#kiev 19

[valtionrautatiet-official]

An introduction to VR multiple units, part 5: Sm6

The Sm6 Allegro. When I started this series about our multiple units, I first thought I would cover the Sm6 in the "operated for others" -series, then thought I would leave it out altogether... but events overtook my plans and now I'm introducing them as VR's own multiple units, although they are not yet in operation as VR trains.

An Sm6 unit on the Kerava-Lahti line, currently the only bit of high-speed rail in Finland, 2011. Teemu Peltonen, Vaunut.org.

Since the 1990s, two daily return trains had been operated between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg, Russia: the Sibelius, which used VR carriages, and the Repin, which used RŽD carriages. In 2006, the two rail operators decided to replace the locomotive-hauled trains, which took five hours to make the trip, with jointly-owned high-speed trains. For this purpose, a new jointly-owned subsidiary Karelian Trains was established.

Two Sm6's during pre-service entry test runs at Vainikkala, the border station between Finland and Russia, with the locomotive-hauled St. Petersburg train Sibelius on the right. Lari Nylund, Vaunut.org.

After a round of tenders, Karelian Trains opted for the Pendolino design (already used by VR in the form of the Sm3) from Alstom in 2007, with four units to be delivered in 2010 (there was also an option for two additional units, which was never taken up). Although the exterior design of the new Sm6 units was almost identical to the Sm3, in terms of technology they feature numerous improvements compared to the older class, and were outfitted to operate both on the Russian and Finnish electric systems. Due to the small difference in gauge between the two countries (Russia uses 1520 mm but Finland 1524 mm) the trains were given near-unique gauge of 1522 mm.

Interior of the Sm6's first-class carriage as delivered. Otto Karikoski, Wikimedia Commons.

Branded Allegro, the new Sm6 units begun operations in December 2010, cutting the travel time between Helsinki and St. Petersburg to 3½ hours. In addition to services offered on Sm3 units, the Sm6 has (or perhaps more accurately had) a space for the border patrol to use, as passport control was done en-route on the train, and a kid's playroom. The original grey-dominated interiors were replaced by new, more colourful blue designs in 2018-2019.

The new interiors were not in use for long before the Covid-19 pandemic caused for passenger train services between Finland and Russia to be suspended in March 2020. The Allegro services were restored in December 2021 (the Helsinki-Moscow sleeper train Tolstoy, however, was not), and ran for less than four months until closed again in March 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (VR subsequently stopped freight traffic to Russia too - other Finnish rail operators continue to serve freight to and from Russia, however).

Second-class carriage in the post-2019 look. VR.

After March 2022, the four Sm6 units languished at VR's Ilmala depot in Helsinki, without maintenance as RŽD refused to make any payments for their share in Karelian Trains (which, although jointly Finnish-Russian owned, was registered in Finland). In March 2023, when Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin visited Kiev, Ukrainian Railroads requested the Sm6 units be handed over to them, but nothing ever came of this. Instead, in December 2023, when Karelian Trains was on the brink of bankruptcy due to RŽD not paying their share of the company's bills, VR bought out Karelian Trains and took over the Sm6 units.

The trains will be given a thorough technical refit, which will include removal of the systems to operate with Russian electrification, and will enter services on routes within Finland in 2025. How they will be branded is unknown, though a VR representative said in an interview they will not be called Allegro. Presumably this will make the Sm6 the first VR rolling stock class to be fully painted in the new livery.

[darkmaga-returns]

Trump warns of WWIII. Moscow issues warning to West. NATO countries preparing for war. Beijing Warns Taiwan. Pentagon Has Failed ANOTHER Audit. The greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Lioness of Judah Ministry

Nov 19, 2024

Trump warns of WWIII and Nuclear Armageddon

Moscow issues long-range missiles warning to West

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has reacted to a potential change in the “essence of the conflict”

Moscow has issued a stark warning to the United States and its allies, stating that any use of long-range missiles by Kiev to strike deep inside Russian territory would signify the “direct participation” of the Western powers in the conflict. Monday evening’s statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry comes amid unconfirmed reports that US President Joe Biden has authorized Kiev to use American-supplied ATACMS missiles to target sites inside Moscow’s pre-2014 borders. Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the ministry, said any such move would “radically change the essence and nature of the conflict.”

