The Fate Of The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General visits to check on his grain shipments
The last 48 hours have been full of political and real life activity, with everyone telling the Russian to leave the nuclear power plant, or to demilitarise is to avoid a nuclear disaster. In truth, this has been going on for months. The Russians are going to do what is best for the Russians.
Apparently Macron has spoken to Putin asking him to allow the IAEA to visit, and apparently, just like that Putin has agreed according to Macron. Somehow, one wonders if the translators have got it wrong because it’s what the UN have been asking for months, and suddenly Macron has convinced Putin? I think not. This was followed by another report claiming that Russia has rejected calls to demilitarise the area, but Russian staff have been told not to come in as it is an unexpected ‘holiday’ where experts believe that the Russians have a provocation plan they are about to carry out.
This comes as the Ukrainian counteroffensive continues, and as I was about to write last night there was a stream of reports where simultaneous explosions had taken place in Crimea again. Many claimed they were the result of discarded cigarettes, and the Kerch bridge that links Russia to Crimea has also been damaged.
Erdogan still believes that Ukraine and Russia can negotiate a peace deal, and Zelenskyy has stated negotiations are only possible if Russian troops leave Ukraine.
Day 176 (18 August)
Erdogan of Turkey, and Guterres of the UN meet with Zelenskyy in Lviv to discuss the grain corridor, and to seek a political solution to the war. One person on Twitter got it right—Zelenskyy was sandwiched between a traitor and a useless man. Erdogan stated that it would be good for Ukraine and Russia to go back to the March negotiations. That is unlikely as Russia wanted Ukraine to cede land, and since the counteroffensive in Crimea, Ukraine is not going to cede land.
Zelenskyy and Guterres also discussed the release of prisoners of war, and the deportation of Ukrainians against their will. The UN are supposed to have the ‘power’ to prevent such actions, and to enforce the laws yet they have done little except to push for the grain blockade to be lifted.
Guterres is the most useless man in the UN, stating the bleeding obvious that the power in the Zaporizhzhia power plant belongs to Ukraine. He states that the Russians should respect that because they respect the fact that Ukraine is a sovereign and indecent state…! Meanwhile the Russians are considering stopping/disconnecting the power and to integrate it with a Russian network, although that would take considerable time to carry out, and where the Russians want Kyiv to pay them for the electricity from their own plant!
The UN and Ukraine agreed on a plan for the IAEA to visit the plant, but it remains to be seen if Russia wish to cooperate. It’s all well and good having a plan, but the occupiers need to agree and they will only do so if there is something in it for them.
Attacks happened overnight in Timonovo, Belgorod (in Russia on the Ukrainian border at a munitions depot (therefore a legitimate military target),
Stary Oskol Airfield in Belgorod.
Ammunition depots were also destroyed in Amvrosiivka (Donetsk), and in Beryslavskyi. The military base, Kadiivka in Luhansk was also destroyed.
In Kherson, there was an explosion in Nova Kakhovka, which is a Russian military base where reports claim it has been destroyed and at least 12 soldiers have died. An ammunition depot in Blahodatne was also destroyed.
In Crimea, Belbek Air Force base reported some explosions (reports say there were more than 40 aircraft present) , and the Kerch bridge saw military activity overnight with the use of air defence systems. Activity was also reported in nearby Sevastopol (where the Russian navy is based) and Bakhchisarai.
So far, 4 ammunition depots and 2 Russian military bases were attacked overnight. The Russians have yet to comment on the nature of the incidents and the cause.
In retaliation, the Russian bomb Kharkiv and target civilians again. Several people died as a result of the attacks and at least a dozen more have been injured.
Russian propaganda is labelling the attacks in Crimea as ‘terrorist attacks’ by the Ukrainians, but many Russians in Crimea just headed for the border knowing that the Ukrainians mean to take back Crimea.
The US and EU have requested a UN Security Council meeting on 24 August, which is the Ukrainian Independence Day. Russia, it seems has plans for Ukraine on that day.
Russia has been moving military aircraft from Belbek in Crimea to Russia in light of the recent explosions of air bases in Crimea.
More on the Amnesty International report that criticised the Ukrainians where Russia has used the report to justify their attacks on civilians. Amnesty International is now a movement that is divided, where the core principles of the organisation are being questioned. The Canadian branch has spoken out against the head office, and the former head of the Ukrainian branch has spoken out and explained her resignation.
Russia rejects the proposal by Guterres to demilitarise the area around the Zaporizhzhia power plant. The Russians have no interest in negotiations with any party unless it is something they want. Many expect the Russians to carry out some kind of plan, and that is why the international community have grave concerns.
A Ukrainian charity has (Serhiy Prytula) has raised money to buy Ukraine as satellite for use by the Armed Forces. The money was originally raised for a Bayraktar drone, but the company decided to donate the drones to Ukraine and the funds have been used for a satellite instead.
