Russian Occupied Sevastpol 'Attacked' And Russian Pulls Out Of The Grain Deal

Other countries are getting pulled into this war whether they like it or not

Day 248 (29 October)

I've been listening to Russians that oppose the war, and you feel frustrated that they have been governed by a regime that they did not vote for, and that they can do nothing about. Those of us in the West who have been fortunate to live in a democracy can't imagine how they must feel. However, that changed last week when Rishi Sunak was installed as the leader in the UK, as the public did not vote for him, and not even his own party, and it leaves me wondering what was democratic about it all? The worst thing is that we have to pretend for now that it's all okay, and it is not. Therefore, we in the UK can understand a little how the Russians might feel, having a leader that they didn't actually choose.

In Sevastpol, in Russian occupied Crimea, there was a naval battle of sorts where Russian warships were attacked by a series of drones. Ukraine has not commented on the incident officially, and Russian media has blamed Ukraine and for some reason the UK for the attacks. Whilst it is probable that Ukraine carried out the attacks, they are a legitimate military target. However, the ludicrous claim that the UK was involved appears to be Russian propaganda. The Russians also added that the UK was involved in the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines as well!

• The UN were keen to get Russia to extend the grain deal that was due to expire in November, but for the past few weeks, Russia has declared that they wanted the terms to be renegotiated in their favour, and so it comes as no surprise that Russia has now pulled out of the grain deal. They had in fact been stalling shipments through the Black Sea for several weeks already. This was one of the only things the UN seemed to care about and were active in, because they needed grain for their food programs. Over the past few weeks, Russia has delayed 170 vessels, and despite Zelenskyy's appeals, Turkey and the UN didn’t do anything. The grain deal was over for the Russians already a month ago.

  

• After this attack on Russian warships, we can expect Russian missiles to continue to attack other regions in Ukraine. The battle now becomes political, with countries having to show their support for Ukraine, or not. There is no more sitting on the fence whilst these missile attacks destroyed cities, towns, and peoples lives.

• Sanctions against Russia and the allies appear to have failed, hence why the Iranians drones have managed to create chaos and destruction. This is why further sanctions may seem like good news, but it does not stop other countries supporting Russia or allowing them to transport goods via their country to Russia. There will come a point where there are no more sanctions to be made – then what?

  

• Canada has led the way in supporting Ukraine in other ways. Yesterday, Trudeau announced a program of measures to support Ukraine which included Ukraine sovereignty bonds. Canadians purchase this and the funds will help Ukrainians during the winter, buying essential items such as generators and heating appliances. With the current energy crisis, generators are a way to provide backup power for the citizens across Ukraine.

  

• Reports claim that the Republicans in the US are blocking an NDAA (National Defence Authorisation Act) arrangement that would allow the proceeds from sanctioned Russian oligarchs to be transferred to Ukraine. It has also been mentioned that the Republicans would seek to limit support to Ukraine, furthering speculation that Putin would welcome a Republican party in charge that would not provide unlimited support to Ukraine.

• In Kherson, where 70,000 people were allegedly evacuated, reports claim that people were forced to leave, therefore, was more of a deportation. Apparently, the residents have been taken to Russian occupied Crimea, and the checkpoints along the evacuation route had been increased with more inspections.

• Lithuania has offered to repair 12 Ukrainian PzH 2000 howitzers.

• The main news today is the drone attacks in the Black Sea where the Russian occupied port city of Sevastopol was attacked. The attack allegedly began at 4.20 a.m. in Ukraine, with nine aerial drones and seven marine drones according to Russian reports. Whether these interfered with the grain corridor, no one knows for sure, even though the Russians claim that the attacks interfered with the grain exports. The UN has tried to remain neutral, and has said that parties should refrain from any action that would it imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative that was about to expire. Russia had already been slowing down and blocking vessels for weeks, and the UN has done nothing despite Ukraine making formal complaints.

  

• The EU has frozen €300 billion from the Russian central bank. The premise is to retain these funds until Russia voluntarily offers the money under a reconstruction plan for Ukraine.

  

• There has been another prisoner exchange, where 52 Ukrainian prisoners of war were released, which included two civilians. The exchanges have been facilitated by the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

  

• America is delivering tactical nuclear weapons to Europe within the next couple of months, instead of delivering the next spring. It appears that this move is due to escalation and by having these weapons in NATO territories it'll serve as a deterrent to Russia in the recent light of the threats to use whatever means they have to attack, if they feel it is justified. This at is basically admitting that escalation is real and that NATO needs to be prepared.