Ukraine updates in English

[US7IGN]

Last night during the traditional online meeting with English radio amateurs an air attack began and it was quite loud. In Kyiv the drones were shot down, but the emergency power outages in four regions speak for themselves.

Apparently, there is still a shortage of air defense, but there is an even greater shortage of infantry, which in reality runs out much faster than the official losses, which, according to the president, barely exceed 40 thousand people...

Although he may not really know what is happening in his own country. Polish President Andrzej Duda claims that his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelensky even learned about the events of the Volyn tragedy in 1943 only when he became president. https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/zelenskiy-diznavsya-pro-volinsku-tragediyu-tilki-koli-stav-prezidentom-duda-2761200.html

And this looks very weak at a time when Poland is biased towards the events in Volyn in 1943 and its right-wing politicians, to which Duda belongs, are constantly speculating on this issue. Well, unlike Zelensky, I heard about these events from my grandfather, who miraculously did not become one of the victims.

Polish President Andrzej Duda also believes that when the fighting stops, crime will spill over the border from Ukraine into Poland, also affecting Western Europe and the United States. He compared the situation to russia in the early 1990s, when banditry and gun violence increased among veterans of the decade-long Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
"Imagine a situation where thousands of people return home from the front. Those people who are fighting with russia, many of them will have mental problems," he said.
The Polish president stressed that many of the soldiers will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and return to "their villages, their cities, where they will see destroyed houses, destroyed factories, destroyed factories, without jobs and without prospects." He said this in an interview with the Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/6d3b06f8-f5d4-4870-9b33-43bf4a651849

On the one hand, he can be accused of demonizing Ukrainians, but on the other hand, I had a negative experience of communicating with people who returned from the front as different people. They probably remained the same, only lost some control over themselves, or what makes people civilized remained at the front. Some really have mental problems. It is probably true that after the survivors return, Ukraine will become a little more dangerous.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army is critically short of men, especially infantry. On January 11, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky issued a decree transferring about 50,000 servicemen of all branches and types of troops to the Ground Forces. https://expres.online/podrobitsi/sirskiy-perevodit-50-tisyach-viyskovosluzhbovtsiv-z-riznikh-rodiv-viysk-u-pikhotu-up

On February 1, an explosion occurred in the Rivne mobilization center building, killing one person and injuring six others. https://sud.ua/uk/news/photo/322175-v-rezultate-vzryva-v-rovenskom-ttsk-pogib-odin-chelovek-i-esche-shest-postradali-pervye-podrobnosti-foto

On February 2, an explosion occurred near the mobilization center building in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. One person was injured as a result of the incident. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/322242-u-pavlogradi-stavsya-vibukh-bilya-ttsk-ye-postrazhdaliy

On February 5, an explosion occurred in the building of a mobilization center in Kamianets-Podilsky, killing one man and injuring four people. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/322464-v-kamentse-podolskom-progremel-vzryv-v-ttsk-predvaritelno-est-pogibshiy

After a series of attacks on servicemen at mobilization centers and explosions in their buildings in Ukraine, a decision has been made to tighten security measures. The number of video surveillance facilities is being increased and security at the premises is being strengthened. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/322562-v-ukraine-usilivayut-mery-bezopasnosti-v-ttsk-posle-serii-napadeniy-i-vzryvov

Strengthening security measures (however, when did they really prevent attacks?) was expected, but the question remains open: who did it? It is clear that these were organized actions, which for obvious reasons are beneficial to russia and could have been organized by their special services. But they could also have been opponents of the current government with the aim of weakening and discrediting it. Also, history knows many cases when the government itself organized terrorist attacks in order to distract people's attention and get grounds to tighten restrictions and persecute their enemies, the opposition.

