# Russia invades Ukraine -- The regional situation **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349 "2023-12-30T18:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/201 "2024-03-14T11:40:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The A-10 Warthog seems more suited for clearing personnel from Russian trenches. It would wipe out the human wave attacks that Russia uses. Would the President need šŸ¤” approval to lend or transfer our mothballed A-10ā€™s? > > [Ukraine war: Eastern residents brace for Russian advance](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68493215) The A-10 was obsolete against enemies having modern anti-aircraft almost as soon as it rolled off the production line. Itā€™s only good in cases of total air supremacy & completely neutralized anti-air, which doesnā€™t apply here. F-16s would do better here. You donā€™t need to see a trench to clear it. CAS is a mission not a platform! ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/202 "2024-03-14T21:49:22Z")
WTH? Russia is taking more provocative measures against NATO member states. The Guardian feed > [@](#): > > **Russia** is believed to have jammed the satellite signal on an aircraft used by defence minister **Grant Shapps** to travel from **Poland** back to the UK, a government source and journalists travelling with him said on Thursday, reports Reuters. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) did not immediately comment, said Reuters, but defence sources told the Guardian that there was no danger to Shapps on the travelling aircraft. > > According to the source and journalists, the GPS signal was interfered with for about 30 minutes while the plane flew close to Russiaā€™s Baltic exclave of **Kaliningrad**. Mobile phones could no longer connect to the internet and the aircraft was forced to use alternative methods to determine its location, they said. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/203 "2024-03-14T22:03:33Z")
Funny, I was just reading up on Kaliningrad earlier today, for completely unrelated reasons (I was curious how many bridges there are in the town nowadays). As for the A-10, its main gun might not be much use if enemy AA is still in place, but canā€™t it carry a whole bunch of air-launched ordnance under its wings? It seems to me that Ukraine is making good use of what air-launched ordnance, and could use more platforms for it. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/204 "2024-03-14T23:12:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > As for the A-10, its main gun might not be much use if enemy AA is still in place, but canā€™t it carry a whole bunch of air-launched ordnance under its wings? It seems to me that Ukraine is making good use of what air-launched ordnance, and could use more platforms for it. It does have a lot of air-launched ordnance, but none of it allows it to operate at standoff range vis-a-vis enemy AA. A russian S-400 has a range of about 240mi, the AGM-65 maverick about 12. An A-10 can launch dumb bombs, but for that purpose, drones are cheaper in terms of maintenance, aircraft replacement, and pilot replacement. Moreover A-10s are a lot slower and short-range than Su-25, which Ukraine already has, and knows very well how to operate and maintain. Not that the Su-25 is ideal here, but itā€™s much better than the A-10 which simply isnā€™t a serious proposal against an adversary that has AA produced in the 1970s or later. That being said, with the ingenuity that Ukraine has shown, Iā€™m sure they could probably figure out some limited role for the A-10 that nobody anticipated. But it wonā€™t be cruising along merrily raising hell on formations of Russian armor at close range like we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan. The right thing to send to Ukraine, as fair as aircraft needs, is F-16s. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/205 "2024-03-14T23:38:14Z")
Seems like the perfect war for the use of the CBU-97 smart-cluster bomb, which drops 40 explosive smart skeets that individually hunt for enemy targets. Sadly, that thing went out of production years ago and AIUI the number that remains in existence is very limited. The Excalibur Increment-III smart shell would also be ideal for some real-life testing here. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/206 "2024-03-15T01:26:00Z")
CBU-97 is a) very expensive, and b) useless against widely dispersed vehicle formations. It was intended to decimate a whole formation of a few dozen armored vehicles in close defensive formation on the move through open terrain. Which was Soviet doctrine in the Fulda Gap with thousands upon thousands of vehicles to move through there each day. Not the tool at all for a ragged column of 10 vehicles, only 1 of which is a tank, slowly wending single file down a mud road in the Ukrainian countryside. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/207 "2024-03-15T13:59:26Z")
The latest Russian technology advance in infantry combat vehicles: the Chinese equivalent of Polaris Rangers or Kawasaki MULEs. > **[Golf Carts And 1960s Tanks Minus Their Turrets: As Russia Runs Out Of...](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/03/14/golf-carts-and-1960s-tanks-minus-their-turrets-as-russia-runs-out-of-purpose-made-combat-vehicles-its-getting-creative--and-desperate/?sh=40e32e5d1d63)** > > The Russians are finding it difficult fully to equip all front-line regiments as losses outpace new production & the recovery of old weapons from long-term storage. That, and de-turreted 50s and 60s tank chassis. Good luck egressing under fire, and have fun being reduced to smoldering paste by any top-attack weapon. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2024, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/208 "2024-03-16T13:31:44Z")
