Short version is that he just about held on to power at the last "election" by every type of skulduggery going. Jailing opposition leaders, intimidation, mass arrests etc.etc. only the army and security forces kept him in power. There are a lot of his countrymen are already fighting in the AFU. Anyone with even one functioning brain cell in his army does not want to go into the Ukrainian meat grinder with the crap Russian equipment they have. The rest is conjecture.
I'd say that they saw them all right ( or maybe not ,would be a better explanation) but thought that they could pass between them. Too dangerous for one of them to leave the safety of the vehicle to either direct the tank through or push a mine out if the way.
It's kinda funny,it's gone from absolutely not going to happen to maybe but it definitely won't to ohhh it's actually looking like it's happening.
Lushashenko currently has a shitload of Russian troops, aircraft and vehicles in his country with putin having the ability to oust him or be ousted by his own people and he's no where to run , being Russia would have been his bolt hole if things went tits up in Minsk,
Giving putin tanks and Ammo was never going to be enough for vlaidi he was always going to want blood spilt on his behalf.
Some new Russian conscripts- signed up 27th Oct. To the frontline within days. Surrendered soon after (lucky for them they could!).
No, I'd say they want as many as possible to leave Crimea, 100% of Russian leaving would be great. Also, for them to repair it first, and then hit it again would give even better satisfaction. Then the sweepstakes could start. " Will they try a 2nd repair? 3rd? etc
Twice in one evening I agree 👍
The Belarussian army getting involved would be a disastrous mistake. The public don't want it and I'd hazard a guess that many men in the Belarussian military don't want it either (they see Ukraine as a friendly nation). Putin must be putting Lukashenko under massive pressure if he is even considering this.
If Luka refuses to commit troops, he'll be taken from the second floor to the eighteenth one.
If you had just replaced Putin on the back of him being ousted for essentially attacking Ukraine and making a mess of it because Russia isn't up to it; would you try your luck where Putin failed and risk a very short run as the new dictator, or would you blame Putin, pull out and perhaps see out your days as the new Czar?
The other problem with joining in on the attack is that Belarus doesn't really have an army that could attack anywhere, unless they mobilise. Which they won't do for the reason you've outlined above.
Not after Biden has warned Putin in no uncertain terms that if he ( Putin) use's nukes in any shape or form, his land forces will be destroyed, starting with his fleet of ships, and simultaneously his air force, and all of his war making assets. This will be done using conventional and non-nuclear weapons, and will be done in a matter of days. Putin is no fool, he knows this is exactly what will happen. Its not Macron Putin needs to watch...its Biden.
Putin shills online are already calling this Russophobia propaganda. So it looks promising.
Available on BBC iplayer.
Bakhmut. Seems like something is building there.
Agree completely, and personally I think Biden has played a blinder during this conflict.
I may be wrong, but last week when lots of critics were berating Biden for his "We've never been this close to Armageddon" comments, because it may have shown a sign of "weakness", I think it may have made putin think that if Biden is serious about Armageddon, and knowing the US would have to go nuclear for such an armageddon to take place, that Biden has shown that without doubt, he will press the button and annihilate russia if push came to shove, and this is not a sign of weakness, its a sign that he doesnt cherish the idea of killing millions of ruskies but will do so if needed.
The decision to conduct a "covert mobilization" in Belarus has been made, Sources tell Belarusian outlet Nasha Niva
Belarus mobilisation
what was wrong with my link?
Once that scenario plays out (Russia uses a nuke) and the west respond as promised with massive conventional weapons strikes, disabling Russia's military in Ukraine, that response would have to be factored in. IE. Russia would respond with massive Nuclear strikes. And that My Friends, is the burning question of the day, Would Putin commit global suicide?
And make no mistake about it,for all of the talk about Putin placating his more warlike colleagues who want to up the ante etc. more bombing of civilian targets etc. Not so, Putin is THE BOSS. He is not placating or even trying to placate anyone. People may say at a future date, Ah, but you know it was Kadyrov who instigated that attack / activity etc. Not so, Putin is the one and only power in Russia.
If at a later stage Belarus gets militarily involved to help out an ever more desperate Putin, would it be very possible that Poland could choose to "go it alone" and take up arms against belarus but not under its NATO guise, thus not getting NATO directly involved ? Poland seem to be chomping at the bit to have a go off of Belarus \ Russia
Don't be simple nothing ridiculous about it. Why the hell should anyone give money to a regime that gives you the finger in a vote against tyranny?
You didn't post the best part
where do you get this idea from that Poland would be brave enough to go it alone?
stupid question alert
What does “covert mobilisation” mean?
"Brave enough" to go it alone ? Poland arent afraid of russia nor belarus for that matter.
When belarus tried to flood Poland with migrants in 2021 relations went sour and haven't recovered since and recently Belarus has threatened Poland with "Cruel Attacks" because theyre pushing the narrative that Poland is "provoking" them at their borders, this is seen by many as setting the groundwork for a possible use of military force against its neighbors at some point in the future.
Theres a lot of bad blood between Poland and belarus and worse its getting.
Poland, at the start of this conflict, wanted to send MIG fighter jets directly to Ukraine also but they had to be railed back in by the US \ NATO as it may have been seen by Putin as NATO getting directly involved.
If belarus moves into Ukraine its not too much of a stretch to imagine a Polish response as theyre itching to get their pound of flesh and they have the means to do it.
It's like real mobilisation, but only done online so that no-one will see the troops.
You’re walking to work and a black van pulls up and press gangs you. No public declaration of mobilisation.
Mobilising soldiers under the guise of fitness exercises.
also wtf? https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-latest-news-russia-makes-world-war-three-threat-to-nato-putin-12541713?postid=4653805#liveblog-body
I don’t know which of those 2 responses is the real piss take one 😂
We have had Polish people in Ireland for 20+ years, Great sorts, why should they go it alone - We need to be in this together
Russia has 6000 nuclear warheads at its disposal we are led to believe, is Poland going to intercept these star wars style before they wipe Poland off the face of the map? That's something to be afraid of - if even in theory
And who said putin would launch these 6000 nukes at Poland ?
Russia has threatened everyone and its mother with nuclear annihilation at this stage.
Ukraine is attacking what russia claims is russian territory every day and irrespective of all their bluster in the past regarding "Guarding russian territories with all of it power" they have done nothing, no nuke even moved out of storage.
If Poland fought to push an inward coming belarusian force back out of Ukraine why would russia fire "6000 Nukes" at them when they havent done so when supposedly guarding their own territory (in their opinion!), never mind firing them because putins little old puppet in belarus was getting his ass kicked.
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