RUNNING UPDATES ON THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE - 30.04.2024
Including geopolitical issues affecting the balance of power in the ongoing end game war to establish our common future, a closely monitored prison planet or tolerance for diverse modes of governance.
THE ROAD TO THE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION OF WORLD WAR III RUNS THROUGH HERE.
*** WEST’S UKRAINE PROPAGANDA INCREASINGLY SEEN THROUGH ***
“Ukraine. What is the truth...?
Why won’t western media tell both sides…?”
VIRTUALLY UNREPORTED ATROCITY IN LUGANSK, 2nd JUNE 2014
A lot has been said about atrocities in the western media claimed to have been perpetrated by the Russians, for example at Bucha and Mariupol among others. These assertions are conveyed on the say so of the Ukrainian authorities. How willing though are western news broadcasters to convey atrocities attributed to the Ukrainians? The following will I think provide the answer.
If anyone wonders if they are receiving accurate coverage of the conflict in Ukraine I would suggest watching the video below of an event which occurred on the 2nd of June 2014 and ask themselves if they recall hearing about it on any mainstream media news channel at the time.
The video is harrowing to watch. The bodies (five women and three men) are real. Yet across western media there was only one single news report that occurred a day later. This was from CNN and occurred only because a CNN team happened to be nearby at the time of the atrocity and so the network could hardly ignore it as all others so obviously did.
The video below shows the unvarnished truth that was not considered newsworthy in western mainstream news.
THE SINGLE WESTERN MSM REPORT ON THE LUGANSK ATROCITY, 3rd JUNE 2014
The video at the CNN link below is the crime scene sanitised by CNN, though played straight with honest reporting on the scene not playing things to Kiev’s tune.
(There was a time early in the war in the Donbass when CNN were not afraid to contradict the Ukrainian regime in Kiev.) Watch, because it's the first and last time you will see this.
5 women and 3 men died, all civilians.
Air attack on pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk kills 8, stuns residents.
COLLECTIVE WEST-UKRAINE <-> RUSSIA
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Ukraine no longer: How locals are coming together to rebuild the new Russian Lugansk Republic
An American journalist details her trip to a region which has been at the centre of conflict for over a decade
By Fiorella Isabel, journalist, geopolitical analyst, RT correspondent, and host of the independent talk show The Convo Couch. Follow Fiorella on X @FiorellaIsabelM
Amid decimated buildings, residences turned to rubble, abandoned streets, and clear signs of recent bombs and battles, residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) are attempting to rebuild and move on, two years into Russia’s military operation.
These are the images I witnessed on my most recent trip to the LPR and its cities which are wrapped up in a battle for survival. Despite significant advances by Russia and the liberation of Avdeevka, the task of rebuilding is not an easy one – especially under the constant threat of Ukraine and NATO attempting another advance.
The LPR has rarely been the centre of attention since the start of Russia’s operation, but it was front and centre after the 2014 Maidan Coup, when residents fought against the new regime in Kiev. Cities here were among the first areas to break away from Ukrainian control, but suffered great civilian casualties, including journalists simply documenting the evacuation of residents from areas like the small town of Metallist. There’s now a monument dedicated to two reporters who died there in 2014, while doing their jobs in the line of fire.
The head of the Lugansk People’s Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, took questions about the rebuilding process, among other topics. He thanked the Russian president and federal authorities for their help, and stated that other regions were also providing enormous assistance toward restoring and improving infrastructure.
But rebuilding so close to the front line is slow and difficult, with the fear of shelling constantly looming over the heads of the population as they literally pick up the pieces and come together as a community, determined to succeed. In spite of the danger, the world continues turning for the residents who have managed to make progress and rebuild.
Read more: US ATACMS will help Ukraine attack Crimea – NYT
One hospital we visited in the city of Krasnodon, on the eastern edge of the republic, was relatively new and equipped with the latest medical technology, which was available for the treatment of local residents free of charge. This was surprising to many for me especially, given the exorbitant cost of healthcare in my native US, where many often would rather suffer injuries and avoid going to the doctor than getting into debt.
According to our guide, injured soldiers from the conflict were rarely admitted to the hospital in Krasnodon, because the area is quiet at the moment. We also visited another hospital that is currently under construction nearby.
The mayor of Krasnodon accompanied us on the tour and gave us some insight into the rebuilding process and the history of the area. Krasnodon is a city with a rich past spanning from World War II, when it was home to the “Young Guard” Soviet underground, which fought Nazis in the occupied territories. A memorial complex and museum in their honor are prominent features of the city.
We got a clear look at how the community is adapting to focus on physical health and children. We had a chance to visit a sports center specifically for children, which had a boxing gym, courts to play basketball, a ballet room for girls, and a 25-meter swimming pool – all available free of charge. The national theatre in the area was also under construction, but already functional, contributing to the revival of the community’s cultural life and alleviating the tension of nearby war.