NATO is holding military exercises in the Arctic Circle. It looks like Russia is beefing up their presence there as well. Iā€™m sure Norway and Sweden have a lot to teach. > **[U.S. Marines join NATO exercises on freezing Norway tundra, as new...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-marines-join-huge-nato-training-exercises-norway-rcna143167)** > > Russia has or is building 30 military or dual-use facilities in the Arctic, including elaborate air bases, ports, nuclear facilities and radio nodes. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/209 "2024-03-16T13:46:03Z")
Any Russian resources that arenā€™t going to Ukraine are a good use of resources. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/210 "2024-03-16T15:45:42Z")
FWIW, Iā€™m posting from a cruise ship docked in Alta, Norway. NATO (and Europeā€™s longest dogsled race) doubled this townā€™s population last week, but they have concluded their exercises and moved on. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2024, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/211 "2024-03-18T11:28:52Z")
An interview with the PM of Estonia about NATO and the Russian elections. She doesnā€™t say much thatā€™s new, but itā€™s still interesting. Of course, she probably has a lot sheā€™s not _allowed_ to say that would make headlines, as with any leader. > **[Estonian Prime Minister on how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has impacted her...](https://www.npr.org/2024/03/16/1238981479/estonian-prime-minister-on-how-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-has-impacted-her-coun)** > > NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas about the growing tensions between her country and its neighbor Russia over the war in Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/212 "2024-03-18T12:34:31Z")
Follow the money, attack the refineries: > **[Ukraine, Stalled on the Battlefield, Targets Russiaā€™s Oil Industry](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/14/world/europe/ukraine-drone-strike-russia-oil.html?unlocked_article_code=1.dk0.xLSn.LoFsLpJL6wKR&smid=url-share)** > > Ukrainian drone strikes have been able to hit refineries deep in Russian territory, indicating a new vulnerability. But it is unclear if that will affect the fighting. From this and other articles it seems that Ukraine has developed a new long range drone. Russia, otoh, seems to have its anti-aircraft capabilities spread thin. Seven refineries were struck last week, one every day. Still not enough but it may be a start. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/213 "2024-03-18T17:31:30Z")
Googling around, I see [claims of 12 refineries](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-drones-have-hit-12-russian-oil-refineries-kyiv-source-says-2024-03-17/) by now. [This source](https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2024/03/18/ukraine-russia-refineries/) says 13 refineries since the beginning of the year. The article describes whatā€™s been happening, where, and what effect itā€™s had on Russian oil production (10 percent of production capacity knocked out of commission), and looks at possible future effects. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/214 "2024-03-18T23:36:00Z")
This is old news from February but I just learned about it. The DOJā€™s Russian sanction task force has been doing some good work. > **[Justice Department Transfers Approximately $500,000 in Forfeited Russian...](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-transfers-approximately-500000-forfeited-russian-funds-estonia-benefit)** > > Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Estonian Secretary General TƵnis Saar announced today at the Munich Security Conference the transfer of nearly $500,000 in forfeited Russian funds for the purpose of providing aid to Ukraine. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2024, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/215 "2024-03-19T00:28:29Z")
Half a million? Thatā€™s not much. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2024, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/216 "2024-03-19T10:12:08Z")
Every little drop in the bucketā€¦ā€¦ ---
**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:** [March 19, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/217 "2024-03-19T13:16:54Z")
Yeah. Half a million is about 3 minutes worth of rifle ammunition. Well over half a million was spent on the adminstrative effort needed to locate that money. Color me appalled that anyone on the good guy side would consider that to be a noteworthy achievement. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2024, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/218 "2024-03-20T11:34:30Z")
maybe they just worked on getting the process in place and going ā€¦ and will be ramping up from now on? Once you know how (legally) you can get to $500k ā€¦ it should work the same for $5000000k šŸ˜‰ otherwise ā€¦ jeah ā€¦ ---
**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:** [March 20, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/219 "2024-03-20T11:35:50Z")
Russian and Ukrainian athletes are barred from the Olympics unless they play as neutrals. Of course, Russia is going to do its own big sporting event (ā€œwith blackjack! And hookers!ā€). > **[Paris 2024 Olympics: Russia & Belarus athletes will not be part of...](https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/68606455)** > > Russian and Belarusian athletes will not take part in the opening ceremony at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, says the IOC. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/220 "2024-03-20T14:24:02Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Russian and **Ukrainian** athletes are barred (Emphasis added.) Correction: Russian and **Belarusian** , not Ukrainian. The agressor and their cobelligerent, not the victim of the aggression. But regarding the news itself, not surprising and also welcome. The aggressors have to understand the depth of their pariah status. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=12)