Is this a war, conflict, invasion, or a ‘special military operation’? It is an invasion because Ukraine is merely defending itself, but reports that Ukraine may have attacked Russia turns it into a war that gets messier and dirtier with each day.
We know war crimes have been committed, yet all the reporters can do is take images of bodies that have been left on the streets and roads, and where some are burnt (with tyres to cover the body as an accelerant) to hide the evidence. I saw the footage and it is horrific to see the images match the words. No amount of humanitarian aid will bring them back or give them the dignity of a burial, nor will Macron or anyone else trying to sweet talk Putin to stop give them back a life that they were robbed of. It will not be enough to even take these war crimes to trial—first you have to find the soldiers (who may get killed in action) and then convict them which can take a decade. Is that justice when such actions could/should be prevented in the first place?
These are despicable acts, captured by drone footage and it is frustrating to watch the West attempt to resolve this via discussions. Even the Wests admit that Russia is stalling for time to regroup yet they have enabled this war to reach this stage. It is coming to a point when you see the headlines that ‘talks and discussions resume’ that you know it means little except that the parties need to look as if they are trying to resolve things diplomatically. Civilians are supposed to be protected from being killed in a war, but as we know, Putin’s army create their own rules. That is why NATO should redefine and reform their rules and articles, for what good is an alliance that chooses not to act?
It is too late to invoke the Budapest Memorandum once a chemical attack has taken place, for surely the West has the sense to defend Ukraine before that happens? There has been evidence of some chemical weapons being used already, do the UK and US want to wait until the attacks become more frequent, and have more blood on their hands? The idea of the Budapest Memorandum was to prevent such attacks, and for the UK, US and Russia to protect Ukraine. That hasn’t worked out, and slowly all the paper pushers who have issued statements behind their desks all these years have finally realized that these ‘bits of paper’ that were signed in good faith mean little in reality.
Day 37 (1 April)
The Mariupol evacuation has been hindered yet again. Reports claim that the buses sent to evacuate the civilians were attacked and burnt, and only Russian trucks were allowed through. Other reports state that the buses have been blocked by the Russians, and looted by the Russians. The International Red Cross are deploying vehicles to escort the evacuation buses through to Mariupol.
Reports state that Zelenskyy has arrested or put under house arrest some senior members of the security service (generals) who were considered traitors. He named them, and has stated he will deal with the others later. They have been named as, Andriy Naumov, the ex-head of internal security at the Security Service of Ukraine, and Serhiy Kryvoruchko, ex-head of the SBU directorate in Kherson. Kherson was under Russian occupation, but the Ukrainians have taken back control of some parts of the city in the past week. Cities that have fallen quickly to the Russians will come under the microscope, where it is possible traitors may have let them in.
Georgia is imposing some sanctions against Russia. Part of Georgia is annexed by Russia.
Russian troops in Georgia are to be deployed to Ukraine. Reports also claim that the self-declared republic of South Ossetia will hold a referendum to officially be part of the Russian Federation. Georgian leaders have stated that such action would be unacceptable in an occupied territory.
Wikipedia has been threatened with a fine by Russia if they do not remove what they deem misinformation about the Russian military and the ‘special military operation’.
Australia will send some armoured Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine.
‘The Ark’ ( https://antiwarcommittee.info/kovcheg/) is a website for people who wish to flee Russia, but has been censored by the authorities.
Reports from Russia claim that two helicopters from Ukraine attacked Belgorod, a fuel depot in Russia, 30 km from the Ukrainian border. This claim has not been verified where Russia has been keen to issue photos and videos of the incident. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility. Suggestions are that Russians could have stolen the helicopters or carried out the attack to discredit Ukraine to prevent the West from aiding the country. Having seen the clip that was very clear (and that appeared to know where the helicopter was), it is hard to believe that two helicopters flew in undetected and left without any Russians appearing to fire at them.
The oil crisis begins where contracts to use Russian oil supplies still exists, but Russia insists on payment in roubles from other countries, and to open special bank accounts.
There are reports that Russian troops in Kyiv are stealing Ukrainian vehicles and have taken looted goods, and are regrouping in Belarus.
Landmines across roads makes moving through Ukraine dangerous for those trying to escape and for humanitarian aid trucks to travel through the country.
India remains ‘neutral’ and has not criticized the Russian invasion as they are buying cheap crude oil from them. The Russians have thanked them.
More reports of Russian soldiers killing civilians and raping women continue. Unfortunately, these are incidents that happen during a war and reporters are seeing these incidents with their own eyes and cannot do anything to stop it.
The president of the European Parliament (Roberta Metsola) is to visit Ukraine.
Over 4 million people have fled Ukraine so far.
Latvia bans the use of the ‘Z’ and ‘V’ symbols in public which have been used by the Russians in support of the war.
China blames the US for the Ukrainian invasion, stating that NATO should have been disbanded after the end of the Cold War.
I have said that I don't understand warfare- tactics nor capabilities, however like many others beginning to see that 'global security' and peace are under threat from Russia and China. What has Russia to gain from claiming Ukraine has blown up a fuel depot on Russian soil? Is Putin wanting to instigate WW111? The propaganda on both sides is getting murkier.
Russia and now China have put the West and NATO in a most uncomfortable corner. There is no escape from the image in the mirror that this war is holding up. In the increasingly splintered societies of the West, where identity politics has lessened loyalty to the broader nation-state that is crucial to the sort of defence that Ukraine has put up, the West is showing itself less and less able to take a stand AS a broader entity. This war is exposing the weakness of the West, and, as I have said in other posts on this site, in the longer-term the failure to act swiftly and confidently to stop Putin will be far more damaging to the West than the risk taken in doing just that. TC