Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #15

[PommyMommy]

Thirty four days ago, Ukraine responded positively to the U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. And for thirty four days now, Russia has been openly refusing to cease fire. Putin remains focused on continuing the war. Russian state propagandists are preparing their audience for the idea that diplomacy will not bring any results.

There is only one reason for this – in Moscow, they are not afraid. If there is no strong enough pressure on Russia, they will keep doing what they are used to – they will keep waging war.

We all want this to end. Peace is needed – and it must be lasting. That is why Ukraine always works constructively with its partners, in all formats that can bring security and restore peace. We are not just ready for peace quickly – Ukraine has never wanted this war, not for a single second.

And when the war ends, the world will clearly know: it happened because Russia, the aggressor, was forced into peace. The same aggressor that came to Ukrainian land in 2014 – 11 years ago. And it’s important for everyone that this doesn’t take more years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1911855424271499426

 

[LovesPeace2]

Not really Russian Ukraine but equally important .putins up to something

Canberra confirms no Russian planes to be stationed in Indonesian air base

Indonesia has denied it will allow any Russian long-range aircraft at its air force base after reports send Canberra scrambling.

www.abc.net.au

The prospect of Russian long-range aircraft so close to the Australian mainland would set off alarm bells in Canberra

 

[Niner]

The Wall Street Journal reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg are urging President Donald Trump to resist territorial concessions to Moscow.

Well - I really HOPE they can talk some sense into him.... NO territorial concessions - but of course Moscow isn't going to go with that one...

 

[LovesPeace2]

Well - I really HOPE they can talk some sense into him.... NO territorial concessions - but of course Moscow isn't going to go with that one...

I really hope Zelenskyy doesn't do any deals with trump/ USA and to be honest what business does the USA have to try to give away another country s land. Trump has no rights to land in Ukraine, he has no business in Ukraine . USA wants minerals he wants the pipeline in Ukraine but the USA has no business in Ukraine and USA have no rights in Ukraine. Maybe if Putin is looking at getting back land maybe Putin should get Alaska from the USA just my opinion

 

[sds71]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1912230540893176221

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/top-hegseth-advisor-dan-caldwell-put-leave-pentagon-leak-probe-2025-04-15/

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Being fired or demoted by the Trump administration actually makes me think more highly of whatever person they fire or demote.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 15, 2025

Bloomberg: Putin signals he will continue killing Ukrainians until he gets what he wants despite Trump's peace efforts - Euromaidan Press

The envoy's suggestion that Ukraine must accept territorial concessions and abandon NATO aspirations after the meeting with the Russian ruler.

euromaidanpress.com

A Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which killed 34 people, including two children and injured over 100, has underscored how little progress US President Donald Trump is making in ending the war he claimed he could quickly resolve, according to Bloomberg.

Just two days prior to the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in St. Petersburg—their third meeting since February.

While European leaders swiftly condemned the assault, Trump’s response was muted. He called the strike “horrible,” and added, “I was told they made a mistake,” while not blaming Russia for this unprecendent attack.

Russia’s Z graffiti is marking the West for Putin's next war

From NATO sites to Holocaust memorials, Russia’s war symbols stain 15 countries — probing where its missiles might strike next.

euromaidanpress.com

By targeting Holocaust memorials, Ukrainian monuments, and national messaging, the Kremlin not only seeks to provoke outrage but to blur the lines between victim and aggressor, liberator and occupier — a classic disinformation tactic used to fracture collective memory and political clarity.

One of the most disturbing patterns in Russia’s visual propaganda campaign abroad is the systematic defacement of Holocaust memorials — weaponizing World War II memory, which is central to Russia’s propaganda framing of its invasion as “de-Nazification.” This way, Moscow twists history to justify aggression, blur moral boundaries, and recast itself as a liberator rather than the perpetrator of a new war.

WP: Trump administration proposes ending NATO funding - Euromaidan Press

The proposed elimination of U.S. support for NATO comes as the alliance faces unprecedented challenges from Russia's ongoing military actions in Ukraine and threats to European stability.

euromaidanpress.com

The US President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed halting funding for NATO, The Washington Post reports, citing an internal document obtained by the outlet.

The US’s funding of NATO is crucial in the face of Russia’s threats to Ukraine, the EU, and other global security challenges. Its support helps deter Russian aggression by ensuring NATO remains a credible and unified military alliance, capable of responding to any hostile actions. This funding is also vital for supporting Ukraine, as NATO has pledged billions in security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself and maintain regional stability.

