Belarus president stands in front of battle map indicating Moldova invasion plans

[Wicked Blue]

Images have emerged of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko standing in front of a battle map that appears to show a planned invasion of Moldova, along with Ukraine.

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was reportedly addressing his security council Tuesday while standing in front of a battle map of Ukraine.

The map appeared to show troop movement plans and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, as well as targets in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria.

Some of the Russian lines of attack in the map have already taken place, while others are yet to occur, including an incursion into Moldova — a former Soviet country and Ukraine’s neighbor to the south — from the port city of Odessa.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/596409-belarus-president-stands-in-front-of-battle-map-indicating-moldova

[dhol82]

1. Well, hell - that's not going to win him any friends.

Wow, world domination. What a way to go.

[C_U_L8R]

2. No one will call these stooges smart.

But they will call them war criminals, hung by their necks or their feet. Makes no diff.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Is not Moldova a NATO country?

I think so. That would be in violation of Article 5

[Srkdqltr]

4. According to Google.. they are NATO

[Renew Deal]

8. They are friendly, but they are not members.

Official relations between Moldova and NATO began in 1992 when Moldova joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. However, as Moldova's neutrality is enshrined in its Constitution, there are no official plans for Moldova to join the organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova%E2%80%93NATO_relations

[sakabatou]

5. Why go after Moldova?

Is it to appease Putin or something else? I personally don't know.

[Renew Deal]

7. To reassemble the lost children of the Soviet Union.

[sakabatou]

10. That I already know.

Is there something more to it than just land?

[Igel]

9. There's a little strip of Moldova adjacent to Ukraine called Transdnistria.

It's recognized by one, maybe 2-3 countries. It's got Russian troops stationed there, sort of stranded because there's no fly-over privileges and the "country's" landlocked. It's like S. Ossetia and Abkhazia, one of those recognized only because Putin has decreed it. Only those subject to Putin-worship abide by his diktaty.

The arrow points there, under a not overly generous interpretation of the map. It would be a place that Putin would like to put additional troops (and relieve those that are already there), but, again, they're sort of stranded. They come in go in dribs and drabs, not as units.

[EarthFirst]

6. Awfully ambitious...

They’ve already proven themselves to be ineffectual.