The Fog Of War

Konstantin Buynichev, head of RU tactical unit surrendered together with his comrades.
“We didn’t want to kill anyone…”. #UkraineUnderAttack #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/nZ3SSeCiEe

— olexander scherba🇺🇦 (@olex_scherba) February 24, 2022

Info on the Russian airborne operation against Antonov airbase in Gostomel pic.twitter.com/hfs7SWmtF0

— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) February 24, 2022

From someone I know in 75 Ranger battalion: elite Russians paratroopers we're "slaughtered" by regular units. He said: "I cannot tell you how bad this is for Russians." Said it will bolster Ukrainian forces & cause Russian conscripts to possibly surrender.

— Matt Tallmer (@matt_tallmer) February 24, 2022

5/19 That said, the courageous Ukrainians appear to be fighting hard for their land, their people and the idea of a free and democratic society. This is important. It is not clear that the Russian soldiers fighting in #Ukraine have a similarly compelling sense of purpose.

— Major General Mick Ryan (@WarintheFuture) February 25, 2022

7/19 I am not convinced that 190K Russians is sufficient for what Putin wants them to do. The old rule of a 3 to 1 force ratio for invaders still holds, even in the information age. Both sides have access to information and advanced technologies.

— Major General Mick Ryan (@WarintheFuture) February 25, 2022

13/19 As such, I do not see a viable Theory of Victory for Putin in anything other than in the short term. Blitzkrieg operations only work when backed up with viable strategy. History is full of a desire for rapid operations that turn into long wars.

— Major General Mick Ryan (@WarintheFuture) February 25, 2022

Putin previously used military force to pursue more limited and achievable political goals, which is why he was largely successful. This time is different and will be more difficult. https://t.co/8nmWaepE27

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) February 25, 2022

A chorus of Russian celebrities and public figures have condemned President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. Ksenia Sobchak, a TV celebrity, said she would only "believe in the worst possible scenarios” about her country’s future from now on. https://t.co/HIyTiTgZQt pic.twitter.com/CgKVpvocpi

— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 25, 2022

Ukrainian air-defenses and fighters are wreaking havoc. Russia has lost as many as seven helicopters, an Su-24, an Su-25 and reportedly two Su-30s. And now something BIG just got hit over Kyiv. This happened after Russia's bomber net went active. https://t.co/7cLsUUF05r @Forbes https://t.co/aGGodPaTc1

— David Axe (@daxe) February 25, 2022

Ukraine’s ambassador to the US just told us that a Russian platoon from the 74th Motorized Brigade has surrendered to Ukraine’s forces. She says that the Russian troops apparently had been unaware they were being sent to kill Ukrainians.
No confirmation yet from Russia’s military

— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) February 24, 2022

A whole platoon of Russian occupants surrendered to Ukrainian forces near Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, Ukraine army commander in chief reports. 'No one thought we were going to kill. We thought we were going to gather information', Russian officer reportedly said pic.twitter.com/aOKRadVXXn

— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) February 24, 2022

I just read that Russia had solved their military problems and had a fearsome and mighty fighting force. I don’t remember any U.S. forces reportedly folding like this in Vietnam even at the end of the war when everybody wanted out.

“Sheer genius.”