Stop the ‘madness’ – French party leader

Florian Philippot reacted to Washington reportedly authorizing Kiev to use its weapons for long-range strikes into Russia

The leader of France’s Patriots party, Florian Philippot, has called on Paris to stop the “total madness” and quit NATO. He was reacting to reports that US President Joe Biden had given Ukraine the green light to use US-supplied long-range missiles to attack targets inside Russia’s pre-2014 borders. The New York Times reported on Sunday that Washington has authorized Ukrainian forces to use ATACMS missiles to hit targets in Kursk Region. However, the White House has made no official statements. “The deep state and its puppet Biden are attempting to trigger World War III before the arrival of [Donald] Trump in power,” the French politician wrote on Monday in a post on X

Germany to deliver AI-controlled drones to Ukraine

The ‘mini-Taurus’ drones are immune to GPS jamming, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said

Germany is set to deliver 4,000 AI-controlled kamikaze drones to Ukraine, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced. The drones, dubbed ‘mini-Taurus’ in a reference to Berlin’s long-range cruise missiles, are reportedly immune to jamming and other disabling measures. Speaking at an event in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, Pistorius said the weapons can “put the enemy’s electronic drone defense out of action” and simply “fly around it,” as quoted by Die Welt. The drones can reach 30 or 40 kilometers “into the hinterland and then attack command posts, logistical hubs and other things,” he added, calling them “an important additional asset” for Ukraine’s forces.

[nullnvoid911]

Berkut riot police shoot rubber bullets toward anti-government protesters on Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine.

Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images, February 19, 2014

[palecleverdoll]

Ages of French Queens at First Marriage

I have only included women whose birth dates and dates of marriage are known within at least 1-2 years, therefore, this is not a comprehensive list.

This list is composed of Queens of France until the end of the House of Bourbon; it does not include Bourbon claimants or descendants after 1792.

The average age at first marriage among these women was 20.

Ermentrude of Orléans, first wife of Charles the Bald: age 19 when she married Charles in 842 CE

Richilde of Provence, second wife of Charles the Bald: age 25 when she married Charles in 870 CE

Richardis of Swabia, wife of Charles the Fat: age 22 when she married Charles in 862 CE

Théodrate of Troyes, wife of Odo: age 14 or 15 when she married Odo in 882 or 883 CE

Frederuna, wife of Charles III: age 20 when she married Charles in 907 CE

Beatrice of Vermandois, second wife of Robert I: age 10 when she married Robert in 990 CE

Emma of France, wife of Rudolph: age 27 when she married Rudolph in 921 CE

Gerberga of Saxony, wife of Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine, and later of Louis IV: age 16 when she married Gilbert in 929 CE

Emma of Italy, wife of Lothair: age 17 when she married Lothair in 965 CE

Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou, wife of Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan, Raymond III, Count of Toulouse, and later Louis V: age 15 when she married Stephen in 955 CE

Bertha of Burgundy, wife of Odo I, Count of Blois, and later Robert II: age 19 when she married Odo in 984 CE

Constance of Arles, third wife of Robert II: age 17 when she married Robert in 1003 CE

Anne of Kiev, wife of Henry I: age 21 when she married Henry in 1051 CE

Bertha of Holland, first wife of Philip I: age 17 when she married Philip in 1072 CE

Bertrade of Montfort, wife of Fulk IV, Count of Anjou, and second wife of Philip I: age 19 when she married Fulk in 1089 CE

Adelaide of Maurienne, second wife of Louis VI: age 23 when she married Louis in 1115 CE

Eleanor of Aquitaine, first wife of Louis VII and later Henry II of England: age 15 when she married Louis in 1137 CE

Adela of Champagne, third wife of Louis VII: age 20 when she married Louis in `1160 CE

Isabella of Hainault, first wife of Philip II: age 10 when she married Philip in 1180 CE

Ingeborg of Denmark, second wife of Philip II: age 19 when she married Philip in 1193 CE

Agnes of Merania, third wife of Philip II: age 21 when she married Philip in 1195 CE

Blanche of Castile, wife of Louis VIII: age 12 when she married Louis in 1200 CE

Margaret of Provence, wife of Louis IX: age 13 when she married Louis in 1234 CE

Isabella of Aragon, first wife of Philip III: age 14 when she married Philip in 1262 CE

Marie of Brabant, second wife of Philip III: age 20 when she married Philip in 1274 CE

Joan I of Navarre, wife of Philip IV: age 11 when she married Philip in 1284 CE

Margaret of Burgundy, wife of Louis X; age 15 when she married Louis in 1305 CE

Clementia of Hungary, second wife of Louis X: age 22 when she married Louis in 1315 CE

Joan II, Countess of Burgundy, wife of Philip V: age 15 when she married Philip in 1307 CE

Blanche of Burgundy, first wife of Charles IV: age 12 when she married Charles in 1308 CE

Marie of Luxembourg, second wife of Charles IV: age 18 when she married Charles in 1322 CE

Joan of Évreux, third wife of Charles IV: age 14 when she married Charles in 1324 CE

Bonne of Luxembourg, first wife of John II: age 17 when she married John in 1332 CE

Joan I, Countess of Auvergne, wife of Philip of Burgundy, and later John II: age 12 when she married Philip in 1338 CE

