Are We Learning Lessons in Ukraine?
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WGN RADIO DAILY WAR JOURNAL
As Russians Knock on Sumy’s Door, People Ask, Didn’t the USA Learn a Lesson From What Happened in Kharkiv?
Plus: the real story of the European elections
The only American news show reporting live from Ukraine EVERY WEEKDAY of Russia’s full-scale invasion | scroll below to listen via YouTube and Spotify
with host Bob Sirott in CHICAGO and reporter JOE LINDSLEY in UKRAINE. TODAY, Joe is in LVIV—
Big News: Ukrainian Strike on Russian Fighter Plane
BOB SIROTT: Big news today, Ukraine says it struck a top Russian fighter plane deep inside Russia. Let's go to Joseph Lindsley in Ukraine. And are people talking about what happened yesterday, Joe?
JOE LINDSLEY: Bob, hello from Lviv. Not only did Ukrainians hit one of Russia's top class of fighter jets deep within Russia, but also using a Ukrainian jet with it seems with perhaps American-supplied munitions, Ukrainians have hit in a big way into Russia’s Belgorod Region, just across from Kharkiv and region. And in the early hours this morning, Ukrainians took out three of Russia’s air defenses in the occupied Crimean peninsula.
Belgorod Blitz: Ukrainian Strikes and Russian Reactions
The Ukrainians seem to have hit a Russian munitions depot, and Ukraine says they also hit one of the major command centers in that region of Belgorod from which the Russians had been attacking Kharkiv. The downing of the jet deep in Russian territory: that's the type of work that Ukraine has been doing for a long time, using their drones to go deep into Russian territory. Ukrainians still do not have permission to use any munitions or weapons produced in the US to go that far into Russia.
Kharkiv Concerts and Calmer Streets: A Shift in the Battlefield
What we see in the Belgorod region just across from Kharkiv, now that Ukrainians have this limited permission from the US to use some US weapons, they're using that to great effect. And it’s working! Kharkiv city is becoming calm and safe compared to what it was a month ago. I know some American musicians from Ohio and musicians from Lviv who just had a concert in Kharkiv. And when they planned to do this concert, they were a little bit nervous because when they made their plans to go there, it was pretty intense and scary there.
Stabilization or Illusion? The Situation in Kharkiv
I see some people using the word “stabilization,” that the situation is stabilizing there. I don't know if that word is accurate. Yes, the Russians have not made progress on the ground in the Kharkiv region since about May 20th. So the Ukrainians have held them, but more than stabilization, what we do see is that the region, especially Kharkiv city, is becoming quite peaceful for so many weeks. The Russians from Belgorod region were using these precision, they're called gliding bombs and they would send them over Kharkiv and cause them immense destruction and that's not happening.
Permission Paradox: US Weapon Limitations and Russian Propaganda
But meanwhile, as we look at this permission from the US, even though you can see that it works, that it's slowed down the Russians and stopped them in many ways, but that permission is still limited. And so what we saw today is something that people have been concerned about for a while: This morning there were many rumors, and the Russians were heavily pushing this in their propaganda, that they had made a land invasion into the Sumy region, which is between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the capital.
Sumy Standoff: Russian Incursions and Ukrainian Resilience
And there were lots of Russians trying to claim that they had raised a Russian flag in a village in Sumy. President Zelinsky tweeted that there were Russian saboteurs who made an incursion across the border. But he said as of this morning, “the Russian flag has been destroyed and there is no enemy presence in the village.
Déjà Vu: Sumy’s Situation Mirrors Kharkiv’s Past
It’s important to note that in Sumy region right now, it's like what it was in Kharkiv region two months ago. Ukrainians knew the Russians were lining up to invade and they were forbidden to attack. And so it is in Sumy region: Ukrainians are still forbidden from using any Western weapons until the Russians enter Ukrainian territory, which is frustrating for many people. Like, well, didn't we learn from what happened in Kharkiv? Do we have to wait for the same situation to happen to Sumy city that happened in Kharkiv a month ago?
European Elections: Not Just a Far-Right Surge
Another big thing, we had the European elections for the European Parliament, and if you look at many of the headlines, they're saying that there's a surge in the far right. And indeed the far-right made lots of gains. Some sources are saying that Moscow was the winner of these elections.
Media Misses: The Centre-Right’s Role in the European Elections
But actually if you look closer, you see, for example, in Germany, the far right did make gains, sure, and the ruling party in Berlin, Chancellor Scholz’s party finished in third place in the European Parliament elections for Germany. But here’s what the media is missing: The first place are the centre-right Christian Democrats, who have been critical of the ruling party of Chancellor Schultz's Schultz social Democrats for not sending enough weapons to Ukraine!
