Ukraine: US Lies, Provocation, Broken Promises, Fake News

[Anthea]

Presidential election in Russia
By Dmitri Kovalevich

Dmitri Kovalevich is the special correspondent in Ukraine for Al Mayadeen English. This report delves into the Russian Presidential Election and Ukriane's upcoming new mobilization law

The March 15 to 17 presidential election in Russia dominated the Ukrainian information and political space throughout that month. Events at the military front, controversy over forced conscription, and economic problems all took a back seat.

Investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) are now preparing prosecutions they hope to wage one day against those people in the new Russian territories of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye who appeared in social media or in traditional media and spoke favorably of Russia or the election.

Judging by the results, it is in the new territories that support for the Russian president was the highest of all across Russia. For all of Russia, there was a record turnout of 77.4 percent, according to the country's electoral commission. (The previous record was 74.7 percent set in 1991). Vladimir Putin received 87.3 percent of the vote; the second-place finisher was the Communist Party's Nikolai Kharitonov with 4.3 percent. Putin said he was pleasantly surprised by the high results he and his party scored.

The Donetsk Republic of the Russian Federation scored the highest results, with a turnout of 88% and a vote for Putin 95%. Donetsk was the region hit hardest by Ukraine's low-intensity war launched in 2014 and has seen by far the hardest fighting since 2022 when Russia responded to the threats and never-ending provocations by the Ukraine regime and its NATO backers

The Ukrainian Telegram channel 'Legitimny' wrote on March 18 that support for the incumbent president was partly the result of hostile Western policies towards the Russian people as a whole. "Vladimir Putin gained a maximum of votes due to the hostile actions of Western countries, attempting to humiliate the Russian people".

The outlet went on to note the differing political conditions between Russia and Ukraine. "Putin and his government held elections under difficult conditions, while in Ukraine, the 'democratic' president Volodymyr Zelensky governs through martial law and is afraid to hold elections for fear of losing. Officially, Ukraine does not even consider itself to be at war", it writes.

An official declaration by Ukraine of a state of war could inhibit further loans and grants from international institutions such as the IMF whose statutes caution or outright prohibit loans to countries at war. The Ukraine government says it is merely responding to aggression. In 2023, the IMF made an exception of Ukraine to its rule forbidding loans to countries at war, calling the situation there a "situation of exceptionally high uncertainty".

Unsuccessful military incursions by Ukraine into Russian territories

The governing regime in Kiev spent considerable resources on attempts to disrupt the election in the Russian Federation. Days prior to the vote, Ukraine's armed forces staged a large incursion into the Russian border regions of Belgorod and Kursk. (The two cities are approximately 100 km apart, and Belgorod is only some 60 km from Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine.)

As usual, Western media announced the incursion but then neglected to report its result. The Russian military shook its head at the effort, saying it ended in the complete destruction of the Ukrainian forces involved, including the loss of much armoured equipment and ammunition, which is already in dire, short supply in Ukraine.

No less than the Washington Post acknowledged in a March 15 report from Belgorod that shelling attacks and incursions by Ukraine have only increased local support for the Russian government and president. The Post writes, "For many residents, such attacks only deepen their support for Putin."

Putin reported in a teleconference with members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation that was broadcast on the Russian presidency's website that the Belgorod/Kursk incursion involved more than 2,500 soldiers 35 tanks, and about 40 armored combat vehicles. He said the enemy had no success.

One of the purposes of this effort, Putin said, was "to "divert the attention of the people of Ukraine from the real state of affairs along the line of contact, and divert the attention of the people in countries from which the Kyiv regime continues to beg for money and all sorts of other handouts."

Russian military expert Boris Rozhin wrote on Telegram on March 14 about the incursions, saying, "When they say that elections in Russia are not interesting and have predictable results, just remember that several hundred people died in the border region of Belgorod region this month in an attempt to disrupt them."

There was, indeed, much that was absurd in the desperate attempts to disrupt the Russian election. The West still considers Russia an 'authoritarian state' and does not recognize its elections as being democratic. Russians, however, do not care about such opinions, and so attempts to disrupt an election in Russia considered in advance by the West and by the Kyiv regime to be illegitimate appear utterly pointless. The attempts at disruption only show that the West and Ukraine are well aware of the mood in Russian society in support of the government and are very dissatisfied with that.

The Russian TV channel Rossiya 1 reported at the time of the incursions by Ukraine that Russian intelligence knew several weeks in advance of the plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to attack the Belgorod region and it had an idea of exactly where the enemy was going to attack. As part of the preparations, the Russian Armed Forces grouping in the Belgorod region was reinforced.

In response to each successive failure of an operation by the AFU, purges occur among officers and commanders due to the beliefs of the regime of President Zelensky and its Western military instructors that there are many in the AFU whose sympathies lie with Russia.

Ukrainian political scientist Konstantin Bondarenko wrote on Telegram on March 18 that the purpose of military incursions into Russia has "not so much been to disrupt elections in Russia, as reported by some 'analysts', but, rather, to prevent any peace negotiations. Well, it seems that the incursions have achieved their goal."

More cannon fodder for U.S. senators

The average Ukrainian is not really interested in the elections in the Russian Federation. He or she is naturally more concerned about personal survival, especially when thousands of Ukrainian men are still being forcibly conscripted every week to the front lines. (Exact conscription numbers are treated by the Ukraine government as classified information.) According to the Ukrainian news publication Strana.ua, citing a deputy from Zelensky's party, conscription is being carried out and intensified in order to show to the U.S. government the alleged military effectiveness of the Ukrainian leadership. "Conscription should intensify in Ukraine," the deputy says. "People should go to the front. That's because if they were to perceive in Washington that Ukrainians do not want to fight, no one there will continue to press for continued U.S. arms transfers, not even the Democrats."

This claim in Strana was confirmed by the visit to Kiev of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on March 18. He called upon young people in Ukraine to join the AFU. "I would hope that those eligible to serve in the Ukrainian military would join. I can't believe it [the age for obligatory military service] is at 27," he said. "You're in a fight for your life, so you should be serving, and not at age 25 or 27. We [sic] need more people in the line."

The fact that a U.S. senator calmly calls upon yet more Ukrainian people to serve as cannon fodder in a war against Russia is a very telling example of where Ukraine 'independence' truly stands in today's world.

Emotional display in the Ukraine Rada of non-recognition of Russian elections

Ukrainian Rada (legislature) deputy Yevhen Shevchenko wrote on Telegram about the topic of the Russian presidential election, saying the subject was central to the Rada session of March 14. Deputies of Zelensky's party and of the party of former President Petro Poroshenko competed in shouting anti-Russian rhetoric the loudest, literally going hysterical, Shevchenko wrote. "Do you know how the legislative session took place today? Traditionally, it began with the anthem and a minute of silence. Included in the schedule was a resolution for non-recognition of the election of the Russian president in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Speeches from groups and factions took place for three minutes each. The loudest speakers were Petro Poroshenko and Maxim Buzhansky [of Zelensky's 'Servant of the People' party]. The latter managed to exceed the decibels coming from Petro Poroshenko. My eardrums almost burst from their screeching."

According to Shevchenko, almost half of the deputies were not in attendance. Lately, Ukrainian deputies have been boycotting Rada sessions, but not for political reasons. They have been demanding permission to travel abroad, where they can vacation and seek more sponsors. Zelensky has forbidden deputies to travel abroad without his approval, as he fears their contacts with Western sponsors. Deputies are absent from Rada sessions for different reasons; one reason is that poor attendance could result in expulsion and the deputy could no longer be banned from travel. All Ukrainian men under the age of 65 are banned from travel abroad, but exceptions are granted for state business or personal business (health care, for example, or care of elders).

