Just a short pause from our regularly scheduled content to point out that the battle for Kyiv is currently underway and control hangs in the balance.
The Battle For Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the fate of the nation is “being decided right now” as battles rage in hotspots across the country. Nowhere is the battle more critical than in Kyiv, where despite heavily outnumbering Ukrainian forces, Russians thus far failed to take control of the capital city.
While Zelensky has a target on his head, he has declined offers from Western officials to evacuate, vowing to defend his country on the ground. Rather than hide in the safety of a bunker or other secured location, he has donned camouflage attire and is fighting alongside his countryman to defend Kyiv, an incredible show of leadership.
Close combat street battles are currently taking place in Kyiv, with explosions and gunfire sending smoke into the air and debris through city streets. While Russia has denied targeting civilians, numerous images and video have emerged of apartment buildings and other civilian facilities that were shelled.
This story isn’t about us outside of Ukraine, but I have wonder whether our leaders and my fellow citizens would also rise up if our city was under attack from from foreign invaders. I’d to think so. The yearn for freedom is not just a theoretical conviction, but a deep current that runs though the souls of men. Even as many Ukrainians understandably flee for safety, many men and women remain behind, fiercely defending their nation against an immoral invasion from a corrupt regime.
And even as terror reigns down and thousands of civilians seek shelter in Kyiv’s Metro system, hope of the indefatigable human spirit remains.
two hours ago child was born in kyiv’s metro pic.twitter.com/YAgy78aq8U
— ⁷ (@futurmrsmin) February 25, 2022
All I can do in the moment of time is pray for the people of Ukraine, and I invite you to do the same.
I cry out with my voice to the Lord;
With my voice I implore the Lord for compassion.
I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.
When my spirit felt weak within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me favorably;
There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.
I cried out to You, Lord;
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
Give Your attention to my cry,
For I have been brought very low;
Rescue me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.
Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will look after me.”
Psalm 142
image: @qiб / Twitter
Trump tried to dismantle NATO, he withheld funds for Ukraine’s defense until they made up dirt on Biden. He took Putins word over that of US intelligence. He undermined sanctions on Russia.
Trump and his supporters created this. I have no doubt if the US was invaded Trump supporters would join the invaders. They hate democracy.
Obergruppenfuhrer John Smith from The man the high castle is every Trump supporter
This man has a severe case of TDS.
Virtually never comments about travel and only pops out to foam in the mouth about anti-maskers and Trump.
Pretty sad, actually. I don’t even know why this guy is here.
Every time I come on here there are tons of anti biden and anti mask posts. Why should anti maskers and Trump lovers have free reign in this comment section? Someone has to counter them.
https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1230998887298564096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1230998887298564096%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsweek.com%2Fjoe-biden-tweet-going-toe-toe-vladimir-putin-resurfaces-ukraine-crisis-russia-1681266
Really ‘Jan’? You Republican constantly make the assumption that everyone is as ignorant as your voters. But they aren’t. So snarky, illogical comments like yours not only don’t make sense, they won’t change the facts.
Your support of fascist US President and Russian dictator isn’t looking so good this week is it? You really think the world is suddenly going to forget how closely your party affiliated itself, and colluded with the Russian government? Historically, videos and pictures of innocent civilians and children being slaughtered as their country is invaded by a foreign government you supported isn’t going to look so good as we approach the mid term elections.
I’m very curious to see how the Republican party spins their way out of this one. Good luck with that….
Wow, you got all that from me saying that this Billy Bob brings nothing to the table? I’m now a Putin/Trump supporter because of that? Wow. LOL. I can’t even be angry, this is golden. Are you also going to tell me that I, a minority, is a white person?
You’re clearly clairvoyant, please tell us when exactly Japan will open up, I’ve been wanting to go back.
BTW: You also have TDS.
TDS. Trump is, indeed, Deranged. As is his buddy Putin.
Anyone with morals and ethics opposes trump. He’s a criminal and insurrectionist.
