Ukraine updates in English

[US7IGN]

Thank you Jaye for kind words!

When you work unofficially for a company that is going through a crisis in a country where you don't know if you'll survive until tomorrow, it's not enough to earn money, you also have to take them. However, I hope that I will be useful enough for this company so that they will pay for what I do. I must say that my tasks are truly non-trivial and require an unconventional approach. Also, I learn something new every day and am constantly learning.

Your club meeting looks wonderful and it would be great to join it.

My online meeting with members of the Swedish club SK1BL will take place on September 8. https://www.ssa.se/sk1bl-meeting-med-foredrag-av-us7ign/

Today Maryna and Kate went back to Poland and I am very sad. I almost forgot how good it is to be together.

Ukraine received 4.2 billion euros from the European Union as part of the Ukraine Facility program, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. The tranche consists of preferential financing - 2.7 billion euros, a grant - 1.5 billion euros (non-refundable financing). "The government will direct these funds to social programs, the humanitarian sphere and other important budget programs. We continue to finance military expenditures only at the expense of our own resources," he wrote in a telegram. He reminded that since the beginning of the year, the EU has already provided over 12 billion euros in budget support to Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine expects another tranche of aid from the EU by the end of the year. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-ukrayina-yes-transh-dopomoha/33077034.html

In order to improve the country's financial situation, the Ukrainian authorities are trying to implement several scenarios at once, which can be called a mixture of debt restructuring, privatization and tax rate increases. In this way, the government is trying to overcome the budget deficit. However, investors say that Kyiv must do more to tackle the country's shadow economy. The Financial Times writes about it. https://www.ft.com/content/5a1a4a1e-9e1b-4ea6-b2f0-257651bac62f

“America started [the war], they attacked us. I don't know why. We're so hashtag#kind and compassionate russians”, - russians from one of the country's poorest regions share their thoughts on the war.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nataliia-i-50624071_kind-supportukraine-ugcPost-7227442774726332416-ZkoJ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

[KD8ZM-Brady]

That Russian quote is delicious.

[N0TZU]

“Kind and compassionate Russians” is the definition of oxymoron.

[US7IGN]

Maryna and Kate have already returned to Poland, saying "we have returned home". However, each member of our family is sure that he has no home. I, while cleaning up women's things scattered here and there, still feel their presence.

Kate decided to start learning Morse Code. My printer beeped about the lack of paper when I was making copies of her documents and she asked why the printer uses Morse Code. I asked what letter it was beeping and Kate answered correctly - "U"! I was pleasantly surprised.

Two weeks of hard work flew by like one day. However, I am already starting to see the first results for myself. I am returning to the idea that for me work has always been an escape from a meaningless existence. Work filled my life, leaving no time for thinking. When you are tired and only want to eat and sleep, it becomes easier. I also discovered that I have not lost my qualifications at all and have maintained my level. This means that I should continue to develop. This position allows me to develop and this was the main reason why I agreed. Yesterday and tonight there were air raid sirens and the air defense was loudly shooting down something. Or something was exploding. I slept poorly and didn't have time to rest, so at the first sign of fatigue, I immediately slow down. So today I decided to work from home. In recent days, air raid sirens have been sounding several times a day and buses stop running during this time. This is very stupid because people continue to sit in them and wait for them to start running again. A couple of days ago, this increased my time to get home by half an hour.

The EU pays pootin more than €1 bn monthly for natural gas imports, as reported by Robin Brooks. But Ukraine continues to let russian gas pass through its territory and receive money for it. For some, there is a war, and for others, their business continues.

The biggest prisoner exchange between russia and the West since the Cold War era took place earlier, with 24 people released in total. The White House said 16 prisoners had been freed and were on their way back to Europe and the US. In return, eight russian prisoners have been released from prisons in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia, including individuals accused of intelligence activities. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c29d6k382k5o

But “good russians” are helping pootin immediately after they were exchanged for russian spies and assassins. It looks like the rotation of agents. They are singing the same old song “Put sanctions on elite not on ordinary people”. Who then kills Ukrainians every day if not ordinary people?

