Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

Jessica Peterson2 said:Apparently, the Moscow Police raided an apartment and detained a woman just for... listening to the Ukrainian anthem in her own home! She was reported by her neighbor

It won't be long before they strip Russians of all their rights entirely👎.

Kate Cook27 said:Even then, do you think The Kremlin would start screaming about a "coup, a government takeover, or white supremacists ousting a legally elected president"🙄?

Let them scream, if it helps them swallow the new reality. They need some outlet for all that rage, I suppose.

A few months back, Putin announced he was signing this deal with Belarus, basically saying if anyone touches Minsk, it’s the same as attacking Russia. It just makes me wonder—all these keyboard warriors claiming that if some tactical nukes go off in Ukraine, America wouldn't even bother responding... do they honestly think Russia would actually step up and fight for Belarus? Like, seriously?

Kate Cook27 said:Lukashenko is pretty insignificant—just constant complaining about how Poland is getting ready to invade Ukraine and grab territory, then whining to the EU about sanctions, then suggesting Ukraine should just surrender... and then suddenly claiming he has zero issues with Ukraine and hopes relations improve soon. It's a bit much.
A lot of Belarusians aren't on his side—if he actually sent troops into Ukraine, I suspect many would just surrender on the spot, and some might even join the Ukrainians. He’s been playing both sides for years—trying to balance things with Russia and the EU—but once the Russians stepped in to prevent him from falling, he basically had to start paying back his debt to Vladimir Putin.

Exactly 😁👍 In fact, Putin should probably watch his back so the Belarusian military doesn't show up to "help," because that could lead to some pretty unwanted side effects 😁

Kate Cook27 said:Lukashenko is pretty insignificant—just constant complaining about how Poland is getting ready to invade Ukraine and grab territory, then whining to the EU about sanctions, then suggesting Ukraine should just surrender... and then suddenly claiming he has zero issues with Ukraine and hopes relations improve soon. It's a bit much.
A lot of Belarusians aren't on his side—if he actually sent troops into Ukraine, I suspect many would just surrender on the spot, and some might even join the Ukrainians. He’s been playing both sides for years—trying to balance things with Russia and the EU—but once the Russians stepped in to prevent him from falling, he basically had to start paying back his debt to Vladimir Putin.

The logic holds, yet Lukashenko and Tokayev are clearly watching one another. One can imagine them calculating the exact moment to flip their allegiances again. Of course, Lukashenko possesses far superior geopolitical leverage to play that game compared to Tokayev. But then again, courage isn't exactly a common commodity among such men...

Kate Cook27 said:It won't be long before they strip Russians of all their rights entirely👎.

Honestly, why should they have any rights at all? It seems to me they don't need them. As long as we’re allowed to sing Hosanna to our great and wise Leader, 🙂who cares?

Nancy Gomez26 said:Let them scream, if it helps them swallow the new reality. They need some outlet for all that rage, I suppose.

At this rate, Putin might actually find himself waiting on Lukashenko for a few minutes soon 🤣.

I get the feeling that over in Russia right now, they're actually terrified to test those nukes—mostly because they wouldn't want one landing right in Moscow.

Kate Cook27 said:At this rate, Putin might actually find himself waiting on Lukashenko for a few minutes soon 🤣.

I get the feeling that over in Russia right now, they're actually terrified to test those nukes—mostly because they wouldn't want one landing right in Moscow.

That’s exactly what happens when you claim to be the world's premier superpower, only to end up being outclassed by everyone else fighting on the ground in Ukraine.

lp

Kate Cook27 said:Lukashenko is pretty insignificant—just constant complaining about how Poland is getting ready to invade Ukraine and grab territory, then whining to the EU about sanctions, then suggesting Ukraine should just surrender... and then suddenly claiming he has zero issues with Ukraine and hopes relations improve soon. It's a bit much.
A lot of Belarusians aren't on his side—if he actually sent troops into Ukraine, I suspect many would just surrender on the spot, and some might even join the Ukrainians. He’s been playing both sides for years—trying to balance things with Russia and the EU—but once the Russians stepped in to prevent him from falling, he basically had to start paying back his debt to Vladimir Putin.

