15 votes

US concerned about Ukraine strikes on Russian nuclear radar stations

8 comments

  1. [6]
    skybrian
    Link
    From the article: …

    From the article:

    Washington has conveyed its concerns to Kyiv about two attempted attacks over the last week against radar stations that provide conventional air defense as well as warning of nuclear launches by the West. At least one strike in Armavir, in Russia’s southeastern Krasnodar region, appeared to have caused some damage.

    “These sites have not been involved in supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the U.S. official said. “But they are sensitive locations because Russia could perceive that its strategic deterrent capabilities are being targeted, which could undermine Russia’s ability to maintain nuclear deterrence against the United States.”

    A Ukrainian official familiar with the matter, however, said that Russia has used the radar sites to monitor the Ukrainian military’s activities, particularly Kyiv’s use of aerial weaponry, such as drones and missiles. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive security matter, confirmed that Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate, known by its initials as GUR, was responsible for the strikes.

    Ukraine is facing a continuing threat to its existence from a Russian enemy force — which boasts the world’s largest nuclear arsenal — that has gained ground of late, in part due to its sophisticated radar and weapons-jamming technology, which has rendered virtually useless some U.S.-provided guided missiles and artillery shells. […]

    The Ukrainian official said the goal of the strikes was to diminish Russia’s ability to track the Ukrainian military’s activities in southern Ukraine. The drone that targeted the radar station near Orsk, in Russia’s Orenburg region along Kazakhstan’s northern border, traveled more than 1,100 miles, making it one of the deepest attempted strikes into Russian territory. The Ukrainian official declined to say whether the strike, on May 26, caused any damage.

    U.S. officials said they are sympathetic to Ukraine’s plight — administration officials are actively weighing whether to lift restraints on the use of U.S.-provided weapons to strike inside Russia. But were Russia’s early-warning capabilities to be blinded by Ukrainian attacks, even in part, that could hurt strategic stability between Washington and Moscow, the U.S. official said.

    Following Ukraine’s disappointing counteroffensive last year, Russia has regained the initiative on the battlefield in recent months, advancing in the eastern Donetsk region and recently launching a new assault in the northeastern Kharkiv region along the border. Kyiv, meanwhile, has with increasing frequency targeted sites deep in Russia — a capability many doubted was possible without Western support and sign-off.

    6 votes
    1. [5]
      Deely
      Link Parent
      Yeah, sure. Created for war, used for war, exists for war in a country that started war, but "not been involved" in a war.. Oh, 'yes, you can defend yourself, but not very much, otherwise it will...

      “These sites have not been involved in supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the U.S. official said.

      Yeah, sure. Created for war, used for war, exists for war in a country that started war, but "not been involved" in a war..

      But were Russia’s early-warning capabilities to be blinded by Ukrainian attacks, even in part, that could hurt strategic stability between Washington and Moscow, the U.S. official said.

      Oh, 'yes, you can defend yourself, but not very much, otherwise it will hurt our strategic stability'.

      Sorry, Im so tired of these rethoric...

      13 votes
      1. [3]
        skybrian
        Link Parent
        I don’t know anything more about these particular radar facilities than what’s in the article, but wanting to avoid any mistakes that might result in nuclear war actually is a good reason to be...

        I don’t know anything more about these particular radar facilities than what’s in the article, but wanting to avoid any mistakes that might result in nuclear war actually is a good reason to be cautious, in general.

        16 votes
        1. [2]
          Deely
          Link Parent
          Agree. Im not criticizing you. But thats just too broad statement. Unfortunately we can apply it to any Ukraine actions and any help that Ukraine receive.

          Agree.

          Im not criticizing you. But thats just too broad statement. Unfortunately we can apply it to any Ukraine actions and any help that Ukraine receive.

          2 votes
          1. skybrian
            Link Parent
            Yes, I agree that it's too broad. I think this sort of issue just can't be resolved at the abstract level that we usually talk about them in online forums. Basically, everyone's arguments are...

            Yes, I agree that it's too broad. I think this sort of issue just can't be resolved at the abstract level that we usually talk about them in online forums. Basically, everyone's arguments are plausible under some possible scenario, and it would take a lot of effort to understand what's really going on in detail.

            But that means being dismissive doesn't really work either - the other side's concerns may be vague, but they aren't dismissed so easily, even if you're tired of them.

            4 votes
      2. Eji1700
        Link Parent
        I think the argument is that radar facilities like this are hyper specialized into detecting nuclear strike activity, something ukraine absolutely isn't capable of. There is a weird game theory...

        I think the argument is that radar facilities like this are hyper specialized into detecting nuclear strike activity, something ukraine absolutely isn't capable of.

        There is a weird game theory line where if Russia loses too much of that capability, they would ideally want to strike first because they would no longer have any way of detecting a strike.

        While this is unlikely to happen, I do understand if the US would prefer ukraine not hit these kinds of sites if they actually aren't being used/can't be used for anything else.

        Of course from Ukraine's perspective, they make inviting targets because it escalates hostilities between the US and Russia, as they really don't want the US just saying "you know what, fuck it, russia can have ukraine".

        9 votes
  2. BeanBurrito
    Link
    I think Russian troops are still occupying a Ukrainian nuclear power plant. They also threatened the derelict Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In the U.S., domestic terrorists have already been...

    I think Russian troops are still occupying a Ukrainian nuclear power plant. They also threatened the derelict Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

    In the U.S., domestic terrorists have already been imprisoned for attacking or planning to attack the U.S. power grid.

    Just one successful attack on 1 nuclear power plant can cause a lot of pain for the entire world.

    I see articles every week about the advancement of photovoltaic and wind generated electricity.

    I'm starting to see articles now about those advances not being enough and nuclear power being necessary for the growth of A.I. -- something which many people do not want.

    4 votes