# 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:** 29
**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:** [September 2, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/561 "2024-09-02T12:45:28Z")
You misunderstood something critical to the discussion. US-made F-16s flown by USAF already have all that anti-Russian programming as you suggest. The F-16s built in the USA for the NATO countries often have country-specific hardware installed. That’s often done in factories in their country, not the USA. That creates high tech jobs in those countries and helps keep their own aviation industry alive. And helps insulate their politicians from charges that they are selling out the e.g. Dutch or Danish taxpayers by buying foreign-made US airplanes. The Ukrainians are not receiving former USAF airplanes. They are getting former NATO airplanes. They have non-US EW systems that the USAF intel / EW people have never seen. EW being a bit of a black art and very secret, it’s entirely possible that under e.g. Danish classification systems, no foreigner (to them) may have access to any hardware box, software, or knowledge about any of that stuff. And from Denmark’s POV, USAF is a foreign military. An ally, but still foreign. So a lot of bureaucratic hoops had to be jumped through to let USAF first learn about, then modify the e.g. Danish systems using US intel to perform better against whatever the Russians have deployed there. On the US side there was a similar decision flail about deciding how much hard-won intel knowledge to pass along to the Danish and also the Ukrainians, knowing that the closer that hardware and software get to Russia, the more likely a Russian agent will get their hands on it. There is always a delicate dance when allies get together about how much to share with the other guys. Some sharing is good, but you guard “the keys to the kingdom” very closely and share those with nobody. ---
**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 2, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/562 "2024-09-02T13:07:54Z")
There are probably also some technologies that only a short list of nations have, including the US and Russia (not deliberately shared, of course, but semi-independently developed or stolen). We might not ordinarily share countermeasures to those techs with allies, because we don’t want to compromise our own advantage with them. But in this case, we do want to share those countermeasures with Ukraine, because we know for sure they’ll be going up against the Russian version of those technologies. ---
**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 2, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/563 "2024-09-02T14:09:29Z")
LOL it would be easier to give Ukraine USAF F-16’s. But that could expose tech we can’t share. Next… Ukraine’s training would be accelerated compared to the training in the UK. The BBC saw much older men than whats required under the new conscription law. I wonder how many already had military service 20 years ago? Link [Russia-Ukraine war: Meeting the recruits preparing for battle](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qe9ql8v95o) > [@](#): > > In the hail of machine gun fire and instructors’ commands, the most striking aspect of the scene is the age of the new recruits. Most seem to be in their 40s and 50s > [@](#): > > Two and a half years into the war, and Ukraine is desperate for more troops and brought into force a new conscription law which lowered the age of men joining from 27 to 25. Military service for women is not mandatory. > > The drive for younger conscripts has not hit this group of men. > > All the recruits we see before us have already had 30 days of basic training and today it’s more advanced care - dealing with broken bones, gunshots and catastrophic bleeding - using medical equipment sent from the UK ---
**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 3, 2024, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/564 "2024-09-03T13:51:18Z")
Why is the US refusing permission for Ukraine to use missiles against Russian territory? While Russia is getting Iranian missles to hit Ukraine. Other NATO countries are considering lifting the restrictions on Ukraine. But ultimately they’ll do what Washington wants. Link [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 2, 2024 | Institute for the Study of War](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-2-2024) > [@](#): > > **Iran is expected to “imminently” deliver ballistic missiles to Russia to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1] _NOTE: A version of this text appears in the September 2 ISW-CTP Iran Update._** An unspecified European official told _Bloomberg_ on September 2 that Iran could begin shipping ballistic missiles to Russia "within a matter of days.”[2] European intelligence sources previously told _Reuters_ in August 2024 that Iran and Russia signed a contract in December 2023 for Iran to deliver Ababil close-range ballistic missiles and Fateh-360 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) to Russia.[3] **The intelligence sources added that dozens of Russian military personnel are currently in Iran training to operate Fateh-360 missiles.** Russia’s acquisition of Ababil or Fateh-360 ballistic missiles would likely allow Russian forces to strike Ukrainian near-rear targets while preserving Russia’s stockpiles of domestically-produced missiles, such as Iskanders, for deep-rear Ukrainian targets, as CTP-ISW previously assessed.[4 ---
**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:** [September 3, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/565 "2024-09-03T17:56:49Z")
That’s what I’ve been wondering, too. America is the largest F-16 user in the world, whatever tech is on those Vipers certainly can’t be too sensitive compared to the significantly more advanced F-35s that are already coming, and most of America’s Vipers are well on their way to being replaced by F-35s anyway. A year or two ago, if told that 91 Vipers were scheduled to be delivered to Ukraine, one would certailny not guess that not a single one would be American. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/566 "2024-09-03T21:53:43Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Why is the US refusing permission for Ukraine to use missiles against Russian territory? > > While Russia is getting Iranian missles to hit Ukraine. _a good strategy could have been: If you, RU use Iranian missiles on UKR targets, we (the USofA) will stop blocking the use of our weapons within pre-2014-RU territory._ **Choose wisely** , small man ---
