# 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:** 329
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6677 "2024-01-10T15:44:25Z")
How does this happen? Are the ground crews improperly installing the bombs? Seems unlikely anyone pushed a button by accident. 2 whoopsies in a few days Guardian live feed > [@](#): > > ## Russia accidentally drops bomb on Russian-occupied Luhansk region - official > > In the Russian-occupied **Luhansk** region in eastern [Ukraine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine), a Russian warplane accidentally released a bomb on the town of **Rubizhne** , Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the region’s Moscow-appointed government, said. > > He said the bomb, an FAB-250 that carries a high-explosive warhead, did not cause injuries, the Associated Press reports. > > The incident comes only six days[after Russia accidentally dropped munitions over the village of Petropavlovka](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/jan/02/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-kyiv-missile-strike-vladimir-putin-drone-belgorod?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-6593ddce8f087c86f69594aa#block-6593ddce8f087c86f69594aa) in the Belgorod region. > > Russia has occupied parts of the Luhansk region since 2014. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow’s troops seized the majority of the region, including Rubizhne, according to the Kyiv Independent. Improperly mounting these wouldn’t be hard. [![](https://vcdns.valka.cz/files/fab-250_121.jpg) ](https://vcdns.valka.cz/files/fab-250_121.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6678 "2024-01-10T15:58:21Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Improperly mounting these wouldn’t be hard. AFAIK, the mounting technology used by the Russians is pretty much identical to NATO except in implementation details (like spacing between shackles). But it probably takes a competent ground crew to upload grav bombs without fucking it up and ending up with insecurely mounted munitions . ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6679 "2024-01-10T16:56:24Z")
- The bombs need to not have rusting falling apart hooks. - The bomb racks need to not be full of gunk so they lock closed properly when the ground crew attaches the bombs. - The ground crews need to be diligent and thorough. - The shotgun-shell like device that releases the bomb needs to be fresh enough and properly stored enough so it doesn’t fire for the hell of it. - It also needs to be properly manufactured in the first place. - The airplane wiring needs to have no glitches in it. - The pilot needs to be skilled enough to only arm the drop system when near the target, not right after takeoff so they won’t forget later. - The pilot needs to keep their finger away from the drop button while using all the other nearby buttons. Long laundry list of things have to go right to not have oopsies. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6680 "2024-01-10T17:33:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > - The shotgun-shell like device that releases the bomb… I’ve never heard of this. I’ve always assumed that the bomb was suspended by lugs (on top of the bomb)… [![](https://www.bombsaway.us/images/ldgp250a.png) ](https://www.bombsaway.us/images/ldgp250a.png) … and release by the hooks that held the lugs. [![](https://www.tpub.com/aviord321/12309_files/image534.jpg) ](https://www.tpub.com/aviord321/12309_files/image534.jpg) But I see in this image that there is a pneumatic ejector (not an explosive charge). [![](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349446814/figure/fig4/AS:993098641448960@1613784575150/Developed-Bomb-Release-Mechanism-with-sway-braces-and-ejector-unit.ppm) ](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349446814/figure/fig4/AS:993098641448960@1613784575150/Developed-Bomb-Release-Mechanism-with-sway-braces-and-ejector-unit.ppm) I assume my original assumption is an older system (I’m thinking '40s-'70s). When did positive ejectors come about? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6681 "2024-01-10T17:51:51Z")
The details vary of course by era and by country. Big picture you’re about 99% there. The bomb is suspended by the lugs on top engaging with the two big latches in the bomb rack in your upper diagram. As you say. Which is powered by a big electrical solenoid in some, not all installations. As you say. In your lower diagram we see the threaded adjustable “sway braces”, feet kind of like furniture levelers that are screwed down onto the bomb so it won’t wobble while hanging on its lugs from the rack. The “pneumatic” system is actually powered by two shotgun shell-like cartridges. That double-cylinder thing on top in translucent gray is the two breeches where the two firing cartridges live. The US/NATO ones are about an inch in diameter and 1.75" long. They drive two pistons that violently shove the bomb away from the rack at the same time the rack latches are opening. The bomb pushers are needed to get the bomb out of the immediate airflow around the wing or fuselage. If the carts fail to fire, the bomb may well be captured by the slipstream, flip up and over the wing, bump into other bombs or the tail, and generally cause noisy expensive mischief. Some racks have the carts firing pressure release the hooks, rather than having a solenoid do it. That ensures the bomb won’t release unassisted. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6682 "2024-01-10T18:05:50Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In your lower diagram we see the threaded adjustable “sway braces”, feet kind of like furniture levelers that are screwed down onto the bomb so it won’t wobble while hanging on its lugs from the rack. I knew that, but I appreciate your mentioning them for those who didn’t. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > The bomb pushers are needed to get the bomb out of the immediate airflow around the wing or fuselage. That makes sense. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6683 "2024-01-10T18:16:07Z")
These nice folks make many of the US’s bomb racks. Bunch of nice pictures there. About amidships on the racks you’ll see two bronze/brass colored hex bolts with large caps right behind them. Those are the cartridge breeches. Unscrew the bolt head/cap, remove the spent cart, insert a fresh one, and run the bolt down to close the breech. > **[Marvin Engineering Ejector / Bomb Racks](https://marvineng.com/product_category/ejector-racks/)** > > Marvin Engineering manufactures a wide range of ejector (bomb) racks found on a wide range of U.S. aircraft. We also design state-of-the-art pneumatic racks ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6684 "2024-01-10T18:20:10Z")
