Ukraine updates in English

[US7IGN]

France has joined Poland in calling for further restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, threatening to derail negotiations on extending Kyiv's free-trade access to the EU for another year, three European diplomats told POLITICO. The change would cost Ukraine €1.2 billion in trade revenue. https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-imports-europe-france-poland-agriculture/

The EU aims to deploy frozen russian assets to send 3 billion euros per year to Ukraine, the European Commission announced today (20 March), with the first funds potentially paid as soon as July. While originally mooted as a funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction, 90% of the funds released by today’s plans are set to flow through the European Peace Facility, which aims to supply Ukraine with munitions. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/03/20/brussels-poised-to-send-billions-from-frozen-russian-assets-to-ukraine

International investments in Ukraine increased from $500 million in 2022 to $1.2 billion in 2023, KSE Institute head Natalia Shapoval said during the first Ukraine Business Compact (UBC) Workshop.

"During the full-scale invasion, 43 global companies invested in Ukraine, including Bayer ($65 million), Carlsberg ($40 million) and CEMARK, which is part of the CRH group of companies ($30 million). Another 12 companies announced investments in Ukraine," - Shapoval noted. https://interfax.com.ua/news/investments/974794.html

[ke6sls]

Hello Wlad,

Is good money will come to Ukraine, but much of the first moneys will probably not go to army, but food/fuel/parts/food to keep Ukraine economy functional.

In US, the house is S L O W L Y  trying to complete basic funding of our country.  The right want to starve the poor and the left want to make everyone rich and is difficult finding the middle ground which will leave all grumbling.  This funding effects all retired or disabled people as well as all US veterans. 

There is still much discussion about funding Ukraine, but that is now completely set aside until the domestic funding bill is complete.  I hope Europe will pull through for Ukraine!

Those antennas are good antennas.  They are J-pole antennas, broadbanded for the band they are made for and strong.  These look like they are made of aluminum.  I built 25 of these but used all copper which was very cheap back then, again, strong and will handle huge wind storms without problems.  Then if you want, you can add a second vertical element to create the "Super J-pole" which almost doubles the gain.  Now, here in USA, it is usually cheaper and easier to buy a manufactured antenna then try to buy the parts to make a copper j-pole!

There is a new kitten in our lives.  Last few weeks, a little black kitten was showing up after I would feed my ravens.  He was trying to chase them.  Last week I realized he was starving, desperately trying to make the birds drop the food so he could eat it.

Monday, I brought him his own special bowl of food.  He was so scared, but hunger made him slowly come to me and he ate.  I was able to touch him and pat his back softly.  After food was gone, he ran away.  Tuesday morning, he was waiting, calmer.  I fed the birds and brought him a larger bowl of food.  This time he let me pet him without running away.  Very skittish, always ready to run away.  Yesterday, I opened the door and put his food on my porch.  Finally, he snooped and entered house, but not for long.

Today, again waiting as sun was coming up.  I let him come in and shut door, and he became very upset, but still too hungry to run away!  I brought him a big bowl of food and put it down again on porch so he felt safer, but left door open.  He came in and I shut door.  Snooped inside the house but then became fearful.  I brought him back to the door and showed him the kitty door and he went out, but then I called him and half opened kitty door for him and he came in!  So much new things for him to ponder!  He ate, played with my older two cats for two hours before leaving.

Storms will arrive tonight, I will worry about him outside.  I hope he continues to calm and be more okay being inside, warm/dry/safe.  He is coal black, petite short hair male, and HAPPY.

I'm glad my older cats feel comfortable with him!

73
Jaye

[US7IGN]

Hi Jaye!
Thanks for the kitten story!
I will no longer have pets. It's too much responsibility. At least my Mouse is still alive.

Today I woke up to explosions around 5 am. 11 strategic of Tu-95MS bombers launched missiles over Ukraine. The rockets came from the north, the main direction of the attack was Kyiv. The enemy attacked with two Iskander-M ballistic/aeroballistic missiles (KN-23) / Kh-47M2 Kinjal, as well as 29 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles (launch areas – Volgodonsk, Engels – RF), the Air Force said in a statement.
At least 17 people, including a child, were injured by falling debris, four of whom are in hospital, authorities said. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c4nv1pdwx5do
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68623415

All the destruction was on the right bank of the Dnipro, so I just listened to the explosions. The walk was difficult again and I stopped to rest on a bench. At least it was very warm and the sun was shining, although my eyes were stinging because of the lack of sleep.

