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Comment by toomanyrichies | Hacker News Reader

Hopefully this means the Ukranian air force can start attacking the 60-mile-long Russian convoy that's backed up on the road to Kyiv. As has been mentioned in other comment threads elsewhere on HN, it seems like that backup would be both a high-value target and (currently) a turkey shoot, until it resumes moving.

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They can't attack it due to heavy Russian air defense, not due to lack of fighters.

Good to know, thanks!

Surely some surface-to-surface missiles or long range artillery could reach the Russian column and break through the air defenses? It seems to me like both sides are holding back from unleashing the full fury of their power, for good reason.

Ukraine might get handheld anti-tank or anti-air missiles, but they don't get heavy equipment like long-range surface-to-surface or SAM missiles. If they use artillery, they risk counter-battery fire or air attacks.

Ukraine is pushing for a NATO-led no fly zone specifically for this reason. They can't attack this column without exposing their troops to counter-attacks from Russian aircraft.

For now, there is no functional difference between destroyed equipment and disabled equipment. Turning this disabled equipment into destroyed equipment carries risks for no immediate gains. (Granted, this might look like a poor decision in hindsight)

https://nitter.nl/UAWeapons/status/1500942046009438208

IANA… not L, but anyway. Maybe they're trying to attack a few bits and pieces so the convoy locks up lots of Russians and their equipment and can't be either resupplied or moved. (Tankers and other trucks would need to refueld the entire convoy.)

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