Ukraine Watch...

[RenewableCandy]

I expect people are wondering what's happening here at Chateau Renewable. Marvellous Other Half is, after all, 1/2 Ukrainian. His mum was one of the last to leave the Ukraine SSR alive - age 4 and disguised as a piece of freight - just in time to avoid Barbarossa. It being summer, she was staying in the countryside with her grandparents. Both perished.

Plenty of Russians have Ukrainian rels, and vice versa.

So. His cousin and her son lived just north of Kyiv. Now they don't - the cousin was adamant she'd stay. Till the nuclear power station just north of them was threatened. Following a long and hairy train journey she is now staying with rels of ours/hers on the safe side of central Europe, while we struggle to get her a visa. Her son - never in good health having been born near Chernobyl - remains in Ukraine and has has quietly 'signed up'.

Marvellous Other Half tells me (from Cousin) that though there are plenty of 'Russian-speakers' in E Ukraine, that doesn't make them all Russia- or putin-enthusiasts.

For those in search of a little light relief, the 1st 3 episodes of 'Servant of the People' - in which young Mr Zelenskyy plays an accidental President of his country - are presently available on Channel 4's website.

For those wondering what that funny fork-like symbol of Ukraine is, it's either a falcon, or the 4 letters B-O-L-Ya which spell the word 'freedom' (or 'freewill'). The flag represents a field of sunflowers under a clear sky.

[mr brightside]

We in the West have also barely begun to feel the results of attempting to sanction a net exporter of energy and consumables by our essentially service economies.

We're going to have to adapt, as individuals, something a lot of us will have forgotten how to do.

[adam2]

I expect people are wondering what's happening here at Chateau Renewable. Marvellous Other Half is, after all, 1/2 Ukrainian. His mum was one of the last to leave the Ukraine SSR alive - age 4 and disguised as a piece of freight - just in time to avoid Barbarossa. It being summer, she was staying in the countryside with her grandparents. Both perished.

Plenty of Russians have Ukrainian rels, and vice versa.

So. His cousin and her son lived just north of Kyiv. Now they don't - the cousin was adamant she'd stay. Till the nuclear power station just north of them was threatened. Following a long and hairy train journey she is now staying with rels of ours/hers on the safe side of central Europe, while we struggle to get her a visa. Her son - never in good health having been born near Chernobyl - remains in Ukraine and has has quietly 'signed up'.

Marvellous Other Half tells me (from Cousin) that though there are plenty of 'Russian-speakers' in E Ukraine, that doesn't make them all Russia- or putin-enthusiasts.

For those in search of a little light relief, the 1st 3 episodes of 'Servant of the People' - in which young Mr Zelenskyy plays an accidental President of his country - are presently available on Channel 4's website.

For those wondering what that funny fork-like symbol of Ukraine is, it's either a falcon, or the 4 letters B-O-L-Ya which spell the word 'freedom' (or 'freewill'). The flag represents a field of sunflowers under a clear sky.

Thanks for the report, and I am so sorry to hear of the losses and hardships suffered by your relatives.

As regards what is represented by the Ukranian flag, there seem to be several versions. The blue portion is generally accepted to represent the sky. But the yellow portion is sometimes said to represent a field of grain, or as you said, a field of sunflowers, or according to one source it represents the gold coloured domes atop the traditional Orthodox church buildings.

[PS_RalphW]

As I expected the video coverage of the fighting in Ukraine has become less frequent as the days pass, and both sides dig in on increasingly static lines. It will become much harder for us to judge the progress of the war on the ground outside the cities, although I would expect Ukraine to crow about any significant recapture of territory if it happens.

This bbc page seems to show drone footage of an attack on a tank convoy, although the video is not dated and appears to have been edited.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-60699332

[kenneal - lagger]

Regarding the convoy, the Russians have learned from Afghanistan and probably have an extensive perimeter with anti-aircraft defenses built-in. They have also chosen a road with rivers and lakes either side so it is difficult to attack. They are not entirely incompetent.

They did however start the offensive a month too early as they are in the mud season when they are mostly confined to roads. If they had waited a month or so the tanks could have attacked on a broad front and would have been less vulnerable and the offensive would have been quicker.

[Default0ptions]

We seem to be being set up to see a supposed ’chemical/bioweapon attack’ now.

We’ve just had the ’targeting hospital’ bit too.

I have to confess to a certain nostalgia for the measured reporting of the Falklands war when:

“The coverage of the war was entirely at the mercy of the Ministry of Defence, with absolutely no scope for independent enterprise.“

The overwhelming and almost self-parodying blatant propaganda masquerading as news that we’re subjected to by our supposedly independent media really irritates me because it’s so unnecessary and brings our ‘legitimacy’ into question.

[PS_RalphW]

Or maybe you are finding it difficult to believe that a modern national military can be so systematically brutal and inhumane in spite of the overwhelming evidence of your eyes and ears.

Or we could have a less charitable interpretation of your written words.

[Catweazle]

I don't think it's wrong to remember that we are undoubtedly being fed propaganda, even if we do support the rights of Ukraine.

The "shelling of maternity unit" is a prime example, very emotive, but if it was actually targeted ( rather than accidentally hit ) it's unlikely to be because it's a maternity unit, more likely because either with a view to the propaganda value or simply because of incompetence someone is firing missiles from the roof.

If it was the bad guys hospital and the good guys hit it, the victims would be "used as human shields".

