The OSCE Pulls Out Of Ukraine Due To The Russian Veto
As a missile lands near the hotel of the UN delegation, the Russians use the rules to their advantage
Day 65 (29 April)
Civilians being returned in prisoner swaps have come back with injuries sustained from torture. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61249158 One man had his toes amputated due to frostbite after being forced to wear water filled boots and to lie in a freezing field. Another man had to have both feet amputated, and others have lost their legs through cold water torture. The above account confirms that he was taken to Russia as a prisoner against his will before he was returned in a prisoner swap, was treated badly, beaten, and interrogated and forced to sign documents to say he had been well treated. The people of Russia, Belarus, Hungary, and those countries who support Russia need to hear and read these first hand accounts.
Kyiv appears to be a target again with the UN delegation in the city, where Guterres has tried to remain neutral, but how could he when he saw the atrocities around him? The missiles were aimed near the hotel where the UN delegation were staying, and were launched an hour after Guterres criticised the Security Council and the fact that Russia used their veto (again, why the charter needs to be redrawn to prevent such actions) to halt the war that they have instigated. Reports are that one Ukrainian journalist was killed in her home.
Accounts confirm that Zelenskyy was offered an evacuation to Poland by the US and UK so that he could set up a safe government in Poland. He declined and stayed in Kyiv because it was important that he did not abandon his people.
Ukraine had given up their nuclear weapons as part of the Budapest Memorandum (1994), and now needs assurances that foreign allies will defend them should Russia launch a nuclear attack as they are now vulnerable. NATO and the UN exist to bridge this gap, but have failed to do so.
As we expected, Russia plans to break Ukraine into separate regions and place Russian puppets in government to control the areas. Those who support the Ukrainian government will be censored and banned. This is similar to China and North Korea where any opposition of the government means death, a disappearance, or imprisonment.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has apparently been monitoring the security situation in Ukraine for the last 8 years since the annexation of Crimea. I’m not sure we can say they did a good job as their job was to gather information and to ease conflicts. Since they failed in the Donbas region, and there have been traitors who gained positions in office, the Special Monitoring Mission appeared to have been weak. An extension of the mission was vetoed by Russia—again, this is Russia abusing the rules, but within the poorly constructed confines of the rules.
Zelesnkyy spoke to the Bulgarian Prime Minister who discussed assisting in the repair of heavy weapons.
The Mariupol evacuation is still being negotiated, yet Russian troops still surround the area.
The UK joins the team documenting alleged war crimes. To date, there are claims there are more than 7,600 crimes with at least 500 suspects. These are the crimes that have been discovered and reported, so the figure will be much higher when there is access to Mariupol.
Two British volunteer aid workers have been kidnapped by the Russians, who were working independently for the Presidium Network. The Ukrainian family they were trying to help evacuate received strange messages from them, and the Russians arrived, and then accused them of being spies.
Zelenskyy has requested discussions with the African Union Commission. This is due to the fact that most of the countries that abstained or voted against Russia being suspended from the Human Rights Council were from Africa. The aim is to develop closer ties with the countries.
I want to say something heart warming after reading this article which highlights the impotency of the UN and the cunning of Russia and Putin. Living in Adelaide a jockey, Craig Williams who is married to a Ukrainian woman have delivered aid to Ukraine and are preparing for the second trip.
Reading that Zelensky refused to leave Kyiv because he does not want to abandon his people, reminds me of King George VI who refused to leave London during World War 2, for the same reason.