#denys shmyhal

[dadsinsuits]

Denys Shmyhal

[tomorrowusa]

^^^ Almost exactly a year ago, we saw one of the most impressive moments in the history of the internet featuring one of the most impressive heads of state in modern history.

Wars don’t go away because people in third countries get bored with them. Ukraine needs our support today as much as it did on 24 February 2022.

Putin is still a dangerously delusional autocrat who has broken international law in a big way just because he felt like it. And having started Europe’s biggest war since 1945, he certainly can’t be trusted to uphold any future agreements. He believes he’s the 21st century Peter the Great; though the original Peter would probably cringe at the suggestion.

The only outcome that can result in peace in Europe for the next few decades is for Putin to be pushed out of Ukraine entirely. Anything less than that leaves the door open to attacks on other neighbors based on flimsy historical pretexts which long ago were superseded by international agreements.

[tea-party-at-wonderland]

[zvaigzdelasas]

[Calcalist is Private Israeli Media]

"We have a huge deficit of ammunition not just in Ukraine but all over the world. We understand we should produce this here in Ukraine because all around the world it’s finished, it’s depleted. All the warehouses are empty," said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to the "Financial Times" in October of last year, addressing the ammunition situation of the Ukrainian army, which is interconnected with the challenges faced by the IDF.

The increased ammunition usage in the wars in Gaza and Ukraine has led to an unprecedented global shortage of ammunition of all types. While the IDF tries not to address the issue publicly, Major General Eliezer Toledano admitted last month that the IDF is reducing air attacks, emphasizing the necessity to "manage the economy of armaments" because the war will last a long time. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented on the matter, stating that "we need three things from the U.S.: armaments, armaments, armaments." At a press conference two weeks ago, Netanyahu announced that Israel is preparing the Israeli defense industries to "cut off dependence on the world," a goal that is not realistic in any way.[...]

[L]ast week the Director General of the Ministry of Defense Eyal Zamir concluded a huge deal with the American government for the supply of aerial ammunition in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and so far over 25,000 tons of weapons have been sent to Israel since the beginning of the war in about 280 aircraft and about 40 ships. The Israeli defense industry is also tasked with filling the IDF's stocks. About two weeks ago it was published in Calcalist that the Israeli companies postponed the supply of weapons worth more than $1.5 billion to their customers across the world to divert resources for the IDF's combat needs and that in the last three months, the Ministry of Defense ordered more than NIS 10 billion ($2.7 million) worth of weapons from them. It should be noted that the shortage does not stem from a lack of budget but from a lack of supply, and the Treasury does not restrict the IDF from purchasing ammunition of any kind.

The tremendous need for armaments stems from the unusual amount of bombings that the IDF has carried out in Gaza since the outbreak of the war. Two weeks ago, the army announced that 30,000 targets had been attacked in Gaza. A security source told Calcalist that the rate of fire the IDF is using in the current war is similar to that of a "superpower," is comparable only to the capabilities demonstrated by the U.S., and probably also exceeds the number of armaments of the Russians in the campaign against Ukraine.[...]

Another reason [for the increase in targets bombed] is that in the current war, the IDF adopted a policy of a lighter finger on the trigger [sic] regarding damage to infrastructure and Hamas operatives who are in a civilian environment, thus increasing the ability to hit targets that were not previously attacked. In addition to these reasons, there is also the added pressure from the political level, as well as from the [Israeli] public, who demand an increase in air force bombing to prevent as much as possible a risk to the forces on the ground.[...]

[O]ne should ask whether, considering the existing ammunition stockpile, this policy may not harm the IDF's readiness to carry out future missions, especially given the existing security challenges and the probable scenario in which the IDF will be forced to [sic] carry out an attack in southern Lebanon as well. The IDF may be forced to better clarify its limitations to the politicians to avoid reaching an extreme scenario of an ammunition shortage, or in the words of General Toledano: "There is no infinite army."

28 Jan 24

[dontforgetukraine]

"Russia continues to use food as an element of aggression. This year, the enemy has smuggled more than 180,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain through the port of Mariupol alone."

—Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal

Source: Russians steal 180,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain through Mariupol port

[mariacallous]

Ukraine has sufficient fuel and lubricant reserves for the heating season, ensuring stability and preventing price fluctuations, Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk announced on national television on Oct. 25.

"As of today, the reserves have been formed at the appropriate level. They help to balance the energy system, using various resources for generation," Kolisnyk said during a broadcast on the United News telethon.

Ukraine has imported a significant number of generators that run on diesel fuel, gasoline, or gas as backup power sources.

"For all these consumer groups, sufficient reserves have been formed to ensure that prices do not fluctuate during the winter and that we have clear confidence in the ability to have a stable heating season," the deputy minister added.

Situation in Ukraine's energy system

Then-CEO of NPC Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytskyi stated on Aug. 29 that an apocalyptic scenario like a blackout this winter would not occur. Ukraine is much better prepared for the winter of 2024-2025 in terms of Ukrenergo's transport network than it was in 2022-2023.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted on Sept. 10 that the upcoming winter could be the toughest yet. According to the Ministry of Energy, Ukraine has lost more than 9 GW due to Russian strikes in 2024, which could have supplied electricity to four EU countries.

Politico reported that the winter could be a turning point for Ukraine in the energy war, as Russia targets key substations that supply Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said in its report on Sept. 19 that the electricity deficit in Ukraine could lead to power outages ranging from 4 to 18 hours per day this winter. Energy Minister German Halushchenko stated that Ukraine subsequently held talks with the UN and clarified that the organization did not have arguments for such calculations.

Energy workers completed the planned repair and put another reactor of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant into operation on Oct. 10, 11 days ahead of schedule. Thus, the state NPP operator Energoatom completed the 2024 repair campaign and prepared all nine power units located on Ukrainian-controlled territory for winter operation.

[head-post]

Slovakia to halt diesel supplies to Ukraine if oil transit not restored

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his country would stop supplying diesel fuel to Ukraine if Kyiv did not restore oil supplies from Russia’s Lukoil group through its territory, according to Euractiv.

If the transit of Russian crude through Ukraine is not renewed in a short time, [Slovak refiner] Slovnaft will not continue in supplies of diesel to Ukraine.

Slovakia and Hungary, the two countries opposing military aid to Ukraine, have been mounting pressure since Kyiv placed Lukoil on a sanctions list last month, preventing the company’s oil from passing to Slovak and Hungarian refineries.

Oil shipments through Ukraine from Russian suppliers other than Lukoil have not been interrupted. Meanwhile, Slovak supplies accounted for a tenth of diesel consumption in Ukraine, Fico stressed.

He added that he had proposed to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal a technical solution to restore halted oil flows on Friday. However, he did not provide any details about the proposal, but said that it should include several countries.

I welcome reports that relevant trading firms are already thinking about how to implement this technical solution in the shortest possible time.

The dispute revealed the extent to which some EU countries still depend on Russian energy more than two years after the bloc decided to stop importing oil from Moscow following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have exemptions to the ban on pipeline oil imports from Russia to ensure time to find alternatives.

Read more HERE

[the-jam-to-the-unicorn]

President Zelenskyy published a special video address to celebrate the start of Ukraine's accession talks for EU membership 🇺🇦🇪🇺

Dear Ukrainians!

Today is the day we have all worked for long and hard – the entire team of Ukraine. Today marks the official, actual, and real opening of negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Our Ukrainian delegation – representatives from the Verkhovna Rada, the government, and the Office of the President – have already held the first intergovernmental conference of Ukraine and the EU. Until today, we were a country that had gained candidate status for membership, but there was not yet complete certainty about realizing this status. As of today, we have full confidence – Ukraine will definitely become a full member of the European Union. Now, the focus is on the technical work between Ukraine and the EU, adapting our system to the EU, and Europe's political will to make the European project truly complete. This can only be achieved with Ukraine as part of a united Europe – a Europe of values, a Europe without splits, ideological walls and "gray zones," a Europe of peace – real peace. I thank everyone who supports Ukraine on this path, who helps, and who fights for Ukraine – for our common Ukrainian home, for our state, just as they would for their own. When we signed the application for EU membership together on the fifth day of the full-scale war, many said it was nothing but a dream. But we made this dream a reality. We attained this, persuaded, and dispelled every doubt. In June 2022, Ukraine's candidate status was approved despite opposition. In December 2023, European leaders supported the political decision to start negotiations with Ukraine. Today, the negotiations begin. Between these steps, there have been thousands of meetings and calls. Conditions Ukraine has fully met. Laws that have been enacted and implemented. And most importantly, the determination of our people, our nation. The determination that has worked, that has not failed Ukraine and all of Europe, and that proves that all Ukrainians together, all Europeans together, are capable of realizing even the biggest dreams – capable of winning.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal:

