What it means to be Ukrainian today

Remember this image and this day: 24-02-2022

Even though I knew it would happen, I can honestly say that I truly hoped it wouldn't. Today, Russian forces invaded Ukraine in a full out assault from the North to Kharkiv, from Crimea to Odesa, and from Byelorus to Kyiv. The Associated Press reports that 40 people have been killed in the initial onslaught.  War is underway. 

My heart breaks for the people who finally had a chance to celebrate Ukrainian sovereignty. We woke up to a different Europe and a different world today. Everyone had thought that the war to end all wars did just that. But that didn't take Putin's madness into account. He is Stalin's disciple and wiping out the Ukrainian people would be his major goal. Stalin killed 40 million Ukrainians in the Holodomor. How many will Putin target?  He is not to be outdone. Putin is a madman. He is a murderer. He is a war criminal. 

Kyiv under attack

Remember this day: 24 February 2022. Solidarity with Ukraine. When will the world stand up to him?

https://twitter.com/i/status/1496799736744996866 

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#Ukraine 🇺🇦: somewhere near #Kyiv a Ukrainian MiG-29 (low-flying) is taking on a Russian Su-35.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1496821171119079430

BBC Updates page: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60454795 

Putin's Yacht Escapes EU

Putin's 82-metre €87m superyacht Graceful has made a rapid getaway from a yard doing refits in Germany and retreated to Russia without completing the work. Apparently, Putin was afraid of the yacht being impounded if harsh sanctions were to be imposed. Does that indicate he plans an imminent invasion of Ukraine? We shall soon know. 

Here's more on the story. 

Russia's Hybrid War on Europe

 

From the Telegraph

The Telegraph newspaper printed a feature today about how Putin has unleashed a 'hybrid war' on Europe, pretty much what I said yesterday. They made the point that Belarus, the test of weapons in space, the amassing of troops on the Ukraine border and the reopening of negotiations on nuclear proliferation are not separate events but part of one big strategy to split the attention of European nations and NATO. 

"How Russia's 'hybrid war' was finally unleashed on Europe

Commentators have warned for years that Russia was planning to use various methods, as well as the threat of conventional war, to undermine the West. 

Recent weeks have proven those predictions true. These are the main flashpoints in the ongoing, multi-front struggle.

Photo via @TelegraphWorld"

Discussion with astronauts on the ISS who had to shelter while passing through a debris field created by a Russian weapons test. 

Zelensky's rock and hard places

I feel so bad for Volodymyr Zelensky. Six months into his tenure as President of Ukraine, he is a changed man. At the centre of the US House impeachment hearings, he finds himself embroiled in controversies not of his doing, stuck in the middle between Trump and Putin. He has no chance to succeed. Ukraine has no chance to win the battles.

Yet, he has secured the release of a batch of prisoners who are suing Russia over torture. And he's made the cover of Time magazine in a year when Trump was only shown in caricature. His story was so hopeful. The comedian turned President who made a TV show come to real life. I hope he can endure.

Trump's America

Yesterday was the most bizarre day of the post apocalyptic era yet.

The entire senior state department staff resigned, Trump put a gag order on all govt. social media communications, spawning a plethora of altgov sites like altEPA, altNPS, altNasa, altNWS etc on Twitter. There have been no tweets on any of the official govt sites -- yesterday the National Weather Service was tracking a massive storm in the Gulf of Maine with 27 foot waves -- today nothing. The country's scientists are uniting and organizing a march on Wash DC -- hundreds of thousands already signed up. A petition on the White House website demanding release of Trump's financial data to satisfy emoluments constitutional requirement has more than 300,000 signature. The President has an insecure private android phone but no one is investigating his emails, his daughter and 2 senior staffers are registered to vote in more than one state, and he's going to investigate voter fraud by US citizens but not by Russia. Orwell's 1984 -- the originator of "alternative truths" as a tactic -- is an instant bestseller again. A White House staffer started tweeting the truth about a madman in office and was shot down. 

But the resistance is underway.

A Canadian expose on Putin

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Kids/Parents/ID/2646889875/

A 45 minute program on Putin.



THE FIFTH ESTATE | Season 40, Episode 08 | Jan 9, 2015 | 45:11

Putin's Long Shadow

A joint investigation by the fifth estate and PBS Frontline probes Russian leader Vladimir Putin: allegations of criminal activity and corruption, with a secret personal fortune said to be in the billions. Gillian Findlay reports on the dark side of one of the most powerful men in the world.

Putin's lies and promises

Yesterday, Putin promised that the Ukrainian troops surrounded by Russian troops in Ukraine could retreat through a safe passage corridor. They were then slaughtered as they carried white flags. Putin lied.  We all know he does. That was a war crime.  Putin must be brought to justice.