This will help the military to track the movements of the Russians, which is how the Americans spotted the Russians crossing the border during the military drills when they began the invasion on 24 February.
Russia has moved aircraft wiht hypersonic missiles to the Kaliningrad enclave. One can only consider this is an act preparing for warfare.
Many see Russia waiting for war fatigue to set in, and also for western allies to hit a recession so that they will stop sending weapons to Ukraine. Some people already feel that way because of energy bills and the rising cost of living. The world has survived two world wars where people had to live on rations, and that is the price if you wish to live in a democratic world and to protect it.
China will be sending troops to Russia to carry out military drills together. This comes as the countries have agreed to further ties and cooperation. AS I have said before, having both countries as permanent members on the UN Security Council cannot bring about peace when they can veto action in support of each other. That is why the UN is flawed by allowing such countries the power to veto while carrying out war crimes and atrocities. The veto prevents any agreed action to be taken against an aggressor state.
The drills will take place from 30 August -5 September called Vostok 22, and will include troops form Belarus, India, Mongolia and Tajikistan. We can see which countries effectively support Russia from this.
Day 177 (19 August)
At least 700 Russian soldiers have been denied their applications to be released from the special military operation. It seems many soldiers wish to leave, but permission to do so has been refused.
Conflicting reports have come in after the international community has urged Russia to demilitarise the area surrounding the nuclear power plant. Russia has rejected the calls, claiming to do so would make the plant vulnerable. In truth, it makes the Russians vulnerable as they have used the plant as a shield and base.
Macron has called Putin for the first time since March (allegedly) expressing concern over the Zaporizhzhia power plant. I mean, Macron believes he can get Putin to do things by talking to him where the UN can’t. Apparently Putin has agreed to a visit by the IAEA, but there are terms to be discussed over the next few days. This is according the the Elysee Palace, which contradicts other reports where it has been stated that Russia first of blamed the UN for blocking the visit. This sounds as if Putin is just buying time as he did in February after his talks with Macron, stating he would not invade Ukraine, which he did a couple of weeks later. Shame the Elysee Palace got the date wrong!
As it stands, according to France, Russia is willing to allow a visit from the IAEA, but no one else is saying the same thing. Even Russia has not made a statement to that effect, the only ones they have made so far is one to reject all UN proposals.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General has visited Odesa to watch his ships of grain sail for the World Food Program—I mean, forget about the civilians trapped in occupied regions, people being tortured and detained, and soldiers being sentenced to death nearby.
The Ukrainian security service have tracked down a room in Kyiv that was hidden underground, where 100 servers were used by Russian hackers to carry out cyber attacks on governments around the world.
The attack on the Saky airbase in Crimea last week has led to the Black Sea Fleet being reduced in size by fifty percent, with the navy jets out of use.
More traitors have been sentenced in Ukraine, where a man was given 5 years for passing information on the locations of the military and the condition of a bridge in Odesa to the Russians.
The Washington Post article which has criticised Zelesnkyy has been criticised by the public as it appears to blame Zelenskyy for not doing enough to warn people about the Russian threat. In reality, the Russian threat has been in Ukraine since 1991, and all Ukrainians knew it.
It also outlines the original Russian plan to seize Kyiv, either kill or detain Zelenskyy, and put in place a puppet government with the informants to help with the plan. The US was one of the countries that offered to evacuate Zelenskyy and his family out of Ukraine, which would have made it easier for Russia to seize the capital. Zelenskyy refused and stayed to support his country and the manage the war from Kyiv. Informants were told to leave Kyiv and to leave their keys so that the puppet government could take their place.
The Russians are carrying out military drills in Belarus again—this is how the invasion first began in February when soldiers crossed the border. There is a high probability that will happen again in the north of Ukraine.
Kharkiv has been heavily attacked again. This is because it is close to the Russian border and is an easy target, and the hope is to draw Ukrainian troops there, and away from other areas such as Kherson and the Donbas which are retaking occupied areas
In Yevrapatoria, Crimea there is activity tonight and whether there are explosions or reconnaissance drones, the night is still young for now.
Did Guterres actually state that the Ukraine is an 'indecent state'? Russian strategy has been consistent in that Putin uses 'provocation' as his main tool. His propaganda is designed 'to provoke', the fear for all is that his provocation will turn from talk to action that will endanger many and slaughter many others. No one wants another World War, but as the Australian, Twiggy Forrest said you can't let bullies walk over you; let one of Russia's size win and others will follow. I apologise for paraphrasing rathrr than providing his actual words. Twiggy met with Zelensky and the recount on channel 7 was heart warming and showed that there are genuine philanthropists and humanitarians in the world that give and thrive on sharing their wealth for greater good.