# 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:** 72
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1434 "2022-12-28T06:59:14Z")
Russia is offering to freeze the sperm of the troops they’re sending to war. > **[Russia's mobilised troops entitled to free sperm freezing - TASS](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-mobilised-troops-entitled-free-sperm-freezing-tass-2022-12-28/)** > > Russian troops who have been part of a mobilisation drive for military operations in Ukraine will have the right to get their sperm frozen for free in cryobanks, the state TASS agency reported on Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1435 "2022-12-28T07:29:00Z")
Asterisk and fine print: “By cryobank, we mean a ditch alongside the approach to Kyiv, and the freezing will be a natural consequence of winter, occurring after your death.” ---
**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:** [December 28, 2022, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1436 "2022-12-28T10:46:03Z")
Some first-person kamikaze drone footage: > (Video quality better at source) There are also third-person videos of kamikaze drones used against human targets, which I won’t post here. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1437 "2022-12-28T14:19:50Z")
Looks like the ill-fated late fall/early winter Russian offensive on Bakhmut may have reached culmination. Too bad, Vlad. [Russia Running Out of Troops in Battle for Bakhmut, Battalions Split Up—ISW (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-running-out-of-troops-in-battle-for-bakhmut-battalions-split-up-isw/ar-AA15K3tH?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=779a3d78a0244402977b046a9c787c70) ---
**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:** [December 28, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1438 "2022-12-28T15:47:55Z")
Unconfirmed - 2 additional NASAM systems have been delivered to Ukraine. If true, they’d be from Middle Eastern countries (Oman Qatar) as Raytheon production is still ramping up. Reports are the two currently in country are very accurate. The missile generally used, AIM-120, has no supply problems. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1439 "2022-12-28T23:32:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Officers like that can suffer unfortunate accidents during battle. Why wait to get to the front? Daily Beast 28-Dec 2022 [Drunk Russian Soldier Beats His Commander to Death](https://www.thedailybeast.com/drunk-russian-soldier-beats-his-commander-to-death) - A Russian man called up under Vladimir Putin’s “mobilization” order for the war against Ukraine drunkenly beat his commander to death on a military train. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1440 "2022-12-29T00:32:37Z")
Yet another prominent Russian has died mysteriously. General Alexei Maslov died the day after Putin cancelled a planned visit to the tank factory he was in charge of. > **[Top former Russian general 'dies suddenly' after Putin cancels trip](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11579351/Top-former-Russian-general-dies-suddenly-day-Putin-cancelled-trip-factory.html)** > > General Alexei Maslov, 69, passed away on Christmas Day in a Moscow military hospital, the Uralvagonzavod plant announced. It follows the 'sudden death' of Alexander Buzakov. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1441 "2022-12-29T02:47:07Z")
Has anyone seen any news about cargo ships sinking? AFAIK the grain treaty has not been broken. What cargo ship losses? Cite [Insurers end war-risk cover for shipping across Russia, Ukraine and Belarus | Insurance industry | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/28/insurers-end-war-risk-cover-for-shipping-in-ukraine-invasion-territories) > [@](#): > > Ship insurers are cancelling war-risk coverage across Russia, Ukraine and Belarus from January, leaving cargo and freight companies liable for major losses linked to [the ongoing conflict](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/28/russia-ukraine-war-at-a-glance-what-we-know-on-day-308-of-the-invasion). > > At least 12 of the 13 Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs - which cover 90% of the world’s ocean-going ships, including those from the UK and the US - said they would no longer be able to provide coverage to clients because reinsurers were exiting the region as a result of financial losses. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1442 "2022-12-29T13:31:09Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You want to negotiate, Putin? Fine, first thing is to bring all those people back to life THAT YOU KILLED, YOU ASSHOLE. That is a start. Can’t manage that? Then fuck you. Since that’s more of a deity thing, I would settle for returning the children he stole. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1443 "2022-12-29T13:34:21Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Since that’s more of a deity thing, I would settle for returning the children he stole. And paying reparations to UKN of course. Every last dime to fix the damage. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1444 "2022-12-29T14:16:29Z")
Anyone catch Paul’s video yesterday about the mass desertion that recently took place? [Mobilized Russian Troops REFUSE Orders, Leave Base! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQviyOhSyEM) ‘Mass’ is of course a relative term, and one could easily dismiss this - as I’m sure Russia will - as some sort of isolated incident, but it seems the tempo and quantity of these isolated incidents are increasing since the mobilization was announced. Taken as a whole, there are a lot of cracks showing. Six months ago I would have dismissed the likelihood of a widespread Russian morale collapse as a fantasy, but the notion of a Ukrainian winter offensive successfully directed at a critical weak point triggering such an event, is suddenly not implausible. The Kherson offensive was successful largely because the Russians had way too few men on the ground allocated in a critical part of the line, and they also allowed the Ukrainians to concentrate their mobile forces in the area unchallenged. Russia recognized what went wrong after the fact, hence the ‘partial mobilization’ call. For the time being, the mobilization has largely solved most of their manpower shortage issues but hasn’t solved their logistical or c & c problems. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a breakthrough occur in Luhansk some time in January. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1445 "2022-12-29T17:07:57Z")