With that post, please return to breaking news, if you wish to further discuss, please start a new thread. **Moderating** ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6685 "2024-01-10T19:53:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > He said the bomb, an FAB-250 that carries a high-explosive warhead, did not cause injuries, the Associated Press reports. Probably forgot to arm it. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6686 "2024-01-10T20:26:40Z")
At least in US/NATO practice, if it falls off unexpectedly it won’t be armed unless some other malfunction is present. It’ll dud on impact. Still hurt if it hit you, but less than 1m square area is affected. At the same time, a 250kg bomb has a roughly 50 meter anti-structure and 100m anti-personnel blast radius. The Earth is a very big place and depending on the definition of “on the town of Rubizhne” that bomg may well have landed in a farm field. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6687 "2024-01-10T22:04:16Z")
Well, to summarize the entire episode: the Russian Air Force’s strike capability is as overtaxed and inept as the rest of its forces, as repeatedly demonstrated by the other news articles here. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6688 "2024-01-12T16:26:47Z")
UK is providing £2.5bn defense package. I also read that the US and Ecuador agreed to exchange $200 million worth of soviet equipment for modern equipment. The inference is that this will go to Ukraine. > ---
**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:** [January 13, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6689 "2024-01-13T01:45:04Z")
Russia’s entire land based army is rotating in and out of Ukraine. That has to leave them vulnerable along other areas. Kaliningrad for example is between Poland and Lithuania. It is concerning their units are getting rotation back to the rear for rest and resupply. I haven’t seen any similiar information about Ukrainian units. Interesting report. Link [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 11, 2024 | Institute for the Study of War](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-11-2024) > [@](#): > > **The reported concentration of the Russian military’s entire combat-capable ground force in Ukraine and ongoing Russian force generation efforts appear to allow Russian forces to conduct routine operational level rotations in Ukraine.** Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) **Deputy Chief Major General Vadym Skibitskyi stated on January 11 that Russian forces have 462,000 personnel in Ukraine and that this represents the entire land component of the Russian military.** [1] Skibitskyi stated that most Russian units in Ukraine are manned at between 92 and 95 percent of their intended end strength and that the size of the Russian grouping in Ukraine allows Russian forces to conduct rotations throughout the theater.[2] Skibitskyi stated that Russian forces withdraw units that are at 50 percent or less of their intended end strength to rear areas and return them to the front following recovery and replenishment.[3] Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev stated on January 11 that the Russian military has successfully replenished Russian forces in Ukraine through an ongoing crypto-mobilization effort that generated over 500,000 new personnel in 2023. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6690 "2024-01-13T02:31:31Z")
so when half of them are wiped out they send them to the rear where they educate the new half of the unit on what to expect. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6691 "2024-01-13T07:10:04Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > so when half of them are wiped out they send them to the rear where they educate the new half of the unit on what to expect. That is exactly what to take from that. The fact that units are routinely reduced to 50% is pretty horrific. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6692 "2024-01-13T20:05:28Z")
> **[2 US Bradley fighting vehicles take out Russia's top T-90 battle tank on...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/2-us-bradley-fighting-vehicles-173427831.html)** > > Drone footage shows Ukrainian forces using two US-made Bradley fighting vehicles to destroy a Russian T-90 tank. > A video shows two US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles taking out one of Russia’s main battle tanks… > > Reports say [the tank was a T-90M Proryv](https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2024/01/13/two-us-bradley-ifvs-disable-a-russian-t-90m-tank-in-a-10min-combat/), the latest in the series, with the most advanced armor, mobility, and firepower… > > [Russian soldiers are “afraid” of facing against Bradleys](https://www.newsweek.com/bradley-fighting-vehicles-ukraine-avdiivka-47th-brigade-russia-1857732), a Ukrainian commander said, Newsweek reported. > > The Ukrainian soldier, who goes by his call sign of “Kach,” said that Russian troops in tanks and troop carriers fear going into battle against the[tracked armored fighting vehicles.](https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-inside-ukraine-us-bradley-fighting-vehicles-troops-alive-russia-2023-9?IR=T&r=US&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=yahoo.com) The article has the embedded X video, which can be watched on X for a larger image. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6693 "2024-01-13T22:05:53Z")
If that’s true – the drone footage looks an awful lot like a video game – that’s astonishing. The Bradley is a ‘battlefield taxi’ meant to deliver a squad rapidly to where it’s needed and in no way is intended to go toe to toe against a main battle tank, even if they out-number it. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6694 "2024-01-13T22:08:08Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > If that’s true – the drone footage looks an awful lot like a video game – that’s astonishing. The article says they were aiming for the T-90’s weakest point. I was impressed by the accuracy. That, with the high rate of fire, might be a new tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6695 "2024-01-13T22:11:46Z")
During the first stage of the war I remember a video of a Ukrainian IFV killing a Russian MBT by being so close that it could hit the _bottom armor_ by shooting at a downward angle. So I also was not expecting then to kill one via a cannon at medium and/or long range. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/6696 "2024-01-13T22:22:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The article says they were aiming for the T-90’s weakest point. The thermal exhaust port? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=328) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=330)