Some people noticed that during the attack on the soldier-escort in Piryatin, there were three soldiers and two policemen who apparently just stood and watched as someone attacked one of them, freed the mobilized man, and then they quietly disappeared. https://tsn.ua/exclusive/vbiv-tckivcya-pered-svoyim-yuvileyem-novi-podrobici-zhorstkogo-rozstrilu-u-piryatini-2758500.html Many rumors and hypotheses arise where there are too many questions and too few answers.

It is obvious that Ukraine suffers from this the most, the number of enemies inside of which is apparently no less than outside.

[bluesky]

I hope that the Polish president do not forget that Russia murdered and massacred 4,443 Polish officers in the Kathyn Forest during WW2

[US7IGN]

Wlad, thank you, friend. It's wonderful to hear that you're doing well or at least, stable.
My wife has come a long way but still has some paralysis in her left foot. She is undergoing tests to determine whether she will need another back surgery (lumbar vertebrae fusion) or knee surgery, or both, to correct the paralysis.
On the rare earth minerals issue, with Trump what he says he wants is almost never what he actually wants. (Those who have read the famous Karrass negotiation books will understand). I have heard some suggest that by making Ukraine our supplier of rare earth's instead of China, he is creating a strategic interest that can be used as a justification for defending Ukraine. Is this speculation true? Your guess is as good as mine! 73!

I hope everything will be fine and your wife will get better!

As for Trump and his hectic activities, instead of Greenland, it would be better if he offered Ukraine to join the USA. I would definitely vote for the referendum, but I don't have the right even to vote.

Another man died during mobilization, or rather, during the medical examination to determine his fitness for military service.

During the autopsy, experts determined that the man had ischemic heart disease and acute heart failure. "Death occurred as a result of acute cardiac dynamics," the head of the forensic examination bureau reported.

sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/322751-stala-izvestna-prichina-smerti-muzhchiny-vo-vremya-prokhozhdeniya-vlk-na-bukovine

Despite the fact that such cases are isolated, each of them immediately hits the top news. And I ask the question again, is it really impossible to invite NATO doctors and determine the fitness for service of those who are subject to mobilization according to NATO standards so that no one has doubts about their objectivity? Of course, this will never happen, as well as the cessation of selective exemption from mobilization of those close to power.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Markarova stated that currently the issue of the need to hold elections in Ukraine by the end of 2025 has not been discussed with the US, but if the Donald Trump administration raises this topic, Kyiv is ready for dialogue. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/322399-ukraina-gotova-k-dialogu-o-provedenii-vyborov-do-kontsa-2025-goda-oksana-markarova

This is also a subject of discussion in society, but yesterday I found a leaflet in my mailbox with a "report on activities" of one of the local council deputies, a member of one of the largest Ukrainian parties, which indicates that preparations for the elections have already actually begun.

The European Commission has announced the allocation of almost three million euros to support russian and Belarusian independent media outlets working in exile in the European Union. The European Commission noted that in 2024 alone, approximately 1,500 journalists from russia and Belarus fled or moved to the EU. https://sud.ua/uk/news/abroad/322398-evrokomissiya-vydelyaet-3-mln-evro-na-podderzhku-rossiyskikh-i-belorusskikh-zhurnalistov-v-es

I have serious doubts about the independence of all these journalists and I wouldn't be surprised if most of them turn out to be spies. The russians have always paid great attention to propaganda and spreading their influence abroad, which results in Europe funding their people now.

Ukraine, having huge debts and begging for money for the army and people who suffered from the war, at the same time sponsors completely wild things. For example, an extensive penguin observation program in Antarctica. Ukrainian polar explorers from the Akademik Vernadsky station even read them poems. https://socportal.info/ua/news/pingvini-slukhali-stusa-yak-ukrainski-polyarniki-prosuvaiut-kulturu-v-antarktidi/

Of course, I understand that this is done by different people, but it does not fit into my only head. Perhaps some people really do need to die at the front so that others can read poetry to the penguins. For some people, this probably sounds very lofty, but I think it's dog shit.

