comment: >
  
  Are we supposed to be shocked or surprised or something at how such a ‘rich, civilized’ country could do this?
context: Russian forces have reportedly been using civilians to find safe routes through Ukrainian landmine fields in order to reach Ukrainian positions, the Ukrainian government's National Resistance Center reported Sunday.
  In addition to Russian forces risking the lives of civilians to ensure their own safety, the report further added that Iranian and Pakistani refugees are also sent into Ukraine's borders by Belarusian troops in order to find vulnerable areas on their shared border.
  
  You know Russia's reputation is kaput, when you hear them using refugees / civilians as mine cleaners and all you can think of is "sounds about right". >
  
  Natural resources.  There are plenty of countries who  wont particularly care when it comes to it.  Plenty will, plenty wont...  the next 2 years are certainly going to be interesting, hopefully I am wrong but this is not going to be over soon, as long as the RUS have bodies to throw at this they will endure and there is likely a lot more global pain (less than ukrainian pain admittedly) on the horizon i think.
  Edit: cant type >
  
  Hopefully the new western equipment is going to let Ukraine take back most of the territories and drag a collapse of Putin's Army, Putin rule and military activities. >
  
  Hopefully, but also hopefully Ukraine is smart about it. If they retake too much too quickly, Putin can use that to mobilize even more troops, and will also cause more Ukrainian casualties, since being on the offensive is generally more deadly. 
  However, if Ukraine can bide it’s time, let Russia push some, then counter attack, rely on drones and artillery while using the new tanks to protect infantry, they can drag this out and bleed Russia dry while minimizing their own losses. 
  Most of the eastern front line is in ruins now, so letting Russia take towns here and there isn’t a big deal. Even if Ukraine has to do a fighting retreat for months, it’s a win if they can inflict asymmetrical casualties on Russia. 
  Russia does have the manpower advantage, but that means nothing if the manpower is all untrained convicts with no supplies. The best way to really beat Russia is to draw them into a long guerrilla war that they can’t logistically or economically maintain. That’s how they got their shit wrecked in Afghanistan. >
  
  “Putin can use that to mobilize even more troops” - he will mobilize people while he can, it absolutely doesn’t matter how fast Ukraine will retake territory. If they magically will retake everything tomorrow morning, Putin will call for more conscripts and war will continue at Russian - Ukrainian border trying invade again until “Putin” will not die in heads of Russian top politics, doesn’t matter if person with this name alive or not. The faster Ukraine  retake grounds, the more relatively safe territory they will have to rebuild their economics more or less far away from russian artillery and missiles range. Ukraine is agricultural country, they need clean their fields and grow food again. Yes, Ukraine must hold until new tanks will come, but after it the new mobilization wave is not  a threat to stop them from retaking ground. Hidden mobilization in Russia never stopped. 
  Russia is incompatibility bigger than Ukraine. Long guerrilla war is not acceptable for Ukraine itself. 30 mln against 140 mln, Russia can constantly train soldiers far away from frontline on territories close to China, they even not notice their casualties right now, few people in this village, few in another village, Russia is too big, and they still produce their artillery, missiles and etc.  it that modern and fancy as western, but in huge amount. They need to end war as fast as possible, because russia is show offers country. I’m pretty sure this is what Ukraine rely on. Russian propaganda said that they will take Kyiv in 3 days and etc, the harder they will slap them in front of whole world, the faster internal fight will start in Russia. 
  I’m not expecting there revolution or civilians on the squares, I’m expecting cabinet wars and accidentally failing people from windows or stairs. While Russia will decide who will be the next Stalin or Tsar, Ukraine expects to rebuild its shields on or russian border. They will not have any relationship with Russia next 30 years, so they don’t care will it be one country, New Democratic leader or next dictator, they just want win some time while Russia fighting inside, and mostly only look like a looser in people eyes can trigger it in Russia. >
  