Joanna of Bourbon, wife of Charles V: age 12 when she married Charles in 1350 CE

Isabeau of Bavaria, wife of Charles VI: age 15 when she married Charles in 1385 CE

Marie of Anjou, wife of Charles VII: age 18 when she married Charles in 1422 CE

Charlotte of Savoy, second wife of Louis XI: age 9 when she married Louis in 1451 CE

Anne of Brittany, wife of Maximilian I, HRE, Charles VIII and later Louis XII: age 13 when she married Maximilian in 1490 CE

Joan of France, first wife of Louis XII: age 12 when she married Louis in 1476 CE

Mary Tudor, third wife of Louis XII: age 18 when she married Louis in 1514 CE

Claude of France, first wife of Francis I: age 15 when she married Francis in 1514 CE

Eleanor of Austria, wife of Manuel I of Portugal and later second wife of Francis I: age 20 when she married Manuel in 1518 CE

Catherine de' Medici, wife of Henry II: age 14 when she married Henry in 1533 CE

Mary, Queen of Scots, wife of Francis II: age 16 when she married Francis in 1558 CE

Elisabeth of Austria, wife of Charles IX: age 16 when she married Charles in 1570 CE

Louise of Lorraine, wife of Henry III: age 22 when she married Henry in 1575 CE

Margaret of Valois, first wife of Henry IV: age 19 when she married Henry in 1572 CE

Marie de' Medici, second wife of Henry IV: age 25 when she married Henry in 1600 CE

Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII: age 14 when she married Louis in 1615 CE

Maria Theresa of Spain, wife of Louis XIV: age 22 when she married Louis in 1660 CE

Marie Leszczyńska, wife of Louis XV: age 22 when she married Louis in 1725 CE

Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI: age 15 when she married Louis in 1770 CE

[mariacallous]

Just like William Shatner, the man who originated the role of Captain Kirk, Chris Pine, who plays the iconic role in the most recent “Star Trek” film reboot, has Jewish roots. He recently mentioned them during what to some is the greatest American Jewish experience — a decadent meal at a Jewish deli, specifically, Langer’s in Los Angeles. Pine was there to promote his directorial debut, “Poolman,” in which he plays, you guessed it, a poolman. The film has an all star cast, including Annette Bening, DeWanda Wise, Ariana DeBose, Danny DeVito and Jewish mom Jennifer Jason Leigh.

As he found joy in a rich and fizzy egg cream (“Does it get better than carbonated chocolate?” he wondered) and a beautiful deli sandwich on rye — the #19 with pastrami, Swiss cheese, cole slaw and Russian-style dressing which he called “profound” — he shared that Langer’s to him feels like home because, just like the Langer family that came from Russia, his great-grandparents came from Eastern Europe — specifically, Kiev, Ukraine.

“Somehow it feels like home even though I grew up in the Valley,” he told The Infatuation’s Brant Cox, in front of a table full of deli staples, including a plate full of pickles.

Pine’s maternal great-grandparents, Louis Goldfarb and Yetta Saporsnikova, were Jewish immigrants. Their son (and Pine’s grandfather) Max M Gilford, an entertainment lawyer, married movie star and model Anne Gwynne, considered to be one of the first “scream queens” and also known for her popular WWII pin-ups. The two had two children, including Chris’ mom, actress turned therapist Gwynne Gilford.

Pine is well-known for his role opposite another great Jewish star, Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman.” On October 12, he and Gadot were among 700 stars to sign a letter from Creative Community for Peace demanding the safe release of the hostages in Gaza.

It is nice to have Pine pay tribute to his Jewish immigrant roots in such a delicious and wonderfully Jewish way. Yes, finding delight in a deli sandwich is a universal experience — but ordering and drinking an egg cream?! That’s no rookie move, and gives him some real Jewish cred.

[teeth--thief]

HI UM! i was just looking through your blog and i saw that you really like toptunov and. ummm yeah me too AUSHSHSNSNSNA im so excited :33

i was wondering if u had any resources to learn a bit about him? im gonna read through the books on the drive but if theres anything specific on him i would love to know !!! i read midnight in chernobyl so there's that! but if theres anything else

and um yeah! his whole story and being is so. captivating to me. he was just a guy!!! he told jokes ajd AUGHHH can u tell that im insane

Wow that is so odd that you'd ever think I have an interest in that man. I'm a serious and respectable researcher. So anyway, let's get into my girlfriend, dead wife and favourite boy - Lyonya!

I'm afraid there isn't one definite source to read to learn all about him... what he was up to after the explosion is described in a particularly gut wrenching way in the book by Yuri Shcherbak, (not the translated one, the Russian original) if that's something you're interested in. Midnight in Chernobyl is probably the book to read if one is interested in his person, there's little else you can learn about him from other books, sadly.

