comment: >
  
  If NATO had accepted Russia's offer to join 2 decades ago, this all could have been avoided. NATO was born to defend against aggressive countries. Russia wouldn't be aggressive if NATO was willing to be friendly toward it.
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 >
  
  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 >
  
  these headlines are just all bullshit.  ruzzia would need a lot more troops and equipment in Belarus if they wanted to attack from there. >
  
  Like that would stop them. They're just throwing meat into the grinder at this point. >
  
  good point, but you would at least expect them to try to gain something. >
  
  They seem to believe that 'psychologically numbing drone operators' is a valid use of entire squads of conscripts.
  Maybe their next plan will be to spread disease through overloading Ukraine with corpses. >
  
  More troops for the slaughter >
  
  How in the fuck do they think this is going to work this time?!?!? 
  Let me get this straight: 
  
  
  Poorly trained or not even trained at all soldiers
  
  
  All your good heavy equipment has been vaporized
  
  
  No supplies to give your soldiers 
  
  
  Still shit logistics
  
  
  Moral has bottomed out and cratering into the earth
  
  
  Sanctioned to kingdom come
  
  
  Running low on money and munitions
  
  
  Air force still missing in action
  
  
  Western Nations are beginning to wake up and send more robust, sophisticated weapon systems. 
  
  
  Please, does any Russian want to enlighten me on how they think a second go at the Capital will work this time? >
  
  
  Please, does any Russian want to enlighten me on how they think a second go at the Capital will work this time?
  
  Sure, why not. It's almost certainly not going to work, unless everyone else makes some catastrophic mistakes (I hope not). They're trying to buy some more time and maintain the illusion for domestic audience (those supportive of the war, including some power structures) that they are going to achieve something. But at this point they don't have any good options for that anyway.
  Btw, it's important to understand that they literally don't care about anything other than keeping power and leeching money and resources. If you expect them to care about human life in the least bit, that's a huge mistake. (I guess it's easy to make such a mistake for people from the West because you're used to deal with normal human beings - these guys are nothing like normal human beings.)  They would use artillery and tanks on their own citizens before they begin to consider their opinion.
  Source: my Russian ass >
  
  I wish you the best and hope you escape your govt. Hopefully things will one day change in Russia. Stay safe! >
  
  Thanks. I almost did (I guess), only need to acquire citizenship of another country, which would involve waiting some years and passing a language exam, which I'm probably able to do. >
  
  Good luck! Thank you for understanding and seeing past the Kremlin’s lies. >
  
  Putin is a wee cunt who needs taken out! >
  
  I think there's more to this. Russia is sending troops to Belarus, not to send on an attack, but to guard the residing regime under Luka. They need to keep that idiot in charge at all costs... Imagine the implications of a new president saying, OK, now get the Fk out!! >
  
  Russia is a text book example of what not to do in a war >
  
  I think they will annex Belarus. Putin needs a win desperately. >
  
  Even pro-putin Russians would be disappointed. Strived for Ukraine, but got Lukashenko instead. 🤮 >
  
  No no, they are going over to help put up the 'Christmas decorations'. >
  
  Maybe? They're known to bring gifts, like tanks. >
  
  Like, you’re welcome! >
  
  He needs to draw Ukraine troops to the North to take pressure off the South. He knows we are thinking its a bluff / distraction but then again may turn the bluff into an actual new front. Remember, he does not actually care about the loses .... around 90,000 dead and wounded and the Russians haven't flinched. The death toll is not an issue. He can then say "they are now attacking our friend Belarus.... I told you Nato is wanting to invade us" >
  
  My guess is they are hurting real bad in the east and trying to make Ukraine focus as much as possible the the west. >
  
  Lol.. ok.. 
  I was wondering how i could make a stupid headline... then this shows up... im feeling ruined.... >
  
  Any chance this is an attempt to draw Ukrainian forces away from areas they are being overwhelmed (but can't readily reinforce, e.g. Crimea, I think)? >
  
  So instead of annexing part of Ukraine, Putin is annexing Belarus? >
  
  Russia is about to attempt a second attack on Ukraine's capital.  This time Ukraine are even more aware and prepared than they were last time.
  Even if it may be bloody, the last time was well, it will likely result in complete failure, again, and perhaps even worse of a failure this time.
  So, Russia, please do it, please. >
  
  I know they mean attack from Belarus from Russia again. But part of me is reading it like they're stationed there to try and keep order as Belarus military personnel start to fight Russians >
  
  Is Luka that weak and that dumb? >
  
  Without putin he would be toast. But putin doesn't prop lukashehko to help him, more to help himself because a revolution from a place so close to Moscow must scare him >
  
  Could be building for another late winter push to Kiev, could be a bluff trying to pull Ukraine troops out of the east and south. >
  
  Such utter bullshit, there is another story today where Russia plans to send 500k more men to Ukraine.  So 500k plus more to Belarus from a country that just a few months ago was grabbing men off the streets and prisoners to send to Ukraine.
  Why doesn't the press question this non-sense instead of being Putins propaganda outlet. >
  
  Is that what the ceasefire was for? >
  
  All a show to keep the Ukrainians from committing everything in the Donbas. The Russians can barely supply their troops 20 miles over their own border, opening a third front again would be catastrophic to the Russian’s already horrible supply chain.