Tag: Belarus

UKRAINE UPDATE: Medical collapse and Belarus

June 8th, 2022
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE 2022

UKRAINE UPDATE:

THE GUARDIAN, 6/4/22, Russian man accused of assassinating Alexander Litvinenko dies in Moscow.
- In 2006, former spy Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with a radioactive isotope polonium 210 at a London Hotel.
- The polonium used to assassinate Litvinenko was found in all the hotel rooms where the assassins had stayed in London.
- A British inquiry found that Litvinenko was murdered in an operation of the FSB and probably approved by Putin.
- Litvinenko was dismissed from the FSB after publicly criticizing the security services’ connection to organized crime.
- He also claimed that the FSB was responsible for the bombing of apartment blocks in Moscow in 1999, a campaign that helped consolidate power for Putin.
- Dmitry Kovtun was one of two men accused of assassinating Litvinenko. He is now dead.
- Russia refused to extradite him to Britain for trial.
- Books: A Very Expensive Poison by Luke Harding; Blowing Up Russia by Felshtinsky and Alexander Litvinienko; Death of a Dissident: The Poisoning of alexander Litvinenko and the Return of theKGB by Boutsikaris and Goldfarb, et. al; The Litvinenko File: The Life and Death of a Russian Spy by Martin Sixsmith.
- Video: Poisoned by Polonium
CNN
- Over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been transported to Russia for investigation.
- This is a potential bargaining position by the Russians hoping to exchange these soldiers for those held by the Ukrainians.
THE GUARDIAN 6/8/22
- Pro-Russian sentiments are “mainstream in large parts of Africa.”
- For many years Moscow has been cultivating ties with African leaders.
- Some of the support comes from anti-western sentiments. Russia has een accused of amplifying those grievances.
- Resentments are also stoked by the narrative that the west cares more about Ukraine than other tragedies unfolding in Africa.
- Putin is it argued by pan-Africanists “doesn’t have the blood of slavery on his hands.”
- Russia has supplied weapons to “authoritarian leaders.”
- The Wagner group has propped up authoritarian leaders in Mali, Central African Republic and DRC.
THE KYIV INDEPENDENT
- Ukrainian MP accused of treason to be expelled from parliament. Oleksiy Kovalyov, a lawmaker with Zelensky’s party, went to Kherson and publicly supported the Russian occupation.
- New Russian offensive prepared on Sloviansk on the Donbas.
- Lack of medicine is hampering Ukrainian efforts in Kherson.
- Odesa resident sentenced to 8 years for providing Russian forces with information.
- Mariupol is facing a “medical collapse.”
- 100,000 Ukrainians are trapped in occupied Mariupol without utilities, food or water.
- New activity from military in Belarus.
- A train carrying stolen Ukrainian grains from Melitopol heads to Crimea.
- Russia is trying to convince families of sunken cruiser Moskva from disclosing any information regarding the deaths of their relatives.
- Rising social tension in Russia reported.
- Zelensky announces a “Book of Executioners” to detail war crimes.
UKRAINE WORLD
- In Melitipol, there is talk of fake referendums.
- 400 million people around the world are dependent on Ukrainian food.
- Ukraine’s armed forces may leave Sievierodonestsk.
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UKRAINE UPDATE: THE LATEST FROM THE TELEGRAPH

May 16th, 2022
MONDAY 16 MAY 2022

UKRAINE UPDATE:

MSNBC
- Russia fired long-range missiles on Western city of Lyiv.
EUROMAIDAN PRESS
- After destroying Mariupol victims are offered money if they agree to blame Ukraine.
- Russian shelling causes explosion at ammonia nitrate warehouse in Kharkiv.
PODCAST: UKRAINE THE LATEST