I can share any and all interesting bits I do know about him that aren't just in any particular... thing... that I have learnt up until this point in my quest to find out absolutely everything. For starters in Midnight in Chernobyl, Sasha Korol claimed our dear Lyonya got into a drunken fight with the thermodynamics tutor, right? Well, Lyonya's room-mate from collage says otherwise :)

Y.I. (I'd rather not put him on blast in case he'd prefer to keep a low profile) commented under Kupnyi's interview with Korol:

The translation is in the alt text but the jist is this: there was never any fight with any tutor or professor or anyone else (Y.I. says Toptunov was "non-confrontational"). There was, however, an argument between Lyonya and another student, which got reported to the higher ups by a professor who witnessed the whole thing. And yes, his dad saved his ass, just like it's described in the book. Not something he would have been saved from that easily if he actually beat up a member of the teaching staff, I reckon.

Korol is an unreliable narrator, unfortunately. Nothing against him, I'm sure his objective in life is not to make Toptunov look bad, if the fact that they had each others' keys and were always real... close together in pictures - hey, I'm not judging, you guys do you - is anything to go by, but to me it's pretty clear that the years took their toll on him. Perhaps he wanted to make Lyonya seem cooler.

He worked (or interned?) in Kiev, in the Department of Nuclear Safety and Control of Reliability of Reactor Installations. Maybe that's where that one mysterious photo of him, in which nobody knows what he's doing, comes from...

Another interesting thing? Apparently Lyonya wasn't too keen on being a Lyonya. He preferred being called Lyosha. Okay, well, what does that even mean? asks any non-Slavic speaker at this moment. It means that he used a diminutive not for his name - Leonid - when introducing himself, but for the name Aleksey. So much so that in an interview with Stolyarchuk, he just straight up calls him "Aleksey Toptunov". Lyosha is also how (at least one of) his Prypiat neighbours knew him. Given that his name was not that popular in his generation, maybe he felt as if it was too old school... an Old Man's Name.

There are two lost media... bits regarding him, too. I learned about both from @/toptunovleonid on Instagram who is THE Toptunov expert, truly. Nobody does it like she does, 10/10, I'd trust her with my life. One is an apparent article from around 2015 claiming that he was in the collage choir for a short period of time and another being medical documents, perhaps related to army admission or training. He was apparently 185cm and 86kg at, I'm guessing, 18-19. There is literally no "professional" explanation as to why and what do I know this for.

With this weirdly specific titbit, I'm done. For now, at least. Can't share all the things at once, can I? Hope you enjoyed this alarmingly long post. Next time I shall share Every Picture I Have Found Of Him. Perhaps. We'll see.

[girlactionfigure]

1890, legendary Jewish poet, Rachel Bluwstein Sela, is born. She is known as just “Rachel” (רחל) or Rachel the Poetess (רחל המשוררת)

Hailing from Saratov, Imperial Russia, she was the eleventh child in her family and the granddaughter of Kiev's rabbi. She commenced her poetic journey at 15. At 19, she visited the Israel with her sister on their way to Italy and decided to stay.

While she initially wrote in Russian, the bulk of her work emerged in Hebrew. Most of her poems, written during her last six years, were penned on small notes for friends. Her debut Hebrew poem surfaced in the Hebrew newspaper Davar in 1920, eventually followed by many more, captivating the Jewish community in Palestine (א״י) and later, Israel. It was known to be dedicated to labor Zionist leader, A.D. Gordon, who had been a big influence.

Her lyrical style is noted for concise, conversational tone and often features the pastoral landscapes of Eretz Israel. Her poems resonate with themes of longing and loss, reflecting unfulfilled aspirations. 

She broke barriers as the one of the first recognized Jewish woman poet in Palestine (א״י), a space previously exclusive to men. Her anthologies continues to be top-sellers, and her poems, often set to music, remain popular among Israeli singers. Her verses are part of the mandatory curriculum in Israeli schools.

In 1931, she passed at age 40 after suffering from tuberculosis. She’s buried in the Kinneret cemetery in a grave overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

In 2011, Rachel was selected among four Israeli poets to be featured on the country's currency, she can be seen on the 20 Shekel note. 

Below is one of her famous poems about the Land of Israel, To My Land. See 2nd image for English translation. 

— 

אֶל אַרְצִי / רחל המשוררת

לֹא שַׁרְתִּי לָךְ, אַרְצִי,

וְלֹא פֵּאַרְתִּי שְׁמֵךְ

בַּעֲלִילוֹת גְּבוּרָה,

בִּשְׁלַל קְרָבוֹת;

רַק עֵץ – יָדַי נָטְעוּ

חוֹפֵי יַרְדֵּן שׁוֹקְטִים.

רַק שְׁבִיל – כָּבְשׁוּ רַגְלַי

עַל פְּנֵי שָׂדוֹת.

