CNN reported that

[EndlessWire]

Russia put up a pontoon bridge over a river four miles from the Ukraine border, overnight. They also constructed roads. I don't know much if anything about pontoon bridges other than they are portable. Can you leave them in place forever, or do they require maintenance?

They aren't withdrawing. Still no satellite images showing them making a big effort to leave. Rather, they are increasing their presence.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Pontoon bridges are temporary...

once the major force is past that river crossing, they would normally find/repair/build a more permanent crossing.

You are apparently right about the Russians. I have heard of no indications that they are 'leaving' the area.

[EndlessWire]

7. They are gaming right now.

But, it was quicker to put up a bridge like that than trying to improve the river access with a newly constructed permanent bridge.

They love bridges. They put one up connecting Crimea to...somewhere...in Russia.

Am I wrong to think that yep, they are going to use that bridge? Sooner, rather than later? You don't have to answer. I'm just worried about everything. I have friends in England, and I am still worried about that Russian flotilla off the coast of Ireland. Still, we have the Irish Fishermen to help us out.

That would be a good name for a ball club.

[Wounded Bear]

9. Also, some larger tanks can't cross on normal road bridges...

I know the US Abrams tank can't.

As for the Irish, last I heard the Russkis moved their excercises to a different patch of ocean. Not like it's crowded out there.

Rivers can be a major obstacle to military movements, but since at least WWII, most countries have gotten pretty good at quick deployment of pontoon bridges. Ukraine is mostly pretty good tank country (when not in the muddy season) but there are several major rivers to cross.

[EndlessWire]

10. Wow, I didn't know that. n/t

[paleotn]

17. Yep. The muddy season. It's coming.

And winter is drawing to an end in western Europe from a nat. gas heating perspective. Puty's window of opportunity is closing.

[PoliticAverse]

2. "Most pontoon bridges are designed for temporary use...

Most pontoon bridges are designed for temporary use, but bridges across water bodies with a constant water level can remain in place much longer. Hobart Bridge, a long pontoon bridge built 1943 in Hobart, was only replaced after 21 years. The fourth Galata Bridge that spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey was built in 1912 and operated for 80 years.

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontoon_bridge

[Wounded Bear]

14. It depends a lot on what kind of traffic is crossing it as to how long it will last...nt

[Blue Owl]

3. It's a cold day for pontooning

[asiliveandbreathe]

4. I knew I had seen this erlier..

https://democraticunderground.com/100216363107

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

5. Putin is laughing at all these daily proclamations of war, thats his game

[AnotherMother4Peace]

11. What's his game? Daily proclamations of war? Invading countries?

Occupying and stealing Crimea? Lying about withdrawing, when he's becoming more threatening.

I don't know what you mean by "that's his game".

[Probatim]

16. Driving up oil prices to add to his personal vault

[paleotn]

19. Ham handed at best. He's as predictable as the sunrise.

"I'm pulling back." No you're not (per western satellites, and other forms of intel gathering). Latest rumor is masked "little green men" are back in Donetsk setting up a pre-text for war. So original. Ask Hitler and Poland. Another rumor is Puty is pissed as hell that his moves are being intercepted and telegraphed back to him by the west before he makes them. Makes sense, really. Apologies to Al Gore, but we invented the goddamn internet and have resources beyond Putin's wildest dreams with respect to signal intel. His communication networks appear to be so hacked that DC is reading Russian communications as quickly as the the Russians are. Never underestimate the power of a 700+ billion a year defense budget, not even counting CIA, NSA and all the really black stuff.

[aeromanKC]

6. Do they have a building permit?

If not, fine Putin and have them removed!!

[Tomconroy]

8. Supposedly it's down again today:

Link to tweet

[EndlessWire]

12. I wonder what they crossed over that bridge. n/t

[Wounded Bear]

13. If it was up one day and down the next, maybe it was just practice...

they do that in the Army sometimes.

[monkeyman1]

15. they can be deployed in matter of a few hr's ! seen it !

[paleotn]

20. That's what they're for.

[yaesu]

18. ABC reported that they found a mass grave of Russian backed rebels near the border, sounds like

the false flag is about to be raised.

[paleotn]

21. Yep. That's the latest "little green men" in Donetsk rumor.

Hitler says...Hey! That was my idea! Poland retorts...yea, we know.

[DallasNE]

22. Three Things

They tend to lose air, so you need an air compressor truck handy to keep inflating them. The pontoons are a target for small arms fire, so you need the area to be secured 24/7. They are single lane with a slow speed limit so they can be a bottleneck.

Back in the 60's I was part of a bridge platoon, and you can span a large river with them, they can be put up in a hurry, but they have their limitations too.

The weather has been seasonally warm so one wonders how well those new roads will stand up under the traffic load. I could see mud slowing down an assault.