The last couple of days have been tense in this war that no one wishes to see escalate, but the reality is that war does escalate, and when it does so slowly, that is when the citizens get caught out and have to face a stark reality of the situation.
A number of states have use their address in the UN to criticise the organisation in failing to protect Ukraine. In response, Russia has denied the accusations of war crimes and have tried to convince others that they are the victims of the West.
The Russian mobilisation continues, however is another Russian revolution on the horizon? Reports claim that new recruits are given three days induction and then two weeks training, that has now been reduced to 1 days training before they sent on the front line. There have been protests, and naturally arrests, and in rural areas parents have taken to the streets to block them in protest as their children are taken away to fight Putin's war.
Many know that this special military operation is also a suicide mission, and that they will likely die, but what for? The Russians are now turning on Putin, and at the beginning of this special military operation, some people were afraid another's didn't really care because it didn't affect them. However, when your children are taken away or your partner or your father, to fight in a war that doesn't protect Russia, that is when people will protest without fear. Perhaps Putin underestimated the loyalty of the Russians, or this is a ploy by the Kremlin to root out those who do not support the special military operation?
Day 213 (24 September)
In liberated areas, the Russians have left mines in fields, graveyards, and homes. Those left behind have to dig them out as they try to rebuild their lives and repaid their homes. In Kamyanka, mines are found everywhere, so while they are free, the land has been tainted by the Russians. It is an evil that has no justification at all, and it will be hard for there not to be any anti-Russian sentiment in the world.
Zelenskyy has appealed to those who are living in occupied areas by asking them to save Ukraine and help by weakening and destroying the occupiers. She encourages them to evacuate and to hide from the inevitable conscription that will follow from the sham referendums being held. He suggests that any that are forced to be mobilised should attempt to sabotage the invaders plans, perhaps by destroying equipment or providing Ukrainian officials with information that can assist the Ukrainian troops. This to me is a message of hope, encouraging Ukrainians that they can help free the rest of Ukraine, and that the Ukrainian army will liberate them soon, but their help is needed.
It has been revealed that Roman Abramovich was involved in the talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to help free the prisoners of war that was swapped on the 21st of September. Earlier in the year, Abramovich was part of a delegation that was attempting negotiation talks with the Russians. Many believe that Abramovich was eager for a quick peace deal as he has been sanctioned and his assets frozen
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Zelenskyy has also made an address to Russian soldiers, and has promised that they will be treated well if they choose to surrender. He will follow all the rules of the Geneva convention, Ukraine will not reveal whether a person was surrendered or was captured. This is because Russia will punish any soldiers who are found to have deserted or surrendered, plus they will also detain their family members. Zelenskyy has also guaranteed that soldiers will not be used in the prisoner swap if they do not wish to return to Russia.
There are a number of reasons why this is important, first of all by reducing the Russian army it means that the Ukrainian troops can liberate the occupied regions more effectively. From a humanitarian point of view, we know that many Russians fighting in this special military operation don't want to be there but are trapped and cannot sleeve. This offers them away to get out and survive, and also to protect their families.
Reports claimed that Russia is considering imposing martial law that will ban men between the ages of 18 and 60 who are eligible for mobilisation from leaving Russia. And this is likely to be imposed on the 28-30th of September 2022, after the results of the sham referendums in the occupied regions of Ukraine. Protests continue, as mails of drafting age aren't willing to take a chance and all leaving Russia as soon as they can. However, that doesn't mean that all support Ukraine, simply that they aren't willing to sacrifice their lives for Putin's ambitions.
Another report claims another atrocity, in the Olenivka penal colony where Ukrainian prisoners of war are being held, they are being forced to vote in the sham referendums. Many of the prisoners are those who were captured in Mariupol. Naturally we know that the prisoners would not vote to be Russian, and that these votes will be coerced, likely with threats of more torture. I believe that NGOs such as Amnesty International, and organisations such as the UN exist to prevent such atrocities, yet neither have done much to prevent this or to resolve the issues.
China is still an issue, as to whether they are admitting to supporting Russia or not. In the UN address, they were careful not to openly admit to supporting Russia's actions, and use the address to send a warning to Taiwan about the tensions in the region. I think it's safe to say that China does support Russia however they can't open the admit to it because they value trade from the west. The fact that they support Russia's place in the UN Security Council is a clear indication that they do support Russia.
