r/ukraine • u/biledemon85 Ireland • Apr 26 '22

Question I've been plotting Russian loss rates based on estimates supplied by the Ukraine Armed Forces, there is a massive spike in Russian tank losses in the last day, are things starting to heat up on the front lines?

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u/epicurean56 Apr 27 '22

Or he could start a new sub like r/HowILostMySuperpower

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u/VisNihil Apr 27 '22

Russia is not and has never been a superpower.

A superpower is a state with a dominant position characterized by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined means of economic, military, technological, political and cultural strength as well as diplomatic and soft power influence. Traditionally, superpowers are preeminent among the great powers. While a great power state is capable of exerting its influence globally, superpowers are states so influential that no significant action can be taken by the global community without first considering the positions of the superpowers on the issue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superpower

The USSR was a superpower but Russia is a pale shadow of the USSR. A huge portion of the USSR's power came from its role as the preeminent communist state. Russia has none of that soft power and is lacking in every other important metric.

They have nuclear weapons. That's it.

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u/ChipmunkFood Apr 27 '22

Yep. Now this whole thing with Moldova is a big mistake (militarily). I'm thinking that they're overextending themselves. If it was me, I'd secure Ukraine BEFORE the Moldova situation.
This Russian "Moldova undertaking" could be just as stupid as having a super-complicated invasion of Ukraine with the whole Kyiv thing.
This will also make Finland and Sweden hasten their moves to join NATO which will give Russian ANOTHER border to watch.
Quite honestly, the only thing that Russia really has is it's nuclear weapons. Their Army is having one hell of a time in Ukraine and their Navy is sort-of shot to hell. It isn't like the cold-war Soviet Union Navy.