THE TELEGRAPH
- There are exercises continuing in Belarus. At the moment there is no evidence that they are more than exercises. This will fix Ukrainian forces in the area.
- Lukashenko wants to avoid direct military participation and thereby avoiding Western sanctions.
- Ukrainian troops are on the border with Russia. They are able to affect Russian resupply. But if they start shelling that resupply, it raises risks.
- Russians are losing the support of Israel.
- Finland and Sweden joining NATO would have been unthinkable six months ago.
- Ukraine purposefully flooded a village, Demydiv, in order to stymie the Russians. This contributed to the defense of Kyiv.
- More killings discovered in Bucha.
- Phosphorus bombs. P bombs are used by many armies as smoke creators. Incendiary devices to create fires. White Phosphorus is used for smoke. On the front of tanks there are tubes which can distribute smoke. This allows the tanks to escape. It is perfectly legal to use. It is not legal to use them as an anti-personnel role in civilian areas. In the past the Soviet Union classified white phosphorus as a chemical weapon. The Russians are setting off blasts which shower and then explode (over the steel plant) when they hit the ground. This is another type of white phosphorus being used.
- White phosphorus was used in Syria. It’s not classed as a chemical under the conventions. But the effect is to kill indiscriminately, through fire, works similarly to chemical weapons. It’s a legal grey zone.
- Russia has made belligerent statements about Finland joining NATO, but they are having trouble crossing a river in Ukraine. They are not going to invade Finland. The have used so many resources. It is no longer conceivable that Russia can do anything (in terms of conventional warfare) to prevent this. What is expected is cyber and possibly assassination retaliation.
- Finland and Sweden will add a great deal to NATO. They both have sophisticated military capacity.
- NATO needs Turkey. We need that position on the Black Sea. There is an opportunity to draw Turkey further into the alliance, but it will require compromises that people are not likely to be happy with. Turkey seems not quite comfortable with Russia or with the West.
- Russia has to hold Snake Island. Eyes on the Southwest. The expected massive encircling effort by Russia just has not come about.
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UKRAINE UPDATE: PUTIN AND LUKASHENKO

May 16th, 2022
MONDAY 16 MAY 2022

CNN
- Finland applying to join NATO. Russia threatening retaliation.
- Russia may have lost 1/3 of their combat troops (death, desertion, disappearance)
- McDonald’s is selling out in Russia.
UKRAINE WORLD
- Russians shelled Severodonetsk again. (On Donets River, near Lisichansk, east of Izium.
- Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) composed of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. A security bloc trying to position itself as a NATO rival. Russia tried to draw these nations into its war against Ukraine.
- CSTO meeting held in Moscow May 16.
- CSTO Statements: Putin cited a “peacekeeping” operation in Kazakhstan in January. This contingent from the CSTO “prevented the seizure of power…by extremists, who were also controlled from abroad, and helped quickly stabilize the…political situation.”
- Putin: “…the Pentagon has created dozens of specialized biolaboratories in our shared region….Their main task is to collect biological materials and study the specifics of the spread of viruses…for their purposes….” In Ukraine “…documentary evidence has been obtained…components of biological weapons were created in violation of the Convention…possible methods and mechanisms were worked out to destabilize the epidemiological situation…”
- Putin also noted: Ukrainian “neo-Nazism,” a “surge of frenzied Russophobia in the so-called civilized and politically correct countries…”
- Lukashenko (President of Belarus) noted: “NATO saber-rattling”…a “full-scale hybrid war unleashed against us, primarily against Russia and Belarus.” NATO was described as: “drawing Finland and Sweden…into its nets.” The CSTO was characterized as “defensive and peace-loving.”
- Lukashenko: “It is clear that Ukraine was incited and incited, stuffed with nationalism, Nazism – evidence of that is Odesa, where people were burned alive – and fascism, Russophobia and weapons.”
- The establishment of an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine is again cited as a reason for the invasion.
- May 12, Peskov: “NATO expansion threatens the world’s security.”
- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova.
- Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev: “After Sweden and Finland join the Alliance, the United States and Great Britain will immediately deploy nuclear weapons on their territory.”
- April 28, 2022, head of theRussian Foreign Intellience Service, Sergei Naryshkin: “Poland is planning to establish their control over part of the territory of Ukraine….Poland and the United States are working out a plan to establish Warsaw’s military-political control over its historical territories.”
- According to Russian officials and media personalities, Poland is going to seize Western Ukraine.
The Russian media is reporting that Poland is planning to attack Belarus
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Ukraine Update: 12 Noon, Ukrainian cultural heritage

March 24th, 2022
THURSDAY 24 MARCH 2022: 12 NOON

The works of Ukrainian artist Arhip Kuindji, born in Mariupol, were on display in a museum dedicated to his artistry. Some of the paintings were removed but original works by Ivan Aivazovsky, Jablonskaia, Mykola Gluschenko,Tatiana Yablonska, Mykhailo Deregus and others were destroyed.

