More Than 40,000 People Affected By The Destruction Of The Kakhovka Dam
The Russian Orthodox Church transfers Ukrainian POW to Hungary without the consent of Ukraine
Zelenskyy has criticised the UN and Red Cross for failing to assist in the humanitarian disaster that appears to have been caused by the Russians. The response was slow, but eventually the UN made an announcement that they would be sending in teams to assist, but were waiting for security guarantees from Ukraine and Russia for their staff. Ukraine gave assurances immediately, but a Russian promise means practically nothing. These teams are used to working in areas of conflict and it is risky, but to let people die and not to give aid until there is guarantee of their safety is unheard of because usually aid workers are not targeted. As we have seen in this war, the Russians have failed to honour such a move and there have been a number of deaths involving aid workers.
We have also seen Boris Johnson ‘pushed’ to resign from the UK parliament and it is significant here because he was the one who supported Ukraine and who has given sound advice to Zelenskyy. Reports claim that he persuaded Zelenskyy not to enter into peace talks with Russia last year and that has been criticised, yet it was probably sound advice as intelligence indicated (and we now know) that mass corruption within the Ukrainian government would have aided the Russian invasion. Any talks (as there were) merely stalled the response of the West in supplying weapons, and permitted the Russians to advance at the same time. Even now, I believe peace talks are not possible, and the UN Secretary General has said the same, but Guterres says that there can be no negotiations when both sides think they can win. Ukraine has to win otherwise they lost several chunks of their land, so it’s not winning but defending what was theirs in the first place and to liberate what was stolen.
American politics is playing a part in this war with Donald Trump having been found to have retained classified documents on Russia and nuclear weapons without any clearance. No one like to talk about nuclear weapons and it emerges as a scare tactic, and a way to blackmail others. Much of what has happened is due to the weakness of the UN and the reluctance of NATO to engage in the early part of the war. We are at the stage where the West has publicly stated they are committed to supporting Ukraine, but those are but words and we know from history the same was said before by the US, but behind the scenes they didn’t want to get involved.
In the era we are in today, it is a selfish world where money and power still rule, but this time with the social groups less divided, there are people who seek to make money quickly at the expense of Ukrainian lives. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has affected the environment, energy and water supplies, villages and towns that took centuries to build, homes, art work, businesses and farms, and the lives of thousands have been uprooted. The world will work together to help rebuild what was destroyed, but not everything can be replaced, and the truth is Ukraine needs more help than it is getting despite al parties saying that they are ready for a counteroffensive. This is the best time when it is summer and conditions are dry, but when October comes, it will be be muddy and cold again, so delivery of promised weapons by then means Ukraine will lose the advantage of the weather conditions.
As far as NATO guarantees are concerned, Russia isn’t going to care until Ukraine is a member of NATO or there is scrap pf paper that states the US and other G7 countries will come to the aid of Ukraine under an Article 5 treaty. We can’t rely on all the NATO countries because Hungary isn’t exactly supporting Ukraine by choosing to do business with Russia and vetoing financial support for Ukraine.
Day 470 (8 June)
At least 29 villages and towns along the Dnipro river have been flooded due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Ukraine and Russia are still blaming each other, but what would Ukraine gain as it is trying to liberate all areas and evacuating people means diverting resources that are already stretched.
Landmines have become dislodged and are floating around in the floods which has caused an additional hazard. Those trapped in their houses are getting bottles of water dropped to them using drones. I have seen some of the videos and there are several attempts to get the water dropped into a small attic window in most cases. Rescue attempts are ongoing in more than 30 settlements
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The aid agencies ICRC and the UN have been slow to react as they have only provided humanitarian aid (food) due to the risks of being caught in the war. The agencies did not respond until a day later and said they were planning to send teams out on the proviso Ukraine and Russia offered security guarantees for the aid workers. There was no aid presence in the occupied region of Kherson and the occupied area of Zaporizhiza.
The UN reacted after Zelenskyy’s address and after protesters outside the UN office in Kyiv demanded that the UN act. It looks very much like the UN is afraid of Russia and that they don’t want to send staff there as they know it is very risky and dangerous. However, that is their role—to go to places where there is instability and to help those there.
Each person who dies there is a verdict on the existing international architecture and international organisations that have forgotten how to save lives. If there is no international organisation in the area of this disaster now, it means that it does not exist at all, that it is incapable of and functioning. All the relevant appeals from Ukraine in our government are in place. (Zelenskyy)
Ukraine will will be in position to manufacture its own long range missiles that can reach distances of up to 1000 km. This means that Ukraine will not be restricted in the use of the missiles as they have assured the West any weapons supplied will not be used on Russian soil. However, if Ukraine needs to defend itself fully, it cannot be limited to where the weapons can be used. The announcement was made during the ‘Big Day with the NV. Dialogues on Ukraine’s Recovery’ conference.
Russia (diplomat Alexander Shulgin) has accused Ukraine of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in the International Court of Justice, alleging that they carried out artillery strikes and deliberately raised the water level in the reservoir to a crucial level. There is no evidence of either, and how would one raise the level of a reservoir without shipping in water?
Russia has accused Ukraine of blowing up an ammonia pipeline in Kupiansk Raion in Kharkiv. They claim there are casualties even though Russia has shelled the area twice.
