Troops in an """"""advisory"""""" and """"""training"""""" role stationed close to the front line who could of course defend themselves in the event of attack,

Military Advisors

Troops not involved in combat? Death to Canada, but it's a perfectly plausible thing to say. Medics, engineers, etc.

They’re going do the same shit as the reddit volunteers, where every mercenary was claiming to be a “medic.”

Our superior recon tells Ukraine where to shoot boom boom we supply them with. Therefore bullshit we didn't "pull the trigger".

Plausible deniability

little green men

Sacrificial lambs perhaps

a convenient excuse to escalate

We should not for a second believe "oh we're not going to send anybody who'd directly harm anyone," but I believe most military personnel do not directly fight. Support/logistics needs are immense.

Combat troops with extra steps