Ukraine Invasion

  • Revealed: Russia’s long cold war

    The Russia that we know of is not as historical as we presume, that’s if your dealings with it are purely on its modern terms. The Presidency of Russia is known as technically advanced for example, and it has a tight grip on the Russian people. Its level of control is far higher than in other Western democracies.

    However, the Russian state itself is still riven with desires for older times or more brutal control. There are competing factions that want different forms of Presidency, but these are ideals for a dictatorship and not a more open rule.

    The rumours swirl around the Kremlin, the seat of its power, that Putin has faced tumultuous times in his terms. These include his family disappearing from view, attempts at takeover, and internal conflict. This is not flattering for an administration of public relations.

  • Russia losses over one million

    It’s going around online on official accounts that Russia has now lost over one million of its military personnel. This is a crude ‘milestone’ it didn’t want to hit and has done so in a reckless war.

    Putin is now risking his nation’s future by ploughing more lives into a pointless conflict. In Western terms he stands to gain absolutely nothing. He’s not seen as a legitimate leader and he doesn’t have a case for invading Ukraine either.

    The limitations of a Russian win are now clear. It wouldn’t be recognised internationally. His conflict is already seen as a distraction on an international scene that’s too busy. He’s fighting for old ideas in a world of new values.

    His Russia is increasingly slipping backwards. It’s stuck in a regressive dream. It wants more than it can bargain for. Its negotiations with Ukraine shows it needs to retreat and give up. Its enemy is wiling to dialogue because it’s confident it will end.

    Putin needs to count his losses and leave early. His Presidency is already in a type of decline. It’s not easy to believe in national pride as more and more of your compatriots are lost. He needs to regain ground by calling a ceasefire.

  • Zelenskyy’s war is diversifying

    The Ukraine war is a difficult battlefield for President Zelenskyy. He’s got to confront multiple geopolitical realities. His advisors are intelligent but dynamics strain on Ukraine’s capability.

    No-one wins by attrition. It won’t happen by drones. The intelligent moves are found in diplomacy. The negotiations are the most important part. The strength of his nation’s future is in these.

  • Ukraine is getting big wins

  • Pres. Zelenskyy updates Russian sanctions

    Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed a tranche of new sanctions on Russia. The punitive measures are designed to cripple Russia’s war machine, and force Putin to end his war.

    The targets are close to the Russian President, undermining his ability to present a strong image. It also includes Russian activists in media circles, who continue to justify the country’s illegal war.

  • Reading Ukraine march

  • What Ukraine means for Europe

    The war in Ukraine with Russia has lasted nearly three years. Although targets are hit deep inside either countries, the combat has only straddled their shared border. Its hostilities are mainly centred on Eastern Ukraine and Western Russia.

    Despite this, the threat remains for the rest of Europe. There are plenty of targets for Russia to strike. It hates most of the West, and Putin hates our allies and partners in particular. He’s regularly stated a willingness to respond if we attack it first.

    It’s not obvious where it goes next, and if the rest of Europe should be afraid. Ukraine’s potential membership of Nato, and the EU, sets up such confrontation in the future. Now, it’s a question of what happens if the war were to spread outward.

  • Russia’s genocidal campaign rages on

    Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has reiterated the difficulties his country faces. Yesterday he summed up the challenges Ukraine faced in the past week. He noted how many projectiles Russia had used against his country and its people.

    “This week, our air defense forces have been working day and night to protect Ukraine’s skies from Russian terror. Last night, Russia launched a record 145 Shaheds and other strike drones against Ukraine. Throughout the week, Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs, around 600 strike drones, and nearly 20 missiles of various types.”

    He also thanked France, the US, Canada, Lithuania, and Sweden for their collaboration in his nations defence. He said these nations have provided assurances of multiple avenues of support, including air defence systems, ground support, and training.

  • Ukraine calls for air support

    In a post on X, Ukraine’s President claimed Europe could do more to help defend Ukraine’s airspace. Zelenskyy said Russian missile and drone strikes can be mitigated with European air defence systems.

  • Defence update on Ukraine

    Defence Intelligence have said a detachment of 10,000 North Korean soldiers sent into Russia to help in its fight against Ukraine is unlikely to prove successful.

    “Russian and DPRK forces would almost certainly experience interoperability difficulties having not previously carried out joint military exercises. DPRK troops conducting combat operations would almost certainly have issues operating Russian equipment, integrating into Russia’s command and control structure, and working around the language barrier with Russian forces.”

    Although such a move is meant to strengthen Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, it may suffer setbacks due to lack of previous cooperation, and language differences.

  • Zelenskyy calls out West

    In a post on X, President Zelenskyy has called out Western partners over the misuse of parts in the Russian armoury. He’s said that “Western components” are being used in Shahed missiles.

    He says that America, Europe, and China are to blame for the parts reaching Russia. He says thousands of missiles and drones have been sent into Ukraine using such parts.

  • UK slams Russia

    The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has today summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK. It’s due to accusations of intimidation or harassment against the UK in Russia and activities to promote misinformation in Europe.

    The FCDO allege Russia has attempted to do it to dissuade the UK from its support of Ukraine. Since the start of its fight against Russia in February 2022 we’ve provided moral, military, and financial support.

    “The UK condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s unprecedented and unfounded public campaign of aggression against the UK, including the malicious and completely baseless accusations made against Foreign Office staff last week. This behaviour is in direct contravention to Russia’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

    Lately Russia has also been accused of placing assets in the UK to disrupt our normal activities. Although it’s not directly linked to its war against Ukraine, its activities here are under constant review.

  • UN acts in Ukraine

    As of 24 February 2022 Russia has been attacking Ukraine.

    The result of its war is telling in the statistics. In a recent report the UN has calculated via its refugee arm, the UNHCR, that as of April over 6 million Ukrainians are displaced in Europe.

    The UNHCR have also undertaken practical work in Ukraine.

    It’s supported efforts to repair houses, distribute emergency supplies, provide cash, legal support, and planning for winter fuel assistance. It’s also set up a Human Rights Center in the west of Ukraine.

  • Ukraine realities

    Europe is a tightly packed continent but it falls out from time to time with its neighbours over vast differences. These aren’t easy to understand primarily because we’re citizens of different nations.

    Wars only make sense where they happen and yet they can make sense to us because we’re also involved in some way. It may jeopardise our security to stand apart so it’s necessary to lend support.

    However the ramifications of a war like this involves many parts of the world besides. In a report The Economist suggests 36% of nations don’t support Russia, 31% are neutral, and 33% do support it.

    These are even numbers considering the gravity of a war it entails. It isn’t possible to end conflict by giving or removing support alone. Only implicit movements will determine what the outcome will be.