More humanitarian aid is always needed. Link [‘Surviving will be difficult’: west sending warm clothes to Ukraine as temperatures fall | Ukraine | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/29/surviving-will-be-difficult-west-sending-warm-clothes-to-ukraine-as-temperatures-fall) > [@](#): > > During the winter months, Ukraine has average temperatures of between -4C and 2C. In some regions, temperatures regularly drop to -21C. > > The British prime minister,[Rishi Sunak, has announced](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-crucial-winter-kit-delivery-for-ukrainian-forces-as-he-meets-nato-chief) the UK will provide winter kits to the Ukrainian armed forces as “they defend their country in gruelling winter conditions”. > > By the end of December, the UK is expected to deliver 12,000 sleeping kits, 150 heated tents, more than 25,000 sets of extreme cold-weather clothing and 7,000 sets of normal cold-weather kits – each of which normally contains more than 40 items, including a set of winter clothes, sleeping bags for use in up to -30C, special underwear, and “tactical socks” to help soldiers avoid trench foot. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1446 "2022-12-30T01:23:05Z")
Another Vlad [propaganda fail](https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1608457528819564546?cxt=HHwWhIC-mbfmsdIsAAAA) as members of Ukraine’s hard-White-wing Azov Battalion are seen happily dancing with Jews. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1447 "2022-12-30T03:15:53Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Russia is offering to freeze the sperm of the troops they’re sending to war. I think the article missed the patriotic advertising blurb: > [@](#): > > Soldiers! Remember, that even if you are killed for the Motherland, you will have sons to survive you! > > Who will be drafted into the armies of the Motherland, and who even if _they_ are killed for the Motherland, will also have sons for the Motherland! ---
**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:** [December 30, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1448 "2022-12-30T14:10:14Z")
March 2023 headline: “Mysterious Fire Destroys Cryogenic Storage Warehouse at Russian Military Base.” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1449 "2022-12-30T17:25:20Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Sausage tycoon? Coulda sworn his name was Abe Froman. Abe is the sausage KING. No one would dare. You come at the king, you best not miss. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1450 "2022-12-30T17:27:16Z")
[\> The Atlantic has an article about the number of Russian businessman deaths.](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/12/russian-tycoon-pavel-antov-dies-putin-ukraine/672601/?utm_source=apple_news) > Here is a list of people you should not currently want to be: a Russian sausage tycoon, a Russian gas-industry executive, the editor in chief of a Russian tabloid, a Russian shipyard director, the head of a Russian ski resort, a Russian aviation official, or a Russian rail magnate. Anyone answering to such a description probably ought not stand near open windows, in almost any country, on almost every continent. Its interesting that they are across the world. Wouldn’t think that would happen in America but clearly I was wrong! ---
**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:** [December 30, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1451 "2022-12-30T17:33:58Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > Its interesting that they are across the world. Wouldn’t think that would happen in America but clearly I was wrong! There’s one thing the author of that article got wrong. It probably doesn’t matter whether the windows they are standing near are open or closed. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1452 "2022-12-30T17:50:06Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > [\> The Atlantic has an article about the number of Russian businessman deaths.](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/12/russian-tycoon-pavel-antov-dies-putin-ukraine/672601/?utm_source=apple_news) It is amusing to think these deaths signal something amiss in Russia, but has a statistical analysis been run to assess how unusual this number/manner of deaths has been? (Sorry, didn’t sign in to Atlantic.) I’m thinking of those “Bible codes”, where if you conduct enough searches without sufficient parameters, you are bound to turn up some apparent patterns - which are, in fact, merely coincidences. How disproportionate is this rate of wealthy Russian accidental deaths compared to the years prior to 22? It sure sounds like a lot of wealthy Russians falling out of windows, ---
**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:** [December 30, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/1453 "2022-12-30T18:26:07Z")
numbers will be too small to get some meaningfull statistic statement from it … you might be able to say something like “there is a 10 - 70% chance that the falls are not by chance, given a confidence intervall of 95%” so kind of a DOH! statement [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=71) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972.md?page=73)