Ukraine updates in English

[KD8ZM-Brady]

US aid to Ukraine is coming, but as is always the case with the US, it will be called "loans" (that everyone knows will be forgiven eventually) and it will come at the last possible moment before disaster. There is something inherent in the US legislative system that causes this, and I've been watching it work this way for 64 years.

[US7IGN]

US aid to Ukraine is coming, but as is always the case with the US, it will be called "loans" (that everyone knows will be forgiven eventually) and it will come at the last possible moment before disaster. There is something inherent in the US legislative system that causes this, and I've been watching it work this way for 64 years.

Maybe not this time. Everything changes and you can't stay the same. It looks like China is confidently winning this war. russia remains a dangerous monkey with an nuclear bomb, but it has finally fallen under the influence of China. Its economy, army and industry are completely dependent on China. China is increasing its dominance in the world, while the United States is rapidly losing it. The policy of isolationism will lead to the loss of military and political dominance in the world, and the hope of maintaining technological superiority may not be justified. Perhaps globalism will be replaced by regionalism. I don't know and it won't be right away. Now the facts are that russia has rebuilt its military after suffering enormous losses during its invasion of Ukraine, according to a U.S. State Department official. “We have assessed over the course of the last couple of months that Russia has almost completely reconstituted militarily,” said Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2024/04/03/russian-military-almost-completely-reconstituted-us-official-says/

[KD8ZM-Brady]

China is doomed to be a declining power, in my opinion, due to its demographic collapse. The US makes many mistakes, but at least has a government system that is capable of correcting itself eventually. China has Xi, who makes mistakes and kills anyone who points those out. Hence China doesn't worry me too much. But it does seem like we are headed for a potential world war, between who? I don't know.

[bluesky]

The wife of SBU cyber security chief Vityuk bought an apartment for 1.4 million dollars, and her mother bought two more apartments, mass media. VIDEO Source: https://censor.net/ua/n3482608

[US7IGN]

Today I was thinking that the attitude towards war in countries where there has not been a war for a long time, and their armies fought only on foreign territories, will be very different from those countries where war is a frequent event and it affects not only the military. In particular, a book by the Czech writer Jaroslav Hašek about the adventures of a mobilized guy during the First World War, who was not eager to fight, preferring to sleep and eat well, was translated and popular in the Soviet Union. But his observations of the army and warring countries are still relevant today: "I was discharged from the army for idiocy and officially certified by a special commission as an idiot. I'm an official idiot". Jaroslav Hašek. “The Good Soldier Švejk and His Fortunes in the World War”.

In Ukraine, the status of "limited suitability" was canceled. Now military men and conscripts can only be fit or unfit for military service. The same citizens who still have the status of limited suitability must undergo a repeat military medical examination within 9 months.
But how will this happen in practice? Will everyone who was previously limited suitable become full suitable after military medical commission? Will they expand the list of diseases with which they will be considered unfit for military service?

There are many people with limited suitability - both those who have certain diseases and those who have been injured. However, these changes can create certain problems for thousands of other people with the disease. At least in the first stages of the reform. The law enters into force a month after its publication, i.e. on May 4. After that, the government will have another three months to adopt normative legal acts that should regulate how to assess suitability for military service. There is also no answer as to how millions of men have to undergo a new examination in such a short time. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c4nv12ydq5po

I again ask the question that I asked earlier - why can't you just copy this procedure from the NATO protocols, the standards of which the Ukrainian army has been following since 2014?

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is difficult because, according to him, russia manages to advance along the front line, and therefore he predicted two scenarios for the development of events. The first is that NATO member countries manage to increase their support, and then Ukraine will be able to return more territories. Another scenario involves the option when NATO fails to mobilize support for Ukraine — and then russia seizes more Ukrainian territories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8RoU8HY1B8

French President Emmanuel Macron called the russian side's speculation that French special services may be involved in the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert hall "strange and threatening". https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2024/04/4/7183092/

[US7IGN]

China is doomed to be a declining power, in my opinion, due to its demographic collapse. The US makes many mistakes, but at least has a government system that is capable of correcting itself eventually. China has Xi, who makes mistakes and kills anyone who points those out. Hence China doesn't worry me too much. But it does seem like we are headed for a potential world war, between who? I don't know.

China has nuclear weapons and there are a huge number of russians and Chinese in the EU and the USA. Do the EU and the US have the same agents in China and russia? It is always easier to destroy than to create, especially if you do it on someone else's territory. Isn't what is happening now a direct consequence of underestimating russia, China and Iran? I don't know what you mean by demographic collapse in China, but so far they have a population of 1.4 billion. versus 334 million in the US and 447 million in the EU.

