Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Gorsameth]

So Lukashenko isn't loyal to Putin at all? This sounds straight-up like "not my business fam" for the most part.

I'm just surprised because Lukashenko should know better than anyone what Putin does to people that slightly inconvenience him - let alone say "no." Like Prigozhin in particular has some serious tensions going on with Putin, and it seems like he's panicking over losing said tensions.

I assume Lukashenko is avoiding windows and being careful of his food.

As for being loyal. That is what happens when you only have fear as a tool. Fear does not create loyalty and the moment someone no longer has to fear you all power you once had is gone.

[Gabriel]

So Lukashenko isn't loyal to Putin at all? This sounds straight-up like "not my business fam" for the most part.

I'm just surprised because Lukashenko should know better than anyone what Putin does to people that slightly inconvenience him - let alone say "no." Like Prigozhin in particular has some serious tensions going on with Putin, and it seems like he's panicking over losing said tensions.

Lukashenko isn't just another Russian general. He is the head of another state. Even Putin isn't stupid enough to open that can of worms and Lukashenko knows this.

[YUPPIE]

Also, isn't Belarus' army really weak? You people made it sound like if the Russian army or their saboteurs attempts anything like hostile coercion, they'd get their asses kicked regardless.

[Gabriel]

Also, isn't Belarus' army really weak? You people made it sound like if the Russian army or their saboteurs attempts anything like hostile coercion, they'd get their asses kicked regardless.

Russia is already failing in Ukraine, why do you think they would succeed against another country that still has all of their strength left and untouched?

[Iphie]

Russia is already failing in Ukraine, why do you think they would succeed against another country that still has all of their strength left and untouched?

In fairness to yuppers, Belarus is weak, and won't get Western support...or at least not as much. In addition they only have 60000 men or so. (Having said that I definitely wouldn't be surprised if that joke would beat russia as well.)

[Corvus]

What men would pootie have to spare to deal with Belarus, weak as they are?

[zorkuus]

What men would pootie have to spare to deal with Belarus, weak as they are?

I guess he could start mobilizing the 50+ year old men...

[Iphie]

I guess he could start mobilizing the 50+ year old men...

They already did...

[zorkuus]

They already did...

Well, this time from St. Petersburg and Moscow.

[Edge-]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...l?guccounter=1

A Russian military official in charge of financial provisions for the military district blamed for the Kremlin’s worst losses in Ukraine has been found dead after a nasty fall from a St. Petersburg high-rise.

Marina Yankina, head of the department of financial provisions for the Western Military District, was found dead on a sidewalk on Wednesday morning, according to multiple local reports. She is just the latest in a growing list of Russian military officials, defense industry figures, war critics, and gas and oil execs to die suddenly and mysteriously since the start of the full-scale invasion last year.

The 58-year-old’s belongings and documents were found on a balcony on the 16th floor of the building, Mash reports.

Russia’s Investigative Committee is looking into the circumstances of the deadly plunge, with their preliminary conclusion being suicide, according to Fontanka.

Russia really needs to work on window and rooftop security and maybe add in some suicide nets, apparently. People just keep accidentally falling out of windows and rooftops quite regularly and there seems to be serious problems with suicide in the nation!

[YUPPIE]

Putin does not tolerate the slightest failure.

[zorkuus]

Putin does not tolerate the slightest failure.

He should throw himself out of a window then.

[Saradain]

Someone mistaking paranoia with competence again. Go on Putin, get all around you that would not backstab you, killed. Sooner or later there'll be a revelation for the next one to fall down from a window, that it would take one murder...for one safer world.

[YUPPIE]

Someone mistaking paranoia with competence again.

I don't think it's a result of paranoia of usurpation or betrayal he does this for the most part. In a lot of instances, it's simply clear Putin is failure-intolerant regardless.

[Iphie]

Someone mistaking paranoia with competence again. Go on Putin, get all around you that would not backstab you, killed. Sooner or later there'll be a revelation for the next one to fall down from a window, that it would take one murder...for one safer world.

That's why I say: as long as he's not touching the inner circle he's safe-ish, but as soon as he touches one of those he becomes an acute issue for all of them. (no matter how sycophanty those yesmen are.)

[zealo]

Putin does not tolerate the slightest failure.

Assassinating people isn't going to improve their chances at actually winning this, though.

In fact, this illustrates a profound weakness of authoritarian overtly corrupt regimes, when you can "accidentally" fall from a high rise window or "shoot yourself" three times in the back of your skull at point blank, you're encouraging a culture of duplicity within the institutions.

[Saradain]

I don't think it's a result of paranoia of usurpation or betrayal he does this for the most part. In a lot of instances, it's simply clear Putin is failure-intolerant regardless.

Everyone becomes failure-intolerant when their own life is in danger. Whether someone actually deserves to die because of their actions is another matter. For Putin, the most painful, degrading death video leaked to 4chan for all humanity to enjoy is maybe just enough.

[YUPPIE]

Assassinating people isn't going to improve their chances at actually winning this, though.

It doesn't have to do with winning the war here, as it states this person was blamed and dismissed; i.e, they had outlived their usefulness. But it's just one more in an assembly line:

Colonel-General Alexander Zhuravlyov was sent packing as commander of the district in October following huge losses in Kharkiv. His successor, Lieutenant-General Roman Berdnikov, was sacked a few months later after lasting less than three months.

Colonel-General Sergey Kuzovlev then took the helm, only to be replaced a few weeks later by Lieutenant General Yevgeny Nikiforov.

But don't you see? If Putin can afford to, i.e you are not a person of importance to his agendas - or at least, anymore - he can and will kill you JUST BECAUSE. Killing is as natural to him as breathing. You can evidently even be as low as a pedestrian that criticizes him and he'll have you tortured or killed.

[Calfredd]

Assassinating people isn't going to improve their chances at actually winning this, though.

In fact, this illustrates a profound weakness of authoritarian overtly corrupt regimes, when you can "accidentally" fall from a high rise window or "shoot yourself" three times in the back of your skull at point blank, you're encouraging a culture of duplicity within the institutions.

Well obviously the beatings will have to continue until morale improves.

[Gabriel]

Putin does not tolerate the slightest failure.

If that was true there would be zero officers alive in the Russian military.