The intergovernmental conferences – the format that has started today – involve working between our state and representatives of all EU states on parts of the future agreement on Ukraine's accession. According to the approved negotiating framework, we will go through all the sections of our relations and reach an agreement on each of them. We will definitely achieve this – just as we will achieve all other Ukrainian goals.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk:

Every country that has become an EU member has gone through a similar format of negotiations. Ukraine will aim to do this faster than others, but invariably in the common interests of our country and the whole of Europe. We have adopted, are adopting and will continue to adopt all the necessary laws to ensure that Ukraine never separates from the European home again. We thank everyone who stands with Ukraine, everyone who believes in our people, who works with Ukraine, thus ensuring a stable future for the whole of Europe, secure from aggression.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

Ukraine is changing everything – exactly as needed to preserve Europe.

Glory to Ukraine!

[real-total-drama-takes]

Intro to Ukraine

Ukraine

Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Denys Shmyhal

Capital: Kyiv (Kiev)

Population: (2022 est.) 43,637,000

Head Of State: President: Volodymyr Zelen

Russia

Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin

Capital: Moscow

Population: (2022 est.) 143,377,000

Head Of State: President: Vladimir Putin

Lead up to the invasion.

October 2021.

In October 2021, months of intelligence gathering and observations of Russian troop movements, force build-up, and military contingency financing culminated in a White House briefing with U.S. intelligence, military, and diplomatic leaders on a near-certain mass-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Nov/Dec 2021

In the days and weeks leading up to the invasion, the Joe Biden administration made the unconventional decision to reduce information-sharing constraints and allow for the broader dissemination of intelligence and findings, both with allies—including Ukraine—and publicly.

The goal of this strategy was to bolster allied defenses and dissuade Russia from taking aggressive action.

Commercial satellite imagery, social media posts, and published intelligence from November and December 2021 showed armor, missiles, and other heavy weaponry moving toward Ukraine with no official explanation from the Kremlin.

Dec-Jan 2021/22

By the end of 2021, more than one hundred thousand Russian troops were in place near the Russia-Ukraine border, with U.S. intelligence officials warning of a Russian invasion in early 2022.

Dec 2021

In mid-December 2021, Russia’s foreign ministry called on the United States and NATO to:

● cease military activity in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

● commit to no further NATO expansion toward Russia

● prevent Ukraine from joining NATO in the future.

The United States and other NATO allies rejected these demands and threatened to impose severe economic sanctions if Russia took aggressive action against Ukraine.

February 2022

On February 24, 2022, when Russian forces invaded a largely unprepared Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a “special military operation” against the country.

In his statement, Putin claimed that the goal of the operation was to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine and end the alleged genocide of Russians in Ukrainian territory.

Background Info

The Soviet Union

In 1918, a year after Russia’s communist revolution, Ukraine declared independence, but in 1921, the Red Army conquered most of it and Ukraine became a republic within the Soviet Union.

Following the end of World War I, former foreign minister Sergei Sazonov, remarked, “As for Ukraine, it does not exist. Even the word is artificial and a foreign import. There is a Little Russia, there is no Ukraine . . . The Ukrainian movement is nothing but a reaction against the abuses of the bureaucracy and of Bolshevism.”