[KD8ZM-Brady]

The UN projects that China's population will fall to 800 million by the latter part of this century. However, the UN is a very political body that tends to cater to larger countries' propaganda needs, and many demographers have noted that the collapse will happen by midcentury. Population is already declining precipitously there, thanks to Mao's one-child policy which not only reduced populations, but caused a huge decrease in females being born (couples aborted females to gain a male heir).
Of course, this all gets back to the fact that in a totalitarian regime, there is no corrective mechanism for stupid policy decisions by the dictator. Democracy has huge flaws, but not that one, which is critical. Mao said "one child only, and if you disagree, you die." 50 years later, China is no longer the world's supplier of excess labor.
There's no stopping the collapse at this point.
I consider all of these stresses to be tangential to the Ukraine war, but it could definitely have an effect on WW3! I hope I am deemed to be an "official idiot," because it will be a much better deal than being a foot soldier. Especially at 64 years old!

[US7IGN]

I consider all of these stresses to be tangential to the Ukraine war, but it could definitely have an effect on WW3! I hope I am deemed to be an "official idiot," because it will be a much better deal than being a foot soldier. Especially at 64 years old!

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the mobilization in Ukraine will be much milder, and all the necessary tasks will be completed during the year. According to him, the army currently does not need another 500,000 people. The Prime Minister added that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, conducted an audit of the Defense Forces and began the first rotation at the front after the start of the full-scale war. He drew attention to the fact that currently the army already has new brigades, which are staffed with people. Units are waiting for equipment, military equipment and ammunition from allies. https://flot2017.com/popovnennia-zsu-shmyhal-poobitsiav-m-iaku-mobilizatsiiu-podrobytsi/

On closed forums, people write that some of the forces have indeed been moved from the rear and support units to the front. But again, these are those who are over 40 and there is not much benefit from them in battle. And no one was returned to their place. As some say, even if the war ends tomorrow, this government will not restore people's freedom. It seems that this concern for people is caused solely by the lack of money to finance even the existing soldiers. Just as the official figure of the dead is limited by the available money due to payments to their families.

While the borders are closed for ordinary Ukrainians, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin actively visited foreign countries in 2023, spending 103 days there. At the same time, he spent more than half of his business trips in the United States, where his wife lives. At the same time, the Prosecutor General's Office noted that in 2023-2024 Kostin's visits abroad "contributed to the signing of important agreements, the investigation of war crimes against Ukraine and the provision of assistance to our country in this process." https://informator.ua/uk/genprokuror-kostin-torik-probuv-u-vidryadzhennyah-za-kordonom-bilshe-100-dniv-polovina-z-nih-v-ssha-de-zhive-yogo-druzhina

Today, during an air raid, explosions rang out in Zaporizhzhia and people were injured. https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2024/04/05/novyna/bezpeka/zaporizhzhi-prolunala-seriya-vybuxiv-ye-postrazhdali There are also constant attacks on Kharkiv.

In recent weeks, 80 percent of the capacities of Ukrainian thermal power plants (TPPs) were destroyed due to strikes by Russian troops on the energy infrastructure, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said. https://www.dw.com/uk/smigal-rf-znisila-80-vidsotkiv-potuznostej-tes-ukraini/a-68752060?maca=ukr-rss-ukrnet-ukr-all-3816-xml

Calls are being heard in the government to build thousands of small ones instead of large power plants for local energy supply of cities and factories. I have no idea what it should look like in the cities, but I associate this enthusiasm with the limitations of foreign funding, including for energy needs. Under the Ukraine Facility program of the EU, Ukraine receives 50 billion euros during the years 2024-2027. The adoption of the bills "On the basic principles of the state housing policy" and "On the basic principles of recovery" remain the structural beacons that must be fulfilled in order to receive funding. Each tranche of financing means that Ukraine has fulfilled a certain beacon. In the current year, Ukraine received funds primarily as macro-financial assistance - to support the budget. Also, within the framework of this assistance, there is a portion that can be spent on investment projects, in particular, in energy, housing, and transport. The second tranche is an investment fund from the EU for business in the amount of almost 7 billion euros. The third is technical and administrative support for almost 5 billion euros. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/stalo-vidomo-ki-zakonoproekti-gotuyut-zabezpechennya-1712249114.html

[US7IGN]

Borys Shefir, a former business partner of Volodymyr Zelensky, gave an interesting interview. It is interesting that he likes russian culture, he offers to be friends with russia, but he left and lives in Germany for some reason. In the early 2000s, together with his brother Serhii Shefir and Volodymyr Zelensky, he founded "Kvartal-95 Studio". When Volodymyr Zelensky decided to run for president, Borys Shefir took an active part in the campaign, was one of the co-authors of his pre-election program. However, unlike his brother Serhiy Shefir, who was the first assistant to the president from May 2019 to March 30, 2024, Boris Shefir did not receive an official position in the civil service, nor was he formally involved in political processes in Ukraine.