Why so much emotion and passion about elections in Russia? The Russian voter is unlikely to listen to the hysterical outbursts of Ukrainian deputies. Neither will the non-recognition of elections by the Verkhovna Rada affect the election results. The main audience is the Ukrainian public, who the government is constantly working to keep it in a state of nervous tension. There are also Western creditors to please. They constantly evaluate the actions of the Ukrainian authorities according to the effectiveness of anti-Russian actions, not according to whatever benefits to Ukrainian society that their actions may bring.

Zelensky, as an actor, was the one to initially adopt the tactic of "emotional diplomacy" whereby hysteria, screaming, tears and other theatrics replace rational arguments and signed documents.

The truth of the matter is that Ukraine is only a battering ram, whose purpose is to contribute to the weakening and destruction of the Russian Federation, even at the cost of Ukraine's existence. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics candidly wrote on the day of the Russian election in support of the introduction of French troops into Ukraine. His words included the phrase 'Russia delenda est!' ('Russia must be destroyed!'), borrowing from the original phrase by Roman ruler Cato about Rome's desire to destroy the competing city of Carthage.

It should be noted that in modern Nazi mythology, the ancient wars of Rome against Carthage, as well as the wars of Athens against Persia and the campaigns of Alexander the Great, are typically interpreted as wars by 'civilized' Europe against 'barbaric' Asia.

Legitimizing Dictatorship in Ukraine

Deputies of Zelensky's party do not hide their aspirations for dictatorship. Dictatorship is the tool that "can help" Ukraine to defeat Russia, said Serhiy Demchenko, a deputy the 'Servant of the People', on March 18. At the same time, he admitted, "for the country, for the people, dictatorship is definitely a disadvantage, always."

Another deputy from Zelensky's party, Oleg Dunda, told Ukrainian television that democracy, human rights and freedoms can be talked about only after the war is over, advising to forget about these concepts for now. "During the war, we have only one task - survival. Everything we do must be aimed precisely at this."

In Ukraine, elections for the presidency and the Rada were supposed to be held this past month, according to the five-year term limits set out in the Ukraine constitution. But Volodymyr Zelensky instead extended martial law and canceled the holding of elections. The Ukrainian constitution does not clearly answer whether elections can be held during martial law. There is a legal conflict at play here, which may be resolved by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU).

As the Ukrainian mass media reported back in February, the presidential office first thought of appealing to the Constitutional Court for an election delay. But the office changed its mind because of the danger the Court may give an unfavorable ruling, declaring Zelensky's electoral mandate to be expired and his term as president ended. The majority of the members of the Constitutional Court were appointed under former president Petro Poroshenko and remain his protégés; as well, the former president happens to dream of a return to power.

Last year, under pressure from legal and constitutional experts in the countries supporting Ukraine, was against Russia, Zelensky announced changes to the selection process for judges on the Court, making it more open and competitive.

According to former Rada deputy Igor Mosiychuk, Zelensky wants only people loyal to him to be appointed to the Constitutional Court, with a view to extending his expired electoral mandate. Mosiychuk wrote that Zelensky is seeking to be "appointed emperor for eternity by a decision of the Constitutional Court".

What Constitutional Court selections reveal

To apply for a posting to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, a citizen of Ukraine must be over 40 years of age and must have worked for at least 15 years in some capacity in the judiciary. Candidates are predominantly judges of lower courts. Applicants must pass an exam on the knowledge of law and the Constitution, and they must report on their income. Since 2023, the competitive selection process is public. Thanks to this, the citizens of Ukraine have been viewing broadcasts of evaluations of the judicial system in general and its serving judges in particular.

There are 18 judges who serve on the Court; currently, there are five vacancies.

One unfortunate judge of the Economic Court of Zakarpattia region and candidate for the Constitutional Court, Lubomyr Andriychuk, could not correctly answer the date when the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted during the live broadcast of his interview process. He first tried to avoid answering, then answered '1991'. The correct answer was 1996. Since 2019, he has been teaching law at Uzhgorod National University.

At the same interview, Andriychuk was asked about his ownership of two land plots in the elite resort of Bukovel. He had bought the plots for a pittance, allegedly for the purpose of farming. But he ended up selling the plots for millions of hryvnia for the construction of cottages. When asked during his application interview how the intended purpose of the land was changed from farming, he could not answer, saying that all the relevant documents are now in the possession of the buyer.

It turns out that Ukrainian judges benefit from unthinkable prices for real estate. One judge candidate for the CCU indicated that he lives in an apartment of 43 square meters (420 square feet) which he purchased for eight hryvnia (20 U.S. cents). Another judge candidate, Alexander Radutny, indicated in his declaration that he owns a house, two apartments, and two vehicle garages, and for each one he paid one hryvnia (three U.S. cents). "These errors have now been corrected," he told inquirers, adding that he is very bad at converting currencies.

Maksym Muzyka, a judge of the Economic Court of Khmelnytskyi region, did not answer inquirers' questions because he had "had not prepared". When asked why he did not declare his ownership of a land plot he purchased in 2012-2013, he explained that until 2015, such a declaration was "only a formality".

Another candidate for a Court position could not specify the value of the apartment she bought because her mother forbade her to talk about it. The mother is a pensioner from the provincial town of Stryi and she somehow managed to buy an elite apartment in Kiev.

The judge of the Economic Court of Mykolaiv region, Oleksandr Tkachenko, admitted at his inquiry that he had approved the work of Parma LLC in building two garages without proper judicial authorization and received two garages in exchange. He sees nothing wrong with that.

It should be noted that judicial positions in Ukraine since the late 1980s have been considered hereditary or for sale. They do not necessarily require that the persons holding them have any specialized legal training and knowledge. All legal formulations are prepared by assistants and secretaries, who themselves may have been excellent students at law faculties but may never be able to acquire a judicial position for themselves.

On May 29, the chairman of the CCU Serhiy Golovatiy will turn 70 years old and will be due to step down from the post due to his age. Last week, the Zerkalo Nedeli weekly reported that the Constitutional Court will be headed by the current speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk. Even members of the 'Servant of The People' electoral machine recognize his lack of professional training and knowledge in this area.

"Although he [Stefanchuk] is not a specialist in constitutional law but a specialist in civil law, his knowledge, thoughts and creative ideas regarding constitutional and legal matters are at a very high level," said Fedor Venislavskyy, the former presidential representative to the CCU. Simply put, even though he is not a specialist, Stefanchuk has "creative" ideas about understanding the constitution (including, no doubt, how to interpret it frivolously).

The very procedure of selecting members of the Constitutional Court demonstrates the corruption and unprofessionalism that predominate in Ukrainian courts. Ordinary Ukrainians, of course, may have serious questions as to how members of the courts without adequate training have managed to work for years in the Ukrainian judicial system. Many of them have been issuing verdicts deciding the fates of people and businesses. Those CCU member judges who are now expected to legitimize Zelensky's usurpation of power are actually discrediting the judicial system through the public contest to win seats on it.

However, for the Western powers, in spite of these frank confessions and the abolition of elections in Ukraine in 2024, Russia, not Ukraine, remains the 'dictatorship' that must be fought.

And even though Ukraine has actually turned into a real prison for its people, from which men conscripted by the military are daily trying to escape through minefields or taking other dire risks to their lives, the Western media still considers Ukraine a 'model of democracy'… as long as it sends its citizens to their deaths in the interests of the likes of Senator Lindsey Graham.