Putin’s view of Russia

He interprets Russia’s purpose and role in world politics through an imperialist frame and believes that it should dominate others; he believes powerful countries dominating large regions is a norm, not as a thing of the past.

- nat5 mods anon

(Finally got to the new topic! Unfortunately the slideshow we got is a bit dissapointing.)

.

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up May 2-3, 2023

Under the cut:

The death toll of the Russian May 3 mass shelling across Kherson Oblast and the regional capital reached 17 people as of 6:30 p.m. local time, according to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. According to Lubinets, 26 people were injured. However, the head of the Kherson City Military Administration, Roman Mrochko, reported that 45 people were injured, including two children.

Ukraine and the EU have reached an agreement to continue their “economic visa-free” deal for another 12 months. The initial deal was struck last year after the outbreak of war. It means that Ukrainian businesses will be able to continue to sell goods to the EU without any quotas, export duties or tariffs.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new $300 million security assistance package for Ukraine Wednesday.

A fuel storage facility in Russia's southwestern Krasnodar region, located near the Crimean Bridge, was on fire early on May 3, the regional governor reported on Telegram.

It is “too early” to say whether Russia’s claims of a Ukrainian attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin amount to a “false flag” operation, the White House said Wednesday, adding that it would not speculate about the veracity of Moscow’s claims.

The death toll of the Russian May 3 mass shelling across Kherson Oblast and the regional capital reached 17 people as of 6:30 p.m. local time, according to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

According to Lubinets, 26 people were injured.

However, the head of the Kherson City Military Administration, Roman Mrochko, reported that 45 people were injured, including two children.

Around 6 p.m. local time, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported the shelling was ongoing.

Earlier in the day, the Prosecutor General's Office said Russian troops shelled some civilian infrastructure in Kherson, killing 12 people there.

Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Ministry reported that Russian forces shelled a supermarket in the regional capital at around 11 a.m. According to the ministry, the victims include both supermarket employees and customers.

The city of Kherson and surrounding settlements have been under consistent Russian artillery fire since they were liberated in November, with Russian forces retreating to the east bank of the Dnipro River.

Kherson authorities are preparing to evacuate residents if the region comes under even more intense shelling.

-via Kyiv Independent (warning for graphic images at the link)

~

Ukraine and the EU have reached an agreement to continue their “economic visa-free” deal for another 12 months.

The initial deal was struck last year after the outbreak of war. It means that Ukrainian businesses will be able to continue to sell goods to the EU without any quotas, export duties or tariffs.

Access for agricultural goods has also been agreed, according to Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, on Telegram.

It comes as the EU agreed to speed up its ammunition delivery to Ukraine on Wednesday (see 12.13pm). In March foreign ministers agreed to supply Ukraine with €2bn of shells.

-via The Guardian

~

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new $300 million security assistance package for Ukraine Wednesday.

“This latest package will help Ukraine continue to bravely defend itself in the face of Russia’s brutal, unprovoked, and unjustified war. Russia could end its war today. Until Russia does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes,” Blinken said.

The top US diplomat said it is the 37th drawdown of US arms and equipment for Ukraine.

Here's what is included in the package and its capabilities, according to a statement released by the US Department of Defense:

Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) 155mm Howitzers 155mm artillery rounds 120mm, 81mm, and 60mm mortar rounds Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles AT-4 and Carl Gustaf anti-armor weapon systems Hydra-70 aircraft rockets Small arms and small arms ammunition Demolition munitions for obstacle clearing Trucks and trailers to transport heavy equipment Testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair Spare parts and other field equipment Earlier Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the package comes after "extensive work by the US government over the past few months to fulfill Ukraine's requests ahead of its planned counteroffensive and ensure they have the weapons and equipment they need."

The White House said it will continue to work with allies to support Ukraine.

Previewing this aid package earlier this week, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby suggested the new package would be "very much focused on ammunition and clearing capabilities" to give Ukraine "what they need to break through Russian defenses."

"They will be ready," Kirby said.

-via CNN

~

A fuel storage facility in Russia's southwestern Krasnodar region, located near the Crimean Bridge, was on fire early on May 3, the regional governor reported on Telegram.

Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Krasnodar, said the fire broke out in the village of Volna in the Temryuk district, located across the Azov Sea from Ukraine.

The Crimean Bridge, also referred to as the Kerch Strait Bridge, links Russia's mainland with the Crimean peninsula, annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014.

Videos and photos appeared on social media showing large oil tanks on fire. Kondratyev said that the "fire has been classified as the highest rank of difficulty."

"Every effort is being made to prevent the fire from spreading further," Kondratyev also wrote. "There is no threat to residents of the village."

A large fire also occurred at an oil depot at the Kozacha Bay in Russian-occupied Sevastopol, located in Russian-occupied Crimea, on April 29. The head of the illegal Russian occupation government in Sevastopol said the fire was caused by a Ukrainian a drone attack.

Ukrainian Armed Forces' Southern Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said the large fire was part of Ukraine’s “preparations” for its anticipated counteroffensive. “This work is a preparation for the broad, full-scale offensive that everyone expects," Humeniuk said, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

-via Kyiv Independent

~ It is “too early” to say whether Russia’s claims of a Ukrainian attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin amount to a “false flag” operation, the White House said Wednesday, adding that it would not speculate about the veracity of Moscow’s claims.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also said the US was not taking any steps that would help Kyiv from striking inside Russia.

“Since the beginning of this conflict, the United States is certainly not encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders,” she said. "We've been very clear from here about that." She added, “I don't want to get into speculation from here about the authenticity of this report."

Earlier, US officials said it had no advance warning of the drone attack in Moscow. American agencies were urgently working to assess Russia’s claims.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky denied earlier that his country had staged an attack on Putin.

Asked about the prospect of a Russian “false flag” operation, which the US has warned of previously, Jean-Pierre said it wasn’t prudent to speculate.

“It is really too early to tell, as you asked me, about a false flag,” she said. “But obviously Russia has a history of doing things like this.”

-via CNN

[westeroswisdom]

Actor Robert Rhodes has been cast as a dragonseed named Silver Denys. A dragonseed is a Targaryen bastard or a descendant of a Targaryen bastard.

Here are non-spoiler excerpts of that article.

The cast of HBO's House of the Dragon may have gotten a bit larger. According to Redanian Intelligence, the Game of Thrones prequel series has cast Robert Rhodes as Silver Denys for Season 2 of the series. [ ... ] In addition to Rhodes, it was recently reported that Raised By Wolves star Amanda Collin had been cast as Jeyne Arryn, Lady of the Eyrie also known as the Maiden of the Vale. It was also recently reported that Gayle Rankin is playing Alys Rivers, a healer, and resident of Harrenhal, Simon Russell Beale is playing Ser Simon Strong, the Castellan of Harrenhal and great-uncle to Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), and Freddie Fox is playing Ser Gwayne Hightower, the son of Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), brother to Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke). [ ... ] Even with the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, production on Season 2 of House of the Dragon continues. The series is able to continue filming in the U.K. as its actors — who are also from the U.K. — are working under contract with a local union, Equity. The series also reportedly had completed scripts for the season ready ahead of the WGA strike.

It may just be a coincidence, but Denys is the Latin alphabet transliteration of the Ukrainian version of Dennis (Денис). The prime minister of Ukraine is named Denys Shmyhal' (Денис Шмигаль). 🇺🇦

BTW, Robert Rhodes wrote this piece related to the scarring on one side of his face.

If I catch you staring at my scars, prepare for me to ask you why

He seems pretty cool – which makes him typical of HotD cast.

[beardedmrbean]

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine is under pressure from international lenders and watchdogs at home to re-impose a requirement that officials publicly declare their assets, a pillar of its anti-corruption policies that was suspended after Russia's invasion last year.

Fighting graft is a top requirement for Ukraine to join the European Union, which offered Kyiv candidate status last year, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's government says it is a priority alongside the war effort.

Since 2016, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian officials had been required to publicly disclose their assets under the measure, viewed as a powerful tool for Ukrainians to monitor their officials.