President Zelensky finally submitted a bill on the ratification of the Rome Statute, including Kampala amendments with respect to the crime of aggression, to the Ukrainian parliament. However, Ukraine wishes to take advantage of Art 124 (transitional provision) of the Rome Statute, which would preclude the ICC from its exercise of jurisdiction over war crimes in relation to Ukrainian nationals for a period of 7 years following the ratification.

All this is very good but it confuses me that the USA and Israel have not ratified it yet...

The advance of the Ukrainian army deep into russian territory in Kursk region is gradually continuing, as is the advance of russian troops in the east into Ukraine https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/rosiyani-nablizilisya-vpritul-do-pokrovska-stoyat-lishe-za-10-km-vid-mista-detali-2641239.html

There is an opinion that the goal of the Ukrainian attack was to distract attention, and the real blow will be in the south on Crimea.

Some believe that this offensive is a personal initiative of Ukraine https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cql365ld002o , but I do not believe it. This is very similar to a well-planned operation where officials in Washington pretend that it is not their hand in order not to provoke an escalation. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/15/politics/russia-has-diverted-several-thousand-troops-from-occupied-ukraine-to-counter-kursk-offensive-us-officials-say/index.html

Another russian strategic bomber Tu-22M3 crashed in the Irkutsk region. This slightly reduces their ability to launch cruise missiles. https://aviaforum.ru/threads/tu-22m3-poterpel-krushenie-v-irkutskoj-oblasti.50749/

The Cabinet of Ministers approved "experimental" changes in military accounting. Now Ukrainians will be entered in the register of conscripts from the age of 16 and older. https://thepage.ua/ua/news/ukrayinciv-vnositimut-v-reyestr-vijskovozobovyazanih-z-16-rokiv Ukraine is becoming like Sparta. Should the elderly and the sick be worried that they will be thrown off a cliff?

The heads of the mobilization centers of Bucha and Boryspil districts were detained for bribery. 300,000 dollars were found in their offices. We understand that this is only the tip of the iceberg. https://kyivschina24.com/news/nachalnykiv-tczk-buchanskogo-ta-boryspilskogo-rajoniv-zatrymaly-na-habari/

Next week, Ukraine may return to the use of electricity blackout schedules due to hot weather and, as a result, an increase in its consumption, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Svitlana Grynchuk said. https://flot2017.com/v-ukraini-planuiutsia-novi-vidkliuchennia-svitla-koly-vony-rozpochnutsia/

The state-owned "Ukrhydroenergo" announced a tender for the purchase of legal services for representation in the international arbitration on compensation for losses caused by the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP, which was blown up by the russian occupiers in June of last year. The expected purchase price is almost 10 million dollars. Unfortunately, this is not my level. But it seems I know who will win the tender)
https://biz.censor.net/n3504941

[US7IGN]

Today I rested all day. I forgot when was the last time I picked up a soldering iron, so today I repaired my friend's SW receiver. UT3UFD broke fine tune in his xhdata d-808 and I replaced old encoder with another one. It looks not good, but works well.

Then I installed a voltmeter in the box with filters to control battery. If the voltage drops too much, it can kill the battery. After a period when the power was not turned off at all, we are warned that the power outages will resume. My friend from Kharkiv called me. His daughter entered the university, and although they live in a house in which they remade a decorative fireplace and made a supply of firewood for heating, she needs to ensure the availability of electricity for the Internet and the ability to work with a computer. In Kharkiv, the electricity was turned off more often than in Kyiv and sometimes for as long as three days. But I do not know what to advise him. The market is full of cheap China of unknown quality and homemade products, which use elements from broken Teslas, which are massively transported to Ukraine.

Also I had two hours conversation with Colin G3ZAF on zoom because propagation was absent today for us.

Ukraine and russia were set to send delegations to Doha this month to negotiate a landmark agreement halting strikes on energy and power infrastructure on both sides, diplomats and officials familiar with the discussions said, in what would have amounted to a partial cease-fire and offered a reprieve for both countries.

