this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2023
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[–] eran_morad@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I’d bet on this being a russian fuckup.

[–] Grayox@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Even if it isnt, its not like russia hasnt been targeting Ukrainian civilians since the start of this conflict. It doesn't make targeting civilians justified, but fuck if Russia doesnt sound like hypocritical little shits for acting self righteous for something they do all the time...

[–] ivanafterall@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago

Why makes you think Russia's military will improve so suddenly and dramatically?

[–] filoria@lemmy.ml 10 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Strike seems to be confirmed by Mossad on X. Looks like Ukraine used MLRS cluster munitions on Belgorod.

[–] mirror_slap@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

Ukraine would have sent them toward military targets. If they're shot down they hit whatever they come down on. There's a big difference there.

[–] ptelder@beehaw.org 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Did they confirm what system was used? According to sources like Malcontent, Ukraine doesn’t have anything in inventory that was close enough to hit in an east west trajectory with that kind of damage?

[–] filoria@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Friendly reminder that the 1.7 ton HIMARS-launched ATACMS missile has a range of 310km. Belgorod is about 40km from the Ukrainian border and 80km from Kharkiv. The Vilkha MLRS that the MoD claimed that Ukraine used to strike Belgorod has a range of 130km with R624M rockets.

Your sources are misinformed.

[–] ptelder@beehaw.org 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Vilkha MLRS

Neutral (?) reminder that my question was about what details your "Mossad" account on X was providing. You appear to have pivoted to the Russian MoD as a source, which to put it kindly, has not had the best record for truth and accuracy in this conflict.

If a Vikha was indeed used, the bomblet carriage should have survived and would be a very difficult to deny piece of evidence. I haven't seen anything yet to confirm one was recovered though.

Using cluster munitions on an essentially civilian target would be a serious change in tactics for Ukraine, and give Russia's allies in the US Congress a clear reason to drop support. That doesn't mean they couldn't have screwed up their targeting, or had a missile intercepted though, so I'd love to see any actual evidence.

[–] filoria@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Your claim is that Ukraine doesn't have anything in their inventory with the capability to strike Belgorod with that degree of damage. I categorically disproved that by pointing to the HIMARS and Vilkha systems, both of which are currently possessed and operated by the AFU.

Edit: this is commonly known as "shifting the goalposts."

[–] randon31415@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

But it will take some time, we just spent a couple months of build up on the attack this is retaliating to.