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Основной раздел / Re: Ukraine updates in English
« Последний ответ от US7IGN Мая 01, 2026, 07:36:39 pm »It was quiet in Kyiv today, but drones flew in waves for more than seven hours, hitting mainly cities in central and western Ukraine. Explosions were heard in Zhytomyr, Ternopil, Rivne, Vinnytsia and Starokostyantyniv. The Air Force said that the massive drone attack lasted from 08:00 to 15:30, the russian army launched 409 strike drones, of which 388 were shot down and suppressed. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/clyp2lydl1jo
Yesterday, we discussed King Charles III's visit to the USA https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/27/us/gallery/king-charles-us-state-visit and his speech there with the English and an American until late. Of course, the conversation turned to Ukraine. For an Englishman (to be precise, an elderly man), the idea of the need to serve in the army or fight for one's country is something natural and unquestionable. Patriotism that does not require explanation, taking into account the historical and cultural context. Of course, one should be careful to listen to the opinions about war of people who never took part in it personally. Of course, in this case too, the opinion of the general at headquarters will differ from the opinion of the infantryman, and we will never know the opinions of the dead. I think a lot of things in wars would change if generals spent at least one month a year in the trenches with their soldiers without any privileges.
But in Ukraine, the situation is different, given its history and the nature of the interaction between people and the state. Too often, for people, the state became an enemy that they preferred to leave. And even the powerful patriotic propaganda of the USSR did not always help, which is why no less powerful repression and coercion were used at the same time. So, for Ukrainians with the Soviet experience of their persecution and the historical post-Soviet experience of searching for a better economic life abroad, a clear understanding of what exactly they should fight for is needed now. It is obvious that words about patriotism are not enough in conditions when citizens do not associate the state with good and who try to leave it at the first opportunity. The fact that the state has closed its borders once again confirms the justice of distrust towards it and reminds of the USSR. The threat of physical destruction even in the event of a complete occupation by russia seems unlikely to many and in any case too abstract and distant. Even victims of drone attacks are given no more attention than victims of car accidents. Well, it happens, but life goes on and more attention is focused on where to get money for food and what to do if there is no heating next winter like the previous one. Also the threat of being caught on the street and being conscripted into the army, from which no one returns, is more real.
Typical situations are like the one on Facebook, when representatives of the mobilization center grab a man who brought his child to kindergarten by the arms and legs and drag him into a car, while a policeman helps them. https://www.facebook.com/100068027056777/videos/3427647274079743/?rdid=peH6yW05kD0CasqP# This is nothing more than illegal kidnapping, which is a criminal offense. At the same time, according to the law, the police had the right only to check this man's documents, and if necessary, issue a summons for him to appear at the mobilization center. So what kind of respect and trust for itself and the desire to fight for it can a state demand, whose representatives are the first to break the law, and the police not only do not react to this, but are essentially accomplices in the crime? And if the state considers this normal, why doesn't it change the laws and legalize it in this form?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2267700416617760/permalink/26474841185477012
Therefore, it is not surprising that someone is shooting at such "alert groups" as they are officially called, or throwing grenades into the territory of mobilization centers.
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2485566358539077&id=100012572109437&rdid=0EYm5Xg1TZh5ZxAv#
https://sud.ua/uk/news/photo/359945-v-beloy-tserkvi-progremel-vzryv-vozle-zdaniya-ttsk-foto
Thus, the need to permanently fight without understanding real goals and the possibilities of achieving them is a very complex and ambiguous issue that requires a very clear and consistent position of the state, which, before demanding anything from people, must first restore trust in itself and demonstrate common values for all. Otherwise, it must be admitted that Ukraine has actually turned into an authoritarian police state, the power of which is based on fear and coercion, similar to russia. This is reminiscent of the times after the Second World War, when Eastern Europe, after the German occupation, fell under the Soviet occupation, and the life of its inhabitants became even worse. Of course, with the exception of those to whom the new regime redistributed benefits at the expense of its victims. George Orwell also viewed war and regime as interconnected tools of control, arguing that modern totalitarian states utilize perpetual conflict to maintain domestic authority, suppress living standards, and destroy critical thought. So there is always a real danger of substituting the real goals of the war and the desire of some to turn it into an endless one. It's enough, as the ancient Romans said, to look around and understand who benefits from it.
Given that the Trump administration has removed military aid from the 2027 budget https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/defense-secy-hegseth--joint-chiefs-chair-testify-on-iran-war--2027-budget/678334 and the deterioration of relations with Europe due to Zelensky's unacceptable statements https://www.ft.com/content/4641fc30-6fc9-43d4-bc84-7ea0521a79b1 , the latter has announced grandiose reforms in the army, including a several-fold increase in military salaries. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c202n349yxwo Time will tell what and how will be implemented, but for now, new vehicles are being purchased for the police and vans for the national guard, while soldiers are forced to ask for donations of old pickup trucks.
