[New post can be found here](/r/worldnews/comments/1sdofqa/rworldnews_live_thread_russian_invasion_of/)
1
OldRepresentative5785 days ago
+24
>Russia has long understood that it stands to benefit from chaos in the information space, which is why the narratives it promotes outside Russia are not aimed at consistency, but at disruption and destabilisation.
>In many respects, the response of Russia’s narrative spinners to the war in Iran mirrors that which has been developed over the past decades, with the same tropes and storylines simply adjusted in line with global events. What’s particularly striking this time, however, is that the Trump White House has made that task far easier for Russia’s propagandists.
>At the highest level, Trump has seemed more than happy to be courted by Putin while other Kremlin mouthpieces exploit his war for their own ends. Meanwhile, the chaos Trump has sown among his NATO allies allows Russia’s traditional media to report on genuine criticisms of the war’s prosecution and on the fragmentation of opinion in the West.
>Most worryingly of all, the overwhelming and contradictory messaging strategy of pro-Russian social media and disinformation campaigns has much in common with the chaotic and manipulative way the second Trump administration communicates its own talking points. At the very least, the latter has provided fertile grounds for the former to take root.
[https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2026/04/03/manufacturing-contempt-en](https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2026/04/03/manufacturing-contempt-en)
24
isthatmyex5 days ago
+17
Chaos is a ladder.
-Zelensky
If the price of oil doubles (hypothetically), and the international community is scrambling to resolve the short-to-medium-to-long term problem, and Russia loses half (hypothetically) of export capacity during the chaos, and has no other way to make money. Did Putin really gain from his own bullshit?
Hopefully Jiping is learning the right lesson from Trump and Putin about running d*** first into a vanity war in the micro electric age. I'm probably/always wrong but China can probably gain significant economic control by selling solar and batteries. Generally out tooling everyone. If The-Pooh decides now is the time for Taiwan we are talking Depression II not WWIII.
E*: Sorry, got drunk, but not deleting. Ukrainians are dieing to prove it's hubris.
17
hornswoggled1115 days ago
+4
Great summary with a fresh voice. I'm glad you left it here.
4
OldRepresentative5785 days ago
+2
Same here!
2
voronaam5 days ago
+30
Interesting update on the russian mobilization efforts from one of their opposition channel (t dot me/ volyamedia/1981)
The number of regions deemed too deprived of military age males to do the mobilization is up to 22. It was reported 10 at the end of last year.
This is russian's own internal military planners deeming some regions not suitable for mobilization - they'd still accept any "volunteers" from those regions, but they are not forcefully conscripting anyone from that many regions already.
The list of regions was not leaked though.
Edit: the total number of regions in russia is just below 100. The exact number is hard to figure out in this case, as their military planners might count some of Ukrainian territories as "russian".
30
OrangeBird0775 days ago
+14
I would imagine with how many of even the local policemen have been drafted/volunteered at this point there’s hardly anyone to go around and securely conscript en masse.
The FSB has taken catastrophic casualties in and out of Ukraine, and the Russian National Guard is too busy safeguarding Putin’s hand picked assets to enforce it.
14
AbsentThatDay25 days ago
+3
I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear that police are being conscripted.
3
neonpurplestar5 days ago
+22
>Fragment of tonight’s drone attack on the Russian port of Novorossiysk
[https://bsky.app/profile/specialkhersoncat.bsky.social/post/3mirq6vk7c22t](https://bsky.app/profile/specialkhersoncat.bsky.social/post/3mirq6vk7c22t)
22
neonpurplestar5 days ago
+39
>Oil terminal in the port of Novorossiysk is burning like a work of art 🤌🔥
[https://bsky.app/profile/kateinkharkiv.bsky.social/post/3miro4bqu7k2n](https://bsky.app/profile/kateinkharkiv.bsky.social/post/3miro4bqu7k2n)
39
jszj05 days ago
+17
There’s an awful lot of these attacks getting through. I like it a lot.
17
DannyHewson5 days ago
+7
We have learned that the answer to the age old question “what air defence doing” is long periods of not a lot, followed by exploding.
Wild photo! Good to see the Russian government’s pocketbook continue to be damaged.
