Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[Scaff]

Rumours are, they are excellent combat engineers and would be used for that role. Hard to imagine how non-russian speaking regiment could be successful

Excellent field engineers who have been battle tested how many times?

 

[TheCracker]

Hard to imagine how non-russian speaking regiment could be successful.

Are you familiar with Tower or Horde Defence mobile/browser games?

That's how it would work (or not).

 

[Joey D]

Even the hell hole that is Russia is probably preferable to living in the bigger hell hole that is North Korea. However, all their families are probably being held captive to ensure that they don't desert.

 

[inCloud]

That's how it would work (or not).

Never underestimate your enemy. Its hard to say how effective they are, but in theory its always combat ready and well trained army. Could be flop, considering isolation and moronic regime.

I am sure they can dig, shoot and brainwashed enough to follow orders.

 

[TheCracker]

Never underestimate your enemy. Its hard to say how effective they are, but in theory its always combat ready and well trained army. Could be flop, considering isolation and moronic regime.

I am sure they can dig, shoot and brainwashed enough to follow orders.

True, but as @Scaff pointed out at the top of the page, they likely have zero actual combat experience. Even their generals and those that train them will have little to no combat experience, other than a few border skirmishes.

Its all about throwing bodies at your enemy and hoping the sheer numbers are overwhelming enough to make an impact.

 

[Joey D]

True, but as @Scaff pointed out at the top of the page, they likely have zero actual combat experience. Even their generals and those that train them will have little to no combat experience, other than a few border skirmishes.

Its all about throwing bodies at your enemy and hoping the sheer numbers are overwhelming enough to make an impact.

In addition to a lack of combat experience, it's also suspect just how healthy and able-bodied they are. When Oh Chong-song defected in 2017 to South Korea, his body was riddled with parasites. There's also a severe lack of food in North Korea, and while the military probably gets preferential treatment over the average civilian, it's not like the nutrition is good. So no combat experience, poor health and nutrition, a lack of proper equipment, a language barrier, and probably low morale doesn't really make up a stout fighting force.

It's likely North Korea also won't be sending it's best to Russia either. They're going to be fresh recruits or soldiers who aren't vital to the protection of North Korea.

 

[McLaren]

Even the hell hole that is Russia is probably preferable to living in the bigger hell hole that is North Korea. However, all their families are probably being held captive to ensure that they don't desert.

There was a report that possibly 18 had already defected. Super small number, but unsurprising & I'm guessing it'll grow the longer they stay.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

There was a report that possibly 18 had already defected. Super small number, but unsurprising & I'm guessing it'll grow the longer they stay.

There honestly might be a lot of enthusiasm in DPRK to go to this active warzone just to defect.

 

[inCloud]

they likely have zero actual combat experience.

Combat engineering is trainable thing, speed of digging and quality of reinforcements doesn't require combat experience if theory is good enough.

Kinda the same with artillery and missiles.

Infantry combat is completely different thing, but with good enough commanders and solid discipline regiment could be effective.

After all, most of troops at front line didn't have proper training and combat experience other than how to take cover under artillery barrages. Its debatable what is better.

 

[Keef]

Combat engineering is trainable thing, speed of digging and quality of reinforcements doesn't require combat experience if theory is good enough.

As long as the Russian government maintains this opinion then I think we're in good shape.

Combat engineering principles can be taught in a controlled environment, yes. Anything can be taught in a controlled environment. I was taught how to fly jets in a controlled environment, a simulator.

But when you get out on the line and fly the real thing, you are thrown into the fire and quickly learn that operating on the job is much more complex and nuanced than working in a simulator. There are many things we can't control, and we have to learn how to deal with those and problem solve on the fly, literally and figuratively.

Combat engineers have to do that as well. War is one of the least controlled environments that man can create and it is impossible to train for everything imaginable. Combat experience is vital, and frankly the only good thing about the US being in a state of constant conflict is that our soldiers tend to be very good at what they do. Making decisions under pressure - possibly under enemy fire - is a completely different untrainable scenario.

So as long as Russia ignores basic human psychology then Ukraine and its allies are in great shape to keep dragging this out as long as possible.

 

[inCloud]

Combat engineering principles can be taught in a controlled environment, yes. Anything can be taught in a controlled environment. I was taught how to fly jets in a controlled environment, a simulator.

You just said that training ground experience is same as flying simulator. No its not. Training ground experience is same as flying training flight. That's how you got all good pilots and combat engineers.

On country level battle experience is important, that's why I pointed "if theory is good enough". I could imagine that RUAF could send some officers to check how good Koreans are and give them some lessons.

Lets not forget that Ukrainian offence in 23 was stopped by Russian combat engineers, for the most part.

