Putin Is On The Verge Of Losing Crimea

[gab13by13]

Zelenskyy owns the Black Sea. Russian officials are shuffling documents out of the country. Ukraine just blew up 2 Hangars with Russian aircraft inside. Gasoline is being limited to government vehicles. Crimea has rolling blackouts from Ukrainian attacks on the power infrastructure.

Crimea was a huge asset in Putin's goal of capturing eastern and southern Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine is on the offensive reclaiming Russian occupied land. Putin has had to relocate air defense systems from eastern and southern Ukraine to defend Moscow. Ukraine has incapacitated 20% of Russian oil production.

Putin is losing the war, all he can do is fire missiles and drones into civilian buildings in Ukraine, had the US supplied Ukraine with air defenses Russia wouldn't even be successful in doing that.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-has-lost-the-black-sea-zelenskyy-just-declared-victory-in-crimea-and-officials-are-reportedly-evacuating-sensitive-documents/ar-AA27f3Oq?

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Militarily, he's lost Crimea.

It's getting 2MM Russians to leave the island.

[gab13by13]

2. Modern warfare at its finest

Zelenskyy is retaking Crimea without needing a massive land force to capture it.

[Historic NY]

14. Now all he has to do is blow up the bridge.

[Grins]

19. That would leave Russians INSIDE Crimea.

Russians who shouldn't be there at all, and who Ukraine wants out.

Expend just a couple of scare munitions and hit a Russian-populated area of Crimea to provide "clarity" for those
Russians who might be on the fence on running back to the Motherland. Remind them why they should get the hell out now!

The visuals of them fleeing - GREAT media!!!

[Bluetus]

28. Right. Ukraine is in a position to take the bridge out now

It is Putin who is more likely to destroy the bridge in order to force Russians to remain there.

I completely agree with your scenario. Zelenskyy will continue to make life unbearable for the Russians that remain in Crimea. And once most are gone, they will be able to get in close to set big explosives that will take out a bunch of the piers, ending that chapter. I predict that will happen within 4 months.

Surely there are few supplies moving through Crimea now. As this progresses, that will allow Ukraine to concentrate more assets on the supply lines along the west bank of the Sea of Azov. This becomes a phase of war where Ukraine doesn't have to engage the enemy in close combat so much. THey can basically get the russians out by attrition.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. And...

Trump can’t do a thing to stop it.

Ukraine doesn’t need the US anymore.

Things seem to be accelerating exponentially in Ukraine’s favor , and Russia is flailing desperately.

[Chuuku Davis]

32. Uh, they need Patriot batteries

For the ballistic missiles.

[Fiendish Thingy]

37. I thought they got those from other European countries

And those countries replenished with purchases from the US, so no additional congressional approval needed.

[Amaryllis]

40. See this: Blood on Trump's Hands as Ukraine Runs Out of Missiles and Russia Runs Wild

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221353195
It's more complicated than that. And Trump is the bottleneck.

[not fooled]

36. ETTD

When krasnov threw in his lot with fellow psychopath putin, the latter should have realized that Everything Trump Touches Dies*.

*Rick Wilson's take, which is proven more and more as time passes.

[Deuxcents]

4. Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦

[drray23]

5. I think it is more dire than that for Putin

I believe he is losing the war outright. The pressure Ukraine has been applying via their drone attacks leading to fuel shortages is also very effective. War is now an every day reality for the population in Russia, not something relegated to the front lines. They do not like it at all.

I would not be surprised if Putin start losing his grip on the country as well. He is an aging dictator with an angry population. Russia's main income is the sale of oil and that is dropping drastically. The economy is collapsing.

I bet that within a year this war will end. Either Putin will try to negotiate with Ukraine and end the war, trying to keep his control on Russia or he will be overthrown.

[OAITW r.2.0]

8. This winter will be awful for Russian citizens.

I think Russia implodes this winter.

[SCantiGOP]

9. Best estimates are 1/2 million dead

Russian military has lost a half million men, more than the US lost in WW II.
And there is no way Putin can put any positive spin on his disaster.