But the disclosures were made optional and restricted from public view after Russia's full-scale invasion last year, with authorities citing security risks from releasing information that might give away the location of public figures.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has singled out the return of the requirement for "high-risk and senior level public officials" as one of several benchmarks for paying out part of a $15.6 billion assistance package. It has urged Kyiv to begin bringing the measure back by the end of July.

Anastasia Radina, head of the Ukrainian parliament's anti-corruption committee, said legislation was under consideration that would allow exemptions, such as for service members and officials in Russian-occupied territory.

But she said watering down the disclosure requirements too much could blunt their impact.

"If the system has loopholes, then it cannot be fully functional in terms of its deterrence component," Radina told Reuters. "And that would be a problem."

The IMF on Thursday unlocked an $890 million tranche of its package based on Ukraine's "strong progress" in meeting reform commitments, but said other transparency and anti-corruption measures "need to proceed without delay".

A draft law restoring declarations had been introduced last September. Critics have accused some lawmakers of dragging their feet in a bid to avoid scrutiny.

The disclosures were a showcase of Ukraine's anti-corruption drive after the 2014 Maidan revolution, which toppled a pro-Russian president who fled leaving behind a lavish palace he had built for himself outside Kyiv.

Public servants, from municipal deputies to the president, were required to submit detailed annual declarations including information on personal finances, cars and property.

The National Agency for Corruption Prevention, a state watchdog, reviewed the declarations and could launch legal action if it suspected ill-gotten wealth.

'SYSTEMIC INSTRUMENT'

The watchdog's head Oleksandr Novikov said restoring the measure was critical as Kyiv's Western partners consider flooding Ukraine with cash for reconstruction. He said he had weighed in on proposed adjustments and was also wary of too many loopholes.

"There will be no other systemic instrument with which to build integrity," he told Reuters.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday Ukraine will receive $1.5 billion from the World Bank to support reconstruction and recovery.

Ukraine, which ranks 116th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index, has dialled up its fight against graft in recent months.

Last month, anti-corruption authorities arrested the former head of the Supreme Court in a high-profile sting.

Andrii Borovyk, of Transparency's Ukraine office, said it was "extremely important" to restore public access to declarations, which he said could reveal whether officials are benefiting from building contracts, though certain exemptions were likely to be unavoidable.

"I think some compromise can be found, at least while the war is ongoing," said Borovyk.

A January poll by the New Europe Center think-tank in Kyiv found that 73% of Ukrainians believe Brussels is justified in seeking reforms from Kyiv as it pursues EU membership, even amid conflict.

Only one quarter of those believe the EU should be more lenient with its requirements.

[tomorrowusa]

Another day, another Russian war crime.

President Zelensky has condemned a "deliberate" attack on Ukraine's "peaceful" city of Kostyantynivka. At least 16 people, including a child, were killed in the blast, which took place on a busy market street in the middle of the day - a rarity. Kostyantynivka, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, is near the front line. Videos on social media show a bright orange explosion at the far end of a street where people were out shopping. Russia is yet to comment on the attack. Mr Zelensky, who has blamed Moscow, said those killed were "people who did nothing wrong" - and warned the death toll could increase. Dealing with Russia, he said, meant turning a blind eye to the audacity of evil. At least 28 people are thought to be injured. A market, shops and a pharmacy are all reported to have been hit. Police and rescue services are on the scene, still looking for survivors. It seems to be the worst attack of its kind for several months.

You can tell when Putin feels he's losing ground on the battlefield by how many Ukrainian civilians he tries to kill.

US Sec. of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced trip to Kyiv today to reaffirm American support for Ukraine.

US top diplomat Blinken makes surprise visit to Kyiv

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, where he is expected to announce a new aid package worth more than $1 billion (€930 million). The Reuters news agency cited a senior State Department official as saying Blinken's visit to Ukraine would last two days, making it the first overnight trip since Russia launched the war in February 2022. In a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Blinken said: "Returned to Kyiv today to meet with our Ukrainian partners to discuss their ongoing counteroffensive, future assistance and reconstruction efforts, and above all, to reinforce the unwavering U.S. commitment to Ukraine."  [ ... ] Washington's top diplomat is expected to meet with President Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba for talks on the current counteroffensive and efforts to rebuild the country. The United States has invested more than $43.8 billion in security assistance in Ukraine’s sovereignty, including more than $43.1 billion since Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to State Department figures.

