How 'Sandlot' Ukrainians Stopped Today's Massive Russian Missile Attack
Day 309 of Russia's war
Here on 29 December, day 309 of Russia’s war, is my broadcast from Ukraine, given every weekday since February on Chicago’s WGN Radio.
I was damn tired today. I awoke around 3:30am with a bad feeling, soon followed by reports of Russian manoeuvre. Around 6am the Russian missile and drone onslaught began. A few hours later, missiles flew toward Lviv.
But Ukrainian air defenders, powered by human intelligence, performed incredibly well, as I describe here. Watching video of Ukrainian soldiers cheer jubilantly after hitting orc missiles hellbent on destroying Ukrainian cities, you can see an innocent joy, like the Sandlot kids winning a baseball game.
—Joe Lindsley, American in Ukraine since getting happily stuck here in this freedom-loving country during the pandemic
Watch Ukrainian defenders destroy a Russian missile, thereby saving a city from destruction:
Take a somber, scary walk into the ruins of the Roman Catholic church in Bakhmut amid shelling
Maybe say a prayer as you do: a one-minute meditation amid both the silence and violence of war.
Roman Catholics are a minority in Ukraine. Most Ukrainians are Greek Catholic (also loyal to Rome) or Orthodox (mostly loyal to Constantinople). There was total freedom of religion until Russia began bombing the churches.
During Soviet times, the Moscow regime shut this church. It only reopened with Ukrainian independence with the name Church of the Virgin Queen of the Holy Rosary.
Thanks to brave reporter Witold Newelicz of Poland for the video.
29 DECEMBER SITUATION REPORT: THE MORNING SHELLING OF UKRAINE, BATTLES FOR BAKHMUT
by PAVLO VITENKO
Summary by regions
Luhansk Region
Units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled the attacks of the occupiers in the districts of Stelmakhivka, Andriivka, Ploshanka and Chervonopopivka.
On the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, the enemy shelled Stelmakhivka, Ploshanka, Chervonpopivka, and Dibrova.
The situation in the region remains tense.
Donetsk Region
Late in the evening – a missile attack on Kurakhovo. Destroyed private residential buildings, farm buildings.
During the night, the positions and outskirts of Toretsk, Mariinka, Siversk, and Bakhmut communities were shelled.
Isolated shelling took place near the village of Rozdolivka, the village of Blahodatne. In the city of Soledar, a missile struck a sanatorium. No victims.
Tense situation near the village Bakhmutske …
Read the full daily report here.
“Joseph Lindsley’s reports are enlightening, frightening, heart-wrenchingly and
poetically descriptive.” —a listener to the daily Ukraine report on Chicago’s WGN Radio
Please forward to friends who might be interested in daily stories from life in wartime Ukraine. We welcome your financial support via Paypal (to sustain our operations) or U.S. tax-deductible donations (for supply-delivery and reporting missions) through our friends at Ukrainian Freedom Fund.
Merry Christmas from Ukraine
In Ukraine, both the Orthodox (affiliated with Constantinople) and the Greek Catholics (loyal to Rome) tend to celebrate Christmas on January 7. Here’s a taste of Christmas in Ukraine:
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
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.
Spread the word and join us in sharing the reality of democracy and culture in Ukraine, which Russia is seeking to destroy.
We welcome your financial support via Paypal (to sustain our operations) or U.S. tax-deductible donations (for delivery of supplies and reporting missions) through our friends at Ukrainian Freedom Fund.
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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
Jean-Baptiste Besson, Hot-Spot Editor
Beata Szrom, Operations Director