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Russia-Ukraine war latest: Poland calls for EU-Russia trade ban; Boris Johnson warns of ‘new age of intimidation’ – live | World news | The Guardian
3h ago 08:05
Aid agencies are been prevented from reaching people trapped in Ukrainian cities surrounded by Russian forces, the World Food Programme has said.
The UN agency’s emergency coordinator, Jakob Kern, told AFP that “the challenge is to get to the cities that are encircled or about to be encircled”, describing the situation as dire. He said it has been almost impossible to deliver emergency supplies to the besieged port city of Mariupol or the north-eastern cities of Kharkiv and Sumy. He said it was a tactic that was unacceptable in the 21st century.
[...]
2h ago 08:38
Vladimir Putin made a “catastrophic mistake” in invading Ukraine, Boris Johnson has said.
Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Blackpool, the UK prime minister said the country stood with the people of Ukraine. “With every day that Ukraine’s heroic resistance continues, it is clear that Putin has made a catastrophic mistake,” he said.
Johnson questioned why Putin had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, rejecting the idea that it was over concerns about the country joining Nato. “He was frightened of Ukraine, because in Ukraine, they have a free press. And in Ukraine, they had free elections and with every year Ukraine has progressed, not always easily, towards freedom and democracy and open markets, he feared the Ukrainian example, and he feared the implicit reproach to himself,” Johnson said.
The prime minister contrasted this with the situation in Russia. “In Putin’s Russia, you get jailed for 15 years just for calling an invasion an invasion. And if you stand against Putin in an election, you get poisoned or shot.”
[...]
1h ago 09:13
[...]
He [Boris Johnson] described Putin as a “a backstreet pusher, feeding addiction, creating dependence” on Russia’s gas and oil.
“Putin’s war is intended to cause economic damage to the west and to benefit him,” he told the conference.
He knows that with every dollar increase in the price of a barrel of oil, he gets billions more in revenues from the sales of either oil and gas, and that’s the tragedy of the situation.
Now he wants to weaken the collective will to resist by pushing up the cost of living, hitting us at the pumps and in our fuel bills, so we must respond.
[...]
9m ago 10:36
Russia deployed hypersonic missiles to warn Ukraine and the west that it “has the means to escalate” the conflict further, a defence expert has said.
Dr James Bosbotinis, a specialist in defence and international affairs, told the BBC it is not possible for the Ukrainian army to defend itself against attacks by these missiles. “The speed of the Kinzhal puts it beyond the reach of any Ukrainian air defence system and the launch platforms can launch from ranges beyond the reach of Ukraine.” He said the hypersonic missile was likely launched from southern Russia.
Bosbotinis said hitting the “high value target” of an underground military depot “is sending the message to Ukraine that Russia has the means to escalate this conflict further ... It’s also a warning to the west that Russia can of course, up the ante in Ukraine and the Kinzhal could also be deployed if the war escalated and drew in external powers.” He said it was “messaging” that Russia could hit targets in other parts of Europe.
Urgent 11 staff members of the #Belarusian embassy in Ukraine left the territory of #Ukraine today, led by the ambassador What could this mean in diplomacy?
https://twitter.com/PavelLatushka/status/1505183015588278273
whiterhino, I did not think your comments insensitive. I don't mind hearing everyone's perspectives, I was just sharing mine. I hope in doing so I didn't sound confrontational about yours. That was not my intent. My apologies if it sounded that way.Apologies, my comment came across insensitive.
IMO those fleeing Ukraine are not on the same level as those from bordering countries even if they are fleeing from the same oppressor. Hadn't taken into account the fact that these sanctions against Russia are mostly effecting the citizens, such as internet, banking, job loss etc. Still, to me it's not the same as having your workplace bombed while you're administering medicine or some other example.
Having said that, I still feel that the Russian people (citizens) are not in danger in the same way and therefore shouldn't be afforded the same privilege as those who are fleeing Ukraine. Again, JMO, IMO, MOO.