  Ukraine will not survive war of attrition. It’s impossible, Russia is 4 times bigger. You said about Afghanistan, this is exactly what will happen with Ukraine if they will follow your advice. Look at Afghanistan now, how they feel? Economically stable, well developed country, right? 
  Russian people will line up only if Ukraine will take russian territory like Belgorod. Crimea and donbass is not russian territory, doesn’t matter what their tv says, it’s relatively new, not like Crimea was theirs last 30 years. Russians are loyalists, they are saying and bluffing a lot, but when it comes to real deal, 700k fled the country. They are warriors and will kill everyone and will got Kyiv and will defeat NATO and will conquer the moon right till the moment when it must be done. >
  
  Just like Vietnam lost against the US in a war of attrition? Or how Afghanistan is a free country after all those years of US occupation? Or how Russia won in Afghanistan before us? /s
  Even the American revolution is an example of how a bigger/ badder country can't sustain long wars on territory outside itself. Russia can't sustain this war longer than Ukraine can. For Ukraine it's win or die, for Russia it's win or lose territory that's not yours to begin with. Plus, Ukraine has something Afghanistan never had after a war, international support. It will end better for Ukraine than Afghanistan. They've already cut down on corruption a huge way in Ukraine. 
  They're fighting extinction at Russia's hand. If your country was in the same predicament, you wouldn't want your country surrendering and being conquered by Russia. Unless you're all for that mafia state government and oppression of the people. >
  
  Ukraine can't self sustain even the current defence with the current external support, it's expected to have reduced support from the US in 2024 due to internal politics, which will also mean reduced EU support. Ukraine also needs to constantly show progress to keep interest as bad as it sounds. 2023 is the year for max push by Ukraine and I do believe they would be smart about it, but they need to and will make war finishing moves. >
  
  Heartbreaking, devastating, but not surprising. >
  
  The thing almost worse than this is that a significant amount of westerners and an even greater amount of others won’t believe it. We have so much evidence and people are denying it in real time. >
  
  The Russian flag will eventually become analogous to the swastika, with Russia itself being loathed for generations to come. >
  
  Seems like Z has become their symbol also. >
  
  Everyone always forgets the V is also russian
  (Probably cause the v's got their asses kicked already) >
  
  V can be the symbol for certified plant fertilizer. >
  
  Fertilizer quality : Very. >
  
  “Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice i am willing to take.” >
  
  Sacrifice you have to make* >
  
  It's a meme from Shrek, the other guy was right. >
  
  Yeah I know, just pointing out the horrible fact that they don't get a choice. >
  
  It’s pretty implied they don’t get a choice, didn’t need pointing out >
  
  Why is that short little man still walking this earth? >
  
  Serious answer: every politician on earth is terrified of the precedent it sets if we allows other nations to do.
  The world leaders of the world will never abide a state sanctioned tarted attempt on Putin's life because it makes them fair game for targeted attacks in times of war. >
  
  This isn't the answer at all. You kidding? The US has a long history  of assassination attempts on state leaders. Hell the CIA tried and failed 8 times to unalive Castro. >
  
  Why do people say ‘unalive’? >
  
  My amusement mostly.
  Happy cake day 🎉🎂 >
  
  Oh I had no idea. Thanks! >
  
  🇷🇺 = 卐 >
  
  On the plus side, your average human isn't going to set off an anti tank mine. 
  Not sure what the anti-personel mine situation is. >
  
  You can jump on AT mines without concern as long as they don't have tip-sensors. And Ukrainians don't utilize Anti-Personnel mines. If these people are being sent to clear out AP mines, they're Russian minefields that haven't been mapped. 
  We've known since the start of the war that the Russians haven't been mapping their minefields, which is going to be a nightmare for decades to come after this conflict. There's a reason Ukraine is a signatory nation to the agreement to not use AP mines. >
  
  
  And Ukrainians don't utilize Anti-Personnel mines
  
  they do,  UA used captured butterfly mines in a few places but against retreating Russian troops >
  
  Add it to the warcrime list >
  
  At no point did I say that they were both acting in the same way.  Your example of Russian propaganda isn't even propaganda.  It's a reactionary measure they are taking to quell dissenters at home.  It isn't spreading propaganda, but working to prevent spreading the truth so that propaganda can be more effective.
  Thank you for being both an excellent example of how not to think critically, but also an excellent example of how not to read something before commenting on it. >
  
  It's probably more appropriate to say they're sending civilians through landmine fields to CREATE safe routes... I doubt the civilians are doing a great job of proactively discovering the mines... >
  
