Items tagged with: Ukraine

Search

Items tagged with: Ukraine


Commenting on #Ukraine membership in #NATO, #Putin said “Ukraine has right to ensure its security, but not by creating threats to #Russia”[^1], a statement which on its face value sounds absurd, granted that it’s Russia that in the first place materialised the largest threat in the last half century for Ukraine and Europe.

But behind that statement there’s a certain logic of Russian elites, and since this postulate was and will be picked up by the Putinverstehers of the world, I think it requires a clarification.

Russians wholeheartedly believe they have a moral right to Ukraine and Eastern Europe. This “right” is not based on, or directly contravenes all kind of international agreements and obligations signed by Russia but it doesn’t matter, because Russia treats all laws in the same way as explained by Simonyan in the context of Wagner mutiny - they are “made for humans” and can be applied selectively, as necessary.[^2]

Because of the above, they also believe they have a moral right to intervene, either covertly, as they did all the time before 2014, or directly, using military force, as they did starting from 2014. These interventions form the core of “security of Russian interests” frequently mentioned by Putin and others.

This vague “moral right” to interventions of their liking was precisely what drove not only annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas, but also numerous GRU assassinations in Europe, explosions in Vrbětice etc. And, to be honest, lukewarm reaction of the international community was perceived by them as a kind of approving nod.

Now, once we established how these interventions in “their zone of influence” (once again, having no legal base) are considered as their sacred right, any defensive actions or countermeasures undertaken by the target countries are naturally described by Russia as “violation of their security”.

This is exactly how air defense “Patriot” batteries located in #Poland were described by Russians as “threat to their security”, and this is exactly how Ukrainian static lines of fortifications in Donbas were also described as “offensive”. Of course, you can’t invade another country with static trenches 20 km from their border, but dialectically these fortifications reduced options for Russian invasion, thus limiting their “sacred right” to invade. 🤷‍♂️

This kind of dialectics has a long tradition in Russia: during and after WW2, Soviets many times labelled as “Nazis” anyone who fought against Soviet influences even if they also fought against German invasion. Which led to absurd arguments, where people like Poland’s Witold Pilecki, who tirelessly fought against Nazis from 1939, when USSR was German ally, was at the end of the war sentenced to death as “Nazi collaborator” because he also opposed Soviet occupation.[^3]


[^1]: tass.com/world/1646611

[^2]: agora.echelon.pl/notice/AX56Nl…

[^3]: write.as/arcadian/on-the-kreml…



AN INSIDE JOB!

It was Russia that blew up the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. New York Times journalists came to this conclusion after talking with experts

The base of the dam, 20 meters high and up to 40 meters wide, took on most of the load of the dam.

There was a technical tunnel inside the base, you can get into it from the engine room, which is under the control of the Russian side. The tunnel is marked on drawings seen by the New York Times.
#Ukraine️ #Russia


"An unprecedented 700,000 people are now facing a dire shortage of drinking water due to the Kakhovka dam destruction" -UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths

Griffiths also warned that the devastating impact of the flooding in #Ukraine , one of the world’s key food-producing regions, will inevitably result in reduced grain exports, leading to higher global food prices and exacerbating the hunger crisis for millions in need.

Source🔗 kyivindependent.com/un-2/


Oy.

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in southern #Ukraine is swiftly evolving into long-term environmental catastrophe. It affects drinking water, food supplies and ecosystems reaching into the Black Sea.

t.co/md2C4NfptJ



Fantastic concert tonight at #Seattle’s Showbox SoDo. “Okean Elzy” and Slava Vakarchuk were on fire 🔥 When they have a show in liberated #Crimea sometime soon, I’m going! 🇺🇦

#SlavaUkraini #Ukraine #concert


Killing at least 16 civilians and injuring 23 more.

In central #Ukraine city of Uman, Cherkasy Oblast, the russian strike hit a 9-story apartment building and a warehouse.

As of 12:38 p.m. local time, 14 people are known to be killed and nine hospitalized, according to Interior Ministry. The number of casualties is not final and will be updated as the rescue operation is ongoing.

Read more here🔗 kyivindependent.com/russia-lau…


16,200 Ukrainian children are known to have been deported by Russia.

Their abduction is a horrible reminder of the darkest time of our history, war crimes.

With #Ukraine and #Poland, we want to help find them by:

- Holding a conference to take all measures needed to establish their whereabouts

- Assisting UN bodies and international organisations in collecting information, including on children adopted by Russian foster families

These children must return to Ukraine.

#noimpunity


@enkocz se rozhodl i pro Václavské náměstí odemknout své články, které přinášejí čerstvá svědectví o tom, co má Rusko na #Ukraine na svědomí, neboť vztek, nenávist a agrese často plynou z nedostatku informací.

denikn.cz/minuta/1100695


Výročí napadení Ukrajiny
Přemýšlím, jakými slovy bych započal moje zamyšlení nad tím, proč se rok díváme na to, že nám vraždí východní sousedy, ale slova nenacházím.