3
TurbulentRadish81135 days ago
+32
> 🔥🛢️A major drone attack on the Russian port of Novorossiysk is underway. Local residents witness a large fire in the port area after the strikes.
This is the major Black Sea port for Russian crude exports. The other attacks recently were long range ones to Primorsk & Ust Luga, which are both on the Baltic sea.
https://bsky.app/profile/specialkhersoncat.bsky.social/post/3mirjjrmzh22g
32
TurbulentRadish81135 days ago
+16
Lol, here's a Russian channel whining:
> Romanov's cry follow-up: "A specific request to the Ministry of Defence from the Sevastopol Air Defence Command: GIVE US MISSILES FOR TOR/PANTSIR! We can see the targets and technically have the capability to hit them, but we’ve got nothing to do it with!!!"
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mirpxegyl224
16
KSaburof4 days ago
+2
Systematic Attrition Works 👍
2
baldy-845 days ago
+9
I wonder if this is the consequence of Ukraine destroying that chip fab a few weeks back. You can't replenish your missiles if you can't manufacture the required microchips anymore.
9
TurbulentRadish81135 days ago
+24
Updates:
> More videos arriving. It is definitely the northern port area of Novorossiysk where the oil terminal and the naval facilities are located.
https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3mirljphha22w
> Drone strikes in Novorossyisk high likely triggered fires at the Transneft oil loading piers in Novorossiysk, hitting tanker berths, pipelines and/or offshore loading systems used for crude transfers to vessels.
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mirley5ews24
Reminder: fires don't mean *meaningful* damage. Things look good, but it could take days or even weeks for confirmation of damage extent.
24
TurbulentRadish81135 days ago
+30
Ukrainian officer Alex:
> The enemy is daily complaining about the constant activity of the SOU's UAVs on logistical routes, right up to Donetsk itself.
> Finally, these guys are starting to realize that this game can be played by two players.
https://t . me/officer_33/6802
30
TurbulentRadish81135 days ago
+20
He's said this a few times recently.
The public narrative, backed by lots of Ukrainian reporting, is that Madyar's drone units were prioritising enemy infantry first, while Russia went more after Ukrainian logistics.
Now I'm hearing more claims that Ukraine is increasing its hits on russian logistics. Something to watch.
20
machopsychologist5 days ago
+9
Perhaps that's a sign that the tactical situation at the frontline has changed, and Ukraine now has enough to deal with the fodder infiltrators, and can devote resources to attacking supply. Could be less fodder overall, or more drones / operators
9
Draken_S5 days ago
+6
Yes, Madyar changed targeting priority. His predecessor also focused on logistics but Madyar wanted infantry kills as the primary. I think there are enough drones being manufactured now that both can be worked unlike previously.
6
signherehereandhere5 days ago
+36
Zelenskyy on state visit to Syria. Not what Putin expected when he ordrered the invasion in 2022.
https://bsky.app/profile/24hoursukraine.bsky.social/post/3mireyhuwrc27
36
hornswoggled1115 days ago
+4
Oh. Beautiful.
4
mitch-22-125 days ago
+28
It seems that Ukraine has really amped up its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure over the last month. Is this due to improved drone technology or Ukraine wanting to make sure Russia doesn’t capitalize from higher oil prices + trump isn’t really paying attention to stop them
28
Wonberger5 days ago
+32
1. Better drones/missiles
2. Less Russian air defence
3. More incentive to strike oil due to price increase
32
narmio5 days ago
+14
Unfortunately, also:
4. Less strict sanctions regime, particularly wrt US backing of price caps.
14
neonpurplestar5 days ago
+32
>In the Azov Sea the Russian cargo vessel Volgo-Balt sank. The Russian ship was involved in transporting stolen goods such as Ukrainian wheat. From what we know so far is that one crew members drowned, another one is missing, while 9 made it in a lifeboat to the coast of the Kherson region, Ukraine.
