310 Days and Counting …

It’s not a happy and safe holiday season in Ukraine though the people are trying to be festive in bomb shelters and subway tunnels.

Kyiv, Associated Press, December 31, 2022: Multiple blasts rocked Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine on Saturday, killing at least one person and wounding 14 others, in a sign that the pace of russia attacks had picked up before New Year’s.

Some Ukrainians defied the danger, however, to return to the country to reunite with families for the holidays.

Ukrainian officials claimed russia was now deliberately targeting civilians, seeking to create a climate of fear to see out the year grimly and usher in a bloody 2023.

First lady Olena Zelenska expressed outrage that such massive missile attacks could come just before New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“Ruining lives of others is a disgusting habit of our neighbors,” she said.

Kyiv, Reuters, December 31, 2022: russia carried out its second major round of missile attacks on Ukraine in three days on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, with explosions reported throughout the country on New Year’s Eve.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least one person had been killed and eight wounded after a series of explosions in the capital. Reuters correspondents reported hearing 10 loud blasts in the city. The mayor said one of those wounded by the blasts was a Japanese journalist who had been taken to hospital.

Kharkiv, Newsmax, December 24, 2022: A russian strike on Ukraine’s recently recaptured city of Kherson killed at least 10 people, wounded another 58 and left bloodied corpses on the road, authorities said, in what Kyiv condemned as wanton killing for pleasure.

Kharkiv, Ukrinform, December 12, 2022: The Russian troops have launched a missile attack on Kharkiv city.

Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko wrote this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

“Kharkiv, a missile attack. Units of the State Emergency Service went to the scene,” he wrote.

Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram that the invaders were shelling Kharkiv and the region. He called on residents to remain in shelters.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov also called for caution. “Kharkiv is under attack. I call on everyone to stay in shelters and observe safety measures,” the mayor wrote.

Kyiv, Reuters, December 5, 2022: Ukraine said russia destroyed homes in the southeast and knocked out power in many areas with a new volley of missiles on Monday, while moscow said Ukrainian drones had attacked two air bases deep inside russia hundreds of miles from front lines.

A new missile barrage had been anticipated in Ukraine for days and it took place just as emergency blackouts were due to end, with previous damage repaired. The strikes plunged parts of Ukraine back into freezing darkness with temperatures now firmly below zero Celsius (32 Fahrenheit).

At least four people were killed in the russian missile attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that most of some 70 missiles were shot down. Energy workers had already begun work on restoring power supplies, he said.

* This is the reality that Ukrainians across Ukraine, from west to east, north to south, have been facing since russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The latest iteration of moscow’s visible and violent aggression against Ukraine began with short-lived victories by the so-called second greatest army of earth. Remember the 40-mile long column of russian armor that was rolling toward Ukraine and caught the attention of the western news media for several days? Apparently it evaporated long before it reach downtown Kyiv. Quickly afterward the vaunted second most powerful armed forces of Russia quickly deteriorated to group of first-rate cutthroats and thieves that kill unarmed civilians and raped women and children. On all fronts, the Armed Forces of Ukraine demonstrated their heroism, courage, skill and determination as they liberated Ukrainian territory and pushed the russian butchers back to their motherland.

In the midst of this war, with russia’s countless war crimes as it brazenly destroys Ukrainian cities, homes and power grids, and kills civilians and their children, President Zelenskyy challenged fate by making a risky and defiant journey across the ocean to Washington, DC, to deliver an emotional and inspirational address to Congress about Ukrainians’ courageous determination not only to persevere but also to defeat the russian aggressor.

In a surprise White House meeting on December 21, 2022, with President Biden, after being welcomed on the Portico by him and First Lady Jill Biden, Zelenskyy, regarded by many Ukrainians and people around world as the hero-president of the modern age, poignantly delivered the Ukrainian nation’s thanks for America’s moral support as well as humanitarian and military aid that he said would help Ukraine defeat russia.

In turn, President Biden expressed his marvel at Ukrainians’ bravery and resolve as he pledged that the United States will stand with Ukraine until the battle is won.

President Biden at the joint press conference announced the next tranche of America’s security assistance to Ukraine totaling $1.85 billion of security assistance that includes both direct transfers of equipment to Ukraine as well as contracts to supply ammunition Ukraine will need in the months ahead for its artillery, its tanks, and its rocket launchers. In addition to these new capabilities like precision aerial munitions, the package will include a Patriot missile battery, which has been requested by Ukrainian officials and will help bolster Ukraine’s air defense.

However, two days later, lawmakers approved about $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine, $8 billion more than the requested $37 billion by Biden, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The U.S. has already provided $68 billion in military, economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the russian invasion. 

In meetings with the US President and in the hallowed halls of the Congress, Zelenskyy, dressed in his iconic dark green sweatshirt with a gold Tryzub on the seam under his chin, assured all listeners that Ukraine will never surrender in its efforts to defeat russia. “Ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender,” he said, adding that he believes Ukraine is approaching a “turning point” in the war with russia.

Noting the Christmas season, Zelenskyy movingly said russian missiles will not sway Ukrainians from their belief in a better, peaceful future. He said when the missiles will be heard approaching during this holy season, the people will shelter in safety where they can, even in subway tunnels, where they will share in the all-important Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight with family members and friends.