The National Bank is again worsening economic activity indicators. https://bank.gov.ua/ua/news/all/schomisyachni-opituvannya-pidpriyemstv-ukrayini-sichen-2025-roku
Enterprises in all sectors of the economy are set to reduce the volume of manufactured products/provided services, the volume of construction, new orders for products/services, including export orders, as well as the volume of trade turnover and the volume of purchases of goods for sale. An increase in prices and a further reduction in the number of employees are expected.

[US7IGN]

February is an even more politically active month than January and everyone talks a lot. Zelensky gives one interview after another.

Kyiv cannot yet return all the territories occupied by russia, but it will never recognize them as russian, he said in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan.

He considers himself a legitimate president because: "I was elected by 73% of my population. Our people of Ukraine. 73%."

In addition, according to Zelensky, there are many challenges in voting during the war - for the military, Ukrainians in the occupied territories and abroad.

"How can they (soldiers) vote in the trenches? How will all our people in the occupied territories vote? Millions of people. How will 8 million Ukrainians who are abroad today because of this war vote?" - President Zelensky listed the problems associated with holding elections during the war.

Elections, he said, should be announced and held after "the hot phase of the war ends and when martial law is lifted."

Answering the question of whether NATO membership would be a sufficient security guarantee for Ukraine, President Zelensky replied that this would not be enough and it would be necessary to maintain a large army.

"So then let's do it, give us back nuclear weapons, give us strong missile launchers, partners, help us finance a million-strong army and introduce your contingent into those parts of our state where we want maximum stability of the situation and for people to have peace," Volodymyr Zelensky believes.

He is also ready to meet and negotiate with russia. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c0lze6zyrw8o

But also Volodymyr Zelensky said that it is important for him to meet with Donald Trump before pooteen meets with him.

The Ukrainian president said this in an interview with Reuters on the evening of February 7. They may meet at the Munich Security Conference, which will be held on February 14-16.

Trump noted that he plans to talk with the Ukrainian president about rare earth metals in Ukraine in exchange for US support.

Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine is ready to have contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas - "we will be a hub for all of Europe."

The Ukrainian president also said that a version of the contract for voluntary service of young people aged 18 to 24 is being developed.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/quotes-president-volodymyr-zelenskiys-interview-with-reuters-2025-02-07/

Well, the arguments about the impossibility of holding elections sound convincing until you start thinking about how realistic it is to hold them. Ukrainians abroad can vote in embassies, and soldiers can be given 3 days off to go vote in a safer place. Even if the whole process takes 2-3 months, it is quite realistic to do. Also, no one could answer the question of how the russians will influence the elections if they are held now, and not after the end of the war? What will fundamentally change, given that there is no longer talk of russia's defeat?

In 2014, the occupation of two regions in the east and Crimea with a total population of more than six million people out of 40 million in all of Ukraine did not allow them to participate in the elections, which did not prevent them from being held. And no one spoke about the rights of these people and the impossibility of holding elections.

As for everything else, his opinion means little.

The Kremlin has little incentive to end its war in Ukraine, and russian dictator Vladimir pooteen may feel close to a military victory, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing experts it interviewed.

The publication notes that russian troops are "steadily advancing" on the front, the russian economy has not yet collapsed, and the ongoing crackdown on dissent eliminates domestic pressure that could prompt pooteen to end the war.

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said that pooteen thinks "systemically," while Trump seeks "quick" solutions, acting like a businessman. That is why the two are unlikely to come to an agreement, the AP reported. On the contrary, pooteen will continue to slowly move towards strengthening russia's military position and weakening the political will of both Kyiv and the West.
https://apnews.com/article/putin-trump-russia-ukraine-war-51adbc0cde5a9ca0eaabf46153eb9580

[bluesky]

Greenland does not see it as a desirable offer. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States at all

[bluesky]

Greenland does not see it as a desirable offer. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States at all

[US7IGN]

Greenland does not see it as a desirable offer. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States at all

I don't know anyone from Greenland and can't ask about it, but in Ukraine I would like to see the results of the referendum on joining not only NATO, but also the United States.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with the New York Post that he spoke on the phone with russian President Vladimir pooteen about the war in Ukraine. It is not known exactly when this happened. When asked how many times the two presidents spoke on the phone, Trump replied: "I'd rather not speak."