The document recommends that the State Department further reduce expenditures, including funding for the UN and other international organizations.

North Korean artillery now dominates Russia's ammunition supply in war against Ukraine, investigation says

The majority of artillery shells used by Russian forces in Ukraine in 2024 were manufactured in North Korea, according to a joint investigation by Reuters and the Open Source Center (OSС), published on April 15.

kyivindependent.com

North Korea has become a key military ally of Russia, supplying artillery shells, missiles, and reportedly even soldiers in exchange for oil products and advanced rocket technology.

Internal technical reports from Russia’s Defense Ministry, obtained by investigators, indicate that in some Russian military units, between 75% and 100% of artillery shells are North Korean-made. Overall, North Korea is providing roughly half of all artillery shells used by Russian troops, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), as cited by Reuters.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 15, 2025

'First to suffer' — Russia singles out Poland, Baltics in threat to NATO

These countries have shown "high aggressiveness" towards Russia and are "constantly rattling their weapons," Russia's Foreign Intelligence Director Sergey Naryshkin said on April 15.

kyivindependent.com

Poland and the Baltic states would be the "first to suffer" in a direct conflict between NATO and the Russian Federation, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin said on April 15.

Any NATO aggression against Russia or Belarus would have damaging consequences for Poland and the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, Naryshkin told the Russian state news outlet TASS.

"They should understand, but do not yet understand, that in the event of aggression by the North Atlantic Alliance against (Russia and Belarus), damage will be done, of course, to the entire NATO bloc, but to a greater extent, the first to suffer will be the bearers of such ideas among the political circles of Poland and the Baltic countries," Naryshkin said.

Trump excuses Sumy attack as ‘mistake’ — Russia’s track record says otherwise

After Russia launched a missile strike at the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday — killing 35 civilians, including children, and injuring over 100 others — U.S. President Donald Trump wrote off the attack as a “mistake.” "I think it was terrible, and I was told they made a mistake, but

kyivindependent.com

After Russia launched a missile strike at the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday — killing 35 civilians, including children, and injuring over 100 others — U.S. President Donald Trump wrote off the attack as a “mistake.”

Below is a list of Russia’s deadliest attacks on civilians on record since the start of the full-scale invasion. The list reveals a pattern of targeted attacks at civilian centers, with little or no evidence to suggest the strikes were failed attempts at hitting Ukrainian military targets.

Russia has systematically destroyed evidence and prevented international investigations into its strikes — including the bombing of the Mariupol drama theater on March 16, 2022, where between 300 to 600 people are estimated to have been killed while they were taking shelter.

Kremlin to revive Soviet-era Komsomol school to indoctrinate youth

Russia will launch a new program called the Digoria Political Education Workshop to provide "ideological training" to personnel who work with youth, a source in the Kremlin told Russian state media.

kyivindependent.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously drawn inspiration from the Soviet era when enacting modern-day Kremlin policy. In 2023, the government launched the state youth group Movement of the First, which Putin suggested naming the "Pioneers" — a callback to the Soviet-era organization for children.

Moscow's policy of "military and patriotic education" relies on schools, youth organizations, and camps to heavily militarize children, instilling loyalty among the younger generation towards Putin's expansionist ideology.

 

[PommyMommy]

Today, @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte is in Ukraine. We discussed the security of Ukraine, our entire Europe, and the Euro-Atlantic region, as well as relations with all our partners in Europe and America.

The main focus was on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. Absolutely everyone sees how urgent Ukraine's need is for air defense systems and missiles for them. We are counting on the implementation of our agreements on air defense with partners in Europe and America. Patriot systems are defensive weapons, and we're not just asking for Patriots — we are ready to purchase them. This is a purely political matter — the systems are available in the world, the missiles for the Patriots are also available, and whether we will have sufficient protection from Russian ballistic strikes depends entirely on political decisions.I am grateful to every leader who does not turn a blind eye to the reality — that lasting peace can only be achieved through determination.

I am grateful to @SecGenNATO for the unwavering support for Ukraine since the earliest days of this war.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1912152916082766085

“These are red lines for us — recognizing any temporarily occupied territories as Russian. Trump’s representative, Witkoff, is discussing matters beyond his competence” — Zelensky

https://twitter.com/x/status/1912164115709042725

 

[TootsieFootsie]

MSN

The Independent

Trump has a deep grudge against Zelensky – but he’s now taken it further than ever before​

 

[Niner]

Poland and the Baltic states would be the "first to suffer" in a direct conflict between NATO and the Russian Federation, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin said on April 15.

