I think it's all about money and Putin's billionaire mates.
They want control of EU Energy, because the income from the old world fossil fuels are diminishing and modern nuclear taking a bigger chunk of the low / zero carbon market is inevitable.
The rest is perhaps spin to motivate the troops, offering reasoning that perhaps make the foot soldiers believe they'll be better off by families having a chance at a slice of the pie.
I can't drop the idea that I'd heard more than once that Russia was effectively bankrupt before this all started.
That sunken ship no doubt took many lives with it, we may never know the toll, but it's not a surprise that 50s / 60s era based design / tech is easily disposed of in modern warfare, as good as the old giants might be as long range weapons platforms for strategic operations and self-defence they just aren't mobile enough in littoral operations. I believe Russia took it out of mothballs 20 years ago after about a decade on the rubbish pile, somewhat ironically it was built by Ukraine in the 70s! Two or three two bob drones can hover at a couple of thousand feet and put eyes on this thing from 10km or 20km away and triangulate it's position with pin point precision. The old gear is almost defenceless against such an attack!
As for the Russian bullshit, they spent days telling everyone it was an onboard accident, then after a couple of days they started spruiking revenge for Ukraine sinking their ship, it shows you just how poorly the campaign is managed!
They want control of EU Energy, because the income from the old world fossil fuels are diminishing and modern nuclear taking a bigger chunk of the low / zero carbon market is inevitable.
The rest is perhaps spin to motivate the troops, offering reasoning that perhaps make the foot soldiers believe they'll be better off by families having a chance at a slice of the pie.
I can't drop the idea that I'd heard more than once that Russia was effectively bankrupt before this all started.
That sunken ship no doubt took many lives with it, we may never know the toll, but it's not a surprise that 50s / 60s era based design / tech is easily disposed of in modern warfare, as good as the old giants might be as long range weapons platforms for strategic operations and self-defence they just aren't mobile enough in littoral operations. I believe Russia took it out of mothballs 20 years ago after about a decade on the rubbish pile, somewhat ironically it was built by Ukraine in the 70s! Two or three two bob drones can hover at a couple of thousand feet and put eyes on this thing from 10km or 20km away and triangulate it's position with pin point precision. The old gear is almost defenceless against such an attack!
As for the Russian bullshit, they spent days telling everyone it was an onboard accident, then after a couple of days they started spruiking revenge for Ukraine sinking their ship, it shows you just how poorly the campaign is managed!
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"