The US president also said that he has a clear plan for ending the war. "I hope it will be quick," Trump said, adding that "they want to meet" (presumably referring to the presidents of russia and Ukraine).
https://nypost.com/2025/02/08/us-news/trump-and-putin-in-talks-to-end-the-russia-ukraine-war/

A week ago, Trump told reporters that his administration has "meetings and talks" with Ukraine, russia and other parties to end the war. The US president said that he would "probably" meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky next week.

Zelensky says that it is important for him to meet with Donald Trump before pooteen meets with him.

So Zelensky has been clearly shown his place and status.

In the meantime, russia attacks every night with drones, 150 of them a night, half of which are shot down, and sometimes with missiles, which are not officially reported. But in Kyiv, with temperatures at night reaching -10C, there were no power or heating outages. If the drones attack not too late, I sometimes go to the balcony to watch the air battles in the night sky.

[KD8ZM-Brady]

Given the choice, I also would much rather read poetry to penguins, than to be at the front!
It would be nice for Ukraine to join the US, however, the US of today is, in my opinion, far weaker than widely recognized, and too weak to absorb such a task. Our military is strong but our finances are weak, our politics are starkly divided and weak, and anyone who goes to a local Walmart can see the general fitness level for themselves. Again I emphasize: "in my opinion." Others may have a different perspective, which I respect.

[N0TZU]

Wlad, I’m happy to hear that your health is still stable despite all of the stress you are under.

Brady, best wishes to your wife for continued improvement and good outcomes with any further surgery.

[US7IGN]

Few people pay attention to the daily drone attacks lately, but last night Kyiv was also attacked with ballistic missiles and it was really loud. Several buildings in Kyiv were damaged, one person was killed and several were injured. https://vechirniy.kyiv.ua/news/108587/

It is expected that russia will increase attacks at a time when the fate of Ukraine is being decided.

The Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group is taking place at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The US is being represented at the meeting for the first time by the new head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, and the meeting is being chaired by non-Americans for the first time - Britain is chairing it.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it was unrealistic to expect Ukraine to return to the borders of 2014, when russia annexed Crimea and started the war in Donbas.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, Hegseth said that a lasting peace could only be achieved with a "realistic assessment of the battlefield."

He noted that the US does not see Ukraine's membership in NATO as part of a future peace plan and ruled out the deployment of US troops in Ukraine under any future security arrangements.
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cgrnvlww8z5o

President Donald Trump said negotiations to end the Ukraine war will start “immediately” after holding a “lengthy and highly productive” telephone call with russian President Vladimir pooteen yesterday. In a readout of the conversation posted on Truth Social, Trump said, “We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.”

“We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelensky, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now,” Trump wrote. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/12/politics/putin-trump-phone-call/index.html

Donald Trump says he will likely meet with Vladimir pooteen in the "not too distant future", probably in Saudi Arabia. Volodymyr Zelensky's office has confirmed that the Ukrainian president also spoke to his American counterpart in an hour-long phone call. https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c4g97971rwnt

The EU expects Kyiv to ease restrictions within the framework of martial law, demands strengthening the rights of the opposition, and advises not to forget about Hungarian demands. And, of course, they remind about reforms. https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/articles/2025/02/10/7204576/

The National Security and Defense Council has imposed personal sanctions against Ukrainian opposition leader and former President Petro Poroshenko. Zelenskyy accuses him of treason. Poroshenko talks about political persecution. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c87dv228q80o