Day 214 (25 September)
In Poland, concerts by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd have been cancelled. This might be due to his position on the Ukrainian war where he has openly made comments on social media blaming Zelenskyy for the war. Polish city counsellors are seeking to declare Roger Waters persona non-Grata, and this will be voted on at a session on 28th of September. While the reason for the cancellations has not been publicly announced, Waters has made himself controversial by blaming Ukrainian nationalists for the war in the country. He even had a Twitter exchange with Olena Zelenska, who reminded him that it was Russia who invaded Ukraine.
Roger Waters, you should ask for peace from the President of another country.
(Olena Zelenska)
Russia has claimed that there have been mistakes made in the mobilisation after reports have stated that students and sick people have been sent draft papers in order to report for training. Obviously we don't believe this is a mistake, but is a way for Russia to try to cover up what they were trying to do which was to recruit cannon fodder.
Ukraine has claimed that the mobilisation in Crimea is tantamount to genocide as the Russians are forcing the Crimean Tatars to fight for Russia.
Some might see this as a way to eradicate the Tatars, but proving this is another matter.
In Dagestan, the roads into the capital have been blocked by parents whose children have been drafted into the recent mobilisation. In a village, 110 were drafted and the locals have come out to protest. This is how revolutions begin, and the Kremlin has a huge problem with protests across the country despite the punishments they have imposed on on sanctioned rallies, and for small villages to come out and oppose the government is quite a brave thing to do knowing the repercussions. However, most are aware that Putin is sending them on a suicide mission and that they have nothing to lose by protesting.
The liberation of Lyman is important and has been progressing for the past week. Should Lyman be liberated it would then create a gateway for the Luhansk in the north. Tactically, this would be advantageous for Ukrainian troops sources claimed that Russians are retreating. The danger here is that no one knows if Ukraine has enough weapons to retake the region, and one might ask why this has been made public and that is to encourage other ally states to keep the flow of weapons and support coming into Ukraine.
Latvia has seen an increase of volunteers wishing to join the National Guard, and least 4000 people have signed up for basic military training. This is because Latvia is aware that they are a Russian target and that they need to be prepared.
In Kherson, a former Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Zhuravko has been killed. He fled Ukraine in 2015 and had been working to help the Russians invade Ukraine in the occupied regions
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Other reports states that a gas cylinder appeared to have exploded in a hotel in Kherson where Zhurako was staying. Some outlets call him a traitor and that the explosion/accident has eliminated him. We're going back to old cold war tactics were people die in accidents or fall out of windows again.
While Zelenskyy confirms the release prisoners of war in the recent prisoner swap, he reminds everybody that they are still working on freeing other prisoners of war. Under an arrangement with Erdogan, five Azov commanders will remain in Turkey until after the war. I expect this is because the risk of them being captured is high and they would likely be sentenced to death. While I still have apprehensions about Erdogan and Turkey, Zelenskyy now owes him one
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Zelenskyy has made an appeal to Russians who have been mobilised, encouraging them to surrender to Ukrainian captivity rather than to risk death. Video footage has shown the recently drafted new recruits on coaches drinking bottles of vodka, and basically been drunk. Perhaps that is the only way that they can see this through
?
Serbia, who was considered an ally of Russia has stated that they will not recognise any of the results of the sham referendum is currently being held in occupied territories in Ukraine. They have stated that they will comply with international law and the UN Charter. Despite the lack of states that will recognise any annexed territory, I doubt that the Russians will really care, yet this is not a solution to the issue.
This completely contradicts contradicts our state and national interests policy of dealing with territorial integrity, sovereignty and the principle of in viability of borders. (Nikoloa Selakovic, Serbia Foreign Minister)
The mobilisation in Russia only occurred four days ago, yet reports claim that a man had one day of trading and is already in the front line fighting in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, in a recent interview has confirmed that the US have sent some mid range air defence systems NASAMS, and has thanked Biden for the equipment, what adds that it is not enough to protect civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, and that obviously Ukraine is a large country so not all areas will be protected.
The BBC has been running footage of Russian protesters being dragged and brutalised by officers that are in black and unidentifiable. Other presentations of young women who claim to have been tortured and told by the officers that they decided the law. If this is how protesting Russians are being treated we cannot expect 'the enemy' to be excluded from the dispensing of international law. After seeing some of the dissidents' protests, the idea of turmoil within looks to be building.
I hope you're right! I actually forgot about his threats.