# 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:** 462
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9289 "2022-10-08T13:41:10Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > If it was a truck bomb that means it was a suicide bomber, right? I know Ukrainians are very invested in this war but, suicide bombs? Really? Early on there was at least one instance of a Ukrainian blowing himself up along with a critical bridge to stop invading Russians. It’s not a common thing, but in every war there seem to be at least a few people capable of a suicide attack. Which is not to say that that is what happened, just that it’s a possibility. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9290 "2022-10-08T14:18:52Z")
**For Sale** Bridge with ocean view, some damage. Lots of potential. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9291 "2022-10-08T14:27:35Z")
Another video: > Again, one can see something moving under the bridge. Note that embedded video is lower quality than the original source, so click through to see the video in better quality. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9292 "2022-10-08T14:36:31Z")
The 2 support columns didn’t fall, but they may be structurally compromised. Our engineers would want them carefully checked. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9293 "2022-10-08T14:51:35Z")
The movement under the bridge looks like the wake of something. If it was a boat or drone boat that caused this, then how did it get there? The nearest Ukrainian-controlled coast is 300mi/500km away - as the crow flies. [![](https://i.imgur.com/6ovORIK.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/6ovORIK.png) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9294 "2022-10-08T15:06:09Z")
In other news, Putin appoints Dr Evil as head of the Russian military in Ukraine: > **[Russia names a new commander for the war in Ukraine.](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/08/world/europe/russia-ukraine-general-sergei-surovikin.html)** > > General Surovikin, 55, had been leading troops in Ukraine’s south, where Kyiv’s forces have been waging a counteroffensive to reclaim territory from Russia. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9295 "2022-10-08T15:14:11Z")
It looks like the front line at Orikhiv, the closest Ukrainian forces are o Kerch, is about 160 miles away. Perhaps an armed drone could slip past Russian forces (“oh, thank god that thing wasn’t after me”) to get to the bridge, flying so low as to blow up from below. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9296 "2022-10-08T15:14:56Z")
How would a truck bomb deliver enough downward force to buckle what looks like multiple bridge sections? Wouldn’t the explosive force be reflected(?) more up and sideways than down? It seems even aerial attackers didn’t find knocking down bridges that easy. > **[Bridge Busting - Air Force Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/1293bridge/)** > > As targets go, bridges are easy enough to find—but that’s about the only easy part. If there’s not much Russian navy left in the Black Sea, is drone technology good enough for a semi-submersible to be used for an operation like this? It wouldn’t have to be that accurate to a specific GPS position, just good enough to hit some point on the entire coordinate string of the bridge. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9297 "2022-10-08T15:18:51Z")
So let’s look at the strategic impact of the Kerch bridge being out of commission. Clearly, the Russians will begin repairs immediately. The road portion of the bridge is badly damaged and will take the longest to repair. The train bridge seems less badly damaged. Perhaps the train bridge can be repaired in a couple of weeks? I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ukr begin their Zaporiszhia offensive now towards Tokmak. If they could manage to cut both train lines into Crimea, that would place Russia in a real strategic pickle. However, not sure how much Ukr could accomplish in a 2 week window. The other thing to consider is Ukraine has proved they can hit the bridge once. That means they can do it again. They have proved time and again to be an incredibly resourceful opponent. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9298 "2022-10-08T15:24:00Z")
> One more explanation. 😃 ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9299 "2022-10-08T15:24:48Z")
> [@txtumbleweed](#): > > It seems even aerial attackers didn’t find knocking down bridges that easy. The bridge to Kherson has been struck multiple times, I think with HIMARS, but I don’t think it’s collapsed any part of it. I think it’s been made unusable by peppering the roadway with holes. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9300 "2022-10-08T15:35:48Z")
