Ukraine Update for 2026

[Tom Graves]

What a crazy war: I just happened to watch a BBC segment on the Africans who have been recruited by Russia to fight against Ukraine. The BBC interviewed a handful who have been captured by Ukraine. It was like listening to a bunch of clueless Zulu tribesmen. They were, of course, lured by Russia's promises and it wasn't clear that they even understood they would be fighting against Ukraine. But they all said that when released they would return to Russia rather than the hellholes they came from. Oh, yes, Mother Russia will welcome you with open arms and full military honors, you clueless Zulu dupes.

Dear Fancy Pants Rants,

"Africans"?

"A bunch of Zulu tribesmen"?

You sound kinda racist, Fancy Pants Rants.

Are you a racist, Fancy Pants Rants?

-- Tom

[Lance Payette]

Dear Fancy Pants Rants,

"Africans"?

"A bunch of Zulu tribesmen"?

You sound kinda racist, Fancy Pants Rants.

Are you a racist, Fancy Pants Rants?

-- Tom

I am a complete bigot insofar as KGB-obsessed morons are concerned. My bigoted proclivities cause me to put them on Ignore, and it drives them even crazier than they already were.

The BBC described the lads, both in headlines across the screen and in the narrative, simply as "Africans." All of them would have been highly believable extras in the next episode of "Tarzan and Jane Meet the Zulu Tribesmen." Indeed, here is a much longer version of the short episode that I watched yesterday.

If the BBC airs an episode about KGB-obsessed morons I will do my best to defend your honor and assure them that you are in fact a KGB-obsessed Zulu chieftan who should simply be described as "a complete loon" to avoid any racist implications.

[John Corbett]

I was kind of hoping Putin would kick the bucket soon but I went online and was surprised to learn he's a year younger than me. I was OK with it when Obama made me older than the POTUS for the first time in my life, but last year when I learned I was older than the Pope I felt really old. He was born just south of where I was born in Chicago.

[Michael T. Griffith]

Dear Fancy Pants Rants [Lance Payette],

"Africans"?

"A bunch of Zulu tribesmen"?

You sound kinda racist, Fancy Pants Rants.

Are you a racist, Fancy Pants Rants?

-- Tom

You do condemn Russia's barbaric invasion of Ukraine, right? Right? Right?

[Joe Elliott]

My wife is over there now. The elephant in the room is that Russia has a massive nuclear arsenal. I don't see Russia ever whimpering for mercy. I can see Russia being pushed into doing something truly ghastly, especially with the demonstrated unwillingness of Trump and Europe to confront Putin in a meaningful way. It seems to me that now, with the balance at least shifting toward Ukraine, would be the time for a really strong push toward a negotiated peace.

Do they? We saw in 2022 Russian vehicles roll into Ukraine on flat tires. Money was allocated for good quality tires. But much cheaper tires were bought instead. And the bulk of the money pocketed by military officers.

Could something similar have happened to the nuclear weapons? The United States spends a lot of money on maintenance of our nuclear arsenal, more capital each year than Russia's entire military budget, even though, officially, Russia has more nuclear weapons. We spend this money because the maintenance must be performed to keep the nuclear weapons in working order.

Put yourself in a Russian officer's shoes. Is your fraud more likely to found out if you take money meant for buying tires? Or take money meant for maintaining nuclear weapons. Are the vehicles more likely to be used in some ground war? Or are the nuclear weapons more likely to be used. If one is willing to risk buying inferior tires, one should be willing to skip maintenance of nuclear weapons.

So, Russia did not spend that much on yearly maintenance, and it is possible much of that went into the pockets of high induvial. The money for tires was diverted because officials thought it was likely the tires would never be needed. How much more likely would a high official think the nuclear weapons would never be needed.

In any case, Putin might give an order to launch an attack. Afterall, as things get desperate, what has he to lose? But his lieutenants would feel differently. They have a chance to take Putin's place and that would all be ruined by a nuclear war.

It makes sense for Russia to bluff. It does not make sense for Russia to use nuclear weapons. What makes more sense is for his lieutenants to kill him, if he gives that order and to take his place.

[Joe Elliott]

I wonder how long it will be before these posts get moved to the U.S. And International Politics thread.

I tried to post to an old thread on Ukraine, but the software came back and said it had been more than 120 days since anyone had posted on that thread. The software suggested that I start a new thread. It did not suggest I post to the U. S. and International Politics thread. So, I started a new thread.

[Joe Elliott]

It's rumored 75% or more of their nuclear arsenal isn't functionable.

This is a rumor that makes sense. Corruption is rampant in Russia. Less likely to notice buying inferior tires for military vehicles than failing to maintain nuclear weapons. If you are going to cheat on anything it is on maintenance of nuclear weapons.