Over on the western side of the LPR, in the city of Severodonetsk, we witnessed one of the most impactful points of any trip to the Donbass region, the results of NATO-made weapons used on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Crumbled buildings, ghostly abandoned streets full of vacant markets, restaurants, and cafes – all signs of another life. One that was bustling here not too long ago.
Every now and then, we could see people walking the streets, and their numbers are set to grow as rebuilding continues in liberated areas. However, the locals we had a chance to speak to said life wasn’t easy, as many still live in apartment buildings that had come under fire. Near one residential complex, we saw a damaged tank that was still stuck following battles that took place here. Even in partially demolished buildings, some residents remain, unwilling to leave their homes, especially now that the war has moved further away and there’s a chance for revival.
Read more: Ukraine strikes hospital in Donbass, injuring eight – authorities
We also got to see captured NATO weapons including Javelin missiles, as well as fragments of HIMARS, Storm Shadow missiles, and British anti-tank guided missiles.
There was also a conference held with former Ukrainian soldiers who had switched sides to fight with the Russian Army in the LPR. The most obvious question was why they had switched sides. The answers varied, but all of the men said they were of ethnic Russian origin, spoke Russian, and had family in Russia or nearby Lugansk. Some said they had been treated very badly while fighting for Ukraine because they were ethnic Russians, and had been abused by their comrades.
The oldest man, a Donetsk native, was a chief warrant officer and had been taken prisoner by in Mariupol. He said he had not joined the Russian side in 2014 because his family was located in Ukrainian-controlled areas. But he decided to switch sides after he witnessed targeted killings of civilians in Mariupol by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and after his experience at the Azovstal plant, the infamous Ukrainian fortress later captured by Russia.
Another man in his 30s said he had joined the Ukrainian Army in 2018 when he had no job or college education, and saw it as his only opportunity. He was sent to Mariupol and ended up in a battalion with Neo-Nazi Azov soldiers until 2019. He witnessed these men paying tribute to Adolf Hitler and Ukraine's own World War Two-era Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera, playing Nazi music, and giving Nazi salutes. He also said he and a fellow soldier endured many insults for being of Russian origin, and wanted out. They decided to surrender to the Russians when they saw Ukrainians shoot at civilians from Mariupol.
These soldiers also said they hadn’t seen any foreign mercenaries – though one mentioned seeing foreigners aiding Ukrainians in non-fighting roles. When the six soldiers were asked about the 2014 Maidan coup, they said they understood that was when the current conflict began, but that they had not been able to separate facts from propaganda back then. What eventually drove them to fight for Russia, they said, was their own experiences in the Ukrainian Army's ranks, as well as a shared belief that their land and their families had no future without Russia.
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What’s notable about Lugansk, and really the entire Donbass region, is the fact that the major cataclysms it has gone through – from the Red Army’s struggle during World War II to the 2014 Maidan revolt, and the 2022 military operation – share the same issues: the fight against forces of a fascistic nature. And now, they are being vilified by much of the West for keeping up this fight.
Throughout their experience, there’s a clear understanding and grasp of history that seems to be missing in the West, especially in the US, and that extends to how communities value and collectively aid each other. We’ve seen the extensive progress in Mariupol, but even in areas like Severodonetsk and within the Lugansk republic, we can see how quickly people in dire circumstances show huge resolve.
One of these people was Yuri Mezinov, who is from Rostov-on-Don and was one of the first to lend a hand in 2014 following the Maidan coup. Yuri has built up a list of contacts in Donbass to aid with humanitarian assistance, including the delivery of food, supplies, and aid to those who need it, including pets and especially children.
He has also gone beyond the essential delivery of aid, helping to restore electricity supplies, rebuilding housing and other structures, as well as putting on shows and activities for young children. For this, Yuri told us, he’s been targeted by Ukraine and put in very dangerous situations. However, he is determined to continue helping. We got the chance to accompany him as he delivered supplies to people, which took a team effort.
When speaking of war, it is essential to remember that the fight is not only taking place on the battlefield, but also in the rebuilding of communities, restoring rubble back to a functioning society. Shortly after we departed Lugansk, a bakery was attacked by Ukrainian forces and several civilians were killed. Attacks like this began way before February 2022, and people in Donbass – whether in Lugansk, Donetsk or elsewhere – continue to face a persistent echo of explosions and uncertainty every day. But for now, at least, the light of victory and the warm blanket of community have begun expanding into many cities, along with a chance to feel a sense of normalcy and calm amidst a now-global crisis.
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VICTORY BELONGS TO RUSSIA: IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
Each day that passes makes a conclusive Russian victory in the Donbass and beyond more certain. As Russia bolsters her forces, and weaponry, those of Ukraine decrease. Russian forces gain ready access to rest and recuperation as troop numbers increase. The increasingly exhausted and demoralised Ukrainian troops have an ever decreasing prospect of such respite. This situation is likely to bring them to complete breakdown as Russia unleashes the firepower of the more modern and advanced weaponry that is arriving with the newly mobilised Russian troops.
The various Ukrainian offensives are now weak when confronted by the reinforced Russian lines. A few futile efforts achieve quite miserable results before fire reigns down on the Ukrainian troops and they are forced back to their starting positions.