אָכֵן דַּלָּה מְאֹד –

יָדַעְתִּי זֹאת, הָאֵם,

אָכֵן דַּלָּה מְאֹד

מִנְחַת בִּתֵּךְ;

רַק קוֹל תְּרוּעַת הַגִּיל

בְּיוֹם יִגַּהּ הָאוֹר,

רַק בְּכִי בַּמִּסְתָּרִים

עֲלֵי עָנְיֵךְ.

תל-אביב, תרפ"ו.

onthisdayinjewishistory

[andijaart]

+++🙏🏻God Bless🕊️+++

Icon of the Theotokos of Kiev-Bratskaya

MEMORIAL DAY SEPTEMBER 19

💫International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[katchwreck]

As of February 6, more than 11 million books were destroyed by the Zelensky regime.

Destroyed books include:

• Anything written in Russian, even classical authors such as Tolstoy, Pushkin et cetera.

• Books by Soviet Ukrainian authors

• Soviet historical books

• Communist literature

In total, more than 19 million books were removed from libraries across Ukraine, mostly so in Kiev and Lviv.

This is more than a third of all available books in the libraries.

Any progressive literature poses a threat to capital imperialism, who resorts to book burning to keep the people ignorant and complacent.

Recently, the Ukrainian regime passed Bill No. 7633 that bans the use of Russian-language sources in academia, including in natural sciences. Even nationalist politicians criticize it, as it will destroy science in Ukraine.

More information here:

List of authors removed from Ukrainian curriculum:

• Alexander Pushkin

• Ivan Krylov

• Anton Chekhov

• Mikhail Lermontov

• Lev Tolstoy

• Ivan Turgenev

• Viktor Nekrasov

• Alexander Griboyedov

• Mikhail Bulgakov

• Alexander Blok

• Vladimir Mayakovsky

• Sergei Yesenin

• Ilf and Petrov

And many others..

P.S.: For anyone asking for sources, this information is publicly available, as the Ukrainian fascists are openly bragging about “derussifying” (= dehumanizing) their libraries and curriculums:

https://www.rada.gov.ua/news/news_kom/232711.html

And here you can see a clip from ABC News where they film as Ukrainian authorities are destroying countless of tonnes of books:

[cristalconnors]

BEST FILMS of 2023, pt. 2

Also: pt. 1, pt. 3, pt. 4

20. PRISCILLA, dir. Sofia Coppola

19. PERFECT DAYS, dir. Wim Wenders

18. ANATOMY OF A FALL, dir. Justine Triet

17. ALL DIRT ROADS TASTE OF SALT, dir. Raven Jackson

16. THE KIEV TRIAL, dir. Sergei Loznitsa

15. POOR THINGS, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

14. ORLANDO, MY POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY, dir. Paul B. Preciado

13. ROTTING IN THE SUN, dir. Sebastián Silva

12. FOUR DAUGHTERS, dir. Kaouther Ben Hania

11. PACIFICTION, dir. Albert Serra

[usafphantom2]

Ukraine should receive the first F-16 jets in June

Fernando Valduga

Ukraine is on its way to receiving F-16 fighters in June, American Foreign Policy reported on February 17, citing two European authorities.

“I think we will see them in Ukraine in June,” said Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, citing a schedule that was confirmed by another European official present at the Munich Security Conference.

The Ukrainian government expects 12 pilots to be trained in fighters by the end of U.S. fiscal year 24 (September).

On February 15, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Illarion Pavlyuk, said that the transfer of the F-16 fighter to Ukraine was "progressing as planned," but the exact date of delivery would not be announced.

Kiev understands the deadlines and the need to prepare pilots, engineers and infrastructure within certain deadlines.

The Ukrainian Air Force does not confirm or deny that Ukraine will receive F-16 fighters in June, refusing to talk about the moment. Previously, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yurii Ihnat, said that Ukraine's partners were ready to provide the country with F-16 fighters, but Ukraine still needed time to finish the preparations.

"The only thing I can confirm is that there is indeed an action plan, and it is being implemented. Our partners are ready to deliver the aircraft to Ukraine. The countries that agreed to do so. Of course, it is not only about the transfer, but also about the continuation of the maintenance of the aircraft, financing of this process and modernization of the F-16. Because the aircraft is in constant repair and modernization. The countries that provide us with the aircraft certainly also assist in the training of pilots. In the training of engineers, officers, ground personnel and others. Because we also need to pay for the training," he says.

Commenting on the readiness of the infrastructure to receive the fighters in June, the spokesman notes that "the infrastructure and its readiness is a very complicated concept".

"Therefore, it will probably take years to prepare it completely. The ideal today would be to hide everything underground, as Iran does, and have total peace of mind. Build reinforced concrete storage facilities that resist ballistic missiles. You can see the craters that form after the ballistic missiles, and you need to protect the aircraft. Well, first of all, passive defense means shelters and infrastructure. Secondly, the infrastructure must be protected by air defense. Against ballistics, cruise missiles and drones. Therefore, all this happens in a complex way," he explains.

