Russia likely to seize all of Luhansk in coming weeks, U.S. official says

[andricv]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Spazito (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Washington Post

Russia is likely to seize control of the entire Luhansk region of Ukraine within a few weeks, a senior U.S. defense official said, as Ukraine sustains heavy casualties and its supplies of ammunition dwindle.

Such a move would leave Russia short of its war aims of capturing all of Luhansk and Donetsk, which together make up the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. But it would still amount to a win for Russian forces and create a new de facto front line that could last for some time.

The Ukrainian cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, in Luhansk, are increasingly under duress and could fall to Russian forces within a week, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Fierce street fighting continued Saturday in Severodonetsk, a strategic city near the Donets river. Ukrainian forces control a third of the city, Mayor Alexander Stryuk told the BBC's Ukrainian service.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/11/ukraine-war-russia-luhansk/

[cilla4progress]

1. Dammit.

They knew we would blink.

[C Moon]

2. So sad to hear Ukranians losing lives to that vile man and all those jackass russian billionaires.

I hope putin dies a painfilled death, and those billionaires live the rest of their lives in poverty.

[progree]

3. "as ... its supplies of ammunition dwindle." Just like Finland in the 1939-40 winter war

PBS had a special on that several years ago. Basically they fought a lot better but ran short of ammo, particularly heavy artillery. They didn't get much help from Europe or the U.S. or anywhere else. But oh well.

[andym]

4. Bad news too for the US and President Biden's political fortunes: high oil prices

Perhaps President Biden should ensure that Ukraine gets the quantity and quality of arms it needs to win. The US already passed a Lend/Lease law to help Ukraine giving Biden authority to provide what Ukraine needs. The President holds the keys to his and Ukraine's future.

Russia needs to be defeated and cause Putin's downfall. Why? Oil sanctions against Russia will keep gas prices high and feed inflation (which has other causes too, but oil prices are now a major contributor). The withdrawal of Russian troops and the downfall of Putin will end the sanctions and reduce oil/gas prices, decreasing inflationary pressure.

[ripcord]

5. NATOs open door policy is a joke

Ukraine and Georgia were promised membership in NATO but never given a time line. NATO gave into Russian demands that Ukraine and Georgia not be allowed into NATO, mustn't piss off the Russians you know. Add to that they aren't western European countries that will get the membership fast tracked and you can Ukraine and Georgia were screwed by weak knees in NATO.

[cstanleytech]

6. Might be time to recall all government officials from Russia and expel all Russian citizens from the

US and bar all companies that wish to operate in the US from doing business with Russia.

[Lonestarblue]

7. I don't understand how Ukraine can be running out of ammunition and weapons.

Biden and other NATO leaders promised to give them what they need to fight off Putin. What has changed? If Putin wins, he will just become stronger and he will know that NATO will not call his bluff because he can just threaten to use nuclear weapons. In a year or so, he will rebuild the army and come back for the rest of Ukraine. Moldova is not safe either.

Western leaders are tired of the war and the high prices, and some seem ready to cave to Putin now. The world does not need an even stronger Putin.

[videohead5]

8. I don't think Putin will around in a year

I believe he has some type of cancer. No doubt he is not in good shape.

[videohead5]

9. We just sent Ukraine long range missles

And more ammunition. Ukraine must be having trouble supplying their troops?

[speak easy]

12. 'We just sent Ukraine long range missles'

to a military that needs training in how to use them.

[Lil Liberal Laura]

10. Maybe

But they were also supposed to overrrun the whole country in less than a week.

[Lovie777]

11. WP and NYT . . ... ..

enough said.

[Spazito]

13. *LOCKING*

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