Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Yes they are right because the churches are now independent. The Ukrainian Orthodox church split from the Russian Orthodox church, they have different leaders now but the religion is still the same. Similarly, the rest of Orthodox churches (Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek etc) are all independent but they still represent the same religion.

IMHO it's ok to clarify this here as it's relevant to the cultural aspects.

In over 30 years of watching the EU, sometimes in exasperation, sometimes in awe, this is without question the most unified, the most determined and yes, the fastest-acting we have ever seen. By a distance.

We're lucky enough to live inside the greatest supranational organisation ever. That doesn't mean it, and its members, are immune from criticism! But we should also appreciate what we've built.

Attack nato , lushenko wouldn't last 24 hours if he tried ,

But in saying that the Russians sent public order units to help quell any protests in Belarus ,it's possible

It is just another one already removed from thread popping back up to dispense some more wisdom.

I don't know, should one rat them out (!) or ignore it?

I wouldnt be surprised the blackhawk below did some kind of medivac from Ukraine. Transponder only switched on during the way back and landed at a Rzeszow Hospital before continuing on

Lukey [Lukashenko] has looked nervy from day one of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. If he did order any such military action it would be after some major shove from Russia. What's more, I bet plenty in Belarus would support Ukraine before Putin's Russia. Any such action from Lukey would be a death warrant for his own career. I could see him doing a runner to a safe haven. Poland alone could crush Belarus in a jiffy.

True, desperate times and all that. He and others are very right about reliance on the US, but the overall European reaction is alot better and faster today for all the flaws than I think the reaction was to what was happening in Yugoslavia (admittedly, that was not as serious).

The biggest dependency is on USAs giant military (one of the few times in my life it is the "arsenal of democracy") and their willingness to get engaged in these events going on in Europe (thank f-ck it hadn't died a death completely yet when this happened). However much some want to laud the actions of the UK, they can't help Ukraine here much more than the EU members. While they haven't let the military decay the way Germany has, they're no US.

Some on here can completely dismiss helping Ukraine with their refugees, economic aid and non military aid as basically worthless and unimportant if they like + focus on the weapons, but don't think they are right there.

Duke 50 has been flying to and from the same areas since the start of the war ,

Belarus to deploy special operation forces on the border with Ukraine - General staff of Belarus

is Belarus about to enter the fray?

Recent increase in shipments could make a big difference for the Ukraine army including U.S. M777 Howitzers, P2000 Haubitze self propelled Howitzers (NL,Germany), Caesar self propelled Howitzers (France), Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft (Germany), T72 tanks (Slowakia), Switchblade Kaimikaze drones (U.S.), Starstreak laser anti-tank (UK), NLaw anti-tank (UK), Bayraktar TB2 drones (Turkey), plus ammo and supporting new radar jamming kit.

Belarus looking to tie up more Ukrainian troops at their border or worse

From the Guardian:

Lukashenko warns Belarus can ‘inflict unacceptable damage’ as special troops deployed to border near Ukraine

Belarus will deploy special operations troops in three areas near its southern border with Ukraine in response to a “growing threat” by the US and its allies, the armed forces said, as the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, said Moscow had agreed to help Minsk produce missiles.

Belarusian chief of general staff, Viktor Gulevich, said:

The United States and its allies continue to build up their military presence on the state borders of Belarus. The strength of this force has more than doubled in the last six months.

He said the build-up of military presence by Western allies “testifies to a growing threat to the Republic of Belarus”, adding that Belarus is also deploying air defence, artillery and missile units for drills in the west.

The announcement comes after Lukashenko earlier today said Moscow had agreed to help Minsk produce missiles to beef up its military capabilities.

Speaking at a meeting of defence officials, Lukashenko was quoted by the state-run news agency, Belta, as saying that events in Ukraine had demonstrated the importance of having troops with modern, highly effective weapons and supplies.

Lukashenko said he won the support of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, for people involved in missile production in Russia to take a look at Belarus’ developments in that area.

He said the Belarusian army is combat-ready and will be able to “inflict unacceptable damage on the enemy” in case of external aggression, adding:

We are realists, we understand that we will not be able to defeat Nato. However, we have all the weapons to do damage, especially to the territories from which we will be attacked.

The Belarusian president said he was “not hinting at anything, but I want everyone to understand the range of the weapons we have”.