Mandy Lifeboats

The official standpoint from Russia. Prigozhin isn't off the hook by a long way.

The Belarus Ukraine border is perfect defensive terrain. Its dense forests, swamps, rivers and highly radioactive land. Ukraine has been fortifying it since the start of the war. An attack from Belarus is not likely. Russia could barely defend Moscow.

I thought it was worded slightly differently. Wagner troops who did not take part in the mutiny may join the Russian Army. It has to be remembered that the mutiny killed quite a few Russian aircrew. Forgive and forget isn’t going to be applicable.

I shall not be posting any links, but videos showing the execution of Wagner Troops are being posted on Telegram. Progozhin is a dead man walking. He'll want to disappear. Russia will want to kill him quietly. If Wagner had not been associated with so many atrocities he might have negotiated asylum in the West. But now the West will also be hunting him to bring him to justice. My gut feeling is that he's not in Belarus. He's running to somewhere he's had prepared for years. He needs somewhere desolate where a bald headed criminal will not look unusual. St Andrews?

I hope a Russian Civil War means that war in Ukraine is no longer feasible. I hope that there are minimal casualties but Russia loses even more military equipment. I hope Russia breaks down into its component regions.

We could be 2 hours away from the battle of Moscow. We could be 2 hours away from the fall of Putin. We could be 2 hours away from the start of the Russian Civil War. Wow!!!!!!

A nuclear armed depth charge could be used against an enemy submarine. It could also be used against an enemy reservoir. The usage defines the weapon.

This is a very interesting development. Massive convoys of dump trucks are heading for Moscow. In my opinion these are part of a standard civil defence plan. They will be filled with sand in order to build sandbag fortifications. These actions show the Civil Defence plan is already at a serious level.

Wow.

Its time to put the tactical nukes fears to rest again. 1. They don't exist. Tactical nukes describe a small nuke used in a tactical way rather than a strategic way. They still spread radiation and fallout over a wide area. They would be used on targets like a US Carrier Fleet, Portsmouth Navy Dockyards or a massive column of tanks. Ukraine has nothing like that. What they do have is very close to Russia. 2. He who launches first loses. China's policy has been set for decades. The first to use a nuke automatically becomes their enemy. 3. Very few nukes are actually ready to go. A small nuke for a specific purpose would need to be ordered, removed from storage, placed on a missile/plane, armed and then delivered. That's not a quick process. NATO monitors such activity. It's entirely plausible that NATO would simply destroy the nuke. 4. The aftermath. Biden has already said that the use of a nuke would see US forces in Ukraine in 48 hours. I believe him. China would be at war with Russia. Radiation would be heading into Russian territories or NATO territories. Neither is a good idea. The whole world would oppose Russia.

A silent movie that was well ahead of its time. Some of the special effects were groundbreaking. A pram falling down steps in slow motion and hanged sailors materialising on the yard arms were the first time these things were seen on film.

There is a very different picture across Russia. Rural v Urban. East v West At a guess....... They have the National Guard throughout the country. These men aren't likely to be keen on fighting Wagner. They are not experienced in battle. Each city or district will have a smallish number of regular forces. They are mainly in support roles. They aren't going to be keen on fighting Wagner. The major cities will have maybe a hundred Special Forces. These are capable. But maybe not willing to fight. The naval bases have ample number of sailors who could be rebadged as marines and sent to tackle problems. Russia does not need a navy at this point. But redeploying the navy inland has a strong histotical significance in Russia. It was sailors refusing to crush a popular revolt that powered the Russian revolution. (Battleship Potemkin. Fascinating story. Marvelous movie)

It's really not that simple. The nuclear briefcase doesn't launch the nukes. Its gives the order to launch. There are an unknown number of people in the chain depending upon what type of nuke it is. NATO monitors each action in that chain. Some might conclude that NATO has plans and methods to stop various parts of that chain.

2021 Russia claimed to have the second most powerful army in the world. 2023 Russia has the second most powerful army in parts of Russia.

This is a very good and balanced summary of events.

Great news to wake up to!

I would be testing the CEO's commitment to customer service and the safety of his customers being top priority. I would imagine the sub undoubtedly had diving knives on board. That would solve the "how" question.

I think suicide would be virtually impossible. But there is a thin line between murder and assisting suicide.

OK.........here goes.......... Imagine you were in that situation. There's only enough oxygen for 10 hours. But that's based on 5 people breathing it. If only 1 person is breathing you have 50 hours. If the sub is found with 1 survivor and he's killed the other 4, is he a survivor or a mass murderer?

We needs to learn some lessons from very recent history. It was a mistake to let Lancashire Police organise the search.

Me - Have you got the book How The Titanic Disaster Could Have Been Avoided? Librarian - Who is the author? Me - I can't remember.

Agreed. I think there might be a couple of jokes about the Titanic itself in the last 100+ years.

Good morning Dragons, I am looking for £1,000,000 for 10% equity. I have invented a submarine guaranteed not to sink. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out.

I discounted that one. Its been done before and is possible. You need something with far less credibility