Any NATO aggression against Russia or Belarus would have damaging consequences for Poland and the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, Naryshkin told the Russian state news outlet TASS.

"They should understand, but do not yet understand, that in the event of aggression by the North Atlantic Alliance against (Russia and Belarus), damage will be done, of course, to the entire NATO bloc, but to a greater extent, the first to suffer will be the bearers of such ideas among the political circles of Poland and the Baltic countries," Naryshkin said.

Oh God - I truly HOPE NOT!!! Should I get prepared to leave??

 

[Lilibet]

Oh God - I truly HOPE NOT!!! Should I get prepared to leave??

I’m so sorry, Niner. You’re in a scary position. Big hugs! If it were me, I’d treat it like one of our wildfires on the west coast where you used to live. We all have Go Bags with our important documents, money, clothing, etc. We have those packed at all times. So I would have whatever you need already gathered if you have to leave. Even family photos in some form. Keep your gas tank full. Provide for pets. You know the drill.

We also would have already decided where we will go…a few options. Where do you think you’d want to go? Or could go? I’m not sure of your citizenship. Can you make fairly definite plans now for later at that destination?

I think if you get this kind of preparation done now, you can relax a bit…on alert. Or you can go before you get the notice to “evacuate.” Avoid the rush and stress. But that means uprooting yourself possibly for no reason. What feels sensible and safest to you?

This is just my personal opinion, but if you can let go of sentimental attachment to people, places and things as much as possible it can help you make smart decisions. That doesn’t mean letting go of love.

I hope things work out easily for you, @Niner. Keep us posted. Sending more huge hugs!

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Hugs from me Niner.

Hoping for you that things will settle down and it won't come near you.

 

[Niner]

I’m so sorry, Niner. You’re in a scary position. Big hugs! If it were me, I’d treat it like one of our wildfires on the west coast where you used to live. We all have Go Bags with our important documents, money, clothing, etc. We have those packed at all times. So I would have whatever you need already gathered if you have to leave. Even family photos in some form. Keep your gas tank full. Provide for pets. You know the drill.

We also would have already decided where we will go…a few options. Where do you think you’d want to go? Or could go? I’m not sure of your citizenship. Can you make fairly definite plans now for later at that destination?

I think if you get this kind of preparation done now, you can relax a bit…on alert. Or you can go before you get the notice to “evacuate.” Avoid the rush and stress. But that means uprooting yourself possibly for no reason. What feels sensible and safest to you?

This is just my personal opinion, but if you can let go of sentimental attachment to people, places and things as much as possible it can help you make smart decisions. That doesn’t mean letting go of love.

I hope things work out easily for you, @Niner. Keep us posted. Sending more huge hugs! View attachment 579511

I will definitely do this "go Bag"! Thank you for that suggestion!

Where would I go - probably to Sweden - if they are not involved. My sister & her husband live there - plus that is where my parents escaped to in 1944 when the Russian Soviet invaded back then. But they took a small fishing boat - hoping for a plane.

I have dual citizenship - U.S. & Latvian. I could always go to the U.S. Embassy here also - and "see" what they have planned for U.S. citizens if Russia invades. No real "attachments" here. Well, my bro lives here too - but I don't think he would leave - maybe for awhile - but who knows - I shall have to ask him - what he plans on doing IF that happens!

Unfortunately I live in the capital of Latvia - in Riga - and you know they will bomb this first! If not the borders on the East.

And thanks for that HUG! Much needed!

Hugs from me Niner.


View attachment 579512


Hoping for you that things will settle down and it won't come near you.

Thanks for that HUG! And yes - hoping everything will settle down - and "someone" stops this war in Ukraine!! It probably won't be trump....

 

[PommyMommy]

MSN

The Independent

Trump has a deep grudge against Zelensky – but he’s now taken it further than ever before​

Uggggggggggggggh.

Noting:

Soon after the massacre in Sumy, where two Iskander missiles slammed into the provincial Ukrainian capital killing 35 people, including two children, Trump sloughed off the atrocity by claiming it had been a Russian mistake.