[https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3mir2gjrtys2q](https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3mir2gjrtys2q)
32
neonpurplestar5 days ago
+43
>Orbán faces accusations of staged “false-flag” gas attack, Magyar asks to be included in Defence Council session
[https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-serbia-gas-attack-magyar/](https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-serbia-gas-attack-magyar/)
>Orbán's opponent believes "terror attack plot" on gas pipeline is aimed at disrupting Hungary's elections
[https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/04/05/8028840/](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/04/05/8028840/)
43
Wonberger5 days ago
+24
Crazy. Journalists have been saying this would happen for a month or so now
24
BigBananaBerries5 days ago
+11
That points to desperation. If it's all he has in his toolbox, he's got to use it, regardless of how effective it'll be.
11
Th0mas85 days ago
+7
Rather - sign of cowardness - his Russian handlers proposed staging assasination attempt - but it seems no one has guts to be a target.
7
Nurnmurmer5 days ago
+31
**The estimated total russian war losses from 24.02.22 to 05.04.26 inclusive are as follows****:**
* personnel - approximately 1 303 550 (+1 180);
* tanks ‒ 11 839 (+4);
* armored fighting vehicles ‒ 24 350 (+6);
* special equipment ‒ 4 112 (+3);
* vehicles and fuel tanks ‒ 87 355 (+206).
* artillery systems ‒ 39 439 (+61);
* MLRS ‒ 1 719 (+3);
* air defense assets ‒ 1 338.
* aircraft ‒ 435;
* helicopters ‒ 350;
* UAVs (operational-tactical level) ‒ 219 443 (+2 427);
* cruise missiles ‒ 4 517.
* warships and boats ‒ 33;
* submarines ‒ 2.
Source [https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/total-russian-combat-losses-in-ukraine-as-of-april-5-2026](https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/total-russian-combat-losses-in-ukraine-as-of-april-5-2026)
Russia grows weaker every day. Slava Ukraini!
31
TurbulentRadish81135 days ago
+34
> Russian forces began redeploying large columns of military equipment from Donetsk toward the Zaporizhzhia axis for a fourth day, averaging 50-60 vehicles including transporters carrying armored vehicles.
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3miqmwxobcs2f
> Russian forces are distributing leaflets in Nikopol threatening a rapid crossing of the Dnipro and stating that the city will be under attack within two weeks, with all vehicles considered targets. Nikopol is increasing security measures, closing markets, and advising residents to avoid open areas.
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3miqmq54pek2f
34
TurbulentRadish81135 days ago
+18
I haven't found a geolocated source. "The Zaporizhzhia axis" is big.
18
Electrical-Lab-95935 days ago
+31
did not think much could shock me in this war after 1500 days but
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HNCui-b7UY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HNCui-b7UY)
at 06:30 these russian men have been reduced to animals by there own people .
31
troglydot5 days ago
+16
I've lost count of how many similar videos I've seen coming out of Russia, and trust me it's not because I'm seeking them out. This sort of treatment of their own is completely institutionalised for them.
16
Electrical-Lab-95935 days ago
+10
I know they do it, and seen some things similar, but its more the motions of the captives scanning the floor for stale bread like animals that got to me.
it looks so animal like and instinctive like this has been happening to them for months
10
GetInTheKitchen15 days ago
+23
honestly that video explains how russians squandered their own potential, their offensive invasion, and USSR cultural/military legacy by being so cruel to each other.
23
Electrical-Lab-95935 days ago
+19
they only happy when people have it worse than them, the inner empire has to enslave the outer empire and treat them cruel .
its always been a race to the bottom they are a very dangerous people .
19
hornswoggled1115 days ago
+10
Crabs in a bucket.
10
b3iAAoLZOH9Y265cujFh5 days ago
+10
Jesus F-ing Christ.
10
neonpurplestar5 days ago
+46
>Putin and Orban coordinating on a desperate false flag operation that everyone knew was coming.
[https://bsky.app/profile/ronfilipkowski.bsky.social/post/3miqjlavo422p](https://bsky.app/profile/ronfilipkowski.bsky.social/post/3miqjlavo422p)
>Two weeks ago, the Hungarian opposition was bracing for a false flag operation, an "emergency" that would allow Viktor Orban to turn the tide or even cancel an election he is losing. Now it appears to have arrived
[https://bsky.app/profile/anneapplebaum.bsky.social/post/3miqsngghzs2w](https://bsky.app/profile/anneapplebaum.bsky.social/post/3miqsngghzs2w)
46
varro-reatinus5 days ago
+15
Obvious men are obvious.
