# 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:** 130
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2633 "2023-03-04T09:17:10Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > A still shows windows missing and snow in the cockpit along with a plywood board on another window. Not really sure I want to be on a jet that has plywood window coverings. Probably another one of those Russian deals where the aircraft is in tip top shape on paper. > [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I’m sorry, I’m not following you… _what_ is good? And, _what_ is it that you would think Ukrainians or terrorists or whoever would have used within hours? It’s not clear to me who you are responding to. I believe he means that the drone was getting the exact GPS of the aircraft so it can be shelled by Ukraine or blown up by anti-Russian resistance groups. The fact that it hasn’t been destroyed works against the GPS theory. [This](https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/fuer-panther-produktion-rheinmetall-will-panzer-fabrik-in-der-ukraine-aufbauen-a-8c1a27cf-9be8-42ad-ba51-d0b526c05719) sounds like a pipe dream, but I thought I’d put it here for comment. From the sounds of it, all they have is prototypes at this point. > The armaments group Rheinmetall is negotiating the construction of a tank factory on Ukrainian soil. “A Rheinmetall plant can be built in the Ukraine for around 200 million euros,” company boss Armin Papperger told the Rheinische Post newspaper. It could produce up to 400 Panther-type main battle tanks annually. The talks with the Ukrainian government are »promising«. Papperger hoped for a decision “within the next two months.” > According to the current status, Rheinmetall is making around 250 tanks available in connection with the Ukraine war: “We are working at full speed,” said Papperger. “We have already made more than 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles operational, and by the end of the year there will be around 100. Around 30 tanks are ready out of 50 Leopard 2A4s. There are also around 100 older Leopard 1 models, of which we can currently make 88 usable again.« ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2634 "2023-03-04T10:45:01Z")
Bakhmut is under extreme pressure right now and it looks like Russia might be close to finally capturing the city, at a huge cost to its soldiers lives. There is street fighting now in parts of the area but the Russians are still not in control. Not much strategic value but costly to take back. > **[Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control - deputy mayor](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64846666)** > > The city has seen months of intense fighting - despite its strategic value being questioned. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FqXVd7IWYAAgFg5?format=jpg&name=large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FqXVd7IWYAAgFg5?format=jpg&name=large) ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2635 "2023-03-04T13:34:40Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Not really sure I want to be on a jet that has plywood window coverings. Oooo, look at Mr Fancypants who doesn’t want plywood on his airplane windows. So spoiled. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2636 "2023-03-04T13:40:33Z")
Russian State Duma recommends that businesses buy air defense: > [@](#): > > Russian companies should buy air defense systems (air defense) to fight drones, since the funds of the Ministry of Defense “are focused on covering important state and military facilities,” said Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee. > > “There are fairly inexpensive means of combating unmanned aerial vehicles that every self-respecting corporation can purchase and put on their facilities,” he explained. > **[Госдума рекомендовала бизнесу закупать ПВО - Русская служба The Moscow Times](https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2023/03/04/vgosdume-predlozhili-kompaniyam-samim-zakupat-pvo-dlya-zaschiti-otdronov-a35818)** > > Российским компаниям следует закупать системы противовоздушной обороны (ПВО) для борьбы с дронами, поскольку средства Минобороны «сосредоточены на прикрытии важных государственных и военных объектов», заявил глава комитета Госдумы по обороне Андрей... ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2637 "2023-03-04T13:50:13Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > “There are fairly inexpensive means of combating unmanned aerial vehicles that every self-respecting corporation can purchase and put on their facilities,” Shotgun? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2638 "2023-03-04T14:15:09Z")
Russia reaches the Mad Max stage of the war: > The thing on top is a 25mm 2M-3 naval gun turret, developed shortly after World War II. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2639 "2023-03-04T16:33:57Z")
If it’s stupid but works, it isn’t stupid. Question is: Does it work? But yes, scraping the barrel. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2640 "2023-03-04T16:44:31Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > Question is: Does it work? As yet unproven. Looks like it might be both top-heavy and rear-heavy, and that’s not to mention the guns. > [@Mogle](#): > > But yes, scraping the barrel. Of rust? Probably. ---
**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 4, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2641 "2023-03-04T16:49:10Z")
And sticking up that high, it looks like an attractive target. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2642 "2023-03-04T16:56:06Z")
