comment: >
  
  This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 76%. (I'm a bot)
  
  
  A train carrying Russian troops and equipment has arrived in Belarus amid concerns that Moscow could use its ally's territory to attack Ukraine from the north.
  The developments came after Belarus, which has backed Russia over its war in Ukraine, said on Thursday that it will receive more weapons and equipment from its neighbour as the two continue to boost military cooperation.
  Any new attack on Ukraine from Belarus would open a major new front in the war, which has killed tens of thousands of people.
  
  
  Extended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Ukraine^#1 military^#2 Belarusian^#3 Russian^#4 troops^#5
context: Pose for picture Sergei. Very good. Now return weapon and defend line. >
  
  Damn this shit hits hard. 80s in Romania I was a student, probably 4th grade. Photographer comes in with a cart full of toys, pencils, colored pencils, paints, etc. Puts them all down nicely on the table for the photographs, one by one, then takes them all and leave. Only time that year that we saw colored pencils. Just like your weapon joke, all an illusion of abundance, typical of Soviet mentality. >
  
  ‘89 Christmas I know you got real coloring books you could keep. >
  
  I think they are just filling Belarus with troops because they know the Belarusian military will just turn on Luka if ordered to attack Ukraine. The military already said they wont fight Ukraine. 
  Besides, Belarus has a really really small army compared to Ukraine. There is barely any point in them trying.
  Attacking Ukraine from Belarus again would be an absolute slaughter. 
  Ukraine is better equipped, more experienced and better prepared since the last time russia tried (and failed) this. 
  But such a self-sabotaging and dumb decision is consistent with every decision putin has made throughout the war so i wouldn't be surprised if that's the actual plan. >
  
  
  Besides, Belarus has a really really small army
  
  That they need to protect the borders with three NATO countries, the best Luka could throw at Ukraine is unwilling conscripts, and i just can not see that happening, but you never know. >
  
  In reality Lukashenko isn't at all worried about protecting his NATO borders, that's just one of the excuses he uses to avoid being dragged into the Ukraine war.
  The same is true for Russia, they just about emptied the garrisons of every military base close to NATO borders in order to replace losses in Ukraine. Clearly they're not worried about anyone trying to invade them, that's just the boogieman they enjoy pointing to in order to justify their war. >
  
  
  The same is true for Russia, they just about emptied the garrisons of every military base close to NATO borders in order to replace losses in Ukraine.
  
  Curious how you came to that conclusion? >
  
  At the least the border to Finland has never been emptier of Russian troops. Sure Finland isn't a member of Nato yet, but with all the russian ruckus of Finland joining Nato one would think that they would reinforce instead of empty. >
  
  do we have proof that they have emptied the border? >
  
  They're called satellites, look it up. >
  
  I agree can you provide some references to your claims? >
  
  Russia is fighting the only way they know, hoping that they have more soldiers than the enemy has bullets >
  
  The Zap Brannigan school of war >
  
  STOP EXPLODING, YOU COWARDS! >
  
  Peasants without weapons or training, a janky supply chain, and a Ukrainian Northern border bristling with a hundred thousand men and materiel — and none of the problems. 
  As a distraction to keep folks tied up, it’s been a good gambit. As an assault point, it’s absolutely a dogshit meat grinder.
  But I trust we all realize that these troops are there for good, yes? They’re meant as a distraction and to prop up Luka. The Belarusian state is about to cease to exist. >
  
  I low-key think Russia might just annex Belarus if they fail too hard, as look what we still accomplished >
  
  I wonder if that'd create a permanent insurgency because Belarus foreign legionaries are gaining valuable experience and are openly saying they will turn it on Belarus one day. If Belarus is fully annexed by Russia it would give the locals a reason to hate their leadership even more. Belarusians do not like Russians as a whole. >
  
  Putin needs a trophy to save his ass.  He will annex Belarus as a distraction from his armies failures in Ukraine. >
  
  I don't think it's enough. Belarus is important to him, but the crown jewel is Ukraine and Kyiv - there's significant historical and symbolic importance in these areas, and a democratic Ukraine is an existential threat to an autocratic Russia. He might settle for annexing Ukrainian territory now and just wait until he is better prepared (and when geopolitical conditions are more unstable) to make another attempt, but if he leaves Ukraine without any gains it will be a loss. >
  
  He would use it as a way to get some breathing room in terms of pressure from the west. Take Belarus because the west wing care as much and then withdrawal from everywhere but Crimea I'm Ukraine. Then they only need to focus a small contingency of soldiers for fighting and the rest can go back to doing what they do best, cracking the skulls of unarmed civilians