  Oh look, more war crimes. >
  
  I'm shocked! This can't be true, Pootin' is fighting the Nazis to protect his people from things like this. >
  
  Not only that - they are sending civilians for combat too. How else would you call completely untrained, unmotivated and unpaid guy ordered to get shot in the head. 
  Not to mention the operating PMC that afaik has mostly civilian contractors (correct me if I am wrong). >
  
  Are the land mines even legal?? >
  
  Well Canada started the anti landmine agreement in the UN. The only countries that did not sign on was China, Russia, and the US. >
  
  Proving yet again that these 'people' have no care for human life. >
  
  I don't believe there's a single person surprised by this at this point. And that says a lot of whats left of sympathy for Russia by now. >
  
  And they forced civilian ships through to check for sea mines. >
  
  The Z is the new swastika. >
  
  This is propaganda, but I believe it. It lines up with all the other horrible this they've down during this war of aggression.
  Russia is making Ukraine propaganda makers jobs really easy. >
  
  That sounds about right. Fucking scumbags. >
  
  Oh look another Russian war crime. 
  This is why Ukraine MUST emerge victorious in this conflict >
  
  That's a war crime. >
  
  Sad, terrifying and heartbreaking.
  I can only hope thes reports are either false or exaggerated, but going by what the Russian Army has done so far, I feel I will have no such luck. >
  
  The unhealthcare system of ruSSia has reached a new low. They need nuked. Fuck Russia and fuck Vladimir Putin. >
  
  "the Ukrainian government's National Resistance Center reported Sunday."
  Hmm. Okay >
  
  That is fucked up. >
  
  What about Ottawa Treaty? >
  
  The Russian people need to retake their country back from the dictator. Cowards. >
  
  Why is the UA using land mines in the first place? It’s not as if they need to do so. >
  
  Well....to kill the enemy? I mean, it's a war. You also don't "need" to fire artillery, but it sure helps.
  Land mines in general are also fair game (i.e. against vehicles). But unlike Russia, Ukraine is a signatory to the Ottawa treaty, agreeing to destroy and never use Anti-personnell mines. It's a dumb catch-22 Ukraine finds itself in. Use them and break an international treaty (Russia is more than happy to point out). Or don't use them and give Russia an advantage.
  In fact....I now wonder if such reports could actually be Russian propaganda, trying to make us believe Ukraine uses anti-personell mines, when they don't? >
  
  You like Mine Sweeper video game? 
  In Russia, YOU ARE MINESWEEPER! >
  
  I’ve read that landmines come in a wide variety with some designed to not explode on first contact so you can’t easily clear it. Is that an issue here, do the Russians know what kind of mines they are, do they not care if some are left, etc.?
  Seems like a variety pack used in one field would be a nightmare during and after conflict. >
  
  Russian civilians or Ukrainian civilians? >
  
  If they keep doing that it will prompt a NATO intervention. >
  
  John Rambo's about to come out of retirement. >
  
  I thought we weren't using landmines anymore...? >
  
  And I'm sure the Iraqis threw those babies from incubators. >
  
  as an iranian this hit harder than i thought >
  
  If Russian military leadership wasn't so incompetent it wouldn't need to be so evil. But I guess those two go hand in hand. Super-clever, visionary supervillains are fiction. Real evil is shallow and stupid and shitty. >
  
  Wouldn’t it be easier to rise up and smite Putin? Has to be a better option than stepping on a mine without good cause. >
  
  Holy shit, i thought after WW2 we wont get a good bad guy to use in movies and games like the Nazi's, but they keep giving. They are just monsters, and I can't believe some of their civilian population is ok with this. >
  
  If this is actually true then the Kremlin needs to be completely leveled and Putin needs to be zeroed out of existence. It's time to end the Russian experiment if they have reached this level of depravity. Time to break up Russia into meaningless and powerless states. >
  
  There’s a lot of fake stuff going on in this war. uS sending black water into Ukraine. Worth looking into… Some things are staged! >
  
  Shut up knobhead. >
  
  Whos fault was it for placing mines there in the first place? 🤔 
  Ukraine, you fucked up big >
  
  Those mInes wouldn't be there if Russia had not invaded in the first place.