The United States authorized Denmark and the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters. This was confirmed when the Netherlands and Denmark announced that they would supply Ukraine with 61 F-16 – 42 and 19 aircraft, respectively, on August 20.

On January 5, the Pentagon reported that Ukrainian F-16 pilots will be ready to carry out missions in 2024.

On January 10, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian pilots are still being trained in F-16 fighters in different programs around the world.

On February 17, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the process of transferring the F-16s to Ukraine is on schedule. Ukraine will receive more than 20 combat aircraft.

Tags: Military AviationF-16 Fighting FalconUkraine Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[darkmaga-returns]

Russia cannot afford to have its adversaries capture and hold Belarusian territory because of the national security threat that this presents and also because it would greatly undermine its negotiating position.

Belarusian media reported last week about the West’s alleged plot to destabilize and then invade their country. Existing information warfare campaigns are meant to facilitate the recruitment of more sleeper cell agents, who’ll later stage a terrorist insurgency using Ukrainian-procured arms. Mercenaries will then invade from the south, carry out drone strikes against strategic targets, and attempt to seize the capital. If they succeed, then the coup authorities will request a conventional NATO military intervention.

Here are over a dozen background briefings about this scenario over the past year and a half:

* 25 May 2023: “NATO Might Consider Belarus To Be ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’ During Kiev’s Upcoming Counteroffensive”

* 1 June 2023: “The Union State Expects That The NATO-Russian Proxy War Will Expand”

* 14 June 2023: “Lukashenko Strongly Hinted That He Expects Belgorod-Like Proxy Incursions Against Belarus”

* 14 December 2023: “Belarus Is Bracing For Belgorod-Like Terrorist Incursions From Poland”

* 19 February 2024: “The Western-Backed Foreign-Based Belarusian Opposition Is Plotting Territorial Revisions”

* 21 February 2024: “Is The West Plotting A False Flag Provocation In Poland To Blame On Russia & Belarus?”

* 26 April 2024: “Analyzing Belarus’ Claim Of Recently Thwarting Drone Attacks From Lithuania”

* 30 June 2024: “Keep An Eye On Ukraine’s Military Buildup Along The Belarusian Border”

* 12 August 2024: “What’s Behind Belarus’ Military Buildup Along The Ukrainian Border?”

* 13 August 2024: “Security Threats To Belarus”

* 19 August 2024: “Ukraine Reportedly Has A Whopping 120,000 Troops Deployed Along Its Border With Belarus”

* 26 August 2024: “Ukraine Might Be Gearing Up To Attack Or Cut Off Belarus’ Southeastern City Of Gomel”

* 28 September 2024: “Belarus’ Warning About Using Nukes Probably Isn’t A Bluff (But There Might Be A Catch)”

This summer’s Ukrainian invasion of Russia’s Kursk Region might also have emboldened the plotters.

[nullnvoid911]

Berkut special forces of the Ukrainian police throw a Molotov cocktail during clashes with Anti-government protesters on Independence Square in Kiev.

Alexander Koerner, February 19, 2014

[workersolidarity]

🇺🇸⚔️🇷🇺 🚨

U.S. PRESIDENT BIDEN SLAMS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN AFTER FAR RIGHT-WING RUSSIAN ACTIVIST ALAXEI NAVALNY'S DEATH IN RUSSIAN PRISON

📹 🤡 U.S. Great-Grandfather and Clown in Chief President Joe Biden slams Putin over the death of Far Right-wing political activist Alexei Navalny's death in a Russian prison, using his death as an opportunity to call for more funding for Kiev's failing war in the east of the country.

The U.S. President had nothing to say about the death of the American and Chilean journalist, Gonzalo Lira, in a Ukrainian prison just weaks ago, even after publishing videos earlier in the year begging the U.S. government to intervene before he was tortured to death. Sadly, he died as a result of untreated pneumonia in a Ukrainian prison hospital.

Alexei Navalny, though supported by Western governments and raised up as an "anti-corruption" activist, especially by the United States, was known in Russia as a self-described "certified nationalist" who called Muslims "flies and cockroaches" who needed to exterminated.

Navalny was serving a prison sentence of 19 years for offenses involving "extremism", with some early sources saying he died from a blood clot, losing consciousness after taking a walk and found by prison staff soon after. Prison medical doctors pronounced Navalny dead after arriving soon after.

Kremlin spokesperson, Dimitry Peskov told reporters Friday that medical personnel with Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) are "taking all the steps that need to be taken in such a situation," adding that medical personnel with the FSIN were investigating Navalny's cause of death and will inform the Russian President of their results.