Much of this harkens back to the years of the 1920s and 1930s in Europe when Nazi and fascist dictatorships throughout the continent were supported by the elites as weapons to deter a Russian 'threat' and the threatening specter of communism.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles ... ism-of-ukr

[Anthea]

$44bln of US aid to Ukraine missing

GAO has released a damning report, revealing that the US Department of State has failed to effectively coordinate and oversee more than $44 billion in supplies destined for Ukraine

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported, on Thursday, that the US Department of State is neglecting its responsibility to coordinate and oversee over $44 billion in American supplies to Ukraine.

"State doesn't have a systematic, comprehensive approach to specifically track this funding," the GAO said. "We recommended that the State better track funding related to the Ukraine crisis."

In further detail, GAO unmasked that the State Department lacked a structured method for categorizing and monitoring foreign aid designated specifically for addressing the war in Ukraine. As a result, the Department encountered difficulties in accurately reporting the status of this assistance.

"Without such separate tracking, the State cannot provide timely information on the status of foreign assistance related to the Ukraine crisis that can be used to understand the status of assistance and to inform decisions about future funding," GAO said.

In the last two years, GAO noted that four US agencies have designated $44.1 billion from supplementary allocations and other resources to tackle the economic and humanitarian challenges faced by individuals impacted by the Ukraine crisis.

US weapons to Ukraine funneled into black market

Last year, former senior Pentagon Advisor Col. Douglas Macgregor highlighted the possibility of US-supplied weapons to Ukraine ending up on the black market.

"We're sending a billion dollars worth of equipment and much of it disappears perhaps on the black market and the cash never gets where it's supposed to go! What's happening right now demands our attention and understanding," Colonel Douglas Macgregor said in a post on X.

Similarly, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu constantly stated the arms supplied by the West to Ukraine were ending up on the black market and spreading across West Asia.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Western countries have been steadily offering military aid to Ukraine, evolving from artillery munitions and training in 2022 to more substantial weaponry, including tanks, throughout 2023 and 2024.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... y-state-de

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Domino effect

Since the war began in 2022, Trump has vowed that he would end the crisis within 24 hours.

"If I were president, the Russia/Ukraine war would never have happened, but even now, if president, I would be able to negotiate an end to this horrible and rapidly escalating war within 24 hours," Trump said in January last year on the Truth Social platform.

Last month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Trump vowed not to provide financial assistance to Ukraine if reelected this fall.

"If the Americans do not give weapons and money, and the Europeans follow them, then the war will end. If the Americans do not give money, then the Europeans are not able to finance this war themselves, and then it will end," he said.

REMEMBER:

US was behind illegal coup to overthrow elected government

Minsk agreements signed guaranteeing Donbass self rule

UNSC excepted Minsk agreement into INTERNATIONAL LAW

Kiev has been illegally attacking Donbass and slaughtering thousands of innocent people for 9 years

Everyone supporting the war against Donbass is breaking international law

US have many interests in Ukraine and lied about it's Biolabs

Nobody dares to stand against the US bullies

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Donetsk Emergency Workers Injured

Ten employees of the Russian Emergency Ministry were injured trying to extinguish the fire caused by a Ukrainian attack on the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk

According to reports of the incident, firefighters were attacked by drones, while extinguishing a fire in a burning house due to the fall of an explosive projectile.

The self-proclaimed Head of the Republic, Denis Pushilin, two fire trucks were also damaged and a civilian was also injured by the first explosive projectile.

Fire service personnel are hospitalized with injuries of varying severity.

In the words of a statement issued by the Republic of Donetsk, "30 bombings were recorded. Seventy-six shells were fired, 155-mm artillery was used, including cluster artillery, and unmanned attack vehicles were used".

The high frequency with which drone strikes are taking place in use territory has worried international analysts, as these provocations could create an escalation in the war.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Don ... -0021.html

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Ukraine settlement basis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview for Sputnik broadcasters Komsomolskaya Pravda and Govorit Moskva that the peace plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be rejected as the basis for resolving the war in Ukraine, stressing that instead, the foundations on which Russia is willing to negotiate should be discussed

Lavrov explained that it was not "necessary to start with the 'Zelensky formula,' it should be put aside... If they want, as the president said, let us discuss the foundations on which we are ready to negotiate."

The top Russian diplomat also detailed that Switzerland has shifted from a neutral status to hostile to Russia, making it unsuitable for Moscow as a venue to conduct peace talks on Ukraine.

In 2023, Lavrov indicated that "everyone understands" that Zelensky's formula is "absolutely not realizable," explaining that no one in the West wants to "seriously" show understanding of the crisis.

He also added that Russia is ready for negotiations but will "not consider any proposals for a ceasefire," since if they do, that would mean Russia was deceived.

Last month, Swiss lawmakers approved a series of motions that could pave the way for the government to work on an international basis to see how billions of dollars of Russia's frozen assets could be used for "reparations" to Ukraine.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Switzerland's envoy Krystyna Marty Lang to condemn the move, which Moscow said "grossly violates the fundamental principles and norms of international law."

Western countries froze around $300 billion of the Russian central bank's assets and reserves that were held in its jurisdictions after the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.

Switzerland will host the Ukraine peace conference at Zelensky's request, primarily to debate his 10-point peace formula, on June 15-16 at the Buergenstock resort. Switzerland's declared purpose is to provide a platform for high-level discourse on how to secure long-term peace for Ukraine.

Around 120 international leaders are anticipated to attend the event. The Russian Embassy in Bern has announced that Russian officials will not attend the meeting, which is scheduled to support yet another version of Kiev's peace plan.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described any efforts to establish peace between Russia and Ukraine are rendered "ridiculous" in the absence of Moscow.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... eds-discus

Remember the Kiev government broke the UNSC accepted Minsk agreement that gave Donbass autonomy and have been illegally attacking Dondass for 9 YEARS

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US announces new 'Axis of Evil'
(have they looked in a mirror )

US House Speaker Mike Johnson says he is willing to take "personal risks" regarding the aid funding to Ukraine

US House Speaker Mike Johnson hailed this week the US's deep state, labeled Russia, China, and Iran the new "axis of evil," and promised to put his job on the line to give more than $60 billion to Kiev.

This is considered a clear shift in his stance over the bill to Ukraine, as over the past few months, Johnson has stood against bringing the $95 billion foreign aid bill to a vote and made it clear that just like other Republicans, he cannot back the bill that would give $14 billion in military aid to "Israel" and $60 billion to Ukraine, without it being linked to an overhaul of US border security.

This change in stance comes after a series of recent meetings Johnson had with US intelligence chiefs.

"This is a critical time right now, a critical time on the world stage," Johnson told reporters on April 17.

"I think providing lethal aid to Ukraine right now is critically important. I really do. I really do believe the intel and the briefings that we’ve gotten," he stressed.

"I believe [Chinese President] Xi [Jinping] and [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and Iran really are an axis of evil," Johnson continued.

"I think they’re in coordination on this. I think that Vladimir Putin would continue to march through Europe if he were allowed," he claimed.

As the US unveiled foreign aid bill texts for Ukraine, "Israel" and Taiwan on April 17, Johnson said "This is not a game. It's not a joke. We can't play politics," adding "We have to do the right thing. And I'm willing to take personal risk for that because we have to do the right thing and history will judge."

On Ukraine

In general, the Republican Party's pro-Trump stance has labeled US intelligence agencies as arms of the anti-Trump "deep state" and had an opposing stance to sending aid to Ukraine.

"Fighting a proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, which is a non-NATO member nation, is not protecting America’s national security interests, it doesn’t protect the United States of America, as a matter of fact, it pushes us closer and closer to world war three," Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most prominent Trump supports told journalist Tucker Carlson earlier this month.

