Zelenskyy Admits There Is War Fatigue
Is support from the western allies fading in light of the war in the Middle East?
As each day passes, we hear of more Russian drone attacks on civilian targets be they residential buildings, hospitals, schools, or evacuation vehicles. This has been the norm since the start of the invasions when Russians attacked evacuation corridors and the international community did nothing except make statements of disapproval. No one punished Russia, thus they have enabled them to continue to target and kill civilians. One may ask how can they ‘stop’ Russia? Sanctions took too long to impose and were gradual and made little to no effect on the war itself, only the funding of the war. While they retain a seat in the UN Security Council as a permanent member who have control of enforceable resolutions, Russia can sit happily there and can mock the western allies.
The war is dragging on, and more attention has been diverted to the war in the Middle East with Israel and Gaza (as the media are calling it rather than Palestine). It has hit a global nerve as the war intensifies over religious beliefs, while innocent people are caught in the crossfire.
I read the updates on the war daily, and what is clear is that corruption is still rife in Ukraine, and it’s a double edged sword because Ukraine believes that reporting on the arrests of corruption it helps show the world that they are dealing with it. However, when you have opponents such as Fico os Slovakia who object to funding Ukraine due to corruption and misappropriation of funds, Ukraine is proving that he is correct. We aren’t talking about corruption of the past, but corruption during the war, with those in government pocketing money to provide soldiers with substandard uniforms and food. It’s pitiful, but as I read each story of corruption and arrests what it shows is that Ukraine was invaded due to corruption and the war lingers on due to corruption within the government and those in authority. One can see how the Russians can spin the propaganda, and while other countries are apprehensive about supplying aid when the money is being pocketed by corrupt officials.
The war continues, and it seems pointless repeating the same things such as sanctions not working, people and countries bypassing sanctions to trade and supply Russia with components to make weapons, Hungary objecting to aiding Ukraine with EU funds, drone attacks on civilian targets, sham referendums in occupied areas, people who won’t evacuate and who die, children who were illegally taken to Russia being returned as bargaining chips, and of course all the meetings to discuss reconstruction, the special tribunal, the tank and aircraft coalitions, and Ukraine wishing to join the EU and NATO.
Ukraine is dependent on the Western allies, who do the talk but the action is restrained and slow. If we look at history, the same happened until the Germans started to attack those allies countries and then suddenly they were quick to act! Is that what it takes again, because surely these world leaders would have read the history books and know the best strategy is to act rather than to react to Russian aggression.
Day 613 (29 Oct)
The SBU were behind an attack on the Afip oil refinery in Krasnodar, Russia. It is a legitimate military target as it is where military vehicles refuel.
In occupied Volnovakha, Russians killed a family of 9 for refusing to leave their home as the soldiers wished the occupy the property. It seems that Russian media has reported this, perhaps as propaganda to show the world that they are addressing war crimes and the soldiers have been detained. Russia claims that the two soldiers were contract soldiers in some kind of attempt to distance them from the Russian army.
In addition, Russia has begun, causing Ukrainians bugs and pigs and ghouls, and are denying that Ukrainians exist. It seems Russia is trying to get rid of the Ukrainian language and dispose of any traces of Ukrainian culture.
Hungary has again stated that they would oppose any EU sanction packages, if it included gas, oil and nuclear energy in Russia.
Russia, restricts discussions ahead of the 2024 elections, as the Kremlin controls the narrative in order to support Putin in winning another term in office
Day 614 (30 Oct)
TIME magazine dedicates its cover to Zelenskky, as he feels abandoned by the allies as war fatigue continues. He also states that ceding territory is not negotiable, and that is what many neutral countries have suggested. Somehow, I doubt they would be that eager to push that agenda if they had to cede territory of their own.
France is to expel 39 Russians accused of propaganda and radicalisation. The Russians are pushing their propaganda, and by controlling the media and brainwashing the public, the premise is to turn people again the west and democracy. On television, propagandists use terminology consistent with genocide, calling for the extinction of the Ukrainian language, concentrations camps, sterilisation and re-education (brainwashing).
Russians continue to target civilians and hit an evacuation bus in Kherson. Why those who remain in occupied areas think that the Russians being on control is better is beyond me.
Odesa was also hit, and the target was a shipyard where grain exports are taking place.
In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian agent was detained when they were caught collecting information from hidden webcams on the roads to track military activity.
Fico of Slovakia has stated that any aid to Ukraine would be dependent on border infrastructure, Ukraine, supporting Slovakian, businesses, and the implementation of anti-misappropriation measures ( to avoid corruption). Latvia, on the other hand, has donated 12 drones to the Ukrainian police without any conditions.
In Kyiv, Zelenskyy posted about partisan US congressional delegation. The delegation included James, French Hill, Michael quickly, and Stephen Lynch.
HSBC bank has been trying to sell off its Russian subsidiary, but it has been delayed until the beginning of 2024. The bank expects to lose $0.3 billion and the cause of the delay is apparently that they are waiting for government approval.
Day 615 (31 Oct)
Canada has banned Kaspersky anti-virus and China’s WeChat on government mobile devices citing security concerns.
In Yalta, Crimea, the apartment that belongs to Olena Zelenska has been illegally sold at auction by the Russian occupiers for $473k to a Russian woman.
In Crimea, five judges have been sentenced in absentia to at least 12 years in prison, as they were convicted of assisting the Russian occupying forces, which enables the annexation of Crimea.
They also supported the Russians when legal actions were taken against any locals who had opposed the annexation.
The defence Ministry of Ukraine carried out an audit on 40 military units and discovered that $3.4 million of compensation had been paid out in error. Plus this is another misallocation of funds that some may consider to be another arm of corruption. Payments were made to personnel that weren't even deployed in combat. By admitting and such errors, it makes it very difficult for Ukraine to be credible when there is corruption within the army itself.
Japan claims that a Russian helicopter violated Japanese territorial airspace by the island of Hokkaido. Japan stated that fighter jets from Japan's self-defence force were dispatched to respond.
The war is global, as three russians, with dual nationality were arrested in New York City, suspected of supplying the Russian military with equipment. In the Netherlands, a Russian man was detained for by passing sanctions and supplying Russia with components.
Day 616 (1 Nov)
Russia launched an attack on 118 Ukrainian settlements in 24 hours and is one of the largest strikes since the war began. Western and central Ukraine have been targeted by Russian drones. The front line action is in the south, and in the east and central Ukraine has not been targeted as frequently as the grain ports, and of Thea settlements near the Donbas.
Not all Russians, support Russia, and there are troops from Siberia and other Rurel regions in Russia, who oppose the Kremlin. The soldiers choose to support Ukraine and are aware that the Russians seek them, but would recommend they surrender and join them in supporting Ukraine.
No other country would be willing to cede their own territory; NONE.