But as always, I'm more concerned about economic news. The illustrative story of the company "Akvaizol", which in the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, was relocated from Kharkiv in the east of Ukraine to Kalush in the Ivano-Frankivsk region in the west. 70 wagons of production equipment were brought to Kalush and placed in warehouses. Therefore, they decided to build a new plant on an area of 10,000 square meters. Construction began in December 2022 and lasted a year. The factory is currently undergoing commissioning of the first production line, which will be operational at the end of April. The second is planned to be launched in May. When both production lines are operational, the plant plans to employ 100 people. Only two workers are from Kharkiv, the rest are local. https://www.ratusha.if.ua/vyvezly-z-kharkova-70-vahoniv-cherez-misiats-u-kalushi-zapratsiuie-shche-odne-relokovane-pidpryiemstvo/

It looks like the east of Ukraine, which used to be industrial, is waiting for decline and ruin.

Austria does not agree to transfer profits from frozen russian assets to purchase weapons for the Ukrainian army. This was announced by Austrian Chancellor Karl Neghammer before the summit of European Union leaders. The head of the Austrian government noted that he is not against using the income from the assets of the russian federation for the reconstruction of Ukraine. However, he added that for his country, which is neutral, it is important that money for Ukraine is not used to purchase weapons. https://rubryka.com/2024/03/21/avstriya-vystupyla-proty-peredachi-koshtiv-vid-zamorozhenyh-aktyviv-rf-na-zakupivlyu-zbroyi-dlya-ukrayiny/

Ukraine’s prime minister said blocked US funding could arrive as soon as this month – and that the scope of recruiting fresh troops for the front line may be fewer than the half-million initially backed by the military. As more than $60 billion in funding is held up by House Republicans in Washington, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal — saying Ukrainian officials are in “active dialog” with Congress members from both parties — signaled he expects positive news “this month, or maximum next month.”
At the same time, a contested draft bill calling for the conscription of younger soldiers is stalled in Ukraine’s parliament, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wary of an initial military request to draft as many as 500,000 troops. Shmyhal said an assessment showed that scale wasn’t necessary given rotations taking place on the front line and incoming weaponry.
“We will continue the fight if we will have support from our partners for artillery shells, for long and middle range missiles,” Shmyhal said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Brussels on Wednesday.
The premier lauded the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and Group of Seven allies for providing badly needed financing so far this year, allowing the budget to “survive for the first half.” Ukraine will rely on the US package for the second half of the year, he said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-20/ukrainian-premier-sees-us-aid-coming-as-early-as-this-month?srnd=politics-vp

[bluesky]

Perhaps it would be possible to use the money that is otherwise used to bribe Ukrainian officials and politicians to instead strengthen the northern border between Ukraine and russia

[US7IGN]

Today I haven't had enough sleep again due to air alarm, which is better not to ignore. My head hurts, although the weather is very nice.

A million people are without power across Ukraine after Russian missiles targeted energy infrastructure. Some 90 missiles and 60 Shahed drones were launched into Ukraine during the wave of overnight attacks. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68634444

There is no electricity in the second-largest city of Kharkiv, the regional head says, and more than 53,000 households in Odesa are without power.

The greatest damage is in Kharkiv, which was completely left without electricity and, accordingly, without water supply, heating, urban electric transport. Hospitals and some other facilities are powered by generators. https://gazeta.ua/articles/np/_harkiv-povnistyu-znestrumlenij-misto-perehodit-na-generatori/1175645

In Zaporizhzhia, there were two direct hits at the Dnipro HPP - at HPP-1 and HPP-2 stations. It is not known whether it will be possible to restore HPP-2, it is seriously damaged. There is a hit to one support, the crane beams are broken. This was stated by the director of Ukrhydroenergo Ihor Syrota. "We will have to completely restore the engine room and electrical equipment. We will calculate the consequences during the day and understand what happened. And will it (HESP-2 - ed..) be able to work. And if it can, then whether in a limited mode or not at all will be able to operate HPP-2 for a certain period," he said on Radio Svoboda. https://www.obozrevatel.com/ukr/ekonomika-glavnaya/communalka/nevidomo-chi-vdastsya-vidnoviti-ges-2-vona-poshkodzhena-serjozno-direktor-ukrgidroenergo.htm

