Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #8

[Bit of hope]

Liveblog | Oekraïne: dodental door raketaanval op treinstation Kramatorsk stijgt tot boven de 50

<Dutch> Cabinet gives Moldova 10 million euros for shelter Ukrainians

19:47 | The Netherlands is giving Moldova another ten million euros for the reception of Ukrainian refugees. More than 100,000 people from neighboring Ukraine reside in Europe's poorest country.

Minister Liesje Schreinemacher of Development Cooperation announced the contribution on Friday during a visit to the capital Chisinau. The money is intended for food, water, medical care and education, among other things. Earlier, the cabinet already gave half a million in relief goods such as blankets and tents. Five hundred Ukrainians from Moldova are also being transferred to the Netherlands.

The minister visited a reception center on the outskirts of the city. "We need to help relieve the pressure on Moldova," said Schreinemacher. 'People are doing what they can. But the country is really reaching the limits of its reception capacity.'

 

[Bit of hope]

New
Liveblog | Oekraïne: dodental door raketaanval op treinstation Kramatorsk stijgt tot boven de 50

Kind of weird....I'm just wondering if she has the mandate from the members.....

EU boss promises Ukraine accelerated accession process
19:42 | On her visit to Ukraine, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, promised a faster start to the Ukrainian accession process to the European Union. She did so during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky.

She handed Zelenski a questionnaire that forms the starting point for the EU to decide on membership. "It won't be a matter of years, as usual, to form this opinion, but a matter of weeks."

Zelensky said he will come up with the answers within a week. He also called for much more sanctions against Russia, in order to persuade the Moscow regime to stop its attacks on Ukraine.

Von der Leyen underlined the importance of the sanctions against the Russian invasion: "Russia will fall into economic, financial and technological decline, while Ukraine is heading for the European future, this is what I see."

 

[Niner]

My bro-in-law sent me this - this morning... and now I see that @dotr posted it also.

Kremlin rants against Baltic 'neo-Nazi' state in chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine | Daily Mail Online

April 9, 2022
Putin's deranged regime branded Latvia a 'neo-Nazi' state in a chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine after the Baltic state made May 9 a day of remembrance for victims of Russian aggression.

In an extraordinary rant, Moscow called Riga's decision to commemorate Ukrainian war victims next month - on the same day as Russia's Victory Day to mark the surrender of Nazi Germany - 'blasphemous'.

Latvian MPs passed the legislation to draw attention to ' Russia's military aggression'. Latvian national flags will be raised alongside Ukrainian flags at every residence and government building.

Let's HOPE this does NOT come to pass....
now wondering if I should get a ticket to Sweden - but then Russia wants them too!! What to do??!! I live here in Latvia.
What would you do??!

 

[scandinavian girl]

My bro-in-law sent me this - this morning... and now I see that @dotr posted it also.

Kremlin rants against Baltic 'neo-Nazi' state in chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine | Daily Mail Online

April 9, 2022
Putin's deranged regime branded Latvia a 'neo-Nazi' state in a chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine after the Baltic state made May 9 a day of remembrance for victims of Russian aggression.

In an extraordinary rant, Moscow called Riga's decision to commemorate Ukrainian war victims next month - on the same day as Russia's Victory Day to mark the surrender of Nazi Germany - 'blasphemous'.

Latvian MPs passed the legislation to draw attention to ' Russia's military aggression'. Latvian national flags will be raised alongside Ukrainian flags at every residence and government building.

Let's HOPE this does NOT come to pass....
now wondering if I should get a ticket to Sweden - but then Russia wants them too!! What to do??!! I live here in Latvia.
What would you do??!

I have been thinking of you ever since I read that, come to sweden if nothing happens you can go back. I have no Idea where to go if something happens here, Norway and then it is just ocean.....

 

[worldwatcher]

My bro-in-law sent me this - this morning... and now I see that @dotr posted it also.

Kremlin rants against Baltic 'neo-Nazi' state in chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine | Daily Mail Online

April 9, 2022
Putin's deranged regime branded Latvia a 'neo-Nazi' state in a chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine after the Baltic state made May 9 a day of remembrance for victims of Russian aggression.

