# 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:** 206
**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:** [May 28, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4195 "2023-05-28T17:33:35Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@Tamerlane](#): > > > > Bizarrely Lukashenko’s death could be a huge mess for everybody. > > The death of a dictator always causes messes. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4196 "2023-05-28T17:34:28Z")
---
**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:** [May 28, 2023, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4197 "2023-05-28T17:35:30Z")
Start a new thread if you like, but stop with the conjecture in the breaking News thread about Lukashenko. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4198 "2023-05-28T17:56:01Z")
This topic was automatically opened after 21 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4199 "2023-05-29T04:42:30Z")
I’ve put a basic summary of the Lukashenko issue in an existing thread [HERE](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-use-of-nuclear-weapons-and-response-rgd-ukraine/972339/412). ---
**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:** [May 29, 2023, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4200 "2023-05-29T06:11:56Z")
Apparently Iran has been busy manufacturing and selling drones. Russia seems to have a unending supply. I hope Ukrainian air defense _really_ shot done 58 out of 59. Link [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 28, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-28-2023) > [@](#): > > **Russian forces conducted the largest Shahed drone strike against Ukraine since the start of the war overnight on May 27-28.** The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces launched 59 Shahed-131/136 drones, of which Ukrainian forces shot down 58.[1] Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat characterized this strike as the largest drone strike since the start of the war and stated that Russian forces chiefly targeted Kyiv.[2] Zhytomyr Oblast Head Vitaliy Bunechko reported that Russian drones struck an unspecified infrastructure facility in the oblast.[3] The Russian allocation of aerial munitions to targeting Kyiv rather than prioritizing infrastructure or military facilities continues to constrain this limited Russian air campaign’s ability to meaningfully degrade Ukrainian offensive capabilities for the upcoming counteroffensive, as ISW has previously assessed. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4201 "2023-05-29T13:13:10Z")
The problem is that Shaheds cost a tiny fraction of the cost of what shoots them down. A bit like ballistic missile defense that was tried in the 1960s, the attacker can bankrupt the defender rather easily. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4202 "2023-05-29T13:20:27Z")
I’ve seen speculation Russia wants to exhaust Ukraine’s stock of air defense missiles. Then Russia can send their cruise missiles and do serious damage. I’m not sure what Ukraine can do. The drone attacks can’t be ignored. They have to shoot them down. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4203 "2023-05-29T13:26:08Z")
I’d expect Russia to exhaust their missiles before Ukraine exhausts their air defenses. The West is keeping Ukraine supplied with defensive weapons as much as possible, while Russia only gets supplies from a few weak countries like Iran. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4204 "2023-05-29T13:42:52Z")
Geez. I feel so bad for the kids. No one is safe in this war. Link [Russia launches missile strikes on Kyiv after overnight barrage | Ukraine | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/29/russia-missile-strikes-kyiv-overnight-barrage-ukraine) > [@](#): > > The Ukrainian military said it had intercepted all the ballistic missiles fired at the city in the attack that began at 11am. One person was reported to have been injured. Residents who had become accustomed to a string of night-time attacks ran to Kyiv’s metro stations and other shelters after a succession of loud bangs as incoming missiles were intercepted and bursts of smoke from air defences dotted the clear morning sky. > > One video posted on social media showed children running down a road screaming under the barrage. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, posted a picture on social media of what appeared to be a smouldering rocket motor in the middle of a busy street. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4205 "2023-05-29T13:48:22Z")
Theoretically they’d shoot them down with guns rather than missiles. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4206 "2023-05-29T13:51:48Z")
There are lots of different things that fall under the category of “drones”, and lots of different things that fall under the category of “air defenses”. The most expensive air defenses are, indeed, much more expensive than the cheapest drones, but you don’t use those air defenses against those drones. The cheapest air defenses are much cheaper than the cheapest drones, and the most expensive air defenses are much cheaper than the most expensive drones. Everything has something much cheaper that can shoot it down, and so the economics favor the defenders. Heck, if nothing else, you can just take another, comparable, drone, and crash it into the attacker (though it seldom comes to that). ---
**Author:** ![FrenchDunadan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frenchdunadan/32/5449_2.png) [@FrenchDunadan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrenchDunadan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4207 "2023-05-29T16:19:40Z")
one of the reason Russia fire drones at night is that Ukraine had put every gun they could (including WW2 era HMG and MMG) on anti-air fire, but they lack radar guidance so can only fire during the day. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4208 "2023-05-29T18:20:45Z")
A demilitarized zone, inside Russia, is going to go over really well. I guess Mykhailo Podolyak can dream. Safeguards against future Russian attacks will be difficult to enforce. I’m not convinced its even 100% possible. Its literally like sleeping next to a Bear. It can attack at any time. Guardian blog > [@](#): > > **The adviser to the head of the office of Ukraine’s president, Mykhailo Podolyak, has suggested that any peace settlement acceptable to [Ukraine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) would include not only a restoration of the country’s sovereign borders, but a demilitarised zone extending between 100km and 120km into Russia.** Podolyak tweeted: The key topic of the postwar settlement should be the establishment of safeguards to prevent a recurrence of aggression in the future. To ensure real security for residents of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions and protect them from shelling, it will be necessary to introduce a demilitarisation zone of 100km-120km on the territory of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, and Rostov republics. Probably with a mandatory international control contingent at the first stage.” ---
**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:** [May 30, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4209 "2023-05-30T00:08:48Z")
> Summary at the top covers the amount of increase. This is like a credit line to purchase materials rather than a grant of material. Denmark’s military aid to Kyiv is financed through the Ukraine Fund, created in March 2023. The Danish parliament initially agreed to contribute about $1 billion to it. The need to increase the financing came up as 70% of the fund has already been used, DR wrote. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4210 "2023-05-30T00:35:54Z")
Oryx count of Russian tank losses passes 2000 mark: > > > ---
**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:** [May 30, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4211 "2023-05-30T02:56:44Z")
It’s the 3rd air attack on Kyiv in 24 hours. 17 in May. It has to be a horrific experience for civilians The Guardian blog > [@](#): > > If you’re just joining us: [Russia](https://www.theguardian.com/world/russia) launched a fresh “massive” wave of attacks on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday and air defence systems were engaging incoming targets, city officials said, as air raid sirens blared in several other regions. > > “A massive attack!” Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app. “Do not leave shelters.” > > Kyiv’s military administration officials said that air defence systems were repelling the attacks. Falling debris hit several districts of the capital, including the historic Podil and Pecherskyi neighbourhoods. > [@](#): > > Russia has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian capital in May using a combination of drones and missiles, mostly at night in order to inflict psychological distress on people, Kyiv’s official said. > > The Tuesday strikes were Russia’s 17th air assault on the capital this month and came after the city was attacked twice on Monday, including a rare daytime strike. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4212 "2023-05-30T05:24:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s the 3rd air attack on Kyiv in 24 hours. Yeah, and Putin lost his shit over one drone at the Kremlin. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4213 "2023-05-30T06:14:24Z")
Obviously fake picture on the last one there – the turret is still on. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4214 "2023-05-30T07:33:28Z")
Interesting. Why has Russia lost so many T-80s and so few T-90s? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=205) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=207)