Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #4

[PommyMommy]

So Ukrainian forces have gotten control back?

Sounds like it.

Energoatom - Wikipedia
Energoatom, full name National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine (Ukrainian: НАЕК "Енергоатом") is a Ukrainian state enterprise operating all four nuclear power stations in Ukraine.[2]

 

[Herat]

Also from Reuter's

Turkey's Erdogan is going to meet with Putin on March 6.

Erdogan To Speak With Putin As Turkey Pushes For End To Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet at his residence in Sochi in September 2021.
A spokesman for Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the Turkish president will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 6 and that Ankara is ready to do what it can to stop the war in Ukraine.

Turkey, a NATO member, has close relations with both Kyiv and Russia and has been urging an end to the fighting since Putin announced the full-scale invasion on February 24.

Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in Istanbul on March 5 that Turkey was ready to help resolve the crisis.

He repeated Turkey's offer to host talks between Russia and Ukraine and called for an immediate stop to the violence.

Kalin repeated Erdogan's desire to maintain ties with both Moscow and Kyiv.

Russia's ambassador to UN institutions in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, on March 4 welcomed Ankara's proposal to set up a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers during a diplomatic forum in Antalya on March 11-13.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that Kyiv wanted "a responsible international mediator" because the Ukrainians "don't trust the Russian Federation at all."

Podolyak suggested that Turkey, Hungary, or Poland could possibly host talks.

Ukrainian delegates have held two rounds of talks with Russian counterparts since the invasion began.

Erdogan has held separate talks with Zelenskiy, who is in Kyiv leading the military and civilian defense of Ukraine, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who vowed on March 5 further legal measures next week to sanction wealthy Russians seen as close to the Kremlin.

Based on reporting by Reuters

ETA: After March 8, Turkish Airlines will be one of the very foreign airlines that will be able to access Russia.

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 15 minutes ago
️Zelensky calls on Ukrainians to continue resistance.
In the recent address, he praised civilians for standing up to the Russian occupation.

"Every meter of our Ukrainian land won by protest and humiliation of the occupiers is a step forward, towards victory."

 

[PommyMommy]

Just unconscionable.

Not included in the caption below: the young girl in the video, who was in school during an explosion and who is also seen with injuries says, "There were lots of children in the school."

MAR 5, 2022
Ukrainian Schools Reduced To Rubble In Russian Attacks (rferl.org) - Video
Across Ukraine, schools have been destroyed in Russian shelling and air strikes. In one, an injured child made a video on her Instagram feed saying: "I hope things are better where you are.... Send this video to all your Russian friends."

 

[Bit of hope]

Kadyrovites leave psychoneurological hospital seized earlier today

Kadyrovites leave psychoneurological hospital seized earlier today

 

[JerseyGirl]

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...-singapore-announces-sanctions-against-russia

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gas sector and suspend credit card access, and backed an idea to ban Russian oil imports to the U.S. that’s been gaining support in Congress.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said Zelenskyy emphasized during a private call Saturday with the U.S. lawmakers that the energy sector needs to be sanctioned.

“Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Graham said in a video.

During the call, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning Russian oil to the U.S., according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

Zelenskyy indicated he was 100% on board with banning Russian oil to the U.S. and told the senators it would be very helpful, the people said.

Zelensky also asked them to suspend access to Visa and Mastercard credit cards in Russia, according to another person granted anonymity to discuss the call.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 5, 2022
Ukrainian loses parent to Russian propaganda: 'I can consider myself an orphan' (kyivindependent.com)
“I woke up from a call from a friend. He told me Russia was bombing Kyiv,” says Artem Basistiy, a 29-year-old from Crimea, who had lived in Kyiv for the last four years.

“Then I heard a siren going off, quickly grabbed the dog, and ran to the shelter. After the air raid was over, I called my mom to tell her I was alive, she answered ‘what are you talking about? Of course, you are. Putin is trying to save you.’

[...]

“I begged my mom not to watch Russian propaganda and to open other sources — Ukrainian, American, or British, doesn’t matter. But she told me they were zombifying us,” Artem said.

[...]

On the fourth day of the war, he decided to join the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine. So far, he has not entered its ranks, waiting for his turn.

“I called her again in a few days, hoping she followed my advice, read some independent news outlets, and watched videos I sent her,” Artem said. “Unfortunately, nothing changed at all. Even after the destroyed apartment buildings in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Sumy… She said we were hitting our own citizens with high-precision artillery.”

[...]

Later Basistiy posted a story on Instagram saying: “02/03/2022, the day I lost my mom.”