EUROMAIDAN PRESS
- There was a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.
- In Kharkiv, Russians fired long-range weapons at the post office where people were receiving humanitarian aid.
- The Mayor of Kherson has set up a service to report disappearances because of kidnappings.
- Russia is transferring weapons to Belarus and Crimea to make an attempt to encircle Kyiv.
- Only 3% of Belarusians approve of the deployment of Belarusian troops in Ukraine.
- Zelensky asked for 1% of the alliance’s aircraft, tanks and rocket systems so that Ukraine can “unlock cities where Russia is holding hundreds of thousands of people hostage.” “…we don’t have a clear answer.”
HROMADSKE Int.
- Occupation forces are driving through Mariupol, under blockade, with loudspeakers and declaring that Zaporizhzhia no longer accepts evacuees and that citizens must go to Russia. They are also saying that Odesa “is already taken by Russians.”
- Russia has targeted journalists, killing at least five and wounding seven. One journalist is missing.
- When citizens of Mariupol are deported their passports and other documents are confiscated.
- Anonymous hacked Central Bank of Russia.
- A month of war has led to the displacement of 4.3 million children, more than half the country’s child population.
- Lukashenko has expelled 12 Ukrainian diplomats from Belarus.
- Responding to panic, Russians are preparing to block traffic on the Crimean bridge. They are trying to prevent the flight from Crimea of Russian citizens who illegally moved there after February 2014.
- Russian intelligence chiefs Nikolai Patrushev (Security Council secretay), Alexander Bortnikov (Federal Security Service), Sergei Naryshkin (Foreign Intelligence Service) also disappeared from the “systematic and critical protocol statements.”
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uKRAINE UPDATE:

March 14th, 2022
KIEV, UKRAINE – OCTOBER 01: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media on October 1, 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. Ukraine has been at the core of a political storm in U.S. politics since the release of a whistleblower’s complaint suggesting U.S. President Donald Trump, at the expense of U.S. foreign policy, pressured Ukraine to investigate Trump’s rival, Joe Biden, and Biden’s son, Hunter. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

MONDAY 14 MARCH 2022

Another day of destruction in Ukraine. The Pentagon, through Kirby, is saying over and over again that we will not put soldiers into Ukraine or establish a no fly zone. So, another day, we sit and watch Ukraine being destroyed.

As a number of people have pointed out, this is a war of autocracy against democracy and we are sitting on the sidelines.

BNO News
- The Ukrainian city of Mariupol says at least 2,200 people have been killed since the war began.
- In Saudi Arabia, 81 prisoners have been executed.
KYIV INDEPENDENT
- Russians deny humanitarian convoy entry into Mariupol.
SUNDAY, 13 MARCH 2022

WALL STREET JOURNAL (3/13/22)

•          Prosecutors in Russia are warning that they may arrest corporate leaders who stay in Russia and criticize the government. They are also warning that they may seize assets of companies that withdraw from the country.

EUROMAIDAN PRESS

•          Following previous reports that mercenaries from Russian private military companies are deployed in Ukraine, are reports that the Russians are recruiting Middle Eastern mercenaries.

•          Russian soldiers are being treated in Belarus. There are not enough blood supplies for surgery. Reserves of blood accumulated for the citizens are being used. There is a campaign to collect blood from the citizens.

•          In a video of a Russian deserter, he claims that the Russians haVe established “shooting squads” to shoot deserters. He also related that 600 Russian marines refused to land from their ship near Odesa.

•          A similar story is reported from Kherson Oblast, where 80 Russian marines refused to participate in the war.

•          There are reports of Russian commanders being appointed over Belarusian soldiers who are resistant to go to war against Ukrainians.

•          Putin has publicly welcomed the recruitment of 16,000 mostly Middle Eastern volunteers.

•          Defense Intelligence of Ukraine is reporting that the Russian army has legalized looting. Troops have been instructed to “move to ‘self-sufficiency” if they are out of supplies. “…to take away everything necessary from the local population and to rob warehouses, shops, drugstores.”

•          According to the local Zaporizhzhia Miitary Administration, Russian troops looted a humanitarian convoy headed to Mariupol on March 12. “As each checkpoint, the invaders were forcibly seizing food, clothing, hygiene products.”

•          The mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, has been kidnapped and is reportedly being tortured. The occupiers have evidently found a replacement for him, a local MP from a pro-Russian Opposition Party for Life. This woman had posted a video urging people to “adjust to the new reality” and “not destabilize the situation and not participate in extremist activities.”