But I continue to believe that Ukraine will win without losing itself. And then Ukrainians will receive a long-term impulse as a people who defeated russia. This is what the myth of the future Ukraine will be built on.
Yesterday, we discussed King Charles III's visit to the USA https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/27/us/gallery/king-charles-us-state-visit and his speech there with the English and an American until late. Of course, the conversation turned to Ukraine. For an Englishman (to be precise, an elderly man), the idea of the need to serve in the army or fight for one's country is something natural and unquestionable. Patriotism that does not require explanation, taking into account the historical and cultural context. Of course, one should be careful to listen to the opinions about war of people who never took part in it personally. Of course, in this case too, the opinion of the general at headquarters will differ from the opinion of the infantryman, and we will never know the opinions of the dead. I think a lot of things in wars would change if generals spent at least one month a year in the trenches with their soldiers without any privileges.
But in Ukraine, the situation is different, given its history and the nature of the interaction between people and the state. Too often, for people, the state became an enemy that they preferred to leave. And even the powerful patriotic propaganda of the USSR did not always help, which is why no less powerful repression and coercion were used at the same time. So, for Ukrainians with the Soviet experience of their persecution and the historical post-Soviet experience of searching for a better economic life abroad, a clear understanding of what exactly they should fight for is needed now. It is obvious that words about patriotism are not enough in conditions when citizens do not associate the state with good and who try to leave it at the first opportunity. The fact that the state has closed its borders once again confirms the justice of distrust towards it and reminds of the USSR. The threat of physical destruction even in the event of a complete occupation by russia seems unlikely to many and in any case too abstract and distant. Even victims of drone attacks are given no more attention than victims of car accidents. Well, it happens, but life goes on and more attention is focused on where to get money for food and what to do if there is no heating next winter like the previous one. Also the threat of being caught on the street and being conscripted into the army, from which no one returns, is more real.
Typical situations are like the one on Facebook, when representatives of the mobilization center grab a man who brought his child to kindergarten by the arms and legs and drag him into a car, while a policeman helps them. https://www.facebook.com/100068027056777/videos/3427647274079743/?rdid=peH6yW05kD0CasqP# This is nothing more than illegal kidnapping, which is a criminal offense. At the same time, according to the law, the police had the right only to check this man's documents, and if necessary, issue a summons for him to appear at the mobilization center. So what kind of respect and trust for itself and the desire to fight for it can a state demand, whose representatives are the first to break the law, and the police not only do not react to this, but are essentially accomplices in the crime? And if the state considers this normal, why doesn't it change the laws and legalize it in this form?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2267700416617760/permalink/26474841185477012
Therefore, it is not surprising that someone is shooting at such "alert groups" as they are officially called, or throwing grenades into the territory of mobilization centers.
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2485566358539077&id=100012572109437&rdid=0EYm5Xg1TZh5ZxAv#
https://sud.ua/uk/news/photo/359945-v-beloy-tserkvi-progremel-vzryv-vozle-zdaniya-ttsk-foto
Thus, the need to permanently fight without understanding real goals and the possibilities of achieving them is a very complex and ambiguous issue that requires a very clear and consistent position of the state, which, before demanding anything from people, must first restore trust in itself and demonstrate common values for all. Otherwise, it must be admitted that Ukraine has actually turned into an authoritarian police state, the power of which is based on fear and coercion, similar to russia. This is reminiscent of the times after the Second World War, when Eastern Europe, after the German occupation, fell under the Soviet occupation, and the life of its inhabitants became even worse. Of course, with the exception of those to whom the new regime redistributed benefits at the expense of its victims. George Orwell also viewed war and regime as interconnected tools of control, arguing that modern totalitarian states utilize perpetual conflict to maintain domestic authority, suppress living standards, and destroy critical thought. So there is always a real danger of substituting the real goals of the war and the desire of some to turn it into an endless one. It's enough, as the ancient Romans said, to look around and understand who benefits from it.
Given that the Trump administration has removed military aid from the 2027 budget https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/defense-secy-hegseth--joint-chiefs-chair-testify-on-iran-war--2027-budget/678334 and the deterioration of relations with Europe due to Zelensky's unacceptable statements https://www.ft.com/content/4641fc30-6fc9-43d4-bc84-7ea0521a79b1 , the latter has announced grandiose reforms in the army, including a several-fold increase in military salaries. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c202n349yxwo Time will tell what and how will be implemented, but for now, new vehicles are being purchased for the police and vans for the national guard, while soldiers are forced to ask for donations of old pickup trucks.
But I continue to believe that Ukraine will win without losing itself. And then Ukrainians will receive a long-term impulse as a people who defeated russia. This is what the myth of the future Ukraine will be built on.