That's doesn't mean N.Koreans are good. They could be good. Its doubtful.

 

[Keef]

Training ground experience is same as flying training flight. That's how you got all good pilots and combat engineers.

Not really.

I used to term "controlled environment". Training for soldiers and commanders and combat engineers takes place in both classrooms and outdoors on army bases. Those bases are typically in your own country and they are controlled environments. The instructors are keeping an eye on the entire training process, both up close and personal and from afar. We may use simulated fire and explosions to simulate the pressure of battle, but it is still a simulation. There is nobody on a training base that is actively trying to kill the students.

What you were talking about earlier sounded like Russia is training people on the job, on the battlefield. Obviously every new guy learns more and gets better once they're in a combat environment, but they're usually not put right on the front lines straight out of training because the commanders know they aren't good enough yet.

Here's how we simulate a water leak on a submarine. The difference is nobody is going to die here. It's just a simulator, it isn't real.

 

[inCloud]

I used to term "controlled environment". Training for soldiers and commanders and combat engineers takes place in both classrooms and outdoors on army bases. Those bases are typically in your own country and they are controlled environments. The instructors are keeping an eye on the entire training process, both up close and personal and from afar. We may use simulated fire and explosions to simulate the pressure of battle, but it is still a simulation. There is nobody on a training base that is actively trying to kill the students.

How its different from fly training with instructors? Same controlled environment.

What you were talking about earlier sounded like Russia is training people on the job, on the battlefield.

Its hard to say how many RUAF soldiers had full time training courses, considering most of those who were contractors in 2022 already out.

For new recruits its few weeks of training with unpredictable amount of useful skills gained. Some could find themselves at frontline right after, some in training camp in occupied part of Ukraine, some in rear.

Considering astonishing casualties for both sides, its universal problem.

 

[inCloud]

According to leader of Chechen "Ahmad" regiment in Kursk region RUAF soldiers performed at least 187 crimes in Kursk region. Robberies, rapes, killing were mentioned.

 

[UKMikey]

Maia Sandu wins second term in Moldovan election in rebuke to Kremlin

Incumbent wins presidential runoff with 97% of votes counted, defeating Russia-leaning rival

theguardian.com

The pro-western incumbent Maia Sandu has won a second term in office in the Moldovan presidential election, preliminary results have shown, marking a significant boost for the country’s EU aspirations and a clear rebuke to Moscow.

 

[inCloud]

Maia Sandu wins second term in Moldovan election in rebuke to Kremlin

Incumbent wins presidential runoff with 97% of votes counted, defeating Russia-leaning rival

theguardian.com

To be fair, Moldova has 2 millions+ population and around 10% currently living in RF. Only two polling stations were opened in RF, while 232 were opened in other countries. Even with this manipulation results were far from excellent for EU course.

Sandu is Romanian citizen, BTW.

 

[Dennisch]

NAFO war pigs have arrived.

 

[Fernandoz]

I think to both of two sides the peace outcome is the best solution.

But we have to remember who attacked first, so in all honesty Russia deserves to have their nukes taken off and demilitiraze themselves (instead of Ukraine), albeit certainly first part will never come into fruition.

In my opinion, Putler is already living his days out, similar to that person in ww2 who already started going quite insane, due to his incompletion of ambitions and etc.

Saddest part to me is that Russia as a country with it's history (and infamous predecessors) will never unscathe from such tragedy called 'Special operation'

My conclusion is quite childish and simplistic, but I as a Russian Citizen wish we would simply live in peace with other countries, trading, doing economical-logistics and etc etc. Cold war was long ago over after all, but it's corruption seethes through to this day it seems...

But I suppose it's quite a different reality from ours.

 

[UKMikey]

Sandu is Romanian citizen, BTW.

Is that unusual? From what I read around half of Moldovans have a foreign passport and at least half of those are Romanian.

 

[inCloud]

Is that unusual? From what I read around half of Moldovans have a foreign passport and at least half of those are Romanian.

Guess, Moldovans knows better who should be their president, but saying something about foreigners influensing you politics when you current president is citizen of foreing country is smelling like hypocrisitiy.

 

[Scaff]

To be fair, Moldova has 2 millions+ population and around 10% currently living in RF.

OK

Only two polling stations were opened in RF, while 232 were opened in other countries.

That's not a direct comparison, we would need to know how many other countries to see the average per country, also postal votes were acceptable which negates that point.

Even with this manipulation results were far from excellent for EU course.

The only 'manipulation' seen so far has been carried out by the Russian state!

Sandu is Romanian citizen, BTW.

And?