There is a reason why Democrats are called The Party of the Ass and why dumbass is a word in the dictionary, but dumbelephant is not. Come on man you can’t deny these facts. As for Ukraine and Russia, I’m glad to have visited them both a few times as a tourist by air and sea. I am old enough to recall neighbors building backyard bomb shelters in the early 1960s and the drop and cover exercises in school. Putin has threatened nuclear war again and taken world progress back 3 generations. Stalin is relieved that he will no longer go down in history as the worst Russian leader.
Elephant is a perfect symbol for the party that worships a bloated tub of lard with very little hair
Slava Ukraini!
Let’s keep thinks in perspective. This is a bunch of oligarchs trying to keep themselves in power. Every country in Europe wants to join nato and eu. Why would an informed russian populace be any different?
These are a bunch of rich f%cks sending young kids to die so they can stay in power. The kids either have no choice and must follow orders or are brainwashed to the point of being against their own self interest. So, not very different than the US.
The Ukrainians are treating the wounded Russians with compassion.
Also i want to say this. Europeans are uncivilized, uncultured, uneducated f%cks. Two world wars started in Europe and now this.
I hope some country from asia or africa will colonize Europe and teach them how to behave. Make them all servants, and slaves and in perhaps a few decades they can win their independence back.
This is the browns or black mans burden. To save the white man by making him a slave. Only for a few decades. And it’s for your own good.
Let’s go!
?
HAHA Sure. Just walk on the US street and European street (if you ever been) and see how people are dressed. IN us many like just out of dumpster bin or just straight from bed. Just one example of civility.
But to the topic.
The root of problems is here:
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017-12-12/nato-expansion-what-gorbachev-heard-western-leaders-early
Matthew, what is your opinion about Aeroflot being effectively cut off from Boeing and Airbus. Is that about to send Aeroflot back to the stone age (if this keeps up?)
I will address this in a separate post.
Matthew, please include something on Volga-Dnper, the Cargo airline. I saw rumors today that the AN-225 might have been hit in the fighting.
Did you see for how long Iran has been able to fly US fighter planes? Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It has costs and consequences, but it will take a long, long time before Aeroflot’s fleet becomes inoperable to the extent that they can’t cannibalize their own fleet if it even gets that far.
Between how the Indians, Israelis, Emiratis, and Saudis are behaving on the matter of the Russian hostilities against Ukraine and how various parts of Europe were and are still dragging their feet on putting the ultimate squeeze on Russia with regard to Russian energy sales and banking facilities, I think the world’s belligerent despots are going to have a field day in the years ahead as liberal democratic republics and liberal democratic constitutional monarchies fail to stick together sufficient to turn off the powerful authoritarian types. The US, UK, EU/NATO countries and high income allies in the Asia/Pacific region need to stick together better and stronger and realize that helping with the economic boost of China post-Nixon, of Russia post-USSR, and now of India under Modi, is a long-term threat to the strategic position of the collective of liberal democratic states that remain.
The brainwashing of the U.S. population continues. The idea that the U.S. and NATO and the west are standing up for innocents is laughable. This is geopolitics and the U.S. and NATO are supporting Ukraine only because it is in their geopolitical interests. Putin is acting in what he believes to be Russia’s geopolitical interests.
Who stood up for Bangladesh when it fought for independence from Pakistan? When Pakistan killed more than a million innocent Bangladeshis? Not the west, not the U.S., not Europe. The U.S. gave moral, political, and military support to Pakistan as it slaughtered Bangladeshi civilians. But the Soviets supported Bangladesh. Why? Not because they gave a crap about Bangladeshis. But because it was in their geopolitical interests.
Keep watching the moralizing clowns on CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and you all go ahead and fight amongst each other. That’s exactly what the war machine wants. Keep the sheep fighting each other so they can send out young men to fight to keep the money flowing into their own wallets. So say your prayers for the Ukrainians while ignoring the starving Afghans, a situation the U.S. created, but which the U.S. populace now conveniently moved on from.
