# 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:** 40
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/781 "2022-11-27T08:47:56Z")
Also videos of them crashing on take-off or shortly thereafter. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/782 "2022-11-27T17:51:26Z")
> [@Bootb](#): > > If Russia hasn’t used their air force, then how have they lost all these planes? Spontaneous combustion on the runways? Defenestration. Oh, wait. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/783 "2022-11-27T18:27:49Z")
Sympathetic energetic disassembly ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/784 "2022-11-27T20:55:54Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Yes , it is still very, very possible that Russia will win this war. Only for certain meanings of the term "_Russia will win this war."_ Is it possible that Russia might keep Crimea and maybe some disputed border lands? Could happen. Is it possible Russia will conquer Ukraine?- **NO**. So if by "_Russia will win this war"_ you mean Russia more or less goes back to where it was before it started- less their international reputation, thousands of troops, billions of dollars of trade, and a billion dollars worth of military gear- sure. Doubtful, but possible. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/785 "2022-11-27T22:50:49Z")
I think at this point, even if Ukraine as a whole were to collapse from cumulative exhaustion, it’d still be a net loss for Russia. Before this war, they were widely assumed to be one of the strongest militaries in the world: Certainly behind the US, and maybe behind China, but they were one of the Big Dogs, and that perception carries a lot of benefits even if you never actually use that military. Now, though, the world has seen just how rotten to the core the mighty oak is, and they’ve lost all of that prestige and respect. I don’t think that any amount of gains in Ukraine is enough to make up for that. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/786 "2022-11-27T23:48:10Z")
[The Washington Post - 27 November 2022](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/27/russia-ukraine-war-latest-updates/) - **Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei died “suddenly,”** [the Foreign Ministry said](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/27/belarus-vladimir-makei-death/?itid=lk_inline_manual_20) Saturday, without giving the cause of death or any other details. - **A Russian lawmaker says troops don’t have enough doctors or basic supplies** , the Associated Press [reports](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/noted-russian-nationalist-says-army-has-too-few-doctors/2022/11/26/c6ee1c10-6dad-11ed-8619-0b92f0565592_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_14). Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign relations committee of the lower house of parliament, told mothers of soldiers that doctors in medical units “are practically not seen,” Maybe Putin can come up with a hypersonic medical delivery system. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/787 "2022-11-28T06:29:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Only for certain meanings of the term "_Russia will win this war."_ > Is it possible Russia will conquer Ukraine?- **NO**. When I wrote “Russia will win” I meant that Russia will succeed in destroying its enemy. Even if , in the process , Russia destroys its economy and its standing in the world (as Chronos says in post 784 ). Putin’s definition of win is no longer his original goal of conquering the whole country. He’s now determined to just destroy vast areas of Ukraine,ftatten every city within range and make the rest unlivable. ( by destroying the infrastructure.) Then, he will declare that he won. And I’m afraid that he’ll succeed. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/788 "2022-11-28T10:37:53Z")
A neutered long range (100 mile) missle for Ukraine. It’s been in development since 2014. A smart missile that can hit moving targets. It sounds like a very useful, low yield weapon. [https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/100-mile-strike-weapon-weighed-ukraine-arms-makers-wrestle-with-demand-sources-2022-11-28/](https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/100-mile-strike-weapon-weighed-ukraine-arms-makers-wrestle-with-demand-sources-2022-11-28/) > **[Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) - Army Technology](https://www.army-technology.com/projects/small-diameter-bomb-glsdb/)** > > The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) is a long-range, all-aspect, precision-attack, ground-launched weapon developed by Saab in partnership with Boeing… > [@](#): > > The GLSDB offers high-lethality, increased range and high-manoeuvrability. It has the ability to defeat soft and hard skin threats, targets behind the launcher, as well as hard-to-reach targets. > > The GLSDB has a length of 154in, diameter of 9.5in and weighs approximately 600lb. It has terrain avoidance, cave breaching and reverse slope engagement capabilities. > > The bomb can be launched from hidden or protected rocket-launching sites to avoid detection by the enemy forces, engage targets in 360° and is accurate to strike within 1m. > > The 285lb small diameter bomb is 71in-long, 7.75in-high and 7.5in-wide, and has a wing span of 63.3in when open and 7.5in when packed. It is fitted with two foldable wings and four tail fins. > > ## Guidance section > > The inertial navigation system (INS) / global positioning system (GPS) provides guidance, navigation and position data for the bomb. > > “It has the ability to hit moving targets under all weather conditions both during the day and at night, with low collateral damage.” ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/789 "2022-11-28T10:45:03Z")
This presumes Russia still has the nuclear warheads on its missiles at all. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/790 "2022-11-28T11:55:40Z")
That’s great until they start being sold to other countries or groups down the line. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/791 "2022-11-28T14:20:23Z")