15
Electrical-Lab-95935 days ago
+26
they are going to find a link to a Ukrainian car with two copies of the the sims game in the boot?
26
LordoftheChia5 days ago
+39
PBS News hour had a great report on the state of a Russian morale:
https://youtu.be/8xrtsfIcgXg?t=32m20s
They go over commanders taking soldiers pay (by force or torture) and the sending of wounded soldiers (even those that need crutches to walk) to the front line. Also apparently commanders taking bribes to reassign soldiers to safer posts. They have quite a bit of footage I hadn't seen yet.
39
Osiris325 days ago
+18
Drunk, fatalistic, suicidal, despondent, and yet somehow still attacking.
18
neonpurplestar5 days ago
+55
>❗️At pre-election rallies in 🇭🇺Hungary, the crowd began chanting: "Russians — go home!"
The historic slogan "Ruszkik haza" emerged during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and was directed against the Soviet occupation.
[https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3miqgfiegs22g](https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3miqgfiegs22g)
55
Osiris325 days ago
+28
C'mon, Hungary, do the cool thing. We'll all like you a lot more if you do!
28
neonpurplestar5 days ago
+35
>The Kstovo oil refinery, Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia, has been struck. A large fire is raging.
[https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3mipds27fws22](https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3mipds27fws22)
>Scenes from Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod region, in Russia.
The Russian air defense frantically tried to intercept the Ukrainian drone but in the end the UAV slammed into the target.
[https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3miqdwp6anc22](https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3miqdwp6anc22)
35
OldRepresentative5786 days ago
+47
> The Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School is on fire, with a 200 sq meter roof blaze reported for reasons unknown. Ukraine's top commander Syrskyi studied there, Exilenova+ reports.
Video at https://bsky.app/profile/wartranslated.bsky.social/post/3miqfhbl7lc2n
47
PanneKopp5 days ago
+13
me do doubt this friendly message will reach the single man whom it should concern
13
OldRepresentative5785 days ago
+10
Sure. But it makes the armies he sends to their deaths weaker.
10
troglydot6 days ago
+58
The Kstovo refinery was struck, causing a large fire. (In fact, two large fires, judging by videos released.)
They also hit a power plant that powers the industrial area where the refinery is located.
Refineries hit in 2026 (name | capacity (bbl/d) | Nelson Complexity Index | attack date (count))
* Afipsky refinery | 139,000 | 7.30 | Mar 13 (1)
* Ilsky refinery | 69,000 | 8.30 | Jan 1, Feb 17 (2)
* Kirishi refinery (Surgutneftegas) | 463,000 | 7.55 | Mar 26 (1)
* Kstovo refinery (Lukoil, NORSI) | 405,000 | 7.30 | **Apr 5** (1)
* Novominskaya refinery (Albashneft) | 6,400 | ? | Feb 28 (1)
* Novo-Ufa refinery (Bashneft-Novoil) | 171,000 | 9.18 | Apr 2 (1)
* Saratov refinery (Rosneft) | 162,000 | 4.30 | Mar 21 (1)
* Slavyansk refinery | 93,000 | 1.00 | Jan 26 (1)
* Tuapse refinery (Rosneft) | 240,000 | 3.20 | Jan 19 (1)
* Ufaneftekhim refinery (Bashneft) | 220,000 | 9.18 | Mar 22 (1)
* Ukhta refinery (LUKOIL) | 93,000 | 3.70 | Self combusted Jun 2, 2024, Mar 1 2026. 2026: 12 Feb (1)
* Volgograd refinery (LUKOIL) | 300,000 | 6.90 | Feb 11 (1)
* Yaroslavl refinery (Slavneft-YANOS) | 300,000 | 8.60 | Mar 28 (1)