For many observers around the world, including the kremlin, President Zelenskyy’s historic and historical visit to Washington, DC, who after Winston Churchill was only the second wartime national leader to address the US Congress, served as loud victory in Kyiv’s public relations war with Moscow despite its unsuccessful efforts to exonerate itself of all guilt.

Zelenskyy underlined that his current visit to America is historic in bilateral relations between Ukraine and America.

“During 300 days of this war, we have really begun a new stage in our relations – Ukraine and the USA – we have reached the level of real alliance, which is 100 percent filled with real content. I felt it today in all my meetings, in all our negotiations. I want to thank Mr. President Biden once again for his sincere support and, most importantly, his understanding of Ukraine. And also for building and maintaining an international coalition to strengthen the international legal order,” Zelenskyy said.

He also thanked the American leader for personal efforts and wise steps that unite the world community around the protection of international law, peaceful cooperation and mutual understanding, which is useful not only for Ukraine and the USA, but also for all countries of the world.

Zelenskyy professed deep thanks for tens of billions of dollars in weapons and aid offered and to come. He pointed out that the financial aid should not be considered an encumbrance as some legislators have said but rather as an investment in democratic existence of Ukraine, the United States and the world.

Throughout his address he made a point to address legislators on both sides of the political aisle as well as site examples of American military crucial victories during the Revolution War as well as World War II.

President Biden condemned russia’s targeting of Ukraine’s power grid and emphasized that the United States and its allies are aware of the importance of helping Ukraine rebuild its energy infrastructure destroyed by russia’s rocket attacks. He said: “Russia uses winter as a weapon. This is an example of crimes committed by Russia against the civilian population of Ukraine.”

At the conclusion of his congressional address, President Zelenskyy presented House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice-President Kamal Harris, who typically sit behind the speaker, with the Ukrainian flag that he brought from besieged Bakhmut as an assurance of Ukraine’s resolve to achieve victory. They, in turn, presented him with a commemorative boxed Stars and Stripes that flew above the U.S. Capitol that day.

Indeed, that day was memorable and encouraging for Ukraine and the free world as 2022 draws to a close.

The political and public relations battle to defeat russia is almost as successful as is the military one. The free world knows that Moscow committed a crime that surpasses crimes by Hitler and the Nazis. The United States, Great Britain, Canada, the former captive nations and many other European countries recognize the danger and successes of Ukraine’s frontline battles and have committed to helping Ukraine until the day of ultimate victory over russia.

But they still keep coming. Reinforced by ex-cons and other cretins and derelicts, and armed with Iranian drones, moscow is in some cases standing firm in battle as its militarized citizens are killed in great numbers. According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, more than 100,000 of them killed in the past 10 months. Shows you how much Vladimir putin values the lives of his citizens.

Officials in moscow, including putin and foreign minister lavrov said recently that Ukraine will never win this war and even if it does, russia will not evacuate from the territories it seized. Its ridiculous calls for peace according to its demands won’t be accepted by Kyiv.

Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Kuleba and Permanent Representative to the UN Kyslytsya have bumped up the ante in the political battle by introducing a measure in the United Nations to expel russia from the Security Council because it doesn’t belong there. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, what remained of moscow’s empire never applied for UN membership as other applicant-countries did. It merely assumed the Soviet seat, or rather hijacked it.

Consequently, Ukraine initiated the process to deprive russia of its status as a permanent member of

Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

“Ukraine calls on the member states of the UN to resume the application of the UN Charter in the context of the legitimacy of the Russian Federation’s presence in the UN, to deprive the Russian Federation of its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and to exclude it from the UN as a whole,” its statement reads.

According to the ministry, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 left unresolved the issue of international rights and obligations of the USSR. “From the point of view of international law, the issue of the status of a UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which the russian federation enjoys, remains unsettled,” the ministry noted.

Fortunately, the United Nations was not blindsided by moscow’s political power as it declared that russian troops have raped and tortured children in Ukraine, carried out a “large number” of executions and committed other war crimes, according to a United Nations investigation by legal experts. “Based on the evidence gathered by the commission, it has concluded that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine,” Erik Mose, the chairman of the three-member commission, told the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Ten months into russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine, global officials have accumulated overwhelming evidence that shows that the kremlin’s so-called troops have waged total war, with disregard for international laws governing the treatment of civilians and conduct on the battlefield. Ukraine is investigating more than 58,000 potential russian war crimes – killings, kidnappings, indiscriminate bombings and sexual assaults. Reporting by The Associated Press and “Frontline,” recorded in a public database, has independently verified more than 600 incidents that appear to violate the laws of war. Some of those attacks were massacres that killed dozens or hundreds of civilians and as a totality it could account for thousands of individual war crimes.

As Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, told the AP, “Ukraine is a crime scene.”

It is quite possible that the Russo-Ukraine War of 2014-22 will last beyond the one-year mark, expanding the stark realization that russia has turned Ukraine into a crime scene – a 233,000-square-mile crime scene. Ukrainian soldiers and people, Ukrainian speakers and not, and have demonstrated their determination to return peace and stability to Ukraine by defeating russia and expelling it from Ukraine. Does the free world have the same willpower and resolve to stand with Ukraine, as President Biden assured President Zelenskyy: “We will stay with you for as long as it takes.”