In an extraordinary rant, Moscow called Riga's decision to commemorate Ukrainian war victims next month - on the same day as Russia's Victory Day to mark the surrender of Nazi Germany - 'blasphemous'.

Latvian MPs passed the legislation to draw attention to ' Russia's military aggression'. Latvian national flags will be raised alongside Ukrainian flags at every residence and government building.

Let's HOPE this does NOT come to pass....
now wondering if I should get a ticket to Sweden - but then Russia wants them too!! What to do??!! I live here in Latvia.
What would you do??!

Latvia is a NATO member, if I am not mistaken and read that there Canadian troops stationed..? Canada extending mission in Latvia amid NATO effort to deter Russian threat - National | Globalnews.ca

A few pages ago,someone asked - what the Russian tv is broadcasting...it seems like this:
https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/1512834235937267716
^Meanwhile on Russian state TV: along with losing his Italian villas to sanctions, state TV host Vladimir Solovyov seems to have lost his mind. This messaging—portraying Ukrainians as "satanic Nazis" and claiming Zelensky is not a Jew—is commonplace on Kremlin-controlled state TV.^
(Too many vodka shots?? Imo)

<modsnip>

 

[PommyMommy]

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 7 hrs ago
Trudeau announced new measures to make it easier for Ukrainian refugees to come to Canada, including charter flights to Canada, temporary hotel accommodation, and short-term income support for Ukrainian refugees, as well as additional $100 million in humanitarian support.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 6 hrs ago
Ukraine, Russia agree on 9 humanitarian corridors for April 10. Civilians will be evacuating from:
Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast;
Berdyansk, Tokmak, Energodar in Zaporizhzhia Oblast;
Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Popasna, Hirske, and Rubizhne in Luhansk Oblast.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
Ukrainian military reports destroying Russian forces’ ammunition depot on April 10. The location of the depot is not disclosed.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Zelensky: Some of Western aid arrived too late. President Volodymyr Zelensky told Associated Press that the weapons Ukraine had got from the West were not enough to turn the tide of the war. "For some of this kind of equipment (we got) it was too late," he said.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Kyiv is reopening after siege: 900 grocery stores, 460 cafes working, 535 car repair shops, 35 food markets, 55 bakeries, 75 clothes and shoes stores open, according to the city administration. The map of businesses that are open:
Бізнес, Київ - Google My Maps

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Zelensky: 'Mariupol is the heart of this war. If it stops beating, our positions will be weaker.' Zelensky told AP that the direction of the upcoming fight for the Donbas and the negotiations with Russia will depend on the results of the battle in the besieged city.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Russian missiles hit Dnipro airport again. Local authorities reported that the airport was ruined in a missile attack in mid-March. "Nothing left of the airport but the missiles keep coming," said Valentyn Reznichenko, governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 1 hr ago
Prosecutor General: 1,222 confirmed killings of civilians in Kyiv Oblast. Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova told Sky News her office has opened 56 criminal proceedings under the articles of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and has identified 500 Russian suspects.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
Putin, Lukashenko to meet in Russian Far East on April 12. The two dictators will discuss the war in Ukraine at Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East. Russian state-controlled media reported that there will be a press conference after the meeting.

 

[Niner]

I have been thinking of you ever since I read that, come to sweden if nothing happens you can go back. I have no Idea where to go if something happens here, Norway and then it is just ocean.....

My sister lives in Sweden - that's why I would go there. Norway - my bro's godson lives there - another option!
And thanks for thinking of me...

 

[Niner]

Latvia is a NATO member, if I am not mistaken and read that there Canadian troops stationed..? Canada extending mission in Latvia amid NATO effort to deter Russian threat - National | Globalnews.ca

A few pages ago,someone asked - what the Russian tv is broadcasting...it seems like this:
https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/1512834235937267716
^Meanwhile on Russian state TV: along with losing his Italian villas to sanctions, state TV host Vladimir Solovyov seems to have lost his mind. This messaging—portraying Ukrainians as "satanic Nazis" and claiming Zelensky is not a Jew—is commonplace on Kremlin-controlled state TV.^
(Too many vodka shots?? Imo)

<modsnip>

Yes, Latvia is a NATO country - so IF the Russians decide to invade - we will have NATO troops. The military base is about 15 miles from where I live.