George Harrison stood up for Bangladesh. Of course 1973 was also an era without 24 hour television news and social media. A tragedy nonetheless.
Praying for the people of Ukraine is admirable.
What is not are the politics. Ukraine is a corrupt country that should not join NATO. If Ukraine is allowed to join NATO, then Russia, People’s Republic of China and North Korea should also join NATO.
Fantastic, timely post. May God save Ukraine.
As long as all Russian soldiers are wearing a mask and show proof of vaccination to enter Kyiv, our president is OK.
Jan, where are you? This post isn’t about travel, it’s a sarcastic post about Biden. I need you to chide santastico.
Or is it OK because you agree with the sentiment?
Did you shower with your mask on last night?
No, this morning
No, I am not gonna counter Santastico. You know why, Billy Bob?
1. I actually lol’d when I read his comment.
2. Santastico is here for travel related stuff, I’ve seen him actually post things about travel and contribute to the blog in a positive way, so I don’t care much if I see this once in a while.
3. You on the other hand, admitted as much in the other post that you are only here to be a literal keyboard warrior to “counter” people. You have virtually no contribution to anything travel-related in this community. That’s why I called you a sad man, and I am being proven correct.
And you just admitted that you only have a problem with non travel posts if you don’t agree, so your thoughts are worthless. You aren’t any kind of moral authority. Santastico posts more partisan garbage than anyone. You might be Santastico for all I know
Maybe Parler or truth social has a travel section you would be interested in
And you can continue to bring absolutely nothing to the table in terms or travel. Sad man with TDS is sad by continually whining about Trump and vaccinations while the world passes him by. Sad!
Also: I thank my parents for raising me for not being like a Billy Bob.
Hating that Trump and his supporters tried and are still trying to turn this country into Russia is not TDS. There is no such thing as TDS because Trump was that bad.
If I were complaining about him wearing a tan suit, then you could maybe say I have TDS.
Plus this whole post was not travel related so it seems like my comments fit.
Also: I thank my parents for not dropping me on my head
Right on Jan. This libtard Billy Bob, if that is his real name, probably spends his weekends in pizza parlor basements with the other Satanist global elite formulating chemicals to turn people gay and controlling the weather. Trump and his next running mate JFK Jr., with future attorney General Mike lindell will send these globalist pedophiles packing. Glad you agree with me!
You people crack me up…..like wearing a mask is ‘such a chore’. How small and ridiculous you are….not to mention immature and ignorant. If wearing a mask is such an inconvenience go back to whatever 3rd or 4th world country you came from, Or better yet, go to Florida or Texas. You’ll fit right in….
Nicely said, Matthew. Though not really related to anything points, travel, or airline we all need to show our support for Ukraine so that they understand the majority of Americans support their defense.
Interestingly, despite a few commenters here, a CNN poll done this morning (with one of the highest level of participants ever recorded in the two hours it was up) found that 77% of Americans want us to send in military assistance to Ukraine. Finally, we are uniting on something.
@Stuart – Direct, overt, lethal military aid from the US is tricky, of course.
I am heartened to see that major EU nations are now stepping forward and are moving to send — and to allow others to send — lethal military aid to Ukraine quickly (Germany just announced this, and it’s a significant move). I would not be completely shocked if a lot of US weaponry now starts flowing quietly to the Ukrainians. They have shown they have both the skills to make good use of it, and the guts to stand up to the Russians. They’re fighting hard, while the Russian military is starting to look like it’s ineffective and maybe not the unbeatable juggernaut everyone had assumed it was. It seems everyone has underestimated the Ukrainians, and overestimated the Russian military machine.
Since we got rid of Trump as President, the US has already sent over $700 million of military assistance to Ukraine. With the latest $350+ million being put out, it’s up to a billion dollars of defense aid since we got rid of Putin’s useful idiot Trump as POTUS. Over $300 million of US-sponsored military goods have gone into the Ukraine, primarily via Poland.