Refinery hits from 2022-2025 (name | capacity (bbl/d) | Nelson Complexity Index | attack date (count))
* Afipsky refinery | 139,000 | 7.30 | 2023: May 31. 2024: May 2, Jun 20. 2025: Feb 10, Aug 7, Aug 28, Sep 26, Nov 29, Dec 13 (8)
* Antipinsky refinery (JSC Antipinsky Refinery) | 174,000 | 9.18 | 2025: Oct 6 (1)
* Ilsky refinery | 69,000 | 8.30 | 2024: Feb 9, Apr 27, Jun 21. 2025: Feb 17, Feb 28, Jul 7, Sep 7, Nov 19 (8)
* Kirishi refinery (Surgutneftegas) | 463,000 | 7.55 | 2024: Mar 13. 2025: Mar 8, Sep 14, Oct 4 (4)
* Krasnodar refinery (Krasnodarekoneft) | ? | ? | 2024: Jun 21. 2025: Aug 30 (2)
* Kuibyshev refinery (Rosneft) | 162,000 | 7.30 | 2024: Mar 16, Mar 23. 2025: Aug 28 (3)
* Makhachkala refinery (Dagnotech) | 20,500 | ? | 2025: Oct 22 (1)
* Mari refinery | 26,600 | ? | 2025: Oct 29 (1)
* Moscow refinery (Gazprom Neft) | 295,000 | 7.70 | 2024: Sep 1. 2025: Mar 11 (2)
* Nizhnekamsk II refinery (TANEKO) | 340,000 | 8.99 | 2024: Apr 02. 2025: Jan 11 (2)
* Novominskaya refinery (Albashneft) | 6,400 | ? | 2025: Feb 5 (1)
* Novokuibyshevsk refinery | 185,000 | 6.47 | 2024: Mar 16, Mar 23. 2025: Mar 10, Aug 2, Sep 20, Oct 19, Nov 15 (7)
* Novoshakhtinsk refinery | 112,000 | 1.21 | 2022: Jun 22. 2024: Mar 13, Jun 6, Jul 5, Dec 19. 2025: Aug 20, Dec 25 (6)
* Novospassky refinery (NS-Oil) | 12,300 | ? | 2025: Oct 29 (1)
* Kstovo refinery (Lukoil, NORSI) | 405,000 | 7.30 | 2024: Mar 12. 2025: Jan 28, Jul 13, Sep 16, Oct 5, Oct 16, Nov 4 (7)
* Novo-Ufa refinery (Bashneft-Novoil) | 171,000 | 9.18 | 2025: Sep 13, Oct 11 (2)
* Orsk refinery (SAFMAR) | 90,000 | ? | 2025: Oct 3, Nov 11 (2)
* Pervyy Zavod, Polotnyany Zavod, Kaluga region | 24,000 | ? | 2024: Mar 15, May 10 (2)
* Ryazan refinery (Rosneft) | 350,000 | 5.50 | 2024: Mar 13, May 1, Jul 27, Oct 26. 2025: Jan 23, Jan 25, Feb 24, Mar 9, Aug 2, Sep 5, Oct 23, Nov 15, Nov 20, Dec 5 (14)
* Salavat refinery (Gazprom) | 232,000 | 7.92 | 2024: May 9. 2025: Sep 18, Sep 24 (3)
* Saratov refinery (Rosneft) | 162,000 | 4.30 | 2024: Nov 8. 2025: Feb 11, Jul 1, Aug 10, Sep 16, Sep 20, Oct 16, Nov 3, Nov 11, Nov 14, Nov 28, self combusted Dec 24 (11)
* Slavyansk refinery | 93,000 | 1.00 | 2024: Mar 17, Apr 27, May 18. 2025: Sep 4, Dec 17 (5)
* Syzran refinery (Rosneft) | 170,000 | 7.30 | 2024: Mar 16. 2025: Feb 19, Mar 4, Aug 15, Aug 24, Aug 30, Dec 5, Dec 28 (8)
* Tuapse refinery (Rosneft) | 240,000 | 3.20 | 2024: Jan 25, May 17, Jul 22. 2025: Feb 26, Mar 14, Nov 25, Dec 30 (7)
* Ufa refinery (Bashneft-UNPZ, aka Ufimsky refinery) | 153,000 | 6.12 | 2025: Mar 3, Sep 13 (2)
* Ufaneftekhim refinery (Bashneft) | 220,000 | 9.18 | 2025: Oct 15 (1)
* Volgograd refinery (LUKOIL) | 300,000 | 6.90 | 2024: Feb 3, May 11. 2025: Jan 15, Jan 31, Feb 3, Aug 14, Aug 19, Sep 18, Nov 5 (9)
* Yaroslavl refinery (Slavneft-YANOS) | 300,000 | 8.60 | 2024: Jan 29. 2025: Self-combusted Oct 1, hit Dec 12 (2)
European side, not yet hit:
* Nizhnekamsk I refinery (TAIF) | 167,000 | 4.15
* Perm refinery (LUKOIL) | 303,000 | 9.40
Asian side refineries, not yet hit:
* Achinsk refinery (Rosneft) | 174,000 | 3.59
* Angarsk refinery (Rosneft) | 236,000 | 9.18
* Khabarovsk refinery | 115,000 | 9.90
* Komsomolsk refinery (Rosneft) | 185,000 | 9.18 | Self combusted Apr 10, 2025
* Nizhnevartovsk refinery (Rosneft) | 27,000 | 1.00
* Omsk Refinery (Gazprom Neft) | 514,000 | 8.80 | Self combusted Aug 1 and Aug 26, 2024
* Yaya Refinery (NefteKhimService) | 104,000 | 1.71
58
Jay_CD6 days ago
+60
Russia has lost 1,180 soldiers killed and wounded, 4 tanks and 206 vehicles and fuel tankers over the past day.