And yes - too many shots of vodka!!??

 

[PommyMommy]

My bro-in-law sent me this - this morning... and now I see that @dotr posted it also.

Kremlin rants against Baltic 'neo-Nazi' state in chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine | Daily Mail Online

April 9, 2022
Putin's deranged regime branded Latvia a 'neo-Nazi' state in a chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine after the Baltic state made May 9 a day of remembrance for victims of Russian aggression.

In an extraordinary rant, Moscow called Riga's decision to commemorate Ukrainian war victims next month - on the same day as Russia's Victory Day to mark the surrender of Nazi Germany - 'blasphemous'.

Latvian MPs passed the legislation to draw attention to ' Russia's military aggression'. Latvian national flags will be raised alongside Ukrainian flags at every residence and government building.

Let's HOPE this does NOT come to pass....
now wondering if I should get a ticket to Sweden - but then Russia wants them too!! What to do??!! I live here in Latvia.
What would you do??!

Oh Niner, I've worried about you since the beginning of this and especially when there are troublesome reports concerning Latvia. Purchase a refundable ticket to Sweden? Be ready to go, if necessary? Stay safe, friend. MOO

 

[Niner]

Oh Niner, I've worried about you since the beginning of this and especially when there are troublesome reports concerning Latvia. Purchase a refundable ticket to Sweden? Be ready to go, if necessary? Stay safe, friend. MOO

Thank you! I will definitely try & be safe.
Actually there is a ferry that goes from Latvia to Sweden - so I could drive my car over there.

Would Mad Vlad REALLY invade Latvia & the other Baltic states?? Does he really want to get involved with the NATO troops?? ?? I really hope not...

 

[PommyMommy]

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 9 hrs ago
Russia still plans to hold sham referendum to proclaim "Kherson people's republic" in Ukraine's south Currently, the "referendum" promotion materials and forms are being printed in Nova Kakhovka's printing houses, Ukraine's General Staff reports.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 6 hrs ago
If you were curious how @BorisJohnson managed to get to Kyiv unnoticed on 9 April, here is the answer: our @Ukrzaliznytsia railroad workers know how to keep an intrigue. Telegram: Contact @up_strichka

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 5 hrs ago
The Ukrainian military destroyed a Russian convoy that headed towards the city of Izyum in Kharkiv Oblast - Kharkiv Regional Adm. Head Oleh Synehubov Telegram: Contact @pryamiy

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
. @maxar satellite images of 8 April showed an almost 8-mile long convoy on move in Kharkiv Oblast. So far no images of the destroyed convoy were published and it is unclear whether Mr. Synehubov referred to the convoy shown in Maxar imagery.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter- 4 hrs ago
Ukrainian Air Force has shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber, which was trying to attack the city of Mykolayiv Telegram: Contact @pryamiy

UCMC on Twitter
Feldman Ecopark is located 300 meters from the location of Russian soldiers. they stole carrots, beets and cabbage from animals. This was announced by Deputy Mayor of Dnipro Mykhailo Lysenko. #stoprussia #StandWithUkraine #StopRussianAggression

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - Video, 3 hrs ago
Russian UAV Orlan-10 shot down in Kharkiv Oblast using the British MANPAD Starstreak - Air Assault Troops Command Ukraine's 95th Brigade has shot it down today, and another Orlan a day before.Командування Десантно-штурмових військ Збройних Сил України | Facebook
VIDEO via @Kochevenko

Orlan-10 - Wikipedia

Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 2 hrs ago
Command of the Air Assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says that it was the first combat use of the Starstreak MANPADS by a unit of Ukraine's Air Assault Troops. PHOTO CREDIT: Командування Десантно-штурмових військ Збройних Сил України | Facebook

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Russia uses its Orlan-10 drones for reconnaissance and to pinpoint targets for precision-guided artillery and aircraft munitions.

 

[dotr]

Regarding Latvia.. rbbm.
By Allan Woods March 17, 2022
In the shadow of an invasion: Why tensions run high in Latvia | The Star
''RIGA, LATVIA—The war rages, but a store window display in central Riga has already turned to irony.
The Ukrainian flag, the digital sign reads, is the new black.
But when the director of a Latvian music school in Daugavpils erected the blue-and-gold standard this week in solidarity with Ukraine, he was met with outrage.
“Four hours ago, they dropped bombs in the centre of Donetsk. Thirty people died!” an unidentified man said, accosting school director Aivars Broks in a video circulated on social media.''

