out of history...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (l3cgK)

169 165 I remember the Scogg Dog days. He ran afoul of a couple of people, but I don't remember if he was banned or just went away.
Posted by: tubal
------
Little bit of both over the years.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (E4rtv)

170 You don't like the message. So you shoot the messenger.
Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:33 PM (iZIzw)
---
But is it true?

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (ZOv7s)

171 You don't like the message. So you shoot the messenger.
Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:33 PM (iZIzw)
---
We shoot the messenger because you're a cynical, condescending asshole.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (gnNyN)

172 USA is a holy site anointed by Pilgrims when they landed.

Great oats. The cardboard container was pretty fly. Personally, I liked sneaking a bit of apple into the pan.

But other than that ? The dirt does not seem magic.

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (iZIzw)

173 Fuck Ukraine. I probably should be more charitable, but their cheerleaders are ALMOST as obnoxious as Pali fans, but I don't have to put up with Palestinian supporters on right-wing sites.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (yZOfl)

174 Canada now up 5-nil. Lots of time for more.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (l26NL)

175 167 After Callahan’s advice on carrying a match gun the next best screen clip is Senator Thompson in character, “This business could get out of hand and we’ll be lucky to get out alive.”

But the mullahs _______ ________ and ____ _______ _______ like the rest of us.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at June 18, 2026 07:36 PM (AVBLL)

Ooh, ooh, I know this one!
molest boys and rape cute sheep...

Posted by: Ahmed at June 18, 2026 07:38 PM (l3cgK)

176 11 What, were these guys mad about Iran getting all the attention?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket

Bingo. BBC and about a thousand more: 'Zelensky fears Trump's Iran war could hurt Ukraine'

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at June 18, 2026 07:38 PM (NFX2v)

177 Does the USA have any holy sites?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 18, 2026 07:20 PM (Cqx++)

Sandy Fluke.

Posted by: ... at June 18, 2026 07:38 PM (vE0+H)

178 @161 I have a hard time believing the massive casualty numbers that are being reported, even though they are reported by the top people - Trump, etc. They would have no male population left if that was the pace ! It's all drones now.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:38 PM (GD0B3)

179 The more I read about that war, the less I know as to who is winning.

Posted by: DinsdalePiranha at June 18, 2026 07:38 PM (yFfLy)

180 Before I forget, William IV , (Victoria's uncle) held that title as well.
Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at June 18, 2026 07:31 PM (w3u3d)
************************

The title Empress of India was created for Queen Victoria in 1876, at the behest of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, with an Imperial Durbar held in Delhi on January 1 1877.

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at June 18, 2026 07:38 PM (PZDXa)

181 174 Canada now up 5-nil. Lots of time for more.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at June 18, 2026 07:37 PM (l26NL)

Canada was heavily favored to win.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:39 PM (l3cgK)

182
I didn't think so and looked it up: William IV never held the title. He was King of Hanover during his reign, but never Emperor of India.

That was first granted to Victoria in 1876, thanks to the efforts of Disraeli. I think there was some controversy in that, but it was big time strategery in addition to cheering up Victoria.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at June 18, 2026 07:40 PM (w6EFb)

183 If Russia nukes Ukraine lifting that taboo can we nuke Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles since putting American boots on the ground is out of the question?

Posted by: JROD at June 18, 2026 07:40 PM (m4E4U)

184 General Baby Gap and Putin are both asshoe.

I want them borh to lose, but I also don't want a nuke creating a migration of millions of other assholes fleeing imaginary fallout straight to the welfare offices of the West.

And bombing thousand year olf Christian relics is just tacky.

Posted by: Sifty at June 18, 2026 07:40 PM (k6go2)

185 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:35 PM (ZOv7s)

The oil must flow !

😀

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:40 PM (GD0B3)

186 USA is a holy site anointed by Pilgrims when they landed. Invaders should tread lightly and leave in peace while they can.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:35 PM (51ygH)
---
Dude, they were the third guys to get here. A bunch of Calvinist fanatics so obnoxious that even *the Dutch* could stand them and kicked them out.

The dudes banned Christmas.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:40 PM (ZOv7s)

187 183.

It moved.