Unfortunately, this will be too little too late for the Ukrainians to have a chance on a conventional warfare footage against its much mightier Russian opponent — the opponent boosted in power during the Trump years.
Don’t forget who wanted to see NATO weakened and sent to the dustbin of history even after what Russia did in 2008 and in 2014: Putin’s “useful idiot” Trump.
It seems the Russians expected Ukraine to quickly fold and collapse, allowing them to install their chosen fascist puppet. The Ukrainians have surprised them by putting up a damn good fight, fighting off tanks (or just standing in their way — google “Ukraine Tank Man”), reportedly shooting down a couple of full troop transports (IL-76 jets, which are big). Credible reports with videos show Russian tanks stuck on roads, out of gas, and their soldiers being mocked by Ukrainians driving by, offering to tow them back to Russia (“your people give up easily…we have plenty of POWs in Kyiv, hahah”).
Apparently Putin’s geniuses didn’t give them enough gas or food to last more than a day or two — great planning, Vladimir. Three days in, the Russians still have not taken a major city. Kyiv has resisted repeated attacks. Other cities have pushed back intense assaults, Ukraine’s army actually took back a major airbase that Russian paratroops had seized. Kazakhstan, one of Putin’s closest allies, has refused to send troops to fight alongside the Russians in Ukraine. Meanwhile, brave Ukrainians are digging in for a long fight. EU countries (Germany, France, Netherlands) are moving to ship more lethal military aid directly to Ukraine. Zelensky has stood resolute and has shown inspiring bravery and leadership. And more headaches for Putin at home: anti-war protests continue across Russia (despite beatings by police goons and lots of arrests) – and the body bags haven’t even gone back home yet.
Things are NOT going well for Putin. I look forward to one day bringing flowers to the monument to the heroes of “Snake Island” (google it) that will surely be built in a free and democratic Kyiv. Lets all do what we can to help these brave freedom-fighters save democracy in their homeland.
Putin looked tired and sick — even uncomfortably nervous — when he was trying to explain to Russians how Russia would manage with all the sanctions that have hit it this week.
Maybe he’s going to find out that he’s got enemies in his midst. Keep in mind that he seemed to make it a point to sort of publicly humiliate his own “spy chief” in the run up to unleashing his dogs of war upon Ukraine this week. That’s the sign of someone who’s mind is not just on the battle in Ukraine but also with what he faces domestically inside Russia.
Agree with you. It is inspiring to the world to see a nation come together with such bravery. They are proving to be a formidable adversary to Putin’s barbarism. It’s amazing what a great leader can do for a country and how everyone can come together for a common good. The Snake island slaughtering I really think will become a multi generational legacy to the bravery we have seen. As well, it may have singlehandedly rallied the entire country behind these brave men. Like you, I would lay flowers on that memorial one day.
The next two days will tell us a lot. Tanks poured over the border today in the largest movement seen yet. Putin is clearly putting pressure on his Generals. How we react after this big push that is surely coming tonight and tomorrow should be the point of decision as to how much more beyond bringing in trucks of weapons to the Polish border we need to do. If Kyiv falls and Zelensky is captured or killed, as well civilian deaths are starting to pile up, I do believe NATO, or the U.S. alone if needed, should send in aircraft first to repel Russians from the sky and then, if needed, add troops on the ground. Either we stand up to Putin now in Ukraine or we will be forced to later when he is more emboldened, has gained more territory and strategic ports etc, and the job becomes far more difficult.
And yes, I know the risk. They are huge. But doing nothing and allowing Putin to achieve this first goal will make for a generation of greater risks that will haunt us for years. Germany in the 1930’s taught us this lesson.
For whatever flaws he may have, whether he survives or not, Ukraine’s President is undoubtedly making an impressive stand as a leader when his country needs him most.