He was devastated, wanted to tear everything, throw things, cry, bang his head against the wall. He was having a nervous breakdown, he said. He hoped that at least his father would support and believe him, but he couldn’t know for sure as there was no way to reach him.

[...]

Basistiy’s father is from Grozny, Chechnya, the city war-torn by Russia twice, in 1994-1996 and 1999-2000, what is known as the First and Second Chechen War. His family fled to Crimea accompanied by soldiers, having only minimal belongings.

“My father knows what war is firsthand. I really hope that we will get in touch soon and he will understand everything and be able to convey this to my mom. Otherwise, I can consider myself an orphan with 100% certainty.”

 

[JerseyGirl]

Shell Says It Bought Russian Oil After Government Talk
Company will divert Russia profits to humanitarian fund

After taking a barrage of criticism for buying a cargo of Russian crude, Europe’s largest oil company Shell Plc says it’s navigating the market with government guidance.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Yesterday it was all over the news (which I've been watching obsessively) that Russian soldiers are holding the workers there at gunpoint and making sure they work. Maybe somewhere in his cretin brain, Putin realizes that allowing the nuclear plant to abruptly halt operations, which would destroy the coolers, would bring radiation toward Moscow.

ETA: just recalling how Putin launched this whole tragedy with that rambling, hour-long speech about how Ukraine has always been a part of Russia, how they are the same people, etc. and how he wants to "liberate" them so they can be together again.

IMO it's akin to your teenager running away and refusing to come home, so you hire assassins to murder your child. All of this is Putin's desire for a legacy of reuniting the former Soviet Union.

Aren't they doing the same at Chernobyl?

 

[Bit of hope]

MAR 5, 2022
Ukrainian loses parent to Russian propaganda: 'I can consider myself an orphan' (kyivindependent.com)
“I woke up from a call from a friend. He told me Russia was bombing Kyiv,” says Artem Basistiy, a 29-year-old from Crimea, who had lived in Kyiv for the last four years.

“Then I heard a siren going off, quickly grabbed the dog, and ran to the shelter. After the air raid was over, I called my mom to tell her I was alive, she answered ‘what are you talking about? Of course, you are. Putin is trying to save you.’

[...]

“I begged my mom not to watch Russian propaganda and to open other sources — Ukrainian, American, or British, doesn’t matter. But she told me they were zombifying us,” Artem said.

[...]

On the fourth day of the war, he decided to join the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine. So far, he has not entered its ranks, waiting for his turn.

“I called her again in a few days, hoping she followed my advice, read some independent news outlets, and watched videos I sent her,” Artem said. “Unfortunately, nothing changed at all. Even after the destroyed apartment buildings in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Sumy… She said we were hitting our own citizens with high-precision artillery.”

[...]

Later Basistiy posted a story on Instagram saying: “02/03/2022, the day I lost my mom.”

He was devastated, wanted to tear everything, throw things, cry, bang his head against the wall. He was having a nervous breakdown, he said. He hoped that at least his father would support and believe him, but he couldn’t know for sure as there was no way to reach him.

[...]

Basistiy’s father is from Grozny, Chechnya, the city war-torn by Russia twice, in 1994-1996 and 1999-2000, what is known as the First and Second Chechen War. His family fled to Crimea accompanied by soldiers, having only minimal belongings.

“My father knows what war is firsthand. I really hope that we will get in touch soon and he will understand everything and be able to convey this to my mom. Otherwise, I can consider myself an orphan with 100% certainty.”

Oh...wow...terrible, really heartbreaking.

 

[MassGuy]

This woman is just incredible.

CNN’s @clarissaward stops her live report to help elderly civilians trying to flee Kyiv evacuate as Russian forces close in on the capital city.

https://twitter.com/cnn/status/1500076163691171840?s=21

 

[ilovewings]

Ukraine war: Putin says Western sanctions are like a declaration of WAR | Daily Mail Online

I fear Putin the horrible is itching to engage the United States in third world war; he is drunk and mad with power- he needs to be eliminated by somebody, somehow.

 

[MassGuy]

Aren't they doing the same at Chernobyl?

Chernobyl is inactive. They apparently want that area because of geography, as it gives them the shortest route from Belarus to Kyiv.

 

[Herat]

After March 8, the number of commercial flights than can land in Russia, proper are going to be severely restricted:

Turkish Airlines & Pegasus Airlines, Emirates, and some other Mid-East flights ( Qatar Airlines, ? Egypt Air, Royal Jordanian ?) Korean Air will have one weekly flight from Seoul, 0nly it appears.

