Day 180 (22 August)
A joint phone call was held with the UK, the US, France and Germany where they all agreed that security around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was essential to prevent a nuclear disaster. They also reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine during the war. Details of the IAEA visit are probably being agreed, but it doesn’t bode well when all the staff have been told not to come to work. It has been suggested that the Russians may want to shutdown power and try to transfer the network to a Russian one.
Scholz had told reporters that he had assured Putin that Ukraine would not become a member of NATO for at least 30 years prior to the invasion. This obviously was an appeasement tactic to dissuade Putin from invading, but Putin always wanted more. He is claimed to have stated that he wanted the NATO members in the eastern bloc to cease taking part in military exercises and to curtail their involvement in NATO, as well as stopping the expansion of NATO. In short, to him, NATO was the enemy because they were able to challenge him and his actions.
Kyiv bans mass gatherings from 22-25 August amid fears that Russia may plan some attacks in public. Other areas such as Mykolaiv have not imposed a ban but have urged citizens to be cautious. Things might change over the next 24 hours, and other cities will impose curfews and will take security precautions.
The Ukrainian Independence Day on 24 August, is also the sixth month of the invasion of Ukraine, and rumours are that the Russians will hold a sham trial of the Azovstal soldiers captured in Mariupol. Zelenskyy has stated if this happened then there would be no room for talks with Russia
Analysts believe that the NATO Article 5 is close to being triggered due to the nuclear power plants being attacked. That would mean NATO would send in their troops to aid Ukraine in order to defend themselves.
More on the Daria Dugina alleged assassination, where footage of her father standing there has been shown. More details have been released, in that the car she was driving was her father’s and that he chose to travel separately last minute. It is rather odd that someone has footage of the incident and of Alexander Dugin (a far right extremist fascist who is anti-western) that late at night.
The FSB claim that a Ukrainian woman who stalked Daria is responsible for the attack, and that the woman escaped to Estonia. Another story being reported by a former Russian MP Ilya Ponomaryov, is that an unknown Russian group called the National Republican Army has claimed responsibility for the act, and that they authorised Ponomaryov to release the statement.
There is several trains of thought as resistance groups act alone, but if Daria had been a target, why choose now? The only people to benefit from the timing are the Russians. What is the truth? It is possible like many things in Russia that we shall never know the truth, but also if there is a resistance group in Russia, it seems odd that they would make an announcement too, knowing that the FSB would be hot on their heels.
My own thoughts are that a resistance group is an easy party to throw the blame on, and it would also aid the Russian propaganda and help increase support, particularly as the Russians are having ‘special military operation’ fatigue. There are recruitment attempts to persuade soldiers to sign up with large sums of money being offered, but many know that they will never see the money and will return to Russia in a body bag. Life is different—people quite like the western luxuries they have had access to and aren’t interested in Russia owning countries.
Dugin has spoken of the death of his daughter, stating that it was a ‘terrorist act’, and said, “We only need our victory. My daughter sacrificed her young woman’s life its altar. So, please achieve it.” Many in Russia didn’t know who she was and it has had little impact, and I am skeptical. Unless there is a body, how can anyone be certain she is dead and that it was her?
The Ukrainian troops have attacked an ammunitions depot in Donetsk. This is the difference western weapons make in enabling Ukraine to defend themselves.
Encouraging good news that NATO may be finally realizing the potential danger of the very real nuclear threat.
I am put in mind, six months later with Ukraine still standing, of Hitler warning Britain that it would "have its neck wrung like a chicken" as the German war machine crushed Europe and the Blitz began.
Later, when it became clear that Britain's neck was still quite functional, Churchill said in the House: "Some chicken. Some neck!" TC