# 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:** 79
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1561 "2022-03-08T00:34:50Z")
I believe that I’ve seen numbers like that given as a projected total death count, after the war is completed (under some scenarios). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1562 "2022-03-08T00:38:24Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I’m inclined to think that Zelensky is pushing the no fly zone idea because if he can get demonstrations across the west calling for a no fly zone it keeps up the pressure on Russia even though it has no chance of happening. Note that there’s again serious talk about a NATO ally, like Poland, handing over warplanes. That’s also what you get from maximal demands - the “we can’t do that, but we can do this other thing” reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1563 "2022-03-08T00:58:55Z")
Gen. Maj. Vitaly Gerassimov, chief of staff of the 41 Army, was killed in battle today. How do we know? Well, apparently, to disrupt communications, the Russians have been destroying cell phone towers. Their practically brand-new, secure cryptophone system, guaranteed to work under all conditions, requires 3G/4G to communicate. Which isn’t available where they are operating because they’ve destroyed the cell phone towers. 2G is available, so they used a local SIM card with no encrypted communications to phone the report in to command in Tula. And because it wasn’t encrypted, everyone got to hear the conversation. ---
**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 8, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1564 "2022-03-08T01:22:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > ust watched Steve1989Mre review of Ukrainian MRE. OMG, that is a lot of fatty food. 4000 calories. That’s 2 days for me. I like (US) MREs. Too many carbs for me nowadays, though. I recall the ones I was eating in the '90s were 3,000 kilocalories. I never ate the crackers, though. Those were not good eats. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2022, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1565 "2022-03-08T01:41:49Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > > Ukrainians are Not Z’s. > > “de-nazification” and all. Hard-ee-har-har. > > It’s going to be a symbol of this war (aka, “World War Z”) and what side _you_ are on in any case. And is that letter pronounced “Zee” or “Zed”? I didn’t get the Nazi reference until you asked about the pronunction. I would pronounce it “not-zed” so it didn’t mean anything to me. ---
**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 8, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1566 "2022-03-08T01:42:30Z")
If you’re an adult man fighting and moving equipment in cold weather, you’re probably burning 5000 calories per day or more. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1567 "2022-03-08T01:51:49Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > I don’t believe that for an instant. Turkey is a member of NATO… and that’s from a Russian website. This is the same Turkey that has closed the straits to the Russian navy? And the Turkey that has been in an enemy-type relationship Russia since it was the Ottoman Empire? That Turkey? ---
**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 8, 2022, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1568 "2022-03-08T01:58:50Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Gen. Maj. Vitaly Gerassimov, chief of staff of the 41 Army, was killed in battle today. How do we know? Well, apparently, to disrupt communications, the Russians have been destroying cell phone towers. > > Their practically brand-new, secure cryptophone system, guaranteed to work under all conditions, requires 3G/4G to communicate. Which isn’t available where they are operating because they’ve destroyed the cell phone towers. 2G is available, so they used a local SIM card with no encrypted communications to phone the report in to command in Tula. And because it wasn’t encrypted, everyone got to hear the conversation. There are so many possible points of failure that I can’t even guess which one led to this. It does emphasize the importance of pre-determined communication plans. It also warms the cockles of my cold, cold heart. 😈 ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1569 "2022-03-08T02:02:39Z")
The joke at the time was: there were some joint US–USSR military exercises. The Soviet general boasts to his colleague, “Our rations provide 2000 kilocalories each!” The American says, “Really? Our new rations are 3000 calories.” The Soviet general gives him a look and says, “You’re not telling the truth. Nobody can eat that many potatoes!” ETA it was reported that, in Iraq, 1 French combat ration got you 5 US MREs in trade. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1570 "2022-03-08T02:11:11Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > ETA it was reported that, in Iraq, 1 French combat ration got you 5 US MREs in trade. I’m sure the French rations are good, but that probably says more about the relative frequency than the relative tastiness. Anyone subsisting on them will want a change of pace at some point. The less common ones will command a higher “price” even for the same quality. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1571 "2022-03-08T02:25:27Z")
[The END of Russian Aviation!?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrgI4gB5W2o) Interesting perspective on what the sanctions are capable of. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2022, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1572 "2022-03-08T02:32:24Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Pretty sure @Euphonious_Polemic is suggesting that Putin be taken out by fellow Russians in a coup, not assassinated by the CIA. Doesn’t matter who does it. If someone offs Putin, the Russian state media would say it was done by the CIA or the Ukrainian nazis. Even if the Russian official they’re interviewing and getting that information from still has the smoking pistol in his hand. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1573 "2022-03-08T02:33:02Z")
MentourPilot is my favorite human. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2022, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1574 "2022-03-08T02:41:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > [The END of Russian Aviation!?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrgI4gB5W2o) > > Interesting perspective on what the sanctions are capable of. I clicked on it and just got an Economist piece about health care. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1575 "2022-03-08T02:46:57Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Doesn’t matter who does it. If someone offs Putin, the Russian state media would say it was done by the CIA or the Ukrainian nazis. Even if the Russian official they’re interviewing and getting that information from still has the smoking pistol in his hand. Except that the media will stop being beholden to Putin, and start being beholden to the person who be holdin’ the smoking pistol. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2022, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1576 "2022-03-08T02:52:41Z")
Oh sure, but that person is not going to be a western supporter. Putin is too much cocooned for that to happen. He’s surrounded by those that share the same world view, just perhaps not so keen on a war that is destroying Russia’s economy. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1577 "2022-03-08T02:54:58Z")
What they always say (at least in fiction) is, “есть человек — есть проблема, нет человека — нет проблемы” ---
**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:** [March 8, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1578 "2022-03-08T02:57:41Z")
_There is a person, there is a problem, no person, no problem_ ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1579 "2022-03-08T03:00:25Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Oh sure, but that person is not going to be a western supporter. They don’t have to be a western supporter, they just have to be someone who realizes that Putin has blown it for everyone in Russia, and who is looking out for themselves. Whoever does this will want the sanctions lifted so they can profit from removing Putin. The messaging will be, “I’ve saved the Motherland (and the rest of the world, _nudge nudge NATO_) from the Modern StalinHitler! All praise to me, and let’s end that madman’s war before I get a bullet in the face too!” ---
**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 8, 2022, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/1580 "2022-03-08T03:04:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Interesting perspective on what the sanctions are capable of. Synopsis for those of us who prefer to read? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=78) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037.md?page=80)