Posted by: Sifty at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (k6go2)

188 179 The more I read about that war, the less I know as to who is winning.
-----------------
No one is. Putin won't mobilize enough forces to defeat Ukraine because he doesn't want to irritate his people into some kind of color revolution. The Ukrainians don't have the manpower to retake what they lost.

So everything is just dumb shit for show - the equivalent of German 'V-Weapons' in 1944.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (yZOfl)

189 But Lloyd, you gotta admit, the MOU is a POS and reads real bad.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (GD0B3)

190 Jim

At the opening of the movie in 1966 when the Doktor is interviewed. Look at the center piece of the stained glass. That looks like Tanya.

I don't think she was written out, just not mentioned yet. Perhaps a second movie?

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (2GVsD)

191 186

The dudes banned Christmas.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:40 PM (ZOv7s)

Only the fun aspect.

Posted by: tubal at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (Gqar8)

192 188 179 The more I read about that war, the less I know as to who is winning.
-----------------
No one is. Putin won't mobilize enough forces to defeat Ukraine because he doesn't want to irritate his people into some kind of color revolution. The Ukrainians don't have the manpower to retake what they lost.

So everything is just dumb shit for show - the equivalent of German 'V-Weapons' in 1944.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (yZOfl)

Drones are a hell lot more accurate that V1s and V2s were...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:42 PM (l3cgK)

193 If you only come here to blow off steam that's not great. Makes me wonder what is going on at those particular times.

You like to look at things. When you see it, you won't unsee it.

Posted by: ... at June 18, 2026 07:42 PM (vE0+H)

194 We shoot the messenger because you're a cynical, condescending asshole.

Sometimes the cynical, condescending asshole is right. Well - most times he's proven right. Especially if he's not trying to sell you anything and just keeps being right.

Human History proves that guy right time and time again.

I am cynical. And thus an asshole. Most people in real life find me far from condescending. They find me real.

I find that "troll" and "condescending" all mean the same here. Its just "shut up".

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:42 PM (iZIzw)

195
If you'd said "troops" instead of "kids" i wouldn't have had a problem with that. I'd even agree with most of the message. Using "kids" was an attempt to pull at heartstrings like a filthy 60s hippie.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 18, 2026 07:43 PM (KlGB0)

196 189 Are you still bitching about the Iran MOU? Don't you have something more productive to do? You've been on this for a solid 24 hours now, at least.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:43 PM (yZOfl)

197 190 Jim

At the opening of the movie in 1966 when the Doktor is interviewed. Look at the center piece of the stained glass. That looks like Tanya.

I don't think she was written out, just not mentioned yet. Perhaps a second movie?

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (2GVsD)

In the Manga, taking place after the war, she isn't mentioned in any of the history books, despite her major influences in Europe, Africa, and Russia. I mean, for Pete's sake, what did she do in Moscow! Yet, in the snipped from a post-war future, she's not there, and her British rival is much older and, as I recall, somewhat of a keeper of the history (with Tanya absent).

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:44 PM (l3cgK)

198 snippet not snipped.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:44 PM (l3cgK)

199 192 "Drones are a hell lot more accurate that V1s and V2s were..."

No, they are not. That's why you need drone swarms. I imagine the number changes over time, but it was something like 2-5 drones to hit a target a few months ago.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:44 PM (yZOfl)

200 The oil must flow !

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:40 PM (GD0B3)
---
Indeed, and now it is, prices are falling and Iran is going to...do what? They're getting some money, but all their shit is broken. Israel is going to continue to hunt down their leadership for fun and profit. Their proxy in Lebanon is SOL in terms of resupply.

By the way, that's the part that confuses people. Israel repeatedly hammered Iran's proxies, only to see them pop up a few years later with even more toys. But those toys came from Iran, which was able to crank them out at will. Those factors are now rubble. The pipeline of precursor/dual use parts has also dried up. The US has shown it can and will search ships on the high seas. The Shadow Fleet is terrified.

Put simply: there is nothing left worth bombing, so let the oil flow.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:44 PM (ZOv7s)

201 178 @161 I have a hard time believing the massive casualty numbers that are being reported, even though they are reported by the top people - Trump, etc. They would have no male population left if that was the pace ! It's all drones now.
Posted by: runner

I find it easy to believe. Putin is using up young men (usually not ethnic Russians) from the periphery of the empire as cannon fodder for money as he ran out of prisoners long ago. And now apparently is bringing in Norks to fight for him which has been officially confirmed now for the last year or so.