Russian troops aren't lost, they are on holidays in Ukraine!

The Russian troops taken prisoner by the Ukrainian military were supposedly on maneuvers when they accidentally crossed the border into Ukraine.  Putin said it was Ukraine's fault that there was an unguarded border crossing allowing them to get lost...in rebel held territory. Today Canada tweeted a a lovely snide posting of a map to help guide the Russian troops in case they get lost, which immediately went viral.  Thanks @Canada.

The chess game over desperate Ukraine

EU and US imposed sanctions against Russia escalated today

This morning the EU announced tougher sanctions targeting entire industries as opposed to individuals and corporations. The document issued takes into account legal positions and best practices in sanctions administration. For some reason, the US toughened it's stance but did not go as far as Europe, whereas before it's stance was far tougher than Europe's. It reportedly omitted several banks from the its list. The banking sector takes the biggest hit and will therefore affect London significantly. 

From civil war to international conflict

July 28, 2014: Igor Strelkov, a pro-Russian rebel commander, speaks to the media in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

UN issues report on Ukraine

Below is the full text of the press release issued today by the United Nations High Commisioner for Human  Rights, Navi Pillay.  She states, “I would like to stress to all those involved in the conflict, including foreign fighters, that every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are.”

Is Putin Ukraine's unintentional nationalist?

Dealing with explosive potential

Mr. Putin has been looking for another excuse to invade Ukraine for some time. When President Poroshenko announced that he was ending the 10-day unilateral cease fire with the rebels since they had not abided by it, Putin stated on television that Russia would be responding to this lack of regard for peaceful resolution, suggesting that he had the backing of the EU leaders. Putin does not have the backing of the EU; their leaders are simply unwilling to take a stronger stand against him. Now that Ukraine has signed a trade agreement with the EU, however, Putin does not have much wiggle room. I was worried that there was explosive potential and that he'd invade, but now I am not so sure that he won't retreat.

Solving the Russia Problem

New York Times 21/04/2014

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"If you just stand there, be confident and raise the cost gradually and increasingly to Russia, that doesn't solve your Crimea problem and it probably doesn't solve your eastern Ukraine problem. But it may solve your Russia problem."

IVO H. DAALDER, a former American ambassador to NATO, on one potential approach President Obama could take with President Vladimir V. Putin. 

The East Rises Up Against Separatism

Last month, this quote caught my attention in the NY Times. I had written in my blog prior to this that the only chance Ukraine had was if the businessmen in Russia and Eastern Ukraine felt the pain of sanctions and took up positions against Putin's actions.

The eastern referendum

Today the separatist  people in the East are choosing to hold a referendum on secession from Ukraine. Last week Putin asked these separatists to hold off on the referendum until after the elections. They chose to proceed. So who do we believe this time?  Did Putin make a public statement that he reversed in private orders?  Did the people truly go off on their own?  Who will count the votes? And who will be allowed to vote?  What will a vote mean?  Those counting will claim huge turnout and clear results. If no one but Putin believes it, will he still step in?

The events of the past few days which resulted in violent clashes in Odessa and the East were truly worrisome. People killing their own. Propaganda dividing those that have been living side by side for generations. Why did Putin have to butt in?  Look what he has created now?  Total instability is not good for anyone, not even for Russia.

God help us all.

How good a liar is Putin, really?

Христос Воскрес! Christ is Risen. 

It is Easter Monday, Обливаний понеділок, and I am angry. Not happy about Christ having arisen for our salvation, but angry that Putin has once again threatened our freedom.

I have been angry about the new situation in Ukraine for some time. It is so clear that the insurgency in Eastern Ukraine over the past few weeks is being orchestrated by ex-KGB liar Putin. It is clear that the insurgents are Russian special forces troops. Photos have been documenting this consistently for the past couple of weeks. Today's New York Times carries US sanctioned photos released by Ukraine's government clearly identifying the troops on the ground as Russian special forces. The way in which it is all unfolding is entirely akin to Georgia and Crimea. Putin's greed is clear. The West's apathy is as well.

Putin is a blatant liar. He says there are no Russian troops on Ukraine's soil. He said the same in Crimea, then later admitted that of course Russian troops backed the loyal separatists. When will he admit his lies this

Look them in the eye and tell Ukraine she is on her own. Or not.

Western sanctions and anti-Russian rhetoric may have little meaning and effect...the answer may lie in China. 

I have been watching, like many Ukrainians in the diaspora, and waiting to see how things will unfold after the Russian annexation of Crimea. I cringed when the un-Russian troops marched into the Ukrainian barracks and marched the bewildered Ukrainian soldiers out, taking the Commander, Admiral Serhiy Haiduk, away as hostage. The Russians released him Thursday as they ousted Ukrainian forces from bases around Crimea.