I dnes, po všech těch dnech od začátku invaze, kdy jsme sledovali webky z Kyjeva, Charkova a dalších Ukrajinských měst mě stále mrazí, že jsme se dožili toho, co jsem ve svým životě už nečekal. Stále je mi z toho stejně zle, stále čekám, že se z toho snu vzbudím. Stále doufám, že tenhle dědeček s babičkou svým vínovým vozem za svými vnoučaty dojeli. Nedojeli...

Poslední rok je podle mě rokem, kdy se začaly ukazovat charaktery jak lidí, tak národů. Opět jsme "šili roušky" tím, že jsme ve velkém sbírali jídlo, ošacení, posílali peníze, ubytovávali. My jsme dokonce bez větších problémů zvládli největší migrační vlnu, jakou Česko pamatuje a to bez ztráty kytičky! Jestli byl někdy důvod bejt na národ hrdej, je to přesně z tohoto důvodu.

Strašili nás vším, čím se dalo. Dojde plyn, přijde státní převrat, přijdou nemoci (protože Ukrajinci nejsou tolik proočkovaní), sankce nás zničí, dojde ropa, půjdeme do zákopů, budou padat atomovky. Nic z toho se nestalo a my s rovnou páteří pomáháme napadenému sousedovi.

A co je nejlepší? Neděláme to jen jako stát, ale i jako lidi - jednotlivci. Poslali jsme zdravotnický materiál, tank jménem Tomáš, PVO Viktor, sanitky, teď se chystá MLRS Přemysl atd. Všechno z peněz občanů a firem na plně dobrovolné bázi. To je přeci kurva velký! Přesto všechno však neoslavujem. Část společnosti proto, že se jí podpora Ukrajiny prostě nelíbí, druhá část je zase zklamaná tím, že nepomáháme dost.

Přihodím názor, který je můj, je osobní, lidský a plně ignoruje geopolitiku. Chci abychom jim poslali vše o co si řeknou. Klidně i lidi (na plně dobrovolné bázi). Už nikdy nechci vidět dítě v sutinách jen proto, že si Vladolf z Kremlu řekl, že je to zrovna dobrej nápad.

Nechci se dívat na to, jak sousedé umírají. Zastavte to prosím. #ZastavteVálku
#politika #ukrajina

Ukraine invasion anniversary
Next words are only a loud thinking of random #Czech citizen.

I have hard times to figure out how to start my consideration about why do we look at our eastern neighbors while they are being slaughtered, but i can't find proper words.

Even today, after all these days since invasion started, when we were watching Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities webcams i still have goosebumps, that we are actually experiencing something i would have never expected in my life. I'm still totally sick from it. I still hope for waking up from this nightmare. I still hope that this elderly couple will arrive to their grandchildren with their red car. They wont...

Last year shown up a lot about our characters - personal or national. We were "sewing facemasks" again (at beginning of covid pandemy in #Czechia we were sewing facemasks to help people protect themselves - it was quite bonding moment when women at home with kids were sewing masks for hospitals) - collecting food, clothing, money or living places for refugees. We also made it through biggest refugee wave ever in Czech republic without any bigger issue! If there ever was a reason to be proud Czechian, it's this one.

People were spreading fear with anything though. They said we will run out of gas, goverment overthrow, diseases (Ukrainians have different vaccinations), sanctions destroying us, crude oil will run out, we will meet in trenches and nuclear bombs will fall on our head. None of this happened and we still help our neighbor while having our head straight.

But what i do see as best is, that we do not help only as nation - we also do help a lot as individuals. We have sent medical stuff, Thomas the tank, Victor AA vehicles, ambulances and we are about to send MLRS Přemysl. Everything from companies and citizens money - voluntarily. That's fucking big! We still do not celebrate any of this though. Part of us because they do not like us supporting Ukraine. Other part is let down, because it's not enough.

I will put my opinion on the table. It's my, it's personal, it's humane and it's totally ignoring geopilitical situation. I want us to supply everything they want. People involved (only volunteers). I don't want to see dead child in rubble only because of some Vladolf from Kremlin though, that it's a good idea.

I don't want to see my neighbors die anymore. Stop it please. #StopWar
#politics #ukraine


Ukraine Daily Summary - Tuesday, January 24


Ukraine Daily

Tuesday, January 24
Russia’s war against Ukraine


KI-Inline_24-01-2023

Ukrainian emergency service workers extinguish a fire in a garage after Russian shelling in Chasiv Yar, 23 Jan. 2023. (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

401097


Poll: Record 86% of Ukrainians support joining NATO. Meanwhile, 87% of Ukrainians are currently in favor of their country's aspiration to join the European Union, according to a new poll by the Rating Group.