Going from being a comedian on TV to being President of his country, he didn’t sign up to be Russia’s most wanted enemy number 1; nor did he sign-up his family to be on Putin’s most wanted list. And yet here he is making himself rise to the occasion when a country — and actually the world — needs it. Authoritarian thugs need to be put in their place. And Ukraine and its President are an inspiration in the necessary fight against jingoistic authoritarianism and domineering forces on their brutal assimilate-or-disappear missions.
For an indication of how much and how costly and for how long even an initial cadre of several thousand zealous combatants can exert against a much bigger opponent occupying unfriendly ground, you may want to look at what the costs have been for India in its northernmost region since a militancy took off there from 1989/1990. And that’s in a place with hundreds of thousands more troops than the Russians sent into Ukraine, a place that happens to have less than a third of the Ukraine’s population and no rich foreign supporters willing to be on the up and up about arming them.
Given all the weapons being distributed to civilians in the Ukraine, it’s a recipe for any Russian occupation of the country to be a very costly operation over the long-term. Is it really worth it for Russia? On a rational level, probably not. But this is what you get with hyper-“nationalist” madmen running the show to appeal to their fellow ethno-nationalist/religious jingoists.
or Afghanistan…
In Afghanistan, a country with a population several million less than Ukraine’s, during the Soviet occupation, the anti-occupation combatants in Afghanistan had rich foreign supporters — including the US, UK, Saudis and so on pouring in support from Pakistan. Peak troop strength there was probably on the order of 200k at time vs about a comparable number of Afghan combatants hostile to the occupation.
In Afghanistan, during the US occupation, the anti-occupation combatants were living off US leftovers/leaks, drug money and mainly Pakistan, but not so much direct aid from rich foreign supporters. Peak troops from just the US were maybe around 100k under Obama + the number from US allies and US-allied Afghan forces. Not sure what that number would be at its peak on either side, but the number of committed Taliban was at least close to 100k at its peak.
In many ways, the Indian example is a lower grade conflict that slowly bleeds lots of money and lives despite much larger number boots on the ground than was the case with Afghanistan both times.
Where Ukraine falls between the example in India or one or both examples with Afghanistan is something to be seen, but occupying forces tend to engage in overkill and cost themselves more by being an occupying force that wants to teach the occupied a lesson than by going for a negotiated political solution.
It’s funny how Democrats think there is no good reason why a citizenry should be armed but suddenly cheer the arming of the Ukrainian citizenry. To those crying about Trump’s criticism of NATO I ask: why is it that Putin thought he could get away with invading Ukraine (which is not a democracy; this is not some Manichean battle between good democracy and bad autocracy)? Ukraine isn’t even part of NATO. To question the US’s involvement in Ukraine is not to condone Putin’s actions. Ask yourselves why Putin and Xi think they can do whatever they like. Clearly prioritizing green energy and transgender soldiers are causing our adversaries to quake in their boots, all while collecting our money. Privet, Chancellor Schroeder!
Boot-licking fascist scumbag apologist troll, doing Putin’s work for him. Tucker, isn’t it time for you to go suck off your buddy Vladimir?
I don’t approve of Putin’s actions, just as I don’t approve of the techno-fascist state Democrats (and many Republicans) applaud. Mandates are fine if a private business imposes them, even at the behest of the state, right? Big Tech should silence any wrongthinkers who disagree with the state, right? Whatever happened to that fact check about Hunter’s laptop? Have you actually seen what is on it, including Hunter’s jokes about his father’s dementia and complaints about having to make the nut for his whole family and kicking up to his dad? Why do you think he was involved with Burisma? I don’t think you know what fascism really means. Putin is not your friend, but neither are Big Tech, Big Pharma nor the military-industrial complex. Again, ask yourself why were are in a situation in which Putin thought he could get away with invading Ukraine.
I more closely identify with the values of the Democrat in power than with Trump. So for purpose of discussing your point, let’s say I am a Democrat. I certainly know a lot of Democrats.