As for John's comment on the "axis of evil", the latter was initially used by former US President George W. Bush to refer to Iran, Iraq, and the DPRK, before he invaded Iraq. Cuba, Libya, and Syria were also added to this list by former National Security Advisor John Bolton.
US unveiled foreign aid bill texts for Ukraine, 'Israel', and Taiwan

The US House of Representatives unveiled bill texts on April 17 containing provisions for aid to Ukraine, "Israel", and Taiwan.

As outlined in a summary provided by the US House Appropriations Committee, the proposed bills allocate significant funding for various foreign aid initiatives. Specifically, $60.84 billion is earmarked for Ukraine-related funding, aimed at supporting the nation amid ongoing challenges, as per the summary.

Additionally, the summary added that $26.38 billion was designated for "Israel"-related funding, aimed at bolstering its security and stability. Furthermore, it stressed that $8.12 billion are allocated for initiatives aimed at countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

In further detail, the Ukraine aid bill introduced in the US House of Representatives mandates President Joe Biden to swiftly provide long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukrainian forces.

It is worth noting that the Ukraine aid bill includes a provision that bars the US president from canceling Ukraine's debt before November 15, 2024, but permits the cancellation of 50% of the debt thereafter, as outlined in the proposed legislation.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -new--axis

The US is the real Axis of Evil stirring up trouble worldwide and supplying weapons making conflicts much more dangerous, I assure you that Vladimir Putin has NO INTEREST in taking over Europe

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Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2202 (2015)

Security Council Calls on Parties to Implement Accords Aimed at Peaceful Settlement in Eastern Ukraine

Expressing the Security Council’s grave concern at the tragic events and violence in eastern regions of Ukraine, the 15-member body today unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing last week’s ceasefire agreement.

By resolution 2202 (2015), the Council called on all parties to fully implement the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”, adopted on 12 February 2015 in Minsk, Belarus. Firmly convinced that the resolution of the situation in eastern regions of Ukraine could only be achieved through a peaceful settlement to the current crisis, the Council welcomed the declaration by the Heads of State of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, France and Germany in support of the “package of measures” and their continuing commitment to implement the agreements.

The 13-paragraph “package of measures”, contained in Annex I of the resolution, called for a number of actions. Those included an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and its strict implementation as of 15 February 2015, as well as the withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides by equal distances in order to create a security zone. Measures also included the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine under the monitoring of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the disarmament of all illegal groups.

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Here is a look at the agreements, which were signed in Minsk in 2014 and 2015.

MINSK I

Ukraine and the Russian-backed separatists agreed a 12-point ceasefire deal in the capital of Belarus in September 2014. Its provisions included prisoner exchanges, deliveries of humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of heavy weapons, five months into a conflict that by that point had killed more than 2,600 people - a toll that has risen to more than 14,000 now, according to the Ukrainian government. The agreement quickly broke down, with violations by both sides.

MINSK II

Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the leaders of two pro-Russian separatist regions signed a 13-point agreement in February 2015 in Minsk. The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine gathered there at the same time and issued a declaration of support for the deal.

The deal set out a series of military and political steps that remain unimplemented. A major blockage has been Russia's insistence that it is not a party to the conflict and therefore is not bound by its terms. Point 10, for example, calls for the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations and military equipment from the two disputed regions, Donetsk and Luhansk: Ukraine says this refers to forces from Russia, but Moscow denies it has any there.

The 13 points were, in brief:

1. An immediate and comprehensive ceasefire

2. Withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides

3. Monitoring and verification by the OSCE

4. To start a dialogue on interim self-government for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in accordance with Ukrainian law, and acknowledge their special status by a resolution of parliament.

5. A pardon and amnesty for people involved in the fighting

6. An exchange of hostages and prisoners.

7. Provision of humanitarian assistance.

8. Resumption of socio-economic ties, including pensions.

9. Restore full control of the state border by the government of Ukraine.

10. Withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries.

11. Constitutional reform in Ukraine including decentralisation, with specific mention of Donetsk and Luhansk.

12. Elections in Donetsk and Luhansk on terms to be agreed with their representatives.

13. Intensify the work of a Trilateral Contact Group including representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE.

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Report by OSCE,16 March 2023

Evidence of Ukrainian War Crimes in Donbass

The data that has been accumulated since the first report by the Foundation for Democracy Studies provides ground to conclude that torture and inhumane treatment inflicted by the Security Forces of Ukraine (SBU), by the Ukrainian armed forces, the National Guard and other formations within the Interior Ministry of Ukraine have not only continued but are gaining in scale and are becoming systematic

The prisoners were electrocuted, beaten cruelly and for multiple days in a row with different objects (iron bars, baseball bats, sticks, rifle butts, bayonet knives, rubber batons). Techniques widely used by the Ukrainian armed forces and security forces
include waterboarding, strangling with a ‘Banderist garrotte’ and other types of strangling.

In some cases prisoners, for the purposes of intimidation, were sent to minefields and run over with military vehicles, which led to their death.

Other torture methods used by the Ukrainian armed forces and security forces include bone-crashing, stabbing and cutting with a knife, branding with red-hot objects, shooting different body parts with small arms.

The prisoners taken captive by the Ukrainian armed forces and security forces are kept for days at freezing temperatures, with no access to food or medical assistance, and are often forced to take psychotropic substances that cause agony.

An absolute majority of prisoners are put through mock firing squads and suffer death and rape threats to their families.

There are many such reports by OSCE available for anyone interested in the TRUTH

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$26.4bn to fund Israeli genocide

$61bn to fund illegal Donbass attacks

The US House of Representatives passed a series of pivotal policy bills on Saturday that would see $95 billion in foreign war and military funds, a potential ban on TikTok in the country, the seizure of frozen Russian sovereign assets, and new sanctions on Iran

The Israel Security Supplemental was approved with an overwhelming vote of 366-58.

This bill includes a prohibition on sending funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency UNRWA as the genocide in Gaza nears its 7-month mark.

The funding package allocates $26.4 billion in aid to the occupation entity, $4 billion for the Iron Dome and David's Sling missile defense systems, and $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defense system. Additionally, $4.4 billion is allocated to replenish military items and services provided to "Israel," while $3.5 billion is earmarked for the procurement of advanced weapons systems and other items through the Foreign Military Financing Program.

Furthermore, it includes $9.2 billion in public assistance, including emergency food, shelter, and basic services, to populations experiencing crises. It also provides additional flexibility for transfers of military hardware to "Israel" from US stockpiles held in other countries.

China, Russia and Iran

The 21st Century Peace through Strength Act bill was passed with a bipartisan vote of 360-58.

It includes sanctions on ports and refineries that receive and process Iranian oil, sanctions on any party involved in supplying or selling Iran equipment related to its missile and drone program, in addition to further restrictions on exports of US-made goods and technology to the Islamic Republic.

Additionally, the bill authorizes the executive branch to seize and transfer frozen Russian assets currently held in the United States to Kiev.

TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance was given 9 months to sell the social media company or it would be banned from US app stores.
Indo-Pacific region

The House also passed the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental bill with a strong majority vote of 385-34, with one present vote from Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

The legislation allocates $8.1 billion to counter China's actions in the Indo-Pacific region, with another $3.3 billion for submarine infrastructure. It also includes $2 billion in foreign military funding for Taiwan and other key regional partners, as well as $1.9 billion to replace military equipment and services for the island and allies in the region.

Ukraine

After months of political deadlock, the House of Representatives passed the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act with a vote of 311-112, with GOP Rep. Dan Meuser abstaining.