Ukraine, supposedly around 6-10 percent of its male population are dead or no longer able to fight with another 15 percent of males who have went awol or abroad to escape.

Putin doesn't really care that he is depleting his ethnics and the Ukrainians are apparently doing drones, mines, and other defenses along with importing people from the Third World. Neither side cares much about civilian deaths of their opponents. So the slaughter goes on.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:45 PM (E4rtv)

202 194

Shut up.

Posted by: mnw at June 18, 2026 07:45 PM (RCjYY)

203 Are you still bitching about the Iran MOU? Don't you have something more productive to do? You've been on this for a solid 24 hours now, at least.
Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:43 PM (yZOfl)

Kindly fuck off, this is an open thread and you are not a denmother, and no one asked your opinion, go back to your computer games, easier on your low IQ gray matter than serious conversation.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:45 PM (GD0B3)

204 NOOD

CAFE

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at June 18, 2026 07:46 PM (R+iUD)

205 You mean Drake and not that vengeance driven animal Mary Sue?

Or maybe since the Empire lost they had to go through De-Tanyazation?

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 18, 2026 07:46 PM (2GVsD)

206 But Lloyd, you gotta admit, the MOU is a POS and reads real bad.
Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:41 PM (GD0B3)
---
Nope, I'm fine with it. It's a starting point, nothing more and Iran has to comply with it or we keep slapping them in the nuts.

I'm loving this. No boots on the ground, no stupid, unrealistic strategic goals, just pragmatic bitch-slapping.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (ZOv7s)

207 I hope Canada runs up the score on those assholes. Let's see if Qatar can notch up another red card.

Posted by: gKWVE at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (gKWVE)

208
I thought Ukraine was slowly losing the war. I discounted statements and videos to the contrary as Ukrainian and Ukrainian-aligned propaganda. Looks like the Ukrainians are hitting Moscow because they want to knock Putin's dick down, make him look useless and illegitimate. I guess he has to do something.

What a stinking mess. What a waste It didn't have to be this way. The Western deep state provoked it and made it happen. Putin was not going to be our friend, but we had the option of not making him into an enemy.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (AnW6a)

209 199 192 "Drones are a hell lot more accurate that V1s and V2s were..."

No, they are not. That's why you need drone swarms. I imagine the number changes over time, but it was something like 2-5 drones to hit a target a few months ago.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:44 PM (yZOfl)

So drones will be off by tens of miles from their targets?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (l3cgK)

210 201 - Whig, the Nork soldiers were mostly used when the Ukrainians were on part of Russia (Kursk Oblast, iirc). Now the Norks are used as "guest labor" because they are more controllable and have far less downside than Tajiks who end up doing terror attacks. A lot of Russian factories have North Korean workers now.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (yZOfl)

211 179 The more I read about that war, the less I know as to who is winning.
Posted by: DinsdalePiranha
======
There are only lesser degrees of losing in this case.
Sort of like World War I.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (E4rtv)

212 Does the USA have any holy sites?

Mount Rushmore,

Gettysburg,
Independence Hall ...

Golden Gate, Hoover Damn

St. John's Church of the Divine & Lady of Angels Cathedral ...

Posted by: Adriane the Chronologically Challanged Hump Day Critic . . . at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (3ZUWJ)

213 Using "kids" was an attempt to pull at heartstrings like a filthy 60s hippie.

In the 60s ... we had a draft. Amazing how American Attitudes changed. Imagine that. Kids - yeah, just out of high school - shipped off because they got a letter in the mail.

Nobody got drafted when I joined. As they constantly reminded us. We all joined of free will.

Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:48 PM (iZIzw)

214 199 192 "Drones are a hell lot more accurate that V1s and V2s were..."

No, they are not. That's why you need drone swarms. I imagine the number changes over time, but it was something like 2-5 drones to hit a target a few months ago.
Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:44 PM (yZOfl)

----
How are they not more accurate? Even the cheapo DJI-class drones are piloted by remote operators into their targets, like driving a webcam into a doorway.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at June 18, 2026 07:48 PM (cWLG3)

215 Posted by: Howdy at June 18, 2026 07:27 PM (iZIzw
-------
Thanks. I knew a guy in VT who went by Howdy. Went to west point, retired military now. That's all
Posted by: 496 at June 18, 2026 07:30 PM (aJ8q5)

Achieved the rank of Captain, then went on to demonic possession?

