"Russia Speeds Up Air War" Topic

…Over the last several days, Pentagon officials say Russia has begun to rely on more "dumb bombs" rather than precision-guided munitions, which they say might be occurring because Russia may be running low on precision-guided weapons. Russia has launched more than 1,100 missiles of all types into Ukraine since the invasion began…

Defense One: link

Not surprising. I saw a post showing remains of a 3M-51 Alfa anti-ship that was fired against a land target. While this particular anti-ship missile has a secondary role as a land-attack missile, it's odd that the Russians would use it in this role…unless they are running out of conventional missiles and throwing everything at Ukrainian targets they can find in the cupboards.

Perhaps this is why they also decided to use their Kinzhal hypersonic air to surface missiles as well (as opposed to showing off their capabilities as some have claimed).

I've seen a lot of things I didn't expect to see in this conflict: LNR and DNR soldiers with Mosin-Nagants, maxim machine guns, one-off tank prototypes in combat, 50+ year old armor being involved in frontline offensives, heaps of abandoned vehicles, etc. It really boggles the mind.

Interesting stuff.

Is now the time for Belarus to shake off its Russian shackles
instead of throwing itself on the pyre of burning vehicles?

I was rather surprised to see a Russian BMP-1 too, a while back.

Is now the time for Belarus to shake off its Russian shackles

Apparently the current Belarus government is keeping a wary eye on the opposition party, which might be limiting their involvement in the war.

Perhaps Chechnya or Siberia might opt for independence?

Hoboy, if Siberia strikes for independence, the CCP
will be only too happy to 'liberate' them !

Both Japan and China have LONG had their eyes on
'The Northern Resource' area – minerals, oil….

And with warming, much really good farming and timber
land…

According to Tankograd (which about as well-sourced as humanly possible) the BMP-2 was never intended to completely replace the BMP-1. Production wasn't vaguely enough to replace the BMP-1.

Also, the 73mm is still better against some targets than the autocannon