''People who are realizing: “‘I thought that Putin was good, but he is not.’ They are bewildered.”
And that is where the fight now lies, said Ozola. Latvia, as well as Lithuania and Estonia, the two other Baltic states that share borders with Russia, have been at the forefront of cracking down on disinformation in the weeks since war began.''

Mar 22, 2022

Baltic states become first in Europe to stop Russian gas imports – EURACTIV.com
''The head of Latvia’s natural gas storage operator said Saturday (2 April) the Baltic states were no longer importing Russian gas, a decision made in reaction to the Kremlin’s decision to invade Ukraine.
“If there were still any doubts about whether there may be any trust in deliveries from Russia, current events clearly show us that there is no more trust,” said Uldis Bariss, CEO of Conexus Baltic Grid.
“Since April 1st Russian natural gas is no longer flowing to Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania,” he told Latvian radio.
He added that the Baltic market was currently being served by gas reserves stored underground in Latvia.''

COLUMN: Is NATO next? | Daily Sentinel (romesentinel.com)
April 9, 2022
''One attribute that made Ukraine a tempting target is that it is not a member of NATO. Putin could attack in the knowledge that the United States and its European allies had firmly avoided any commitment to fight on behalf of Ukraine.

This, you may notice, is not an attribute of countries that belong to NATO. Each member nation has made an explicit promise to come to the defense of any other member nation that is attacked.

Being a sentient adult, Putin can grasp the difference. He understands that if he were to invade Estonia or Poland or Slovakia, he would be at war with not one but 30 countries, which greatly outnumber Russia in troops and weaponry. Three of those nations also have nuclear arsenals.

In case Putin suffers from any confusion on this point, Joe Biden was kind enough to clear it up. “The United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power,” he said on Feb. 24, the day Russia invaded. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also vowed to “defend every inch of NATO Allied territory.”

To underscore the point, troops stationed in other European countries were moved eastward into Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. It’s absurd to think that once this war ends, Putin will be itching to start another one with NATO. Russia has gotten badly bloodied by what he thought was a 98-pound weakling. Why would he want to take on a heavyweight?

So here were the options Putin had before Feb. 24. Option 1: Invade Ukraine and don’t fight a war with NATO. Option 2: Invade Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland or Romania and fight a war with NATO. For some mysterious reason he chose the first.

The belief in some quarters, though, is that if he succeeds with Option 1 he will proceed to Option 2. That makes about as much sense as supposing that having invaded Ukraine, he will march on Beijing. Putin launched this war on the assumption that he could win it in short order with minimal resistance. He would have to assume exactly the opposite if he attacked a NATO country -- which is a solid guarantee that he won’t.

Win or lose, Russia’s experience in Ukraine will curb his appetite for aggression, not stimulate it.''

 

[Sundog]

This description of the security guarantee that Ukraine government is seeking is highly unlikely to be agreed upon by the U.S., in my opinion. It sounds like a version of NATO’s article 5, but outside of NATO.
I do understand why Ukraine would be asking for these kinds of guarantees, but I don't see it happening. For one reason, it is too prescriptive.

France edges Ukraine closer to NATO-lite security guarantee

Igor Zhovkva, the deputy head of Zelensky's office, said on Friday that Ukraine's long-running conflict with Russia cannot end without concrete security guarantees strong enough to deter Moscow.

<snip>

The guarantee would need to be legally binding and ratified by national parliaments, Zhovkva said. It would allow Ukraine to work with guarantors and create a chain of command and step-by-step of immediate options in the case of future aggression.

Rather than "begging" for weapons when the fighting is already underway, Zhovkva said, Ukraine could agree ahead of time what weapons its guarantors would provide and how they would be used

 

[PommyMommy]

NEXTA on Twitter - 7 hrs ago
In #Luhansk region, border guards repelled a #Russian enemy attack and captured an artilleryman.

NEXTA on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
Pope Francis called for an Easter truce in #Ukraine.

