Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 **Media Thread** NO DISCUSSION #3

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Russia invasion: Putin becoming 'pariah' before world stage, experts say
The reputational damage of Putin's invasion of Ukraine 'will cripple Russia for a generation to come'

Ukraine rejects Russia's demand to surrender Mariupol in exchange for safe passage; Zelenskyy seeks help from Israel: Live updates

 

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Canada Gives Russian Letter Lamenting Humanitarian Disaster A Scathing Rewrite

Canada’s mission to the United Nations took red ink to a letter from its Russian counterparts that decried the humanitarian disaster unfurling in Eastern Europe as a direct result of the Vladimir Putin-ordered military invasion of Ukraine.

Canada’s mission didn’t have patience for the sympathy purportedly expressed by the Russian envoy, and completely rewrote the note.

It changed this part:

I am reaching out to you with regard to an urgent matter related to the dire humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine. Like other members of the international community, we are gravely concerned about its deterioration.

To this:

I am reaching out to you with regard to an urgent matter related to the dire humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine which we have caused as a result of our illegal war of aggression. We are not gravely concerned about its deterioration because we are the primary cause.

The Canadians also demanded to know: “How do you account for the bombing of a maternity ward and the destruction of over 200 schools?”

And: “How do you account for Russia forces besieging cities, preventing civilians from fleeing, denying humanitarian aid, attacking humanitarian corridors and looting aid?”

 

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Renewed Russian shelling leaves civilians dead and parts of Kyiv | Daily Mail Online

Ukraine says no agreement reached to evacuate Mariupol civilians on Monday

 

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The city council also claimed Russian soldiers have forced more than 1,000 city residents to be relocated to Russia.

"The occupiers illegally took people out of the Levoberezhny district and a shelter in the building of a sports club where more than a thousand people (mostly women and children) were hiding from constant bombing," the council said.

Ukrainian passports were taken from people who were given a piece of paper that "has no legal weight and is not recognized throughout the civilized world," the city council said. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Sunday that she could not confirm those reports but expressed concern about the prospect of Russian-organized "concentration and prisoner camps."

U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," said it is "unconscionable for Russia to force Ukrainian citizens into Russia and put them in what will basically be concentration and prisoner camps."

Ukraine updates: No Mariupol surrender; Zelenskyy calls on Israel

 

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Remember the girl who sang Frozen in a Ukrainian bomb shelter?

She sang on stage at a charity concert in Poland. The Ukrainian National Anthem.

 

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March 21 2022
Line-up announced for Ukraine benefit concert - BBC News
''Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol will all play at next week's Concert For Ukraine, which will be broadcast on ITV and STV.
Emeli Sande and Gregory Porter have also been added to the line-up, with more acts to be confirmed.
Tickets for the show will go on sale on Tuesday 22 March, with the concert taking place in Birmingham on the 29th.''

''London Calling repurposed
It comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth week.
In that space of time, the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates the conflict has claimed 2,361 civilian casualties (902 killed and 1,459 injured). The UN also estimates that there are nearly 1.85million Ukrainians have been displaced.
The country's musicians have played a role in documenting the conflict and combating misinformation amongst their Russian fans.
Many of them - along with Russian musicians who oppose the war - have found themselves blacklisted by the Kremlin.
But that has not deterred hardcore punk band Beton, who have been given permission by The Clash to re-record London Calling as a protest song against the war.''

''Renamed Kyiv Calling, the song now includes the lyrics: "Kyiv calling to the Nato zone/Forget it, brother, we can't go it alone".
''Proceeds from the song will go towards the Free Ukraine Resistance Movement, helping to fund a shared communications system that will alert the population to threats and lobby for international support.''