The $95 billion package includes a significant $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine and other US regional allies. Of this total, around $23 billion is earmarked for restocking US weapons, supplies, and facilities. Additionally, over $11 billion is designated to support ongoing US military operations in the area.

A significant portion of the package, nearly $14 billion, is allocated to assist Ukraine in acquiring advanced weapons systems and other defense equipment.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -61bn-to-u

US is on the verge of bankruptcy, finding it difficult to pay the interest on it's 34 TRILLION DOLLAR loan

Inner cities are all on the verge of collapse, shops closing due to violence and shoplifting

The US southern border has collapsed

US leadership is trying to frighten it's population into supporting the government

US population are brain dead sheeple

[Anthea]

Trump vows to settle Ukraine conflict

As Trump runs for reelection, the former President vows to solve the conflict in Ukraine before even taking office.

Former US President Donald Trump has vowed to settle the conflict between Russia and Ukraine even before his inauguration if he wins the 2024 presidential race.

"Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after we win the presidency… I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled," Trump said on Saturday during a rally in Philadelphia. During his speech, Trump also vowed to prevent World War III.

On Saturday, the former president told NBC News that he had already decided who he would appoint as vice president if he wins. Trump mentioned that this person will "most likely" attend his upcoming debates with US President Joe Biden. "They’ll be there... I think we have a lot of people coming," Trump told NBC News.

Among the most likely candidates for the vice presidency are North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Senator James David Vance, and Senator Marco Rubio, as reported by the news broadcaster, citing sources familiar with the selection process.

The US presidential election will be held on November 5.

The main rivals in the race are Joe Biden, a Democrat, and his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.

Earlier in the week, Trump stated in an interview with the All-In podcast that he understands why Russia would be concerned about NATO troops on its border. He further commented that NATO's expansion eastward was a significant factor contributing to the war in Ukraine.

Trump vowed that if he returned to the White House, he would not deploy US troops on the ground in Ukraine.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... tial-reele

[Anthea]

US aid to Kiev if peace talks proceed

If Donald Trump wins the upcoming presidential elections, he plans to pressure Ukraine and Moscow into peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine

Two key advisors to former US President Donald Trump have proposed a strategy, should he win the presidential election, to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Reuters revealed on Tuesday.

The plan entails informing Ukraine that it will only receive increased US military assistance if it engages in peace negotiations.

Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, a national security advisor to Trump, explained in an interview that the United States would simultaneously caution Moscow that a refusal to participate in talks would prompt greater American support for Ukraine.

Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, both former chiefs of staff in Trump's National Security Council, devised a plan that includes a ceasefire along current battle lines during negotiations. He noted that they have presented this strategy to Trump, who responded positively to their proposal.

"I'm not claiming he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it, but we were pleased to get the feedback we did," he said. However, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said only statements made by Trump or authorized members of his campaign should be deemed official.

The strategy outlined by Kellogg and Fleitz is the most detailed plan yet by associates of Trump, who has said he could quickly settle the war in Ukraine if he beats President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election.

The proposal would mark a big shift in the US position on the war and would face opposition from European allies and within Trump's own Republican Party.

The Kremlin said that any peace plan proposed by a possible future Trump administration would have to reflect the reality on the ground but that Russian President Vladimir Putin remained open to talks.

What does the plan include?

The key components of the plan were detailed in a research paper released by the "America First Policy Institute," a think tank aligned with Trump, where Kellogg and Fleitz are in leadership roles.

Kellogg emphasized the importance of swiftly bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table in the event of a Trump election victory.

He said, "We tell the Ukrainians, 'You've got to come to the table, and if you don't come to the table, support from the United States will dry up,'" adding, "And you tell Putin, 'He's got to come to the table and if you don't come to the table, then we'll give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field.'"

Moscow would also be encouraged to participate in negotiations by delaying Ukraine's NATO membership prospect for an extended period, according to their research paper. Fleitz clarified that under their plan, Ukraine wouldn't need to "formally cede territory to Russia."

A lasting peace in Ukraine would require additional security guarantees for Ukraine, Kellogg and Fleitz said, adding that "arming Ukraine to the teeth" was likely to be a key element of that.

"President Trump has repeatedly stated that a top priority in his second term will be to quickly negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war," Trump spokesperson Cheung said. "The war between Russia and Ukraine never would have happened if Donald J. Trump were president. So sad."

Conversely, Biden has consistently advocated for increased aid to Ukraine, and his administration actively supports Ukraine's eventual accession to NATO.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... roceed---r

Personally: I believe NATO should be shut down as it's only purpose appears to be bullying other countries on US behalf

[Anthea]

Hunter Biden helped secure millions
for biotech research in Ukraine

Moscow’s claim that Hunter Biden helped finance a US military 'bioweapons' research program in Ukraine is at least partially true, according to new emails obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com

The commander of the Russian Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, claimed there was a 'scheme of interaction between US government agencies and Ukrainian biological objects' and pointed to the 'financing of such activities by structures close to the current US leadership, in particular the investment fund Rosemont Seneca, which is headed by Hunter Biden.'

Emails from Hunter's abandoned laptop show he helped secure millions of dollars of funding for Metabiota, a Department of Defense contractor specializing in research on pandemic-causing diseases that could be used as bioweapons.

He also introduced Metabiota to an allegedly corrupt Ukrainian gas firm, Burisma, for a 'science project' involving high biosecurity level labs in Ukraine.

And although Metabiota is ostensibly a medical data company, its vice president emailed Hunter in 2014 describing how they could 'assert Ukraine's cultural and economic independence from Russia' – an unusual goal for a biotech firm.

The Russian government held a press conference Thursday claiming that Hunter Biden helped finance a US military bioweapons research program in Ukraine. But emails and correspondence obtained by DailyMail.com from Hunter's abandoned laptop show the claims may well be true

Metabiota is a Department of Defense contractor specializing in research on pandemic-causing diseases that could be used as bioweapons

In April 2014, Metabiota vice president Mary Guttieri wrote a memo to Hunter outlining how they could 'assert Ukraine's cultural and economic independence from Russia'. 'Thanks so much for taking time out of your intense schedule to meet with Kathy [Dimeo, Metabiota executive] and I on Tuesday. We very much enjoyed our discussion,' Guttieri wrote

Four days after Guttieri's April 2014 email, Burisma executive Vadym Pozharskyi wrote to Hunter revealing that the then-Vice President's son had pitched a 'science project' involving Burisma and Metabiota in Ukraine. 'Please find few initial points to be discussed for the purposes of analyzing the potential of this as you called, 'Science Ukraine' project,' Pozharskyi wrote

Government spending records show the Department of Defense awarded an $18.4million contract to Metabiota between February 2014 and November 2016, with $307,091 earmarked for 'Ukraine research projects'

Emails and defense contract data reviewed by DailyMail.com suggest that Hunter had a prominent role in making sure Metabiota was able to conduct its pathogen research just a few hundred miles from the border with Russia.

Burisma adviser Vadym Pozharskyi. 'As I understand the Metabiota was a subcontract to principal contactor of the DoD B&V [Black & Veatch],' he wrote in an email in 2014

The project turned into a national security liability for Ukraine when Russian forces invaded the country last month.

Metabiota has worked in Ukraine for Black & Veatch, a US defense contractor with deep ties to military intelligence agencies, which built secure labs in Ukraine that analyzed killer diseases and bioweapons.

Earlier this month US officials warned congress that 'Russian forces may be seeking to gain control' of these 'biological research facilities', prompting fears that deadly and even engineered pathogens could fall into Russian hands.