And now, all this being said, we have arrived at the wet, and later, freezing conditions where these pathetic Ukrainian forces will be subject to myriad forms of abject misery with death and injury all around them while they lie sodden or frozen, abandoned to their fate by Kiev.
The pitiable young and old of Ukraine have been frogmarched to their deaths as cannon-fodder while the bestial elites of the collective West urge their "president" to add more to their number there at the gates of Hell and their doom. We must feel for the majority of them as they are not the Nazis we revile, in most part they are decent men, fathers, sons, brothers, husband and uncles, who no doubt saw through the coup of 2014 for what it was. But sadly, their fate seems sealed.
Nothing will stop Russia now. Every factor favours them. Victory will be Russia's. In Donbass and beyond and in due course across the world.
Victory belongs to Russia: It is now only a matter of time.
UPDATES TO BE ADDED HERE AS AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
UPDATES TO BE ADDED HERE AS AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HOW MANY UKRAINIAN LIVES MUST BE LOST IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE WESTERN POLITICAL REPUTATIONS?
Russia was never going to be defeated as the western powers hoped, not since it survived the onslaught of western sanctions. From that point of realisation the West ought to have sued for peace.
The current figure for Ukrainian army losses since the outbreak of violent confrontation in February 2022 stands at just over half a million. Another thousand or so are added to that figure each day. These losses were brought about by the complete absence of anything approaching diplomacy regarding Russia’s concerns over its security.
The violence began much earlier of course, in the first few months of 2014. It was then that the Ukrainian army arrived in eastern Ukraine and began their campaign of terror against the civilian population there. You can be forgiven for not knowing anything about this campaign as western mainstream/legacy media maintained a vow of silence concerning it for an entire decade. Even now it will not be spoken of by any mainstream media news outlet across the western world.
There were reports from eastern Ukraine but they were composed of an inference that every wrong occurring there was the result of Russian influence. This was a crime of omission by all western mainstream news media editors. The deaths were reported but not those who were responsible. They were silent on this point. It was left to the biased slant implying Russian wrong-doing to give the impression to readers and viewers alike that it had been the Russians who had caused these deaths.
In fact it was the Ukrainian armed forces and neo-Nazi militias who had committed these crimes against humanity. By setting up their mortars and sending random shells into the villages, towns and cities of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions it cannot possibly be more obvious to news editors in the West who is responsible. Yet not a word was spoken clarifying this clear fact. The Ukrainian army laid siege to these regions and began a slaughter in 2014 that continues to this day.
Even now you will not hear the fact of the continuing Ukrainian army crimes against humanity, against innocent civilians, that go on day after day. It simply doesn’t suit the common elite western interest to relate this fact. The civilian population of these regions are already dead to the cold, calculating minds of western politicians, news editors and commentators. They have been rendered null and void ever since they stood up to be counted against the west-assisted insurrectionists who stole their democracy on Kiev’s Maidan Square in 2014.
Despite the horrors perpetrated upon the Russian-speaking civilian population of the Donbass regions Vladimir Putin went every extra mile to gain them the level of autonomy that could bring peace about. He was thwarted by notorious trickery by the western elites, people like Angela Merkel and Francoise Hollande who never had any intention of moving the situation toward a peaceful outcome, there goal was to give the Ukrainian regime time to rearm and bring its army up to NATO specifications. They conspired in essence to move an already bad situation toward an even worse one of all out war.
The absolutely horrendous toll of lost Ukrainian troops which heads this commentary grows each day. The hands of Merkel and Hollande run bloody as they are directly responsible. And even now, we see not a single leading western politician in the USA, UK or EU calling for negotiations that could lead to peace. No diplomacy is advocated, all that you hear are calls for more war, more weapons and more munitions for Ukraine. War, war and ever more war. A thousand are lost to the Ukrainian army per day yet no one among the western political elites or those who run mainstream media news call for an end to this bloodbath.
The western political elites must know that their long planned undermining of Russia and regime change there has failed. As soon as it became clear that Russia was not going to be brought to catastrophic ruin through the West’s sanctions after being goaded and pressured to start its operation in Ukraine. The Russian economy was meant to collapse. It didn’t. The Russian population was supposed to rise up and sweep away the present Russian hierarchy. It didn’t happen. Yet still the western elites press on in the knowledge that the gambit to bring down Russia is causing thousands of lives to be lost to no purpose save one, a vain attempt to somehow, some way to save their reputations,
Fantasy, wishful thinking and barefaced lies are in epidemic proportions across all western elites who have any connection to the situation in Ukraine. The uniformity of the delusion they suffer under is both striking and frightening. They desperately seek to guard their reputations at the expense of immense Ukrainian suffering. What won’t such people do in support of their impossible aim of bringing Russia down? What atrocities are such people willing to contemplate? How many hundreds of thousands of partially trained, Ukrainian cannon-fodder are they willing to see die or be horrendously injured just to save what is overwhelmingly vital for all of them, their oh-so-important reputations?
