# 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:** 259
**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:** [July 27, 2023, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5265 "2023-07-27T10:36:27Z")
Small steps are very important. Ukrainian forces are still modernizing and gaining experience. I assume the Bradley fighting vehicles and Leopard tanks were used in this battle? Link [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 26, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-26-2023) > [@](#): > > **Ukrainian forces launched a significant mechanized counteroffensive operation in western Zaporizhia Oblast on July 26 and appear to have broken through certain pre-prepared Russian defensive positions south of Orikhiv.** Russian sources, including the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and several prominent milbloggers, claimed that Ukrainian forces launched an intense frontal assault towards Robotyne (10km south of Orikhiv) and broke through Russian defensive positions northeast of the settlement.[1] Geolocated footage indicates that Ukrainian forces likely advanced to within 2.5km directly east of Robotyne during the attack before Russian forces employed standard doctrinal elastic defense tactics and pushed Ukrainian troops back somewhat, although not all the way back to their starting positions. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5266 "2023-07-27T12:50:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It was done in WWII. I don’t think there’s any evidence it actually worked. And even then, the goal was to take out factories, and the workers in them, that were producing materials used by the military. Bombers often hit schools and churches and the like anyway, but that was just because back then, aiming bombs meant “try to get them somewhere in the same city”. If the goal is to take out factories and the workers making war materiel, then it’s not terrorism; damage to civilian infrastructure and the deaths of civilians not directly involved in the war effort, if inadvertently caused while carrying out targeted attacks on those factories, is collateral damage. That doesn’t seem to be what Russia is doing in the present conflict. Instead, they are deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Apartment blocks, hospitals, schools, and now agricultural exports are all being hit with precision-guided munitions, i.e. they’re not collateral damage associated with an attack on a legitimate military target. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5267 "2023-07-27T14:19:58Z")
The Russians found a weak spot and had success in retaking a Ukrainian position. It was defended by inexperienced soldiers that were also training. The transcript is available if you don’t want to watch the video. It’s under the description. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jF10g9CykKk/maxresdefault.jpg "26 Jul: UNEXPECTED. Russians ATTACK AND PENETRATE UKRAINIAN FLANKS | War in Ukraine Explained") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF10g9CykKk) ---
**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:** [July 27, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5268 "2023-07-27T22:00:04Z")
[Russian Mafia Puts Out Hit on Vladimir Putin Over ‘Disastrous’ War in Ukraine](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-mafia-puts-out-hit-on-vladimir-putin-over-disastrous-war-in-ukraine/ar-AA1erMTX) > “He has cut off the oligarchs and their criminal associates from legitimate and underground dealings with Ukraine, the rest of Europe, and the United States,” the source told us. “They’re furious.” > > Even more shocking was the international intelligence agent’s claim that the Russian Mafia has already tried to kill Putin on at least three separate occasions. … > > “The oligarchs — and the mob — are fed up with Putin,” the source explained further. “They helped put him in power — but now he’s cutting into their profits and they want him eliminated.” > > “But Putin won’t go quietly,” the intelligence agent concluded. “He knows he’s in trouble and has been killing off all rivals.” ---
**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:** [July 27, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5269 "2023-07-27T23:01:58Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The Russians found a weak spot and had success in retaking a Ukrainian position. It was defended by inexperienced soldiers that were also training. > > The transcript is available if you don’t want to watch the video. It’s under the description. just as a tangent … I earlier today read a short article in a german-speaking mainstream medium, using the same figure speach (weak spot) … but used it for the UKR attack in zaborishsha (sp?) … IOW UKR found the weak spot in RU defense line just goes to show … stick with the data, avoid any interpretations that some intermediary (underpaid journalist or click-whore) is going to do… ---
**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:** [July 28, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5270 "2023-07-28T14:24:37Z")
Prigozhin was seen in St. Petersburg at the Russia Africa summit. It seems all is forgiven. That unfortunate misunderstanding never happened. 😉 > **[Wagner chief Prigozhin seen back in Russia for first time since rebellion | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/europe/prigozhin-inside-russia-intl-hnk/index.html)** > > Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private military company, was spotted inside Russia on Thursday for the first time since he led an armed rebellion against the Russian military last month. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5271 "2023-07-28T15:49:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Russian Mafia Puts Out Hit on Vladimir Putin Over ‘Disastrous’ War in Ukraine I was so sure that was going to be a link to _The Onion_. I think I’ll just go back to bed now. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5272 "2023-07-28T16:15:45Z")
Radar Online isn’t much better if you’re hoping for facts. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5273 "2023-07-28T16:59:10Z")