No other Asian flights, no US / Latin America / Canadian / European flights.

If you can get to Istanbul, it looks like you'll still be able to get directly into 'Stan countries under Russian control like Uzbekistan. From Dehli, you can get Qatar Airlines to Moscow.

But pretty much all commercial air traffic into Russia is going to funnel through Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, & such , Dehli, Seoul. This ought to be interesting to watch

 

[CSIDreamer]

Very easy to understand explanation:

https://twitter.com/ICRC/status/1499765222936096779?t=SBaEDaSZLbyjXfAI3XumZg&s=19

We’ve received thousands of questions on the Geneva Conventions.

So, we’re going to break down the rules of war you need to know right now.

All states have signed these – and are legally obligated to follow them.

Thread

Civilians.

They cannot be attacked.
They must be protected.
They are not a target.

Whatever wording you use – the message is the same. It is illegal.

Combatants.

Combatants must distinguish themselves from civilians in all military operations by wearing identifiable insignia and carrying arms openly. This helps protect civilians from harm.

Combatants must respect the rules of war. Period.

Civilian infrastructure.

This is schools, hospitals, civilians’ homes, water plants that supply clean water, and electricity lines.

Basically, everything that civilians need to go about their daily lives.

These are also not a target. We cannot stress this enough.

The sick and wounded.

They must be cared for, regardless of the side they’re on.

Parties to the conflict must also recover and identify those who have died and facilitate their return – in a dignified manner.

We can assist by acting as a neutral intermediary.

Prisoners of war and detainees.

The law states they must be protected. This includes from acts of violence, intimidation, and ill-treatment.

They also must be treated with dignity, and not exposed to public curiosity – like circulating images on social media.

Weapons.

The use of illegal weapons and the illegal use of weapons is prohibited. No ifs or buts.

The use of heavy explosive weapons in populated areas - so in cities - should be avoided.

Civilians only end up paying the price.

Aid workers and humanitarian organizations.

We must be allowed to operate safely. Our work is to bring aid and save lives.

Sanctions and other restrictive measures must be designed to allow humanitarian action to happen.

In all situations, lifesaving aid must not be blocked.

Red cross red crescent emblems.

They're protective emblems. In conflict, they must only be used for:

Medical staff and facilities, including army medics and vehicles.

Red Cross Red Crescent workers, vehicles, facilities and the humanitarian relief they bring.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Chernobyl is inactive. They apparently want that area because of geography, as it gives them the shortest route from Belarus to Kyiv.

I thought they had a security team there or something they were holding hostage?

 

[dotr]

Warning, The beginning of the first posted video is beyond heartbreaking. Later, P is surrounded by young women (Stewardesses?) all of whom, imo look quietly horrified, speculation.
March 5 2022

March 4 2022
DOZENS of British war heroes flock to Ukraine to take on Russia

 

[Arkay]

Aren't they doing the same at Chernobyl?

Chernobyl is defunct.

Years ago, I had a student who was from Chernobyl and was there when it exploded. He was 13 and had a brain tumor which was linked to the radioactive fallout. Of course, he was only one of many who suffered life-long illnesses because of this.

Chernobyl was an accident, though. It is hard for anyone to imagine that there exists a man who would INTENTIONALLY fire on a nuclear facility. Thank God, this time the radiation was contained. Next time, who knows? If Putin gets his family and cronies into a radiation-safe bunker somewhere, it wouldn't surprise me if he had his forces completely destroy a nuclear facility.

Today he hired 1,000 mercenaries to join the Russian army. Maybe he thinks his own forces aren't accomplishing enough of his plan. I could certainly picture him allowing fire and radiation to finish the job of destroying Ukraine. You know, a variation of "if I can't have you, no one can."

IMO

 

[MassGuy]

I thought they had a security team there or something they were holding hostage?

There were reports of that a while back. That would ensure that Ukrainian forces couldn't retake it. I'm not sure how that played out.

 

[PommyMommy]

Kelly O'Donnell on Twitter - Video
With ⁦@SecBlinken inside Ukraine border, FM ⁦@DmytroKuleba says he expects
⁩NATO will change its position to do more to intervene because "the world has changed" and countries that never provided weapons are doing so now. It's a matter of when. Watch.

Al Jazeera English on Twitter - Video
Dramatic footage captures the moment a Russian missile hit Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv, knocking blogger Nikita Demenkov to the ground

War in Ukraine - Warnings of hostility against people of Russian origin in Germany (deutschlandfunk.de)