**Source:** [Russian losses over past day: 1,180 soldiers killed and wounded | Ukrainska Pravda](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/04/05/8028797/)
**Details:** The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 5 April 2026 are estimated to be as follows \[figures in parentheses represent the latest losses – ed.\]:
* approximately 1,303,550 **(+1,180)** military personnel
* 11,839 **(+4)** tanks
* 24,350 **(+6)** armoured combat vehicles
* 39,439 **(+61)** artillery systems
* 1,719 **(+3)** multiple-launch rocket systems
* 1,338 (+0) air defence systems
* 435 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft
* 350 (+0) helicopters
* 219,443 **(+2,427)** operational-tactical UAVs
* 4,517 (+0) cruise missiles
* 33 (+0) ships/boats
* 2 (+0) submarines
* 87,355 **(+206)** vehicles and fuel tankers
* 4,112 **(+3)** special vehicles and other equipment.
The information is being confirmed.
60
TurbulentRadish81136 days ago
+65
Promising news! Actual damage reports should arrive in the next few days.
> Leningrad region governor Drozdenko reports that Primorsk oil port got hit again, with "a pipeline section damaged and "safely burning." Totally fine.
https://bsky.app/profile/wartranslated.bsky.social/post/3miq2o2hx5s2v
> Overnight Ukrainian drones hit Lukoil’s refinery in Kstovo, Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region. The fire is still burning.
https://bsky.app/profile/wartranslated.bsky.social/post/3miq25s2b6s2v
65
iwantboringtimes6 days ago
+59
> German defence giant Rheinmetall has sought to ease a row caused by its CEO when **he likened Ukrainian factories producing drones to “housewives” making weapons in their kitchens**. In an interview with the Atlantic, CEO Armin Papperger was asked whether Ukraine’s drone technology could disrupt his industry, which focused more on areas such as artillery and tanks. “**This is how to play with Legos**,” Papperger said of the drones and went on to compare major drone Ukrainian manufacturers to “housewives”, adding “this is not the technology of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, or Rheinmetall”. “They have 3D printers in the kitchen, and they produce parts for drones,” he said, adding: “**This is not innovation**.” Alexander Kamyshin, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, swiftly point out the successes that Ukraine’s drones have had against Russian tanks. Kamyshin said that in his visits to arms factories he had seen “Ukrainian women working equally with men often enough”, adding: “They deserve respect.” The row also spawned the hashtag #MadeByHousewives on Ukrainian social media. On Sunday, Rheinmetall tagged Kamyshin in a post on its X account in which it said. “We have the utmost respect for the Ukrainian people’s immense efforts in defending themselves. Every single woman and man in Ukraine is making an immeasurable contribution.” Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, later on Sunday said “the people of Ukraine deserve not only utmost respect but to be heard – and learned from. Yes, Europe’s defence is powered by Ukrainian ‘housewives’,” she said, also adding the #MadeByHousewives hashtag.
