Fleeing Russians...won’t fight in Ukraine

Example..New York Times

First person: One 23-year-old bought a plane ticket to Istanbul, wrapped up his business and kissed his crying mother goodbye — all within about 12 hours of Putin’s announcement. He said he had no idea when he would return. “I was sitting and thinking about what I could die for, and I didn’t see any reason to die for the country,” he said.
...
The not sensible ones have been rounded up and are in the army now.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Thinkerbell · 41-45, F

Has Putin thought about how reliably these conscripts will fight?

He had better send a lot of political commissars to shoot them if they retreat.
That's how Nikita Khrushchev got his start in WW2.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Thinkerbell The new conscripts are simply the next wave of biomass Putin will throw into the Ukrainian meat grinder. It may sound idiotic but that's their "strategy". The Russian government doesn't give a sh*t about how many of those will die. Russia is ruled by poverty, alcohol and violence anyway. When most of those conscripts are dead, the next wave will be sent, and the next – until the Ukrainians run out of air. Check "Finnish Winter War" if you don't believe me.
If we in the West don't keep helping Ukraine massively it will happen. It will happen if we don't help them. 😐

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@helenS I am afraid you are correct

Thinkerbell · 41-45, F

@helenS

I'm sure Putin is thinking along those lines, but he doesn't exercise nearly as much unquestioned authority as Stalin did.

The biomass Putin intends to throw against the Ukrainians will at some point turn against him, or maybe there will be a palace coup by people around Putin who see the revolt coming.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@Thinkerbell i think a lot of people disagree with your opinion about Putin's power. So far, he has gotten away with a great deal, he has his supportive oligarchs, and secret police!

helenS · 36-40, F

@Thinkerbell A revolution in Russia would change everything, of course. I just can't see this will happen anytime soon.
Providing Ukraine with everything they need, whatever it may be, and organizing a total boycot of Russia on the ground, at sea and in the air (including a blocking of all harbors for Russian ships and all airports for Russian planes) is what we must do, and if we do it, the decline of the terror state is unavoidable. It may take some take, but it will happen.