Looks like we have a really good spine surgeon's attention, finally. He speaks Ukrainian, so I'm sure he must be good! Seems very sharp and attentive.
Considering that not even all Ukrainians know Ukrainian, I doubt that he studied it specially. I wish everything to be fine and a speedy recovery to Sharon.
Maryna is going to celebrate Christmas with the children and come to me for the New Year. Maybe we'll have a little celebration in the office.
Although the feelings are of course very contradictory. Despite the interesting job I have been working at for four months now and the relative well-being in Kyiv, the situation at the front remains difficult, and the situation in Syria reminded me that everything can change radically in a week. Assad is already in Moscow.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cwy8xzxe0w7t This is very similar to the escape from Ukraine of former President Yanukovych in 2014. Now russia is the only country in which there are three "legitimate" presidents.
Some are happy and hope that russia will fall apart or at least pooteen's regime will collapse, some are afraid that the remnants of the russian army from Syria will be transferred to Ukraine. I am more afraid that China will be forced to actively react to the situation and I do not know how. As Murphy's law says "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."
Some 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since russia's full-scale invasion began, Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a rare admission of the extent of the nation's casualties. In a post on social media, the Ukrainian president said 370,000 injuries had been reported, though this figure included soldiers who had been hurt more than once and some of the injuries were said to be minor.
He also claimed that 198,000 russian soldiers had been killed and a further 550,000 wounded. The Ukrainian president is thought to have been compelled to make the admission after incoming US President-elect Donald Trump wrote on social media that Ukraine had "ridiculously lost" 400,000 soldiers, while close to 600,000 russians had been killed or wounded. Trump did not state where these figures were from.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv75nydy3oI am not inclined to believe in any figures. Especially since they do not reflect the qualitative component of losses. While russia was disposing of scum and criminals, Ukraine was losing its best people. Also, combat losses do not reflect the total losses of people, some of whom left Ukraine, while others remained in the occupied territories, and at the expense of whom russia fully compensated for all its losses.
Zelensky once again did not miss the opportunity to demonstrate a breach of etiquette. His fashion sense was ripped Saturday for the casual gear he wore to the formal reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
The Ukrainian leader chose a rugged black sweatshirt, black slacks and brown combat boots for both the ceremony and his meeting beforehand with President-elect Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace.
Zelensky’s military sweatshirt sported a symbol similar to the official emblem for the Ukraine Armed Forces, which he had emblazoned on a T-shirt he wore in 2022 when asking the U.S. Congress for more help fighting off russian invaders.
Trump advisor Roger Stone said the attire was “disrespectful to the American people”. “He can’t afford a suit? He wore a suit and tie to the World Economic Forum event, but can’t wear one to address a joint session of Congress or to meet the President-elect of the United States?” he told The Post.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/07/us-news/zelensky-greets-trump-in-sweatshirt-and-boots-disrespectful/However, he insults the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army even more by dressing in imitation of a military uniform, although earlier he evaded military service. At the same time, Ukrainian legislation prohibits civilians from wearing military uniforms, including during martial law. I think this is another reminder that we are dealing with just an actor who plays the president.
Due to increased threats from russian missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s critical civilian infrastructure, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv today urges U.S. citizens to exercise heightened caution. All U.S. citizens should follow Ukrainian government alerts regarding air attacks and monitor a reliable “air alert” app on your mobile phone. U.S. citizens should abide by all government curfews and quickly follow instructions and seek shelter during air alerts.
https://ua.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-kyiv-ukraine-december-8-2024/