The Swiss are still deciding on whether weapons can be re-exported to conflict zones, and the Lower house has agreed on the proviso that the weapons are used for self-defence.
The Russian Orthodox Church has claimed that Ukrainian POW have been transferred to Hungary at the request of Hungary. This seems a rather bizarre act, more so when the report claims that Patriarch Kirill has given his blessing, so that can’t be good in itself.
Zelenskyy gives an address stating that Russia is responsible for ecocide through the man-made and deliberate act of terrorism.
The Dnipro river will not be accessible for an unspecified period of time which means it cannot be used for exports, again, affecting Ukraine’s ability to export grain even with the Black Sea Grain Initiative that Russia has blocked again.
Zelenskyy travelled to the affected region and visited relief centres and evacuation points. He spoke to the aid workers and those who had been evacuated to see what more could be done.
Reports claim that Russia prevented those in occupied Kherson from leaving the affected areas, and stopped them from helping others. This came from the social media accounts of residents in the area. If true, then why? If Russia cannot control the people and make them have Russian passports or to deport them, then are they trying to eradicate them by preventing them from saving themselves from a flood?
Day 471 (9 June)
32 countries have now joined the genocide lawsuit against Russia in the ICJ. Judges in the UN authorised the inclusion of the countries in the lawsuit.
Macron stated in the Globsec summit in Bratislava that western sanctions pushed Belarus towards Russia. The man is an embarrassment as a world leader, as Belarus has been a satellite state for decades and Lukashenko is a dictator himself. The sanctions merely revealed how deep the ties between Belarus and Russia have always been.
The SBU has intercepted a call between 2 Russian soldiers where they discuss the Kakhovka dam explosion. One said that it was a group of Russian operatives, but it caused more damage than they intended. Some say the call might be a false flag so the Russian army aren’t blamed, but it is highly unlikely that anyone could carry out an act on occupied territory in a secure areas without assistance or permission.
In Chechnya, men are being forced to enlist to fight in Ukraine. If they refuse they are imprisoned and their families are threatened. Ukraine doesn’t fare much better as Ukrainian men are fleeing the country to Romania to avoid conscription. The Ukrainian army often rejects those who don’t wish to fight as they are more of a hindrance, but there is corruption as men pay to avoid being conscripted.
Russians are still launching missiles across Ukraine and have targeted rescue missions which are supposed to be out of bounds. That is another war crime to add to the list.
Footage has shown Russian troops flee Zaporizhzia as many believe the Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun.
According the the US, Iran is helping Russia by building a drone factory in Moscow. It is claimed it will be operational by 2024, and if true (and US intelligence usually is), then Russia does not seek peace and this war will enter another phase which requires decisive action from the UN.
The Russian Orthodox Church has announced that it has transferred at least 11 POW to Hungary without the knowledge of Kyiv. The church has claimed the POWs owe their freedom to them, which is not something a church would necessarily say. It looks more like a PR exercise after the church has been damaged with covert operations being uncovered in their churches. Ukraine has requested Hungary provide details of the transfer and to enable them to listed by a consul.
This appears to be interference by Hungary and the Russian Orthodox Church, and neither have any remit to transfer POW. Hungary as a member if NATO and the EU have overstepped the boundaries and need to explain themselves.
Day 472 (10 June)
Reports claim in occupied Kherson, Russia is only evacuating Russian passport holders and forcibly removing residents in houses that survived and to give them to Russian soldiers.
When the State Emergency Service of Ukraine tried to help those in occupied Kherson, the Russians demanded money from them if they wanted to help people evacuate. There was also the fear of being fired upon by the Russians, hence why the UN and ICRC were hesitant to act.
The Black Sea has tuned into an animal cemetery and dump as furniture from homes that have been flooded wash up along the shore line as well as landmines and other dangerous and toxic waste. Residents have been warned not to go to the beach or to touch any items.
Animals have been rescued by people, with cats swimming to safety and a dog had sailed 140km on a raft before it was rescued. Another video showed a hedgehog being rescued too. Many have been through traumatic experiences but all lives matter.
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada arrived in Kyiv for a run scheduled visit. He placed wreaths at a memorial at St Michael's cathedral and met with Zelenskyy as another aid package was announced.
The battle of Bakhmut is still on as Ukraine makes small advances each day.
NATO membership is a key issue at the upcoming summit and it seems that there will be a two part package offered with a certain procedure to Ukraine.
Macron, Scholz and Duda are to meet on 12 June 2023, in Paris to discuss potential security guarantees for Ukraine. The only one I would trust is Duda.
Odesa was attacked by 26 Shahed drones last night, and all were intercepted except for one that hit a high rise residential building killing at least one and injuring at least six people.
Zelenskyy has confirmed the counteroffensive has begun, but has not given any further details and nor should he! What this means is that peace talks are off the table for now at least and China and Indonesia can leave their proposed plans to one side.
While addressing the Ukrainian Parliament, Prime Minister Trudeau denounced the destruction of the dam and pledged another package of military aid in the amount of $500 million. He pledged Canada will continue its political, financial, humanitarian and military support as long as it is necessary.
There are no words...💦