# 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:** 32
**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:** [October 14, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/621 "2024-10-14T01:07:54Z")
Time for speculation. How are the Russians getting around login security. 🤔 I would expect they are creating an account. There might be hardware level encryption keys. Heck, even old Tech like Direc TV has a card key they mail to subscribers. The company can shut off receiver access remotely and mail a new card key. I would expect Starlink to have something more sophisticated. They should be able to remotely track the location of the terminals. Starlink needs to improve Security. Brick the Russian terminals. Starlink is credited for helping to save Ukraine in in the early days of the Russian invasion. Communication is crucial to coordinate command centers with the troops. Link [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 12, 2024 | Institute for the Study of War](https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-12-2024) > [@](#): > > **Russian forces are reportedly relying on illicitly obtained Starlink terminals to improve combat coordination and the effectiveness of their tactical reconnaissance strike complex (TRSC) in Ukraine as part of an overarching effort to reach technological parity with Ukrainian forces.[1]** Ukrainian military personnel operating in Donetsk Oblast told the _Washington Post_ in an article published on October 12 that Starlink terminals have increasingly appeared at Russian frontline positions and that the illicitly obtained technology is helping Russian forces fix persisting issues with combat coordination and communications while improving the precision of Russian tactical fires.[2] The commander of a Ukrainian drone platoon operating near Novohrodivka (southeast of Pokrovsk) told the _Washington Post_ that Ukrainian reconnaissance drones started widely recording Starlink terminals at Russian positions in the area in September 2024 and that the arrival of the terminals corresponded with a decrease in intercepted Russian radio transmissions in which Russian soldiers relayed incomplete or incorrect battlefield information to their commanders.[3] Another Ukrainian soldier reportedly stated that Russian forces in the Pokrovsk direction appear to have enough Starlink terminals to give individual tactical groups their own terminal.[4] Ukrainian soldiers reportedly credited recent Russian battlefield gains, including the Russian seizure of Vuhledar in late September 2024, partially to the Russian use of Starlink terminals.[5] Russian forces have mainly relied on radio and other insecure communication technologies for organizing combat coordination and relaying targeting information to fire and strike elements, and Russian forces have yet to field modern battlefield management systems at scale to organize their TRSC as many Ukrainian units have.[6] Ukrainian access to Starlink has afforded Ukrainian forces a technological edge to conduct more effective combat coordination and field new developments in the TRSC ahead of Russian forces, and Russian forces are likely trying to degrade these Ukrainian advantages by scaling up their own use of the terminals.[7] Ukraine is currently pursuing a strategy to offset Russian manpower and materiel advantages through technological innovation and adaptation, and technological parity between Ukrainian and Russian forces will undermine this effort.[8] ---
**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:** [October 14, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/622 "2024-10-14T01:18:10Z")
It appears you do not understand that Elmo and trump work for Putin. It makes a lot more sense once you notice that feature of the current bigwig landscape. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2024, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/623 "2024-10-14T01:34:35Z")
I know Musk is controlling the use of Starlink. Apparently they can turn it on in specific regions. It seems very suspicious that Russians can use the terminals without Musk’s approval. There would be overlap within the Starlink service area. If Ukraine is operating receivers at gps location A, then another receiver at location B, 100 km away would also have Starlink service. Starlink Receivers 100 km or more inside Russia shouldn’t work. Link [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/world/europe/elon-musk-starlink-ukraine.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/world/europe/elon-musk-starlink-ukraine.html) > [@](#): > > that said the billionaire had ordered the deactivation of Starlink satellite service near the coast of Crimea last September to thwart the Ukrainian attack. The excerpt said that Mr. Musk had conversations with a Russian official that led him to worry that an attack on Crimea could spiral into a nuclear conflict. > > Later on Thursday, Mr. Musk responded on his social media platform to say that he hadn’t disabled the service but had rather refused to comply with an emergency request from Ukrainian officials to enable Starlink connections to Sevastopol on the occupied Crimean peninsula. That was in effect an acknowledgment that he had made the decision to prevent a Ukrainian attack. > > “The obvious intent being to sink most of the Russian fleet at anchor,” [he wrote](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1699917639043404146?s=46&t=bZcrLpl8DTxSpYLBntBfhQ) on X, formerly known as Twitter. “If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation.” ---
**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:** [October 14, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/624 "2024-10-14T01:37:04Z")
Sinking most of the Russian fleet would be a de-escalation. The only way this war is going to end is by destroying the aggressor’s ability to wage war. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/625 "2024-10-19T11:24:08Z")