Beton - Kyiv Calling (official cover version of London Calling by The Clash)

 

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Euromaidan Press on Twitter - 4 hrs ago
Ukrainian forces defended Izium, launched further counterattacks in the south, reportedly killed 3 Russian regimental commanders in the last 24 hours. Russian forces continue their slow advance into Mariupol, preparing Russian population for a “long war.”
Ukrainian army repelled Russians from Izium | Euromaidan Press

”NEXTA on Twitter - 2 hrs ago
The largest airport in the #Russian Federation, Sheremetyevo, sent 40% of its staff (6-7 thousand people) on vacation for an indefinite period on the backdrop of #EU and #US sanctions against the Russian aviation industry, Izvestia reports

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Russian occupiers kidnap journalists in Melitopol, Zaporizhia Oblast Armed Russians came to the homes of 4 Melitopol journalists and took them in an unknown direction: Y.Olkhovska, L.Chaika, M.Kumok, Y. Boryan,–Local News Melitopol and Kumok's daughter https://facebook.com/2391879044184408/posts/5147640005274951/

NEXTA on Twitter - 1 hr ago
At the Kalinovsky forum, Sviatlana @Tsihanouskaya
called for recognizing #Belarus as a country under temporary occupation and demanding that #Russia withdraw its troops from Belarus.

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Russia's military is painting over the names and board numbers on their ships. This action is seen as a preparation for provocations agst civilian ships with the subsequent accusation of Ukrainian warships,–State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, 11:00 EET https://facebook.com/photo?fbid=300748192164058&set=a.256113479960863

NEXTA on Twitter - 30 min ago
#Russia provokes #NATO Today Russian fighter-bomber entered #Polish airspace. This happened immediately after the announcement by the Polish leadership about the possible deployment of Polish peacekeepers to #Ukraine to ensure the safety of civilians.

This information still not confirmed by the #Polish authorities or #NATO

Euromaidan Press on Twitter
Russia raises mobilization age from 55 to 65 years in temporarily occupied Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts Panic spreads there as the seriously wounded and dead are constantly arriving. However, relatives are not informed about circumstances of death,–UA intel. https://facebook.com/DefenceIntelligenceofUkraine

 

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“The foreign reserves are important to Russia’s economy because they retain their value even if the ruble dives.”

Graphic: Russia's frozen billions

 

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MAR 21, 2022
Ukraine War: Explosions rock Ukrainian capital Kyiv

 

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War in Ukraine: Backlash in Russia against anti-war musicians - BBC News
''A few days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, one of Russia's largest media companies, Russian Media Group (RMG), released a statement explaining why it would no longer be playing certain artists on its popular radio stations or music TV channel.

"The reason for this decision was the harsh statements these musicians made towards Russia in the context of the difficult situation between Russia and Ukraine," the statement read.

It explained that respect for its listeners was the company's top priority, and the "arrogant and contemptuous attitude of the musicians towards Russian listeners" left it no choice but to terminate its contract with the artists.

The list included several Ukrainian musicians and three Russian acts, including legendary rock group Aquarium, whose lead singer, Boris Grebenshchikov, had called the war "madness" in a post on Instagram. He is no stranger to political pressure.

"I've spent half my life under some sort of ban", Mr Grebenshchikov told the BBC. "There were bans in the 70s, bans in the 80s - there's nothing unusual about it. Then the same people who ban you give you prizes."

''Russian rapper Oxxxymiron, whose name appears on the "black list" circulated by Russian media, cancelled his upcoming tour in Russia and has instead organised charity concerts abroad - known as "Russians Against War" - to raise money for Ukrainian refugees.

He raised over $30,000 (£22,760) at a performance in Istanbul, and will appear in London later this week.

Announcing the postponement of his Russian tour, Oxxxymiron explained that he could not "entertain people while Russian rockets fall on Ukraine, while residents of Kyiv are forced to hide in their basements and the metro, and while people are dying".

 

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The Kyiv Independent@KyivIndependent
2m
Azov: 'bombs falling every 10 minutes' in Mariupol. Azov regiment Captain Svyatoslav Palamar told CNN that the besieged port city continues to suffer heavy bombardment. On March 21, Ukraine rejected the Russian deadline for Mariupol authorities to surrender.

 

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Ukraine war: Holocaust survivor killed by Russian shelling in Kharkiv - BBC News

IMAGE SOURCE,BUCHENWALD AND MITTELBAU-DORA MEMORIALS FOUNDATION

''Boris Romantschenko survived detention in four separate concentration camps between 1942 and 1945

A Ukrainian man who survived the Nazi Holocaust during World War Two has been killed during a Russian attack on the eastern city of Kharkiv.

