Jim Sciutto @jimsciutto
^New: Belarus could "soon" join war in Ukraine, US/NATO officials say,
and is already taking steps to do so. “Putin needs support. Anything would help,” said one official. Belarusian opposition tells me combat units are ready as soon as next few days, with 1000s prepared to deploy^
Bianna Golodryga @biannagolodryga
Belarusian troops joining the fight would certainly put more strain on Ukrainian resources. But the major significance here is that last month, Belarus abandoned its non-nuclear status.
Mark Hertling @MarkHertling
My only response to this: When I was @USArmyEURAF Commander, we rated forces. Belarus was NOT anywhere near the top, if you get my drift. And fighting in a war the people of Belarus reject, under the orders of a President they don't support, will be "interesting."
Michael Weiss @michaeldweiss
Watch for the desertion (and defection) rate if this does in fact happen.
A Western intel source told me Lukashenko keeps deferring deployment by about 3 days every time he’s asked by Moscow. He doesn’t want to do it either. He knows.
A lot of Belarusians fled to Ukraine in the last two years. No doubt many with relatives in the military. I’d be surprised if Kyiv wasn’t making ample use of this fact.
Victor Kovalenko @MrKovalenko
On this photo you can see a moment when a #Russian tank driver, a Soldier Misha surrenders to the #Ukrainian troops together with his tank for a reward. After the end of war he'll receive $10,000 & a chance to apply for the #Ukraine citizenship. [Thread]
[2] After all members of Misha's tank crew were killed in combat and his officer said that he can't retreat because he will be shot to death, Rus. soldier Misha called from his stolen Ukr. cellphone to a special Ukr. phone number to surrender for a reward.
[3] As agreed, Misha drove his tank to the Ukrainian positions and surrendered to the SpetsNaz unit. For bringing a functional tank, this POW Misha will live till the end of war in a cell with a kitchen, TV, shower, and a landline phone. Source: aide of MoIA Viktor Andrusiv.
Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani
Ukrainian Ministry of Interior reports that a Russian soldier turned his tank over to the Ukrainians. He'll get 10 thousand usd and the opportunity to apply to citizenship. That's great: defection and sabotage among the Russian military should be encouraged and scaled up
One thing to understand about Russian soldiers. I watched many videos with captured conscripts. Countryside, small towns, provincial cities. For the entire time I saw 1 (one) from Moscow. It's the army of the poor. They can be bought very cheaply if you just try
the captain (een echte) @jeffreybbq
How about the families of soldiers who do that?
Kamil Galeev @kamilkazani
You watch too many Hollywood movies. Many families don't care about their captured sons at all and would very much prefer to see them dead. Dead one is ok, POW is a headache. There's often no family loyalty and it goes both ways