# 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:** 167
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3375 "2023-04-04T01:39:01Z")
[Institute for the Study of War](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-2-2023) “ISW is publishing an abbreviated campaign update today, April 2. This report discusses the assassination of prominent pro-war Russian milblogger Maksim Fomin (also known as Vladlen Tatarsky) in St. Petersburg on April 2”. snip: “Fomin’s assassination at Prigozhin’s bar is likely part of a larger pattern of escalating Russian internal conflicts involving Prigozhin and Wagner”. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3376 "2023-04-04T03:50:37Z")
> [@Ssounder](#): > > escalating Russian internal conflicts involving Prigozhin and Wagner Hmm… anyone else hearing long knives being honed? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3377 "2023-04-04T06:02:50Z")
No, but I suspect there are windows of opportunity being opened … ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3378 "2023-04-04T14:15:40Z")
Relevant, inasmuch as the special operation caused it, [Finland is now officially a NATO country](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/as-finland-gets-nato-membership-heres-what-it-means-and-why-it-matters/ar-AA19s8nK). ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3379 "2023-04-04T14:17:58Z")
As that link isn’t resolving for me: [https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/04/europe/finland-joins-nato-intl/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/04/europe/finland-joins-nato-intl/index.html) I think this is good news indeed. I bumped the main thread for this: > [@Finland and Sweden appear poised for entry to NATO {2022-05-12}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/102): > > Bumping for good news: [https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/04/europe/finland-joins-nato-intl/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/04/europe/finland-joins-nato-intl/index.html) Thanks to @eschereal for posting in the Invasion thread. [https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3378](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3378) ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3380 "2023-04-04T14:21:04Z")
Oh no, we now have it on good authority that Russia will in very short order WIN the conflict. > **[Russian Psychic Warns Ukraine War 'Resolution' Coming Soon In Chilling...](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-psychic-warns-ukraine-war-resolution-coming-soon-in-chilling-prediction/ar-AA19r1Vk?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=5768b1993d0d494dd46638e163a7f2db&ei=36)** > > Russian Psychic Warns Ukraine War 'Resolution' Coming Soon In Chilling Prediction and according to her Russia wins. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3381 "2023-04-04T14:39:09Z")
More serious news. Putin is allegedly going to replace Wagner PMC forces with a different contractor that he feels he would have more control over. The Article does not name who that might be, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear it’s Shoigu’s newly created private army, [Patriot PMC](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/shoigu-deploys-private-military-company-134403271.html). > **[Putin 'to replace Wagner Group mercenaries amid ongoing power feud'](https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/world/putin-to-replace-wagner-group-mercenaries-amid-ongoing-power-feud/ar-AA19skzT)** > > It appears Putin has become paranoid about a power struggle with the Wagner leader. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3382 "2023-04-04T14:44:00Z")
Putin is making sure that none of the potential knives at his back are sharp. I guess Patriot is more of a threat now and takes its place on the grinder. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3383 "2023-04-04T14:52:32Z")
So, push Prigozhin out the closest window and give his mercenaries to someone else. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3384 "2023-04-04T15:14:14Z")
Shifting forces in the middle of a war doesn’t seem wise. The new troops will have to get used to the area, terrain, ect. And many Wagner fighters might not be too pleased. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3385 "2023-04-04T15:16:17Z")
That’s why I say shove him out the window and get the same guys a new Fearless Leader. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3386 "2023-04-04T15:21:41Z")
Latest map of Russian offensive in Bakhmut: > ---
**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:** [April 4, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3387 "2023-04-04T19:31:41Z")
Strange fact. Both sides are using the original Maxim belt-fed machine guns, a World War I mainstay “patented in 1883. Timeline-wise this weapon was designed closer to the beginning of the American revolution in 1776 than it was to the current Ukrainian conflict. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3388 "2023-04-05T01:11:42Z")
Today’s aid package, 4/4/2023. > **[Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine](https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3350958/biden-administration-announces-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/)** > > The Defense Department announces critical new security assistance for Ukraine, including the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance with more ammunition for U.S.