comment: >
  
  Yeah there are literally children's books in the soviet 
  Union where they tell you about the different races within the state. From Russian to Ukrainian, Tatars, Kazakhs, Georgian, Armenian, [.. 20 more] to Jews. 
  And there was a big russification on going, a lot discriminations and incamping. Actually not THAT different to Germany and Italy in their 30ies.
context: During an interview last month with convicted Russian agent Maria Butina for the state media outlet RT, Bout proclaimed his wholehearted support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said he would certainly sign up as a volunteer, if he had the opportunity and necessary skills.
  During his Wednesday interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda Radio, Bout was a lot more cautious, probably realizing that no special skills are required to be dispatched to the frontlines.
  
  "Man, I'd totally sign up! If only I could..."
  "Good news, you can!"
  "I mean, I would, but I lack the skills -"
  "Worry not! We'll take literally anyone!"
  "...I, uh, just need to check on something first. In, uh...somewhere else." >
  
  
  “Sooner or later, the deep America will stand up, take power into its hands and install a normal president like Trump, who will say: “Why wouldn’t we want to get along with Russia?” Karpitskaya quietly replied: “We’ll be waiting.”
  
  Chilling. >
  
  What? Trump a, "Normal President"? 
  We're better off with an actual military veteran in office, not some tender foot. >
  
  he looks like he can catch bullets as well as anyone >
  
  If you can dodge a bullet, you can dodge a ball. >
  
  And this is why Russia never had an Olympic gold medal winning dodgeball team. >
  
  Wow so delusional that guy might be drunk >
  
  Well, Bout's history isn't actually fighting himself.  Its arms and other weapons related dealings and conspiracy which would possibly result in thousands of deaths. Hence, "The Merchant of Death."  Doesn't mean he's pulling the trigger or personally blowing people up
  edit: typo >
  
  But after years in jail, his contacts are no longer as useful, he likely would be more useful to Russia on the front lines. >
  
  That was the rationale for swapping him for Griner, but he I bet he still has contacts, and he still has status.  Wouldn't be hard with his background to connect >
  
  What weapons is he trading?  Russia has little to spare.  His time has come and gone, he's of very little use other than propaganda in Russia. >
  
  He's probably not allowed to become there's a window on the 12th floor he has a meeting with >
  
  Griner wouldn't. >
  
  They should have had them fight for the right to be free. My money's on Griner. >
  
  She would leave the arena wearing his mustache as a cute little bow tie. >
  
  
  During an interview last month with convicted Russian agent Maria Butina for the state media outlet RT, Bout proclaimed his wholehearted support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said he would certainly sign up as a volunteer, if he had the opportunity and necessary skills.
  During his Wednesday interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda Radio, Bout was a lot more cautious, probably realizing that no special skills are required to be dispatched to the frontlines.
  
  "Man, I'd totally sign up! If only I could..."
  "Good news, you can!"
  "I mean, I would, but I lack the skills -"
  "Worry not! We'll take literally anyone!"
  "...I, uh, just need to check on something first. In, uh...somewhere else." >
  
  The "hold me back" toughguy. >
  
  Russian culture in a nutshell—Act hard as nails, until you actually have to fight someone on equal footing… then cry and play victim. >
  
  Dude I'm an American and spent years living in Russia and practiced martial arts there for a long time. Russians go hard, hit hard and don't really know chill when it comes to fighting. Also the worst bar brawls I have ever seen were in Russia.... so.... agree to disagree. >
  
  Barfights =/= strategic warfare.
  Soviet invasion of Afghanistan disagrees with you >
  
  Interestingly enough, The Soviet Union was led by Leonid Brezhnev, a Ukrainian, when that invasion started. 
  The USSR was led by non-Russians for 43 of it's 69 years of existence. >
  
  By and large though they were the same country.  Georgians (Stalin) and Ukrainians weren't considered all that different, they had the same governments, educational systems, and state religion after all. While the USSR was de facto ruled by Russia, on paper the Russian SFSR was just another member state of the USSR. 
  A lot of these post Soviet countries we see now didn't have much in the way of a national identity before the USSR broke up. This caused a sizable portion (if not the majority) of people to see themselves as Soviet citizens first, then whatever ethnicity they were second. >
  
  Georgians are an entirely different language family and cultural group from Ukrainians and Russians. The only thing they had in common was the government (not of their choosing) which instilled that education, those local governments, and religion.