In fact, this is a very serious problem because hydroelectric plants balance nuclear plants. Also, recently, the export of electricity was one of the few sources of money for Ukraine. Now, apparently, electricity will have to be imported. Coincidentally, an article appeared today in Financial Time with reference to its own sources:

The United States has called on Ukraine to stop attacks on russian energy infrastructure and oil refineries, which could lead to a rise in global prices. It is noted that drone strikes on russian energy and refineries could raise global oil prices and provoke russia to retaliate.
"Repeated warnings from Washington were conveyed to high-ranking officials of the State Security Service of Ukraine, the SBU and its military intelligence department, known as the GUR," the report said.
According to sources, the White House is increasingly frustrated by "brazen" Ukrainian drone attacks that have hit refineries, terminals, depots and storage facilities across western russia, damaging its oil production capacity. https://www.ft.com/content/98f15b60-bc4d-4d3c-9e57-cbdde122ac0c

Kyiv still has electricity, but I think this is not the last attack. At least it’s not so cold anymore and you can do without heating.

Not being able to work with my head, I devoted the whole day to cleaning the apartment before my wife's arrival, and it made me very tired. She said that Ukrainian children began to be bullied by Poles and, after meeting with the school director and watching videos of confrontations and threats, the parents decided to file a complaint with the police.

[US7IGN]

Events are developing rapidly in this part of the world.
The terrorist attack in Moscow yesterday https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-68642036?src_origin=BBCS_BBC suspiciously resembles another FSB operation, similar to the one that in 2002 allowed Putin to gain support and end the war in Chechnya. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis
The seizure of the Moscow Bearing cultural center took place on October 23, 2002, when the popular musical “Nord-Ost” was shown there. For pootin, it became a convenient occasion to get rid of domestic and international pressure to end the Second Chechen War and begin a plan to establish a puppet regime in the rebellious region. A year after the terrorist attack, Akhmat Kadyrov, the father of current President Ramzan Kadyrov, was elected president of Chechnya. https://ru.espreso.tv/article/2017/10/24/15_let_nazad_posle_shturma_nord_osta_pogybly_130_chelovek_voprosy_kotorye_ostalys_k_rossyyskoy_vlasty

This will again allow to distract people from questions about the advisability of war in Ukraine, and the increased level of hatred is much easier to direct in the right direction, for example, to Ukraine. pootin has already stated that Ukraine provided terrorists with the opportunity to cross the border. Also, any terrorist attack is an excellent reason to intimidate people and limit their rights.

What attitude towards other nations do you expect from those who do this to their own people? However, I want to quote:
“In any agenda, political or otherwise, there is a cost to be borne. Always ask what it is, and who will be paying. If you don’t, then the agenda makers will pick up the perfume of your silence like swamp panthers on the scent of blood, and the next thing you know, the person expected to bear the cost will be you. And you may not have what it takes to pay. QUELLCRIST”

“Most people don’t like to think things through. Too much effort. They’d rather have the edited visceral highlights.”

“That’s right. People. It’s all people. People and their stupid fucking groups. Show me an individual decision maker whose decisions have harmed me, and I’ll melt his stack to slag. Show me a group with the united purpose of harming me and I’ll take them all down if I can. But don’t expect me to waste time and effort on abstract hate.”
― Richard K. Morgan, Broken Angels

However, history repeats itself again. Back in 1919, Mussolini wrote in “IL POPOLO D’ITALIA”:
“The event is epic. Never have people fought with more faith for their freedom; never have a people defended their right to life and independence in more difficult conditions, (...) threatened by the pan-Russians, without weapons, without means, alone, under the distrustful or indifferent gazes of all of Europe, the Ukrainian people free their territory from Bolshevik plague and reconquers his capital. Free peoples are moved by this spectacle of greatness, even if their governments want to ignore it. The Ukrainians not only defend themselves, but Europe"("Il Popolo d'Italia", 6 settembre 1919).

