Thread by @kshmatsina

This article describes some of the effects of having Russian military in large numbers in Belarus.  TLDR: It's not pretty, for the locals, the soldiers, the Russian army or Putin. 1/9

belprauda.com/budni-soyuznoj…

COVID is ripping through the units stationed in Belarus. Official stats have case numbers breaking all records. Army units have *really* high numbers at all ranks & they infecting the locals. Many soldiers are treated in field hospitals (tents?) as local facilities are full 2/9

Local residents are concerned with the behaviour of soldiers, who blow off steam & the article hints that soldiers from other parts of Russia (non-Slavic) are the centre of tensions. Nothing like racism to help an army unite. 3/9

RU military seems to be stripping whole areas of forest of firewood to heat camps & food,leaving little left for locals to heat their homes. Nature park areas are also damaged with the Russian army not cleaning up after themselves. Sounds like a problem Napoleon would've had.4/9

An extended period of heavy vehicles in the area has damaged roads & other infrastructure. The article says the Russians don't care and that probably there isn't the money to repair what were new roads anyway. 5/9

That soldiers drink is well known but the soldiers are taking it to extreme.Some nearly froze to death drunk on moonshine,they haven't got a lot of money to buy booze & property has started being stolen to pay for it.Drinking is "non-stop",dangerous moonshine being no barrier 6/9

Videos of soldiers complaining of bad food have been uploaded to social media. If unable to barter for food (see next tweet), domestic animals vanish.  Locals are too scared to report any of this to their authorities who probably can't do much to young men with guns anyway. 7/9

Due to boredom, alcoholism, bad food & poor pay, soldiers are starting to sell/trade military equipment for goods. Diesel fuel & uniforms are common goods but the article reports even weapons can be acquired - all written off as "losses". 8/9

So Putin has to decide to invade soon or go home before those of his soldiers who aren't incapacitated with COVID drink themselves to death after robbing his army blind leaving it unable to fight and stuck in a country they've trashed. 9/9