Not sure if there’s a better thread for this, but there’s a flurry of stories that Putin has been suffering from itching for a couple of days, and one of his close security aides used for keeping an eye on the Interior Ministry has been found dead at the bottom of his stairs.May be nothing, but odd > **[Putin suffers mystery itching 24 hours after Kremlin said he was in good health](https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/18/putin-suffers-mystery-itching-24-hours-kremlin-said-good-health-21819074/)** > > Major security measures suggesting paranoia over his safety were put in place ahead of the Kremlin leader’s visit. > **[Putin’s ‘eyes and ears’ dies in ‘strange circumstances’ after breaking his neck](https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/18/putins-eyes-ears-dies-strange-circumstances-breaking-neck-21824095/)** > > He mysteriously 'fell down the stairs and broke his neck'. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/626 "2024-10-19T12:54:21Z")
When you’re a member of the inner circle and you’re not even respected enough to be thrown from a high window and are instead just shoved down some stairs, your final thought is probably something along the lines of “How far from Grace I have fallen!” In addition to “Oh Shit!” of course. And “Ouch!” ---
**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:** [October 19, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/627 "2024-10-19T14:21:06Z")
Berlin Process Summit concluded without saying much about Volodymyr Zelensky Victory Plan. Ukraine did get a promise of more aide support. I guess it’s a win that Zelensky wasn’t outright rejected publicly. Although, Biden’s statement is so oblique and vauge. Let me translate, It’s Too bad your facing a tough winter. See ya next Spring. > **[News Wrap: In Berlin, Biden urges Western allies to continue flow of aid to...](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-in-berlin-biden-urges-western-allies-to-continue-flow-of-aid-to-ukraine)** > > In our news wrap Friday, Biden met with Western allies in Berlin to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, a federal judge unsealed nearly 2,000 pages of evidence in Trump’s election interference case, safety officials are investigating... > [@](#): > > Joe Biden, President of the United States: America and Germany are the two largest supporters of Ukraine in its fight for survival as a free and independent nation. As Ukraine faces a tough winter, we must — we must sustain our resolve, our effort, and our support. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/628 "2024-10-19T14:29:12Z")
Man! Those Russians are fucking clumsy. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/629 "2024-10-19T15:16:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Although, Biden’s statement is so oblique and vauge. Let me translate, It’s Too bad your facing a tough winter. See ya next Spring. What he meant was: Any commitment my Administration might make today won’t materialize until after the election, and probably after the inauguration. You, Zelenskyy, would be a fool to trust that my idiot countrymen won’t elect a Russian stooge who reverses that commitment immediately upon taking power. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s the reality of the situation. Sad that its come to that, but here we are. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/630 "2024-10-19T15:22:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It seems very suspicious that Russians can use the terminals without Musk’s approval. The only suspicious thing here is that people still think this is happening without Musk‘s tacit approval. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2024, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/631 "2024-10-20T10:42:06Z")
Why send in your precious troops when you can simply annex a neighboring country through good old-fashioned corruption, _then_ send your troops in that way? Surround Ukraine with your allies and strangle them. > **[Moldova election: Russian cash-for-votes flows into Ukraine's neighbour as...](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23kdjxxx1jo)** > > Sunday's presidential election is seen as a vote on whether the country looks east to Russia or west to the EU. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/632 "2024-10-20T14:47:52Z")
This pact with Russia could be very dangerous for S Korea and international peace. I’m surprised China is allowing Russia to meddle in their backyard. Ukraine is already struggling to find soldiers. Now they potentially have to defend against 10,000 N Koreans. > **[North Korea deploys troops to fight with Russia: Seoul](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vkqwe9wwdo)** > > The first 1,500 troops arrive in Russia ahead of going to Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency has said. > [@](#): > > He added that the North Koreans would be using Russian equipment and ammunition, and the first group of 2,600 soldiers would be sent to Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukraine holds a number of settlements [after launching its incursion in August](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze5pkg5jwlo). > > Earlier this week, Putin introduced a bill to ratify a military pact he made with Kim, which pledges that Russia and North Korea will help each other in the event of “aggression” against either country. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/633 "2024-10-20T15:25:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m surprised China is allowing Russia to meddle in their backyard. China and Russia are allies in the Ukraine war. That they’d let a mutually friendly third party ally join the fun is the polar opposite of surprising. It’s 100% predictable and furthermore 100% expected. What are you even thinking? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/634 "2024-10-20T16:05:33Z")
