February 24: "To face unafraid the plans that we made …”
The one year anniversary of the big war, the nine year anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity ...
Today is the one year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine, and the nine year anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity. Ever since that day in February 2014 when the Ukrainians freed themselves from Russia’s corrupt grip, Putin has been dead-set on their destruction. So far, despite the usual intense fighting in places like Bakhmut, it’s been calm through much of Ukraine. Everyone waits, prepares, stands fast …
“[It's something rare in our world of corporate and automated radio regular, real humanity.”
—Neil Steinberg, in the Chicago Sun-Times, on Joe Lindsley’s daily Ukraine reports with Bob Sirott of Chicago’s WGN Radio. We invite you to follow on YouTube.
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War Day 365: What does it feel like to be in Kharkiv, 30 miles from Russia, on February 24?
... and remembering the last moments of peace one year ago, those freedom days of jazz music in Lviv…
by Joe Lindsley
A year ago yesterday, February 23, 2022, I was at Lviv’s LV Cafe jazz club having a beer with jazz musicians including Ray Brown Jr, the son of the late legend Ella Fitzgerald.
As Ella’s version of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland” played on the speakers in between sets, I asked Ray, “so that’s your mom singing, huh?”
“Sure is,” he said.
Then he sang the blues, as we all felt something wicked approaching. I remembered that song yesterday, as I ran through a missile-hit park in snowy Kharkiv, as everyone here braces for whatever Russia might plan to do.
And who knows, maybe Ukraine will surprise everyone, once again.
“…to face unafraid the plans that we made …”
The Ukrainian word for February is simply “Fierce.” Here in my WGN Radio Ukraine report, given every day of Russia’s big war, I share the mood and stories of fierce people in Kharkiv, 30 miles from Russia on the eve of this heavy day.
🔵 "We are ready. We don't know what we are ready for, but we are ready," says a friend.
🔵 "What's the difference between Russians and Ukrainian?" I asked a woman here. "Liberty," she said, right away.
Watch above or here.
Daily Situation Summary, 23 Feb: CHINA’S POSSIBLE ROLE IN THE WAR; HUNGARY SAYS RUSSIA AND USA SHOULD TALK WITHOUT UKRAINE
BY PAVLO VITENKO
HUNGARY ENCOURAGES RUSSIA AND USA TO TALK WITHOUT UKRAINE; SEE BELOW FOR WORLD REPORT
BUT FIRST:
SUMMARY BY REGIONS ...
Luhansk Region
The offensive actions of the Russian troops in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions near Stelmakhivka, Kreminna and Bilohorivka were unsuccessful.
The enemy also carried out artillery fire on the areas of the settlements of Nevske, Chervonopopivka, Kreminna, Kuzmine, Dibrova and Bilohorivka.
In the de-occupied territory near Novoselivske, a man came across an enemy mine, received an explosive injury, numerous shrapnel wounds.
The situation in the region remains tense.Donetsk Region
Yesterday morning, there was shelling from the Hrad anti-aircraft missile system in the city of Avdiivka, hitting the old and central parts of the city. Information about the victims is being clarified.
Shelling continues along the entire front line.
Active fighting around Vuhledar, Bakhmut, Mariinka, Avdiivka. Under constant enemy fire Chasiv Yar.Active fighting around Vuhledar, Bakhmut, Mariinka, Avdiivka. Under constant enemy fire Chasiv Yar.
Artillery shelling of the town of Yampil. A man born in 1957 was killed by direct entry into the house. and his wife, born in 1963, was wounded. 6 houses were damaged.
At night, 3 rockets were fired at the village of Bohatyr. A private house was destroyed, neighboring houses, farm buildings, and a power line were damaged.
Russian artillery damaged the village of Ivanopil, the building of a motor vehicle enterprise and two buses were damaged, 2 private residential buildings were damaged, a high-rise building in the city center, garages of a car company, and a gasoline truck was burned.