You really think that most Democrats would be against having our citizens armed as a national defense force militia even in the face of an existential threat to our independence when there is an invasion by a foreign government in progress and the invading government indicates that they are hell-bent on forcefully assimilating us as their subjects? You must know some very different Democrats than I do.
Biden practices racism and has been on the wrong side of just about every policy decision he had any involvement in. The Senator from MBNA was all too happy to bully Ukraine into doing what he wanted.
Do you think a populace that was handed AR-15s on the eve of an invasion would be well prepared to fight? In the face of a scary and uncertain future, even Democrats are turning to arming themselves. They realize our leaders will not protect them. But AR-15s, like SUVs in Waukesha, are killers!
I know Democrats who, when I ask if they have any black friends, call me a racist for asking such a question (because they, of course, don’t have any black friends but love to opine on what is best for blacks). Of course, this sort of thing happened in Brooklyn. Maybe Democrats in West Virginia are more reasonable and less racist.
Oh, and I am not a Republican and I didn’t vote for Trump. Ever.
A BRIC fan? Bolsonaro, Putin, Modi and Xi all need to be sent packing.
Noticed that you didn’t deny that you were a Trump supporter.
I explicitly said I didn’t vote for Trump and that I don’t approve of Putin’s actions. I have repeatedly expressed my opposition to Xi and the CCP in the comments. I don’t think I have ever talked about Modi, much less expressed support. Bolsonaro, well, I get a laugh out of comments like his about the COVID-19 vaccines and turning into a crocodile. Of course, he didn’t say that people would literally turn into crocodiles, just as Trump never said people should inject or drink bleach. But what do you care about truth, amirite? Orange Man Bad! People like you think American is evil and irredeemably racist, and yet you think it should meddle in other countries’ business. Why should it impose its white supremacy around the world?
I’ve never heard of the BRIC acronym in reference to those world leaders. I don’t see how the letters match the leaders you mentioned. It was originally coined by a Goldman analyst in reference to Brazil, Russia, India and China decoupling from the major developed economies. The BRIC decoupling thesis didn’t turn out so well. Goldman shut its BRIC fund several years ago. Putin and Xi are laughing at the West and doing as they please, though. Biden’s anti-racist, transgender centering governance has done a fabulous job in deterring them. It is time for us to do what we are doing, and that time is every day. All hail the Harris-Biden administration with Joe Biden as President!
I see the comments in this post are pretty much exactly what you would expect.
Matthew, I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog. However, I think politics and religion are two topics that a travel blogger should not discuss. You pray for people in Ukraine? Good, you should. But have you also prayed or published articles about the war in other countries? Or this isn’t that interesting to discuss? Also, please stop publishing articles with statements that you cannot confirm independently.
I actually have written about many wars…just search in the upper right corner. Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, to name a few.
Yeah, I did. However, the tone and the subject of these articles are completely different from what you and other travel bloggers are doing now. How much do you know about the history of Ukraine and the mechanisms underlying the current conflict? Independently and not from mass media? As a journalist, you should know that you need to confirm your information and discuss the arguments of both sides and not support only one side blindly. Where is your information is coming from?
I look forward to your article on Aeroflot. Please don’t forget to mention how many other airlines from countries that triggered military conflicts elsewhere were also banned from flying.
People visit your blogs because they’re interested in what this blog is focused on. If I wanted to read a biased write-up about politics or war, I’d go elsewhere. You are much better than this. Thanks.
Are you the new editor of LALF? If so, I happen to like Mathew’s perspective and thoughts. And I appreciate the care for things that may not directly reflect the niche of the blog but do effect us all in other ways.
I’m a blog reader and provide my feedback. This is not a political blog, and I don’t think articles like this one should be published here. Especially when the information is not proven independently and has nothing to do with travel. If Matthew feels otherwise, he’s the boss and will do what he feels is right. But I’m glad your biases coincide with those of Matthew and many others.