Hunter and his colleagues at his investment firm Rosemont Seneca Technology Partners (RSTP) routinely raised millions of dollars for technology companies, hoping the firms would take off and make them all fortunes.

Metabiota was one of those firms. Emails between Hunter and his colleagues excitedly discuss how the company's monitoring of medical data could become an essential tool for governments and companies looking to spot outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The president's son and his colleagues invested $500,000 in Metabiota through their firm Rosemont Seneca Technology Partners.

They raised several million dollars of funding for the company from investment giants including Goldman Sachs.

But emails show Hunter was also particularly involved in Metabiota's operations in Ukraine.

Hunter's pitches to investors claimed that they not only organized funding for the firm, they also helped it 'get new customers' including 'government agencies in case of Metabiota'.

He and his business partner Eric Schwerin even discussed subletting their office space to the firm in April 2014, their emails reveal.

That month, Metabiota vice president Mary Guttieri wrote a memo to Hunter outlining how they could 'assert Ukraine's cultural and economic independence from Russia'.

'Thanks so much for taking time out of your intense schedule to meet with Kathy [Dimeo, Metabiota executive] and I on Tuesday. We very much enjoyed our discussion,' Guttieri wrote.

'As promised, I've prepared the attached memo, which provides an overview of Metabiota, our engagement in Ukraine, and how we can potentially leverage our team, networks, and concepts to assert Ukraine's cultural and economic independence from Russia and continued integration into Western society.'

Former senior CIA officer Sam Faddis, who has reviewed emails on Hunter's laptop, told DailyMail.com that the offer to help assert Ukraine's independence was odd for a biotech executive.

'It raises the question, what is the real purpose of this venture? It's very odd,' he said.

Russia's Defense Ministry on Thursday put out a diagram with arrows connecting Biden, Soros and the Democratic Party to Ukrainian biolabs

The president's son and his colleagues invested $500,000 in Metabiota through their firm Rosemont Seneca Technology Partners. They raised several million dollars of funding for the company from investment giants including Goldman Sachs

Emails between Hunter and his colleagues at Rosemont Seneca excitedly discuss how the company's monitoring of medical data could become an essential tool for governments and companies looking to spot outbreaks of infectious diseases

Russia claims Hunter Biden is 'funding bioweapons labs in Ukraine'

Guttieri had a leading role in Metabiota's Ukraine operations, meeting with other company executives and US and Ukrainian military officials in October 2016 to discuss 'cooperation in surveillance and prevention of especially dangerous infectious diseases, including zoonotic diseases in Ukraine and neighboring countries' according to a 2016 report by the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine.

At the time, Hunter was serving as a board member of Ukrainian gas firm Burisma, owned by former top government official and allegedly corrupt billionaire Mikolay Zlochevsky.

Four days after Guttieri's April 2014 email, Burisma executive Vadym Pozharskyi wrote to Hunter revealing that the then-Vice President's son had pitched a 'science project' involving Burisma and Metabiota in Ukraine.

'Please find few initial points to be discussed for the purposes of analyzing the potential of this as you called, 'Science Ukraine' project,' Pozharskyi wrote.

'As I understand the Metabiota was a subcontract to principal contactor of the DoD B&V [Black & Veatch].

'What kind of partnership Metabiota is looking for in Ukraine? From potential non-governmental player in Kiev? Rebuilt the ties with respective ministries in Ukraine, and on the basis of that reinstate the financing from the B&V? Or they look for partnership in managing projects in Ukraine, PR with Government institutions here, financing of the projects?'

Faddis told DailyMail.com that the attempt to get Metabiota to form a partnership with Burisma was a perplexing and worrying revelation.

'His father was the Vice President of the United States and in charge of relations with Ukraine. So why was Hunter not only on the board of a suspect Ukrainian gas firm, but also hooked them up with a company working on bioweapons research?' Faddis said.

'But the question still remains: why is Hunter Biden in the middle of all this? Why is the disgraced son of the vice president at the heart of this – the guy with no discernible skills and a cocaine habit.'

Pozharsky said in his email to Hunter that he had encountered such biological research projects before in his former job as a Ukrainian government official, and claimed that B&V worked on 'similar or the same projects' as the proposed contract for Metabiota.

Government spending records show the Department of Defense awarded an $18.4million contract to Metabiota between February 2014 and November 2016, with $307,091 earmarked for 'Ukraine research projects'.

The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) also commissioned B&V to build a Biological Safety Level 3 laboratory in Odessa, Ukraine in 2010, which 'provided enhanced equipment and training to effectively, safely and securely identify especially dangerous pathogens' according to a company press release.

Such labs are used to 'study infectious agents or toxins that may be transmitted through the air and cause potentially lethal infections,' the US Department of Health and Human Services says.

B&V was awarded a further five-year $85million contract in 2012.

In a May 2014 email, RSTP partner Schwerin suggested: 'there are obviously some real potential synergies between Xiaoying's husband's work at the CDC and what Metabiota does. Something else to think about'

In another sign of the deep ties between Metabiota and the Department of Defense, Hunter's RSTP business partner Rob Walker said he would 'have a friend reach out to DoD on the down low', in order to prove the company's bona fides to top prospective investors Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley in October 2014

In another sign of the deep ties between Metabiota and the Department of Defense, Hunter's RSTP business partner Rob Walker said he would 'have a friend reach out to DoD on the down low', in order to prove the company's bona fides to top prospective investors Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley in October 2014.

RSTP was a subsidiary of Rosemont Capital, an investment company founded by Hunter and former Secretary of State John Kerry's stepson Chris Heinz in 2009.

Metabiota also has close ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), suspected to be the source of the COVID-19 outbreak.

WIV was a hotspot for controversial 'gain of function' research that can create super-strength viruses.

Chinese scientists performed gain of function research on coronaviruses at the WIV, working alongside a US-backed organization EcoHealth Alliance that has since drawn intense scrutiny over its coronavirus research since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers from the Wuhan institute, Metabiota and EcoHealth Alliance published a study together in 2014 on infectious diseases from bats in China, which notes that tests were performed at the WIV.

Shi Zhengli, the WIV Director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases who became dubbed the 'bat lady' for her central role in bat coronavirus research at the lab, was a contributor to the paper.

Metabiota has been an official partner of EcoHealth Alliance since 2014, according to its website.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... raine.html

[Anthea]

UK urging France to abstain from

escalation in Ukraine war

"Let's think of the things we can do that are really helpful to Ukraine [without the escalation of the situation]," stated former British Prime Minister David Cameron regarding France's potential deployment of troops into Ukraine

London is privately attempting to convince Paris to abstain from escalating the war in Ukraine following statements regarding France's potential deployment of troops, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Wednesday.

"I really welcome the fact that the French have changed their view, but I am not sure that is the right approach," Cameron said during a prank video call with an individual claiming to be Petro Poroshenko, the former president of Ukraine, which took place earlier this month.

"I am very keen on the French enthusiasm, but I am not sure they picked the right particular answer...We do not want an argument with them, we are just trying to say privately to them 'Let's think of the things we can do that are really helpful to Ukraine [without the escalation of the situation]," Cameron said, explaining that this action may create additional targets for Russia.

NATO troops already in Ukraine

A recent report by Responsible Statecraft revealed that French nationals, along with other Western nationals, are already fighting in Ukraine.

Moreover, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky had announced earlier in May that the initial batch of French military instructors were expected to travel to Ukraine soon. The announcement was issued following a video call involving Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

"I have already signed the documents that will allow the first French instructors to visit our training centers soon and get acquainted with their infrastructure and personnel," Syrsky said on social media. "I welcome the initiative of France to send instructors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian servicemen."