“Now I have to buy a _shovel_?” - Bob Ballard ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2643 "2023-03-04T17:43:26Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Russia reaches the Mad Max stage of the war: Disarming your opponent through laughter? That cannot inspire hope within the ranks. Maybe it’s a ruse designed to use up Ukrainian resources and expose assets. I for one look forward to seeing these things parade down Red Square while Putin huddles under a blanket. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2644 "2023-03-04T18:09:53Z")
That’s simultaneously the most comical-looking and also the ugliest vehicle I have ever seen. I don’t know if “vehicle” is a term that it deserves, but since it probably more or less moves, at least some of time, I guess we can grant it than moniker. I doubt it’s worth the cost of firing a missile at it, it looks like the sort of brilliant Russian engineering that will probably just tip over into a ditch all on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2645 "2023-03-04T18:49:28Z")
Remember that an AWACS-type plane carries a bunch of sensitive electronics. Indeed, that’s the whole purpose of such a plane. You could do what appears to be a superficially very small amount of damage to such a plane, but in a way that leaves it useless for its intended mission, and damage to electronics systems is going to be especially difficult for Russia to repair with their 19th-century industrial base and the sanctions. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2646 "2023-03-04T19:02:15Z")
+1 … and the fact that its an airplane … which - even when **99% functional** - should NOT fly. but then again, this is RU … and maybe they convert it from 99% to 0% functional in a matter of 5 min. in air . My non-expert Opinion: this plane is OOS for months, just like the ber ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2647 "2023-03-04T19:08:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Remember that an AWACS-type plane carries a bunch of sensitive electronics. Indeed, that’s the whole purpose of such a plane. You could do what appears to be a superficially very small amount of damage to such a plane, but in a way that leaves it useless for its intended mission, and damage to electronics systems is going to be especially difficult for Russia to repair with their 19th-century industrial base and the sanctions. Spot on, The ‘hump’ that the drone detonated on is the location of the electronics packages for the AWACS and sat nav. If that stuff was wrecked, that jet will be useless for a long time. That’s a $500 million dollar aircraft, and a good chunk of that is in the electronics. Lots of good information about it here: > **[Beriev A-50/A-100 Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft (AEW&C),...](https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2015/12/24/beriev-a-50-airborne-early-warning-and-control-aircraft-aewc-russia/)** > > The A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C) was developed and manufactured by the Beriev Aircraft Research and Engineering Complex Joint Stock Company based at Taganrog in the … ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2648 "2023-03-04T19:11:10Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > > [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > > > I’m sorry, I’m not following you… _what_ is good? And, _what_ is it that you would think Ukrainians or terrorists or whoever would have used within hours? It’s not clear to me who you are responding to. > > I believe he means that the drone was getting the exact GPS of the aircraft so it can be shelled by Ukraine or blown up by anti-Russian resistance groups. The fact that it hasn’t been destroyed works against the GPS theory. Yes, thank you. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2649 "2023-03-04T19:12:31Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That’s a $500 million dollar aircraft, and a good chunk of that is in the electronics. which is a perfectly good explanation of the plywood plank … were the electronics not that darn expensive, they could have easily gone for genuine hardwood but jokes apart … a plane with snow in the cockpit is not going to fly too soon again … if on a sunny day the temp go above 0 … you have a problem ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2650 "2023-03-04T19:33:54Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > > > “There are fairly inexpensive means of combating unmanned aerial vehicles that every self-respecting corporation can purchase and put on their facilities,” > > Shotgun? Yep, then you just rotate your employees. Everyone does a one hour shift on the roof with a shotgun. Actually, I wonder what the civilian firearm market looks like in Russia. Theoretically, could they even produce and sell the number of guns needed? > [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > The thing on top is a 25mm 2M-3 naval gun turret, developed shortly after World War II. Looks a wee bit top heavy. Just get them to take a sharp turn and they’ll fall over. I wonder if they took the turret off a currently used ship. This reeks of desperation, but it’s funny too. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2651 "2023-03-04T19:48:50Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Looks a wee bit top heavy. Just get them to take a sharp turn and they’ll fall over. I wonder if they took the turret off a currently used ship. This reeks of desperation, but it’s funny too. Sort of looks like the USS Monitor. A bit dated. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/2652 "2023-03-04T20:03:33Z")
Perhaps these top heavy things advance until the enemy unit runs out of anti-tank weapons, and the normal tanks come afterwards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=129) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=131)