Meanwhile in fascist Russia, Putin is again spewing anti-Semitic remarks.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Rebukes Putin For Latest Anti-Semitic Comments

Putin, his Kremlin sycophants, and Russian oligarchs form the core of a 21st century style mafia-fascist régime which has little regard for the rule of law in Russia or around the world.

People who make excuses for Putin's terrorism are little more than the modern equivalent of Nazi collaborators.

[radioshiga]

Primeiro-ministro ucraniano se encontra com o Papa Francisco e o convida a visitar a Ucrânia

Primeiro-ministro ucraniano se encontra com o Papa Francisco e o convida a visitar a Ucrânia O primeiro-ministro ucraniano, Denys Shmyhal, disse que convidou o Papa Francisco para visitar a Ucrânia e pediu ao Vaticano que ajudasse a repatriar as crianças levadas pela Rússia. Shmyhal fez a observação na quinta-feira (27), depois de se encontrar com o papa no Vaticano no início do dia. O…

[argumate]

Russian forces conducted the largest missile strike across Ukraine of 2023 so far on March 9, but the attack likely only served Russian state propaganda objectives. Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces targeted Ukrainian critical infrastructure with 84 different missiles including 28 Kh-101/Kh-555 and 20 Kalibr cruise missiles, six Kh-22 anti-ship missiles, six Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, two Kh-31P supersonic anti-ship missiles, six Kh-59 guided missiles, and at least 13 S-300 air-defense missiles. Russian forces also attacked Ukraine with eight Iranian-made Shahed–136 drones, which Ukrainian officials noted likely sought to distract Ukrainian air defense systems before the missile strikes. Ukrainian forces reportedly shot down 34 of the 48 Kalibr and Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles and four Shahed-136 drones. Ukrainian officials also noted that all eight of the Kh-31P and Kh-59 missiles did not reach their intended targets. Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat noted that Ukrainian forces did not have the capacity to shoot down some of the Russian missiles—likely referring to Kinzhal and S-300 missiles. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces conducted “high precision long range air, sea, and land-based missile strikes” targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure, military-industrial complexes, and energy infrastructure supporting the Ukrainian military as retaliation for the alleged incursion into Bryansk Oblast on March 2.

Ukrainian officials, Russian milbloggers, and social media footage indicate that Russian forces overwhelmingly targeted energy infrastructure across Ukraine. The head of the Ukrainian state electricity transmission operator Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrynskyi, stated that Russian missile strikes once again targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, but yet again failed to achieve Russia’s ongoing goal of destroying Ukrainian power supplies. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Russian strikes hit eight energy sites resulting in power outages in some areas of the country. The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that preliminary data showed that Russian forces may have used Kinzhal missiles to strike unspecified infrastructure, while social media footage showed smoke rising from one of Kyiv’s thermo-electric power plants. Russian milbloggers amplified footage and reports of the aftermath of strikes on energy facilities in the cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Kirovohrad, and Kharkiv among others. ISW continues to assess that these missile strikes will not undermine Ukraine’s will or improve Russia’s positions on the frontlines.

[opedguy]

Russian Air Strikes Hit Ukraine

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Jan. 1, 2023.--Giving his New Year’s greeting, 44-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his people that he wished for “victory” in 2023, a new cliché while he watched Russian air strikes decimate Ukraine’s electrical grid.  So, for Zelensky, and his benefactor 80-year-old President Joe Biden, the taste of “victory” is watching Ukraine bombed into the Stone Age, with Kiev hoping to get bailed out by U.S. Patriot Missiles.  Whatever Patriot Missiles do for Ukraine, they won’t stop 70-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin from prosecuting the most wasteful, unnecessary war in modern history.  Zelensky decided early on, back in March, that with U.S. cash-and-weapons, he would take on the Russian Federation.  Putin offered to end the Feb. 24 invasion if Zelensky recognized the independence of Russian-speaking Peoples Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

