Your thoughts on Bakhmut?

[robocop666]

looks like it will fall soon to Russian control. Its being encircled by Wagner forces.

[Soteris]

I dont really have a strong opinion of a city I did not know existed a few months ago. I can break down the situation surrounding it but as for the city itself? Dont care.

Which is a viewpoint I think is actually quite fitting, all things considered. From the viewpoint of Ukraine the city of Bakhmut is not important. Its value simply came from its defensive abilities which is clearly displayed on the map today where Russia has been able to push the front line around Bakhmut but not been able to capture the city itself directly. As such the city has served its purpose as a fortified position beautifully and it would probably be a mistake to not retreat from it once its usefulness as a fortified position is coming to an end.

As for Bakhmut from the Russian perspective? It was a grave mistake to attack the line here. Taking the city is not strategically significant and you are just playing into the hands of the Ukrainian defenders. The cost of taking this city alone has been staggering. But that is about it. Dont care, its just a small piece of terrain in a much bigger war. It has mostly just been hyped up because Russia wanted this win to mean something more than it actually does so they made a big deal out of it.

As such, we will just move on to the next "Bakhmut".. and the next.. and the next... and the next.. until Russia runs out of military or the Ukrainians counter attacks somewhere else and rolls them over.

[robocop666]

so you think Russia will run out of resources here? some think they will spend 50 years taking Ukraine

[Soteris]

I think Russia more or less have already ran out of resources in certain areas and I dont think they are capable of winning the war even if they spent 100 years on it. More specifically because Ukraine would win it much sooner.

[robocop666]

Gary Casparov one of the greatest chess players of all time or at least in the top 2-3. Claims Russia will have a coup, Putin will be gone, a pro west government will take over and a few regions will break away and there will be an economic collapse. He is smarter than us so I trust him.

[Soteris]

Its possible to some degree but I doubt it would happen like that, especially the pro-west part. If there is a change in government inside Russia it would probably just be the next oligarch to step up and take the throne.

[robocop666]

you need a pro west to remove sanctions.

[Soteris]

No you dont. The west is perfectly happy to work with hostile governments if there is a mutual benefit.

[robocop666]

oh ok then. Well Gary Casparov claims the new government will be apologetic for Russias sins. However I disagree as Russia always wanted friendship with the west and was given the cold shoulder.

[Soteris]

Russia has always been Europes rival so people have had friction between each other and especially after the Soviet Union it has been further tainted with propaganda so I am perfectly happy to accept that Russians dont mind being in opposition to "the west".

[Leopard23]

It will be a pyhric victory for the Russians. Sacrificing men and ordnance for a propaganda victory back in Russia.

[Agape93]

The same Wagner twits that get sent home in body bags by the thousands? If bakhmut falls to them, they deserve to fail

[Alessa13]

It would suck to be a girl there, wagner group has been told they get to rape whoever they want if they win.

[Agape93]

Hell, they do that anyways.

[SilverRain92]

It's the beginning of the end of Ukraine. It does not matter how much weapons and money Western countries would send to Ukrainian murderers, they will lose

[robocop666]

a Russian oligarch claims that they will run out of money next year with western sanctions. I don't know. Only the future will tell us the truth.