I will take this as "proof" that big weapon is worried about c**** drones cutting into their bottom line.
> “this is not the technology of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, or Rheinmetall”
Well he's right about that, Ukraines solutions don't cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars each. If you can make a weapon with 3D printers and off the shelf components than you don't need to pay some giant defense contractor huge amounts of money to. Rheinmetall wants to sell you the gold plated solution that might be more effective in some ways but also costs 40 times as much and has a proprietary custom controller that costs a fortune.
This is a perfect example of the old Upton Sinclair quote "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it."
12
GetInTheKitchen15 days ago
+9
just gonna add another snide internet remark:
those Ukranian housewives destroyed the Soviet legacy (by being stopped my mud, captured by Ukranian farmers, and being lost to cheapo drones) in a much more brutal way than any encounter with NATO ever would have been (because the fight would have legitimized Soviet/Russian success).
9
TurbulentRadish81136 days ago
+36
This whole argument seems really unproductive to me, but people love drama so it's got so many headlines.
I'd love to see a competition here. Rheinmetall has done fantastic work increasing artillery production. Ukraine has done amazing work on drones.
Let's have Papperger Vs Ukrainian housewives. Each gets €1 billion and whoever does more damage to the russian war machine gets to make the other sing an embarrassing song that gets uploaded to YouTube.
36
b3iAAoLZOH9Y265cujFh6 days ago
+9
That's the spirit. I'm also not sure whether something wasn't lost in translation here. Although I wouldn't have put it like that, I don't think Papperger was trying to be denigrating. It sounds to me more like he's drawing a historical parallel with distributed cottage-industry assistance from those not deployed on the front WWII-style, which is absolutely not the same as calling them ineffective or useless in any way. It's seems more like a structural comment contrasting it with centralized mass-manufacture than anything.
9
vshark296 days ago
+12
It gives a bad optic though, it gives the impression Ukraine is fighting war like makeshift guerrillas a la Vietnam or Afghanistan instead of running a well organized war economy. It's a small thing for sure, but I don't see the harm in making sure the wider public don't get a wrong idea
12
b3iAAoLZOH9Y265cujFh6 days ago
+6
Absolutely, especially now when they're in the middle of successfully setting up licensed production all over the place and positioning their MIC for a well-deserved post-invasion boom, that'll be sorely needed, both to keep themselves secure and help finance reconstruction and development.
All of which I very strongly support. Besides, like TR said, competition is great, and we need more of it if we want to push our own defense industries into optimizing their own performance.
6
iwantboringtimes6 days ago
+11
UKR had little choice but to ya know - counter. Even if (very arguably) Zelenskyy could be a good sport about it - it would had demoralized the folks making the drones if his administration hadn't criticized Rheinmetall CEO's comment, which was "little boys playing with the big boys" sort of disparaging PLUS sexist even.
How would you had handle it?
11
gruese6 days ago
+13
Exactly. No need to defend the CEO here, his comments were clearly disparaging, and also wrong - "this is not innovation" come on dude, which war have you been watching? It just bothers him that the innovation is towards low unit cost and decentralization, and away from what the big players are good at.
As a German, I'll definitely side with the Ukrainian housewives here.
13
Hodaka5 days ago
+3
Remember the Switchblade drones? The Phoenix Ghost drones?
They didn't do much and were very expensive. They were soon outperformed by drones created by Ukrainian housewives.
3
treefarts5 days ago
+3
the quote sounds to me like a frustrated salesman
3
Electrical-Lab-95935 days ago
+5
big armor companies are worried not by UAF making drones
do they push to make more tanks or IFV with anti drone weapon stations? do they make 100,000 c**** drones of 1,000 expensive ballastic missiles
they know big pivots are coming and if they chose wrong could lose money/ground to others.
5
Shockkdiamondss6 days ago
+12
Yeah this war has shown that there is utility for both low cost and high-tech specialised weaponry. Comments criticizing any side fighting the agressor are unnecessary.
12
JournalistRemote55476 days ago
+24
F*** PUTIN - F*** TRUMP
slava ukraini
24
WorldNewsMods6 days ago
+20
[Previous post can be found here](/r/worldnews/comments/1sbz5qx/rworldnews_live_thread_russian_invasion_of/)
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