People's Deputy, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Danylo Hetmantsev stated that before involving the US in the extraction of Ukrainian subsoil, it is necessary to conduct an audit and return these subsoil to the ownership of Ukraine. That is, there is nothing or almost nothing to offer partners. https://expres.online/podrobitsi/vsi-dozvoli-na-komertsiyno-tsikavi-rodovishcha-v-ukraini-vzhe-rozdani-povazhnim-lyudyam-getmantsev

The Cabinet of Ministers has allocated UAH 15 billion ($360 million) to compensate internally displaced persons for housing damaged or destroyed as a result of the Russian Federation's armed aggression, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced. https://borgexpert.com/news/uriad-vydilyv-15-miliardiv-na-kompensatsiiu-pereselentsiam-za-zrujnovane-zhytlo

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has introduced a military contract for 18-24-year-old volunteers who want to join the Defense Forces for a year. Volunteers will receive 1 million hryvnias ($24,000) in one-time cash assistance, which will be paid in installments:

200,000 UAH - after signing the contract;
300,000 UAH - after completing training;
500,000 UAH - after completing service
In addition, the program includes a number of social benefits:

Compensation for housing rent during service;
The opportunity to obtain a mortgage at 0% after completing the contract within the framework of a special program;
Free education at higher education institutions at state expense after completing service;
Free medical care, including dental services and dentures;
The right to travel abroad after completing contract service;
Exemption from mobilization for 12 months after completing the contract.
https://suspilne.media/946393-minoboroni-prezentuvalo-kontrakt-dla-18-24-ricnih/

[N0TZU]

Why bother to have negotiations? Trump and Hegseth have already given away almost everything publicly. But it’s certainly considerate that they will “inform” Zelensky (and the Ukrainian public). /s. No doubt we will be told later by Trump that the negotiations were “very tough on Russia, very tough”.

I’m not surprised that it has taken almost a month after the “stop the war in 24 hours” period just to get to the point of planning to hold “negotiations”. Putin probably refused to discuss the matter with Trump at all to let him stew until he was even more eager to agree to almost anything.

Trump is right about one thing: Europe (and Taiwan, etc) needs to vastly increase their defenses, because likely none of it will come from the US while he is in office.

[KD8ZM-Brady]

Europe also needs to increase their defenses because they have relied far too heavily on the US for far too long, and the mistake on the US side has been to shoulder all of the responsibility for the world's defenses and everything else until, financially, we have no other choice but to make massive cutbacks in our expenditures across the board. The US debt bomb is reaching critical mass, unfortunately, and either austerity or inflation are the only ways out.
At least Americans (except for the last few remaining neocons) have stopped blabbering about American Exceptionalism now, as though that means we can do anything we want, no matter how expensive or impractical. A return to reality is upon us, and I think it's going to get far worse before it gets better.

[N0TZU]

Well certainly I agree that the US has too long shouldered too much of the burden.  But realistically it will take a long time for Europe and Asia to build sufficient defenses, and like it or not, we are still far and away the strongest military and also have much to lose if tyrants take control of major parts of the world.

As for the US debt, we also cannot continue with more and more tax breaks, underfunding the IRS ability to collect taxes and prosecute major cheats, and a Byzantine tax code loaded with special breaks for every Congressman’s favorite campaign contributors (an exaggeration to drive the point, but not by much).

There are two sides to the budget: revenue and expense. Neither can be ignored.

[KD8ZM-Brady]

I agree; as I had stated previously, we have no business cutting taxes when we are so far in debt and running deficits that are about 50% of the Federal budget. We need to both cut spending and let tax rates go back to where they were. But I don't think we will do much of either, as both parties are addicted to deficit spending.

[bluesky]

You Americans are overweight. You are living on a lie fed by Trump and your vice president.
Yes, there is an ocean between us and you. But there is also an ocean between you and North Korea and China. We will not help you if you continue your aggression against Europe.
The speech that J. D. Vance gave at the Munich Security Council was direct hate speech against Europe. We will punish the United States for this speech.