Posted by: The spirit of Howdy will leave you! at June 18, 2026 07:48 PM (TbWk/)

216 Okay, miles off target for the V2.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:48 PM (l3cgK)

217 203 Well if I am not your mother, then neither are you mine. I'm telling you you are tedious and clearly no one really cares about your views on Iran.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:48 PM (yZOfl)

218 Nope, I'm fine with it. It's a starting point, nothing more and Iran has to comply with it or we keep slapping them in the nuts.

I'm loving this. No boots on the ground, no stupid, unrealistic strategic goals, just pragmatic bitch-slapping.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (ZOv7s)

I figure it won't go far , Trump signed it in the middle of dinner between dirty plates, so just a way to get out of kind of a flat line.

Posted by: runner at June 18, 2026 07:48 PM (GD0B3)

219 211 179 The more I read about that war, the less I know as to who is winning.
Posted by: DinsdalePiranha
======
There are only lesser degrees of losing in this case.
Sort of like World War I.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:47 PM (E4rtv)

Pyrrhic victory...

Posted by: Pyrrhus of Epirus at June 18, 2026 07:50 PM (l3cgK)

220 201 - Whig, the Nork soldiers were mostly used when the Ukrainians were on part of Russia (Kursk Oblast, iirc). Now the Norks are used as "guest labor" because they are more controllable and have far less downside than Tajiks who end up doing terror attacks. A lot of Russian factories have North Korean workers now.
Posted by: the lower depths

I'll take your word for it. For awhile, some were saying it was a myth that Norks were fighting with the Russians but when you see decorations etc. of Norks soldiers on official media, that kinda blows that story out of the water. I can see Norks being used in the factories,etc. as well.

I read sit reps about once a month or so from trusted sources and you get a bit of a picture, then the war morphs again usually via some new tactic. Frankly it is boring and stupid as reading World War I month by month situation reports.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:51 PM (E4rtv)

221 201

The Ukrainians "importing people from the Third World" is news to me. I don't say it's not true.

As for Putin, I imagine he's concerned that Russia is being ostracized. The folks who can't go to Western unis any more are a population subset I'm sure he'd rather not alienate.

Posted by: mnw at June 18, 2026 07:51 PM (RCjYY)

222 No, they are not. That's why you need drone swarms. I imagine the number changes over time, but it was something like 2-5 drones to hit a target a few months ago.
Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:44 PM (yZOfl)

Drones are very accurate. Remotely driven, even the larger winged units.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Gen X Dickweed at June 18, 2026 07:51 PM (0aYVJ)

223 209, 214

The problem is twofold:

1. Drones have to get to the right target. This is not as easy as armchair generals think. Look up "Latvian Defense Minister resigns" and you'll find stories from last month about Ukranian drones hitting some fuel facility in Latvia. Clearly that was not their intended target, but they were horribly off course and probably saw what they thought was a Russian facility.

2. If a drone even slightly misses a target, it's the equivalent of a V-1 or V-2 being miles off target. The payload is simply that much lower.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:51 PM (yZOfl)

224 >And bombing thousand year olf Christian relics is just tacky.
Posted by: Sifty
---

It was a warning, letting Zelly know that he's ready to kick it up a serious notch. (A pissed of Rooskie)

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:52 PM (51ygH)

225 Pyrrhic victory...
Posted by: Pyrrhus of Epirus
-------
Yep.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:52 PM (E4rtv)

226 Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:51 PM (E4rtv)

There was some article complaining that the Norks were clogging up the wireless bandwidth downloading pron vids...

Posted by: Pyrrhus of Epirus at June 18, 2026 07:52 PM (l3cgK)

227 geesh. off sock

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:52 PM (l3cgK)

228 NOOD cafe

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:53 PM (l3cgK)

229 Drones are very accurate. Remotely driven, even the larger winged units.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Gen X Dickweed
---

Why do they keep landing in the Balkans?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:53 PM (51ygH)

230 229 Drones are very accurate. Remotely driven, even the larger winged units.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Gen X Dickweed
---

Why do they keep landing in the Balkans?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:53 PM (51ygH)

They're homesick?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 18, 2026 07:54 PM (l3cgK)

231 How are they not more accurate? Even the cheapo DJI-class drones are piloted by remote operators into their targets, like driving a webcam into a doorway.
Posted by: Chairman LMAO

I think jamming and other EW tactics are the unseen variable. I could see Russian EW operators causing the drones to hit Latvian targets while chortling about it.