But the indirect talks, with the Qataris serving as mediators and meeting separately with the Ukrainian and russian delegations, were derailed by Ukraine’s surprise incursion into russia’s western Kursk region last week, according to the officials. The possible agreement and planned summit have not been previously reported, The Washington Post writes. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/17/kursk-ukraine-russia-energy-ceasefire/

US blocks Ukraine from firing British  missiles into russia. UK government source says request sent to Washington more than a month ago to allow the Storm Shadow missile to be fired into russia still awaits a reply. https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/us-blocks-ukraine-from-firing-british-missiles-into-russia-9wq6td2pw

I heard a joke in which pootin summoned stalin's spirit at a seance to ask for advice on what to do because the "Nazis" had defeated his army at Kursk. stalin replied that he could do what stalin did in 1943 - send the Ukrainians to fight and ask the US for weapons.

Mobilization centers say that lawyers should not interfere in the processes of mobilization and passing of medical commissions.
The Verkhovna Rada returns to consideration of the draft law on the classification of court cases on mobilization in the Register of Court Decisions.
The National Bar Association of Ukraine passed a decision regarding violations of the professional rights of lawyers and guarantees of lawyer activity during mobilization activities. In it, the NBA directly indicated that the practice of removing lawyers from participation in the provision of legal aid to mobilized citizens by mobilization centers officials leads to a violation of the human right to protection and legal aid.
https://sud.ua/uk/news/publication/308332-advokaty-ne-dolzhny-vmeshivatsya-v-protsessy-mobilizatsii-volynskiy-ttsk

[UT7UX]

I also passed the English test yesterday and found out that I have level C1. https://www.efset.org/

OMG Wlad, that's so great! I can't believe I would ever pass A1, the entry one.

Kate decided to start learning Morse Code.

This is even greater! No really, I'm amazed with you and your family's achievements. Keep going!

[UT7UX]

What's up everyone?

Once I heard a 'net' somewhere on DMR i.e. rather on the internet than on the air. People mostly responded with their callsign and, can't recall exactly, with some short word or abbreviation of 'well, I'm really glad to participate but I really have nothing new since last net, so I'm standing by and listening to other stations'. Not exactly still good approach to what I'd wish to say. To be honest, I'd like to make bigger accent on 'thank y'all' part of the message however it's already pretty much OK as is.

[US7IGN]

The daytime temperature is +35C again and air raid sirens every night make me very tired already on Tuesday. And I don't hear every second attack! Lots of work and I'm counting the days until the weekend. Although I have to think about some things on the weekends too. However, I was given another case and it doesn't look like they are going to fire me. I feel pretty good and work from home when I need to rest, apparently the emotional boost helps.

Unfortunately, the shelling causes damage here and there every time. In the Kyiv region, houses were destroyed https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/poshkodzheno-budinki-ta-elektromerezhu-shcho-1723965094.html , and in Ternopil, a fire at an industrial enterprise took a whole day to extinguish https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/misto-ogornuv-chorniy-gustiy-dim-shcho-vidomo-1724147414.html

The next winter will be much more difficult for Ukrainians than the previous one, as Ukraine has lost half of its energy capacity due to shelling and fighting, European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said in an article for the British newspaper Financial Times. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/ceq57lpjw74o

Ukraine’s cross-border attack into Kursk region marks the first time since World War Two that a foreign army has been fighting inside russia. It is a dramatic and unexpected development in this war, nearly two-and-a-half years after pootin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. russians tell BBC they are worried and angry at Ukraine incursion https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cgedgzx7xqno. But they see no problems with pootin. They see only the confirmation of his words that they were "attacked by the West and its puppet Ukraine". This also answers the question of why there are no protests in russia. russians can only protest against the West, from which pootin protects them.