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@WorkerSolidarityNews

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Sunday, May 19, 2024

may 6_may 19

Tradition Liturgique: On the Third Sunday of Pascha the Orthodox Church celebrates theMyrrh-Bearing women as well as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodimius.

SAINTS. MARY AND MARTHA, SISTERS OF ST. LAZARUS (1ST C.)

Icon: Uncut Mountain Supply

The righteous sisters Martha and Mary were believers in Christ even before He raised their brother Saint Lazarus (October 17) from the dead. After the murder of the holy Archdeacon Stephen a persecution against the Jerusalem Church broke out, and Righteous Lazarus was cast out of Jerusalem. The holy sisters then assisted their brother in the proclaiming of the Gospel in various lands.

Saints Martha and Mary are also commemorated on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women.

VENERABLE JOB, HEGUMEN OF POCHAEV AND WONDERWORKER (1651)

Saint Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev (in the world named Ivan Zhelezo), was born around 1551 in Pokutia in Galicia. At age ten he came to the Transfiguration Ugornits monastery, and at age twelve he received monastic tonsure with the name Job. The venerable Job from his youth was known for his great piety and strict ascetic life, and he was accounted worthy of the priestly office.

Around the year 1580, at the request of the renowned champion of Orthodoxy Prince Constantine Ostrozhsky, Saint Job was appointed the head of the Exaltation of the Cross monastery near the city of Dubno, and for more than twenty years he governed the monastery amidst the growing persecution of Orthodoxy on the part of the Catholics and Uniates.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Saint Job withdrew to Pochaev hill and settled in a cave not far from the ancient Dormition monastery, famed for its wonderworking Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God (July 23). The holy hermit, beloved by the brethren of the monastery, was chosen as their Igumen. Saint Job zealously fulfilled his duty as head of the monastery, kind and gentle with the brethren, he did much of the work himself, planting trees in the garden, and strengthening the waterworks at the monastery.

Saint Job was an ardent defender of the Orthodox Faith against the persecution of the Catholics. Following the Union of Brest (1596), many Orthodox living in Poland were deprived of their rights, and attempts were made to force them to convert to Catholicism. Many Orthodox hierarchs became apostates to Uniatism, but Saint Job and others defended Orthodoxy by copying and disseminating Orthodox books. Prince Ostrozhsky was also responsible for the first printed edition of the Orthodox Bible (1581).

In taking an active part in the defense of Orthodoxy and the Russian people, Saint Job was present at the 1628 Kiev Council, convened against the Unia. After 1642, he accepted the great schema with the name John.

Sometimes he completely secluded himself within the cave for three days or even a whole week. The Jesus Prayer was an unceasing prayer in his heart. According to the testimony of his disciple Dositheus, and author of the Life of Saint Job, once while praying in his cave, the saint was illumined by a heavenly light. Saint Job reposed in the year 1651. He was more than 100 years old, and had directed the Pochaev monastery for more than fifty years.

The uncovering of Saint Job’s relics took place on August 28, 1659. There was a second uncovering of the relics on August 27-28, 1833.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

ACTS 6:1-7

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

MARK 15:43-16:8

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

[thezeinterviews]

yle: No normal life

In a rare interview with Yle's Hanna Visala, Olena Zelenska talks about what the war has done to her family.

Hanna Visala

A car whizzes past roadblocks, sandbags and soldiers standing guard. We stop at two checkpoints to show our identity papers and equipment.

We finally reach our destination, the Ukrainian Presidential Office. In this heavily guarded building in the heart of Kiev, we get a rare interview. Ukraine's First Lady, the wife of Volodymyr Zelensky, has agreed to be interviewed by Yle.

- I'm fine, thanks for asking, says Olena Zelenska with a smile.

The question is an important one for Olena Zelenska. Zelenska runs a mental health programme called How Are You, and she asks the question to the Ukrainians she meets every day.

- I try to ask people how they are doing as often as I can, she says.

When Russia launched a major offensive in Ukraine just over two years ago, Olena Zelenska found herself in a role she had not expected.

The renowned screenwriter, who had written the role of her actor husband's President in the popular Ukrainian TV series Servant of the People, had suddenly become the wife of the President of a country at war.

The Zelensky's were thus already partners in a previous life, then in the TV production business.

- I remember waking up the morning after the attack. I thought it was all just a bad dream until I realised it was real, a terrible reality. It was a shock for all of us, Olena Zelenska, wife of the Ukrainian President, now recalls the beginning of the war.

She says there is not a day when the war is not on her mind. At moments, she says she is still able to live almost normally.

- When I help my son with his homework or we take care of our pets. But when the air raid siren goes off, we go back to reality, Zelenska says.

Like thousands of other Ukrainians, Zelenska and her children wake up to the sound of night-time shrieks. Zelenska describes the bomb shelter used by her family as "just an ordinary basement".

