Mariupol Soldiers Taken As PoW
Russian threats to soldiers if they do not surrender in Mariupol
On Day 53, as we expected, the world is running out of sanctions they can impose against Russia and Russians. The EU, in another round of sanctions is proposing to impose them against Sberbank, which they had resisted until now because it is a payment channel for Russian gas and oil. Once that has gone, then what else because sanctions haven’t worked?
Religious leaders have called for a truce in time for Orthodox Easter on 24 April (Julian calendar), but do dictators really care about religion? They are more likely to use it to their advantage which they have done so by using the Russian Orthodox Church to publicly support the ‘special military operation’.
The battle for Mariupol continues, where the Russians have threatened to ‘eliminate’ any Ukrainian soldiers who do not surrender, and suggestions include the use of of chemical weapons. Most of the city is destroyed, and it is a crucial time as Russia will pounce and use Mariupol as a bridge between Crimea and Donbas, creating a Russian corridor into Europe.
I get the feeling that many people don’t think World War III will happen, because they trust the alliances to protect them and to put a halt to any such action. I do not share their optimism, and I read one person who claimed they did not support Russia, but thought the US and other countries giving Ukraine weapons was unfair! At times I gasp at the stupidity of humanity, for WAR IS NEVER FAIR. An aggressor will have planned an attack, and prepared with armies and weapons for a number of years, and the other party has to defend themselves with what they have, and may not have the resources to counter a planned attack. Imagine going on a hike, then someone falls and cuts their head open, and breaks their leg and all you have your basic first aid kit. You have the basic essentials, but not the tools you actually need when something unexpected happens.
Back in the Second World War, Hitler had been planning to invade Europe since 1934, and had 5 years to plan and manufacture weapons, and train troops. When war did break out in 1939, no country had enough weapons to keep up with Germany because they had not anticipated the fact Hitler had been stockpiling weapons for years. The US couldn’t make weapons fast enough when they eventually entered the war in 1941 because they didn’t have enough, and this is the situation Ukraine is in. That is why they need weapons from other countries, and those who oppose this should read up on their history, for without other countries coming to the aid of others (both World Wars), they would not have the freedom to idly post random comments on a social media platform in a democratic society.
Russia has threatened the US, UK, and the Czech Republic, and warned them to stop sending weapons to Ukraine. In the case of the Czech Republic, they have sent old Soviet tanks, which Russia claims they cannot sell or pass on, but that agreement was made between the USSR and Czechoslovakia, and both of those states no longer exist, therefore, that agreement is void.
When the Declaration of the United Nations was being drafted, FDR in his State of the Union address in 6 January 1942 stated the below which could be relevant today:
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/state-the-union-address-1
They know that victory for us means victory for freedom.
They know that victory for us means victory for the institution of democracy— the ideal of the family, the simple principles of common decency and humanity.Victory requires the actual weapons of war and the means of transporting them to a dozen points of combat.
…we must always be on guard against misconceptions which will arise, some of them naturally, or which will be planted among us by our enemies.
We must guard against complacency. We must not underrate the enemy. He is powerful and cunning—and cruel and ruthless. He will stop at nothing that gives him a chance to kill and to destroy. He has trained his people to believe that their highest perfection is achieved by waging war. For many years he has prepared for this very conflict- planning, and plotting, and training, arming, and fighting
We are fighting, as our fathers have fought, to uphold the doctrine that all men are equal in the sight of God. Those on the other side are striving to destroy this deep belief and to create a world in their own image—a world of tyranny and cruelty and serfdom.
That is the conflict that day and night now pervades our lives.
No compromise can end that conflict. There never has been—there never can be—successful compromise between good and evil. Only total victory can reward the champions of tolerance, and decency, and freedom, and faith.
They all knew that in order to continue to enjoy the freedom and democracy that many countries had fought for, there was no room for appeasement or compromise. That is where we are again 80 years later. The UN, EU, and NATO need to decide whether political correctness matters more than freedom, democracy and lives, where the aggressor does not abide by rules, or any pacts or treaties they have signed unless it favours them.
Day 53 (Easter Sunday 17 April)
Reports claim that British SAS forces have been in Ukraine to train troops on how to use specific weapons.
The humanitarian corridors that were supposed to have been agreed have failed again.
Water and food supplies have been damaged by the Russians, and humanitarian aid is essential so people don’t starve or die of starvation. In Mykolaiv, people have been reduced to using river water that is probably polluted.
The Russians have given the Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol the chance to surrender or to be eliminated. Zelesnkyy has stated if that happens then there can be no further discussions with Russia.
Two Britons have been named as prisoners of war (Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner) where videos of them have been shown on social media for propaganda purposes.
EU has imposed sanctions against Belarus and stopped trucks entering Poland, but there is a backlog of traffic stretching 60 miles. It is unknown what will happen to the trucks as the deadline ended last night.
Kyiv is being attacked again (as expected).
Many homes and areas have mines and booby traps, which is hindering the process of finding bodies and collecting evidence of war crimes.
Ukraine has asked the US to declare Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism. which would allow the US further powers to impose sanctions against Russia, and to aid countries that are vulnerable to the aggressor.
I sometimes feel I should comment, but I can’t put into words what I feel, how much I understand or my fears for the future, my son still in the army, my daughter’s and grandchildren.
I fear that Putin will not stop, and why should he, with no one to tell him too. Ukraine will be wiped out for some unfathomable reason that only he knows, the land left untended and the cities and towns as stark reminders.
Then the West will say what they should have done, but sadly too late - again
EL it is hard to click on the" like" heart after each of your masterful posts, because it seems such a trivial response to the stark messages therein. They, unavoidably, contain honest and terrible truths and revelations about the barbarity of the Russian and the courage and suffering of the Ukrainians. What is so hard to acknowledge, and to bear, is the fact that the West, ie USA, UK, EU, Nato, UN and all are fiddling while Ukraine is burning and being destroyed. I share your view there will be a WWlll. We are already tiptoeing into it hoping it will not get any worse, but it will. The questions for those in power now is how much worse will it be allowed to get? What will Russia be allowed to do next before the rest of the world wakes up to the reality. It is dire and desperate, and unbelievable to be contemplating this at sunny blessed Easter-tide, time of hope and renewal. Thank you for your efforts EL and your clarity.