Guess, Moldovans knows better who should be their president, but saying something about foreigners influensing you politics when you current president is citizen of foreing country is smelling like hypocrisitiy.

She was born in Moldovia and holds dual citizenship, so please drop the bad-faith arguments.

 

[UKMikey]

Guess, Moldovans knows better who should be their president, but saying something about foreigners influensing you politics when you current president is citizen of foreing country is smelling like hypocrisitiy.

Her opponent also holds dual citizenship, not that that stopped his party from criticising Sandu for doing the same thing. That smells more like hypocrisy to me:

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moldovan-presidents-rival-comes-under-fire-his-romanian-passport-2024-10-01/

Official statistics show that about 1.5 million of Moldova's 2.4 residents hold dual citizenship -- including Romanian and Bulgarian, both EU members, or Russian -- largely to make travel and job searches easier in one of Europe's poorest countries.

 

[inCloud]

That smells more like hypocrisy to me

Totally the same.

 

[UKMikey]

Totally the same.

Not if one side is talking about people who aren't Moldovans influencing a Moldovan election, while the other is talking about Moldovans holding dual passports being foreigners while holding one himself. If that's the case then it sounds like you're drawing a false equivalence.

‘Russia’s dirty money will hijack our democratic process’: how tiny Moldova fears Kremlin is fixing EU referendum

Officials believe €100m has been funnelled into the country to influence the pivotal vote and the presidential election

www.theguardian.com

Germany accuses Russia of ‘massive’ effort to stop Moldovans abroad voting

Foreign minister says bomb threats against polling stations in German cities show Putin ‘will stop at nothing’

www.theguardian.com

 

[Joey D]

Not if one side is talking about people who aren't Moldovans influencing a Moldovan election while the other is talking about Moldovans holding dual passports being foreigners while holding one himself. If that's the case then it sounds like you're drawing a false equivalence.

‘Russia’s dirty money will hijack our democratic process’: how tiny Moldova fears Kremlin is fixing EU referendum

Officials believe €100m has been funnelled into the country to influence the pivotal vote and the presidential election

www.theguardian.com

Germany accuses Russia of ‘massive’ effort to stop Moldovans abroad voting

Foreign minister says bomb threats against polling stations in German cities show Putin ‘will stop at nothing’

www.theguardian.com

It's almost like he's doing exactly what those articles say is happening too. Every time they post, it cements the idea that they are on Putin's payroll to spread disinformation on the internet.

 

[inCloud]

Not if one side is talking about people who aren't Moldovans influencing a Moldovan election while the other is talking about Moldovans holding dual passports being foreigners while holding one himself. If that's the case then it sounds like you're drawing a false equivalence.

Its hypocrisy of both sides, I dont know about any measurement system that objectively count who is more hypocrite and who is less.

 

[UKMikey]

Its hypocrisy of both sides, I dont know about any measurement system that objectively count who is more hypocrite and who is less.

Someone who holds a dual passport for travel and work reasons like millions of her compatriots isn't a foreign national.

 

[inCloud]

Someone who holds a dual passport for travel and work reasons like millions of her compatriots isn't a foreign national.

Its clearly dual loyalty situation. President is commander-in-chief, what would happen if Romania and Moldova would have territorial dispute? How intelligence should work?

In grand scheme of things, EU integration could be beneficial for Moldovans, but saying there isn't conflict of interests?

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I think to both of two sides the peace outcome is the best solution.

But we have to remember who attacked first, so in all honesty Russia deserves to have their nukes taken off and demilitiraze themselves (instead of Ukraine), albeit certainly first part will never come into fruition.

In my opinion, Putler is already living his days out, similar to that person in ww2 who already started going quite insane, due to his incompletion of ambitions and etc.

Saddest part to me is that Russia as a country with it's history (and infamous predecessors) will never unscathe from such tragedy called 'Special operation'

My conclusion is quite childish and simplistic, but I as a Russian Citizen wish we would simply live in peace with other countries, trading, doing economical-logistics and etc etc. Cold war was long ago over after all, but it's corruption seethes through to this day it seems...

But I suppose it's quite a different reality from ours.

I was thinking recently about Russia's quite substantial contributions to art, literature, cinema, architecture, music, engineering, science, etc in years past and trying to square it with 700,000 Russian casualties in Ukraine and the mob-like mentality of the ruling class and it honestly just made me sad. It's like Iran where there is just a shadow over the country and people that has become so entrenched that's hard to see it ever lifting. Putin is so in love with the idea of Russia that I don't think he's capable of understanding that's he is ruining it.

 

[UKMikey]

https://www.itv.com/news/2024-11-17/russia-launches-massive-strikes-on-ukraines-energy-grid-in-run-up-to-winter