**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 4, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/567 "2024-09-04T00:24:11Z")
This is the first article I’ve read that reports positively on allowing Ukraine to bomb Russia. [https://www.reuters.com/world/us-close-agreeing-long-range-missiles-ukraine-delivery-take-months-2024-09-03/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-close-agreeing-long-range-missiles-ukraine-delivery-take-months-2024-09-03/) > [@](#): > > The JASSM has so far only been integrated into U.S.-designed aircraft. Ukraine will ultimately operate [several dozen F-16s](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-finally-deploying-f-16-fighter-jets-says-zelenskiy-2024-08-04/), each of which can carry two of the cruise missiles. > > One of the U.S. officials said there were efforts to make the missile operable with non-Western fighter jets in Ukraine’s inventory, which has not been reported previously. Although the official did not provide further detail on which jets in Ukraine’s inventory JASSM could be used with, they operate Soviet-era MiG-29, Su-24 and Su-27 jets. > > Politico reported last month the Biden administration was “open” to giving Ukraine JASSMs ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/568 "2024-09-06T22:08:56Z")
Not really “the regional situation” but I don’t think it belongs in the “breaking news” thread either: they’ve apparently settled on the nickname “dracarys” for the thermite-dropping drone attacks. In seeing clips of the weapon in use, I knew it reminded me of something but I couldn’t quite recall what it was until I saw it being called that. I wonder if GRRM could be persuaded to go along with it like Stephen King gave the okay to call Covid “Captain Trumps”. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/569 "2024-09-06T22:36:04Z")
For people who didn’t watch the show: > **What ‘Dracarys’ Means on _House of the Dragon_ & _Game of Thrones_** > > “_Dracarys_” is the nifty command the Targaryens use when they want their dragons to breathe fire. The name seems to be appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/570 "2024-09-12T04:34:35Z")
It was noted in the breaking news thread that Ukraine now has permission to fire ATACMS missiles into Russia and I just have to take a moment to note what a dumb name ATACMS is. What’s next, a radar-seeking missile called RECT-M followed by high explosive incendiary missiles called FKN-KLLDMS? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/571 "2024-09-12T09:49:17Z")
Don’t give them ideas. (this made me laugh, thanks.) ---
**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 13, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/572 "2024-09-13T23:02:20Z")
I haven’t seen confirmation that Ukraine can use NATO missiles inside Russia. The UK Prime Minister met with Biden a couple hours ago. > **[Biden meets with British leader and brushes off Putin's threats about weapons...](https://apnews.com/article/biden-starmer-ukraine-long-range-weapons-britain-8fec11abca0245d92a03291ab2d6b3fa)** > > President Joe Biden has brushed off a threat from Russian leader Vladimir Putin about war against the West if Ukraine’s allies allow it to use weapons deeper inside Russia. ---
**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 14, 2024, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/573 "2024-09-14T23:03:17Z")
It helps when your opponent makes bad decisions. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the outcome of a disciplinary action. Link [A Russian Commander Sent His Best Drone Operator To Die As Infantry](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/09/13/an-allegedly-corrupt-russian-commander-sent-his-best-drone-operator-to-die-as-an-infantryman/) > [@](#): > > That’s why the Ukrainian military recently established a separate branch of the armed forces to oversee independent drone units. The separate drone forces “are now proving their effectiveness in various parts of the front line,” Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s top commander, [told CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/08/europe/amanpour-general-oleksandr-syrskyi-interview-read-transcript-intl/index.html). > > There’s no separate drone branch in the Russian armed forces. And that may have been a factor in the recent demise of one of the Russian army’s most experienced drone operators: Dmitry Lysakovsky. > > On Friday, Lysakovsky reportedly went missing during an infantry assault on the village of Lysivka, four miles east of the Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk in [one of the most dangerous sectors](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/09/09/to-keep-ukraines-elite-47th-mechanized-brigade-fighting-for-15-months-straight-the-us-sent-more-than-300-m-2-bradley-fighting-vehicles/) of the front line in eastern Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/574 "2024-09-15T03:10:38Z")
I was going to say it would be a cherry on top if Lysakovsky got taken out by a Ukrainian drone strike but after reading the article I am wondering if instead he was taken out by a Russian drone strike. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2024, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/575 "2024-09-17T12:14:43Z")
Putin has just announced an intent to increase the active duty headcount of the armed forces by roughly 12%. One wonders where he will find that many people. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/576 "2024-09-17T13:28:35Z")
Press gangs? Surprise! You’re in the Army now! ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/577 "2024-09-17T13:37:31Z")
It’s my understanding that their recruitment drives are working reasonably well. Large, for Russians, signing bonuses and salaries. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/578 "2024-09-18T13:34:05Z")
Ukraine does a big badaboom: > **[Ukraine attack on Russian missile depot triggers mini earthquake](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/18/ukraine-attack-russia-missile-depot-mini-earthquake/)** > > Explosions measure 2.8 on Richter scale as large plumes of smoke from the fires are seen from space ---
**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:** [September 18, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/579 "2024-09-18T14:00:26Z")
Evidently Russian munitions storage habits are rather less than state of the art. Paging @smithsb. 😉 And @Tripler who lurves him a big boom too. 🤪 ---
**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 19, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/580 "2024-09-19T15:04:58Z")
Is there any historical precedent for the seizing and reallocation of a country’s foreign assests? Did it happen in Iraq or N. Vietnam? [War reparations](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_reparations) are different from seizure. A vintage power plant in shipping containers sounds interesting. I assume it won’t be assembled until after the war? A construction site now would attract drone strikes. The Guardian live > [@](#): > > ## > > EU to send €160m from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine > > The sum of €160m from the proceeds of frozen **Russian** assets will be allocated to meet **Ukraine** ’s urgent humanitarian needs for this winter, **European Commission** president **Ursula von der Leyen** said on Thursday. > > She added that a fuel power plant is being dismantled in **Lithuania** and will be rebuilt in Ukraine, where 80% of the country’s thermal plants have been destroyed. > > “We aim to restore 2.5 gw of capacity, which is 15% of Ukraine’s needs,” von der Leyen said, according to Reuters [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=30)