It would not surprise me if it was true. Not that that site has factual insider info on-point, but that they’re correct in general just based on the atmospherics of how business / politics are done in a mature kleptocracy. Seeing Prigozhin on the loose in Russia is the more surprising “news”. Assuming it was really him and not a staged exposure of a well-guarded prisoner. Curiouser and curiouser. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5274 "2023-07-28T18:53:29Z")
> [@](#): > > “Twice, they tried to take out his car in a motorcade with RPG grenades and missed,” the insider spilled. “Another attempt involved rigging an elevator Putin was due to enter but didn’t.” Russian mafia, Russian army, who can tell the difference? (maybe it was because they were using rocket propelled grenade grenades) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5275 "2023-07-28T19:18:36Z")
One of them is significantly better armed and organized. And the other is the Army. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5276 "2023-07-28T20:03:23Z")
One has good OpSec. The other, … well … not so much. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5277 "2023-07-29T02:04:58Z")
The Russian 7th VDV Division said hell no, we won’t go! (or the equivalent in Russian) 🙂 It’s terrible that fighting in and near Bakhmut has continued for a year. I remember the city’s name first reported last summer. The casualties on both sides must be horrific. Link [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 28, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-28-2023) > [@](#): > > **Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least three sectors of the front and reportedly advanced near Bakhmut on July 28.** Ukrainian military officials stated that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on the northern and southern flanks of Bakhmut, and Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar stated on July 27 that Ukrainian forces continued advancing south of Bakhmut.[1] A Russian milblogger claimed on July 28 that Ukrainian forces advanced near Kurdyumivka and Andriivka.[2] Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks along the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border near Staromayorske (9km south of Velyka Novosilka) and Urozhaine (9km south of Velyka Novosilka), and some milbloggers acknowledged that Ukrainian forces captured Staromayorske on July 27.[3] A Ukrainian source claimed that Ukrainian forces have advanced to within 10-12 kilometers of the main Russian defensive line in the Berdyansk direction.[4] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian ground attacks near Robotyne (10km south of Orikhiv), Verbove (17km southeast of Orikhiv), and Pyatykhatky (25km southwest of Orikhiv) in western Zaporizhia Oblast.[5] Russian “Vostok” Battalion Commander Alexander Khodakovsky stated that Ukrainian forces can conduct strikes against the full depth of defending Russian forces and that these strikes are killing Russian commanders and degrading Russian command and control.[6] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the 247th Guards Air Assault (VDV) Regiment (7th VDV Division) refused to go to combat near Staromayorske due to heavy Russian losses and Ukrainian battlefield victories. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5278 "2023-07-29T10:48:19Z")
Wow, Ukraine apparently was delivered some seized North Korean rockets for their mobile launchers. No word on who seized them and delivered them at the moment. > **[Ukraine uses North Korean rockets to blast Russian forces -FT](https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-uses-north-korean-rockets-blast-russian-forces-ft-2023-07-29/)** > > Ukrainian soldiers were observed using North Korean rockets that they said were seized by a "friendly" country before being delivered to Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5279 "2023-07-29T13:19:13Z")
Black market shipping has few delivery guarantees. Amazon it ain’t. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5280 "2023-07-29T13:46:46Z")
NK to Iran to Houthi rebels is the probable pathway. US and allies have cut the Houthi pipeline a number of times. Of course, they could have fallen off the back of a truck or some guys were just in your neighborhood - had a few extra - would make you a good deal so they don’t have to take them back to the warehouse. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5281 "2023-07-29T14:19:59Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > NK to Iran to Houthi rebels is the probable pathway. US and allies have cut the Houthi pipeline a number of times. Why would Iran and the Houthis be involved? NK and Russia share a border near Vladivostok. It seems the simplest route would be by rail from Vladivostok. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5282 "2023-07-29T15:07:12Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > It seems the simplest route would be by rail from Vladivostok. Then they would be delivered to Ukraine pointy end first? Why would the Russians _give_ missiles to Ukraine? These are from an (internationally) illegal North Korean weapons shipment confiscated by a nation friendly to Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5283 "2023-07-29T15:10:31Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Then they would be delivered to Ukraine pointy end first? Why would the Russians _give_ missiles to Ukraine? These are from an (internationally) illegal North Korean weapons shipment confiscated by a Ukrainian ally. I was interpreting “ally” in the sense that Russia itself has been a source of Ukrainian equipment. In other words that Ukraine had captured some Russian weapons on the battlefield, which just so happened to have been originally supplied by NK. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/5284 "2023-07-29T16:16:19Z")
It seems Russia has decided to target the smaller cities. They’re not defended as well. > **[Dnipro: Russian missiles hit apartment block and security service building](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66344549)** > > Nine people are injured and the top floor of an apartment block is almost completely destroyed. > [@](#): > > A BBC team on the ground confirmed the top floor of a large residential tower block was almost completely destroyed in the strike on Friday evening. > > A building belonging to Ukraine’s security services (SBU) was also hit, President Volodymyr Zelensky says. > > He blamed “Russian missile terror”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=258) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=260)