Crimea Bridge Is A Legitimate Military Target
There are 5,000 Wagner troops in Belarus according to reports
Over the past few days, the Kerch Bridge in Crimea was hit by another drone causing more damage to the bridge, but as Zelenskyy has said, it is a legitimate military target as the bridge was illegally built. Then the Black Sea Grain Initiative issue returns, where Zelenskyy holds a conversation about the corridor with Stoltenberg of NATO (is he hoping NATO vessels will escort the cargo out to sea?), and Ukraine appeals to other countries to help and open their corridors to help them.
Politically, things are fragile again with Putin in a speech claiming that western Poland was a gift from Stalin (and that it is Russian), leaving Poland to summon the Russian ambassador to explain the comment, while the Ukrainian ambassador in London is relieved of his post by Zelenskyy for remarks made concerning Zelenskyy’s comments on Ukraine should show some gratitude for assistance.
Personally, I think the latter act was a mistake, and while people sympathise with Ukraine, there is war fatigue and Zelenskyy cannot afford to alienate scores of people whom he doesn’t know. Many people are struggling with inflation and believe that cuts to Ukraine should be on the cards so funds can help people in their own countries. I can see why they are concerned as there is no real plan—just keep giving Ukraine weapons until Russia leaves. That isn’t really good enough considering that what has been supplied has been in drips and drabs, and F-16s won’t be delivered until the end of 2023.
Hungary, as usual holds up plans to assist Ukraine with funding again. When will the international alliances admit that Hungary is a pseudo-proxy Russian state and that the country has no place in the EU or NATO while they continue to support Russia by refusing to impose sanctions, and when they consistently block aid packages to Ukraine?
Day 513 (21 July)
Zelenskyy has fired Vadim Prystaiko, the Ukrainian ambassador in the UK for his comments on how Zelenskyy responded to Wallace's comment that Ukrainian should show more gratitude to countries who have supplied weapons. Prystaiko suggested that the sarcastic response form Zelenskyy was unhealthy, and to be frank, many in the West would agree with that.
The US has stated that Ukraine will receive F-16s by the end of the year. Only a few months ago, the idea of sending jets was off the table as it would be seen as escalation. Now, no one really has an excuse as each time weapons are delivered, Russia claims it is a western act of aggression against Russia.
Dzmitryi Shautsou, the head of the Belarusian Red Cross has admitted that the ICRC has facilitated the movement of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. This is another international alliance that don’t seem to be trustworthy and are failing in their missions as to why the entities were established in the first place. Who would have thought the ICRC, (who support displaced people and refugees) would be involved in kidnapping and brainwashing children?
Ryanair are investing in Ukraine and will spend $3 billion to help the Ukraine air industry , including using Ukrainian airports as a base for 30 aircraft, as well as establishing routes to Ukraine. The company said they might start flights to Ukraine before the end of the war if it is safe enough to do so and if the laws permit flights into the country.
South Africa agrees to issue a warrant for Putin’s arrest after he announced he would not attend, and Lavrov would represent Russia instead.
The Russian ambassador in Poland was summoned to explain a comment by Putin, claiming that western Poland was a gift from Stalin, in a veiled threat to the country.
The western territories of present day, Poland, or a gift from starling to the polls. Have a friends in Warsaw forgotten about this? We will remind you.
(Putin).
Day 514 (22 July)
Zelenskyy spoke at the Aspen Security Forum and stated that the Crimea (Kerch) Bridge must be neutralised as it is considered a military target as it is used to transport equipment from Russia to Ukraine. This was stated after another drone had damaged the bridge in Crimea.
Zelenskyy has spoken to NATO and requested a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine council to discuss the Black Sea grain corridors.
Many of the Wagner recruits that were ex-convicts are nearing the end of their agreements where they will be pardoned, or can choose to sign up with the Wagner group. In total, around 40,000 men had been recruited and the Kremlin has taken over the recruitment of convicts now. This means that there will be potentially fewer troops if the ex-convicts choose not to remain fighting.
France has evidence that China has been supplying Russia with dual purpose technologies and components, thus have been aiding them in the war in Ukraine.
Day 515 (23 July)
The port of Odesa was attacked again by Russia, this time the Transfiguration Cathedral was hit and was badly damaged. UNESCO has urged Russia to stop attacking Odesa as it is a site of cultural heritage, but those pleas have been ignored as Russia seeks to destroy the port to push for what they want to enable the grain deal to be on their terms.
A street in Harlow (UK) has been named after Zelenskyy.
Workers from Uzbekistan who were working on repairs in Mariupol have been forced to fight for the Russian army according to reports.
I absolutely agree with you about the Ukranian ambassador in London. Zellensky needs to understand, while we're sympathetic to what is going on there, the rest of the world is still going forward, have their own issues, and can't afford to spend all their time and money on Ukraine as if it's the only entity of importance right now. He also needs to understand the war between Ukraine and Russia is affecting us at home, too. I realize his priority is understandably just the Ukraine but he needs to appreciate and understand that they are not the only priority or even the primary priority for other countries. The world can't just exsist or even cease to exist just for them.
Difficult to understand how anyone affiliated with the Red Cross could be involved with deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. The same organization which was responsible for RE-UNITING families from the Baltic countries who were captured and held by the Nazis, separated from each, other during World War Two.