Day 145 ~ Zelesnskyy Cleans His House

NATO sends a clear message that Russia is an enemy of the West and that Ukraine must win the war for the world

The headline news is Zelenskyy suspending two top officials for failing to control their subordinates, who allowed traitors and collaborators to have access to information which has been used by the Russians to occupy parts of Ukraine.

Some will ask why wasn’t this done sooner, and why are Ukrainians betraying their own people. Money talks in a country that has struggled economically after Communism. Most of the traitors have been caught while they tried to escape, and there are no doubt more that have not been discovered yet and this action serves as a deterrent. Some may underground and hope no one notices, or they might make a run for it and take their chances

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H&M is another company that has decided to exit Russia, and is selling off the stock before winding down. As this war approaches six months, companies are now resigned to the fact that the war will not be over soon, and there is an anti-Russian mood, where companies will be criticized for supporting the Russian economy. I imagine more companies will do the same, sell off stock and leave the country for now.

145 (18 July)

• Zelenskyy has suspended the chief of the State Security Service (SBU) Ivan Bakanov, and the Prosecutor General, Iryna Venediktova to clean his house. He has stated that this is because they allowed traitors to infiltrate the government for a period of time which is led to Kherson and other regions being occupied by the Russians. They are responsible for traitors working for them and they should have weeded them out earlier. Bakanov is also Zelenskyy’s personal childhood friend which indicates what measures he is prepared to take to clean-up Ukraine ready to join the EU and perhaps NATO.

  

• To date, 651 cases of treason are being investigated allegedly carried out by lawmakers. Ukraine has a long history of corruption and has tried to halt the spies and collaborators that infiltrate the government bodies. This is how Crimea was annexed as the then president (Viktor Yanukovych) was a pro-Russian puppet that is hiding in exile in Russia.

• Reports claim that Russia is funding anti-Ukrainian protests in Israel as several have taken place across the country.

• In occupied Melitopol, there are plans for a referendum with officials going door to door. Any Ukrainian nationalists will be removed from the area according to the Mayor,Ivan Fedorov.

• Jens Stoltenberg has given a speech on the outcome of the NATO summit in Madrid, where he states that Ukraine must win, because Russia is an aggressor who will seeks to take control of states. Thus, he urges states to provide support and to ‘stop complaining’ as in stop asking for a peace deal I believe. Fighting talk from a man who took 6 weeks to make a statement, but what is clear it is NATO v Russia and I can’t see the parties making peace while Putin is in charge.

  

  He also states that the fate of the EU and NATO is dependent on Ukraine winning, and that we must all make sacrifices for now to prevent further harms.

• Russia is offering teachers a huge salary to move to occupied regions of Ukraine to ‘re-educate’ the pupils on Ukrainian history

  

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• H&M (fashion retailer) are the latest company to leave Russia. Stores have been closed since 2 March, but will reopen to sell off the remaining stock as they prepare to exit Russia. The business is no longer viable in the country given that the war is not likely to end soon.

  H&M Group has run operations in Russia since 2009. The company regrets that the business cannot continue under the current circumstances and that many colleagues are affected as a consequence. The focus now is to ensure a responsible wind down of operations and support all colleagues concerned in the best possible way over the coming months.

  “After careful consideration, we see it as impossible given the current situation to continue our business in Russia. We are deeply saddened about the impact this will have on our colleagues and very grateful for all their hard work and dedication. Furthermore, we wish to thank our customers for their support throughout the years”, says Helena Helmersson, CEO H&M Group.