Foreign minister: Western tanks are coming to Ukraine soon. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Jan. 23 that Ukraine is in the final stages of convincing allies to provide Western main battle tanks, including German-made Leopard 2s.

NGO: Most convicts recruited by Wagner killed, wounded or deserted. Of the 50,000 convicts recruited by mercenary company Wagner Group from the Russian prison system, only 10,000 remain in the ranks of the military, according to Olga Romanova, head of Russia Behind Bars, an NGO that protects the rights of convicts.

General Staff: Ukraine downs two Russian aircrafts, helicopter over past day. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Jan. 24 that Ukraine's military shoot down two Russian Su-25 aircrafts, one Ka-52 helicopter, an Orlan-10 drone, and two guided air missiles Kh-59.

Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.

Zelensky: Security council bans state officials from leaving Ukraine, except for business trips. Under martial law, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are banned from leaving the country during the war, except for cases when they obtain special permits from the government. Some Ukrainian state officials and businesspeople have routinely abused this system and bypassed the restrictions.

Anti-Corruption Court seizes assets of Russian billionaire. The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine seized the Ukrainian assets of Russian billionaire Mikhail Shelkov. The assets include multiple apartments, vehicles, company shares, and money in Ukrainian bank accounts.

Zelensky's deputy chief of staff Tymoshenko resigns. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree dismissing Deputy Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Kyrylo Tymoshenko on Jan. 23.

Ukrenergo: Emergency blackouts introduced in 5 Ukrainian regions on Jan. 23. The power deficit in Ukraine's energy system has increased as the consumption rises, the country's state grid operator Ukrenergo reported on Jan. 23. Emergency power outages have been introduced in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, and Volyn oblasts where consumption limits have been exceeded.

Reader contributions are our main source of revenue. Support our work.

Read our exclusives


401099


‘They were real beasts’: A farming couple describes what occupation looked like in their village.

The darkness setting over the muddy street of the small hamlet in Kharkiv Oblast did little to hide the destruction Russian soldiers left behind.

Photo: Alexander Query/Kyiv Independent

Learn MoreImage/photo

How kindergarten morning in Kyiv suburb turned into tragedy.

The crash in Brovary, a city just east of Kyiv, killed 14 people, including one child and several parents of preschoolers, turning what was supposed to be an ordinary day for the kindergarten into a nightmare.

Photo: Ed Ram/Getty Images

Learn MoreImage/photo

Ukraine war latest: Kyiv expects battle for Donbas to intensify in February-March amid Russia's desperate attempt to capture the region.

Russian forces will likely intensify their offensive in eastern Ukraine in the coming months, Deputy Military Intelligence Chief Vadym Skibitsky said on Jan. 23.

Photo: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images

Learn More

The human cost of Russia’s war


Russian attacks across 7 Ukrainian oblasts kill 1, injure 8 over past 24 hours. Russian attacks were reported in Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts in the east, south, and north of Ukraine.

Russian artillery kills 1 civilian**, wounds 2 others in Sumy Oblast.** Russian artillery shelled a residential building in Sumy Oblast on Jan. 23, killing a woman and wounding two other people, Sumy Oblast Governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said on Telegram.

Russian Jan. 23 attack on Kherson Oblast kills 1. Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast’s village of Antonivka, killing one person, Governor Yaroslav Yanushevych reported on Jan. 23. The killed man was in the yard of the building when Russian projectiles fell there, according to Yanushevych.

Russian shelling of Chasiv Yar kills 1, wounds 2. Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported late on Jan. 23 that Russian shelling killed one person and injured two others in Chasiv Yar near Bakhmut in Donestk Oblast.

Russian attacks injure 4 civilians in Donetsk Oblast over past day. Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast injured four civilians over the past day, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported on Jan. 23 on Telegram. Three people were injured in Bakhmut and one in Avdiivka, the governor said.

UN: At least 18,483 civilian casualties in Ukraine due to Russia’s war. According to the United Nations human rights agency, Russia’s war against Ukraine has killed at least 7,068 civilians and wounded at least 11,415 from Feb. 24 to Jan. 22. The agency reported that the actual figures are likely considerably higher since the information from places with ongoing hostilities is delayed, and many reports of civilian casualties still need to be confirmed.

General Staff: Russia has lost 121,480 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine's General Staff reported on Jan. 23 that Russia had also lost 3,150 tanks, 6,276 armored fighting vehicles, 4,936 vehicles and fuel tanks, 2,146 artillery systems, 447 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defense systems, 287 airplanes, 277 helicopters, 1,894 drones, and 18 boats.