NEXTA on Twitter
More than 4 million chickens at the #Chernobaevka Poultry Farm died of starvation. After the shutdown of the local power plant by #Russian military, automated bird feeding system stopped working. As a result, chickens died en masse, WSJ reports. Four Million Dead Chickens Tell Grim Story of Ukrainian Farm - WSJ

NEXTA on Twitter
Map of hostilities in #Ukraine on April 10 according to #British intelligence.

NEXTA on Twitter - 3 hrs ago
Six cargo planes with medicines and food will be sent to #Ukraine from #Israel via an "air bridge", the Israeli ambassador to Ukraine said. Michael Brodsky on Twitter

NEXTA on Twitter
In #Vorzel, the invaders crushed and robbed the theological seminary. In #Irpin they burned hundreds of copies of the Bible.

 

[Vern]

Yes, Latvia is a NATO country - so IF the Russians decide to invade - we will have NATO troops. The military base is about 15 miles from where I live.

And yes - too many shots of vodka!!??

My son is there amongst the Canadian troops and my son-in-law returned from there in January. Be well. Be safe.

Canadian troops in Latvia ready for ‘whatever we have to face,’ commander says - National | Globalnews.ca

 

[Sundog]

NEXTA on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
Pope Francis called for an Easter truce in #Ukraine.

From what I have read online, in 2014 there was a call for an Easter truce between Ukanian and Russian troops in the Crimea conflict, but they kept fighting. So I doubt there will be an Easter truce now, sadly. Eastern Orthodox Easter is April 24th.

 

[Sundog]

Ukraine claims Russia wants to end war by May 9, its WWII "Victory Day"

Russia wants to end its war with Ukraine by the same day it celebrates its victory in World War II, Ukrainian officials said.

The general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent their intelligence indicates the Russians want to end the war by May 9, which is a day celebrated in Russia to mark its victory over the Nazis more than 70 years ago.

 

[Niner]

My son is there amongst the Canadian troops and my son-in-law returned from there in January. Be well. Be safe.

Canadian troops in Latvia ready for ‘whatever we have to face,’ commander says - National | Globalnews.ca

Thank you for son's & son-in-law's service! I really appreciate the troops here in Latvia!
I have a picture I took of NATO troops from a July 4th party that the U.S. Embassy put on - let's see if I can find it....



and thank you @dotr for posting that article about Latvia. Daugasvils that was mentioned in the article has mostly Russian speakers living there. Riga, where I live, is over 60% Latvian & about 24% Russian - I would say. There is a Russian elementary school just around the corner from where I live. I speak to the kids in English or Latvian - as I don't speak Russian.

 

[sunshineray]

My bro-in-law sent me this - this morning... and now I see that @dotr posted it also.

Kremlin rants against Baltic 'neo-Nazi' state in chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine | Daily Mail Online

April 9, 2022
Putin's deranged regime branded Latvia a 'neo-Nazi' state in a chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine after the Baltic state made May 9 a day of remembrance for victims of Russian aggression.

In an extraordinary rant, Moscow called Riga's decision to commemorate Ukrainian war victims next month - on the same day as Russia's Victory Day to mark the surrender of Nazi Germany - 'blasphemous'.

Latvian MPs passed the legislation to draw attention to ' Russia's military aggression'. Latvian national flags will be raised alongside Ukrainian flags at every residence and government building.

Let's HOPE this does NOT come to pass....
now wondering if I should get a ticket to Sweden - but then Russia wants them too!! What to do??!! I live here in Latvia.
What would you do??!

Niner, I can certainly understand your worry. I just was reading this. Maybe it will help you a bit feel safer to know your country is not only a protected NATO member hut even before that had a very modern army. I'm sure it's even more fortified against agression now 18 years later <3

"When Latvia reached full NATO membership in 2004, surprisingly, the Baltic country had a well-functioning military system and military forces deployed in international armed conflicts. When Latvia became integrated into NATO, its defense military was one of the most modern in Europe. By 2004, the standing of the Latvian army and its military affairs in society had improved significantly. A great majority of Latvians strongly supported NATO membership."

Latvia’s Integration into NATO

 

[LadyL]

Sanctions over Ukraine are starting to ‘shrink’ Russia’s economy. Here’s how