Is Moldova Russia's Next Target?

a reply to: Xcathdra

"Control over the south of Ukraine is another connection to Transnistria, where there is also evidence of oppression of the Russian-speaking language," Minnekayev said.

Which makes no sense as an excuse since Transnistria has essentially been occupied by Russia for 30 years.

a reply to: generalbattle

No it a sovereign part of Moldova.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

Its an in to take Moldova.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Well, yeah. But it's even less believable than when they've used it as an excuse the past four times.

If Russia invades Moldova, I don't see how WWIII can be prevented.

It may not happen immediately, but when NATO decides waive their membership requirements for neighbors of Russia and reinforces those countries with troops and equipment, making Putin's propaganda a reality, it will only be a matter if time before someone f***s up.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

NATO has always had an open door policy.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Any country is able to apply for membership but there are strict requirements that must be met to be admitted.

Even before Russia destabilized the country in 2014, Ukraine was still at least a decade from meeting NATO's requirements.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

Do they recognize that? Chances are no... Is it wrong or right...guess that depends on the kool-aid you drink. What does transnistria think about it? Are they like the DPR where they want to be independent but the west wants otherwise? If that's all you got that's not much to go on...

a reply to: RickyD

Elections held at gun point are not elections.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: Snarl

and how is Romania involved in the sinking of the Moskva?

That's where the "eyes in the sky" flew from.

originally posted by: burdman30ott6

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
a reply to: Snarl

There's no way Putin goes after Poland after Ukraine. To have the manpower, they'd have to reorganize their whole military.

Yeah, Putin would have to switch from using fresh conscripts and proxy fighters to utilizing the actual established Russian military soldiers.

If Putin hits NATO ... wouldn't you expect that?

a reply to: Xcathdra

You should probably brush up on what actually happened because judging by your statement you are woefully misinformed...

originally posted by: gortex

I'm not sure Russia have the strength left but agree it could be part of the plan , it's been said a few times that when they start they won't stop and that may prove right.
History repeating itself ?

Moldovan Nazis anyone ?

I think everyone can agree Russia's new goal is to take the east and south for all the reasons the OP suggested. I think initially they wanted all of Ukraine to have that open uncontested link to EU with their energy. If they take all the south and Moldova than that secures the route for them without taking the whole country.

Here is the problem...

To the US this will be a war of attrition using Ukraine as the conduit. Russia already has supply chain issues, troops issues, equipment that is antiquated by todays standards and not at the levels that they once had decades ago. If we go back 30 years they had 30,000 tanks, today before the war started that was around 5,000 war ready and I think I'm being generous.

About a month ago here is a pretty accurate number for Russia

1,987 Russian vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the war, 311 of which were tanks. In the air, the Russians have lost 16 planes, 35 helicopters and 16 drones.

The bad part for Russia is that the US has just started to ramp up the shipment of a massive level of equipment. The deal is Ukraine is not lacking soldiers and can field 200k rather easily as they fight for their home. We need to remember Ukraine is a country of 44 million, so that is millions of young and able people that can fight, so all they need is equipment. Russia is a different story with their soldiers. Most are forced conscripted of the poor. They do not really want to fight and see the war as a death sentence. Anyone who can buys their way out of it, so the poor is being sent to Ukraine to basically die.

So this comes down to if Russia takes the south and stops saying they are done does Ukraine give in and let them have a rather huge chunk of land including all access to the sea? I say no and Russia is in for a long and bloody fight that over time they will run out of just about everything and will be pushed back into Russia due to like 30 countries supporting Ukraine now with military hardware. No need for boots on the ground we will just play the war of attrition until Russia says I give.

originally posted by: RickyD
a reply to: Xcalibur254

What makes you so sure he will go anywhere else? My opinion is that he will secure the eastern part of Ukraine and it will fall under the DPR which russia has already recognized as independent...

Well you know Russia has spoken... Russia deems a chunk of a sovereign state as independent, I guess that makes it all right...lol geez.

Lets play that game in other places... Mexico recognizes the lower half of CA as independent of America and wants to add it to Mexico. Does that sound kind of crazy?

BTW That area will be as independent as Crimea is.

originally posted by: Snarl

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: Snarl

and how is Romania involved in the sinking of the Moskva?

That's where the "eyes in the sky" flew from.

and the eyes in the sky are?

originally posted by: RickyD
a reply to: Xcathdra

You should probably brush up on what actually happened because judging by your statement you are woefully misinformed...

Crimea and the east elections were held under Russian occupation. Russia is now trying to declare 2 more oblasts independent so Putin can continue his lie about Ukraine.

Just like everything else Russia has done in Ukraine, the countries of the world that matter have already said no territorial gains by Russia will be recognized.

It seems the misinformation is coming from you but thats to be expected.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Russia was in crimea already so its is possible they influenced the vote there...however the area was already russian supporting by a large majority. The rest of the places which held referendums had no russian military around. There is many many videos from 2014 of those places begging for russian support after the nationalist thugs started their assault. How would russia hold these people at gun point if they weren't already there. Not to mention all these regions had a record of voting in russian friendly politicians by a large majority...so why would russia need to force them to vote in a manner they already voted in?

Why is it so hard for you to accept that people who had their main language made illegal, their chosen elected leader deposed in a violent coup which was lead by nationalists who hated them, then those same nationalist groups came and attacked them killing and tourturing people for disagreeing with the new direction their country was going. Would you want to be apart of a country that treated you like that?...doubtful.

a reply to: RickyD

Crimea's elections were held at Russia gun point. The 2 eastern oblasts, since people seem to forget, were also held under Russian gun point. All of those russian troops "went on vacation" to fight in the east. They nixed the elections set up by Ukraine and held their own sham elections under russian occupation.

As for the rest - its NOT russia but Ukraine and there is a difference between the 2 languages and histories. Why is it so hard for you to accept Ukraine is a sovereign country with its own identity and history?

Why do you think its ok for russia to destroy sovereign countries because they want to protect their cultural history and language.

The bull# you spout is the same as Hitlers and Putin. As I said before if you want to denazi-fy ukraine then all russia has to do is remove there forces and problem solved. Russia has been using the Nazis playbook so they might as well acknowledge they are also nazis. I mean they did ally themselves with the nazis in WW2 and assisted in the invasion of Poland.

Why A Tiny Country On The Black Sea Fears It's Next On Putin's List After Russia's Ukraine Invasion

originally posted by: Xcathdra

originally posted by: Snarl

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: Snarl

and how is Romania involved in the sinking of the Moskva?

That's where the "eyes in the sky" flew from.

and the eyes in the sky are?

Link1
Link2
Possibly

a reply to: Snarl

IF the P-8 was involved it didn’t fly from Romania. None of our large platforms are staging from close to Ukraine. Tankers are staging out of the UK, and occasionally Germany. The RC-135s are out of Mildenhall. The E-8C, when he’s in the area is out of Germany, and the P-8s are out of Sigonella in Italy.