# 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:** 46
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/901 "2022-03-03T00:06:36Z")
Maybe this has been asked, but CNN is talking about cluster bombs and ‘vacuum bombs’, which are banned, If the Ukrainians should capture these weapons (and they have), would it be acceptable for them to use them against the Russians? On one hand, the weapons are banned, On the other hand, the Russians were going to use them against the Ukrainians, so why wouldn’t the Ukrainians use the Russians’ own weapons against them. ‘All’s fair in love and war, and you brought the weapons!’ ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/902 "2022-03-03T00:09:16Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > If the Ukrainians should capture these weapons (and they have), would it be acceptable for them to use them against the Russians? No. They should be moved to a NATO country where they can be used as evidence in the (hopefully) war crimes trial for Putin in the Hague. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/903 "2022-03-03T00:10:46Z")
No ‘hoist by their own petard’, eh? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/904 "2022-03-03T00:11:57Z")
You know trying Putin for War Crimes isn’t going to work. He’s only going to be able to stand trial if forced out of power. He is unlikely to survive such. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/905 "2022-03-03T00:13:47Z")
Can we put his corpse up in the prisoners dock and have a trial with that? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/906 "2022-03-03T00:42:25Z")
It wouldn’t be the first time a corpse “stood” trial. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/907 "2022-03-03T01:10:19Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I’m seeing reports on Twitter that a lot of ex-soldiers from many countries are traveling to Ukraine to join in the defense. Our friend’s son is talking about doing just that. Single guy, mid-30s, ex-reservist, no kids, job he doesn’t much care about. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/908 "2022-03-03T01:15:13Z")
The weapons that are banned are generally banned because they’re mostly effective for anti civilian terror campaigns rather than military on military engagements. So they wouldn’t be much use to Ukrainian forces anyway, because the Ukrainians have no desire to burn city blocks or remove all the oxygen in a building. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/909 "2022-03-03T01:35:10Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I suspect that 600 S300s \* 4 missiles = 2400 potential losses There has to be an error in this number. I can find no source that claims Ukraine has such a massive number of S-300s. I’d be surprised if they had a hundred. They may have 600 missiles, to go amongst all the launchers. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/910 "2022-03-03T01:39:09Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m sure Russia would like a pause to their equipment being blown up so that they can reorganize and get more supplies lined up. As it seems their logistics and supply lines have been a total shit-show. Yeah, a ceasefire seems to me to be just what Dr. Putin ordered. Granted, a ceasefire also gives Ukraine more time to bring their varied weapons donations to bear. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/911 "2022-03-03T01:42:23Z")
Not to mention food deliveries to isolated cities, etc. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/912 "2022-03-03T02:31:21Z")
I was going off another poster’s numbers, which I may have misinterpreted, and they later clarified. Either way, it seems pretty clear that Russia does not have air superiority and it doesn’t look like it will be easy to obtain for them. Part of that is because their main line aircraft don’t have a lot of good options against Ukraine. As was mentioned later, 250 launchers is plenty to make Ukraine a hotly contested airspace. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2022, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/913 "2022-03-03T03:50:40Z")
**Kherson** is the first major city to fall. Mayor makes a Facebook post and the Russians are in control. Apparently that’s how occupying a city is accomplished. 280,000 people controlled by a few thousand troops. > [@](#): > > In a Facebook post, Mr Kolykhaev said Russian forces were in control of Kherson, a port on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea coast with a population of more than 280,000 people. > > He urged Russian soldiers not to shoot at civilians, saying there were no Ukrainian forces in the city. > > Mr Kolykhaev called on residents to follow conditions set by Russian forces in order to “keep the Ukrainian flag flying”. These include: > > - Observing a strict curfew from 20:00 to 06:00 > - Only going out in groups of two at most > - Allowing only cars carrying food, medicine and other supplies to enter the city, driving at minimum speed > > “The (Russian) occupiers are in all parts of the city and are very dangerous,” Gennady Lakhuta, head of the regional administration, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. > **[Ukraine: Russian troops take control of key city of Kherson - mayor](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60597367)** > > The port of Kherson is the first major city to be taken by Russia since it launched its invasion. ---
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/914 "2022-03-03T03:53:25Z")
Four strategy experts assess the Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine and what might happen next. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pLWYN1jkmXc/maxresdefault.jpg "Assessing the Russian Military Campaign in Ukraine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLWYN1jkmXc) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/915 "2022-03-03T03:54:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Kherson is the first major city to fall. Mayor makes a Facebook post and the Russians are in control. Well… Let’s see what happens with insurgents. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2022, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/916 "2022-03-03T04:06:14Z")
I guess it was a strategic decision to pull Ukrainian troops out of Kherson? I’m not familiar with Ukraine’s factions. Kershon may have a large Russian population. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/917 "2022-03-03T04:07:52Z")
[China asked Russia to delay war until after the Olympics.](https://dnyuz.com/2022/03/02/china-asked-russia-to-delay-ukraine-war-until-after-olympics-u-s-officials-say/) A Western intelligence report said senior Chinese officials told senior Russian officials in early February not to invade Ukraine before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, according to senior Biden administration officials and a European official. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/918 "2022-03-03T04:10:14Z")
Sounds like it’s time to drop some sanctions on Jy-na. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/919 "2022-03-03T04:11:15Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > prob. 4-8 weeks, incl. reserves that the individual homes have … > > once stuff runs out, you prob. have another 4-8 weeks before people start to die (old and sick, prob. first) I’ve spoken to survivors of the WWII siege of Leningrad. First the food is eaten… Then the dogs and cats… Then the mice and rats… Hope the rats don’t run out. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/920 "2022-03-03T04:24:22Z")
OK, how are civilians doing that? Or are there sufficient professional soldiers bolstered by civilians to make a difference? Do they really have that many anti-tank weapons? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=47)