A Push for More: German Politics and Support for Ukraine
In fact the Christian Dems have been putting the pressure on Berlin to send the Taurus long range missiles to Ukraine that Germany still refuses to send. So you could look at it as the story of the far right surge, but there also is a story of most people voting for the party that actually wants victory more quickly in Ukraine.
Safety First: The Risks of Reporting from Lviv
BOB SIROTT: Joe, you mentioned you're in Lviv today, and that reminds me about a text we got from one of our listeners. Lemme read it to you. “Does Joseph endanger himself by telling you what city he's in? Obviously the Russians would love to eliminate him.” Do you think about that?
JOE LINDSLEY: There was in the first few months when we knew there were Russian spies here everywhere in Lviv for example. I mean, they'd been here before the big invasion. They were preparing back then, of course. But now as I was talking with a woman from Paris, a journalist, and we were talking about if Russia wants to get rid of you, it's more dangerous to be in Paris or Prague or Warsaw than in Lviv or Kharkiv, unless they think they can hit you precisely with a missile, because the people here are united and vigilant.
Paris vs. Lviv: Which City is More Dangerous?
And so the danger here is from the sky from missiles and rockets falling, but, although you can never be complacent, the ground situation is safe. It would be significantly more dangerous to go for a run in a park in Paris than it would be to go for a run in a park in Lviv or even in the US.
Ukrainian Voices Abroad: Encounters and Efforts in Germany
I was just talking with a Ukrainian woman, Irina, in Germany, and she has to encounter Russians in her life there. I can't even imagine that here in Ukraine. Incidentally, she leads this effort to examine whether or not the sanctions are actually working. And for right now, for example, in Berlin, there's this huge Ukraine recovery conference happening this week.
Frustrations and Forums: A Call for Action Over Words
And Irina said to me, she's frustrated because all these people are talking about, oh, investing in Ukraine after victory, but none of them want to talk about getting the weapons needed to make that happen. And then she also mentioned to me that in Chicago this week, there's this Consumer Goods Forum. It's about “fast moving consumer goods,” basically junk, er, snack food. Former First Lady, Michelle Obama is the keynote speaker, and several of the major companies there, including Mondelez, which makes Oreos and which is based in Chicago and Pepsi and others, they continue to do business in Russia.
Oreo Offense: Demonstrations Against Companies in Russia
And so there is going to be a Ukraine demonstration outside of this conference in Chicago this week to make the case. “Let's cut off support for these companies that make lots of money in Russia. Their tax dollars support the Kremlin’s attacks upon Ukraine.
So that's some stuff simmering around the world.
Safe and Sound: Joe’s Assurance from Lviv
But yes, I feel safe at the moment here in Lviv.
BOB SIROTT: All right, stay that way. If Putin sends you any coffee, don't drink it. It's Joseph Lindsley in Ukraine. Joe, Wendy Snyder will be checking on you the rest of the week, and I know you'll be in good hands. So I'll talk to you again next week.
JOE LINDSLEY: Until tomorrow, to the audience. I look forward to talking with Wendy. And until next week, Bob. Thank you.
SILICON CURTAIN — with host JONATHAN FINK in OXFORD
Ukraine is Showing NATO how to do NATO, in Defending the Bleeding Edge of Freedom | with guest Joseph Lindsley
UKRAINIAN FREEDOM VOICES
ROMAN SHEREMATA
CHAIRMAN, UKRAINIAN AMERICAN HOUSE
Yesterday, for the first time, since the beginning of war, Ukraine has fired a missile from a warplane at a target inside russia. This was possible because Ukraine has receive a permission to strike russian territory with western weapons.
However, while some countries put no limits on Ukraine, the US administration allowed Ukraine to hit only the green shaded area. Meanwhile, Ukraine is still not allowed to use US weapons on at least 84 percent of reachable russia's ground.
This needs to change. Allow Ukraine to fight without one arm being tied behind the back.
Quick Hits
Here an American military officer explains at just how impressed she is by the work of Ukrainians in air defense, despite the limitations and restrictions they’ve so often faced. Time and time again, Ukrainians prove that they can do the impossible—because they are motivated to stay free. The story of Ukraine is about such motivated people, not about government.
If you are not on Instagram, you can also view this video via our Substack page:
CONTROVERSIES: YES, WE ARE AWARE OF THIS AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT SOON ENOUGH …
This story from the Times of London has people buzzing: Court of Zelensky rocked by aide’s ‘thirst for power’: Senior officials in Ukraine are increasingly alarmed at the president’s reliance on Andriy Yermak, his chief of staff
It’s behind a PayPal but you can get a summary of the story here.
AND THIS: Ukraine’s Top Reconstruction Official Quits in Latest Blow for President Zelensky
Tune in tomorrow …
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