[state of stupid]

11. It is amazing what happens when you are no longer fighting with your hands tied behind you.

Because of The Walking Zombie in the White House, Ukraine was only allowed to
defend their territory with no strikes to Russia. Now that the Dictator, the Liar and
Thief is irrelevant and Ukraine is hitting Russia where it hurts (something that should
have been allowed from the beginning) in a real war where your homeland is a target,
my oh my how the tables start to turn.

[Grins]

21. YES!!! YES! YES!!

I remember all the hand-wringing after Putin invaded that a big reaction by the west would lead to Armageddon. "You're risking WWIII!" they would scream.

We can't give them F-16's. Can't give them Abrams tanks. Can't give them long-rage munitions. Can't give them our strategic intelligence on what Russia was doing and where to hit them back. Can't give, can't give, can't give - the things that would have ended this war years ago. And saved millions of lives and trillions of dollars in infrastructure.

And that "wider war" shit? Trump picked it up and publicly threw it in Zelenskyy's face.

The Russian military fails were everywhere, the Russian deaths were everywhere, the Russian draft, the off-the-street impressment of young Russian men, the Coup d'Etat attempt by Putin's own and murderous supporters, the sinking of Russian ships - and subs! - the destruction of 1/3rd of Russia's strategic bomber force in ONE HOUR (imagine if that happened to us!), the buying of munitions from Iran and N. Korea because Russia could not produce them, the luring of foreign mercenaries from Africa, Cuba, N. Korea to serve and die for Mother Russia because they couldn't field enough Russian "patriots," were everywhere illuminating that - RUSSIA IS A PAPER TIGER!

And, still, they stuck to that damn myth. And if we didn't have a Russian asset in the White House today, we would (I can only hope) be doubling down on our support

[yardwork]

18. That's why Putin will throw billions at the midterms.

His only hope is preventing a Democratic takeover of Congress.

Democracy is hanging in the balance. I think November's elections are the most important of my life.

[Amaryllis]

41. Putin is attacking civilian targets and UKraind needs patriot interceptors to stop the drones. Trump won't give them.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221353195
It's more complicated than that. And Trump is the bottleneck.

[drray23]

42. Ukraine is developing their own capabilities

As a matter of fact, countries are now looking up to them on how to conduct a modern drone war. I don't think patriot missiles are the optimal tool anymore, especially to intercept drones.

The EU has significantly ramped up to compensate for Trump. I think Putin is toast and its a last desperate attempt.

[Amaryllis]

43. Did you read the article i linked to? HAve you been following the recent attacks on Kyiv by Russia on civilian targets?

“As long as Patriot missiles remain in our allies’ stockpiles, Russia is only encouraged to keep ‘vanquishing’ residential buildings,” Zelensky said after the attack. “The United States and Europe have enough strength to stop this terror”.

But the Trump administration has not only refused to send additional Patriot missiles — it has halted key weapons shipments altogether. The White House excluded funding for military aid to Ukraine from its record-breaking $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027. This follows a pattern of withholding assistance that has left Ukraine exposed and bleeding.

[oasis]

6. Thank you all who have supported Ukraine. 🇺🇦

Trump….. sit your sorry ass down.

[-misanthroptimist]

7. That 20% reduction in refining capacity is what russia admits

Independent analysts put the real reduction at 40-47%. Russia is screwed.

Link to tweet

[DallasNE]

10. Conditions Are Not Ripe On The Ground

In Ukraine (including Crimea), for peace talks to start. So why, at this awkward moment, is Trump pushing peace talks? It makes no sense. Putin is still demanding all of the partially occupied areas of Ukraine, when they will soon hold less than half of that - assuming that Crimea falls to Ukraine in the next month or so.

Putin must have reminded Trump how much is riding on the next moves, so Trump is going to the NATO meeting to raise hell and pressure Ukraine to give Putin everything that he wants. I am hoping NATO leaders are ready this time. It is no sure thing.

[state of stupid]

12. Personally, I hope the Ukrainians ask THE KING OF STUPID would he rather kiss a Tiger's ass

or a rabbit between the ears. If he chooses the rabbit, they simply thrust their hips forward,
turn their front pocket inside out and say, "What's up Doc".

[dave99]

35. It will be Grand when NATO ignores the toddler

[C Moon]

13. Maybe we were wrong: maybe putin will be the one who flees his country--not trump.

Because I wonder how much more of this the public and military will put up with. Maybe there will be a coup soon?—of course, that's not always good.

