Helicopter Crash: Theories
War Day 329: Remember the Crash in Russia that Killed Much of Poland's Leadership?
Stories, Sounds, and Facts of War: Every weekday, Ukrainian Freedom News’s Joe Lindsley, in Ukraine since the pandemic started, gives a live war report on Chicago’s WGN Radio. You can listen below.
War Day 329: Remember the Crash in Russia that Killed Much of Poland's Leadership?
On Tuesday, the day before the Kyiv helicopter tragedy killing kindergartners and the top three Ukrainian Interior Ministry officials, I met with Małgorzata Gosiewska, the deputy marshall of Poland’s parliament, the Sejm. Her ex-husband was killed along with the top leadership of the Polish government, in a plane crash on Russian soil in April 2010. They were going to commemorate the 70th anniversary of a Soviet massacre of Polish officers and intelligentsia.
So naturally, the still mysterious 2010 crash, still unresolved, was top of mind when I heard the news about the helicopter that crashed in the Kyiv suburbs yesterday.
There seem to be three possibilities for Wednesday’s chopper disaster:
1. Technical failure of the French chopper
2. Pilot error; to evade Russian detection, Ukrainian aircraft must fly low to the ground, making aviation more difficult
3. Or sabotage of some sort ... which brings up memories of a Polish plane that crashed on Russian soil in 2010, killing the country's most senior officials
Even as this tragedy occurred, the battles rage around Bakhmut, while the Russians continue to shell Nikopol and liberated Kherson and many Ukrainian towns and villages.
Fierce Spirit, Silent Night: Polish Band Plays for Ukrainian Soldiers Amid Blackout
"Leave Those Kids Alone"
As I listened to the haunting eastern and klezmer melodies, fused with the rock of the band Taraka, I thought of how in these same countries free people had to live underground through much of the 20th century because of tyranny from either Germany or Moscow.
And now, from Moscow, the threat returns.
When the band covered "Another Brick in the Wall," the soldiers sang with special fierceness: "Leave those kids alone." Listen here for a glimpse into this moment.
Halfway through, the power cut, thanks to Russian attacks, and the people softly sang a Polish carol. And near the end, because in January it is still Christmas in Ukraine, they sang "Silent Night." Share to show the world the culture of free people.
“They’re coming your way”: Here’s a play-by-play account of Russia’s Old New Years missile strikes throughout Ukraine
War Day 328: Russia Attacks Dnipro Civilians While Pentagon Says No Abrams Tanks for Ukraine
Here's what Ukrainians were experiencing on Saturday 14 January while Russia sent many missiles throughout Ukraine.
My day began with texts from friends about rockets hitting Kharkiv and then a surprise knock on my office door: the building groundskeeper showed up, eyes closed, chanting. Turns out, it was a Ukrainian "old new years" tradition—a blessing for dark times. And hours later, the day grew dark, with missiles flying through Ukrainian skies.
"They're coming your way," said some of the messages. The worst destruction was in Dnipro, were at least 40 were killed. In the clip you can see a haunting video of a shocked woman standing high up on the edge of her ruined building, her flat gone.
Plus: Why won't the USA send top-quality Abrams tanks to Ukraine? Is it because they use too much fuel, or something else?
And here you can watch how after a difficult day, Ukrainains still gathered and sang their January Christmas carols:
Daily Situation Report: 18 January: Shelling of Kherson, helicopter crash in Brovary
By Pavlo Vitenko
LUHANSK REGION
Units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled the attacks of the occupiers near Bilohorivka.
In the Kupiansk direction, the districts of Novoselyvske, Stelmakhivka, and Andriivka came under fire from the Russians.
In the Lyman direction, the enemy shelled the areas of the settlements of Makiivka, Ploshanka, Nevske, Chervonopopivka, Kreminna, and Dibrova.
The situation in the region remains difficult.
KHARKIV REGION
The enemy continued to fire artillery and mortar fire along the entire contact line. The areas of Veterinarne, Krasne, Lukyantsi, Neskuchne, Staritsa, Ohirtseve, Gatyshche, Vovchansk, Rybalkine, Bily Kolodyaz, Nesterne, Zemlianki, Novomlynsk, Bolohivka, Kamianka and Dvorichna areas were shelled.
In the Kupiansk direction, the districts of Kislivka, Berestove, Kotlyarivka, Vyshneve, Ivanovka were affected by fire.
In the city of Kupiansk, as a result of a missile attack on civilian objects yesterday afternoon, the Kupiansk Motor Vehicle Vocational College was hit, by a S-300 missile. The central storey building was completely destroyed.
Read the full region-by-region summary here.
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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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