-provided The capabilities in this package include: - Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems; Version not specified. - Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); Unitary HE or billion BB warhead not specified. - 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; Type not specified. - 120mm mortar rounds; Likely HE. - 120mm and 105mm tank ammunition; No indication if HEAT, APFSDS-T, HESH, MP. Also no details if the APFSDS-T rounds are DU. - 25mm ammunition; HE or APDS-T. - Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; Model not specified. - Approximately 400 grenade launchers and 200,000 rounds of ammunition; Wild if it’s MK19 launchers, probably the under receiver M203/M320 launcher. Most likely HEDP ammunition. - 11 tactical vehicles to recover equipment; - 61 heavy fuel tankers; Good for a breakthrough counter attack. - 10 trucks and 10 trailers to transport heavy equipment; Less wear. - Testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair; - Spare parts and other field equipment. Under USAI, the DoD will provide Ukraine with: (Cash account for Ukraine buy stuff directly from US manufacturers.) - Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Probably AIM-120s. - Nine counter-Unmanned Aerial System 30mm gun trucks; - 10 mobile c-UAS laser-guided rocket systems; - Three air surveillance radars; - 30mm and 23mm anti-aircraft ammunition; Soviet/Warsaw pact weapons. - 130mm and 122mm artillery rounds; Soviet/Warsaw pact weapons. - 122mm GRAD rockets; Ibid. - Rocket launchers and ammunition; AT4s and similar. - 120mm and 81mm mortar systems; - 120mm, 81mm, and 60mm mortar rounds; Mostly HE. - 120mm tank ammunition; Later Leopards, M1A1s smoothbore guns, Challenger 2 rifled bore. - Javelin anti-armor systems; New production. - Anti-armor rockets; - Precision aerial munitions; - Approximately 3,600 small arms and more than 23,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition; - Seven tactical vehicles to recover equipment; - Eight heavy fuel tankers and 105 fuel trailers; - Armored bridging systems; - Four logistics support vehicles; - Trucks and ten trailers to transport heavy equipment; - Secure communications equipment; - SATCOM terminals and services; - Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment. Listings are becoming less precise (OPSEC). ---
**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:** [April 5, 2023, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3389 "2023-04-05T11:51:21Z")
[Zelenskyy is visiting Poland.](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/4/5/russia-ukraine-live-news-zelenskyy-visits-poland-to-deepen-ties) An in-person visit always seems like a good idea, but risky. I suppose no place is 100% safe for him, though, and he can’t stay hunkered down forever. Turkey and the US are discussing Sweden’s NATO membership. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2023, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3390 "2023-04-05T12:12:38Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > - Armored bridging systems; > - Four logistics support vehicles; > - Trucks and ten trailers to transport heavy equipment; > - Secure communications equipment; > - SATCOM terminals and services; These items near the bottom of the list may not sound as sexy as things like HIMARS ammo, but are essential for a successful counteroffensive. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3391 "2023-04-05T13:49:08Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > She claims she had no idea about the bomb, that she was given the statuette to pass on to the victim. > > I have no more info either way, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she was telling the truth. What was the timegap between her giving him the statuette and the explosion? How did she manage to get clear in time? Was the bomb even actually in the statuette? Talk about a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma… ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3392 "2023-04-05T14:09:08Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > [Zelenskyy is visiting Poland.](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/4/5/russia-ukraine-live-news-zelenskyy-visits-poland-to-deepen-ties) An in-person visit always seems like a good idea, but risky. I suppose no place is 100% safe for him, though, and he can’t stay hunkered down forever. Turkey and the US are discussing Sweden’s NATO membership. Is this the first time he’s left Ukraine? Mostly world leaders have been going to him. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3393 "2023-04-05T14:10:17Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > She claims she had no idea about the bomb, that she was given the statuette to pass on to the victim. “Has your luggage ever been out of your possession?” “Has anyone had access to your luggage since you packed?” “Did anyone suspicious ask you to give something to somebody else?” There is a reason TSA asks questions like that. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3394 "2023-04-05T14:11:07Z")
Didn’t he come to the US last year and address both houses and then had a meeting with President Biden? [Foreign visits by Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_visits_by_Volodymyr_Zelenskyy_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine). [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/P20221221AS-0227_%2852650919671%29.jpg/360px-P20221221AS-0227_%2852650919671%29.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/P20221221AS-0227_%2852650919671%29.jpg/360px-P20221221AS-0227_%2852650919671%29.jpg) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Volodymyr_Zelensky%2C_Kamala_Harris_and_Nancy_Pelosi_during_a_Joint_Meeting_of_Congress.jpg/360px-Volodymyr_Zelensky%2C_Kamala_Harris_and_Nancy_Pelosi_during_a_Joint_Meeting_of_Congress.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Volodymyr_Zelensky%2C_Kamala_Harris_and_Nancy_Pelosi_during_a_Joint_Meeting_of_Congress.jpg/360px-Volodymyr_Zelensky%2C_Kamala_Harris_and_Nancy_Pelosi_during_a_Joint_Meeting_of_Congress.jpg) In February he visited the UK: > **[Foreign visits by Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Russian invasion of Ukraine | 2023 visit to the United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_visits_by_Volodymyr_Zelenskyy_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine#2023_visit_to_the_United_Kingdom)** > > On 8 February 2023, Zelenskyy visited the United Kingdom. During his trip, Zelenskyy met Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He also addressed members of parliament from Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament and had an audience with King Charles III. It was Zelenskyy's second trip outside Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after his December 2022 visit to the United States. Throughout the war, a number of states have provided [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=166) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=168)