The War in Ukraine

[NavyShooter]

Like troops voting in “Starship Troopers,” you don’t get it if you don’t come back, right?

The family doesn't get it either if there's no proof of death in combat...

 

[Kirkhill]

Fibre optics are popular apparently.

China Supplied More Than 500 Thousand km of Fiber Optic Cable to Russia in August - Militarnyi

China has significantly increased exports of key components for the production of FPV drones to Russia.

militarnyi.com

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Fiberoptic cable clearance is going to major issue post war. I am sure there are going to be several thesis on the long term environmental impacts.

 

[HavokFour]

On the topic of contract bonuses and old men.

Thread by @ChrisO_wiki on Thread Reader App

@ChrisO_wiki: 1/ Large numbers of elderly Russian men are being attracted by fat recruitment bonuses to join the war in Ukraine for the financial benefit of their families. "I've lived my life, we'll get an apartmen...…

threadreaderapp.com

The parts at the end stand out especially.

27/ While the volunteers say what they know what they are getting into – in particular, being aware of the army's very high casualties – they seem to be unaware of the terms of their contracts and the need to spend their salaries and bonuses on supplying themselves.

28/ Many of the would-be recruits interviewed by Verstka expressed shock at being told the contracts are indefinite. The recruitment form they are given speaks only of a 1-year contract, but in reality they are automatically renewed under a Putin decree of September 2022.

29/ As soon as they sign the contract, the recruits are taken away to buses for transportation to their units and training camps. Many will receive only a few days' perfunctory training before dying in Ukraine within a couple of weeks of being recruited.

30/ A significant factor in the number of casualties is likely to be that many of the recruits are simply unable to cope with the physical demands of the war. According to an airborne officer fighting near Kherson, over-50s make up nearly half of the existing Russian force.

31/ Calling the situation "dismal", he says: "Right now we're standing here mixed in with the mobilised and 40% are over 50. And three-quarters of the new recruits are elderly. It's sad, but that's how it is." /end