In the Donetsk region, two civilians were injured in one day. …
You can read the full report here.
FROM NPR'S Morning Edition: The stories of Ukrainian citizens who formed espionage cells to help liberate Kherson
The great report Joanna Kakiss, who reported from Lviv in those wild beautifuld days before the full-scale invasion, has this report now about life under occupation in Kherson. It's powerful. You can listen here.
War Day 364: Why Joe Biden's 20-Hour Roundtrip on a Ukrainian Train is Something Momentous
On Day 363, as the one year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion nears, we talk about the difference between the Russian and the Ukrainian mentalities:
In Russia, everything is about the one ruler. In Ukraine, it is the people who determine who they want to live.
Near the end, I describe Joe Biden's extraordinary train-trip to Ukraine. When has an American president, except for a few minutes in the Queen's Land Rover, ever ridden in a vehicle not his own? And we speak of China and Taiwan. What's going on, and how does this affect Ukraine?
The Chicago Sun-Times's Neil Steinberg had nice comments about these Ukraine reports with Bob Sirott, which we've presented from throughout Ukraine every single week day for almost a year: “[It's something rare in our world of corporate and automated radio regular, real humanity” You can read his story here
Putin, Demons, Victoria Nuland, Donald Trump, etc.: Here’s a view of what’s going on, as Russian missiles fall upon Kharkiv
War Verifies: Which Side Are You On?
An American, a Pole, and a Ukrainian Talk About the Fight for Freedom
Stories, Sounds, and Facts of War: Every weekday, Ukrainian Freedom News’s Joe Lindsley, an American in Ukraine since the pandemic started, gives a live war report on Chicago’s WGN Radio. You can listen and watch below. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch all our stories.
ABOUT US: Ukrainian Freedom News: The wild story—so far—of free people standing for democracy, faith, dignity
"Joseph Lindsley's reports are enlightening, frightening, heart-wrenchingly and poetically descriptive." —a regular listener to the daily report from Ukraine on Chicago's WGN Radio with Bob Sirott
“I just returned from three months in Ukraine. Not my first time there, and certainly not my last; a powerful experience for me personally, but I must say that JOE’s REPORTING, HIS INSIGHTS, and, OBVIOUSLY, HIS HEART, ARE SPOT-ON.” —Jim, a Telegram follower of Ukrainian Freedom News
American journalist Joe Lindsley, in Ukraine since 2020, leads the Ukrainian Freedom News team of Ukrainians and foreigners on a mission to share real talk and real life in war-time with the world. Every weekday since late February 2022, he has reported live from Ukraine on Chicago’s WGN Radio with host Bob Sirott. You can listen to all episodes at UkrainianFreedomNews.com or via our YouTube channel.
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UKRAINIAN FREEDOM NEWS
Truth to the World | Supplies to Ukraine
Joe Lindsley, Editor-in-chief
Pavlo Vitenko, Chief Reporter
Anton Hutyriak, Associate Editor
Luka Oleschyuk, Video Editor
Jean-Baptiste Besson, Field Editor
Vitalii Gulden, Graphics Editor
Beata Szrom, Operations Director
Joseph! I listen to you every morning on WGN Radio and am deeply honored to be the "regular listener" listed first at the end of "About Us" on your website. Today a bit of your conversation with Bob was about how "you should write a book". Man, your daily posts on Ukrainian Freedom News are more than enough to compile into a collection of essay and short pieces a la some of Hunter S. Thompson's works and those of many others. Your intense, heartfelt and enlightening descriptions of your days are an historical chronicle of these times that are absolutely Pulitzer-worthy, plus whatever other journalistic prizes of which I am unaware. God Bless You, Dear Heart! Keep on keepin' on, stay as safe as you can. But please, please, don't burn yourself out or get yourself killed. . You have so much to give to this world. You are so one of the special ones. - Michelle Mindak riverwalkers2004@yahoo.com