A deepening shortage of soldiers for its war in Ukraine is prompting russia to hike recruitment bonuses to avoid a repeat of an unpopular mobilization. So far, there’s little sign it’s working. The military isn’t getting enough new soldiers to keep pace with frontline losses that are at their highest since the February 2022 invasion began, according to three people close to the Kremlin and the russian Defense Ministry, asking not to be identified because the issue is sensitive. Regional officials are leaving more than a third of their recruitment quotas unfilled on average, a person familiar with the situation said. The situation may force russia to consider a new mobilization, according to two of the people. Officials may present it as a rotation measure to rest frontline troops, one of the people said, while another said a draft may be ordered as soon as the end of this year. Ukraine’s stunning military incursion into russia’s western Kursk region, meeting little resistance, underscored challenges facing the Kremlin with the war deep in its third year. Ukrainian forces now control 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of russian territory and offensive operations are continuing, Bloomberg writes https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-15/ukraine-reports-largest-surrender-by-russian-troops-of-the-war?srnd=homepage-europe

All this sounds good when you do not know what losses the Ukrainian army suffered during this breakthrough and that the russian army almost reached the borders of the Donetsk region, which was one of the goals announced by pootin when he started the war. The only purpose of this operation could be to distract russian attention and divert forces from other directions, where the main offensive of the Ukrainian army should take place. I think we will see it soon. It is premature to say that the russians are weak in general only on the basis that they did not withstand the Ukrainian offensive solely because they did not wait for it. It seems that the West was also nervous about this, since no one knew how the russians would react to it. So far it seems that they do not consider it a big problem for themselves.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to visit the capital of Ukraine on August 23. This visit is important for both India and Ukraine. Modi's visit to Kyiv is a bid for India's stronger position. New Delhi can involve the countries of the Global South in the Ukrainian formula of peace, and therefore actually contribute to the peace process. When the track of peace talks or at least some kind of ceasefire begins, India can claim to be one of the leaders of the countries of the Global South, which is able to compete in offers with China. https://uatv.ua/uk/vizyt-prem-yer-ministra-indiyi-do-ukrayiny-stane-istorychnym-pro-tsili-rozpoviv-politolog/

The Verkhovna Rada adopted a law banning the russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. https://www.liga.net/ua/politics/articles/v-upts-ie-deviat-misiatsiv-shcho-oznachaie-zaborona-moskovskoi-tserkvy-v-ukraini-iak-i-koly-zapratsiuie

It is no secret that the russian secret services made the church their instrument back in the days of the USSR and it is suspicious that it was not banned along with the Communist Party back in 1991 when the USSR collapsed and Ukraine gained independence. Apparently Ukraine has never been truly independent.

[N0TZU]

I also passed the English test yesterday and found out that I have level C1. https://www.efset.org/

OMG Wlad, that's so great! I can't believe I would ever pass A1, the entry one.

Kate decided to start learning Morse Code.

This is even greater! No really, I'm amazed with you and your family's achievements. Keep going!

Hi Gene!

I agree, very impressive!

Good to see you here.

[N0TZU]

Regarding the BBC interviews:

“But they see no problems with pootin. They see only the confirmation of his words that they were "attacked by the West and its puppet Ukraine". This also answers the question of why there are no protests in russia. russians can only protest against the West, from which pootin protects them.”

I only can read the captions in English so I may have missed some subtleties of meaning, but I found the people’s comments to be guarded. When asked directly, what could they possibly say about Putin or the war, other than compliments, to a foreign news film crew given that the penalties for criticism and dissent are so drastic?

[US7IGN]

How often have you seen russians condemn their regime and express their protest, for example, by posting on foreign forums where nothing threatens their safety? Have you forgotten how russians attacked me on QRZ.COM and what they wrote? On their forums, they are the first to attack those who criticize the actions of the authorities. The system is designed so that the special services do not need to strain themselves and look for dissatisfied people. A neighbor will immediately report them. Society is structured as Orwell described. Most people sincerely believe what propaganda says. I was shocked when I first heard this from russian ex-friends back in 2014. I am not talking about those who publicly call themselves oppositionists abroad, but in fact are FSB agents.

Moreover, ordinary russians are truly afraid that a weaker leader will sell them out to the West, as Yeltsin did. They are horrified by the alien way of life and thinking in the West. And I understand them perfectly well in this. Try to find a couple of drug addicts under a bridge, wash them, make them give up drugs, start dressing clean, go to work, and on Sundays to church.