Zelensky and his closest advisers believed, including Ukraine’s 40-year-old Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, that they could defeat the Russian Federation.  All they needed was more U.S. and NATO weapons to accomplish their goal.  But instead of defeating the Russian Federation, Zelensky has destroyed his own country by continuing to engage the Kremlin in a senseless war.  Kuleba said recently he was open to a U.N. peace summit in Ukraine but only after he received Patriot Missiles.   Kuleba praised 73-year-old U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for having the integrity to recognize Kiev’s 10-point peace plan.  Kiev’s peace plan requires Russia to be prosecuted in the Hague’s International Criminal Court for war crimes.  Guterres told Zelensky that he would not participate in any “peace summit” unless Russia was on an equal footing.in a neutral peace setting.

Kuleba calls Russia’s air assault on Ukraine’s infrastructure “senseless barbarism,” finding nothing wrong with continuing the war, boasting daily of killing endless numbers of Russian “occupiers.” Kiev’s 51-year-old Mayor Vitali Kitschko warned residents to stock up on water and blankets because he couldn’t guarantee how long the electricity could last with damage to Kiev’s electrical grid.  Other Ukrainian cities face the same hardship of damage to essential infrastructure. Russia’s current war strategy to bring Zelensky to the peace table.  Instead of recognizing the war’s hardship on ordinary citizens, Zelensky continues to prosecute his war strategy of killing Russian soldiers and reclaiming lost sovereign territory.  Zelensky and Kuleba have said they won’t stop the war until every Russian soldier leaves Ukraine.  Before the Feb. 24 invasion, Russia had troops in Donetsk and Luhansk and in Crimea.

Zelensky and Kuleba show no signs of wanting a negotiate peace without Russian leaving every inch of Russian territory.  Biden must figure out how long he wants to subsidize the Ukraine War, without telling Kiev that the war must move from the battlefield to the peace table. “There can be no neutrality in the face of such mass war crimes.  Pretending to be ‘neutral’ equals taking Russia’s side,” Kuleba tweeted.  Ukraine’s military claims it shoots down a high percentage of Russian drones and missiles yet Kiev authorities claim that much of the county’s infrastructure has been destroyed. “Russia is trying to deprive Ukrainians of light before the New Year,” said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, acknowledging Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power facilities.  Lviv’s Mayor Adriy Sadovyi said 90% of his city’s electricity has been damaged by Russian attacks.

In the port city of Odesa, regional Gov. Maksym Marchencko said most of the city has been without power, attesting to how Russia air strikes have disabled key infrastructure.  Yet to Zelensky and Kuleba the war must go on until every Russian soldier has been driven from Ukrainian lands.  French President Emmanuel Macron, 44, sees the daily destruction of Ukraine and wants the war to end.  Kuleba says there’s no “neutrality” in the war, accusing anyone that wants a peace settlement as a Russian sympathizer.  Kiev’s officials don’t see how keeping the war going only hurts Ukraine’s chances of an eventually rebuilding, something that would take decades to reverse all the current destruction. Putin has told Kiev that he’s ready to negotiate just not on Ukraine’s terms but on neutral peacemakers.  Zelensky and Kuleba still think they’re heading to “victory” in 2023.

Biden must play a key role in deciding to end the conflict with the Russian Federation.  As it stands now, he’s given Zelensky a blank check to fight the Kremlin, resulting in the destruction of Ukraine’s fragile infrastructure, leaving most big cities without any power or water.  Kuleba says he wants a U.N.-brokered peace summit but won’t concede anything to Russia until Moscow is prosecuted for war crimes, leaves Ukrainian territory and pays Kiev reparations for damage during the 11 months of war.  Kuleba has been told by U.N. officials that they can’t broker any peace summit unless both sides are on an equal footing.  Zelensky and Kuleba want to use the U.N. to push their 10-point peace plan, requiring Russian prosecution in the Hague.  Putin has given Kiev clear conditions for ending the conflict, recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and sovereignty over Crimea.

About the Author    

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.