[MerryBlooms]

15. putin better have his windows bolted solid

Wouldn't want him to fall out a window right about now, would we? 🤫🤔🫡

[Callie1979]

16. While I would LOVE that; it's not happening anytime soon.

There's no way for UKR to get troops or anything else to Crimea. But if they can make the imported Russians scared to STAY there thats a victory itself.
And PLEASE put that damn bridge in the ocean.

[FakeNoose]

17. If only Chump hadn't become president, we could have been a good partner to Ukraine

We could have helped the good guys, instead of slinking around in back alleys dealing with dictators and tyrants.

In future negotiations, this will come back to bite us in the butt, over and over.

[Ray Bruns]

29. And we wouldn't be wasting munitions in the Persian gulf.

[maxsolomon]

20. Ukraine hasn't crossed the Dneiper to get anywhere near Crimea.

Lots of unhatched chicken counting in this OP.

This war is a long way from over.

[gab13by13]

30. You misunderstood my OP or didn't read the part

where I said that Ukraine is going to retake Crimea without having to send massive amounts of troops there.

When Putin took Crimea he gave Russians sweetheart deals to move there but one of his guarantees to them was that he would protect them. Putin cannot protect the Russians in Crimea, thousands are already leaving.

Was it Mitt Romney who coined the phrase, self-deport?

How long before the Russians who Putin put in charge of cities and towns decide it's time to leave?

I agree with you, Ukraine doesn't have the troops to spare to send to Crimea, I'm saying that not many troops will be needed.

Think modern warfare not Revolutionary War tactics.

[maxsolomon]

34. Are you Jack Buckby?

nt

[SamuelAdams]

22. It's great that after 4.5 years of war, he is losing territory he's held for a decade.

[OnlinePoker]

23. Ukraine has to take the remainder of Kherson first.

Trying to supply Crimea without a land bridge would be virtually impossible. Even with a land bridge, Russia is struggling because of Ukraine's drone sanctions.

[Martin68]

24. Crimea is becoming an albatross around Putin's neck.

[purr-rat beauty]

25. If that fucker uses a tactical nuke

I still am uneasy with that being an option and that putin has considered it before

[Initech]

26. The sooner Putin rids the world of his evil existence, the better!

[duckworth969]

27. Slava Ukraini!

[harumph]

31. Putin, Crimea river.

[dave99]

33. Fucking Republicans, made they ALL Burn.

[orangecrush]

38. GOOD

[Amaryllis]

39. Yes, BUT: Blood on Trump's Hands as Ukraine Runs Out of Missiles and Russia Runs Wild

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221353195


https://itskeifer.substack.com/p/blood-on-trumps-hands-as-ukraine

Long snip here. PLease go to the link to read. I was unsure what to snip because it's all important. The point is that Russia is continuing to hit civilian targets and Ukraine needs interceptor missiles to stop them: "Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed that all 29 ballistic missiles launched by Russia during the overnight assault struck their targets. This was not bad luck. This was not a tactical failure. This was a direct result of one thing: Ukraine has run critically low on Patriot interceptor missiles. And one man refuses to send more. "

Trump’s Betrayal

President Volodymyr Zelensky has been begging for Patriot missiles for months. He has asked for licenses to manufacture them in Ukraine. He has pleaded with NATO allies and the United States to send interceptors that are sitting in stockpiles.

“As long as Patriot missiles remain in our allies’ stockpiles, Russia is only encouraged to keep ‘vanquishing’ residential buildings,” Zelensky said after the attack. “The United States and Europe have enough strength to stop this terror”.

But the Trump administration has not only refused to send additional Patriot missiles — it has halted key weapons shipments altogether. The White House excluded funding for military aid to Ukraine from its record-breaking $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027. This follows a pattern of withholding assistance that has left Ukraine exposed and bleeding.

Critics have accused Trump of actively undermining Ukraine while aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has cut off all military aid — “even though Europe will pay for the weapons,” one columnist noted — including the very air defense systems Kyiv desperately needs to stop the ballistic missiles raining down on civilians. Trump has blood on his hands. Again.