Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is it time for Ukraine to attack and occupy Belgorod?
Self authored ^ | 15 May 2022 | Self

Posted on 05/15/2022 12:54:57 PM PDT by MercyFlush

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-100 next last

1 posted on 05/15/2022 12:54:57 PM PDT by MercyFlush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush

Speaking solely as a tactical warrior, poking your opponent hard I the nose when you have the opportunity is a key to winning the fight....

What he does next will be responsive/ defensive and likely cost him combat power, agility and initiative.

Take it from him. I would.


2 posted on 05/15/2022 12:59:45 PM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret), "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War" )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush

When I asked a similar question the answer was that as long as mother Russia wasn’t threatened then Putin would have a politically hard time moving the country from a special military action to a war footing. Once Russia was threatened he could call up the reserves and he’d also have some other powers he can’t call on now. Ukraine has a delicate balancing act and they understand what works and where the red lines are better than us armchair warriors. It does appear that the way we see the war and the way most Russians (who have more limited access to the world) see it are vastly different.


3 posted on 05/15/2022 1:01:42 PM PDT by Gen.Blather (Wait! I said that out loud. Sorry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Manly Warrior

+1


4 posted on 05/15/2022 1:05:22 PM PDT by sauropod ("We put all our politicians in prison as soon as they are elected. Don’t you?" Why? "It saves time.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush
Ukraine does not have enough military supplies nor men to attack Russia. Russia would bring overwhelming power to take the whole of Ukraine if they did that. Bill Clinton took away Ukraine nukes. Nato is running out of our supplies. Europe does not want gas, oil and electricity shut off. Russia destroyed the biolabs that the deep state had at the border.Russia holds most of the cards.
5 posted on 05/15/2022 1:06:17 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush

I think this would be a mistake, it would give the Russian Army motivation to fight that has been lacking so far.


6 posted on 05/15/2022 1:07:39 PM PDT by Husker24 (Pp)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush
The foolish Soviets have left this city all but undefended

Clearly you should be in charge of the Russians since you're so much smarter.

They would call you General Smarty Guy and give you medals.

7 posted on 05/15/2022 1:08:26 PM PDT by humblegunner (Ain't drownin', Just wavin'...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush
Putin could of course declare war and call for a general mobilization of Soviet forces.

Ukrainians could capture Belgorod and win the battle. But it would be a pyrrhic victory. Russia is a totalitarian country. They would use propaganda to fully mobilize and get the population behind the war. Putin would welcome the attack.

Ukrainians keep it a defensive war in their country. They will continue to make sure that the morale in the Russians military is low.

8 posted on 05/15/2022 1:10:14 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mountainlion

“Ukraine does not have enough military supplies nor men to attack Russia.”

True. But they have the men, supplies, and opportunity to attack and possibly seize a virtually undefended and critical Belgorod. They don’t even need to hold it. They can just take the city, raise the Ukrainian flag over the city hall for the photo opportunity, and then scoot.

Or they can seize the city and force the Russians to divert forces from Ukraine to take it back. And then scoot.


9 posted on 05/15/2022 1:10:31 PM PDT by MercyFlush (The Soviet Empire is right now doing a dead cat bounce.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Husker24
I think this would be a mistake, it would give the Russian Army motivation to fight that has been lacking so far.

Agreed. Many Russian soldiers are refusing to fight because there has been no declaration of war. Sending troops across the border could lead to that. The Ukies should stick to just shelling the supply lines across the border for now.
10 posted on 05/15/2022 1:10:46 PM PDT by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush
President Potato needs volunteers.

Yes, MercyFlush?

11 posted on 05/15/2022 1:10:51 PM PDT by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Manly Warrior

Nothing like a punch in the face to get your opponent off his feet!


12 posted on 05/15/2022 1:11:10 PM PDT by MercyFlush (The Soviet Empire is right now doing a dead cat bounce.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush

They should limit themselves to cross border raids on specific targets, as they have done so far. A full-on invasion is probably beyond their ability and isn’t necessary. The Russians are coming to them. They don’t have to go looking for them.


13 posted on 05/15/2022 1:11:11 PM PDT by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush

Trying to take a Russian city would be a mistake imo. But damaging the city so that it is less useful as a staging point has value. All such cities need to lose all their public utilities and their ability to resupply military convoys. In fact every Russian city within 50 miles of the Ukraine border should probably be a target. And every road that crosses the border as well.


14 posted on 05/15/2022 1:12:37 PM PDT by 1forest1 (The Constitution is just a relic in a glass case)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: humblegunner

“Clearly you should be in charge of the Russians since you’re so much smarter.”

The average US Army or USMC sergeant would have done an exponentially better job of movement than any of the Russian generals have done and with a boatload fewer casualties.


15 posted on 05/15/2022 1:15:07 PM PDT by MercyFlush (The Soviet Empire is right now doing a dead cat bounce.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather
It does appear that the way we see the war and the way most Russians (who have more limited access to the world) see it are vastly different.

Is it really though? The press certainly has a history of determining what the American public hears or doesn't hear. I find we have no better, and perhaps maybe even worse filtering of the news.

16 posted on 05/15/2022 1:16:09 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: JonPreston

“President Potato needs volunteers. Yes, MercyFlush?”

Maybe we’d get to see each other on the battlefield. I’d be fighting for the USA and you’d be fighting for Russia.

As usual.


17 posted on 05/15/2022 1:19:31 PM PDT by MercyFlush (The Soviet Empire is right now doing a dead cat bounce.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush

Ukraine needs to concentrate on the upcoming Battles of Severodonetsk and Izyum, which will be key in the overall Battle of Donbas. If they can win at Izyum and Severodonetsk, Russia is at serious risk of losing the Battle of Donbas.

Of course, I’m no military tactician, so my opinion is worth what you paid for it...


18 posted on 05/15/2022 1:19:58 PM PDT by ETCM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marron

Forcing the supply lines to grow longer by staging further away from the border has value.


19 posted on 05/15/2022 1:22:06 PM PDT by 1forest1 (The Constitution is just a relic in a glass case)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MercyFlush

Not my fight, and it isn’t yours, but I’d like to see you go anyway. But you won’t. As we say in Texas, you’re all hat.


20 posted on 05/15/2022 1:23:09 PM PDT by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-100 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson