"Russian Soldiers Freezing to Death" Topic

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Another month or two and the Ukrainians should be able to just drive over them.

Ukrainians are going to get just as cold

Who knew the Russians don't know how to stay warm in the Fall and upcoming Winter?

Baby it's cold out there.

I believe I even read a headline that some of their troops don't have socks. Seems they're about as well equipped as the Germans were in WWII for the cold weather, which is a good thing for Ukraine.

As mentioned, sadly the Ukrainian people will be suffering as well, especially as Russia continues its attacks on their power infrastructure.

Hope the Russians in Ukraine and Crimea continue to suffer, and we in the West provide the Ukrainians with cold weather gear too, if they need that as well.

Sadly, many Americans will be empathetic with the Ukrainian people, since they too are experiencing a lack of heat in their homes, because many can no longer afford the skyrocketing energy prices to heat them.

The ukrainians will not suffer as much as the russian troops. Sweden alone have delivered more than 1000 small portable wood burning stoves. Money for another 1000 is on the way. Money collected are used to buy stoves from a local manufacturer. This is for front line troops, humanitarian aid is also shipped.

I dont think Russian troops get so many stoves.

Debatable sources but fits the picture…
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There was also a headline floating around that Ukraine was spotting Russian campfires for artillery…

(In the UK energy prices are being capped using government money, similar schemes are happening in Europe)

I never expected to hear that Russians are freezing to death. I am guessing the Ukranians will be tougher and more resourceful.

But the Russians seem to have lost touch with their heritage as soldiers and winter fighters. It speaks volumes about the lack of enthusiasm for invading Ukraine.

Fortunately, the LIHEAP program at state and federal levels make assistance with paying heating bills available to low income Americans. Many cold weather states have long operated heating assistance programs for low income folks. Local governments as well.

And we are not dealing with destruction of heating infrastructure, or having your house or apartment blown up by an invading army. An unfair and misleading comparison, even though costs are higher and tough for many in the US. Not that we haven't had poverty issues exacerbated by inflation. I am empathetic with Ukraine and American homelessness, but they are not really the same issue.

The war continues to disrupt energy prices as Europe scrambles to replace Russian gas by buying from the US and other sources. We know that the global energy market is about making money. And I again refer to the reported profits of the big energy corporations.

a headline that some of their troops don't have socks

I thought the Russian troops used waxed linen bandages for their feet? Sweat, moisture, etc can escape round the edges and the skin kept dry & warm, trench-foot and frost-bite free.

However – whether the newly conscripted civvies know about this or not?

This had happened in Finland 1939 and WWII. IIRC … Similar occurred to PRC/CCP and Nork troops in the ROK in the early' 50s. In many Communist Militaries, it seems you are very much expendable "for the greater good of the Party", etc. E.g. the NVA/VC, but they had no worries about freezing of course. But that is another story.

While I agree the causes are somewhat different, though the entire "war on fossil fuels" IS exacerbating the issue on a global basis, many Americans may not be aware of those programs, or they don't qualify for them.

Quite a few people are reportedly having to go without heat already and it isn't Winter yet, as well as hot water, since they can't afford the energy to pay for it.

I personally am aware of a family in my area who doesn't have heat, hot water, or A/C in the Summer, and 116 degrees is rather hot to deal with without A/C.

No doubt, this new paradigm in the USA will only get worse as energy prices continue "to necessarily skyrocket" by design, and people have to choose between using energy or paying for skyrocketing food prices too – despite specious claims of food being up only 8% – 12% due to inflation, my personal experience is the price of many things has doubled in the last few months – bread, eggs, bacon, meat, seafood, some vegetables and fruits, crackers, soft drinks, etc..

Diesel prices have more than doubled, and almost everything being produced or transported to market needs diesel fuel for that. It's so bad that there are even warnings that the supply of diesel fuel may run out in the next few months, further exacerbating already skyhigh prices.

Add in the looming rail strike and things look rather dire for American consumers.

Well, you are right and there are a lot of issues. But oil is down to around 74 bucks a barrel today, has fallen 35% in recent months. At some point the oil companies should ease up on profit taking. It is a major factor in driving up the cost of everything else, along with the war.

But most people who need help can take advantage of assistance programs during these times. We did not always have this kind of help in the 70s and 80s when things were tough. I got a mortgage for 11% back then. Kids ate government cheese every day in some schools. I remember the caf workers cutting the mold off. Ketchup was a vegetable.

People spent a record 9 billion this Black Friday, unemployment is still low. It's a weird economy, not in recession but hurting post pandemic and the war and uncertain not just for us, but for the world.

The market will do what it does on green power. I don't buy conspiracy theories. Even the Saudis are going green. In Scotland, where I live part time, a lot of oil rig workers now are employed servicing huge ocean wind farms. There is a transition beginning.

We are lucky, despite the strain for many. We have been through this before. It's not rosy, but it is not all doom and gloom.

A big issue I see looming for the Russians is they will light fires to stay warm and alive. Russians will cluster around them; they will show up on infrared and thermal imaging becoming prime targets for drone and artillery attacks.

