A British Humanitarian Aid Worker Dies In A Donetsk Prison
Russia claims responsibility for the attack on Vinnytsia claiming they were targeting a military meeting
It cannot be disputed that the Russians have launched missiles at civilian targets knowing that it would cause chaos and harm. No entity is stopping them and it clear that sanctions are not having an effect, especially with China and India supporting Russia’s economy. Russia believes that it can continue this course of action because no international action has been taken against them so far.
Even though it is summer, countries are concerned about gas supplies being cut off by the Russians in winter. We look at the option of rationing energy in order to defend democracy. Some will moan and won’t want to go without their modern conveniences for a country that is miles away, but many of the world leaders struggle to balance domestic and foreign policies. Boris Johnson has been ousted (and perhaps the Russians had a hand in this?) and the Italian government is in disarray as Draghi tried to resign but his resignation was rejected by the president.
We also need to address the concerns in the Donetsk region, where Russia has occupied most of the territory and is braced to execute two British born Ukrainian soldiers accused of being mercenaries. The Foreign Secretary is busy with her leadership campaign which is not ideal, and this obviously is beneficial to the Russians—a Foreign Secretary preoccupied with advancing their career rather than fighting to free two soldiers falsely accused in occupied Ukraine. The MPs who supported ousting Boris are now realising that it was a mistake, because often people think they can do a better job and when they are in their shoes realise that the person they ousted was doing a good job under the circumstances. At times, it is better the devil you know and one that at least is patriotic.
The greatest fear is a repeat of World War II, where Neville Chamberlain believed he secured peace with the Munich Agreement, only to find that he was wrong at the cost of thousands of lives. The People listened to Churchill and realised that he was right. what we have is a role reversal here because while many underestimated Hitler, people know what Putin is capable of.
Instead of having Boris (the Churchill of now, or the best there is) in charge, we are left with a bunch of rich power seeking individuals who are probably being backed by some donors, who may have Russian connections. Nothing can be ruled out with so many Downing Street leaks (videos and photos that can only have come from those on the inside), and Cummings with his Russian connections who has been orchestrating the removal of Boris. In order for Russia to win the war against Ukraine and the West, removing Boris Johnson was key. Putin seems fine with Macron and Scholz because they both prefer appeasement and for Ukraine to cede land to Russia. Having seen that Cummings supports this too, and is backing Sunak who will follow suit, by having three major European countries agreeing on appeasement, this is detrimental to Ukrainian democracy.
I’m against conspiracy theories, but having witnessed the numerous leaks to discredit Boris Johnson over the past 2 years, and an accelerated coup in the last few weeks, it can only point to some external influence. Everyone who voted for Boris knew of his private life scandals, knew he was scruffy and that he was outspoken. None of that was hidden, and people voted for him and MPs supported him because they knew the public would vote for him. Who benefits the most from Boris being ousted? Russia (don’t forget they had been planning this invasion for years) and the EU, although Brexit is an ongoing process. The UK doesn’t benefit from instability and the loss of a Prime Minister that they voted in because members of his party think they can do a better job. While Boris will go in September, that doesn’t mean he can’t return, for often it is the case of finding out that you had a good thing once it has gone.
People see August as a quiet month where most go on holiday, but that is when an aggressor strikes as governments are in recess, world leaders are on holiday, and everyone has their guard down. If Russia wants to take out world leaders in their way, then summer is an opportune time, and I believe if Boris wasn’t ousted by a coup d’etat, then quite possibly they would have found another way to get rid of him as he was an obstacle for Russia.
Day 142 (15 July)
The story of Liza, a 4 year-old in Ukraine who was killed by a Russian missile attack has been shared around the world. She was on her way to a speech therapy session and the image was shared my her mother on Instagram. An hour later, Liza was dead and her mother lost a leg through the unprovoked attack
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Russia confirmed they carried out the attack in Vinnytsia, and claim that it was a justified target of a military conference of Nazis
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Reports claim that up to 1.6 million Ukrainians have been deported to Russia agains their will, having being forced through filtration camps.
