This Is So Upsetting …

[Bobbisox1]

My young friend in Belarus has just messaged me

// we have tanks, military equipment, planes have not stopped flying for 2 days day and night ... Everyone is scared, but we hope for the best xxx thanks for the support//

[Bobbisox1]

I’ve not told her I’m upset , I just try to keep encouraging her that there’ll be better times ahead for them , it would be selfish of me saying that to someone in such a terrible situation

[Barmaid]

Oh I didn't think you had said anything like that!

I was just trying to be constructive. It's very difficult to know what to say to someone in such circumstances (both in terms of people to you and you to your friend), because you want to help but can't really. And all you have is words.

[jourdain2]

Yes, try to keep them positive, Bobbi, its all anyone can do.

[jno]

Barmaid, I wouldn't swear things were better in the days before instant news, where you didn't have a clue how your family were getting on till someone knocked on your door with a telegram. That must have meant a degree of permanent stress.

[Bobbisox1]

Ah BM, I knew what you meant ( honestly) you have given good advice and I am grateful

[jno]

Belarus looks likely to be backing Russia rather than Ukraine.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10557221/Ukraine-war-Belarus-poised-declare-war-special-forces-loaded-planes-in.html

[ichkeria]

When Putin baled Lukashenko out last year the price would have been more or less complete subservience to Russia.
Hence Belarus has been a part of the Russian war machine ever since.
Now Putin wants to move nuclear weapons there

[ichkeria]

“ she sent me this map, where’s it’s dark red is where they are

https://ibb.co/JsKwLwb”

I thought they were in SE Belarus?

[Bobbisox1]

From what I can understand , they lived further into Belarus but not to be teenage brides at the hands of alcoholic brutal husbands , they moved to the border with Russia, a place called Gomel? Here they went to college ,now Nadya is a nurse and is expecting to be called to a field hospital , Vika is a teacher , teaching children of alcoholics and drug users , all I know is the place name they live ich

[Bobbisox1]

https://ibb.co/9qG4SsJ

[ichkeria]

"teaching children of alcoholics and drug users"

How ironic. Bless her, What a strong woman.

Gomel is just to the north of the blue circle on the map you posted Bobbi. The red area is SE Ukraine where the war has been for the past 8 years.
Yesterday, Belarus's opposition leader in exile, another formidable woman called Svetlana Tikhonouskaya, called on Belarusian people to protest against their leader in the capital Minsk at 17.00. I would be very surprised if many dared do such a thing,

[Bobbisox1]

On her FB , she has Gomel as her home city but I think she lives here

https://ibb.co/m9RCQJK

[Bobbisox1]

For all I use Google translate to her when we message, a lot still gets lost in translation. :0/

[ichkeria]

Say's she's from Bragin but lives in Gomel.

Yesterday the neighbourhood where we have a flat was shelled. It was weird seeing it on the BBC news.
We have a friend defending the city at a place called Prospekt Peremohi (Victory Avenue - hopefully well named).
It's a major entry point to the city from the west. We ere wondering how to get him money for cigarettes(!). They just had a meeting with their general, but at the moment they are poorly supplied with ammo - and food.