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This was just a cigarette!

If you really want to support Ukraine here is a website that sells some cool T-shirts, Hoodies etc. and gives the proceeds to Ukraine. I've no interest in the site other than to get some T-shirts that angered a pro-Russian tourist.

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The market will do what it does on green power. I don't buy conspiracy theories. Even the Saudis are going green. In Scotland, where I live part time, a lot of oil rig workers now are employed servicing huge ocean wind farms. There is a transition beginning.

Wildly OT but the 'just transition' in Scotland is frankly window dressing IMO. No real attempt to address the fact that the oil industry is chock full of career paths, and very well-paid ones, that really have no equivalent outside that. Oh, and they are furiously padding what constitutes a sustainable green job. /rant

Why wouldn't they freeze? Russian logistics were always suspect and now we're seeing their inefficiency. Winter always becomes a logistics battle.

@Dragon Gunner. They say three on a match is unlucky. I can only imagine how unlucky a platoon around a fire is.
@Tortorela. Yes, I had one of those 11% mortgages in 1979 too. Today is very different. Very low workforce participation, and fast fooderies closing for lack of help. The situation might change if they paid people, of course. The $14 USD/hr they're calling good pay today isn't a lot better than the $1.25 USD an hour I was getting washing dishes in 1968.

ROU, I have mixed feelings about it, but it was a front page feature in the Sunday NYT! How could I not comment! I live part of the year in the Borders, I mostly know about sheep and dogs, and not much about posh doings in Aberdeen! IMO any transition to green that does not feature oil, gas and nuclear in a menu of energy sources will not be safe from disruption.

$14 USD an hour barely pays for their cell phone plans, Robert!

Russians are no longer that rural people of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers that fought the Germans. They live in cities and are soft and fat. Look at the new recruits they bring in. They will freeze or starve.

Don't invade your neighbors in a war of conquest and these things won't happen.

Russia should leave all of Ukraine, back to the 1992 borders, and there should be a great Russian reset. Give up Chechnya, and the parts of Georgia and Moldova that have been occupied by separatists. Just as Ukraine did, Russia should also give up all their nuclear weapons.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

Just as Ukraine did, Russia should also give up all their nuclear weapons.

That will go over like a Russian lead hind.

I found this video of a Russian trench that might be relevant to the discussion, looks pretty cozy: sendvid.com/oz1xkioe

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Some drone footage of Russians and their positions. pretty damn miserable. Dead and mangled bodies just lying around.

That is very sad … but not unexpected … the Russian leadership treats in military as little more than fodder …

Russians are no longer that rural people of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers that fought the Germans. They live in cities and are soft and fat.

My understanding is that the Russian volunteer contract soldiers (that mainly formed the first waves that entered Ukraine) largely come from the more rural and remote areas of the country, not from the big cities (where there are better job oportunities to be had). Though life in those rural areas has also changed since the early half of 20th century.

Another aspect of cold weather hitting Ukraine is that it could freeze the muddy fields and harden them solid for a few a couple of winter months. This makes mobile warfare much more viable, providing a good opportunity to employ mechanised reserves in offensive operations. Also, such dry and cold conditions also make it easier for individual soldiers to stay somewhat dry themselves.

That said, the numerous rivers in Ukraine may not freeze as swiftly as the ground, so bridges might still be crucial.

largely come from the more rural and remote areas of the country,

Much of the US Military come from the South East. My experience is no matter where your recruits come from, e.g. country boys, off the block, the "Rez", etc. You train them to be effective at their jobs. Whether in combat arms or support branches. All are needed for an effective army.

As we see the Russian military was again poorly trained, poorly motivated, poorly supplied and most importantly lead by incompetents. From the GENs/ADMs on down.

This makes mobile warfare much more viable, providing a good opportunity to employ mechanised reserves in offensive operations.

Yes that is a standard in that region and others like the ROK. However, if the units are not up to standards to fight modern mobile maneuver combined arms warfare. I don't think even the "new" Russian troops and equipment[much of which is older as we saw on Day 1] regardless of the weather, can mount a successful offensive. Even in the winter months. I don't think they are any better than their "1st Waves".

Had two winters in the ROK,'84-'85. The winter comes with a number of obvious problems to be overcome. Then the spring thaw with its mud that then freezes at night. Ruts, gullies, depressions, etc. that were made moving thru the mud. Freezes into a mess. Not to mention the mud that is hard for dismounted troops to move thru. Or the vehicles that get stuck. All adds to the difficulties of winter to spring war.

That being said the winter could act in the Ukraine's favor to go on the offensive. Regain their territory and kill more Russians.

Also, such dry and cold conditions also make it easier for individual soldiers to stay somewhat dry themselves.

However, at times troops sweat doing hard tasks. That can be a problem with frost bite, hyperthermia, etc.

bridges might still be crucial.

Definitely generally regardless of the weather in many situations.

We used to say in the ROK, "The Yalu freezes and becomes a road at 32 degrees below.".