# 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:** 373
**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:** [September 22, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7573 "2024-09-22T00:39:16Z")
The pressure to break through at any cost must be incredibly intense for Russian Officers. This is almost suicidal. 45% losses of vehicles can’t be acceptable, even for Russia. Link [98 Russian Vehicles Barreled Toward Kurakhove in Back-To-Back Record Assaults](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/09/20/98-russian-vehicles-barreled-toward-kurakhove-in-back-to-back-record-assaults-fire-spewing-ukrainian-thermite-drones-were-waiting/) > [@](#): > > The Russians are determined to break through Ukrainian lines outside Kurakhove, just west of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. On Sept. 12, the Russians [attacked with 46 vehicles](https://t.me/oaembr46/1012)—a record for that sector. Exactly a week later on Thursday, they broke their own record—[and attacked with 52 vehicles](https://t.me/oaembr46/1022). > > Both attacks failed. The Ukrainian 46th Air Mobile Brigade, holding the line between Donetsk in the east and Kurakhove in the west, fought back with [thermite-spewing drones](https://daxe.substack.com/p/god-help-any-russians-who-find-themselves), artillery, tanks and infantry—and destroyed, disabled or damaged 44 of the 98 attacking vehicles while killing 72 Russians on Thursday alone. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7574 "2024-09-22T23:49:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m seeing numbers in the kilotons tossed around for these explosions. For comparison, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs were in the vicinity of 10 kT. So, no, not nukes, but for practical purposes pretty close to them. A source I read said that there were 33kt of munitions at the depot, its not clear that they all went up, and they didn’t all blow up instantly like they would in a nuclear blast, but the total energy released might have been in the Hiroshima range. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7575 "2024-09-23T00:20:54Z")
The war is creating important US jobs. Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be in the US several days. > **[Ukraine's Zelenskyy visits Pennsylvania ammunition plant to thank workers and...](https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-ukraine-pennsylvania-ammunition-plant-c0e1fe5ebfa11ecfe92e842860e6440c)** > > Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the Pennsylvania ammunition factory that is producing one of the most critically needed munitions for his country’s fight to fend off Russian ground forces. > [@](#): > > Zelenskyy’s visit kicked off a busy week in the United States as he works tirelessly to shore up support for Ukraine in the war. He will speak at the U.N. General Assembly annual gathering in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday and then travel to Washington for talks on Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7576 "2024-09-23T00:23:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > For comparison, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs were in the vicinity of 10 kT. The Fat Man, Nagasaki, was 21 Kt. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7577 "2024-09-23T00:30:59Z")
Like I said, “in the vicinity”. The comparison didn’t need any more precision than an order of magnitude. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7578 "2024-09-23T01:14:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > As an aside, folks knew that really big explosions produce mushroom clouds even before the first nukes. It’s tough (and expensive) to make a conventional explosive that big, but it can be (and has been, usually unintentionally) done. The Wikipedia article on the Halifax Harbour explosion has a picture of the cloud. Big, but doesn’t look like a mushroom. The explosion was estimated at 3kt. > **[Halifax Explosion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion)** > > On the morning of 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the harbour of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Mont-Blanc, laden with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastating the Richmond district of Halifax. At least 1,782 people were killed, largely in Halifax and Dartmouth, by the blast, debris, fires, or collapsed buildings, and an estimated 9,000 others were injured. The blast was the largest human-made explosion at the time... ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7579 "2024-09-23T02:59:12Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Big, but doesn’t look like a mushroom. It depends on when in the evolution of the cloud the picture is taken. This piece has a picture that shows a distinct mushroom cloud [http://jproc.ca/iroquois/explosion\_1945.html](http://jproc.ca/iroquois/explosion_1945.html) ---
**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:** [September 23, 2024, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7580 "2024-09-23T03:07:11Z")
Thanks for that ! ---
**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:** [September 23, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7581 "2024-09-23T04:32:53Z")
When I was about twelve I witnessed, from a suitable distance, a fuel tank for an air compressor on the back of a construction truck explode. It sent a mushroom cloud of flame and smoke albeit only 60 or 70 feet high, not into the stratosphere like the atomic and ammo dump explosions being mentioned. It does demonstrate that it can take less than you’d think to make a spectacular fireball. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7582 "2024-09-23T05:09:24Z")
Mushroom clouds are generated any time there’s sudden heat plus lots of particles in the air at a single location. I’ve seen them in some fairly small explosions, albeit, very short-lived clouds. Like lasting only a second or two. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7583 "2024-09-23T12:25:53Z")
Note that this was a different Halifax explosion, in 1945. My grandmother was injured by flying glass in the much bigger 1917 one. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7584 "2024-09-23T12:34:33Z")
Thanks for the correction ---
**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:** [September 23, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7585 "2024-09-23T13:01:59Z")
This could be a historic week for President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine. This plan has been in development for much of the year. Hopefully he can at least change some minds and gain more support for ending this war. > **[Ukraine war: Zelensky to present 'victory plan' to Biden, Harris and Trump](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y30244467o)** > > The Ukrainian leader is due to meet the US president before attending the UN General Assembly. > [@](#): > > Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to present a “plan for victory” in the country’s war with Russia to President Joe Biden during this week’s visit to the US. > > Zelensky also intends to present the plan to Congress and the two candidates in the US presidential election: Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7586 "2024-09-24T21:55:44Z")
Russia is apparently [marvin the martian voice]very angry[/marvin voice] with the countries that have been helping Ukraine fight them off. They stretched the legs a bit on one of their intercontinental ballistic missles, > **[Satellite images suggest test of Russian “super weapon” failed spectacularly](https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/09/satellite-images-suggest-test-of-russian-super-weapon-failed-spectacularly/)** > > All that's left of the Russian missile silo is a big hole in the ground. Evidence suggests that the exercise did not go well. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7587 "2024-09-24T22:53:50Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Evidence suggests that the exercise did not go well. Depends on your perspective. It’s probably _supposed_ to make a big hole in the ground. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7588 "2024-09-24T23:02:15Z")
> **OT missile talk** > > Actually, AIUI, modern missile weapons are usually _not_ supposed to make a big hole in the ground. That was the big weakness of the German V2 rocket: it exploded on impact, causing less damage than a V1 buzzbomb. In most cases that do not involve busting bunkers, a warhead should detonate at a height of something like half to two-thirds blast radius, so that it flattens stuff all around but leaves a minimal crater. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7589 "2024-09-25T02:22:38Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Depends on your perspective. It’s probably _supposed_ to make a big hole in the ground. That may be true generally, but not at the launch site or anywhere in the launching country’s territory. Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7590 "2024-09-26T14:14:20Z")
Biden has announced $5.5 billion in aid to be delivered by the end of his term. That’s going to be a huge push over the next few months. Also another $2.4 billion in aid through another mechanism. I’m not sure if that will also be before the end of his term. > > > NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 @NOELreports ---
**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:** [September 26, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7591 "2024-09-26T15:29:45Z")
The analysis is interesting. He identifies the cannister falling and then the cluster bombs afterwards. I wouldn’t make a good intelligence analyst. I just see a blurry mess until things are pointed out. 5 minutes [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0T6KUuMYBeE/maxresdefault.jpg "HIMARS Destroys Russian Convoy Near Donetsk (NINE Trucks!)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T6KUuMYBeE) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/7592 "2024-09-26T15:42:56Z")
“These three likely survived, unless a far-flung bit of debris managed to bonk them.” 😆 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=372) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=374)