# Russia invades Ukraine {2022-02-24} (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion, breaking-news\ **Created:** [October 29, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972 "2022-10-29T17:49:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 120
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2432 "2023-02-23T19:16:35Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > I don’t think Russia has any troops to spare that they could send there. Nor the troops to force a way into Transnistria (or Moldova), since they’re completely surrounded by unfriendly territory: parts of Ukraine Russia is in no position to start an attack on, or NATO member states. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2433 "2023-02-23T19:32:49Z")
Here’s some background on Moldova: > **[The Guardian view on coup fears in Moldova: another front in Putin’s war |...](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/20/the-guardian-view-on-coup-fears-in-moldova-another-front-in-putins-war)** > > Editorial: The west must not ignore the hybrid attacks by Moscow beyond Ukraine’s southern border Here’s a statement the Russian Ministry of Defence released yesterday: > ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2434 "2023-02-23T20:10:42Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Nor the troops to force a way into Transnistria (or Moldova), since they’re completely surrounded by unfriendly territory: parts of Ukraine Russia is in no position to start an attack on, or NATO member states. We do know that they can’t use airborne troops, they lost most of those already. Between trying to take Kyiv airport at the beginning of the war and the latest push to take Bakhmut, they are a spent force right now. 🙂 > [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Here’s a statement the Russian Ministry of Defence released yesterday: > > [https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1628600598663774209](https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1628600598663774209) They may as well just have Putin go on live tv and say he plans to stir up trouble in Moldova and blame it on Ukraine. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2435 "2023-02-23T20:32:39Z")
The believability is immediately reduced when Russia says it will be a false flag attack. Does anyone do false flags any more other than Russia? In the “As pretexts for war” section in Wikipedia’s False Flag article, the section that precedes the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine dates from sixty years prior. Here’s the Wikipedia section on the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: > [@](#): > > In January and February 2022, Western government agencies predicted that Russia would use a false flag operation in Ukraine. In the days leading up to the 24 February Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government intensified its disinformation campaign, with Russian state media promoting false flags on a nearly hourly basis purporting to show Ukrainian forces attacking Russia, in a bid to justify an invasion of Ukraine. Many of the disinformation videos were poor and amateur in quality, with mismatching metadata showing incorrect dates, and evidence from Bellingcat researchers, and other independent journalists, showed that the claimed attacks, explosions, and evacuations in Donbas were staged by Russia. > **[False flag | Russian invasion of Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag#Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine)** > > In January and February 2022, Western government agencies predicted that Russia would use a false flag operation in Ukraine. In the days leading up to the 24 February Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government intensified its disinformation campaign, with Russian state media promoting false flags on a nearly hourly basis purporting to show Ukrainian forces attacking Russia, in a bid to justify an invasion of Ukraine. Many of the disinformation videos were poor and amateur in ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2436 "2023-02-23T20:54:27Z")
One year anniversary tomorrow. Wonder if something out of the ordinary will happen. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2437 "2023-02-23T21:03:51Z")
United Nations voted against Russia again today: > ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2438 "2023-02-23T22:15:36Z")
Russian forces are going to have some bad days when the British trained forces get back home. > **[Ukraine war: Soldiers master British tanks in Dorset](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64748450)** > > The soldiers will spend the next few weeks learning about tank maintenance and basic repairs. > [@](#): > > As well as the 14 UK Challenger tanks, Britain is also providing Ukraine with 20 Bulldog armoured troop carriers and 30 AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns. > > When we visit, Ukrainian soldiers are already wielding wrenches and tools - showing they’re learning fast to keep them maintained. > > One of their British trainers, Lance Corporal Zach Reid of the King’s Royal Hussars says the Ukrainians have shown they’re “very bright, with technical skills which makes it easy to instruct”. > > He also believes the arrival of the Challenger 2 could be a “game changer” with its heavier armour, its night sights and thermal imaging. Few Russian tanks have the same. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2439 "2023-02-23T22:26:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > One of their British trainers, Lance Corporal Zach Reid of the King’s Royal Hussars says the Ukrainians have shown they’re “very bright, with technical skills which makes it easy to instruct”. It can’t be overstated how important this is to a war effort. Americans had a huge advantage in WWII just because auto repair was not an overly specialized skill in the US; just a basic skill expected of most young American men. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2440 "2023-02-23T22:36:25Z")