•          On March 13, occupiers kidnapped the mayor of Dniprorudnyi, Yevhen Matveyev. A journalist, Oleh Baturin is also feared kidnapped in Kherson.

•          March 11, during an evacuation from Peremoha (Kyiv Oblast) Russian forces fired on a column of women and children (Defense Intelligence of Ukraine).

•          Russia’s Foreign Ministry Second European Department Director Sergei Belyayev has said that Finland and Sweden’s possible accession to NATO would have serious military consequences.
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Ukraine Update: 8 PM

March 13th, 2022
Sunday 13 March 2022: 8:00 PM

WALL STREET JOURNAL (3/13/22)
- Prosecutors in Russia are warning that they may arrest corporate leaders who stay in Russia and criticize the government. They are also warning that they may seize assets of companies that withdraw from the country.
EUROMAIDAN PRESS
- Following previous reports that mercenaries from Russian private military companies are deployed in Ukraine, are reports that the Russians are recruiting Middle Eastern mercenaries.
- Russian soldiers are being treated in Belarus. There are not enough blood supplies for surgery. Reserves of blood accumulated for the citizens are being used. There is a campaign to collect blood from the citizens.
- In a video of a Russian deserter, he claims that the Russians hae established “shooting squads” to shoot deserters. He also related that 600 Russian marines refused to land from their ship near Odesa.
- A similar story is reported from Kherson Oblast, where 80 Russian marines refused to participate in the war.
- There are reports of Russian commanders being appointed over Belarusian soldiers who are resistant to go to war against Ukrainians.
- Putin has publicly welcomed the recruitment of 16,000 mostly Middle Eastern volunteers.
- Defense Intelligence of Ukraine is reporting that the Russian army has legalized looting. Troops have been instructed to “move to ‘self-sufficienty” if they are out of supplies. “…to take away everyting necessary from the local population and to rob warehouses, shops, drugstores.”
- According to the local Zaporizhzhia Miitary Administration, Rusian troops looted a humanitarian convoy headed to Mariupol on March 12. “As each checkpoint, the invaders were forcibly seizing food, clothing, hygiene products.”
- The mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, has been kidnapped and is reportedly being tortured. The occupiers have evidently found a replacement for him, a local MP from a pro-Russian Opposition Party for Life. This woman had posted a video urging people to “adjust to the new reality” and “not destabilize the situation and not participate in extremist activities.”
- On March 13, occupiers kidnapped the mayor of Dniprorudnyi, Yevhen Matveyev. A journalist, Oleh Baturin is also feared kidnapped in Kherson.
- March 11, during an evacuation from Peremoha (Kyiv Oblast) Russian forces fired on a column of women and children (Defense Intelligence of Ukraine).
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry Second European Department Director Sergei Belyayev has said that Finland and Sweden’s possible accession to NATO would have serious military consequences.
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Ukraine Update: 9:30 PM

February 27th, 2022
Ukraine Update:

9:30 PM 2/27/22

From the Kyiv Independent:
- As a result of a referendum, Belarus will renounce its non-nuclear status and allow Russia to place nuclear weapons on its territory.
- There are reports of Belarus paratroopers being used to attack Ukraine.
- Lukashenko significantly extended his executive powers.
- Viktor Medvedchuk has fled house arrest in Kyiv. He is a Ukrainian MP and a long-time representative of Putin in Ukraine. He has been charged with treason and financing terrorism.
- There are air raid alerts in Kyiv.
- EU imposes sanctions on Belarus.
- The EU has shut down Russian media companies RT and Sputnik.
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Ukraine Update