International response


Reuters: EU approves 542 million euro military aid package to Ukraine. The European Union on Jan. 23 approved another 500 million euro military aid package to Ukraine, along with an additional 45 million euros earmarked for non-lethal equipment for the EU's training mission in the country, Reuters reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

Russia, Estonia expel each other’s ambassadors due to ‘destroyed relations.’ Russia has summoned Estonian Ambassador Margus Laidre, ordering him to leave the country by Feb. 7, followed by Estonia making the same move under "the principle of parity," the AP reported, citing the countries' foreign ministries.

Estonia to give Ukraine all its 155-mm howitzers in largest aid package so far. "We want to create a precedent so that other countries will not have any excuses why they cannot provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons to win the war," said Estonian Ambassador to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk.

Sweden to provide Ukraine with equipment to restore energy supply. The Swedish government allowed the state-owned grid operator Svenska Kraftnat to transfer the materials that can be used to restore Ukraine's power system.

VOA: Bradley fighting vehicles to arrive in Ukraine within few weeks. U.S. Bradley infantry fighting vehicles will arrive in Ukraine within the next few weeks, Voice of America reported, citing an anonymous Pentagon official.

PM: Poland to apply for Germany's approval to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. “Even if we did not get this approval, we would still transfer our tanks together with others to Ukraine," Morawiecki said at a news conference, saying that Germany's consent is "of secondary importance."

German defense minister: Decision on Leopard tanks for Ukraine to be made 'soon.' German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told ARD that a decision on supplying Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine will be made "soon" but called for patience in this matter. "The 'Leopard' is a heavy, armored weapon that can also be used for offensive purposes. And you have to think very carefully about when you bring them," said Pistorius.

Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Toma Istomina, Dinara Khalilova, Oleg Sukhov, Igor Kossov, and Anastasiya Gordiychuk.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider becoming our patron on Patreon _or donating via GoFundMe**. Start supporting independent journalism today.**_


A yellow kitchen in Dnipro, #Ukraine 🇺🇦 🏠.

Once a symbol of warmth and family, it now stands as a reminder of the devastating effects of Russian imperialism.

One day a little girl celebrated her birthday with her family in this kitchen. The next day, the kitchen and the family are no more, destroyed by Russian imperialism.

This is what Ukraine is standing up against. This is what we are all standing up against.

📸 © Getty, Yellow kitchen in Dnipro, Ukraine

#StandWithUkraine #EuropeanUnion #EU


The difference in military potential between #Ukraine and #Russia has been gradually decreasing since February 24



You’re just a programmer, right? Surely you carry no responsibility for what you program…

Meet the programmers bombing the shit out of Ukraine.

They’re just programmers too.

bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-eur…

#programming #responsibility #ethics #BigTech #surveillanceCapitalism #ukraine #war #theNurembergDefense



Kick terrorussia from UN

change.org/p/kick-russia-from-…

With the current #UN Membership, #russia is neither a part of the council nor a member. russia is the only country which did not go through the procedure of being admitted into the UN, according to Article 4.

According to Article 23 of the UN charter, russia is not a permanent member of the UN Security Council!

The UN’s current charter says that the Soviet Union still exists, while russia is not mentioned altogether.

We ask António #Guterres and UN DGACM to provide the documents, according to which, russia takes place in the UN. In the absence of such documents, the procedure for russia's accession to the UN in accordance with Article 4 should be initiated. The article clearly states that only a peace-loving country can be admitted to the UN, which is impossible until the end of russian aggression against #Ukraine.

Such a course of action would remove russia's UN veto power, which blocks many peaceful resolutions, and restore peace and order to the international community.





Modi, Macron put Ukraine rift aside to take Indo-French ties to next level

inkl.com/a/MExRbwUnVxn

“Forget about Ukrainians getting tortured, raped and murdered,” said Macron to Modi, “let’s focus on what we both really care about: money.”

#EuropeanValuesAreMeasuredInEuros #Ukraine #france #india #macron #modi



“War will continue until ‘Russia decides to end it,’ UN Secretary-General says”

edition.cnn.com/europe/live-ne…

Oh, that’s ok, then. No rush or anything; it’s just Ukrainian lives we’re talking about. And, clearly, the rest of the world has zero agency in the matter… Seriously, I don’t expect much from the UN at the best of times but could he possibly have uttered a more impotent remark?

#ukraine #russia #invasion #war



Ruské systémy jsou již několik dní přepnuté do režimu separátního okruhu a #anonymous (resp. 🤡 z nějakého NB65) tvrdí, že vyřadili zrovna řízení špionážních satelitů pro vedení vojenských operací. Ach jo, že by další bulíky na nose? 🧐

#ukraine #russia #hack

novinky.cz/internet-a-pc/bezpe…