👍
Back when the Russian invasion kicked off in February, the whole idea was to have the Belarusian military join the assault on the Kyiv Front, but their Chief of Staff basically said no.
I guess the people in Belarus eventually realized how incredibly lucky they were, seeing how those Russian units were retreating—absolutely decimated, freezing, and basically running for the hills.
That was nearly six months ago now.

Just a week ago, they watched as the Ukrainian army, bolstered by Western weaponry, pulled off a Blitz along the Russian border, leaving the Russian forces scrambling to save whatever they could.
After everything that’s happened, even the most die-hard pro-Russian folks in Belarus don't seem to have any desire at all to get tangled up with Ukraine.

Did I say at the start of this conflict that the Russian military was nothing more than a paper tiger? Did I mention how oligarchic corruption had gutted their forces, or ask if any sane person would actually pick a fight with people possessing such fierce, stubborn grit?

Ever since the days of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, they’ve relied on that wild, indomitable spirit for warfare. These aren't people who fold easily or live in fear. Sure, they might have been a bit rusty at the start—having forgotten how to actually fight—but now, with help from the West, they are systematically dismantling what used to be called the fourth strongest military on the planet.

At this point, Putin has what he has, and his secret agendas won't sustain him forever once they achieve their immediate goals. Once that happens, neither Putin nor his inner circle will show an ounce of strength toward Ukraine. They’ll likely pour everything left into this war, especially given the precarious situation they find themselves in.

And as for the Ukrainians?
The most dangerous opponent for any invader is the local warrior who has become intimately acquainted with war, hunger, and death—someone fighting for their own home. A person with nothing left to lose goes into battle with both head and heart.
It is pure psychology.

People like that rarely lose in the long run.
The Ukrainians are going to see this through to the end, no matter how long it takes. They won't stop until everything is cleared out, and every mass grave or piece of evidence regarding atrocities found along the way only serves to harden their resolve.
The only way this changes is if the war spills over into Russia itself, perhaps triggering internal uprisings as people begin demanding accountability.

Even the opposition in Chechnya—all those who are itching to take down Kadyrov—won't just sit idly by.
Anything can happen there.
As for Lukashenko?
He is far too slick and calculating a ruler to drag his entire nation, or himself, into a massive confrontation against the NATO crowd. He felt forced to let Putin in and stand by his side, but really, what choice did he have?
They face the risk of being swallowed up by a conquest of Belarus or a direct war with Russia, and unlike the Ukrainians, they don't have a "Big Brother" like the West to back them up. The Russians would swallow them whole in a heartbeat, and he'd likely be deposed or imprisoned. Let's be realistic.

If you look at where Putin stands right now and see the direction this is heading, it becomes clear that much of the talk about supporting Russia is just empty noise. People claim to be standing with Russia, when in reality, they are just looking out for their own interests.
Will he send a portion of his army? Unlikely. I don't think he's quite that insane. Not unless Putin puts even more pressure on him.

The war continues, and Russia will retaliate by striking larger cities, but in the grand scheme of things, they have already lost. They are losing day by day.

Glory to Ukraine! 👍

Jessica Peterson2 said:Honestly, why should they have any rights at all? It seems to me they don't need them. As long as we’re allowed to sing Hosanna to our great and wise Leader, 🙂who cares?

Exactly. I remember reading about this one guy—after he killed a Nemcov—who basically said they need millions more Russians out there, but honestly, they’re more worried about food and drink. He argued that Americans would choose Putin themselves if they could organize the most honest elections, claiming he’d win because he represents the very essence of Putin-Russia. If it came down to a choice between democracy and a dictatorship, they'd pick the latter. Why? Well, decades of lies, delusions, and pure myth-making have finally taken their toll.

Lukashenko’s own military isn't going to follow orders regarding an attack on Ukraine. The public is even less likely to go along with it. He's basically signing his own death warrant with his own people—though this time he might actually fail because the military would probably revolt too. He knows it, and Putin knows it. That’s exactly why Putin stopped pushing him.
It’s been a while since he posted, so I guess he had to drop something just to let us know he's still around.