Let's not forget the constant reference to civilian casualties either - conveniently skipping that Ukraine is denying exit to all men who are of fighting age and issuing weapons to any civilian who wants them.

War is a dirty thing, and everyone involved gets dirty too, not least the countries whose economies make so much money from the global arms trade and are quick to spot an opportunity to profit from suffering. I recall the cruise missiles being launched with conventional explosive heads in the Gulf War, $1000000 a go, and largely ineffective due to small payload, but coming to end-of-life and due to be decommissioned so unloaded onto the enemy and invoiced to the war plunder chest.

[Stumuz2]

The overwhelming and almost self-parodying blatant propaganda masquerading as news that we’re subjected to by our supposedly independent media really irritates me because it’s so unnecessary and brings our ‘legitimacy’ into question.

I think the MSM coverage has been pretty balanced for a change. Stuart Ramsey being shot whilst reporting from the front line, was good old fashioned war reporting.

But, can we have some evidence of 'blatant propaganda' please?

[Stumuz2]

I don't think it's wrong to remember that we are undoubtedly being fed propaganda, even if we do support the rights of Ukraine.

Evidence pease.

The "shelling of maternity unit" is a prime example, very emotive, but if it was actually targeted ( rather than accidentally hit ) it's unlikely to be because it's a maternity unit, more likely because either with a view to the propaganda value or simply because of incompetence someone is firing missiles from the roof.

You are too generous by far. The difference between our and Russia's attack policy, is the empiric fact, that they use civilian death, horror, fear as a war tactic. Grozny, Aleppo, used the civilian death toll as a weapon.

If it was the bad guys hospital and the good guys hit it, the victims would be "used as human shields".

Say if you think it was a deliberate Ukrainian ordinance. The we will discuss.

Let's not forget the constant reference to civilian casualties either - conveniently skipping that Ukraine is denying exit to all men who are of fighting age and issuing weapons to any civilian who wants them.

Yes, it's called fighting for your country, and not being a coward, absolutely they should fight. It is their country which is being invaded. Or, would you prefer 'special military operation'. You do not leave your home, neighbours, farms, and when an invasion takes place basically say,
"you fight, i'll be back when it's over.

War is a dirty thing, and everyone involved gets dirty too, not least the countries whose economies make so much money from the global arms trade and are quick to spot an opportunity to profit from suffering.

Yes, it keeps you safe on your smallholding.

I recall the cruise missiles being launched with conventional explosive heads in the Gulf War, $1000000 a go, and largely ineffective due to small payload, but coming to end-of-life and due to be decommissioned so unloaded onto the enemy and invoiced to the war plunder chest.

Yes, we need a well funded and large profit defence industry. Essential to our liberty, freedom, choice, and all the good things you take for granted.

Who do you want to buy your murdering tools from? Putin. Xi? Think they will sell you the latest ones?

Putin's tanks are basically be rendered nugatory by NLAW's. Thank goodness the greed incentive was there to develop such a killing weapon.

[Stumuz2]

https://www.politico.eu/article/macron- ... -the-west/
The real reason Macron is butt kissing Putin at the moment. And it's not a desperate attempt at peace talks.

It looks like Macron is scared of a Russian default.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/fin ... -exposures

Some serious chatter that the Eurozone will be in deep trouble within a month.

[automaticearth2]

Stumuz,

Having previously worked in the defence industry for around 15 years, I pretty much agree with all of your statements around the defence industry above i.e. it has a number of levels of sophistication i.e. the best stuff goes to the UK/US (plus 5 eyes) down to the rest of the world getting the most basic stuff. I'm assuming you've either worked in the defence industry and/or the military, or have friends / family who have?

Apparently, Putin now saying that experienced Syrian soldiers could be joining the fray in Ukraine. It will be interesting to see how the Americans respond to that. They could use this pretext to maybe topple Assad, which would help to deny Russia it's main warm-water port, and leave the US 5th fleet dominant, which is based in Qatar I believe. Lots of geopolitics at play here folks.....

[clv101]

https://www.politico.eu/article/macron- ... -the-west/
The real reason Macron is butt kissing Putin at the moment. And it's not a desperate attempt at peace talks.

Keeping communication open (whatever the domestic or international reasons) is vital, US and USSR managed it through the worst of the old war. However bad it gets, refusing to communicate can't improve matters.

[Catweazle]

I'm not a Putin apologist, and I'm trying to avoid being accused of "whataboutery", but I do think I should make at least some effort to find both sides of the story rather than simply accept the popular western opinion that Putin is deranged or the "new Hitler". He may well be, but I'd rather decide for myself than swallow the first story I hear.

Here's an article with alternative opinions, it quotes The Grauniad amongst others.

https://newcoldwar.org/the-wests-hands- ... as-putins/

From the article, a link to a video by The Guardian of one of Ukraines far-right kids training camps on the outskirts of Kiev;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiBXmbkwiSw&t=155s

In Ukraine, the far-right Azov militia is fighting on the frontline – and running a summer camp for children. The Guardian visited the camp and followed 16-year-old Anton through his experiences. Is Azov really a modern Hitler Youth organisation, or is it trying to prepare young Ukrainians for the tough reality that awaits them?

[Stumuz2]

Keeping communication open (whatever the domestic or international reasons) is vital, US and USSR managed it through the worst of the old war. However bad it gets, refusing to communicate can't improve matters.

Totally agree about communicating, but Macron is trying to save his banks. Wonder if he is putting a good word about ours? (although UK has a tiny liability next to French )