- Why did you decide to go abroad?
- What to do in a warring country, tell me?

- What is your current relationship with the president?
- There are none with the president. For two years, I did not call or talk to him. He is working with other people now. He does not communicate with me, does not call me. My calls there remain unanswered. Therefore, there is no relationship. Well, you see, I am his senior friend. Roughly speaking, I participated in its formation. But now he listens to other people and does something a little different to what I like. He made such a decision.
https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/intervyu-spivzasnovnyk-kvartalu-borys-shefir/32890812.html

As in Poland, Ukrainians in the Czech Republic will be able to obtain a long-term residence permit instead of temporary protection. https://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/ekonomicky-sobestacni-ukrajinsti-uprchlici-ziskaji-moznost-se-dlouhodobe-usadit-v-ceske-republice.aspx

The Main Directorate of Intelligence together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine organized an operation on the night of April 5, in the framework of which three airfields of the russians were struck. In particular, Tu-95MS bombers were damaged. As a result of the drone attack, at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers at the Engels-2 airfield were probably seriously damaged. Seven occupiers died there, among them may be bomber pilots. Another object of attack was the military airfield in the city of Yeisk. As a result of strikes by Ukrainian drones, at least four occupiers were destroyed there and two enemy Su-25s were completely burned up. Also, the interlocutors reported the damage to another airfield in Kursk. Details of the results of this attack have not yet been reported. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/gur-ta-zsu-organizuvali-ataku-tri-rosiyski-1712325303.html

Unlike russian prisoners, who are held in comfortable conditions in special camps, Ukrainian prisoners in russia are held in prisons and subjected to torture. https://uatv.ua/uk/polon-u-rosiyi-pro-grubi-porushennya-prav-ukrayintsiv-rozpovily-v-tsentri-gromadyanskyh-svobod/

[US7IGN]

From time to time, HR's calls me and we talk about offers on the market. Unfortunately, there have never been any coincidences, but because of this I know about the situation in the market. Once there was a vacant position in one of the largest law firms in Ukraine. They did not call back. And then I read the article of their managing partner and understood what is the big problem of most businesses in Ukraine. Times and circumstances have changed, but they continue to live and work in the old way. He recognizes the shortage in the personnel market and the threat of future competition from international companies, plans the company's activities based on a negative scenario in the short and medium term, and hopes for the positive development of the country's economy and the resumption of investment after the end of the war. Instead, at the end, he asks the key question for now - when exactly will the war end? Many have put their lives on hold and are not prepared to live on standby for several more years, so the main danger is that if the war drags on significantly, people will lose patience and continue to leave the country in search of a more predictable, secure life. https://yur-gazeta.com/dumka-eksperta/maybutne-yuridichnogo-rinku.html

Therefore, most are waiting, surviving at the expense of old projects. And I wonder if it is worth wasting time with them, trying unsuccessfully to compete with active and energetic youth, engaging in low-skilled available work? I also do not lose hope of participating in interesting projects after the end of the war, but I decided to spend time on improving my skills and creating products that do not bring money now, but can be a good demonstration of my knowledge and skills. One of them - together with Dave KB9YYM, I plan to prepare and conduct a webinar for Ukrainian lawyers about bankruptcy procedures in the USA. One way to improve legislation is to understand and implement more sophisticated procedures from other jurisdictions.

[bluesky]

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, together with his closest entourage agreed on the replacement of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin.

According to ZN.UA with reference to sources in the leadership of the "Servant of the People" faction, Oleg Kiper, the head of Odesa OVA, is being considered as his likely successor, Censor.NET reports.

As noted by ZN.UA, the appointment of Oleg Kiper to the position of Prosecutor General was lobbied by the head of the OP Andriy Yermak. "The president is not happy with Kiper's candidacy, but Yermak is promoting him a lot," a ZN source shared his observations.

According to ZN.UA, Kiper has a question. His family lives in Austria, where he also traveled during the invasion. In addition, information about his wife's Russian passport appeared on the website of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation, which was noticed by the journalists of "Scheme" during the scandalous investigation about the Christmas vacation in Cyprus. Law enforcement agencies also have questions regarding the construction of fortifications in the Odesa region."

In addition, Oleg Kiper is one of the high-ranking officials who is trying to hide the wealth of his family and himself. The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption classified Oleg Kiper's declarations for 2021, 2022 and 2023 due to mobilization. This was reported to the "Center of Public Investigations" by Yulia Koltak, the press secretary of the head of the OVA.

[US7IGN]

Air attacks on Kharkov, Odessa and other cities continue every day. In Kyiv, everything is calm even when the air raid alert is sounded.