Bryan Booth82 said:That’s exactly what happens when you claim to be the world's premier superpower, only to end up being outclassed by everyone else fighting on the ground in Ukraine.

lp

It’s what happens when corruption runs through the entire system—from the top brass down to the ground level—and everyone is just looking for a way to cheat the system and line their own pockets😁.

Plus, we shouldn't forget they're actually the biggest arms donors to Ukraine 😁. At the end of the day, Ukrainians will win using that very same weaponry 😁 😁.

rowdytiger13 said:Lukashenko’s own military isn't going to follow orders regarding an attack on Ukraine. The public is even less likely to go along with it. He's basically signing his own death warrant with his own people—though this time he might actually fail because the military would probably revolt too. He knows it, and Putin knows it. That’s exactly why Putin stopped pushing him.
It’s been a while since he posted, so I guess he had to drop something just to let us know he's still around.

Exactly. I’m expecting Orbán and Vučić to pop up soon, maybe even Milanović. They've all been pretty quiet lately.

rowdytiger13 said:Lukashenko’s own military isn't going to follow orders regarding an attack on Ukraine. The public is even less likely to go along with it. He's basically signing his own death warrant with his own people—though this time he might actually fail because the military would probably revolt too. He knows it, and Putin knows it. That’s exactly why Putin stopped pushing him.
It’s been a while since he posted, so I guess he had to drop something just to let us know he's still around.

Spot on.
The Putin loyalists are getting desperate enough to grab any ally they can find.
Even Lukashenko 👍

Thomas Walker84 said:That’s right. Violent criminals, rapists, and drug dealers aren't allowed in—that's actually one of those myths about the Foreign Legion (regardless of whether they've already served their time). It makes sense, both ethically and practically; you can't build an army around psychopaths, sociopaths, or extreme egomaniacs.

However, anyone who joins the unit is entitled to a "new life" and a fresh identity, no matter where they come from. Since 2015, there's even been a policy where everyone is automatically assigned a new name and birthdate, then after six months, they can choose to stick with the new one or go back to their old identity.

https://www.ouest-france.fr/normandi...chance-5020887

There are Ukrainians in the Foreign Legion who want to fight in Ukraine, but they can't because they are part of the French military. There are even about 400 Russians in the Legion, and in this video, a Ukrainian legionnaire mentions that some among them "understand the situation" and help Ukraine by sending financial aid or providing housing for refugees.

https://www.tf1info.fr/international...s-2217574.html

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a myth, because the Legion did take in people with violent criminal records, but that was a lifetime ago. We are probably talking about the 1950s at the absolute latest, if even then. They phased that out at least thirty years ago.

https://www.zurnalist.online/blog/ro...cionisti/2943/
The late Kuljish really laid it all out back in 2018—he explained what Russia actually represents today and how they’ve been masterfully digging around both the fringes and the absolute heart of Europe.

rowdytiger13 said:Lukashenko’s own military isn't going to follow orders regarding an attack on Ukraine. The public is even less likely to go along with it. He's basically signing his own death warrant with his own people—though this time he might actually fail because the military would probably revolt too. He knows it, and Putin knows it. That’s exactly why Putin stopped pushing him.
It’s been a while since he posted, so I guess he had to drop something just to let us know he's still around.

Belarus hasn't really been its own country since Putin stepped in to save him from his own people.

If Russia had rolled into Kyiv in three days, Minsk would’ve officially become part of Russia. They already had the blueprints ready to go...

Russians are setting up recruitment centers all over Russia. They’re offering short-term contracts—3 or 6 months—with monthly pay around $3,000. It’s all just to fuel the destruction of Ukrainian soil.

under motto "choosing the right man"

Link

James Chavez91 said:Russians are setting up recruitment centers all over Russia. They’re offering short-term contracts—3 or 6 months—with monthly pay around $3,000. It’s all just to fuel the destruction of Ukrainian soil.

under motto "choosing the right man"

Link

It’s hard to find anything more hypocritical than France, which established that aforementioned French Foreign Legion to chase the exact same thrills, recruiting foreigners from every corner of the globe for over a century and a half to fight in Africa, South America, Pacific islands, or wherever else serves their "strategic interests"—all for a measly $1,400 a month, but I suppose we shouldn't let hypocrisy get in the way, since what stays out of sight stays out of mind, right?