Ukraine cannot win here. Russia has the world's most devious and cruel combat engineers laying in miles and miles of entrenched defence fortifications. Backed by Russia's world leading artillery battalions, there is no way Ukraine can push back Russia without battlefield nukes.

Russia is already laying in massive quantities of entrenched long range radar, antiaircraft batteries and missiles. US cannot acquire air power over that region any longer. If you have played a realistic war flightsim like Falcon 5.0, you will know air power cannot prevail against Russia's AA tech.

[–] CapgrasDelusion@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The F-35 has been operating over Syria for years against those supposedly infallible Russian AA defenses. So far the only thing that's been able to hit them is a bird.

[–] Snowpix@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

Tankies are gonna tankie.

[–] OurToothbrush@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The f35 has stealth tech specifically designed to go against Russian AA, and the Syrians had antiquated systems.

The f16 does not, and the Russians have lots of the latest generation AA because they're the ones who make it.

[–] CapgrasDelusion@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The F16 will be vulnerable but not completely useless, as implied by the other post.

[–] OurToothbrush@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yes, I agree, it will be very briefly useful.

[–] DarkThoughts@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

lmao

[–] Hubi@feddit.de 0 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I could maybe understand the criticism if Russia had made further gains, but you have to keep in mind that Ukraine has liberated 74,443 km² or 28,743 square miles since the start of the invasion. The offensive may not have had the effect that many hoped for after their earlier successes but they are facing defensive positions that have been set up and fortified over months. It will take some time to force a breakthrough and they are still constantly chipping away at the frontline. It's a good thing that they are advancing carefully and not just sending expendable waves of untrained soldiers like the Russians do.

[–] kae@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's an interesting product of a western world that hasnt really seen war in 70 years. It's always been far away.

We seek instant gratification, when in reality these are people's lives. It should move slowly, especially against heavily mined positions. I'm wondering if we'll see much progress until the F-16s enter the field to gain air support for the ground troops.

[–] monk@lemmy.unboiled.info -1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Instant gratification?? How about instant, decisive and meaningful support? Day 1, tanks have crossed the border and are advancing towards Kiyv? Close all borders, halt all trade, threaten to nuke Moscow unless they leave by Day 3, nuke Moscow on day 3.

Instead, the western world offers thoughts, prayers and excuses, with only occasional tanks here and there in between, months and years too late, making it worse for literally everyone. So when people that are watching Ukraine been helped just enough to save the helpers' faces, suffering through the bloodshed unfolding for a year+, and said people are not willing to normalize the shameful history page they're living through... I think it's neither fair nor productive to accuse them of seeking instant gratification.

Damn, if everybody really demanded instant gratification, democracies worked and politicians complied, we would've been talking about the war in past tense.

[–] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's almost like no one wants to start a global thermonuclear war that annihilates our species. I'm glad the actual people in charge are able to see the shades of grey you can't.

[–] monk@lemmy.unboiled.info -1 points 2 years ago

I'm sorry you fell victim to the powerful madman image Russia is so desperate to project, when (misguided) rational cowardrice is all it does.

[–] MarxMadness@lemmygrad.ml -2 points 2 years ago

Ukraine has liberated 74,443 km² or 28,743 square miles since the start of the invasion

The front lines have remained basically static since Fall '22.

[–] CapgrasDelusion@kbin.social -1 points 2 years ago

Ukraine: we need tanks/armor!
West: hmm, no that would be too provocative.
months later, as Russia digs trenches and lays mines
West: ok, ok, here are some tanks
Ukraine: Great, can we get better ammunition?
West: What?! No, yeesh.
months of mines and trenches later
West: Ok here are cluster munitions
Ukraine: thank you. None of this really works without air support though so...
West: What is your deal?
mine, mine, mine, trench trench
West: Ok maybe some F16s.

West: yo, what's taking so long?
Ukraine: I'm sorry? I can't hear you over ALL THE FUCKING MINES