Those women in interviews are afraid, but they tell the truth because it is the only one they have and they believe in it.

[N0TZU]

How often have you seen russians condemn their regime and express their protest, for example, by posting on foreign forums where nothing threatens their safety? Have you forgotten how russians attacked me on QRZ.COM and what they wrote? On their forums, they are the first to attack those who criticize the actions of the authorities. The system is designed so that the special services do not need to strain themselves and look for dissatisfied people. A neighbor will immediately report them. Society is structured as Orwell described. Most people sincerely believe what propaganda says. I was shocked when I first heard this from russian ex-friends back in 2014. I am not talking about those who publicly call themselves oppositionists abroad, but in fact are FSB agents.

Moreover, ordinary russians are truly afraid that a weaker leader will sell them out to the West, as Yeltsin did. They are horrified by the alien way of life and thinking in the West. And I understand them perfectly well in this. Try to find a couple of drug addicts under a bridge, wash them, make them give up drugs, start dressing clean, go to work, and on Sundays to church.

Those women in interviews are afraid, but they tell the truth because it is the only one they have and they believe in it.

I was not disagreeing with you and your experience, my friend. My thought was only that IF they had doubts, they certainly wouldn’t say anything of consequence in that circumstance.

The two interviewees who mentioned internet news and wished for more information were radicals in comparison to the others!

[ke6sls]

Hey Gene,

Great to see you again OM.  Hope your family and cats are all well!

Wlad,

I know the job keeps you busy.  That is a good feeling for sure.

I certainly haven't forgotten the russian robots that kept creeping into the qrz forum.

I can't say the army breaking into russian territory is good.  I see it as very confusing and with that, so will the russians.  I am sure there is a well formulated plan in place now.  So now all I can do is hope that Ukraine forces prevail on all fronts.  I can't even imagine how difficult it all must be.

Glad you can work from comfort of your home.  That gives you time to rest during the day and keep your mind sharp.

Be well all, 73
Jaye

[US7IGN]

Today I had one meeting in the morning, but I had to spend almost an hour and a half on the road one way. It is not very comfortable when it is hot outside, there is no air conditioning and people stink like you are in a garbage dump. Public transport is something terrible, and I have not earned enough for a new car yet. It is also a mystery to me why people do not wash and wear dirty clothes despite the fact that even in wartime every apartment in Kyiv has water.

Since the office is on the other side of the city, I decided not to go there. I returned home and continued working from home. I was tired again, although I did everything I was going to do. The new laptop that I was given at work holds a battery charge for about 7 hours and now I am not afraid of power outages. Tomorrow I will go to the office because a colleague even asked if everything was okay with me and regretted that I did not try some dish that she cooked today and brought to the office. But you need to be careful with these wily women.

I watched the vivid videos of the latest attacks on russian military airfields, as well as on the only ferry that was capable of transporting rail tankers with fuel, and this inspires optimism. If China does not help the russians with equipment, then sooner or later it will run out. I associate the decrease in missile attacks recently with the loss of aircraft by the russians that launched the missiles.
https://flot2017.com/udar-po-aerodromu-marynivka-sbu-ta-sso-znyshchyly-sklady-z-boiekomplektom-i-palyvom/
https://www.stroimdom.com.ua/uploads/monthly_2024_08/684480480_2024-08-2217_58_54.mp4.7173152309b34eae2cb2bba0691ed7d5.mp4
https://www.stroimdom.com.ua/uploads/monthly_2024_08/IMG_9492.MP4.0bc70accef6bb46ff17d86cfd3087821.MP4
https://www.stroimdom.com.ua/uploads/monthly_2024_08/video_2024-08-22_18-41-42.mp4.85ef9996672e74ffd03df728fbcb6698.mp4

But the day after tomorrow is Independence Day and even the US Embassy is warning of attacks. https://ua.usembassy.gov/security-alert-message-for-u-s-citizens-ukraine/