Ah, so it’s not that you dislike political or non points and travel posts, it’s you dislike any non related posts that don’t align with your own views. I get it now.
As well, let me add, blogs like LALF are far more a community than they are a news source for a particular topic. When you go to the gym do you only talk to people there about the gym and working out? No. Many go as well because it also serves as a community locale to discuss and chat over many topics.
This travel blog has repeatedly touched upon topics of interest that are in the political and geopolitical realm. If you are a long-time reader of this blog, there should be no surprise that this topic would come up here in the way it does.
The idea that travel has and should have nothing to do with politics (or even religion at times) has never been true.
Religion, in particular, has been one of the biggest drivers of travel in the history of humanity. Religious pilgrimages and other religious interaction driving travel almost certainly goes back to prehistoric human history. Political dynamics driving or frustrating travel is also nothing new.
Matthew, don’t buy the propaganda. Remember when the Ukrainian government said the 13 border guardsmen on Snake Island were killed by a shelling after saying fu to Russia. Guess what: they are alive and surrendered to Russian troops. The Ukrainian Defense official tweet showed a video of Ukrainians shooting down a Russian jet and it turned out to be a video game (Reuters confirmed). The Ukrainian high rise that was hit was done so by a Ukrainian anti air missile that misfired: not by Russia.
The President of Ukraine is a Jewish actor who literally was a comedian who played the role of President on a popular comedy tv show before being elected President. He’s a good actor but everything out of his mouth is a lie. He might be dressed in camp but it’s all an act. He is a lot like Trump in talking big.
A real man would head to cancun when things get tough, and if he can’t get there he should say he has bone spurs in his heels, that should get the enemy to relent.
You forgot to add that it was the Ukraine Govt that released the info that they discovered the guards from Snake Island MAY be alive and are being held as POW’s. It’s not some huge cover up as you insinuate.
I’ll try to keep this as neutral as possible. A few observations regarding the situation from my relatives. Lviv and Odessa relatives report largely that the country’s infrastructure hasn’t yet suffered significantly but we’re just a few days in. My wife offered refugee status for relatives in the region but they say they want to fight.
Arguments that Ukraine is a corrupt mess are certainly valid and various revolutions changed little BUT there appears to be a legitimate democracy in place and, I love to use this line, Putin is arguing that he’s going to de-nazify a country that’s being run by a democratically elected Jewish comedian. Did anyone chuckle? It sounds like it would make a great Seinfeld episode. Israel has expressed support for Ukraine which says a lot.
When one visits a country as a tourist or even just to visit relatives, one can’t appreciate the full internals of what makes things go. Does corruption make owning and running a business risky? We take it for granted that political corruption in the USA means some businesses get subsidies and favorable regulations tailor-made to their circumstances and others don’t, but when one can get “rolled” for not paying protection money or a competitor wants you out, that can be a problem. Zelinsky ran on that platform and from what I hear, things have improved particularly in the past 4 years preceding him. Ukraine still has a LONG way to go (particularly now) but it was making progress by everyone’s standards.
Tourists and students have enjoyed much better conditions in Ukraine since 2014 making it (up to now) quite a bargain. Nonetheless, for your amusement, my Polish and Ukrainian relatives still don’t have screen windows which I find puzzling. They know what they are but say “they were too expensive’ but I can’t imagine how a screen is expensive? And I bought fitted sheets for friends and they acted like I had given them space alien technology. “You mean you just put it on the bed and it fits?”
I hope for the best, but am prepared for the worst but I remain supportive that whatever happens, Ukrainians feel a sense of community they’re willing to fight for. THAT is quite remarkable considering how fractured our own society has become. As I say on a travel blogs I comment on, travel enlightens us to our own culture similar to astronauts viewing the Earth from space.
Putin’s denazification ploy reminds me of the woke trope of calling any Trump supporter a literal Nazi and more generally anyone who disagrees with him a racist.