Before most of the bodies could be collected from the city morgue, though, he had gone on the offensive by doubling down on his efforts to pin Ukraine’s suffering on its president.

“When you start a war, you got to know you can win,” he said of Ukraine’s leader.

...he went further into the realms of bully-backing with his statement on Monday that “you don’t start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you missiles”.

 

[PommyMommy]

Oh God - I truly HOPE NOT!!! Should I get prepared to leave??

Sadly, I would say yes. Definitely have a plan in place. I'm so sorry.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 16, 2025

Rubio and Witkoff to meet French leaders for talks on Ukraine peace efforts - Euromaidan Press

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Paris this week for high-stakes talks on Ukraine, Iran and trade issues with French leadership.

euromaidanpress.com

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Gaza wars, will travel to Paris this week, Politico reported on 16 April.

Witkoff is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. Rubio will hold discussions with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, according to two sources familiar with the trip preparations.

Bloomberg: US reduces Ukraine aid calculation to $ 100 bn in minerals deal negotiation - Euromaidan Press

The United States lowered its estimate of Ukraine aid from $300 billion to approximately $100 billion during negotiations over a profit-sharing economic partnership.

euromaidanpress.com

During ongoing negotiations over an economic partnership between Ukraine and the United States, the Trump administration softened its demands for the return of aid provided to Kyiv during the three years of full-scale war with Russia, Bloomberg reported on 16 April.

Officials have lowered the figure from $300 billion to approximately $100 billion, bringing it more in line with Ukraine’s own calculation of over $90 billion.

“We are very, very close,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg News in Buenos Aires regarding the status of the negotiations. “It could even be signed as early as this week.”

North Korea earns over $20 billion aiding Russia's war effort, report says

A South Korean think tank suggests North Korea prefers "in-kind and technical assistance" that enhances its own defense industry and supports its long-term strategic goals.

kyivindependent.com

North Korea's military support for Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has already earned Pyongyang more than $20 billion, according to South Korea's Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), Newsweek reported on April 16.

KIDA's estimates show that most revenue stems from large-scale artillery ammunition shipments. North Korean munitions now account for roughly half of the Russian army's artillery needs in Ukraine, with some frontline units entirely reliant on the shells.

Russia jails 4 journalists over alleged work with Navalny's foundation

The case concerned Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Krieger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov, who were said to be producing video content for Navalny-affiliated YouTube channels, including the Navalny Live platform.

kyivindependent.com

A Russian court sentenced four journalists to five and a half years in prison each on April 15 for their alleged involvement with Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Moscow has labeled an "extremist organization," independent outlet Mediazona reported.

The case concerned Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Krieger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov, who were said to be producing video content for Navalny-affiliated YouTube channels, including the Navalny Live platform.

 

[Stunned]

I will definitely do this "go Bag"! Thank you for that suggestion!

Where would I go - probably to Sweden - if they are not involved. My sister & her husband live there - plus that is where my parents escaped to in 1944 when the Russian Soviet invaded back then. But they took a small fishing boat - hoping for a plane.

I have dual citizenship - U.S. & Latvian. I could always go to the U.S. Embassy here also - and "see" what they have planned for U.S. citizens if Russia invades. No real "attachments" here. Well, my bro lives here too - but I don't think he would leave - maybe for awhile - but who knows - I shall have to ask him - what he plans on doing IF that happens!

Unfortunately I live in the capital of Latvia - in Riga - and you know they will bomb this first! If not the borders on the East.

And thanks for that HUG! Much needed!



Thanks for that HUG! And yes - hoping everything will settle down - and "someone" stops this war in Ukraine!! It probably won't be trump....

Please stay safe!

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 16, 2025

Duda dismisses threats against Poland and Baltics as Russian disinformation

"Russia, which is behaving aggressively towards NATO and implementing its brutal and bloodthirsty imperialism, has been attacking Ukraine for three years," Polish President Andrzej Duda said.

kyivindependent.com

Polish President Andrzej Duda on April 16 denounced Russia for its "bloodthirsty imperialism" and dismissed threats made to Poland and the Baltic states.

"Russia, which is behaving aggressively towards NATO and implementing its brutal and bloodthirsty imperialism, has been attacking Ukraine for three years," Duda said.

"Everything NATO does is a response to Russian aggression... NATO has never attacked anyone and does not attack, it is an alliance that exclusively supports security," he added.

