### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4909 "2022-04-22T13:38:24Z")
> [@AK84](#):
>
> No. Outside of MANPADS which are a persistent threat, nothing in the Ukrainian inventory is something that would bother the Russians very long.
Ukraine was definitely in possession of larger SAM systems, such as SA-10/S-300. It is quite plausible that the capabilities of SA-10 systems exceed Russia’s SEAD capabilities.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4910 "2022-04-22T13:40:40Z")
> Little else is known about the drones, including their range and precise capabilities, and Kirby declined to offer more details about them.
So the article basically says, ‘The U.S. is giving Ukraine drones, but we’re not going to tell you about them.’ (That’s a good thing.)
> Still, he did say they were designed mainly for striking targets.
Well, that’s good to know! I don’t think that armed drones not designed to attack targets would be useful.
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### Author:  [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4911 "2022-04-22T13:44:33Z")
Exactly the sort of post I’d expect, if you ARE an assassin.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4912 "2022-04-22T13:45:20Z")
Btw the Russian General’s comments about Transnistria are extremely relevant because Odessa would be a target.
The land bridge to Crimea would be extended through Odessa to Transnistria. Russia would control the entire Black Sea coastline.
The Guardian has a map that I can’t link.
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### Author:  [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4913 "2022-04-22T14:20:06Z")
There’s been another purported leak of Russian casualty figures on a pro-Kremlin media outlet. As with the last time this happened, Russia claims it was a hack. Not possible to know its veracity for sure.
>
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4914 "2022-04-22T14:43:50Z")
So, say that Ukraine goes after Crimea, Donbas, Luhanks, etc and wants to restore its pre-2014 borders. Would the rest of the world be likelier to side with Ukraine’s argument (“that was our land and what we should have always have had back”) or with Russia’s (“the post-2014 status quo is that Crimea is Russia’s and now Ukraine is invading sovereign Russian soil?”)
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### Author:  [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4915 "2022-04-22T14:45:25Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#):
>
> Exactly the sort of post I’d expect, if you ARE an assassin.
Met a lot of assassin’s, have you? That makes me suspicious. Just as if you were some sort of kill-people-for-money-person.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4916 "2022-04-22T15:17:24Z")
I knew a guy who met an assassin once.
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### Author:  [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4917 "2022-04-22T15:23:01Z")
You know, my dear sweet grandmother used to tell me every night as she tucked me into bed, “_Everyone_ is an assassin once there’s enough money on the table.”
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### Author:  [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4918 "2022-04-22T15:24:33Z")
The only countries that have recognized Crimea as being Russian are a tiny handful of Russia syncophants. The rest of the world still considers Crimea to be part of Ukraine.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4919 "2022-04-22T16:33:25Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> [Ukraine war: Russia aiming for full control of south, commander says](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61188943)
I commented earlier on this. If Russia tries to connect Transnistria, that’s possibly the best military move they could make for Ukraine to win. A column that thin and long just isn’t going to survive. The logistics chain is just too thin and easily disrupted.
I would have to imagine that Putin’s generals are arguing strenuously against it, if Putin is seriously making the proposal. If the current roster of generals start “disappearing” and getting swapped out with cranks, I would say that’s a safe sign that Putin has decided that it’s not an optional political objective.
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### Author:  [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4920 "2022-04-22T16:36:33Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#):
>
> I would have to imagine that Putin’s generals are arguing strenuously against it, if Putin is seriously making the proposal. If the current roster of generals start “disappearing” and getting swapped out with cranks, I would say that’s a safe sign that Putin has decided that it’s not an optional political objective
I SERIOUSLY doubt there is any back and forth when discussing the plans. There is no disagreeing going on in those meetings.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4921 "2022-04-22T16:54:00Z")
I looked up the Ghost Drones and [the first article I saw](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/21/mystery-drone-air-force-new-weapon-ukraine-00026970) ended with this:
> [@](#):
>
> “It was developed for a set of requirements that very closely match what Ukrainians need right now in the Donbas,” Kirby said.
This would say that we were envisioning some sort of specific style of campaign and said campaign happens to be a close match for Ukraine’s coming offensive against Russia.
Any thoughts on what our intended goal was and what it would be for Ukraine? Or do we need to wait to see how the Ukrainians use it?
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### Author:  [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4922 "2022-04-22T16:54:51Z")
If I told you, I’d have to….arrange a meeting.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4923 "2022-04-22T16:56:59Z")
Ukraine’s access to ports is crucial to their economy. They are the bread basket of Europe.
Losing their port cities would be disastrous.
> **[Ukraine: The breadbasket of Europe - Emerging Europe](https://emerging-europe.com/business/ukraine-the-breadbasket-of-europe/)**
>
> Ukraine increased its grain exports by 34 per cent to 31.1 million tonnes in the 2019-20 July-June season, helped by higher wheat and corn exports, the country’s Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade, and Agriculture has revealed. Wheat exports...
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### Author:  [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/4924 "2022-04-22T16:59:13Z")
Their previous model, the Flee, was designed to retreat from the front lines, land, and bury itself under leaves or trash. To date, none have been found, so technically a success. Sales have been slow.
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