Russia-Ukraine World news | The Guard
<snipped for focus>
9m ago 10:36
Russia deployed hypersonic missiles to warn Ukraine and the west that it “has the means to escalate” the conflict further, a defence expert has said.
Dr James Bosbotinis, a specialist in defence and international affairs, told the BBC it is not possible for the Ukrainian army to defend itself against attacks by these missiles. “The speed of the Kinzhal puts it beyond the reach of any Ukrainian air defence system and the launch platforms can launch from ranges beyond the reach of Ukraine.” He said the hypersonic missile was likely launched from southern Russia.
Bosbotinis said hitting the “high value target” of an underground military depot “is sending the message to Ukraine that Russia has the means to escalate this conflict further ... It’s also a warning to the west that Russia can of course, up the ante in Ukraine and the Kinzhal could also be deployed if the war escalated and drew in external powers.” He said it was “messaging” that Russia could hit targets in other parts of Europe.
From Forbes:Are these the same hypersonic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads and reach the west without being detected? Will have to do some research on this.
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March 19 2022
A Chinese vlogger shared videos of war-torn Ukraine. He's been labeled a national traitor - CNN
''(CNN)Wang Jixian didn't set out to become the Chinese voice of resistance in Ukraine. The 36-year-old resident of Odesa, a key target in Russia's invasion of the country, simply wanted to show his parents he was fine.''
''But his mood darkened as the days passed and the Russian assault escalated. When he logged onto Douyin, he said he would see Chinese videos praising Russian troops or supporting the invasion.''
I was very angry, then I thought I would record videos for them, and I'll tell them what the real battlefield is," he told CNN.
His daily videos, posted across various platforms including YouTube and the Chinese messaging app WeChat, quickly gained traction as a rare voice offering Chinese audiences a glimpse into war-torn Ukraine -- a stark contrast from Chinese state media, which has promoted Russian disinformation such as unfounded claims Ukrainian soldiers are using "Nazi" tactics.''
''Wang had studied art in college, and enjoyed dance, music and painting -- so when he moved to Odesa four years ago for work, the city's "artistic atmosphere" immediately appealed to him. One video on his Douyin account last year showed a man playing piano in a colorful room filled with books and paintings.
His videos look very different now. Several are filmed late at night, with the sound of explosions and air raid sirens in the background. Other clips show snapshots of daily life -- quiet streets, Ukrainian flags hung outside buildings and painted onto walls.''
"I want to (provide) some voice for the people in Ukraine, for the heroes, for my neighbors. Because in my eyes they are all heroes," he said. "I see people being calm, I see people brave ... I want to remind you to see who is dying, who has been killed."
''When he isn't filming videos, Wang provides volunteer support in repairing people's cell phones and assisting the displaced.
"(If) I turned back and left, it would be enough to make me regret for the rest of my life," he said. "I have no interest or desire to leave Ukraine until the war is ended and Ukraine has won."
I am really glad Stepan’s owner and Stepan have reached safety. It is incredibly heartbreaking and very distressing to think of all the women, men, children and animals who have died or are injured and those who remain in Ukraine in danger fearing for their lives.
There have been many stories of people who are risking their lives to try and rescue their animals or people who are staying behind to care for the animals in the Zoo in Ukraine and animal rescue organisations in the country. Tragically there have been men and women who have been murdered because they went back home to rescue pets or refused to leave animals they were looking after. I read that in the Zoo in Ukraine they even have a keeper sleeping in the elephant enclosure trying to comfort the animals who are understandably very distressed and alarmed by the noises of the weapons being dropped close by. It is incredible how the war can show the best and worst of humanity at the same time.
My cat gets frightened by the noises of some fireworks going off on bonfire night and I have to comfort and calm him for a few hours. I can’t begin to imagine how much worse it must be in Ukraine with noise and flashes of light the explosives and shelling and how terrified everyone and the animals must be. It is just an unimaginable, horrific tragedy and I wish there was a way to stop the suffering immediately.