60km (37 miles) range launched from aircraft. Laser guided. Some lucky guy at the front paints tbe target. > **[UK confirms transfer of Brimstone 2 precision-guided missiles to Ukraine](https://news.yahoo.com/uk-confirms-transfer-brimstone-2-164900128.html)** > > Brimstone 2 precision-guided missiles have been delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed in a video posted on Twitter on Nov. 27. > **[Brimstone (missile)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brimstone_(missile))** > > Brimstone is a ground or air-launched ground attack missile developed by MBDA UK for the UK's Royal Air Force. It was originally intended for "fire-and-forget" use against mass formations of enemy armour, using a millimetre wave (mmW) active radar homing seeker to ensure accuracy even against moving targets. Experience in Afghanistan led to the addition of laser guidance in the dual-mode Brimstone missile, allowing a "spotter" to pick out specific and the highest priority targets, particularly Af... ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/792 "2022-11-28T15:53:48Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Laser guided. Some lucky guy at the front paints tbe target. AFAIK, within NATO ops doctrine, the “guy with the designator” is often a drone. Quite possible that Ukraine can do something similar, given the ubiquity of Ukrainian drones over Russian-occupied land. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/793 "2022-11-28T17:31:05Z")
Tbat’s a good point. Drones would be the best choice to paint a target. I was thinking of the Iraq war. Someone on the ground would point a laser at a window. Smart missile takes out that office without destroying the building and killing civilians. I remember several news reports about attacking a specific office in a building. That was a few years before military drones became common. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/794 "2022-11-28T19:22:31Z")
In Desert Storm, F-111F tactical bombers were self-designating to plink Iraqi armor and get that kind of “bomb through the window” kills, but you’re not going to see Ukrainian manned aircraft loitering to designate or dropping munitions themselves, just because Russian air defenses can be assumed to be good enough to make Ukraine avoid putting precious aircraft under extended threat. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/795 "2022-11-28T19:26:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I was thinking of the Iraq war. Like most of us, you were probably thinking of a [Pauly Shore movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Army_Now_(film)). ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/796 "2022-11-28T19:31:41Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Like most of us, you were probably thinking of a [Pauly Shore movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Army_Now_(film)). Not willingly ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/797 "2022-11-28T22:58:07Z")
Watching Denys channel. Ukraine is bracing for a massive rocket attack. They’re seeing a lot of activity at Russian air bases. It’s a horrible situation. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/798 "2022-11-28T23:02:38Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > AFAIK, within NATO ops doctrine, the “guy with the designator” is often a drone. Quite possible that Ukraine can do something similar, given the ubiquity of Ukrainian drones over Russian-occupied land. Especially since the sort of drone you’d use for this doesn’t need to be an unmanned warplane sort of drone: You could do it with one of those $200 toys you can buy from Wal-Mart. Yeah, there’s a high chance it’d be shot down, but with a cheap drone like that, who even cares? ---
**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:** [November 29, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/799 "2022-11-29T01:35:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I was thinking of the Iraq war. Someone on the ground would point a laser at a window. Smart missile takes out that office without destroying the building and killing civilians. > > I remember several news reports about attacking a specific office in a building. That was a few years before military drones became common. “stupid” Q: how does the missile know which end of the laser-beam to attack? … so how do you blow up the building and not the car 100m away pointing the laser … Is it just a regular laser pointer or something more sophisticated ( donno, different wavelenght from commercial office supplies laser pointer, or a pulsed laser or so)?? > [@Chronos](#): > > Especially since the sort of drone you’d use for this doesn’t need to be an unmanned warplane sort of drone: You could do it with one of those $200 toys you can buy from Wal-Mart. Yeah, there’s a high chance it’d be shot down, but with a cheap drone like that, who even cares? I assume the problem is not so much the $200 drone, but the $100.000,- missile that might not explode where you want it to ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/800 "2022-11-29T01:40:27Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > Is it just a regular laser pointer or something more sophisticated ( donno, different wavelenght from commercial office supplies laser pointer, or a pulsed laser or so)?? The most important thing is that it’s modulated with a code that the seeker recognizes. A plain laser pointer wouldn’t catch the warhead’s interest because of that. > **[Laser designator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_designator)** > > A laser designator is a laser light source which is used to designate a target. Laser designators provide targeting for laser-guided bombs, missiles, or precision artillery munitions, such as the Paveway series of bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire, or the M712 Copperhead round, respectively. > When a target is marked by a designator, the beam is invisible and does not shine continuously. Instead, a series of coded laser pulses, also called PRF codes (pulse repetition frequency), are fired at the target. The... > [@](#): > > When a target is marked by a designator, the beam is invisible and does not shine continuously. Instead, a series of coded laser pulses, also called PRF codes ([pulse repetition frequency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_repetition_frequency)), are fired at the target. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=41)