Boris Romantschenko, 96, died during Russian shelling of his apartment block on Friday, relatives said.

Russian forces have been relentlessly shelling Kharkiv, which lies just 30 miles (50km) from the border, for over three weeks.

At least 500 civilians have now been killed there, Ukrainian officials say.

Police said one of the victims has been identified as a nine-year old boy.

The Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation said it was "deeply disturbed" by Mr Romantschenko's death.''

March 21 2022
U.S. Sending Soviet Air Defense Systems It Secretly Acquired to Ukraine - WSJ
''WASHINGTON—The U.S. is sending some of the Soviet-made air defense equipment it secretly acquired decades ago to bolster the Ukrainian military as it seeks to fend off Russian air and missile attacks, U.S. officials said.

The systems, which one U.S. official said include the SA-8, are decades old and were obtained by the U.S. so it could examine the technology used by the Russian military and which Moscow has exported around the world.''

 

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'Save Our Allies' helps rescue Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall from behind enemy lines in Ukraine
Benjamin Hall, injured journalist, rescued by "Save Our Allies" group in Ukraine with the help of the Pentagon and others, is now being treated for his injuries in Germany.

David Beckham hands Instagram account to Ukrainian doctor

 

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Andrew Neil@afneil 20m
Russian official admits almost 10,000 Russian military have died in Ukraine and over 16,000 injured.

Illia Ponomarenko on Twitter
This is just mind-blowing. 9,861 Russian KIAs and 16,153 WIAs in Ukraine - and this pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda refers to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The story was deleted almost immediately.

 

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Video at link:

https://twitter.com/NATO/status/1505931172920111111?t=Rq0DDjkHJBBDbCSunY_dkg&s=19

Despite its litany of lies, denials, and disinformation, the Kremlin’s intentions are clear for the world to see

Stop the lies, stop the war https://t.co/rWZydFhUte

 

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Biden has urged the private sector to strengthen cybersecurity in order to fend off a potentially “consequential” Russian cyber attack, offering US government help to companies to step up their defences.

“The magnitude of Russia’s cyber capacity is fairly consequential, and it’s coming,” Biden said.

The White House said in a statement that the warning was based “on evolving intelligence that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks”.

“Most of America’s critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector and critical infrastructure owners and operators must accelerate efforts to lock their digital doors,” it said.

Biden says potential Russian cyber attack would be ‘consequential’

 

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Russia-Ukraine War: Latest News (wsj.com)
''In Ukraine: The Ukrainian government rebuffed a Russian demand to surrender the embattled port city of Mariupol that came as Moscow appears to be shifting its battle plan to compel Kyiv to accept Moscow’s claims to Ukraine’s southern and eastern territory.

• The World Health Organization said the fighting is taking an ever greater toll on Ukraine’s healthcare system. The agency said Monday that it had registered 14 deaths and 36 injuries in attacks on the healthcare system tied to the fighting that began Feb. 24.
• Russia claimed to have seized a Ukrainian military command headquarters and taken 61 Ukrainian prisoners of war, and reported a cruise-missile attack on an alleged training center for foreign and Ukrainian fighters in the Rivne region of western Ukraine, which it says killed more than 80 Ukrainian and foreign fighters.
• The two sides exchanged accusations for damage at a chemical plant in the city of Sumy in eastern Ukraine on Monday morning where an ammonia gas leak was detected.''

''Mr. Biden said earlier in the day that based on ''evolving intelligence," Mr. Putin was exploring options for potential cyberattacks. He repeated that warning to the executives, saying that one of the tools Mr. Putin was most likely to use was cyberattacks. He called it a patriotic responsibility for businesses to bolster their cyber defenses.''

 

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Videos show Russian soldiers responding to a protest in Kherson with gunfire.

Kherson was the first major city to fall in the war. Russian forces seized control on March 2.

In the weeks since, residents have gathered at the city’s Freedom Square to protest the Russian occupation.