When the alarm is over, Zelenska returns with her children, Oleksandra, 19, and Kyrylo, 11, to their beds to sleep.

- In the morning, I wake the children for school, and we get on with life, but the pressure of war is ever-present. Life is not normal.

This Instagram post shows how life was still normal for the family before the war.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olena Zelenska (@olenazelenska_official)

The war has torn apart thousands of families. The Zelensky family has also been forced to live apart because of the war. For the first two months, President Zelenskyi could not see his family at all.

The family is still living apart: the mother and children with each other and the father elsewhere.

Married for more than 20 years, communication between the couple is mainly limited to phone calls, sometimes video chats. However, they can now visit each other at least occasionally. And so it was today, just before the interview.

- My husband unexpectedly came to greet me in my office. We saw each other for ten minutes, says Olena Zelenska with a smile.

Commuting together provides a momentary relief.

- Even though the trips are busy and short, it feels like we are travelling together," says Zelenska.

My son, 11, is a military expert

The Zelenskyis' children spent their childhood and adolescence in the midst of war. Oleksandra, the first-born of the multidisciplinary parents, has followed in her father's footsteps and is studying law. The former TV star and current President also studied law. Olena Zelenska is an architect by training.

Olena Zelenska says that her daughter Oleksandra is now able to meet her friends.

And how often do the children see their father? Very rarely," says Zelenska.

- Then the children take every minute of his attention. The daughter talks about her studies, asks for advice, and the son clings to him, says Zelenska.

Zelenska mourns the fact that her children and all other Ukrainian children are missing out on the precious years of their youth and childhood.

- My daughter's daily routines are related to her studies, but she has no plans for the future. It is sad for me as a mother, says Zelenska.

According to her mother, her son Kyrylo has become almost a military expert.

- He knows all the types of missiles that Russia launches at us. He can also calculate their speed, says Zelenska.

As a mother, she would love to be proud of one of her child's other skills, she says.

- I wish my son could be interested in music, art, sports and not dream of being a military assistant or an air raid warden.

Arms aid has also been on Olena Zelenska's mind lately. Russia has got the upper hand in the war, and anti-aircraft missiles are dwindling by the day.

Relief is evident on the face of Ukraine's First Lady when the talk turns to the arms aid package finally approved by the US.

- It is a huge achievement. It really gives strength and hope. I thank everyone who worked to make it happen, says Zelenska.

Although the US arms package will not solve the war, it brings hope and a message that Ukraine has not been abandoned.

- It means that it will be easier for us to withstand bombardments and protect our people.

The job of the spouse of the President of a country at war is not an easy one. The spouse must stand by the people, create hope, represent and humbly ask for help from other countries.

Zelenska says she has heard countless stories of survival and countless sad stories, too. She spends almost all of her time helping her country to survive at a time when global war fatigue is beginning to show. Where does she get her strength from?

- When I succeed in repairing what the war has shattered and ruined. When I meet people, she responds.

Children kidnapped by Russia

Zelenska considers the most horrifying phenomenon of the war to be children stolen by Russia.

The Ukrainian authorities estimate that more than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been abducted by the Russians since the war began. Entire orphanages have been emptied, according to Ukraine.

According to the UN, this is a war crime. Ukraine has so far managed to return only 380 missing children.

- Some of the children have managed to self-report, use the telephone or internet and have been able to contact NGOs that have helped them, said Zelenska.

Zelenska has met children who have escaped from Russia. They have told her how school education in Russia is propaganda. Children are being trained to be Russian.

- They are taught that Ukraine does not exist. That no one is looking for them. It is psychological brainwashing. These children's lives are being destroyed.

According to Zelenska, orphaned children can disappear completely because Russia changes the spelling of their names. Names that look the same in Ukrainian and Russian are pronounced differently.

- When a name is entered in the Russian register according to the Russian pronunciation, the child can no longer be found by name, explains Zelenska.

- We also have information that Ukrainian boys aged 18 have been forced to join the ranks of the Russian army. It is terrible.

Ukraine has formed an international alliance with Canada to repatriate Ukrainian children.

- We are trying to create mechanisms to put pressure on Russia to provide information about the children and how to get them home, says Zelenska.

We do not want to return to the Soviet Union

Zelenska remembers when Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991. She was 13 years old at the time.

- I remember the referendum on independence. Almost everyone wanted it. We got freedom and looked to the future with optimism.

And now, more than 30 years later, Ukraine has to fight for that freedom. Zelenska sighs.

- We don't want to go back to the Soviet reality, where there were no rights and no freedoms.

How does Olena Zelenska believe it will all end, and where does she see herself in five years' time?

- We do not know when the suffering will end. But I believe in the victory of Ukraine because it is the right thing to happen. Because that is how things should be in a just world.

Only then, she says, will it be time for the second question.

- Then, I start dreaming about what will happen in five years.

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