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:54 PM (E4rtv)

232 There was some article complaining that the Norks were clogging up the wireless bandwidth downloading pron vids...
Posted by: Pyrrhus of Epirus
======
LOL, second world problems (Russia is not a first world country).

Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:55 PM (E4rtv)

233 229 Drones are very accurate. Remotely driven, even the larger winged units.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Gen X Dickweed
---

Why do they keep landing in the Balkans?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at June 18, 2026 07:53 PM (51ygH)

--
Jamming is still a thing. Also if using Starlink, jamming and dropped signals are a thing. There are a lot of fly-by-wire drones in the field too (the wires being fibre optic strands).

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at June 18, 2026 07:56 PM (cWLG3)

234 226 Posted by: whig at June 18, 2026 07:51 PM (E4rtv)

There was some article complaining that the Norks were clogging up the wireless bandwidth downloading pron vids...
-------------------
And this is the problem with a lot of "news" reporting on the war. We thankfully are spared most of the pro-Russian crap unless you go looking for it on RT or X, but there's a lot of stuff clearly written for the NAFO crowd here in the West.

"Russian soldiers are all convicts"
"They have to use computer chips from washing machines in their missiles"
"Norks are all shocked at life outside their country and just download porn all day"

I don't have any great insider sources, but my general rule is that if it sounds like Victoria Nuland wrote it for Bill Kristol to jerk off to, then I just discard it as pro-Ukrainian fan fic.

Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:56 PM (yZOfl)

235 I don't have any great insider sources, but my general rule is that if it sounds like Victoria Nuland wrote it for Bill Kristol to jerk off to, then I just discard it as pro-Ukrainian fan fic.
Posted by: the lower depths at June 18, 2026 07:56 PM (yZOfl)

Solid

Posted by: ... at June 18, 2026 07:59 PM (vE0+H)

236 This is a fake story. The Russians used Iskander-M, Iskander-K Kh-101 and Zircon missiles exclusively for the 14/15 June strikes on Kiev. No drones. These missiles all have 400 kg (900 pound) class explosive warheads. There would be nothing left of the entire Pechersk Lavra had just one of these missiles hit the Dormition.

The Dormition was obviously struck by an end of flight Patriot, which has a warhead weight of about 10 kg. The Dormition is a flimsy wood construction building, as is much of the rest of the Pechersk Lavra. Had it suffered the explosion of a 400 kg warhead, the whole area would have been leveled.

The Sevastopol Dome, a large stone structure (about the size of the Jefferson Memorial) housing the 19 Century 'Defense of Sevastopol' panorama, was obliterated by a Ukrainian drone with only a 70 kg warhead on June 10, 2026. Compare the damage of the two strikes and you will realize that the Russian missiles were not involve

You should also know that the Ukrainian government seized the Pechersk Lavra from the UOC-MP in 2023, giving it to Zelenskiy's new, state sponsored Ukrainian church. The Russians are furious about this theft of Moscow Patriarchy property.

Posted by: 10x25mm at June 18, 2026 08:08 PM (szIrk)

237 From what I've read the Russian Orthodox patriarch treats this as a holy war against (one of the Ukrainian church factions, who knows which, or maybe all of 'em). Defrocks Russiann Orthodox priests who pray for peace instead of absolute victory.

Posted by: RandomDave at June 18, 2026 08:35 PM (aJQbY)

238 Not since the German V1 and V2 were autonomous weapons so accurate.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at June 18, 2026 08:42 PM (/lPRQ)

239 Why this year's long low-level warfare? Almost like endless war serves the purposes of arms manufacturing companies.

Posted by: Ted Torgerson at June 18, 2026 08:50 PM (R86kT)

240 I'm surprised that monastery survived WW2, since Kiev was fought over several times. I don't think either side of that front gave a shit about the Russian Orthodox Church.

Posted by: Richard Cranium at June 18, 2026 08:54 PM (vU0j9)

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