Belarus has deployed aircraft and air defense troops to its border with Ukraine, a day after President Alexander Lukashenko announced he would station almost a third of the country’s military along the frontier. The Belarusian military also deployed anti-aircraft missiles and soldiers from the country’s radio-technical corps, Maj. Gen. Andrey Lukyanovich, commander of the Belarusian Air Defense Forces, said on national television, describing the move as a significant increase. Belarus’ authoritarian leader, Lukashenko, on Sunday announced that he’d ordered almost a third of the army to the border with Ukraine. Although he did not specify troop numbers, Belarus’ army numbers about 60,000. Lukashenko said the decision was in response to additional Ukrainian troops being deployed along the border, but that could not be independently verified. Ukraine has not confirmed the Belarusian deployment to the 1,084-kilometer common border.
https://apnews.com/article/belarus-border-ukraine-troop-movement-6d914756f4f873bb1d4462f63cccd5db?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share

Ukraine and russia both lack the military assets to mount major offensives against each other, the Pentagon’s intelligence agency said in new assessments that suggests the two sides are headed toward stalemate. The Defense Intelligence Agency assessments conclude that Ukraine still doesn’t have the munitions to match russia’s ability to fire some 10,000 artillery rounds a day, even after the US Congress unlocked fresh military aid in April. Ukrainian forces remain capable of defensive operations but won’t be able to launch large-scale counteroffensives for at least six months. russia, on the other hand, has adopted a strategy of exhausting Ukraine and will be able to maintain a buffer zone its troops captured — but doesn’t have enough strength “to threaten a deeper advance into Ukrainian-held territory, such as Kharkiv city,” said DIA in one observation.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-20/ukraine-not-capable-of-major-offensive-for-at-least-six-months

Some new Ukrainian soldiers refuse to fire at the enemy. Others, according to commanders and fellow fighters, struggle to assemble weapons or to coordinate basic combat movements. A few have even walked away from their posts, abandoning the battlefield altogether. While Ukraine presses on with its incursion into russia’s Kursk region, its troops are still losing precious ground along the country’s eastern front — a grim erosion that military commanders blame in part on poorly trained recruits drawn from a recent mobilization drive, as well as russia’s clear superiority in ammunition and air power. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-new-recruits-pokrovsk-ed2d06ad529e3b7e47ecd32f79911b83

Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Olga Zykova said the need for external financing will increase by about $12-15 billion, based on updated forecasts for 2025
https://mof.gov.ua/en/news/olga_zykova_the_need_for_external_financing_will_increase_by_about_12-15_billion_based_on_updated_forecasts_for_2025-4753

I came across the message on the official website of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine about the propaganda operations that russia is preparing to carry out in European countries, including presentations of various “fiction and documentary” books. https://gur.gov.ua/en/content/derzh...ini-operatsii-u-ievropi-vadym-skibitskyi.html

In this I also see the risk that any criticism of the government can be regarded as russian propaganda. On the other hand, I really see books about Ukraine and the war from people who have never even been here. For me, the value of such books is quite low. In any case, any book either reflects the personal point of view of the author or the person who paid him to write it. You just have to always remember it.

[bluesky]

How often have you seen russians condemn their regime and express their protest, for example, by posting on foreign forums where nothing threatens their safety? Have you forgotten how russians attacked me on QRZ.COM and what they wrote? On their forums, they are the first to attack those who criticize the actions of the authorities. The system is designed so that the special services do not need to strain themselves and look for dissatisfied people. A neighbor will immediately report them. Society is structured as Orwell described. Most people sincerely believe what propaganda says. I was shocked when I first heard this from russian ex-friends back in 2014. I am not talking about those who publicly call themselves oppositionists abroad, but in fact are FSB agents.

Moreover, ordinary russians are truly afraid that a weaker leader will sell them out to the West, as Yeltsin did. They are horrified by the alien way of life and thinking in the West. And I understand them perfectly well in this. Try to find a couple of drug addicts under a bridge, wash them, make them give up drugs, start dressing clean, go to work, and on Sundays to church.

Those women in interviews are afraid, but they tell the truth because it is the only one they have and they believe in it.