[WhiskeyOutpost]

Originally Posted by ride ↗

Day 320 of my 3 day war. Europe was supposed to freeze, not Russia.

I remain a Master Strategist.

- Vladimir Putin

Darth Putin is one of my favs.

[malicemizer]

Hello

some tens of tank AMX-10 RC ( canon 105mm-machinegun 7.62mm) left yesterday and today for ukraine by train and planes
some A400m atlas escorting by firejet in a relative high altitude 33000-38000 feet.
AMX-10 RC has 25-30 years old they are operational maybe some unit need a few maintenance

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by ride ↗

Day 320 of my 3 day war. Europe was supposed to freeze, not Russia.

I remain a Master Strategist.

- Vladimir Putin

[ride]

That is sad. Too cold to dig a proper foxhole, alone, winter sun providing minimal relief, and judging by the angle of shadows, he's going to lose even that soon. Ineffective cold weather gear, no fellow soldiers in view, body temperature is at 95F and likely falling. He thinks of family, his home, and warmth, precious warmth. Every time he was this cold previously, it was voluntarily, cheerily participating in a childhood snowball fight with friends or digging a neighbors car out of a snowdrift . This time, it is terrifying. He tries to wiggle his toes, breathe into his gloves, turn his head to face the fading sun - anything. He has precious little ammunition to defend himself, his rations were gone yesterday, he's so cold but wants a drink of water. He starts to ask his mother for help through the ether. His pleas go unheeded. Death cannot come soon enough, but he fears it will hurt. He has never been this scared.

[WhiskeyOutpost]

Originally Posted by ride ↗

That is sad. Too cold to dig a proper foxhole, alone, winter sun providing minimal relief, and judging by the angle of shadows, he's going to lose even that soon. Ineffective cold weather gear, no fellow soldiers in view, body temperature is at 95F and likely falling. He thinks of family, his home, and warmth, precious warmth. Every time he was this cold previously, it was voluntarily, cheerily participating in a childhood snowball fight with friends or digging a neighbors car out of a snowdrift . This time, it is terrifying. He tries to wiggle his toes, breathe into his gloves, turn his head to face the fading sun - anything. He has precious little ammunition to defend himself, his rations were gone yesterday, he's so cold but wants a drink of water. He starts to ask his mother for help through the ether. His pleas go unheeded. Death cannot come soon enough, but he fears it will hurt. He has never been this scared.

Ride are you a writer? Well done.

[ride]

I've freelanced for a couple of motorcycle enthusiast magazines thirty years ago, and I had a lot of experience writing in the Air Force when I left the flightline and went into safety. That's about it. Thank you for the positive feedback.

What I wrote here was spontaneous and heartfelt. I've never been in a position such as this, where death was imminent, but the thought so scary that the release from the pain still is still overwhelmed by fear of what happens next. Perhaps you or someone else here has been.

If this person is Russian, Ukrainian, some other nationality doesn't matter. If they pray, scream, stay silent, or cry for help that will never come, they are, first and foremost, human. He and his fellow soldiers should not be made to suffer at the whim of a person they have never met, who is many miles away, and likely isn't willing to make the sacrifice this soldier is making at that same moment.

[WonderMomma]

Originally Posted by ride ↗

That is sad. Too cold to dig a proper foxhole, alone, winter sun providing minimal relief, and judging by the angle of shadows, he's going to lose even that soon. Ineffective cold weather gear, no fellow soldiers in view, body temperature is at 95F and likely falling. He thinks of family, his home, and warmth, precious warmth. Every time he was this cold previously, it was voluntarily, cheerily participating in a childhood snowball fight with friends or digging a neighbors car out of a snowdrift . This time, it is terrifying. He tries to wiggle his toes, breathe into his gloves, turn his head to face the fading sun - anything. He has precious little ammunition to defend himself, his rations were gone yesterday, he's so cold but wants a drink of water. He starts to ask his mother for help through the ether. His pleas go unheeded. Death cannot come soon enough, but he fears it will hurt. He has never been this scared.

Yes, great writing here. You write what often floats through my head every time I see one of these videos, regardless of who's laying in the hole.

[WonderMomma]

Originally Posted by ride ↗

What I wrote here was spontaneous and heartfelt. I've never been in a position such as this, where death was imminent, but the thought so scary that the release from the pain still is still overwhelmed by fear of what happens next. Perhaps you or someone else here has been.

There's nothing comparable to being in combat but one of the most beautiful things about human beings is our ability to empathize and you've shown your ability to do so with two very well written posts. Thank you.

Watching all these human beings dying for all this is difficult. I've said this before, but I can't help but to think about the families they leave behind, if there is a dog waiting for them at home who will never see them again, children... and how all of those beings will cope with the loss.

I wonder what their lives were like before this and what they could have been after. I wonder if we all lost out on something great this person would have achieved had they not died.

Most of all I wonder... WHY. It's all a lot to think about... so I can't even imagine being there.

[V87Beast]

Question: where are those Ukrainian bayaktars ? I don't see new videos or news.
Are they all down or ?

[WhiskeyOutpost]

Originally Posted by V87Beast ↗

Question: where are those Ukrainian bayaktars ? I don't see new videos or news.
Are they all down or ?

Russians wisened up, adjusted their radar for smaller targets and likely shot them all down. Or the Ukrainians are being super careful where they're being flown.