February 24th, 2022
9:00 AM
- Keir Simmons just called Putin “delusional.”
- Vindman:” These objective were clear to me months ago.” Shocked at how limited the attacks have been.
- Kyiv Independent: Belarus launches four ballistic missiles.
- 2-3 million refugees are expected if this continues, MSNBC
- Video of cars lined up to leave Kyiv.
- Poland is gearing up for refugees. They are going to Western Ukraine. Another package of sanctions is not going to get Putin to stand down. Melinda Haring.
- Stavridis, Adm. James on MSNBC: Fear miscalculation on the ground.
- Gen. Jack Keane, Fox News: Putin has chosen the most ambitious option h had available tohim. Multiple focus points. The will install a pro-russia government. Seize key terrain, then install government. Dnieper River has a dam. Putin is trying to minimize civilian casualties? He knows the whole world is watching. Operating on four different axes of advance.
1:30 PM
- Olga Lauman notes that “pro-Russian separatists” is a totally misleading term. These groups were created and maintained by the Russians for this very purpose. Kremlin File Podcast.
- Belarus needs to be sanctioned as well.
- Chuck Todd is talking about Putin’s “paranoia.”
- MSNBC has a tank on the set. Even if it’s computer generated, it’s so tacky. I’m from the South. That’s the only word I can think of. Cheesy, cheap, tacky.
- Anti-war protestors in downtown Moscow.
- I couldn’t understand why Biden wasn’t on television last night. Then, they announced he would speak at 9:00, then at 12:00, now at 1:30. Sanctions? SWIFT?
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Ukraine: I’m Up

February 24th, 2022
What I know this morning: (12:56 AM)
- A full-scale invasion is being launched in Ukraine.
- MSNBC is reporting cruise missile strikes.
- Ukraine World (UW) is reporting that Ukraine closed its airspace.
- UW is reporting shelling at Vasylkiv airport near Kyiv.
- MSNBC is reporting that people are leaving Kyiv.
- Blasts awoke people in the capital city.
- MSNBC is reporting that troops are coming across the border.
- MSNBC: Belarus is being used as a staging ground. Note: In the past, Belarus was adamant that they would not be used as a staging ground for any aggression.
- MSNBC reporter predicting “disaster” for Putin.
Other reports from Ukraine World
- Missiles attacking critical military infrastructure across Ukraine.
- Kyiv under missile attack reported by Ukraine’s interior ministry.
- Flights have been suspended
- Putin announced a “special military operation” against Ukraine.
- Putin called on the Ukrainian army to immediately give up.
- Putin said that Russia intends to “denazify” Ukraine.
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MORNING NOTES: bELARUS, RUSSIA, GREG PALAST AND VOTING, ENFORCING THE LAW

August 19th, 2020
- Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has ordered protests to end in the capital Minsk. Protests are also going on in Khabarovsk. https://news.yahoo.com/belarus-crisis-unsettling-putin-home-162603296.html
- Olga Lautman (@olgaNYC1211) is reporting on Twitter that according to “Bild Media sources” the Kremlin is sending troops into Belarus in support of Lukashenko and to stop the protests. Alexandra Chalupa (@AlexandraChalup) notes that this is similar to actions Russia took in 2014 when they sent “humanitarian aid” into Urkaine followed by a military convoy.
- According to Greg Palast: 22% of all mail-in ballots don’t get counted.
- In 2016, more than 141,000 ballots were disqualified because someone challenged the signature.
- In 2016, in Michigan 75,000 ballots were not counted in Detroit, machines broke down. Trump supposedly won by 10,000 votes.
- In Wisconsin in 2016, over a hundred thousand students were told right before the election that they could not vote with their university issued ID.
- In Georgia, to vote with a mail-in ballot in the primary, there was a part of the ballot you had to unattach (it has no perforations) before you return the ballot. Also, if your signature changed from the signature you used when you signed up for your driver’s license, your ballot could be challenged and thrown away. For example, if you signed your driver’s license Christina J. Johns and you sign your ballot “Christina Johns” they can throw it out.
- Greg Palast’s book “How Trump Stole 2020 “is a must read. But, the most interesting fact to come out of this book is that presented with the evidence of the stealing of votes, the Clinton campaign would not challenge the results. Does anybody think that the Biden campaign will do any differently?
- And, while I’m on the subject, the Obama administration failed to hold officials from the Bush administration accountable for torture or domestic surveillance. And they refused to prosecute those responsible for the 2008 financial crisis. They said they wanted to move ahead.
- I will eat my left arm off if a Biden administration does any differently. They will not hold the criminals and grifters and treasonous bastards in the Trump administration responsible for their crimes. They will also say “Let’s move ahead.” “Let’s look at the future not the past.”
- On the first night of the Democratic Convention, the Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer bragged that Obama and Biden “didn’t waste time” blaming those who were responsible for the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. No, why “waste time” enforcing the law for white collar, corporate and political criminals. It’s too easy to wind up among them.
Brian Kemp, Georgia’s governor after stealing the election from Stacey Abrams. He is an architect of voter suppression. He must be removed from office.
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Tag: Belarus

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