“The lack of space does not allow us to highlight, as we would like, the great crime committed by pan-Russianism. Russians are foreigners in Ukraine and the occupation of Kyiv in the name of Great Russia is an abominable attack on the freedom of peoples. (“Il Popolo d’Italia”, 13 settembre 1919).
https://www.lavocedelpatriota.it/cosa-scriveva-mussolini-nel-1919-dellucraina/

[US7IGN]

In Ukraine, a law was passed, according to which Ukrainians recognized as limited fit for service must undergo a second medical examination. After that, they can be mobilized if needed and can fill vacancies in combat units and brigades. https://apostrophe.ua/ua/news/society/2024-03-23/ogranichenno-godnyih-smogut-otpravlyat-v-boevyie-podrazdeleniya-kakimi-budut-novyie-pravila/317047
I don’t see how this will increase the combat effectiveness of the army, but it definitely may increase the income of those who will decide who to recognize or not to recognize as healthy enough.

Some incomprehensible story is happening with the "International War Sponsors" registry, which was introduced to record companies that continue to cooperate with russia. https://gazeta.ua/articles/economics/_reyestr-sponsoriv-vijni-zakrivayut-nazk-dalo-oficijnij-komentar/1175737

On March 19, the Cabinet of Ministers announced a meeting with the participation of the ambassadors of Italy, Japan, Austria, France, Hungary, Turkey, Belgium, Finland, Greece and the EU representation in Ukraine, representatives of the embassies of USA, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Germany and China.

The government announced numerous appeals from representatives of the diplomatic corps of partner countries regarding the lack of a regulatory framework for the existence of the list of "International sponsors of war", and, accordingly, the negative impact of this list on the adoption of important decisions to counter russian aggression.

Therefore, the simplest solution turned out to be simply to close it.

In Kharkiv, all energy and utility services are working to restore energy supply. However, the power supply will not be restored this weekend. This was announced by the mayor of Kharkiv Igor Terekhov. https://weukraine.tv/suspilstvo/v-kharkovi-enerhopostachannja-tsimi-vikhidnimi-ne-vidnovljat-terekhov/

Ukrhydroenergo stated that another 20% of capacity was lost at the damaged Dnipro HPP. https://warnews.novyny.live/v-ukrgidroenergo-zaiavili-shcho-na-dniproges-bulo-vtracheno-shche-20-potuzhnostei-161191.html

[bluesky]

In my opinion Mussolini deserves no reference at all - not even one! He was a Nazi and mass murderer like Hitler, Franco and Stalin.

[US7IGN]

In my opinion Mussolini deserves no reference at all - not even one! He was a Nazi and mass murderer like Hitler, Franco and Stalin.

Agree. Apparently this is my professional deformation. For me, the main thing is the facts, not their sources, provided that they are reliable. Mussolini hated the communists/Bolsheviks and was an ally of the Ukrainians in this. At one time, even the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, which fought the communists who occupied Ukraine, collaborated with Hitler because he gave them weapons. This was their original slogan: “Glory to Ukraine - Glory to Heroes.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_Ukrainian_Nationalists
As for Mussolini, when I was in Italy they told me how much good he had done for Italy, which greatly surprised me then.
Perhaps russians now feel the same way about pootin. And understanding this is also important. In my opinion, you need to know history at a minimum in order not to repeat mistakes. As a whole, Ukrainians even know very little of their own history.

[bluesky]

Mussolini was a fascist alongside fascists Franco, Hitler and Stalin. Mussolini has no place to be memorized in history, unless you want history to repeat itself. Strange that you think that Mussolini did anything good for Italians, while the fact is that he was hanged  by his own people the Italians.

[US7IGN]

Mussolini was a fascist alongside fascists Franco, Hitler and Stalin. Mussolini has no place to be memorized in history, unless you want history to repeat itself. Strange that you think that Mussolini did anything good for Italians, while the fact is that he was hanged  by his own people the Italians.

I believe that history repeats itself when it is forgotten. I think if you want to know more about Mussolini, it is better to talk about it with the Italians, and not with me.

[bluesky]

Mussolini was a dictator and a ridiculous sly clown. This is documented in a.o. the documentary: "Mussolini - The First Fascist". If You do not have access to the full documentary, You can see it partly on youtube.
With Respect

[US7IGN]

This morning started again with a rocket attack and some of the rockets were shot down not far from me. People who went out for a walk with their dogs carefully walked around the wreckage of the rockets, which were leaking poisonous rocket fuel. It rained lightly most of the day, which combined with lack of sleep made me very slow again. At least my blood pressure was normal for the first time in days.