Also in May, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, stated that NATO forces had already been deployed in Ukraine, and that the alliance is aiding Kiev to the greatest extent possible.

"NATO today is helping as much as it can. As much as it can. Without NATO's help, Ukraine would not have been able to defend itself for so long. Well, and there are some troops there, I mean soldiers. There are some soldiers there. Observers, engineers," Tusk disclosed to journalists

The prime minister did not provide information on the number of troops or their places of origin.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said earlier this month that any French military instructor present in Ukraine to train its forces would be a “legitimate target” for Russian armed forces.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... kraine-war

[Anthea]

Ukraine's unpopular military conscription
By Dmitri Kovalevich, Al Mayadeen English's special correspondent in Ukraine, reports on Ukraine's military conscription and repercussions

The Ukraine regime is acquiring yet more funding and weapons from the West and sending yet more Ukrainians to their deaths in order to please the elites of the NATO countries

The end of June marked one month since Ukraine adopted a new law on military conscription that significantly limits the rights of Ukrainians. During this time, Ukrainian media has been full of reports, daily and even hourly, of 'kidnappings', as many Ukrainians put it, by military conscription officers from the streets and neighborhoods of the country of military-age men (25 and older) deemed fit for battle. Fighting between enlistment officers and civilians resisting their work is increasing, as is the publicizing of it all in Ukraine media.

Even pro-war, Western newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post can no longer hide from their readers the story of citizen resistance to conscription in Ukraine, as they have been doing for years.

Tension in Ukraine over forced conscription is growing daily. The Ukrainian military is promoting (and enforcing through conscription) its idea that justice demands that all Ukrainian men submit to the horrors of war, just as its soldiers have done for more than two years in direct confrontation with the Russian armed forces and in direct confrontation with the self-defense forces in Donbass for eight years before that.

The Kiev regime launched a civil war against the people of Donbass (today the Russian Federation republics of Donetsk and Lugansk) in the spring of 2014, seeking to crush the deep-going opposition there to the far-right paramilitary coup of February 2014 that overthrew Ukraine's elected president and legislature

In response to the conscription terror unfolding daily in the streets and neighborhoods of the country, Ukrainian military vehicles are now being set on fire every day in various cities.

Local residents believe the targeted vehicles to be transporting military enlistment officers, not ordinary soldiers. One result is that rank-and-file military personnel are increasingly placing notices on their transport vehicles reading 'Not military recruiters'. As they conduct their work, lone military enlistment officers are coming under attack far to the rear of the front lines, even in western Ukraine.

The Ukrainian telegram channel 'Skeptic' comments on the confrontations, writing, "People do not understand who, exactly, is appearing before them in uniform: is it a simple military man, or is it military enlistment officer? The forced conscription being carried out by the authorities at the hands of military recruiters leads people to take illegal actions. Along with simple efforts to avoid the conscription officers, people are increasingly fighting back with their bare hands when cornered, risking their lives or their freedom in order to do everything possible to avoid going to the war front and suffering the fate of so many before them who have lost their lives or their health.

"The number of disabled people in Ukraine now exceeds three million, and their number is growing by more than 30,000 people every month through the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)," the Skeptic channel writes.

On June 11, Ukrainians were stirred by media broadcasting a mass brawl in the city of Odessa between ambulance drivers and the military enlistment officers who were trying to conscript one of them. Dozens of ambulance drivers from all over the city came to the aid of their colleague, at which point several civilian vigilantes joined with the recruiters in beating the ambulance drivers with baseball bats

According to a report in the widely-read, Ukraine media outlet Strana, the vigilantes were members of voluntary police assistance squads. These have been established since 2022. Private security companies often enroll their employees in such units. In fact, these are paramilitary formations dedicated to assisting military enlistment officers and police to seize eligible conscripts. A 'bonus' for the members of such vigilante groups is that they are accorded protection against conscription.

The Strana report explains, "In addition, cooperation with military enlistment officers and the police gives the members of the 'assistance detachments' many ways for illegal earnings. For example, they often act as intermediaries in giving bribes to the enlistment officers - naturally, for a certain percentage. There are also schemes to issue, for a fee, taxi cab passes for nighttime travel [which is supposed to be forbidden]. The struggle for such financial flows periodically causes serious clashes between the 'assistance detachments' in Odessa."

The terror inflicted by military recruiters against civilians is dictated not so much by the desire for 'justice' on the military front [equality in military service] as by common corruption. 'Failures' to issue conscription notices and erasing of computerized conscription data on Ukrainians liable for military service can cost several thousand dollars. Even some children of military commissars are involved in such illegal business in order to avoid service.

In mid-June, for example, the son of the head of one of the military enlistment offices in the Vinnytsia region was detained after he was found to be arranging travel abroad for men seeking to escape the country at prices approaching the equivalent of US$20,000. During searches of the son's premises, authorities found conscription notices and copies of passports of more than a dozen men of the age of military service, plus a lot of cash, including US dollars. He is now facing a possible jail sentence of eight years and the loss of his personal property. It is illegal for men of military age to leave Ukraine unless they have special permission (care of a frail elder, for example).

Ukrainians also know that military recruiters are choosing not to patrol and raid certain vacation spots or shopping locations frequented by wealthy Ukrainians. One restaurant owner told Strana on condition of anonymity, that this is happening largely due to large bribes. A restaurant owner in Odessa told the publication, "Each chain of shopping malls negotiates independently with military recruiters; not directly but through the mediation of the regional governing administration. Naturally, for large payoffs. I can't tell you the amount of payment for the 'security zone', but the sums start from 5-10 thousand dollars and more, per month, depending on the size of the shopping center and its popularity."

"Each network of shopping and entertainment centers negotiates independently with the military registration and enlistment offices, but not directly. They negotiate through mediation by the regional city administration. Naturally, for large payoffs I cannot say what is the exact fee for protection in a 'security zone', but the amounts start at 5,000 to 10,000 [U$] each month, depending on the size of the shopping complex and its popularity."

Despite all the uproar taking place in Ukraine over conscription, the results on the front line are barely visible, writes a correspondent on Telegram from the 'Kholodnyi Yar 'unit of the AFU. "This is partly due to the fact that newly conscripted soldiers are merely replacing the dead and wounded. Corruption and fictitious servicemen who exist only on paper are partly to blame."

The 'First War News' Telegram channel writes on June 18, "In Donetsk region, the accountant of one of the military units along with two other unit members organized a scheme to enter fictitious data about the participation of soldiers in combat operations in order to collect the bonuses for direct military action for all three participants in the scheme."

A similar scheme operated in Afghanistan during the U.S.-led occupation of the country from 2001-2012. Al Jazeera reported back in 2021 why the Afghan army that was built up painstakingly for years by the occupation forces fell apart so quickly. Its report explained, "First, there was widespread corruption in Afghanistan’s defense and interior ministries, where funds, ammunition, and food deliveries were stolen before reaching the soldiers on the ground…

Furthermore, some commanders embezzled money by submitting fund requests for the salaries of 'ghost soldiers'; that is, soldiers who had never actually signed up for the military. As all this was happening, the soldiers of the Afghan comprador army were left unpaid and frequently denied for months at a time permission to visit their families on leave.

Unsurprisingly, the Afghan armed forces under Western tutelage had one of the highest desertion and casualty rates of armies in the world. One estimate placed the army's monthly attrition rate at 5,000, while the monthly recruitment rate was 300 to 500.