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-will-resort-to-drafting-college-students-to-throw-more-troops-at-the-front-lines-ukrainian-intel-says/ar-AA17QW4Y](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-will-resort-to-drafting-college-students-to-throw-more-troops-at-the-front-lines-ukrainian-intel-says/ar-AA17QW4Y) > “It is likely that the mobilization will be carried out by April 1 — the beginning of the spring draft for conscription.” > > Insider previously reported that Russia’s army has dealt with massive losses in the war, according to Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence. > > Last Thursday, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said some Russian units had suffered 80% casualties in Ukraine. Related to the above, from the next link: > Ukrainian forces are killing nearly 1,000 Russian troops each day in the conflict, and they eliminated 5,000 troops in a single battle in late January, according to U.K. officials citing data from Ukraine. [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-pilot-killed-on-eve-of-ukraine-invasion-anniversary-after-supposed-malfunction-strikes-jet/ar-AA17QuOH](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-pilot-killed-on-eve-of-ukraine-invasion-anniversary-after-supposed-malfunction-strikes-jet/ar-AA17QuOH) > A Russian pilot was killed on the eve of Russia’s Ukraine invasion anniversary on Wednesday when his plane suffered a “mechanical malfunction,” a commonly-used Russian explanation for being downed… The pilot ejected from the plane before it crashed, but officials say he suffered injuries and died, according to Russian media. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2441 "2023-02-23T23:23:36Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > One year anniversary tomorrow. Wonder if something out of the ordinary will happen. Let’s hope Putin doesn’t put on a show for the home audience by deciding to up Ukrainian civilian casualties by increasing bombing for the day. Maybe try for a hospital or a grade school. 🙁 ---
**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:** [February 24, 2023, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2442 "2023-02-24T00:07:14Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Let’s hope Putin doesn’t … … read your post. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2443 "2023-02-24T01:06:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > his plane suffered a “mechanical malfunction,” a commonly-used Russian explanation for being downed… Fell out a window? ---
**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:** [February 24, 2023, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2444 "2023-02-24T02:40:26Z")
Also includes being shot down by your own air defense who are a bit paranoid and trigger happy. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2445 "2023-02-24T11:02:23Z")
Isn’t there a joke somewhere about “extra large condoms”? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2446 "2023-02-24T12:10:16Z")
I was thinking that maybe it was a sign that Putin’s position is softening. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2447 "2023-02-24T14:13:34Z")
Poland [delivers tanks today.](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-64750118) Fitting for the anniversary. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2023, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2448 "2023-02-24T14:31:29Z")
Russia has been surprisingly quiet. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’ve spent time reading the early posts from the 1st invasion thread. It seemed so unlikely that Ukraine would survive more than a few weeks. There’s still a lot of uncertainty in Donbas. It is quite remarkable that Ukraine 🇺🇦 still has most of its territory. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2449 "2023-02-24T14:58:09Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Isn’t there a joke somewhere about “extra large condoms”? The punchline I remember is ‘Mark them “medium”.’ ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2450 "2023-02-24T15:16:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve spent time reading the early posts from the 1st invasion thread. It seemed so unlikely that Ukraine would survive more than a few weeks. I remember thinking that a few weeks was all they needed to preposition and hide enough arms to supply an insurgency that would sap Russia for years to come. I never thought they would go face to face on a traditional battlefield. I hope those stashes are still in place in case things go south for the Ukrainians. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2451 "2023-02-24T16:25:54Z")
I thought Azov had been mostly obliterated? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=119) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=121)