The consequences of attacks on other cities were worse. In the Lviv region, near the western border, one of the underground gas storage facilities hit the ground infrastructure. An acquaintance who lives about 40 km from that place heard the explosion. He is worried about the fact that the Kinzhal supersonic missiles can fly so far and accurately. https://unn.ua/news/voroh-atakuvav-lvivshchynu-kyndzhalamy-povtorno-vluchyvshy-u-krytychno-vazhlyvu-infrastrukturu
https://hvylya.net/uk/news/289896-povrezhdena-infrastruktura-podzemnogo-hranilishcha-gaza-v-naftogaze-skazali-povliyaet-li-eto-na-postavku-gaza-potrebitelyam

One of the missiles passed through the territory of Poland, which caused a lot of questions from the Poles about their military. https://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,30825907,rosyjska-rakieta-naruszyla-polska-przestrzen-powietrzna.html#S.MT-K.C-B.1-L.1.duzy

In general, due to the attacks of the last few days, one of the largest operators of the energy market of Ukraine announced the loss of 50% of generating capacity. https://hvylya.net/uk/news/289897-dtek-poteryal-50-generacii-elektroenergii-v-rezultate-obstrelov-rf-gendirektor-yasno

The situation is still difficult in Kharkiv, although electricity and water supply have been restored to some consumers. The mayor announced that all electrical substations and CHP were destroyed. https://www.dw.com/uk/udari-rf-u-harkovi-zrujnovano-usi-pidstancii-ta-tec/a-68656182?maca=ukr-rss-ukrnet-ukr-all-3816-xml

The International Monetary Fund has updated the base and negative scenario for Ukraine.
Specifically, based on the negative scenario, the war would end by the end of 2025 compared to the end of 2024 in the baseline scenario. At the same time, the shock will begin in the second quarter of 2024 due to the intensity of the war.
In addition, in the negative scenario, the cumulative financing gap is estimated at about $140.6 billion, which is about $19 billion more than in the baseline projection for 2023-2027 ($121.8 billion). https://hvylya.net/uk/news/289893-mvf-ozvuchili-bazovyy-i-negativnyy-scenariy-srokov-zaversheniya-voyny-i-ee-vliyaniya-na-ekonomiku

[US7IGN]

In the occupied Sevastopol, Crimea, the Defense Forces hit large amphibious ships "Yamal" and "Azov", a communications center and several infrastructure facilities of the Black Sea Fleet of the russian federation, reported the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-krym-korabli-rf-udar/32875184.html

In russia, it is reported that the Kuibyshev Oil Refinery in the Samara region has stopped working because of the drone attack on this refinery. https://war.hvylya.net/uk/289883-v-rf-ostanovil-rabotu-atakovannyy-dronami-npz

[US7IGN]

Today there was a new missile attack. This time with supersonic ballistic missiles against Kyiv and Odessa. I was just out for a walk and explosions sounded right overhead at the same time as air raid signals. The rocket debris destroyed buildings and made huge craters in the ground in neighboring areas. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cjq8nyd29dvo
https://weukraine.tv/top/rosijani-raketami-vdarili-po-odesi-je-postrazhdali-ta-poshkodzhennja/

Sometimes people ask me why the authorities lie when they say that the missiles were shot down. They don't lie. It's just that downed missiles don't disappear anywhere. They still fall, but not in the place where they were originally aiming.

The russian attack on Kharkiv, which took place on March 22, led to the destruction of energy facilities. Kharkiv is supplied with electricity thanks to other regions. Restoration of these facilities is equivalent to building anew and will take at least a year, subject to appropriate funding. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/vidnovlennya-pidut-roki-harkiv-zalishivsya-1711392626.html

The situation is the same in Zaporizhzhia, where the HPP was damaged. https://vechirniy.kyiv.ua/news/96511/

The WSJ published an article on mobilization problems and accused the president of not wanting to make unpopular decisions during the war. Among other things, lowering the draft age. It seems to me that the president understands well that there is no point in making decisions that no one will implement, but journalists and deputies do not understand what the problem is at all. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cg69gx1660ko