Two Ukrainian OSCE staff remain in Russian captivity after three years - Euromaidan Press

Two Ukrainian citizens working for the OSCE monitoring mission have been sentenced to 13 years and face deportation to Russia on fabricated espionage charges.

euromaidanpress.com

Armed men arrested Petrov on 14 April 2022. They broke into his apartment and forced him face down on the floor. The next day, masked men stormed Shabanov’s home in Kadiivka and dragged him out of bed.

Both men worked for the OSCE monitoring mission in the Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast since the beginning of Russian occupation. They held documents granting them diplomatic immunity.

“They are neither Russian citizens nor citizens of the so-called ‘LNR’ (so-called ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’).They never changed their passports or nationality. Nevertheless, they were convicted under laws that shouldn’t have applied to them,” explains lawyer Yevheniia Kapalkina, who represents their families.

Ukraine intelligence: North Korean forces may join new Russian offensive on Sumy, Kharkiv - Euromaidan Press

North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces mastered modern combat tactics and could join new Russian offensives against Ukraine's northeastern oblasts, according to a senior Ukrainian defense official.

euromaidanpress.com

North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces mastered modern combat tactics and could join new Russian offensives against Ukraine’s northeastern oblasts, according to a senior Ukrainian defense official.

According to Chernyak, North Korean troops suffered approximately 5,000 casualties, but 6,000 soldiers remain combat-ready in Kursk. ...

North Korean troops in Ukraine rely on near-suicidal tactics, which involve grenade detonations to avoid capture and using soldiers as bait for drones.

‘The F**king Guys Are Dying!’ – Intercepted Call Reveals Chaos and Command Breakdown in Russian Army

A new intercept reveals a panicked Russian commander shouting at subordinates over failed coordination, admitting troops are dying due to delays and chaos in battlefield operations.

www.kyivpost.com

According to the Russian officer himself, the delay has already cost lives.

“The guys are dying, and we can’t even help, f**k,” he says.

The intercept once again highlights the disorganization, poor command structure, and collapsing morale within the Russian military. The absence of clear orders, lack of coordination, and sheer panic are leading to chaos on the battlefield – and loss of personnel.

 

[PommyMommy]

Flour from wheat that grew on recently demined Ukrainian fields was used to bake traditional Easter bread (paska) in the US.

Grain for this bread grew in eastern Kharkiv Oblast heavily shelled and mined by Russian forces. The wheat even nearly burned in a granary after nearby strikes but was salvaged and milled into flour.

This flour traveled across the globe to New York's iconic Ukrainian restaurant Veselka. There, UN diplomats, entrepreneurs, and community leaders from Germany, Japan, Italy, Korea, Croatia, and Denmark gathered to bake paska bread together.

Demining efforts in Ukraine affect millions worldwide who depend on its agricultural exports and demonstrate Ukrainian resilience amid Russian aggression.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1912637270953165096

Cherry blossom season has begun in Uzhhorod, a city in the western part of Ukraine

The Japanese cherry trees are blooming a bit later this year due to the cold snap in early April.

These beautiful sakuras, first planted during the Czechoslovak period (1919-1939), have thrived in the local climate and now line entire avenues throughout the city.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1912598917918707907

Trump prolongs ban on Russian vessels in American ports for another year - Euromaidan Press

Citing continued threats to national security, President Trump has renewed the ban preventing Russian-affiliated vessels from accessing American ports through 2026.

euromaidanpress.com

US President Donald Trump extended the ban on Russian vessels entering American ports for another year, according to an order published in the US Federal Register.

According to the directive, Russia’s policies and actions “continue to pose a threat to US national security” through violations of international relations.

The original ban was first implemented by former President Joe Biden in April 2022, prohibiting ships under Russian flags or vessels with Russian connections from entering US ports. This restriction has been extended multiple times since then.

Over 40% of Ukrainian forces' weapons domestically produced, Zelensky says

"The trend is unchanged: Ukraine will do more and more (weapons) to guarantee its security — on its own and together with partners," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

kyivindependent.com

More than 40% of the weapons used at the front line are produced in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 16 on the occasion of the Day of the Defense Industry Worker.

"The trend is unchanged: Ukraine will do more and more (weapons) to guarantee its security — on its own and together with partners," Zelensky said.

"Ukraine will always need its own strong weapons so that we can have our own strong Ukrainian state. Ukraine will always need its own technological superiority so that Russia knows that we will respond to every attack," he added.