# Russia invades Ukraine {2022-02-24} (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion, breaking-news\ **Created:** [February 24, 2022, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037 "2022-02-24T08:30:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 377
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7585 "2022-09-08T17:35:27Z")
There’s a critical train junction. I don’t think it’s been captured yet. The highways in that area are very important. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7586 "2022-09-08T17:45:04Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Is there anything particularly noteworthy in that area? A lot of dead Russians, I would assume. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7587 "2022-09-08T18:15:14Z")
The city of Kupiansk is a rail hub and important supply route for Russian forces to the south. This map is not up to date - Ukrainian forces may be as close to Kupiansk as the cross to the left of the city, about 10 km away from it. [![](https://i.imgur.com/xRS5pEY.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/xRS5pEY.png) ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7588 "2022-09-08T18:30:29Z")
Here’s a better map, showing the Ukrainian advance, and with easier-to-see rail and road routes: > There are rumors that Ukrainian forces may already have entered Kupiansk. If the city is lost, Russians will find it much harder to supply the Izyum area. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7589 "2022-09-08T19:32:53Z")
The rail hub I read about is the railway junction in the city of Kup’yans’k (Kupiansk). Any strikes against the railway hurts Russia’s logistics. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7590 "2022-09-08T19:36:03Z")
Locals come out to cheer their liberators: > ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7591 "2022-09-08T20:40:33Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > A lot of dead Russians, I would assume. I know you’re (half) joking, but reportedly Ukrainian forces have encountered very little resistance. It’s like the Russians just left the area virtually undefended. That’s one of the reasons I’m sure Ukrainians have moved so swiftly towards taking the critical railroad junction. If Izium’s supply line gets cut and the Ukrainians are able to hold the junction, it will be yet another major operational blunder committed by the Russians. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7592 "2022-09-08T20:48:45Z")
I would guess it depends on specifically which part of Kherson. In other regions of the local counteroffensive, per the Washington Post article linked above, Ukrainians took very heavy losses. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7593 "2022-09-08T20:54:44Z")
Not sure if you were responding to my post or someone else’s. I was referring not to Kherson, but to the Kharkiv offensive and how the virtually undefended railroad junction at Kupiansk may soon fall into Ukrainian hands if it has not already. But as far as Kherson goes, there are estimated to be over 20k Russian soldiers north of the Dnieper. I heard an estimate several days ago that Ukraine lost 2,700 soldiers to Russia’s 2000. But that shouldn’t be a surprising ratio, as Ukraine is on offense there. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7594 "2022-09-08T21:15:43Z")
Kharkiv offensive from the Russian point of view: > [@](#): > > ▪By the evening of the third day of the Ukrainian offensive in the Kharkov region , Russian units left Balakleya. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the National Guard of the organized left the city through a corridor on the eastern outskirts. > > ▪After the capture of Volkhov Yar , Ukrainian forces advanced towards Shevchenkove, where part of the APU group blocked the settlement, while other units continued to move towards Kupyansk. > > ▪Later, the Ukrainian forces split up: part of the units went to the Kupyansk-Shevchenkove highway near the village of Grushevka , occupying the settlement and starting preparations for a further assault on Kupyansk. > > ▪Another part of the enemy grouping made a breakthrough to the east, starting battles near the village of Senkovo ​​on the banks of the Oskol River. There is a bridge in the village, the capture of which will cut off the supply of Izyum from the side of Kupyansk. > > ▪In the south-east of Balakleya , the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to advance towards Vesele and Kunye, however, enemy units were rebuffed at Zaliman . In Veseloe there is a key road junction that provides communication with Izyum. > > ▪To the north of Slavyansk , the Ukrainian command plans to launch an offensive against the forces of the Russian Armed Forces in Izyum in order to tie up their actions and prevent them from maneuvering. Russian artillery and aviation are intensively working in the surrounding forests. > > (Rybar, Telegram) Russian ultranationalist Igor Girkin: > [@](#): > > South of Kharkov - so far a complete “alles kaput” [“everything broken”] of organized defense. Balakleya abandoned by our troops. Fights are going on near approaches to Kupyansk. The enemy, using mobile DRGs, makes deep raids in the rear of our disoriented troops, causing panic with small forces and destroying rear checkpoints, intercepting roads and transport columns. Thanks to reliable communications - these groups are supported by pinpoint missile strikes, and our aviation is not able to recognize “friend or foe” in this mess - therefore, such raids by the enemy are “getting away with” so far. > > (Telegram) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7595 "2022-09-08T21:25:17Z")
That map gives me anxiety. That narrow of a penetration is just begging for pinch-off and encirclement. Not that the Russians would necessarily be up for it, but… anxiety. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7596 "2022-09-08T21:35:41Z")
Latest US scheduled equipment transfer. $675 million. The latest batch of security assistance to Ukraine includes: Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) 1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine Systems Four 105mm Howitzers and 36,000 105mm artillery rounds Additional High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARMs) 100 Armored High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), better known as Humvees 1.5 million rounds of small arms ammunition More than 5,000 anti-armor systems Additional grenade launchers and small arms 50 armored medical treatment vehicles Night vision devices and other field equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7597 "2022-09-08T21:37:33Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I wonder if sometimes Belarus is prodded to make headlines as a way to shift attention from Russian failures. I’d call that a smart wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7598 "2022-09-08T21:42:58Z")
Here’s another map: > Time is of the essence as the Ukrainians try to capture Kupiansk before defences can be prepared and before it can be reinforced by other Russian troops from around the country. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7599 "2022-09-08T22:13:23Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > That map gives me anxiety. That narrow of a penetration is just begging for pinch-off and encirclement. > > Not that the Russians would necessarily be up for it, but… anxiety. while generally true, I get the strong feeling that the russians are busy panicking and running away, and not exactly playing 4D-chess to outsmart the Ukrains. what strikes me as odd, is that they seem to be panicking so hard, they don’t even blow up their left behind war assets … (or possibly don’t have the explosives???) ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7600 "2022-09-08T22:24:14Z")
LNR troops sound mutinous: > ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7601 "2022-09-08T23:04:01Z")
The Ukr forces are already close enough to shut down highway and rail transport via highway and rail to Russian forces south toward Izum. That’s big. While the situation is still fluid, some reports show Russian forces in full retreat. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7602 "2022-09-08T23:51:05Z")
Russian propagandists openly talking about Ukrainian advances also makes me worry about a deliberate withdrawal followed by a pinching and encirclement. It’s a classic tactic though so I’ve no doubt the Ukrainians are aware of the danger. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7603 "2022-09-09T00:38:18Z")
It’s Russian milbloggers that are openly talking about Ukrainian advances, not official state propaganda outlets. While it’s illegal in Russia to say that the war was a bad idea, it does not appear to be illegal to say that it’s going badly. Criticism seems to be allowed if it’s coming from a hardline pro-war perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/7604 "2022-09-09T01:17:04Z")
unconfirmed, but quite possibly the Ukr. has a russian two star general as POW … > [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=376) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=378)