To think that 70 years ago it was North Korea on the back foot in a war they started, and calling in help from Russia and China. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/635 "2024-10-20T20:52:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > China and Russia are allies in the Ukraine war. China is not Russia’s ally. They’re exploiting Russia, not helping them. Being the last major country willing to do business with Russia means that they can get some great deals, and that’s what they care about. If anything, they’re probably rooting for Ukraine, since the weaker Russia gets, the more desparate, and the more willing to settle for deals even more in China’s favor. By the same token, they probably consider it very convenient for a bunch of North Korean troops to go off and die somewhere else. North Korea is a pawn of theirs, of course, but one that’s sometimes difficult to control, and the more their military power is worn down, the less likely they are to do something embarrassing to China. None of which, of course, is to say that China is anything resembling a “good guy”. They’re looking out for their own interests first, foremost, hindmost, and only, with no regard one way or the other for what that means for the rest of the world. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/636 "2024-10-20T21:01:24Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What are you even thinking? I had the impression China has always tried to keep a lid on N Korea. Keep them from doing something stupid like attacking Seoul. North Korean Saber rattling is fine and serves China’s interests. Russia could easily upset the balance of power by sending $$$$ and weapons to N Korea. The Armistice Agreement has lasted since July 27, 1953. It’s only a cease fire that’s held 71 years, 2 months, 23 days. (according to a date calculator) It’s concerning to see Putin screw around with N Korea. Especially if he sees war on the Korean Peninsula as a diversion for NATO while Russia expands it’s territory. Seeing the war in Ukraine expand is everyones concern. NATO may have to send troops to Ukraine if N Korea commits too many troops. It’s a dangerous spiral to all out war. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/637 "2024-10-21T02:40:09Z")
I was describing the worst case scenario. Hopefully sending a few thousand N Korean troops is just a stunt. If they send 60,000 or more, that will break the stalemate in Ukraine. Then, NATO will face a crisis. Russia and N Korea could threaten the entire regions security. North Korea’s alignment with Russia is already raising concerns. [North Korean troops preparing to help Russia's war in Ukraine a 'grave security threat,' says South Korea](https://kyivindependent.com/north-korean-troops-preparing-to-help-russias-war-in-ukraine-a-grave-security-threat-says-south-korea/) ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/638 "2024-10-21T02:59:53Z")
In a very wide regional aspect. There are many countries allying to make a more multi polar world on various levels. China and Russia are very much allied in this. Other countries are allied to keep a more uni polar world. Ukraine is a battleground for this militarily. There are political, economical, intelligence battlegrounds in many other places ongoing. I think at one time Russia/USSR used to train North Korean troops. They recently signed military and economic agreements again. It would seem Kursk region would be an ideal area to demonstrate live situation training. It is on Russian territory, so skirting some violations of laws. But I doubt that very large numbers of North Korean basic troops will be involved at any point. Training or even using grunt level foreign personnel in large number is more of a pain than an asset. But it is a good situation to train higher level prospects. Ukraine is definitely a focal point of the Uni/Multi polar battle. But it pays to pull back and take a wide view of the action. A world war is going on at various levels of intensity and methods. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/639 "2024-10-21T09:30:23Z")
Putin didn’t invade Ukraine because of some philosophical disagreement with the West about a unipolar vs multi polar world. He invaded because of his delusions about recreating the Russian empire, and his belief that Ukraine is not a real nation, Ukrainian not a real language, culture, or people, and that it was unjustly separated from Russia. That’s why Putin made the decision to invade Ukraine and murder thousands upon thousands of Ukrainian civilians. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349/640 "2024-10-21T09:37:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > China is not Russia’s ally. They’re exploiting Russia, not helping them. You’re right that the word “ally” was poorly chosen on my part. Your overall explanation does a better job than I did. China is out for China first, last, and always. As most nations are, but the Chinese seem especially good at not letting others’ interests leaven their actions. They _are_ exploiting Russia but at the same time the stuff the Chinese are selling to the Russians does assist Russia in prosecuting their war of aggression against Ukraine. As you say, the Chinese prefer a nice simmering little stalemate of a war that keeps Russia busy while grinding it down, and simultaneously letting China make money and exert influence through their ongoing sales of [whatever] to Moscow. Moscow can bleed for many years at this rate and the Chinese are only to happy to collect the blood for sale. Which also means that from the West’s perspective, China’s goals are much closer to alignment with Russia’s (continued warfare) than with the West’s (peace and return of stolen territory). In that sense the two make common cause against the West. Overall @Kedikat makes some good points. This bit is particularly apt: > [@Kedikat](#): > > Ukraine is definitely a focal point of the Uni/Multi polar battle. But it pays to pull back and take a wide view of the action. A world war is going on at various levels of intensity and methods. There is an ongoing planet-wide battle for who will define the shape of our world. In some places it’s very obvious to the layman what with all the explosions and destruction. In other places it’s much less obvious. But the reality is we are locked in an eternal struggle with the forces of totalitarianism, gangsterism, and militarism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-the-regional-situation/995349.md?page=33)