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The Russians have been setting fire to sunflower oil refineries and also the grain fields. If the Russians can’t steal the crops then they will destroy them so that Ukraine can’t make money
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The US Embassy in Ukraine has sent an alert to all citizens in the country, advising them to avoid large gatherings or events.
These are considered a target for missile attacks as they advocate ‘Missile Threat Awareness’
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In light of the recent civilian attack, the EU has proposed a ‘maintenance and alignment’ package to aid Ukraine. This is to provide long-term aid for Ukraine and to enforce sanctions against Russia and to extend these to 2023
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Oleksiy Kovalov, was a lawmaker from the Servant of the People party (Zelenskyy’s party) and has had his assets seized due to alleged treason after he admitted cooperating with Russia, and has publicly approved the occupation of Kherson by the Russians
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Paul Urey, was a British humanitarian aid worker who was captured by the Russians in Donetsk and was accused of being a mercenary. He was facing trial and the death sentence, but has died in a Russian proxy prison from underlying health conditions (he had diabetes and other conditions). The leader of the self-proclaimed region of Donetsk People’s Republic claimed that Urey was given sufficient medical treatment.
In a statement by Liz Truss (UK Foreign Secretary), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have summoned the Russian Ambassador in London to explain themselves. The UK holds Russia responsible for the death.
As heavy weapons arrive in Ukraine, five months after the invasion began, there is a disparity between what Poland, the UK and US are sending versus the rest of the world. It is understandable that smaller countries like the Czech Republic and Lithuania will have fewer resources, but this is aimed more at France, Germany, and Italy who have far greater resources that they are not offering. This suggests that some countries prefer Ukraine to cede land and to make a deal rather than to fight and defend themselves. In short, they don’t want to waste their resources on Ukraine but must show willing with some donations and support.
Macron has warned the French that there is a chance of energy supplies being rationed and that some public lights may have to be switched off at night. This is because of Russia cutting off gas supplies, and the same warning is being sent to all across Europe. This could be a factor as to why countries seek appeasement and as winter approaches, countries must consider ways to ration energy or find other means of supplying gas and electricity.
Day 143 (16 July)
Analysts claim that Russia has attacked 300 military targets versus 17,314 attacks on civilian targets (such as hospitals and schools).
Ukrainian pilots are to be trained on how to fly the F-15 and F-16 jets.
Further attacks in residential areas continue, this time in Dnipropetrovsk, where at least 3 people have been killed and more may have been killed and are trapped under rubble
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Chinese exports in electronics and raw materials have increased, which thwarts the sanctions imposed by other countries against Russia. What it does is makes the sanctions useless as China props up Russia’s economy and provide them with the materials needed to continue the war. Thus, China is enabling the war in Ukraine by proxy by supporting the Russians.
The Russians are trying to discover the routes used by the allies to move weapons across the continent into Ukraine in order to destroy them before they arrive. They are doing this by recruiting police and civilians involved in the process to divulge information.
Another traitor has been convicted in Ukraine, where a woman has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for organising a Russian secret agent ring in Ukraine.
How is it possible to know with certainty that Urey died from "underlying health conditions?" Are the people supposed to just take these thugs at their word? Clearly he wasn't given "sufficient medical treatment." Unless they allow the body to be returned to his family, we have only their useless word they did their best. While maybe they did, when they realized his poor health, they became complicit in murdering him by not allowing him to be returned home! Not to get political, but there are a large number of people in the US who do not support trying to find a way to get Griner, etal, back from Russian prison. A bit of "you did the crime, do the time." I cannot support that as I've seen pics of former prisoners once released from prison. While what she did was arrogant and criminal, I don't believe she should have to pay for it with her health and I don't believe Russia can be trusted to feed and treat her adequately. If it were my family, regardless of her behavior, I'd still want her returned home immediately, with some other form of punishment. One can't help but wonder had they been paying attention and done that for Urey, he might be home alive and on the road to recovery. I hold out no hope for any of the UK or US mercenaries being held. If for nothing else, they will be used as a warning to others.
Yes, beware August. I'm reminded of how Chamberlain was so wrong and on September l, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany, both countries having previously signed defense treaties with Poland.