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2022-03-02 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Convoy approaching Ukrainian capital appears stalled as Russia unleashes greater firepower
[WAPO] DNIPRO, Ukraine — Russia intensified strikes on cities across Ukraine on Tuesday, but the advance of foreign forces ground to a halt outside Kyiv as local troops and volunteers steeled themselves for a fierce battle for the capital.

U.S. and British officials said a long column of tanks and combat vehicles was stalled roughly 20 miles north of Kyiv on the sixth day of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, deepening questions about whether Moscow’s assault will yield a protracted war of resistance with its much smaller, less powerful neighbor.

The convoy, stretching some 40 miles, has moved little over the past day as the Russian forces have grappled with fuel and food shortages, a U.S. defense official told reporters, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation.

In its most recent battlefield update, the British Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces continue to hold the cities of Kharkiv, Kherson and Mariupol, but all three "are now likely encircled by Russian forces," and air and artillery attacks on urban areas are intensifying.

The United Nations has recorded more than 130 civilian deaths since the beginning of the fighting last week, including 13 children, mostly because of shelling and rocket fire. The true human toll is likely far much higher, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights said.

Officials say Moscow has now pushed into Ukraine more than 80 percent of the combat power it staged within Russian border areas and in neighboring Belarus in recent months, demonstrating Putin’s determination to cripple a Western-backed government he claims has undermined Russian security. Ukraine has refused to forswear its right to join the NATO military alliance, a proposition Putin has described as a red line.

The conflict has upended global ties with Russia, triggering successive rounds of international sanctions, including measures targeting Russia’s central bank and cutting the country off from the global financial system. European nations have also come together in defiance of Putin’s actions, with some countries abandoning their long-standing policies of neutrality or conflict-avoidance to expand military support to Ukraine.
I doubt the convoy is stalled. Probably just awaiting the final rocket barrage softening up before going in.
Posted by Besoeker 2022-03-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11143 views ]  Top

#1 ...you overrate the Soviet Russian capabilities of logistics. The Suez Canal leap by the Egyptians was a classical Russian model. One big push, then what? Appears nothing has changed much. In those 40 miles, have sats shown any fuel staging points?
It's not just a Russian problem. When we were sent into the Balkans, our uncontested column was stopped on a flooded river bank for two days, cause they left the engineer battalion that far back in the road march.
Posted by Procopius2k 2022-03-02 07:21||   2022-03-02 07:21|| Front Page Top

#2 I doubt the convoy is stalled.

Me, too. I see it as a threat to help focus the upcoming peace talks/surrender.
Posted by SteveS 2022-03-02 09:33||   2022-03-02 09:33|| Front Page Top

#3 total bullshit from western agitprop press
there's no evidence at all that this was not Russia's plan from the start - grab the critical south and landbridge to Krym peninsula then move north to create cauldron like against fascist armies in 1943 and 1944
Posted by Hupoluling Thuque3118 2022-03-02 09:44||   2022-03-02 09:44|| Front Page Top

#4 First, they have no where to go, no staging areas, no spot to rally. They expected to roll into a passive environment. Now they are strung out and vulnerable. My only question is why are the Ukrainians not attacking them. Seems odd.
Posted by 49 Pan 2022-03-02 09:57||   2022-03-02 09:57|| Front Page Top

#5 Maybe they're just waiting for a tow.
Posted by Matt 2022-03-02 10:04||   2022-03-02 10:04|| Front Page Top

#6 ..like against fascist armies in 1943 and 1944

That was a better Russian Army, actually battle harden with fewer yes men. It's more like the one in the summer of 1941 now, full of 'politically reliable leaders'. Don't worry, we're now working on installing those types in ours.
Posted by Procopius2k 2022-03-02 11:20||   2022-03-02 11:20|| Front Page Top

#7 As an aside, anyone have an idea about the nature and load-bearing condition of the areas adjacent to the MSR/Column? Are they road bound in part because of trafficability issues that would be created by so many tracked vehicles?
Posted by NoMoreBS 2022-03-02 11:39||   2022-03-02 11:39|| Front Page Top

#8 Kyiv temperatures are low 30s (F) now, rising to high 30s in next few days. Once the ground starts to thaw, it will be the spring mud season. Lots of problems for heavy armor off of heavy duty roadbeds.
Posted by Nero 2022-03-02 13:26||   2022-03-02 13:26|| Front Page Top

#9 Ref #8. No problem at all for abandoned heavy armor.....just say'n.
Posted by Besoeker 2022-03-02 13:30||   2022-03-02 13:30|| Front Page Top

#10 @9 well looking at some of the tanks and trucks abandoned already, they were axel deep in mud so it is only going to get worse.
Posted by DarthVader 2022-03-02 14:45||   2022-03-02 14:45|| Front Page Top

#11 Kyiv temperatures are low 30s (F) now, rising to high 30s in next few days. Once the ground starts to thaw, it will be the spring mud season. Lots of problems for heavy armor off of heavy duty roadbeds.

The other day, had rain in the forecast, too.
Posted by swksvolFF 2022-03-02 14:57||   2022-03-02 14:57|| Front Page Top

#12 Quagmire!
Posted by M. Murcek 2022-03-02 14:58||   2022-03-02 14:58|| Front Page Top

#13 "Global Warming saves Ukraine!"
Posted by swksvolFF 2022-03-02 16:44||   2022-03-02 16:44|| Front Page Top

#14 Rasputitsa starting:

https://twitter.com/TrentTelenko/status/1499179625343299584
Posted by Nero 2022-03-02 20:39||   2022-03-02 20:39|| Front Page Top

#15 The Russian army has two four-stars which have done them a lot of good over the years; General Winter and General Mud.
Posted by Richard Aubrey 2022-03-02 22:13||   2022-03-02 22:13|| Front Page Top

09:43 Mullah Richard
09:27 Warthog
09:11 Mercutio
09:07 AlmostAnonymous5839
08:52 Matt
08:24 Matt
08:20 SteveS
07:43 Procopius2k
07:42 BrerRabbit
07:42 Procopius2k
07:39 Procopius2k
07:36 Procopius2k
07:35 Procopius2k
07:34 trailing wife
07:31 Procopius2k
07:30 NN2N1
07:22 NN2N1
07:18 trailing wife
07:14 Richard Aubrey
07:10 NN2N1
07:09 Besoeker
07:03 NN2N1
06:58 NN2N1
06:58 Besoeker









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