I’m pretty sure they can have the those traffic spans repaired in a couple days if Vlad will let them use a couple of his conference tables as replacements. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9301 "2022-10-08T15:36:40Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > The other thing to consider is Ukraine has proved they can hit the bridge once. That means they can do it again. They have proved time and again to be an incredibly resourceful opponent. The flames you see in the pictures are probably from a rail car containing oil or gas. If there are any more of them not damaged they can pick them off while they’re stuck on the tracks. They can probably trace any rail cars loaded with ammunition from point of origin and strike them too. Basically they can tie up the railroad bridge indefinitely if that’s their goal. The road bridge is different. It’s harder to shut it down without actually dropping it. A wrecked car or truck is easily towed away. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9302 "2022-10-08T15:52:49Z")
Why does the road way go down towards water level? At first I thought it was part of the damage, but looking at the supports, it’s clear it’s a gradual engineered drop. How come? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9303 "2022-10-08T15:52:55Z")
Am I understanding this right, that there are two separate bridges, one for rail and one for vehicles? And the rail bridge has the fire and a section of the vehicle bride collapsed? Video is so bad, but it seems to me like the truck explosion may be secondary to whatever brought the other section of the bridge down. There is a boat underneath the truck when the explosion occurs, but I’m not sure why that would cause the other bridge to collapse. I was promised that everything that happened in the world would be on video now because of phones, but nobody told me the video would be so bad! 🙁 > [@Gorsnak](#): > > I’m pretty sure they can have the those traffic spans repaired in a couple days if Vlad will let them use a couple of his conference tables as replacements. Now that’s funny! Point to **Gorsnak**! > [@Alessan](#): > > This is starting to come across as something involving the Ukrainian versions of David Niven and Gregory Peck. Oh oh! I have a suspicion there may be a coerced mole in the group. Better check everyone for marks of a beating. > [@Ulfreida](#): > > So, more civilian targets, one guesses. Because they are throwing everything they have at military targets and going backward. Killing the defenseless is what they do best. Yes, and they keep doing it instead of using the artillery on military positions. When you have supply issues, wasting rounds on civilian buildings is like cutting your own nose off. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > In other news, Putin appoints Dr Evil as head of the Russian military in Ukraine: > > [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/08/world/russia-ukraine-war-news/russia-names-a-new-commander-for-the-war-in-ukraine?smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/08/world/russia-ukraine-war-news/russia-names-a-new-commander-for-the-war-in-ukraine?smid=url-share) That’s going to turn the war around. I didn’t even know Dr. Evil was Russian! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9304 "2022-10-08T15:53:59Z")
Evil goes to where evil is. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9305 "2022-10-08T16:02:12Z")
Apparently Russian structural engineers do damage assessment in the same way as their naval engineers. They’re letting vehicles cross the mostly-intact traffic span. It’s always very important to them to pretend that any given punch didn’t hurt at all. > ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9306 "2022-10-08T16:08:04Z")
Møøse partisans kan bi pretti nasti! ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9307 "2022-10-08T16:09:31Z")
[Train service on Kerch Strait bridge has been restored](https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-10-08-22/h_a20edb0cedc8d8105c3f63ad68eeeeda). > The Russian Grand Service Express carrier company said Saturday that the “double-decker train No. 28 Simferopol-Moscow left the capital of Crimea today at 17:10 according to the schedule. Train No. 8 Sevastopol-St. Petersburg left Sevastopol at 17:15.” > > The structure has separate infrastructure for its rail and roadway bridges, which [run parallel to one another](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/08/europe/crimea-bridge-explainer-russia-ukraine-intl/index.html). > > Car traffic on the undamaged part of the road bridge has also resumed, according to the Russian-appointed head of Crimea. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9308 "2022-10-08T16:11:03Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Why does the road way go down towards water level? At first I thought it was part of the damage, but looking at the supports, it’s clear it’s a gradual engineered drop. How come? The road part of the bridge rises up in the middle of the straits to allow ships and other nautical traffic to pass beneath the bridge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=461) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=463)