Ukrainians have endured true suffering in recent history, in particular at the hands of Russians. One hopes that they have not forgotten this and grown hysterical and weak like the recent generations in the West, who “literally shake” in response to imagined microaggressions. In large part, it is Western foolishness and weakness that gave Putin the opportunity to invade. Putin is no Corn Pop.
If people call you a racist all the time maybe something is wrong with you, not them?
Or maybe the people trying to smear everyone else as racist are deranged and acting out of malice. Just see how Justin “I don’t know how many times I’ve worn blackface Turdeau-Castro denounces the trucker convoy participants as white supremacist and transphobic. Progressives call the Asian-American immigrant parents who are fighting the racist policies of the school boards in places like San Francisco and Northern Virginia white supremacists when most of them voted for a Harris-Biden administration with Joe Biden as President. C’mon, man, ain’t they black? No one with a functioning brain cares when people like that cry racist. I don’t care what an authoritarian collectivist has to say about me. I just don’t want him to have any influence over how I live my life. He can live on a commune for all I care. If he thinks he is entitled to dictate to me how I should live my life and where my money should be spent, he is sorely mistaken.
As tough as the Ukraine situation truly is (it would be easier for me emotionally if I didn’t have ties there), I’m relieved Godwin’s Law is finally being challenged by a conflict where this rationalization is on display.
We continue to be bedeviled by the ghosts of WWII where there’s this fear of fascism and white supremacy leading to the rationalization of fascist techniques. People are terrified of being called a racist and quick to call others. It’s the modern day witch hunt and it’s directed against people who comprised the vast majority of the victims and opponents of fascism.
I’ve heard verbal slurs against me for my Polish ancestry several times in the states typically from other whites. I chuckled for a number of reasons. Could I call them a white supremacist? The slur against Poles is especially dehumanizing because while mocking a characteristic of other cultures is offensive, the ones directed against me and my relatives involved a particular dehumanization similar to that used by white supremacists but also, well, other cultures. The single biggest slur I’ve heard directed against whites is that ONLY whites can be racist. (I suppose the Dalai Lama would be glad to hear that among others who have had their ethnic group cleansed.) That slavery only existed since 1620. That EVERYTHING bad is caused by white people, including whites who had nothing to do with any of it.
Yeah, ok. I don’t worry about what’s wrong with me anymore and with others, let them deal with what’s wrong with them. Yes, let’s never forget the Holocaust, Holodomor, and the plan to exterminate the Slavic peoples for cheap eastern real estate, but let’s put the ghosts to rest finally and get back to a western civilization that engaged in a free, but respectful, exchange of ideas. And yes, I wouldn’t mind seeing that become a global concept.
That being said, Russians have reached out to us to express sympathy and there are protests in Russia where it’s NOT legal to politely and openly protest for “security” reasons. Russians are going to prison, albeit for about a week or two for a first offense, to stand up for what they believe in. Ukraine was doing better than Russia before all this happened. I hope that BOTH countries prosper when all of this is over.
Israel, much like India and China, had been trying to do what it could to avoid opposing Russia and upsetting Putin over Ukraine:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-israel-is-having-trouble-picking-sides-in-russias-war-on-ukraine/amp/
After being called out for their underhanded ways at this time, some countries squirm a bit and then play the smoke and mirrors game to try to give themselves additional cover when called out for their underhanded ways.
Screen windows are very rare in most of the Nordic/Scandinavia region. Even in houses costing more than $2 million (USD), there are almost never screens on the windows. It’s not a cost thing, there just isn’t much of a market for it, largely due to cultural reasons. There are flies and mosquitoes, and bees/wasps exist in these parts too, but they just seem to want to maximize light and clarity through the windows and thus such screens aren’t common. They sell screen gauze like stuff that some people put up seasonally or temporarily, but it’s not like “permanently fitted” American-style screen windows/screen doors.