Since, according to Zelenskyy, all of Russia's strategic aviation has recently been destroyed, it turns out that tonight Ukraine will shell itself. Just like Donbass shelled itself in the past.

What's the running theory behind not accepting the bodies?

Having to pay the families?
Having to acknowledge the losses?

I want to see more lightning bolts from the sky

The issue is more likely a lack of space and the absence of technological capability due to various reasons (backwardness, for example). Russia will soon publish the full list (this is an obvious move) and then relatives will start asking why there are delays in identification when the person has already been missing for several months.

In the first scenario, they would have to bury the bodies quickly (and seemingly pay compensation), and in the second scenario as well, if not for a few "buts." As far as I remember, the lump-sum payment is not 15 million, but it is significant; the rest is paid out monthly over several years.

The new law on recognizing someone as deceased two years after the end of hostilities, along with Ukraine's current status as a defaulting state, suggests that no payments will be made in the near future, bypassing creditors. And two years after the war ends, hryvnias will likely only be good for burning in stoves.

Anyways Russia got around to ending its compliance with the START treaty



There's no way the drone attack would have been as successful if Russia hadn't been voluntarily leaving its bombers out in the open to be visible to US satellites, and now everything is protected by concrete walls
Its one thing for treaties to be formally in abeyance and another for the powers to actually violate their terms

The treaty does not require that strategic bombers be permanently parked in the open.

It requires that they be made visible to national technical means (satellites) during certain periods.

With the understanding of both sides that it meant parking them in the open where satellites could see them, hence the ability of Ukraine to strike them. They won't be "made visible to national technical means" again.
It also puts a damper on the next 20+ years of nuclear deescalation treaties, since we exploited this one to land a first strike on Russia

Amid undisguised losses in Kursk offensive, the military contract age has been reduced to 17.

Source: Ruslan Gorbenko, member of the Verkhovna Rada


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This post was edited by Norlander on Jun 9 2025 11:51pm