You may make fun of it, but the reality of it is even funnier: Ukrainian army is probably occupying gas and oil distribution hub for Hungary, Slovakia and partially for Turkey.
So now Putler has few bad options:
Try to liberate it which would probably mean destroying it (using usual Russian tactics).
Do nothing and look bad in Russia.
Make some concessions to UA and look bad in Russia.
note: ukrainians can just mine all that equipment at their convenience, they hold ground there. in case of any risk of russian approach they can just blow it up to smithereens, because contract for transit through this pipeline ends this december, neither side wants to extend it, and the only side effect is hungary going without gas supply - and it’s closed already anyway
Honestly as second fronts go… if the opportunity presented, the clear plan would be to take the rail hub at Kursk and block in the city while rolling SE. It would create a long logistics problem for the invasion, and cause invasion troops to need to reroute NW or face attack on an open flank.
They could also destroy as much oil & rail infrastructure as they can while they’re there. Plus, this might divert Russian attention in the South like in 2022. In that case, Ukraine could do another push for Zaporizhia or Mariupol and cut off Russian supplies to Crimea and Kherson
Pretty much everyone is on the same pipeline, it’s just that most have weaned themselves off of it. So this would also hurt Germany if Germany was still as dependent on Russian gas as Hungary.
You may make fun of it, but the reality of it is even funnier: Ukrainian army is probably occupying gas and oil distribution hub for Hungary, Slovakia and partially for Turkey.
So now Putler has few bad options:
This will be fun.
Mastodon thread about it: https://infosec.exchange/@littlealex/112925288375029203
note: ukrainians can just mine all that equipment at their convenience, they hold ground there. in case of any risk of russian approach they can just blow it up to smithereens, because contract for transit through this pipeline ends this december, neither side wants to extend it, and the only side effect is hungary going without gas supply - and it’s closed already anyway
If they do that, they get on the bad side of all the countries that depend on that gas.
But, if it’s destroyed by Russian artillery as the Russians try to re-take the territory, the blame falls on the Russians.
that’d be mostly slovakia and austria
There’s no way they actually occupy it long-term. They only deployed a couple battalions worth of troops. But it does send a strong message.
Honestly as second fronts go… if the opportunity presented, the clear plan would be to take the rail hub at Kursk and block in the city while rolling SE. It would create a long logistics problem for the invasion, and cause invasion troops to need to reroute NW or face attack on an open flank.
They could also destroy as much oil & rail infrastructure as they can while they’re there. Plus, this might divert Russian attention in the South like in 2022. In that case, Ukraine could do another push for Zaporizhia or Mariupol and cut off Russian supplies to Crimea and Kherson
And serves as plausible reason that it gets “accidentally” destroyed in a retreat.
They would definitely have good reasons to hide endless mines that could destroy it from a distance
Makes Russia defend their whole border instead of just inside Ukraine.
That was super helpful
Poor Putin… Looks like a door has closed for him, let’s hope god opens a window…
Wink wink
Is that selective, or are all the shitbirds coincidentally on the same pipeline?
Pretty much everyone is on the same pipeline, it’s just that most have weaned themselves off of it. So this would also hurt Germany if Germany was still as dependent on Russian gas as Hungary.
Even better, it’s their fault.
Considering the cost of building a pipeline, I’d say the goal was mainly to get it connected to as many top importers as possible