Lviv Was Never Safe As It Was Bombed Overnight
It was attacked in March as a warning, yet everyone thought it was safe place to send evacuees—it was always a target.
Ukraine waits for the US aid to arrive—something that should have happened 6 weeks ago. We also hear that the US military will train Ukrainian soldiers how to use the weapons outside of Ukraine. Again, this should have been done 5 weeks ago at the very least. Many will ask why did the West delay? We were asking the same thing in real time, yet the politicians hesitated because they were afraid and the end result was that thousands of people have died. Four flights of equipment and aid were sent today, and more is expected within 24 hours, but the question is why wasn’t this done sooner? Here is a what Ukrainian troops in Mariupol have to say:
Over the course of the last 54 days I have read harrowing tales and seen images that no one should ever see, but it was necessary so that I could convey what is really happening in Ukraine. Not only have lives been lost, families and generations have been wiped out. We can ask why, and it was because Putin wants the USSR back and the West were too preoccupied with their own political careers that they forgot that they had a duty to protect world democracy. Homes, cities, communities, and villages have been destroyed, and what is left have been rigged with mines or explosives, while the dead lie under the rubble. I have read stories of people being tortured, and left to die and having to watch others being murdered in front of them. What was their ‘crime’? They were Ukrainian, and were loyal to their country.
Mariupol is on the minds of everyone, and people are wondering why the West didn’t act sooner. Soldiers have been forced to surrender and have been paraded as propaganda, while others are defending the city with what they have. Can they hold on until the US and UK weapons arrive?
The humanitarian corridors have again not been honoured by the Russians, while Lviv was attacked with civilian casualties. We hear tales of civilians being shot it they refuse to cooperate with the Russians, but none of us should be surprised. The sirens ring in Lviv and Kyiv as civilians are told to take shelter. Again, the optimism that Lviv was safe because it is in the west was something I never understood. The Russians targeted it early on to see how the city would react, and then came back to attack it again when they found the weaknesses. I also failed to understand why they sent evacuees to Lviv after it had been attacked. To me, it was never safe—Ukraine as a whole is not safe for there are traitors probably monitoring things for the Russians.
I believe there will be less in the media over the next few days so as not to jeopardise the details of the delivery of weapons into Ukraine. Meanwhile, Macron fights to retain power, and other world leaders will use this situation to elevate their international status. Zelenskyy should know that some of these people are not his friends, but that they will use him to make themselves look good.
There are fears that there will be an attack prior to the Orthodox Easter (24 April), when there should be a ceasefire. While support continues for Ukraine, words are not enough while people (other than Finns) debate whether Finland should be allowed to join NATO. This stems from an agreement that was made under duress to agree to neutrality when Stalin invaded during the Second World War, but arguably a sovereign state can change their constitution to defend themselves if they consider themselves under threat. Given that Russia has threatened them if they join NATO, that gives Finland just cause to defend themselves. An agreement made under duress with a state (USSR) that no longer exists, most would consider null and void.
Day 54 (18 April)
Putin gives the 64th Motor Brigade a commendation for the Bucha massacre. They have been given an honorary title of ‘Guards’ for mass heroism and valour, tenacity and courage. He also has declared a ‘pay out’ of 5 million roubles ($62,000) if a guard is killed on the Russian borders which includes those in the Donetsk and Luhansk.
Emirates airlines continues to fly to Russia as the owner (Dubai government/UAE) is not a country that has agreed to impose sanctions against Russia. Abu Dhabi has also resisted imposing sanctions against Russia. Claims are made that not all Russians are part of the war, and cargo needs to be allowed to enter and leave the country. The fact that Emirates are making profits (as one of the few carriers in the region), has not gone unnoticed by their customers who may choose to boycott the airline.
Reports claim that pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, is asking to be swapped for the British soldiers that are PoW. However, what use is M to Russia? They have already said that he is Ukrainian and is a politician, and do not see that he has any value.
Estonia (Narva) has made arrangements to help Ukrainians who have been transported to Russia. Ukrainians are urged to make their way to the border city for their own safety.
Besides Mariupol, Donbas, Kharviv, Mykoliav, and Irpin, Kyiv and Lviv have come under attack again.
In occupied Kherson, the Russians have allegedly erected a statue of Lenin!
In Mariupol, the Russians have forced civilians to have movement passes reminiscent of the Nazis restricting movement around the city or to leave the house.
Day 55 (19 April)
The fight for the Donbas region continues and the fight to keep Mariupol from Russian occupation.
Malcom Nance, who reported fro MSNBC has joined the International Legion of Territorial Defence.
Ukraine waits for the arrival of equipment from the US and other countries to assist them in the fight to defend the country.
Russia has declared it will not use nuclear weapons on Ukraine. This is likely to avoid the Budapest Memorandum being invoked, but note the only say Ukraine and did not rule out other states.
Poland is treating thousands of wounded Ukrainian soldiers as many hospitals in Ukraine have been bombed.
Kreminna in the Luhansk region has been occupied by the Russians.
More tales from survivors tell us what really happened when the Russians occupied their towns. One woman tells of her family escaping in a convoy of cars and the Russian soldiers waved them goodbye. As soon as they left, the Russians started shooting at them where many died instantly. The woman survived by dragging her baby son across the woods but had to leave the rest of her family behind.
In a couple of hours, the Ukrainian soldiers left in Mariupol have been told to surrender. Meanwhile, US aid is on its way, Germany says it will lend Ukraine the money to buy weapons, and France still wants to negotiate with Putin.
How did the world get to this, when we see soldiers willing to risk their lives to defend their land and other countries are offering loans, and throwing some food parcels and first- aid kits at them?
Thank you for the summary EL.
It is shocking that there is no apparent urgency in the response to champion justice for an invaded nation. Every day people are dying horribly through no fault of their own and out of loyalty to their country whilst other nations stand around saying the equivalent of “Oh Dear, how sad, never mind” and hoping the situation will resolve itself before they have to find the courage to get off the fence.
We are told there is much going on behind the scenes so we shouldn’t make waves in case it causes difficulty. We are told that people from other nations shouldn’t fight for Ukraine in case it makes difficulties if they are captured. We can’t just “not” do things forever can we?
I am fearful that this horrible status quo of accepting casualties in return for avoiding nuclear options is preferable to some nations over action. Then Putin will never stop with just Ukraine.