Day 139 (12 July)
Ukrainian orphans are being taken to Russia and given Russian identities, while newborn babies in occupied areas such as Kherson and Mariupol are being forced to automatically have Russian passports
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The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte visited Kyiv and Zelenskyy yesterday. This is another visit to show support for Ukraine, but will these visits help Ukraine defeat Russia?
The death toll in Chasiv Yar (missile attack on 9 July 2022) has increased to more than 45 bodies, as some were buried alive as buildings were destroyed.
Citizens that remain in occupied Mariupol could be forced to fight for the Russians, and citizens used as human shields or cannon fodder. This is a typical tactic from an aggressor who sees the locals as expendable. That is why Ukraine has urged people to evacuate. While some remain and believe they can wait until Ukraine liberates them, the Russians will make life difficult for them if they do not cooperate.
Iran is supplying Russian troops with hundreds of weaponised drones to be used to attack Ukraine.
Putin will meet with Turkey and Iran in Iran on 19 July 2022 to discuss Syria, and it seems to be also a meeting where Putin will seek support for Russia. The question is why is Turkey still playing both sides, and why hasn’t NATO done anything about Turkey?
Russian vessels with stolen Ukrainian grain have gone ‘missing’ for days when their transponders have been switched off, claiming they are docking in Turkey, yet Turkey has done nothing to detain theses vessels.
Turkey has been reported to wish to continue talks to end the grain blockade, but this has been going on for several months now—clearly Russia has no interest in talks to move their vessels out of the way. A meeting is going to be held tomorrow in Turkey with Russia, the UN and Ukraine in attendance
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Lego pulls out of Russia indefinitely, and will end its relationship with the franchise group that runs the Lego shops. The company has not made any other statement on the invasion other than ‘Our thoughts are with all the children and families suffering as a result of the war in Ukraine.’
I saw an ABC documentary on Syrian refugees that was heart-breaking. To think that Russia and Turkey have contributed, to use M.M.'s sentiment, 'mercilessly' to such misery in other countries needs to be stopped. To be honest I need to go back and check facts, and considered it since Russia's attack on Ukraine, but hesitant to do so, because the Syrian refugee situation is so bleak.
And the merciless news continues. I note that the four-way meeting on Wednesday will include UN representation on the essential matter of Ukrainian grain, but will the UN DO anything?