Another social safety net is gone. Basic rights in Russia have suffered major setbacks. Newspapers have closed, tv broadcasters quit, public demonstrations stopped. Putin has wiped out any progess that’s been made since the Soviet Union.
Now the most basic safeguards are lost. No one will know what’s happening to people in Russia. Putin is becoming the next Stalin.
Why would any leader do this to their country? For a unnecessary war?
Imho Kicking Russia off the Human Rights Council was a mistake. Putin wanted an excuse to close the Human Rights offices.
Interesting story about Voznesensk. They saved the central part of the city by blowing up several river bridges. There was fierce fighting before the Russian withdrawal.
It’s one small success story. Compared to the horrors of Bucha, Mariupol and other cities in Ukraine.
Yes, the title is a bit exaggerated. But any sucess in Ukraine is worth acknowledging.
Right, Putin wanted an excuse and he was going to find one. Kicking Russia off the HRC makes no difference. “Were excluded due to the discovery of violations of the current legislation of the Russian Federation” means they kept calling a war a war and a human rights violation a human right violation and so on.
I’ve heard this conflict described as one being fought between one side with lots of personnel but not enough equipment (Ukraine) and the other side with lots of equipment without sufficient personnel (Russia).
However over the last few days a very large amount of military equipment has been flowing into the country donated mostly by the EU and the UK.
Slovakia has donated it’s entire S-300 air defence system to Ukraine in exchange for protection by US Patriot missiles.
The UK has pledged today to send another £100m in military equipment including Starstreak AA missiles, 800 anti-tank missiles and lingerer drones. There’s talk about providing anti naval missiles.
The Czechs have sent a train load of T72 tanks. Poland have sent 100 tanks and I think a bunch of other items.
If what Putin says is true then there wouldn’t be the need to shut down public discourse. People can’t help but notice news agencies shut down and people arrested. It will eventually sink in.
I’m relieved Chernobyl is back in responsible hands. The Russians trashed the place. 149 Ukrainian Guardsman taken away. No one knows if they’re alive. Clean up will take awhile.
What ever happened at the other nuclear power plant? I remember there was heavy fighting near it. Is that power plant under Russian control?
I found a letter to the editor from a Russian embassy official (in Manila) outlining the Russian party line just before the attack. It is long and not written well. Still, it provides some insight.
Fiona Hill interview yesterday on the “Ezra Klein Show” (probably behind an NYT paywalll). What I found most interesting was her belief that the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine are a symptom of the lack of control the army hierarchy back in Moscow has over what happens. The events may not be deliberate in the narrower definition of the word, is what she was saying, I believe.
The deliberate part might be the way the army is manned, run, and communicated with as a general policy, perhaps, and these terrorist attacks and targeting of hospitals, refugee-filled train stations, buses labeled “children” and the like, are simply the outcome of that (my guesses not hers).
I’m impressed with Boris’ leadership responding to Ukraine’s crisis. I’m glad he’s coordinating Europe’s efforts to get weapons and supplies to Ukraine.
You mean the closing of foreign influenced anti-Russian propaganda outlets and the arrest of those induced to treason by their foreign created delusions?
I doubt it. Buying into the propaganda can be quite persistent. How many Trump fans have come to the light so far? And they won’t even have to face having enthusiastically supported a campaign of terror on civilians in a neighboring country.