The Ukrainian telegram channel 'Kartel' describes how similar schemes are taking place in the AFU. "The simplest schemes are those involving ghost soldiers. Fictitious recruits are enrolled and sent to the frontline and the salaries and bonuses go into the commanders’ pockets. Secondly, commanders record of non-existent 'destruction' of enemy equipment in order to earn bonuses. Thirdly, they sell places in the rear and in reserve units, and fourthly, they sell vacations and sick leaves to soldiers".

The underground Ukrainian Marxist organization Workers' Front of Ukraine (WFU) wrote on Telegram on June 13 about the corruption that has permeated much of the AFU. "If you want to be dismissed, you must pay up. If you are found guilty of a crime or misdemeanor, you must pay up. If you don't want any trouble, you must pay up. Tens of millions of hryvnias are leaking out of the state budget through payments to so-called 'gray souls' [ghost soldier] schemes, for which the military unit receives allowances.

"The alcohol trade is also blossoming. If you are caught drinking too much vodka sold to you by your officers, you are fined, further boosting corrupt earnings. And so on. In one of the buildings of the 'second headquarters' a mining farm has been organized, the electricity bills of which are covered by our taxes."

The Ukrainian Telegram channel 'Resident' writes on June 17 that, in essence, the ever-tightening law on military conscription is transforming military recruiters into a new economic elite, and a deeply corrupt elite at that. The already tense atmosphere in Ukrainian society due to conscription is being aggravated by all the reports of corruption and bribery. And despite the corruption scandals, military enlistment officers actually remain quite untouchable in Ukraine. They have become the unspoken and unassigned decision-makers of the fates of tens, hundreds of thousands of human beings in Ukraine. They are assigned the power to manage this diminishing number of potential military recruits, and they are managing this 'resource' in their own, personal interest.

In earlier times, Ukrainians paid bribes to officials for any old certificate or license. They would pay bribes for the right to receive medical care from doctors or even for a necessary conveyance in an ambulance. They would pay bribes to the police to avoid a fine for a traffic violation. Now they are paying bribes for the simple act of walking down the street, working, shopping getting married, or adopting a child--all in order not to end up in a bombed-out foxhole at the frontline.

Recently, fugitive conscription evaders have begun to stage mass breakthroughs in large groups through the Transcarpathia region in western Ukraine and across the border. The region is Ukraine's gateway westward into the European Union.

On June 9, 32 people traveling in a transport truck bearing fake military license plates broke through the border to Hungary. The truck was full of fugitives and simply drove off-road at top speed into the neighboring territory. The truck was tracked down by Hungarian border guards and soon after, the fugitives surrendered to the Hungarian authorities near the village of Barabash. Local residents claimed in comments to local media that the fugitives were various Ukraine law enforcement officers who were facing assignments to the war front.

Ukrainian soldiers and officers are also, increasingly, complaining about the ineffective military tactics of their high command. The soldiers are reduced to fighting for every house and every scrap of forested land, even in the most unfavorable situations. This is due to the extreme pressure on military authorities to demonstrate 'effectiveness' to the U.S. and NATO military leadership in order for Ukraine may continue receiving military funding and weapons from them.

Ukrainian battalion commander Ivan Mateyko told an interview with the Focus newsmagazine that military units are being severely punished for abandoning their positions. For the sake of its public relations, the AFU does not withdraw people even from the last, surrounded house in a village so that the village may still be said by superior officers to be under 'Ukrainian' control. "Losing a military position is punished, even when you are holding the last house in a village because as long as you are in that house, the village is considered ours. It doesn't matter how many people die for the sake of holding that house. It doesn't matter that that house has been surrounded for a week, cannot safely receive supplies, and cannot safely evacuate the wounded and dead," he said.

According to Mateyko, when the situation is a stalemate and there are not enough soldiers to mount an adequate defense, commanders decide to indiscriminately send everyone into battle. He believes that commanders are sending people to their deaths in such circumstances out of fear of losing their positions or fear of being penalized.

Alexei Arestovich, a former adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine (2020-2023) and a far-right ideologue, notes that the AFU is not learning anything new from its experiences in battle. He compares this to the army of the Soviet Union in Crimea during World War Two. He writes on Telegram, "They tried different methods, from mechanical to moral and psychological from 1941 onward. [Nazi Germany occupied Crimea, after bitter struggle, from late 1941 until liberation in 1944.] By 1943-1944, they had learned to fight. The difference between the Red Army of 1941 compared to the Red Army of 1944 is the difference between heaven and earth. They tried, tried, and tried again. After 30 unsuccessful attempts, the 31st attempt would succeed."

Arestovich asks, "How does Ukraine's army today compare? Our valiant armed forces do not want to learn, nothing happens. I am looking at this and asking myself, 'During two and a half years of struggle against our original [sic] enemy, what changes have occurred in the armed forces? Even organizational changes, reflecting accumulated experience? This army has long been driven by inertia and is simply wearing itself out without trying to make sense of events, without trying to draw any conclusions."

A leader of the neo-Nazi paramilitary battalion 'Azov', Dmytro Kukharchuk, believes that Kiev is losing its war. He believes the Russian Federation has no need at all to sue for peace as it is in a much more favorable position. "Yes, we are losing this war now. It's obvious. We are losing territories, we are losing the best people. Many people say: 'Everything is going fine and soon we will conclude a peace treaty with Russia.' But the main question is, why does the Russian Federation need to negotiate peace?" According to him, the strategy of a creeping offensive (war of attrition) which the Russian army has chosen is serving it very well, while the consequences for Ukraine are not only unpleasant, they are critical.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a quite specific proposal for peace in mid-June. It would require the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, renunciation by Kiev of Ukraine's specious claim over Crimea, and renunciation by Kiev of present or future NATO membership

The U.S. administration and then Ukraine quickly rejected this proposal, as if on cue. The key stumbling block is not so much control of the regions presently under Russia's control, but future NATO membership for Ukraine. NATO is using Ukraine as a proxy force in this war and toward the goal of NATO membership.

Former Ukrainian journalist and today a political exile, Rostyslav Ishchenko, comments on June 18: "Russia has declared the need to create a unified security system in Eurasia, without the participation of non-Eurasian states. For the first time, albeit indirectly, Moscow has raised the issue of NATO's liquidation, since without the U.S. military presence in Europe, the bloc loses its meaning and the USA becomes a non-Eurasian power."

For his part, NATO head Jens Stoltenberg is promising that Ukraine will join NATO as soon as it defeats Russia, which is to say 'never'. Despite the grim military situation facing the Ukraine regime, Western leaders are instructing Kiev to refrain from any negotiations with Russia.

Oleh Soskin, a former adviser to Leonid Kuchma (the second, post-Soviet Ukraine president from 1995 to 2004 and today a political analyst) has recently written on Telegram that the West is quite satisfied with the killing of Ukrainian citizens at the hands of the country's capitalist elite. "They are all very satisfied with the fact that this Zelensky, A.Yermak [head of the Office of the President of Ukraine], D.Arahamiya [head of the legislature faction of Zelensky's political machine], R.Stefanchuk [speaker of the legislature] and, naturally, D. Shmygal [prime minister since 2020] are very good at using Ukrainians as weapons and cannon fodder."

Indeed, the Ukraine regime is acquiring yet more funding and weapons from the West and sending yet more Ukrainians to their deaths in order to please the elites of the NATO countries.

From time to time, I personally witness clashes taking place between civilians and Ukrainian military enlistment officers. I have witnessed outraged women trying to wrestle their sons and husbands out of the clutches of military conscriptors. "Let Zelensky go to the trenches!," they shout. "Let him send his own children off to war! Let Biden himself fight the Russians!" Needless to say, this sharp, civilian erosion of support for Kiev's and NATO's war does not bode well for either.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles ... roduces--g