Today the sunny again and I feel good. My Mouse is already very old. She has poor eyesight, trembles often, and her fur looks like carpet that has been eaten by moths. She gets very scared if you touch her. However, she doesn’t even realize that she lived almost her entire life in war.

I feel much older. I've become noticeably slower, but I don't need to fuss. However, I have a lot of time to think. We change under the influence of circumstances and I think that I have changed a lot over these two years. It turned out to be very important to control emotions. It is because of rash reflex actions due to strong emotions that people do a lot of stupid things. Although it is very difficult to remain calm when observing injustice everywhere and the desire of some people to force others to follow rules that they do not consider binding on themselves. I am surprised with how easily some people make decisions about the fate of others, and with what humility others agree with this. And then the first consider it correct and normal, losing adequacy.

If we do not take into account some incorrect conclusions and comments from journalists, then from Ermak’s direct speech it is clear how strong his desire is to wishful thinking and shift responsibility to others. It is very convenient to make the people who “don’t want to fight” to blame for the defeat. https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-andriy-yermak-interview-volodymyr-zelenskyy-russia/.

With no way out of a worsening war, Zelensky’s options look bad or worse. Zelensky has said Ukraine will accept nothing less than the return of all its territory, including land that russia has controlled since 2014. But with the battle lines changing little in the last year, militarily retaking the swaths of east and south Ukraine that Russia now occupies — about 20 percent of the country — appears increasingly unlikely. Negotiating with russian President pootin to end the war — something Zelensky has rejected as long as russian troops remain on Ukrainian land — is politically toxic. The Ukrainian public is hugely opposed to surrendering territory, and pootin has shown no willingness to accept anything short of Ukraine’s capitulation to his demands. The status quo is awful. With the fight now a grinding stalemate, Ukrainians are dying on the battlefield daily. But a cease-fire is also a nonstarter, Ukrainians say, because it would just give the russians time to replenish their forces. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/06/ukraine-war-zelensky-options/

BILD journalist Mark Oliver Rühle commented on an article by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that NATO is informally discussing the immediate admission of Ukraine to the alliance in exchange for Kyiv’s renunciation of the territory occupied by russia. On Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels that the only way to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine is to guarantee the military power of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to convince pootin that he will not win on the battlefield. As Rühle notes, these words “do not contradict the plan for partition and immediate NATO membership.” The BILD columnist recalls that after World War II, Germany was divided in a similar way. In the Soviet zone of occupation, the state of the GDR was created, which existed until 1990. https://t.me/BILD_Russian/15669

He apparently does not know that the Ukrainians in the occupied territories do not speak the Ukrainian language and will repeat the fate of the Ukrainians in the border territories occupied by the russians 100 years ago, in which the entire population was russified within one generation.

[bluesky]

Ukraine will lose the war against Russia if they do not get the corruption under control

[US7IGN]

I think corruption is under complete control. This is one of the few things that works perfectly in Ukraine.

russia-friendly populist Peter Pellegrini elected Slovak president. A former prime minister, he is an ally of Prime Minister Robert Fico, and shares the PM's dovish attitude towards russia. Mr Fico and his allies now control Slovakia's parliament, government, and soon the president's office. Slovakia had been one of Ukraine's staunchest allies before Mr Fico came to power in October on a pledge to halt supplies of Slovak Army military stocks to Kyiv. With Mr Pellegrini replacing Mrs Caputova, Ukraine has now definitively lost a voice of support in an EU and Nato capital. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68754112

Meanwhile, the President said that the Parliament should vote for the law on mobilization in the coming days and accused the deputies of populism. He criticized the deputies, who, in his opinion, are delaying the adoption of the draft law and trying to remove from it all the norms that cause a public outcry, and transferred the responsibility for reserves from the military command of the state to the Parliament of Ukraine. President Zelenskyi also believes that russian propaganda managed to sow doubt in the West regarding the provision of aid to Ukraine due to the delay in mobilization, and precisely because of russian propaganda, the issue of mobilization began to divide society into those who are "for" and those who are "against", into military and civilian. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c280e7x7eglo
Well, we saw another demonstration of the ability to make a show out of everything, including war. Unfortunately, Ukraine is still full of people who continue to believe in this nonsense.

The situation in Kharkiv continues to deteriorate and the question of evacuation is already being discussed due to the inability to protect this city from russian shelling. Occupied Donetsk was also shelled.

[bluesky]

Law enforcement officers exposed the head of the infectious disease department of one of the medical institutions of the Dnipropetrovsk region, who "found" serious diseases in conscripts for bribe

In exchange for a bribe, the defendant entered into official documents knowingly false information about the state of health of conscripts. Source: https://censor.net/ua/n3483194