While Russian troops previously had fired into the air to disperse crowds in the region, Monday saw an escalation in the violent response — including sustained use of gunfire for nearly a minute, shooting directly at the crowd, and the use of flash-bang type grenades.

In videos and images verified by The Times, soldiers are seen carrying Russian assault rifles, with at least one firing into the air and another directly at protesters.

During demonstrations in Kherson on Sunday, Russian military vehicles were filmed retreating after being surrounded by protesters.

Here are the latest developments in Ukraine.

After nearly a month of fighting, the war has reached a stalemate, with Russia turning to deadlier and blunter methods, including targeting civilians. A New York Times reporter saw six dead bodies at the mall in Kyiv covered in plastic as rescue workers battled fires and pulled more victims from the wreckage Monday morning.

Ukrainian officials and witnesses said they were forcibly deporting people, including children. Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, said in a statement that 2,389 children were taken from their parents in the Donbas region and sent to Russia on a single day, Saturday. The claim could not be independently confirmed.

Mr. Biden urged the private sector in the United States to “harden your cyber defenses immediately” in response to what he called “evolving intelligence” that Russia is examining the possibility of waging potential cyberattacks.

 

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Is Vera Putina the biological mother of M*d Vlad?

According to author Stanislav Belkovsky, there are two stories of President Putin's early childhood: the official one and the real one.

According to the real one , Vera Nikolaevna Putina (September 6, 1926-deceased?) is M*d Vlad's biological mother. She has claimed that Vladimir Putin (“Vova”) is her son since 1999. The newspaper The Telegraph examined the woman's story and concluded that her testimony "fills in the gaps in the well-known narrative of Putin's past".
Is Vera Putina de biologische moeder van Mad Vlad? - PNWS

Several journalists who were investigating this story were killed:
These were, the 2 journalist who investigated the story:

Antonio Russo - Wikipedia :
“According to historian Yuri Felshtinsky and political scientist Vladimir Pribylovsky, Borovik's death may be linked to his publications about Vladimir Putin just before the presidential elections that took place on 26 March.[13] He died three days prior to the scheduled publication of materials about Putin's childhood. At this time, he also conducted an investigation of the 1999 Moscow apartment bombings.[4][14] Borovik had studied Vera Putina's claims.”
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‘Antonio Russo died in the night between 15 and 16 October 2000 in Georgia, where he was sent by Radical Radio to document the war in Chechnya. The Farnesina announced that his body was found on the edge of a country road, near the village of Udzharma, at 25km from Tbilisi (Georgia), tortured and bruised, with techniques related to military specialist departments. This fact is significant, because on this road there is a Russian base of Vasiani. His apartment had been searched and looted; Russo's laptop computer, mobile telephone, video camera, and three videotapes were missing.[13] The circumstances of death were never clarified, unconfirmed bring back the incident to the government of Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The autopsy reveals that the envoy Radical Radio was killed by blows to the chest that caused fatal internal injuries’

Artyom Borovik - Wikipedia

 

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Analysis: Putin fears a coup but it’s not oligarchs who will oust him — it’s the siloviki | National Post
''The real threat to Putin comes from the siloviki, a Russian word used loosely to describe Russia’s security and military elite. These are people like Nikolai Patrushev, currently the secretary of the Russian security council, and Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), as well as other current and former senior security officials.''

''Men like Patrushev and Bortnikov not only possess hard power, but they know how to use it and are inclined to do so. The FSB includes around 160,000 members of the Border Guard service, as well as thousands of armed personnel with law enforcement authorities. But the strength of the FSB comes not only from its ability to do violence; the organization is also highly secretive. FSB officers are skilled at working clandestinely, keeping their most sensitive operations strictly compartmented to small groups. Putin understands this better than most: He once ran the organization himself.''

''The siloviki are willing to use this deadly mixture of hard power and secrecy when a serious threat to the Russian kleptocratic system emerges. That’s because the security elite derives their power from the system. The whole operation can flex when threatened; street protests are tolerated to a certain extent, and Russia has withstood lesser Western sanctions in the past. Like branches of an old tree, the kleptocratic autocracy in the Kremlin can withstand the occasional storm, but if the trunk is rotting, the siloviki will take action.''